News/Rumors

Chinese customers receive apologies from Apple

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook apologized to Chinese customers for a bad warranty policy.

“Some (our customers in China) said that the Apple’s attitude (for them) is arrogant and that for us it does not matter what our customers think about our products (in China),” – said Cook. “We offer our sincere apologies due to the inconvenience that our Chinese consumers experienced. ”

In recent weeks, Apple has been criticized in the Chinese state media, including China Central Television broadcast (CCTV) for an unfair warranty policy. As you remember, those issues came mostly from a TV segment, which claimed Apple provided Chinese customers with repaired parts instead of new replacements.

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On Monday, Apple posted Cook’s apology letter on its webpage, clarifying improvements in its warranty policy and new offered services. So, Apple offers Chinese consumers to replace iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, if their devices require a thorough overhaul and a one-year warranty will begin from the date of replacement.

Remind, that iPhone 5 was originally sold with such terms of service. Besides, Apple will simplify the description of the warranty service on its website and train technical support specialists its norms.

Such gesture from Apple’s chief stresses importance of China for business of the company. The figures of the Chinese market in recent years are the most successful in the financial statements of the company. For the quarter ended December 29, 2012, total revenue of Apple in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan rose by 60% to $ 7.3 billion.

 

Apple, News/Rumors

China vs Apple: is it a war?

China Central Television hailed its criticism on Apple, accusing it in unfair treatment with Chinese  consumers. As it became clear, the company was accused in violating the warranty terms. There are some suspicious, that the flow of such negative responses to  Apple came after the report of  China Central Television, which is controlled by the Chinese government.

The main claims were addressed to the Apple guarantee policy, the matter is that the warranty period in China is only one year, when in the U.S. it is about two years.
Their dissatisfaction was also expressed with regards to the return of defective devices. The fact is that, when consumers in other countries in exchange for defective phones receive completely new devices, Chinese buyers get rebuilt equipments.

china

On Saturday, at its Chinese website Apple clarified its warranty policy, stating that by exchange of defective devices, all components are replaced with new ones, only the original back case is the same. The report also said that Apple has a 90-day warranty on repairs, while Chinese law provides for a period of 30 days.

What is the reason for such a negative reaction to the Apple? Why is the Chinese government putting pressure on the company? It turns out, that the prerequisites for such an attitude are enough. One of them, for example, constant  Apple hints at the bad conditions of human labor in Chinese enterprises, which put the government in a bad light.

Well, time will show, what is the real purpose of such Chinese actions!

News/Rumors

Cellular iPad Mini Is Coming To China In Late January

Tim Cook is on his second visit to China as Apple CEO this week, and during an interview with local reporters on Thursday, he confirmed that the cellular version of the iPad mini will be arriving in the nation in late January. The Wi-Fi only model arriving in China on December 7, just over a month after it launched in the United States.

The cellular iPad mini was awarded its Chinese network licenses back December, so we had a feeling its launch would be fairly close. Once those licenses are gained, Apple likes to get devices on sale pretty quickly. The iPhone 5 went on sale in China on December 14, just over two week after it gained regulatory approval.

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Cook acknowledged that Apple devices take longer to arrive in China because of the time it takes for them to be approved. However, he also noted that the company is making an effort to decrease those wait times, The Next Web reports. Apple could apply for approval in advance of a device’s unveiling, of course, but it would almost certainly lead to leaked information. Read more →

iPad

Images of Possible iPad Mini Rear Shell Unveiled in China

Apple prepares the release of a 7-inch gadget, the so called iPad Mini, rumors claiming that it will be released this fall, probably in November. The Chinese site Apple Pro (Google translation) unveiled some photos showing the leaked back metal case of the rumored iPad Mini.

The pictures provided do not possess a whole for the rear facing-camera and it’s not likely for Apple to ditch the camera. Other rumors wonder around that the future iPad will come with 8-megapixel camera and iPhone 5C with 12-megapixel. Not to mention the iPad Mini Cases prototypes highlighted by Think iOS have also designed the rear camera among the thin design, 7-inch screen and 19 pin connector.

Due to the fact that the site has not provided genuine leaked pictures from Apple until now, we can’t guarantee for the reliability of the pictures.

Mac, News/Rumors

Apple’s essence: the MacBook Pro fragrance

Each Apple product comes to life when its box is opened and we recall such memories each time the distinctive scent of a newly unwrapped device reaches our senses.

Melbourne artists Gavin Bell, Jarrah de Kuijer and Simon McGlinn sniffed the solution that can bring to us the joy of opening a newly purchased Apple device without buying one. The three artists are members of the Greatest Hits group and with the help of Air Aroma they created Apple’s spirit in a bottle: the MacBook Pro fragrance.

The MacBook Pro fragrance is characterized by the smell of a new aluminum laptop combined with the smell of the paper box, of ink and of plastic. In order to create the accurate scent that will offer the best effects, Air Aroma sent a new unboxed Apple laptop to its fragrance lab in France, where professional perfume makers sourced various aroma samples. Multiple blends were tested in the Air Aroma laboratory until the one that was replicating the smell of the MacBook Pro coming straight from China factories was selected.

The Apple essence will be stored within the Air Aroma Aroslim diffuser and it will be diffused only at the ‘De facto Standard’ artistic exhibition of the group at West Space. Unfortunately for Apple fans, the fragrance is not meant for commercial purposes.

