Morgan Stanley analysts are suggesting that Apple’s stock may still have room to grow.

Apple in August had surpassed the $2 trillion valuation mark. It is the first American company to reach such a milestone. However, analysts from Morgan Stanley reckon that the tech giant remains undervalued, per a Forbes article. This stance is quite in contrast to what other experts think, who were worried whether the share rise is too quick.

Morgan Stanley Says Not as Expensive as Peers

Earlier last month, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook surpassed the $1 billion mark on his estimated wealth. And then, later on, the iPhone maker’s valuation made history by reaching $2 trillion. Consequently, the stock rose by over 8 percent, according to Forbes, setting record-highs.

Apple's stock could surge even higher following a $2 trillion valuation, Morgan Stanley says https://t.co/mgceRwy4PZ by @skleb1234 pic.twitter.com/Hm9GDm3FAw

— Forbes (@Forbes) August 24, 2020

Analysts from Morgan Stanley are still optimistic about Apple. The tech giant on August 23 is trading at $431, but Morgan Stanley analysts are assuming it could still reach about $520 per share. The experts also noted that Apple’s stocks are not “as expensive” as other companies of a similar kind. 

Further Growth

According to the analysts: “We increasingly believe that Apple should be valued like technology or consumer platform, rather than a more cyclical hardware company.” The analysts are also noting how the tech titan’s strategy of diversifying its portfolio plus its loyal customer base turns into growth that is “more secular, not cyclical.”

With Apple still trading at a discount on a cash flow basis, analysts said it indicates that the “stock has further room to grow.”

Business Expansion

The analysts point to Apple’s venture in expanding their services and the possible launch of a 5G iPhone that could buoy the tech firm by 37 percent. According to Insider, despite a one percent drop in annual iPhone sales, the Silicon Valley titan still saw growth in profits. 

“These results underscore the strength of Apple’s broad ecosystem of products and services,” analysts expressed. They further noticed this change from Apple’s past previous “success,” which were said to be more dependent on the iPhone’s sales, its flagship product, for company growth.

The post Morgan Stanley Analysts Say Apple’s Stock Could Still Rise first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Apple has finally revealed the new iPhone 12, and you might want to know more details about these models before running to the store.

After Apple’s recent online event, we’ve now seen the new iPhone 12. The company has revealed four models of the new iPhone. With that many models, one question remains. How do you know which iPhone is for you? 

The 2020 iPhone 12

The Verge calls this model the “standard” iPhone for 2020. This phone is as big as the iPhone 11, with the same 6.1-inch display. However, the iPhone 12 carries an OLED panel and Apple’s new A14 processor. All iPhone 12 models also have the A14 processor. This phone also supports 5G. If you want this standard model, you can buy the 64GB version for $829. 

How to choose between all the new iPhone 12 models https://t.co/Op4rU7XMhQ pic.twitter.com/4rhIdK71r3

— The Verge (@verge) October 15, 2020

The iPhone 12 Mini

If you want to save money, you can buy the iPhone 12 Mini. The Verge also says that this model is the smallest of the new phones. With a bezel-less design, the Mini’s 5.4-inch screen is smaller than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE 2020. However, the iPhone 12 Mini has the same specs as the iPhone 12. Grab the Mini for $729. 

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max

The Verge says that the Pro models are different from the regular iPhone 12. Compared to the regular’s aluminum body, the Pro models have stainless steel bodies. Moreover, the Pro models have brighter panels than the standard 12. The iPhone 12’s Pro models also have better cameras than the standard model. For example, the Pros can shoot videos at 60fps, compared to the iPhone 12’s 30fps.

Moreover, the Pro Max is the largest iPhone ever made. 

Starting from the 128GB model, the Pro costs $999. If you want to splurge on the Pro Max, you can buy it starting at $1,099.

The post Take Your Pick of the New iPhone 12 Models first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

The cross-platform game engine company Unity Software on August 24 has filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company is for an initial public offering (IPO). Unity Software is among the rivals of Fortnite’s parent Epic Games. Just recently, Epic Games had a disagreement with Apple over the tech giant’s App Store guidelines.

