The number doubled from 2020, but RMB 3.7 trillion of it was physical goods and services that Apple takes no cut from.
China
Apple's second China clean energy fund grows to $212 million, backs wind farms
Suppliers ATL, Avary and Diodes have joined in, roughly doubling the fund, and its first two wind farms are already being built.
Apple Watch sleep apnea notifications reach China mainland after NMPA approval
Apple Watch owners in China mainland can now get sleep apnea alerts. The feature cleared China’s drug regulator and works from Series 9 onward.
iOS 27.2 beta code shows a China-only erase that overwrites the whole drive
Beta code in iOS 27.2 points to an erase that overwrites an iPhone’s whole drive in China, tracking a mandatory standard that takes effect in 2027.
Apple Intelligence Counts 16 Languages, and Chinese Does Not Work in China Mainland
Apple Intelligence’s language list, published on apple.com/apple-intelligence and repeated in Apple’s September 9 press release, runs to 16 entries once Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional) are counted as two separate languages. Apple’s own live iOS 27 feature availability page, however, marks the Chinese (Simplified) option as excluded in China mainland across several Apple Intelligence features,…
Apple Publishes Five China Mainland Exceptions for Apple Intelligence, and None for Siri AI
Apple is precise about China mainland when it wants to be. Its feature availability page carries a China mainland exception for five Apple Intelligence features, and a footnote in the iPhone 18 Pro press release adds a sixth, yet Siri AI is not one of them. Apple has published nothing at all about whether Siri…
Siri AI in China: What Apple Says About the Regulatory Approval It Is Still Waiting For
Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features Apple announced in June will not be available in China when iOS 27 arrives on Monday, September 14. Apple’s June press release says they “will not be available in China while Apple works through regulatory requirements,” and Apple has published no date, no partial rollout and…
Apple Q+A with Financial Analyst Rob Black - TMO Show 2024-08-23
Financial analyst, media personality, and Apple shareholder Rob Black joins host Ken Ray to talk investing angles on Apple. How’s Apple Vision Pro doing? What should one make of Apple TV+? What – if anything – could Apple do to scare investors? Rob brings a wealth of insight to The Mac Observer Show.
Cook, China, and the Latest Round of Updates - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-28
Travelin’ Tim’s taking his time in China. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over a meeting between China’s commerce minister and Apple’s CEO. Also, Jeff has a look at the lates OS updates from Apple.
Mixed Feelings on Apple's MR Headset - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-27
Both the New York Times and Bloomberg say there are certain misgivings around Apple’s mixed reality headset inside Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the latest chatter. Plus China, the Steve Jobs audio chatbot, and soccer pour out of the mailbag.
Sobering Thoughts from TSMC's Founder - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-17
The founder of Apple’s chipmaking partner TSMC struck a worrying note this week when assessing US/Taiwanese relations. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about that. Plus – Adventures in Sleep in the Apple Health app.
More iPhone Making for India and More Soccer for Everyone - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-06
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have tales of more Apple manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk those over. Plus a quick trip to the Apple Store and Apple’s soccer push continues.
Mailbag Monday! Now on Friday! - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-03
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken bring Mailbag Monday back for a second round. Email on China, AirDrop, and Passcodes. First though, the EC wants every messaging app to interoperate with every other messaging app. The TDO duo has thoughts.
Questioning the Apple Silicon Mac Pro and Apple’s China Exit - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-02
Will there be an Apple Silicon Mac Pro? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts wonders aloud about that. Plus – Ken wonders whether Apple actually wants a China exit, or just wants to know where the exit is.
Apple Thinks Mastodon Has Legs - TMO Daily Observations 2023-02-20
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss stories that may speak to sentiment around Apple, and social media’s plans to nickel and dime users for security. Plus — A vote of confidence for Mastodon from Apple.
Lower iPhone Prices? You know what THAT means... - TMO Daily Observations 2023-02-07
Lots of Monday headlines said that Apple had cut the price of iPhone 14 Pro in China. But did it? And if not, who did and why’d they do it? TMO managing editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk that over. Plus a tale of lost luggage three-months in the making, undone by an AirTag.
The iPhone Succeeds Where Others Falter and Chinese Censorship in Hong Kong
The iPhone surges despite a smartphone slump, while China flexes its censorship powers in Hong Kong. Plus, our podcast gets a special guest.
From One Frying Pan to Another? - TMO Daily Observations 2023-01-20
India has given Chinese companies a green light that should help Apple grow manufacturing on the subcontinent. But, if it requires Chinese companies, is diversification into India really diversification? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over that. Plus – a how-to on making use of HomePod’s temperature and humidity sensors.
Ken Ray's Most Important and Interesting Stories of 2022 - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-30
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts turns the tables on TDO Host Ken Ray today, asking Ken about his most important and most interesting stories of 2022. That the answers are COVID and AR respectively will likely come as no surprise.
Negative Zero COVID - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-19
The closed loop at Foxconn’s iPhone City plant in Zhengzhou is open. Most of the plant’s COVID restrictions have been lifted as China pulls a big “never mind” on its zero-COVID policies. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk that over. Plus – Will Smith, AirDrop, and Continuity are in for Mailbag Monday.
Canada Takes Apple to Task and Playing the Twitter Blues - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-12
Canadian politicians are angry about changes to AirDrop on behalf of Chinese citizens. Wait’ll they hear what’s going to happen to Canadians! Also, Twitter Blue is a thing again. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk it all over.
iPhone Misses Christmas and Musk Misses the Point - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-06
Foxconn says it’s getting iPhone production back on track. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk righting the ship post holidays. Plus Apple’s pause in Twitter ads was not about Elon Musk nor free speech. It was apparently about propriety and decency. We’ll talk it over.
Unrest for 'iPhone City' and Actual Cities in China
Pro iPhones aren’t getting easier to get, unrest in iPhone City and actual cities in China, and St. Louis gives togetherness the slip.
Rare Civil Disobedience in China Shows Country’s Frustration With COVID-19 Restrictions
Demonstrators across China are protesting the country’s strict COVID-19 restrictions and calling for President Jinping to step down.