These are all the Moto phones Motorola is releasing in 2018

2018 is shaping up to be a big year for Motorola.

Ever since its acquisition by Lenovo, Motorola’s turned into a company that’s not shy about releasing a lot of different phones each year. This allows for a lot of choices, but it can also make trying to pick the perfect phone a bit headache-inducing. No matter your opinion on Motorola’s release cycle, however, there’s no denying that 2018 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for the company.

We’ve seen a ton of leaks, rumors, renders and more for Motorola’s lineup of phones for 2018 ever since the beginning of the year, and this is everything we know so far.

The phones that are still on their way

Motorola One Power

The wildcard on this list easily goes to the Motorola One Power. We didn’t have any idea such a phone existed until late May, and based on what we know so far, it looks quite a bit different from the rest of Motorola’s 2018 handsets.

First off, the overall design language isn’t anything like the rest of this year’s Moto phones. There’s a giant notch at the top of the screen, vertical dual cameras on the back, and what appears to be a metal unibody.

Android One branding suggests that this phone will be among the first Motorola phones to get software updates and new security patches, and the full-on “Motorola” branding is unique from the short-hand “Moto” tag on the rest of the company’s products.

Shortly after the phone broke cover for the first time, even more press renders and a hands-on photo surfaced along with alleged specs. According to Andri Yatim on Twitter, the One Power will come equipped with the Snapdragon 636 processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB of storage, a large 3,780 mAh battery, and NFC for Google Pay support.

As for the camera situation, the two sensors on the back include a primary 16MP shooter with f/1.5 aperture and a seondary 5MP f/1.9 one. As for the front-facing camera, its 16MP with f/1.9.

Moto Z3/Z3 Play

Next, let’s talk about Motorola’s highest-end and most premium phones for 2018 – the Moto Z3 and Z3 Play.

Just like last year, we’re expecting Motorola to release two entries in its Z-series in 2018. The regular Moto Z3 will be the most powerful of the two, whereas the Z3 Play will come with slightly lower specs and a more affordable price tag. Specifications for these two phones are mostly up in the air, but what does seem like a sure bet is slimmer bezels.

Both the Moto Z3 and Z3 Play will supposedly come with 6-inch FHD+ displays, and like we saw through a lot of 2017, bezels surrounding these panels are going to be cut down considerably. The Z3 (pictured below) has the slimmest bezels of the two, but the Z3 Play still looks a lot more modern when compared to the Z2 Play.

Something that’s got our attention with these two renders is the lack of a physical fingerprint sensor. It’s possible that Motorola will be opting for one that lies underneath the display like we saw with Vivo at CES 2018, a facial recognition system, or a combination of the two. It’s too early to say for certain, but we’ll likely see at least one of these things make an appearance.

Along with showing off the phone itself, the image of the Z3 also reveals a new Moto Mod. It may not look like anything at first glance, but the “5G” branding near the bottom suggests that this Mod will allow the Z3 to get 5G data speeds. Furthermore, the monthly data allotment page is taken right from the Project Fi app and could be a hint that more Moto phones will find their way to Google’s MVNO.

Moto X5

If you’re not about the Moto Mod life but still want a quality phone from Motorola, the X series has proven to be the way to go. Our first look at the Moto X5 shows a very similar design compared to the X4, but there are a couple key differences.

Just like the Z3/Z3 Play, we’re looking at a tall display with slim bezels on all sides. However, unlike those two phones, the X5 appears to have a notch near the top just like another phone with an X in its name. This is one trend I was really hoping wouldn’t catch on, but if it has to make its way into one Moto phone, so be it.

The screen on the X5 is said to measure in at 5.9-inches with a FHD+ resolution, there are dual cameras on the front and back, and there’s also mention of “Moto’s Smart AI.”

Unfortunately, it’s possible none of this will mean anything. A report surfaced in early March suggesting that Motorola had canceled the Moto X5, meaning it won’t be released at all. As a big fan of the X4, this would be incredibly disappointing if it turns out to be true.

The phones that have been released

Moto G6/G6 Plus/G6 Play

Motorola’s Moto G series has been its most popular (and profitable) since the very first Moto G that came out in 2013, and this year’s entries have proven to be some of the best so far.