Unity’s Software

Unity Software essentially develops and produces platforms for developers to use in making their games. The company began in 2004, with a 2005 public release. Their software was initially exclusive for Mac OS but has expanded to various platforms later on. In addition, aside from game developers, they also create platforms for use of filmmakers, artists, automotive designers, architects, among others.

Unity Software Files for New York Stock Exchange IPOhttps://t.co/kyIDQwQcOd

— Stocktwits (@Stocktwits) August 24, 2020

Global Reach In Unity Software

The San Francisco-based software developer firm intends to debut on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, the symbol that they will use, according to the filing, is “U.” The company also mentioned that they are “the world’s leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D content.”

The company also said that about ¾ of their revenue comes from over 700 clients with revenue of above $100,000, as of June. Moreover, in their SEC filing, Unity also said that they have almost 1.5 million active creators across the world (nearly 200 countries). 

Rival’s Current Epic Game

CNBC noted that the timing of their filing coincided with their rival’s fight with tech titan Apple. Epic Games, one of Unity’s main competitors, is recently in a disagreement with Apple that involved the former filing a lawsuit. The reason is Apple’s App Store rule that collects a cut for in-app purchases. Epic does not like that 30 percent fee.

With this issue, the future of Epic Games’ own platform called Unreal Engine may be uncertain as it may lose support for Apple’s support on iOS, which powers millions of phones and tablets across the world.

The post Unity Software to Trade Publicly Amid Rival Epic Games’ War with Apple first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

You might have noticed that your Apple services conked out last Tuesday evening. According to Apple, an outage struck the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Apple Arcade.  

Apple Outage

Apple’s status page revealed the outage. The Verge also reports that Apple confirmed that only some users got hit. However, AppleCare in iOS and Apple School Manager added that all users got struck.

Apple outage affects App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, iCloud, Photos and more https://t.co/Kbp8DIderB pic.twitter.com/NHaCKkEz4i

— The Verge (@verge) September 30, 2020

The status page now says that Apple had resolved 25 outages today. 

Which Apple Services Got Hit by the Outage?

According to The Verge, these are the Apple services that suffered the outage. 

•     Find My
•     Game Center
•     iCloud Account & Sign In
•     iCloud Backup
•     iCloud Calendar
•     iCloud Contacts
•     iCloud Mail
•     iCloud Web Apps (iCloud.com)
•     iWork for iCloud
•     Photos
•     Apple Arcade
•     Apple Music
•     Apple Music radio
•     Apple TV Plus
•     Radio
•     App Store
•     Apple Books

More Outages

Apple is also not the only company that experienced recent outages. On Monday, an outage struck several Microsoft services for many hours. These services included Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, and Microsoft Teams. After several hours, Microsoft had resolved the outages at midnight ET Tuesday.

The post Apple Suffers Outage for Apple Services first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

Apple may be picking another fight with a company. This time, it’s Facebook. With a new update, Facebook would have also told users that Apple takes 30% from all in-app purchases. According to Apple, Facebook broke App Store rules. Developers shouldn’t tell users about “irrelevant” information. 

Apple vs. Facebook?

Facebook talked to Reuters about the block. In the Reuters report, Facebook said that Apple forced them to remove a message from a new update. This message would have told users that Apple receives 30% from in-app payments.  

What Did Facebook Do?

The Verge reports that Facebook had tried asking Apple to waive this policy for them. With the rule waived, the money would go right away to event organizers. Apple refused. In the end, Facebook released the update without the message. 

Apple Stops Facebook From Revealing 30% Tax on in-App Purchases

This new Facebook feature would help online influencers and businesses earn money during COVID-19. Influencers and companies can host paid online events on Facebook. 

Facebook vs. Android?

This message also doesn’t appear on Android phones, either. For Android, the message was similar. It told users that Facebook wouldn’t get a cut from in-app payments. Both Apple and Google demand 30% cuts from in-app purchases.

With this move, Facebook calls attention to Apple and Google’s business practices. Both companies had already removed Fortnite from their device because of a direct payment option. Epic Games sued Apple for this. In response, Apple threatened to revoke Epic’s access to the Unreal Engine. 

The post Apple Stops Facebook From Revealing 30% Tax on in-App Purchases first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Epic Games and Apple’s legal showdown continues. After the Fortnite maker took the first shot in court, Apple shot back with another lawsuit. With the suit, Apple wants the court to force Epic to pay damages. The company also wants the court to move Epic to honor its contract. 

