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Apple products in the United States might soon cost more because President Trump has put a 10% tax on imports from China. Even though Apple has been trying to spread out where it gets its parts, most of its gadgets are still made in China.

Back when Trump was president before, he also put taxes on many things coming from China. Apple managed to get some exemptions, but this new rule seems to apply to everything from China.

The Chip Tariff That Never Happened

Trump once talked about putting a huge tax on Chinese-made computer chips, but that didn’t happen. This was good news for Apple since their products use these chips but aren’t chips themselves. People pointed out this would hurt American companies making electronics in the US with parts from China, so the plan was dropped.

New Tariffs on Everything

Later, Trump threatened to tax all products from Canada, Mexico, and China. He wanted a 25% tax on items from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods. Canada and Mexico promised to tighten border security and fight drug trafficking to avoid these taxes, while also warning they might tax US goods in return.

Trump decided to wait 30 days before starting the tax on Canada and Mexico, but the Chinese tax began right away. China responded by taxing American products and looking into possible antitrust issues with companies like Apple and Google.

Impact on Apple

Now, Apple has to pay an extra 10% on everything it brings in from China. This could mean higher prices for consumers or lower profits for Apple if they decide to cover the cost themselves.

What Apple Might Do

While some companies might increase prices, it’s unclear what Apple will do. They’ve done both in the past – raised prices and cut profits. With Trump’s decisions changing often, Apple might wait to see if these tariffs stick around before deciding.

In summary, Trump’s tariff policies could lead to pricier Apple products. How Apple responds will depend on how long these taxes last and how they affect the market.

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Apple could soon face an investigation in China about how it runs its App Store, according to Bloomberg. A black and white image of the Chinese flag with the Apple logo in the background. China’s market watchdogs have been looking into Apple’s practices since last year. They’re concerned about the 30% fee Apple charges for in-app purchases and how the company doesn’t allow other payment options, sources told Bloomberg.

The focus is on whether these high fees are fair to Chinese app makers. There’s also worry that by not letting other app stores or payment methods in, Apple might be hurting competition and not giving Chinese users the best deal. If Apple doesn’t change its ways, China might officially look into it, the sources added.

This all started because of ongoing disagreements with big Chinese companies like Tencent and ByteDance. There was a report in August saying Apple was pushing these companies to change how their apps work in China to stop them from dodging that 30% fee.

The timing is tricky because things are tense between the US and China. Just this week, China started looking into Google’s business practices right after new US taxes on Chinese products began. Apple has a lot at stake in China. It’s where most iPhones are made, and it’s a huge market for Apple outside the US. But local companies like Huawei are getting stronger, and Apple’s sales in China dropped by 11% over the holiday season. Apple has faced similar issues in other places too. They’ve had to change how they do business in places like Europe to follow new laws and avoid penalties.

Note: Discussions about this topic can be found in our Politics section on the forum. You can read the thread, but you need to have made at least 100 posts to join the conversation.

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Apple has been knocking it out of the park with new iPhone apps, but when it comes to supporting the iPad, they’ve been striking out.

First in line was the Journal app, which only came out for iPhone users when iOS 17.2 was released. Even with the update to iOS and iPadOS 18, while the iPhone app got plenty of enhancements, iPad users were left out in the cold.

Next up was Apple Sports, which made its debut on the iPhone a year ago. It’s improved a lot since then, but there’s still no iPad version. We’re all waiting to see if an iPad app or at least a widget will show up soon.

Then there’s Apple’s new Invites app, which lets you send out invites to any device. However, if you’re using an iPad, you won’t find a dedicated app for it yet.

On a brighter note, the iPhone versions of Sports and Invites do work on iPads, providing some relief for iPad users.

The lack of a Journal app for iPad is particularly frustrating because, unlike other apps, it’s built into the system. This means iPad users can’t even use the iPhone version in a workaround like Stage Manager mode.

Many thought Apple had moved past the days of iPhone-only apps, especially after finally bringing apps like Weather and Calculator to the iPad. But these new, exciting apps are still iPhone-exclusive.

Apple’s pitching some great new apps, but when it comes to hitting home runs with iPad versions, they might need to call in a pinch hitter.