Source: Macworld and Air Aroma

iPad, News/Rumors

Glimpse from inside Foxconn while assembling an iPad

9to5 Mac provided a video from inside the Foxconn Company.  Rob Schmitz, the reporter that made the video highlights the assembly process of an iPad gadget and goes further in the assembly line at the company’s plant in Shangai.

As described in the video, workers are kids between 18-25 years old, the majority of them being migrant ones. When first staring, employees receive $14 a day, switching positions every few days.

So take a look at how iPads are built and tested.

Apple

FLA to Report on Apple Working Conditions

Rumors about the bad working conditions in Apple’s manufacturing factories from China are in the air especially since the iPhone 4S launch, when the demanding for the smartphone became overwhelming. Once with Apple’s successful holiday quarter both the selling and the manufacturing ceased no more.

Activist group SumOfUs calls in question the fact that this week, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) might reveal in a report the working conditions and techniques at Foxconn facilities in China. SumOfUs detailed what FLA aims with this report:

“The purpose of this memo is to place that forthcoming report in context, based on the history of Apple’s statements and pledges concerning these issues, the information already publicly known about labor practices in Apple’s supply chain, and the analysis of truly independent labor rights groups as to what steps Apple and Foxconn should actually be taking to address labor rights abuses.”

Due to the already reported rights violations of workers, such as lingering overtime and dangerous working conditions, and to the fact that Apple admitted the existence of some of the claims, FLA has no choice but to note that abuses of rights do occur at Foxconn.

Thus, “a critical report from the FLA will not, in and of itself, constitute proof that a new day is dawning in Apple’s supply chain. It will only be proof that the FLA and Apple are smart enough to understand that no one, at this point, is going to be fooled by a whitewash,” said SumOfUs.

All in all, the issues at Foxconn are already popular and one cannot say why exactly a FLA audit needs to mention them one more time. Either way, FLA will also bring into notice Apple and Foxconn’s promises for a better work environment and also their responsibilities. Back in 2006, the same situation occurred to Apple but the problems fount their answers; it remains uncertain whether or not Apple will show decency to its workers instead of abuses also on 2012.

Source: SumOfUs

iPhone 4S, News/Rumors

iPhone 4S bound with China Telecom

China’s Telecom deputy general manager Yang Xiaowei states:

“We are very pleased to provide our customers with the outstanding new iPhone 4S. We believe that our customers will be pleasantly surprised by the iPhone 4S on China Telecom’s high-quality 3G network”.

Rumors have been wondering a lot and finally the gadget is expected to be released by late February or early March. A great offer is “on the loose”, one receives the 16GB iPhone 4S for free. A two-year contract for a monthly plan beginning from 389RMB ($62) would do the job.

“We’re thrilled to be launching iPhone 4S with China Telecom and can’t wait to get it into the hands of even more customers in China.”

China’s first bound with the latest version of the smartphone did not chuckle over success. Because of unexpected issues, Apple had to postpone the retail launch of the gadget. In early February, the Chinese online stores started taking orders and now the smartphone is available for $792(4,988RMB)

iPad, News/Rumors

iPad outsells Samsung Galaxy Tab in Korea but still has problems in China

According to Korea Herald, Apple has won the 2011 tablet race in Korea, surpassing the country’s own Samsung Galaxy Tablet, with sales of 1 million iPads since its debut here – Nov. 30, 2010. About 700,000 units were sold last year alone, dominating and grabbing a slice of 70-80% market share, despite the fact that Korea is the home for two of the largest Android tablet supporters, Samsung and LG. But in the smartphones case, things are completely different, with Samsung clearly ruling the market.

In China, Apple’s iPad doesn’t have the same success, due to local Proview Technology which holds the brand name and trademark rights in the country. As a result of the lawsuit between these two companies, Proview has asked authorities to retreat iPads from Chinese stores. Apple either has to pay 1.6 bilion US$, or rename iPad otherwise in China. So, there are still unsolved problems, but China is an important market for Apple and they’ll find a way.

At the moment, Apple’s iPad is the most desired tablet in Korea but this battle is far to be over. We are waiting the rumored iPad 3 launch in March, and the Galaxy Tab refresh, believed to be revealed at Mobile World Congress in about two weeks.

2012 it will clearly be an interesting year concerning the tablet ecosystem.

iPhone, iPhone 4S, News/Rumors

China’s Online Store provides once more iPhone 4S

Apple’s new gadget, iPhone 4S did not chuckle over success when it was released in China, including the endless lines in front of stores and the egg-throwing incident. Having postponed the release in Apple Retail Store managed to sell out all gadgets from company’s online store very quickly. Clients managed to get possession of their iPhone gadgets with a new strategy for the Chinese population, the online reservation system. The stock was quickly sold out but now iPhone lovers can order the latest version until March 2 from Apple’s Online Store.

ChinaDaily argued that shipments are expected to arrive no later than March 2.

“If you pay today, you might get the items tomorrow, and no later than March 2.”

Also reports from Beijing Times state that stores will “not be selling the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S to walk-in customers.” There is not a clear vision upon the number of devices available so customers are limited at two gadgets. Producers are keen of combating “scalpers” and of avoiding the latest version of the iPhone being sold on China’s gray market.