Apple Watch sales surged in 2018 to over 20 million units

According to Strategy Analytics' data it’s 22.5 million. Up from around 18 million the year before. — Apple still leads the overall smartwatch market with 50% share, which looks every year more similar to the tablet market.

I got some charts for you:

Good news, bad news for the iPhone in the U.S. 

A survey reveals that 67% of people who plan to purchase a smartphone in the next 2 years say they'll get an iPhone. — Up from 60% last year. Actual sales quota isn't near any of those figures anyway, it’s closer to 45%.

The bad news is only 15% of those asked say they're planning to get a new phone at all.

Apple is hiring more software people than hardware people

For the first time in years. Apple push into services warrants more people for software.

Wall Street thinks Apple will sell more mid-range iPhones 

It looks like the XR and iPhone 8 models are outperforming, according to their supply chain estimates, lowering overall ASP to sub $700 figures in the ongoing quarter.

Foxconn slashes employees salaries and benefits as iPhone orders dry up

In depth article reports many troubling signs for Apple production figures from one of Foxconn's biggest factories.

From the article:

• August is usually the start of the peak season, one month before Apple launches its newest generation of iPhones, and the increase in production usually lasts for four to five months.

• "A Foxconn worker told the Post that the peak production season last year lasted only about 20 days.

• Foxconn plans to slash production costs by 20 billion yuan (US$3 billion) in 2019 with a “very difficult and competitive” year expected.

More from the orchard

• 80% of all iOS devices are running iOS 12, or around 1.12 billion devices, from a total of 1.4 billion. The figure goes up to 83% for newer models.

• "Marzipanify" software allows to quickly create a macOS app from any recent iOS app, even if only as an exercise. Apple will reveal more about their app developing tools in WWDC.

• EFF asks Apple to let their users encrypt their iPhone backups. One the longest privacy concerns regarding the company's software.

• Apple clarifies new podcasting guidelines shortly after confusing email about episode numbers being in the title.

• Amazing Apple executive chart by The Information with almost 200 members of their top management ranked and sorted, from Tim Cook down.

• AirPods case can put your MacBook to sleep with their magnetic lid. It'll trigger a magnetic circuit beneath the USB ports and the computer will think it's closed.

• A third person was convicted in the "Celebgate" scandal that saw hundreds of celebrities iCloud accounts exposed in 2014.

• Last shareholders meeting went on full of promises by Cook and other execs, with little if any info given, understandably. 

Competitors 

• Microsoft rolls out a feature to allows users to scan data from a printed document onto Excel in the form of a fully editable spreadsheet.

• Samsung offered to supply foldable displays to both Apple and Google, according to the Korean press.

• Qualcomm says it will release its first chipset with an integrated 5G modem in the first half of 2020. Until then, all "5G smartphones" will have an extra modem besides the SoC. 

• Spotify launches in India with ad-supported free tier and 120 rupee/month subscription. Same as Apple Music.

• Interesting interview by newly appointed Intel CEO Bob Swan.

• Google refuses to remove widely-criticized Saudi government app. Apple said they'll "look into it" a few weeks ago.

• Apple Music briefly appeared as an option in Google Home devices.

• Fitbit sold less wearables than the year before, but their smartwatch unit grew considerably past 5 million units. 

• New U.S. regulations will require lithium-ion cells and batteries to be generally shipped with a state of charge of no more than 30% on cargo aircraft.

Thank you for reading Apple Weekly. Please consider forwarding this email to your contacts. — Alex