The team behind the beloved Twitterrific app has just released ‘Weave’, a new app designed to blend your social media, blogs, and other online content into one easy-to-use timeline.

Weave Brings Together Your Online World on iPhone and iPad

A while back, we shared news about ‘Project Tapestry’, which has now evolved into ‘Weave’ and is available on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. The app’s main goal? To create a single, flowing timeline where you can enjoy your favorite blogs, social networks, and more.

Here’s what you can expect from Weave:

• Your Internet, Your Rules: Weave mixes posts from platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, Tumblr, alongside RSS feeds, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Everything appears in the order it happens, so you see what’s new first, without any algorithmic interference.
• Easy Browsing: With Weave, you can look through content from many sources effortlessly. Set up your timelines, sync where you left off on different devices, and enjoy your feeds in a clear, colorful layout.
• No Spoilers Here: Set up rules to filter out content you don’t want to see, keeping your feed spoiler-free and tailored to your interests.
• Find What You Need: Search across all your feeds at once. Whether it’s a blog post, video, or podcast, Weave helps you find it quickly and save it for later.
• Privacy First: Weave keeps your data on your device, ensuring your privacy. There’s no selling or sharing of your information.
• Expand Your Weave: With custom connectors, you can add even more types of content. If there’s an open data feed out there, you can connect it to Weave.

Weave offers the kind of user-friendly customization you’d expect from Twitterrific creators, including options for icons, layouts, and fonts, plus support for both light and dark modes. You can save articles for later, too.

Weave is free to download from the App Store, but you can opt for a subscription to enjoy features like ad removal, custom timelines, and more. Subscription options include $1.99 per month, $19.99 per year, or a one-time payment of $79.99.

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A new book titled “Apple’s Chinese Dilemma” is set to reveal how a clever decision made back in 1996 has now put the tech giant at the mercy of an authoritarian government. Subtitled “How the World’s Leading Company Got Caught,” this book compiles insights from over 200 former Apple executives and engineers. It serves both as a history lesson and a warning to others…

We’ve been talking about how Apple’s relationship with China has become more complicated:

First, there’s the danger of relying too much on one country. For example, the start of the COVID-19 crisis in China showed how quickly manufacturing can be affected. Events like natural disasters or political changes can disrupt business, so it’s smart to spread out manufacturing. Second, the relationship between the U.S. and China has always been rocky. The trade battles during the Trump era were especially bad, but even now, there’s always a chance that trade could be disrupted.

Third, being closely tied to China is hurting Apple’s image because of human rights issues there. Apple has to follow local laws, which can go against what the company stands for. Written by a journalist from the Financial Times, “Apple’s Chinese Dilemma” is due out from Simon & Schuster in May. It gives an insider’s look at how Apple helped make China a powerhouse in electronics but ended up trapped by its own success.

Apple is not just any brand; it’s the world’s most valuable company, known for the iPhone that changed how we live, work, and connect. Yet, Apple is now in a tricky spot between two superpowers. When Apple was nearly broke in 1996, it decided to move its manufacturing overseas. After trying out eight countries, China’s offer of cheap, plentiful labor drew nearly all of Apple’s production there. As the iPod and iPhone took off, this relationship with China grew deep, helping Chinese manufacturers learn skills that are now used against Western companies.

“Apple’s Chinese Dilemma” traces how a company that once celebrated “rebels” and “troublemakers” has become silent and compliant under increasing control from China.

Early reviews of the book have been glowing:

• “A fantastic story, brilliantly shared” – Peter Frankopan, Oxford’s Global History Professor and author of “Silk Roads”
• “More than just a page-turner; it’s an essential read.” – Robert D. Kaplan, author of “The Revenge of Geography”
• “A deep dive that’s both unsettling and illuminating.” – Chris Miller, author of “Chip War”
• “McGee illustrates how Apple’s chase for profit in China might undermine its own future and America’s tech leadership.” – Rana Foroohar, author of “Makers and Takers”
• “A vivid account of how Apple won China but lost its essence.” – Isaac Stone Fish, author of “America Second”
• “A must-read for every iPhone user, but a risky one for Apple staff.” – Geoffrey Cain, author of “Samsung Rising” and “The Perfect Police State”

“Apple’s Chinese Dilemma” will hit the shelves on May 13 and is available for pre-order now.