Apple vs. Epic Games, Round 3

In the Gizmodo report, Apple claims that Epic Games hurt its reputation and relationship with customers. According to Apple, Epic’s behavior even “threatens the very existence of the iOS ecosystem.” 

Apple’s Claims against Epic Games

Apple also claims that Epic sent a “Trojan Horse” to the App Store. The company had hidden some code in Fortnite that let them bypass Apple’s app review. By skipping the review, Epic was able to let users pay them directly for V-bucks. However, Epic denied doing such a thing.

Moreover, Apple claimed that Epic’s behavior was theft. The company said that Epic found a way to enjoy the iOS platform without paying Apple the money they owed. In deleting Fortnite from the App Store, Apple was simply enforcing its rights. 

What We Know So Far About Apple vs. Epic Games

Epic Games had already filed a suit to restore Fortnite to the App Store, while they battle Apple in court. Earlier, Epic had already won a restraining order against Apple. The order kept Apple from deleting Epic’s Unreal Engine from the App Store. 

Apple had wanted to remove the Unreal Engine because they believed Epic would violate its Unreal Engine contract. However, the court saw no reason for Apple to remove the engine. 

Several game developers and filmmakers use the Unreal Engine to create their products. The next hearing for Epic Games and Apple will take place on September 28. 

The post Apple Fires Back at Epic Games with Lawsuit first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Despite the absence of the iPhone 12 in Apple’s latest event, the company still released new products that should tide over Apple users. One of them is the Apple Watch SE. 

The Apple Watch SE

The Verge reports that the Watch SE is the cheaper successor to the Apple Watch Series 3. In the report, the Verge says that the Watch SE shares similar features to the latest Apple Watch, the Series 6. Among these features are the built-in gyroscope, sleep tracking, and handwashing timer. 

Apple announced cheaper Watch Series 3 replacement https://t.co/eNThTquVsJ pic.twitter.com/gIiQ8vgA1P

— The Verge (@verge) September 16, 2020

However, the Watch SE lacks the features of the more recent Watch models. Namely, unlike the Series 5, the SE doesn’t have an always-on display. The SE also doesn’t have a native ECG app, like the Series 4. Moreover, the Watch SE can’t monitor your blood oxygen levels, unlike the Series 6.

More Apple Watch SE Specs

Compared to the Watch Series 3’s 42mm and 38mm display, the Watch SE has a larger retina display, which is larger by 30%. Users can also buy every Apple Watch band for the SE, including the silicone and yarn-braided Solo Loops.   

Like the iPhone SE, Apple also wants the Watch SE to become its dedicated cheap smartwatch. The Watch SE should compete head-to-head with other budget smartwatches from Fitbit, among others.  

What Else Can You Do with the Watch SE?

For its OS, the Watch SE will come with Apple’s latest watchOS 7. Because of the update, Watch SE owners can launch Apple’s new activity app, called Fitness Plus. Fitness Plus could track your workouts, and it also offers virtual classes.

If you buy the Watch SE, you’ll get a free 90-day Fitness Plus trial, which costs $9.99 afterward. Grab the Apple Watch SE now, for $279. Pre-order it here. 

The post Apple Releases Apple Watch SE first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

While Apple is locked in a legal battle with Epic Games, the tech giant might soon butt heads with streaming giant Spotify. The streaming service has released a statement today, hitting Apple’s new subscription bundle, called Apple One. 

Spotify vs. Apple?

The Verge reports that Spotify took offense to Apple’s new subscription bundle, which includes Apple Music. In the Verge report, Spotify said that Apple is muscling competitors out of the marketplace again. The company said that Apple is forcing users to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

Apple insists its new Apple One services bundle isn’t unfair to Spotify https://t.co/SRmSrXdrab pic.twitter.com/xgsKvAy70n

— The Verge (@verge) September 15, 2020

Moreover, Spotify called on the authorities to stop Apple from stomping out its competition.

Spotify’s Bundles

The Verge guesses that Apple users might stick with Apple One if they find that the bundle saves them money. As the world’s most valuable company, Apple has enough marketing muscle to push Apple One globally.

