Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Apple joins Facebook, Microsoft, reveals thousands of U.S. demands for customer data (TheGlobeAndMail)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) today joined other technology giants in disclosing details of government requests for customer data, pledging to try to “strike the right balance” between privacy and legal requests. Apple’s disclosure follows similar moves by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) over the past few days, as controversy mounts over a U.S. government snooping program known as Prism. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) received between 4,000 and 5,000 requests from U.S. agencies over the past six months, the company said in a statement posted on its website. Between 9,000 and 10,000 accounts or devices were targeted by federal, state and municipal agencies, involving criminal and national security issues.
Apple Inc Is Working On 3 Variants Of iPhone To Be Launched In Next 10 Months (DazeInfo)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has apparently taken the aggressive approach towards iPhone to woo its users clamoring for more choices in different screen sizes. Apple is currently working on three (not two) variants of iPhone to be released in next 10 months. Recently Reuters claimed two bigger screen size iPhone under testing, while low-price iPhone is also creating enough buzz over internet. According to Reuters, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is working on 4.7 inch and 5.7 inch screen size iPhone that could be launched only by March 2014. However, to defuse intensified pressure, Apple is also working on successor of iPhone 5 – to be called iPhone 5S probably – scheduled for August this year.
Why Apple Inc. remains popular in California (HealthyCal)
California’s most valuable company – Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) – has been taking flak lately from the halls of Congress to the capitals of Europe over reports that the consumer electronics giant manages its business to minimize the corporate income taxes it pays to the U.S. and foreign governments. But you’re not likely to hear too many complaints from California politicians about the company’s contribution to the state and local tax base – or the economy. The taxes Apple pays represent a huge chunk of the state budget, and new numbers show just how big a role it plays in the economic life of the Silicon Valley and especially the company’s home town of Cupertino.
Apple’s bid to crack the center stack (AutoNews)
Last week Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) executive Eddy Cue said 12 car brands will let motorists link iPhones to center consoles to make calls, send text messages, use maps and issue voice commands. So Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is poised to invade the cockpit and take over the center stack, right? Well, no. Automakers certainly lust after 49 million American iPhone owners, but not enough to alienate 68 million U.S. Android users. Reluctant to surrender control of their center stacks, and worried about safety-conscious federal regulators, automakers will perform a balancing act.
Apple bites workers at home & abroad (Workers)
Workers and small business people complain a lot about taxes — and rightfully so. Too often, however, some especially in the middle class buy into the right-wing argument that their taxes are high because of “wasteful” government social programs meant to alleviate the worst aspects of poverty in the U.S. …Recently, a U.S. congressional report into Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s tax arrangements says that “Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) established an offshore subsidiary, Apple Operations International, which from 2009 to 2012 reported net income of $30 billion, but declined to declare any tax residence, filed no corporate income tax return and paid no corporate income taxes to any national government for five years.”
