According to a report by Reuters, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 13 sales remained strong in July despite declining smartphone demand. The phone maker expects its upcoming iPhone 14 to do even better at launch.
The outlet, citing two iPhone supply chain sources with direct knowledge of the matter, noted that while China has seen a slowdown in its smartphone market, Apple has largely been resilient in the most populous country in the world
One of the sources added that iPhone 13 shipments from a factory in July were 33% higher than in the same period last year, with the source adding that “sales of iPhone 13 are fairly good.” This trend was particularly unusual because sales of current iPhone models tend to slow in July and August as consumers wait for the new models that Apple traditionally launches in September.
Last quarter, Apple (AAPL) warned that revenue could be impacted by up to $8 billion due to several factors, including China Covid-related lockdowns. However, high expectations for the iPhone 13 and the upcoming iPhone 14 suggest the impact could be somewhat mixed.
Apple is scheduled to report its fiscal third-quarter results on July 28, and analysts’ consensus estimates the company will earn $1.15 per share on revenue of $82.74 billion.
On Tuesday, Bank of America said the fact that Apple lowered trade-in prices for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac earlier this month implied a “strong demand”.
Apple’s New iPhone security tool to block targeted attacks
Apple Inc. has recently introduced a security tool for iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices designed to prevent targeted cyberattacks on high-level users such as activists, journalists, and government officials, “[debuting] ‘extreme, optional’ Lockdown Mode for iOS 16.”
Apple said in a statement last week that the Lockdown Mode, an optional feature, will give “extreme” protection to a “very small number of users who face grave, targeted attacks”. The tool drastically reduces the number of physical and digital ways an attacker can hack into a user’s device. Apple said the feature was primarily aimed at combating attacks by “spyware” sold by NSO Group and other companies, particularly to state-sponsored groups.
In recent years, state-sponsored entities have hacked high-level users into gaining remote access to data on their iPhones.
Apple said such attacks in 150 countries had targeted a small number of its users. The iPhone maker recently launched a feature that alerts users to state-sponsored cyberattacks.
Apple said it would update this notification system to notify those people of the new lockdown mode.
With the tool in place, the Messages app will block non-image attachments and disable link previews. The web browser, another common conduit for hackers, will be severely restricted, with restrictions on specific fonts, web languages, and features involving PDF reading and content preview.
FaceTime users will not be able to receive calls from people they have not called before in the previous 30 days.
Lockdown Mode can be enabled using a toggle at the bottom of the privacy menu in the settings app on Apple devices. Alphabet Inc.’s Google offers similar tools for high-level users, warning them when they are targeted by state-sponsored hackers and promoting strong authentication techniques as a defensive measure.
Apple plans to release Lockdown Mode as part of upcoming iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura operating system updates in the coming months.
Other online services will also receive lockdown mode changes, but Apple hasn’t specified the exact differences.
Apple is giving a $10 million grant to the Dignity and Justice Fund, owned by the Ford Foundation, to support the investigation and prevention of highly targeted cyberattacks.
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