Spotify itself has come in bundles before. Hulu subscriptions offer Spotify for free. If you get an AT&T phone plan, you also get Spotify. And Spotify also comes bundled with some Samsung phones.  

Apple’s Response

In response, Apple stressed that they are not forcing users to pick up the Apple One bundle. The company said that users are still free to choose alternative services. If users are already using Apple services anyway, Apple One can unite them under a cheaper plan. Moreover, Android users can enjoy some Apple One services on their phones, and they can cancel whenever they want.

In terms of subscribers, Spotify remains king with 138 million, as of July. Meanwhile, Apple Music had just surpassed 60 million subscribers in June.

The post Spotify Rails Against Apple’s New Service Bundle first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Apple has released a bunch of new gadgets at its latest online event. One of them is the newest Apple Watch model, the Series 6. While the Series 6 may look similar to the earlier Watch models, it does offer a slew of new features. 

The Apple Watch Series 6

The Verge reports that the Apple Watch Series 6 has new sensors that could monitor blood oxygen levels and track a user’s sleep habits. For oxygen, Apple says that the Watch Series 6 uses red and infrared light to measure blood oxygen levels in 15 seconds. 

Apple announced Apple Watch Series 6 with ability to measure blood oxygen levels https://t.co/c02WYaTEae pic.twitter.com/XDyIBUMClm

— The Verge (@verge) September 16, 2020

Moreover, Apple says that it is linking up with health networks to use the blood oxygen monitors for large-scale research. These studies include tests on whether the Apple Watch Series 6 can detect COVID-19.

More Apple Watch Series 6 Specs

In terms of specs, the Series 6 uses the new S6 processor, according to The Verge. With the new S6 processor, the new Apple Watch could run 20% faster. Earlier Watch models used the S4 CPU. Now, Apple has decided to upgrade the Watch’s performance.   

The Apple Watch Series 6 could also run for 18 hours on a single charge, like the Series 5. However, the Series 6 charges faster, needing only 1.5 hours to go from zero to 100%. 

What Else Can I Do with the Apple Watch?

You can also use Apple’s new Fitness Plus service on the Apple Watch Series 6. Fitness Plus is a subscription service that allows users to do virtual workouts and track their fitness progress. Subscriptions cost $9.99 a month and $79.99 a year. 

Grab the Apple Watch Series 6 40mm model for $399, and the cellular model for $499. Orders start on September 15.

The post Apple Releases Apple Watch Series 6 first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

Apple updated some of its App Store rules for game streaming. However, reports say these changes aren’t enough to attract game companies to iOS. For example, several restrictions remain in the App Store policies that limit game streaming. 

Apple’s New Rules

Kotaku reports that Apple revised its App Store rules ahead of the launch of iOS 14. With the rule changes, CNBC says that Microsoft’s Project xCloud and Google Stadia are now allowed on the App Store.

Apple's new game streaming rules probably won't lead to Stadia and xCloud on your iPhone: https://t.co/a9sD9Up5JS pic.twitter.com/As8Omv4Ul8

— Kotaku (@Kotaku) September 11, 2020

However, Apple’s restrictions on game streaming remain in place. For example, companies planning to stream games on iOS should create separate apps for each game. Each of these apps would then undergo the App Store’s review process. 

Apple would allow developers to build “catalog apps” to let users access their game streaming apps quickly. However, these apps still won’t give users direct access to the games. 

Problems with Apple’s New Rules

Kotaku says Apple’s rule changes still won’t make game streamers happy. For example, Stadia promises users direct and easy access to their games on any mobile device. However, with Apple’s new rules, users would have to download tons of apps for each Stadia game. 

In short, iOS gamers still couldn’t stream any games on mobile. Another wrinkle is that each game would have to undergo Apple’s review process. As a result, each app would have to pay Apple its 30% cut of in-app purchases. 

Epic Games had already rebelled against this rule, and Apple deleted Fortnite from the App Store in response.  

Response from Game Companies

In response to Kotaku, Microsoft said Apple’s new rules “remains a bad experience for customers.” The company said that gamers want direct access to their games instead of going through a catalog app.

The post Game Streaming on iOS Still Far off Even with Apple’s New Rules first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins