Apple recently launched its anniversary edition iPhone - iPhone X with the much-talked Face ID feature. The company claims that it uses TrueDepth camera for its Face ID feature on iPhone X. Now, Apple tipster and KGi Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo has made a prediction for upcoming lineup of Apple iPad. Kuo said that Apple will incorporate TrueDepth camera in its iPad models for the year 2018. This means that the upcoming iPads will also feature facial recognition.

According to a report by MacRumours, Kuo said that Apple will do so in order to offer similar user experience for iPhone X and iPads. The report further added that by doing this Apple is trying to build a new ecosystem, however, the feature will be limited to high-end iPad Pro lineup only. Earlier, Kuo predicted that the company will introduce the same Face ID feature in 2018 iPhone models. It is expected that the company will launch the new iPad models with Face ID feature in March next year.

Kuo also said that after the introduction of Face ID from Apple, Android developers will also work on the same technology for Android smartphones. He recommends that Android developers should shift their focus from under-glass fingerprint sensor to facial recognition technology. He also mentions that although Apple has received accolades for the new technology but its success totally depends on its users.


Apple's anniversary edition iPhone is all set to go on pre-orders in 55 countries including India starting October 27. It will hit the retail shelves starting November 3. Apple has priced the iPhone X, which comes in two storage variants 64GB and 256GB, at Rs 89,000 onwards in India. This means that the 64GB variant of iPhone X will be priced at Rs 89,000 while the 256GB variant is priced at Rs 1,02,000.

At the time of the launch, among the three iPhones, iPhone X stole the spotlight with its bezel-less display and FaceID. Apple CEO Tim Cook called iPhone X "the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone."

If you were waiting to buy the recently-launched iPhone 8 then here is an interesting offer for you. The e-commerce arm of digital payment service provider Paytm is giving a cashback of Rs 15,000 on latest Apple
Paytm Mall is selling the 64GB version of iPhone 8 at Rs 61,950. Along with this, the e-tailer is giving a cashback of Rs 15,000 to Yes Bank credit card holders. Customers have to use the promocode YESPECIAL at the time of making the payment. A cashback of Rs 9,000 will be credited with 24 hours and the reaming cashback of Rs 6,000 will be credited on or before November 20. Buyers who don't have a Yes Bank credit card will only get a cashback of Rs 9,000. This means that you can get the all new iPhone 8 at Rs 46,950.


The company launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus last month along with the anniversary edition iPhone X . The Apple iPhone 8 comes with a 4.7-inch Retina screen with 750x1334 pixels resolution. The smartphone is powered by company's latest 10nm A11 Bionic chipset with a 6-core processor. It is claimed to be 25% faster than the A10, which powers the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus smartphones.

The smartphone comes with wireless charging and is available in two storage options 64GB and 256GB. The device supports full-HD recording at 240 frames per second. The handsets can also shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. It comes with improved camera software that lets users click better portrait shots. iPhone 8 comes with a single 12MP rear camera and 7MP front facing camera.

The technology major had also asked for relaxation in the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components.

The government is considering iPhone maker Apple's proposal for setting up manufacturing unit in India, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam said today.

Cupertino-based iPhone and iPad manufacturer Apple has sought certain concessions for setting up manufacturing unit in the country.

"We would like Apple to come in India (for setting up manufacturing unit) and we are examining Apple's proposal," said the Minister of State for Electronics and IT on the sidelines of an event organised by industry body CII.

The company had sought concessions, including duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years.

The technology major had also asked for relaxation in the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components besides reduction in custom duties on completely-knocked-down and semi-knocked-down units of devices that are to be assembled in the country.

Apple is eyeing India as it is the fastest growing smartphone market in the world. The company is looking to set up a local manufacturing unit in India to cut costs.

It sells its products through company-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others.


It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.

About 90 phone companies are currently manufacturing handsets in the country.

In March, the then Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had informed Rajya Sabha that the government has not accepted 'most of the demands' of Apple which wants to set up manufacturing unit in India. 

Apple and Reliance Industries, the most valuable companies in the US and India, are entering into a "deep" local partnership that will harness the conglomerate's telecom and retailing networks to help the iconic American phone maker "discover Bharat" and take the brand to 900 cities and towns. The exercise also seeks to establish Reliance as the largest seller of iPhones in the country.
As part of the arrangement that may eventually help iPhones reach more than 2,000 points of sale through Reliance Digital and Reliance Jio, Reliance is now undertaking the distribution itself, three senior industry executives told ET. Earlier, distributors would reach out to Reliance Digital stores.
"Apple wants to expand rapidly in the smaller cities and towns to sell iPhones where Reliance has a ready infrastructure through its retail and telecom businesses. Apple's retail presence will immediately double to over 4,000 outlets through this. Reliance, too, wants to sell phones from Rs 999 to $999. Hence, it's a win-win relationship for both," a person aware of the plans said. 

Reliance is also going to enter into bundling plans for the upcoming iPhone X that are similar to those for iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and which would include assured buyback and free data, the industry executives said. The company wants to become the largest seller of iPhones in the country, a laurel now shared by the two largest e-commerce marketplaces, -Flipkart and Amazon.


"While there has been muted demand for the just launched iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Reliance Digital has sold more units than in earlier years. And with iPhone X, Reliance is targeting to become the largest seller," another person said. 

Emails sent to Reliance and Apple did not elicit any response until the publication of this report Wednesday late evening.


Apple currently sells iPhones through five distributors in India - Brightstar, HCL Infosystems, Ingram Micro, Rashi Peripherals, and Redington. Reliance has been an old partner of Apple since it was one of the earliest franchisees for the Apple exclusive stores. Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Apple CEO Tim Cook started talks again during Cook's India visit in May last year.

Cook has since then praised Jio's expanding 4G service in analyst calls. Akash Ambani and Cook through video-conferencing launched the Reliance Jio bundling offer on the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus last week. As part of this, consumers will get assured buyback of 70% on their iPhones 8 and 8 Plus models and additional data services. Both companies will now roll out similar plans for the upcoming super-premium iPhone X that will be launched in November.