Dell XPS 13 Plus review: Beauty vs. usability

The XPS 13 Plus is one of the boldest laptops I’ve ever seen. It’s like Dell sent a computer back in time from the future, Terminator-style. It has a keyboard that stretches from edge to edge, with no gaps between the keys. The haptic trackpad is hidde…

Apple’s Mac and wearables revenue stumbles as tech sector recedes

After a strong quarter earlier this year, Apple is continuing to break records. According to the company’s financial results posted today, it’s reporting a revenue record of $83 billion, an increase of 2 percent from the same period last year. Apple also said it reached an all-time high for its installed base of active devices “in every geographic segment and product category.” However, the company’s profits are down by a whole 11 percent, and while it continued to see growth in its iPhone sales, revenue from Macs and wearables dropped.

It’s worth noting that Apple’s recently announced MacBook Air with M2 chip only started shipping this month, so the numbers for Macs are likely to increase next quarter. Considering the devices the company is expected to launch in the fall, it’s also possible consumers are holding out for new products and waiting out the ongoing inflation. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release “This quarter’s record results speak to Apple’s constant efforts to innovate, to advance new possibilities, and to enrich the lives of our customers.” The company’s CFO Luca Maestri added “Our June quarter results continued to demonstrate our ability to manage our business effectively despite the challenging operating environment.”

During the company’s earnings call, Cook said that iPhone set a “June quarter record for both revenue and switchers to iPhone.” Sales of iPhones indeed grew from $39.6 billion to $40.7 billion year over year. In response to a question about inflation affecting consumer demand, Cook said that while the macroeconomic environment had no obvious impact on iPhones, “Mac and iPad were so gated by supply that we didn’t have enough product to test the demand.” For the wearables, home and accessories categories, though, “we did some impact there that we would attribute to the macroeconomic environment,” he said.

Cook also talked about how the company was able to welcome developers to Apple Park at WWDC this year, calling it “a reminder of the economic miracle the App Store represents.” 

He added that “the iOS app economy supports more than 2.2 million jobs here in the United States and many more around the world.” Apple prevented “nearly 1.5 billion dollars in fraudulent transactions,” Cook said, and stopped “over 1.6 million risky and vulnerable apps and app updates.” 

Maestri said Macs generated $7.4 billion in revenue “despite supply constraints.” The iPad install base reached a new all-time high this quarter, with more than half of subscribers being new users in this time. Meanwhile, revenue from wearables was $8.1 billion, which is down 8 percent from the same period last year “as we faced foreign exchange headwinds, different launch timing for home and accessories products and supply constraints, as well as the overall macro economic environment,” Maestri said. 

Still, the company hit a new all-time record of “installed base of devices in the category.” Over two thirds of people who bought an Apple Watch during the quarter was new to the company, Maestri noted. Apple also saw strong performance in its paid subscription products, with more than 860 million paid subscriptions across the services it offers. 

Senate committee chair grills Apple, Google over protection against crypto app scams

Crypto scams remain a serious problem, and a key senator wants to make sure app store operators are cracking down. Senate banking committee chair Sen. Sherrod Brown has sent letters to the CEOs of Apple and Google requesting answers on their protections against cryptocurrency app fraud. The politician wanted details of their app approval and reporting processes, user alerts for fraudulent activity, coordination with rival stores and monitoring for apps that transform into phishing scams.

We’ve asked Apple and Google for comment. Brown gave the executives until August 10th to provide responses to the letters.

Both tech firms provide at least some screening for bogus crypto apps. Apple’s App Store review guidelines forbid scam apps, including bait-and-switch tactics. Google is less targeted with its Play Store policies, but bars apps that enable illegal activity or “dishonest behavior.” Both companies let you report suspicious apps. They haven’t historically sent direct scam alerts, however, and aren’t known to actively monitor apps in case they launch phishing scams.

Whatever the stances, Brown saw effective safeguards as important. The FBI recently warned that app-based cryptocurrency fraud has already led to losses of $42.7 million. It was “imperative” that shops protect investors against this damage, the senator said.

There’s no certainty that the requests will translate to legislation requiring stricter anti-fraud systems. The committee request could clarify the stances of Apple and Google on the subject, though, and might increase the pressure to take further action. At the least, it’s a reminder that an app’s presence on the App Store or Google Play isn’t a guarantee it will be trustworthy.

Backbone made a PlayStation version of its excellent iPhone controller

It’s no secret that the Backbone One is one of the best mobile gaming controllers you can buy. So it should come as no surprise then that the company is partnering with Sony to release a PlayStation version of its accessory for iPhones. The new Backbon…

ASUS’ Zenfone 9 gets a bigger camera in a palm-friendly body

With the launch of its latest smartphone today, ASUS finally bids farewell to its quirky “Flip Camera” feature, but it still believes that there’s a market for compact flagships. The new Zenfone 9 only comes in one size, which has kept the same 5.9-inc…