For 2018, Motorola released three G phones — the Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus. The Play is the most affordable of the bunch, with the G6 Plus being the flagship entry and the regular G6 finding home in between the two.

While the G6 Play is made out of a shiny plastic, the G6 and G6 Plus both have glass bodies that look and feel much nicer than their asking prices. Add that together with dual cameras, 18:9 screens, and Snapdragon processors, and there’s a lot to like here.

Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus: Everything you need to know!

Moto E5/E5 Plus/E5 Play

Similar to the G series, Motorola released three entries in its E5 series this year in the forms of the Moto E5, Moto E5 Plus, and Moto E5 Play.

The E5 Play is the cheapest phone in Motorola’s 2018 portfolio, touting a plastic body, 16:9 display, removable battery, and pretty low specs.

The E5 and E5 Plus still won’t blow your socks off, but they’re a bit more modern with glass designs, big, 18:9 screens, and respectable specs across the board. Oh, and did we mention the E5 Plus has a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery? 😳

If this year’s G6 phones are too rich for your blood, the E5 models are absolutely worth a look.

Moto E5, E5 Plus and E5 Play: Everything you need to know!

Updated June 2018: Added rumored specs for the Motorola One Power.

LG G7 ThinQ now available in the U.S. for $750

On sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Project Fi, and many others.

It’s been nearly a month since LG introduced the world to the G7 ThinQ and its – interesting – name, and now the company’s confirmed that the phone is available for purchase in the United States.

So, where will you be able to buy the thing? If carriers are your cup of tea, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular will all be selling the handset. You won’t see the G7 on AT&T, but it is one of the two exclusive carriers of the recently announced LG V35 ThinQ.

You’ll even find the G7 on Project Fi. It’s one of the first LG phones to be officially supported by Google’s service, and I certainly hope it’s not the last.

If you prefer to buy your phones unlocked, you’ll also be able to get the G7 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H.

The LG G7 ThinQ has a retail price of $750, but you can help to spread that cost out over the course of a few months thanks to installment plans offered by almost all of the retailers/carriers selling it.

Do you plan on buying the G7?

LG G7 ThinQ hands-on preview: All about that bass

LG G7

• LG G7 hands-on preview: All about that bass
• LG G7 Specifications: Everything you need to know
• Join the LG G7 forums

What YouTube Music means for the future of Google Play Music

Slow your roll and let’s think practically for a minute here.

Ever since YouTube Music and YouTube Premium were announced, I’ve seen Google Play Music subscribers freaking out about whether to cancel their subscriptions. I’ve seen YouTube Red subscribers users kicking and screaming about not getting the new YouTube Music yet and then kicking and screaming about it being broken. I’ve seen a whole, whole lot of people who are even more confused about this than they ever were about YouTube Red’s introduction.

Let’s get to the bottom of this whole messy situation.

Let the sun shine on, ’cause it’s all alright…

Google Play Music’s development merged with the YouTube Music team a while ago, and some YouTube executives keep slipping out bits and pieces about Google Play Music being replaced by YouTube Music. There’s a lot of misinformation, incomplete information, and outright panic among Google Play Music users today. Here’s what you need to know:

• Google Play Music is not going anywhere this year and more than likely will not be going anywhere until at least 2020. Given that it’s how Google lets people download their music purchases, they aren’t going to think of touching it until they’re 110% sure of its replacement.
• Yes, your Google Play Music library will eventually migrate to YouTube Music, but that isn’t happening this year. Do not expect your library to magically appear in YouTube Music tomorrow; the libraries for YouTube Music and Google Play Music are currently separate and will remain separate for the time being.
• Yes, the music locker will eventually come to YouTube Music, too, but it’s not there yet and we don’t have a timetable. If you’re that hard up to upload songs to YouTube Music, upload them in the main YouTube app as private videos and add them to playlists as desired.
• Do not panic and do not cancel your subscriptions right now. Your Google Play Music subscription is getting grandfathered into YouTube Premium; canceling right now will throw away that discount and force you to rebuild on a new platform.

It is called Early Access for a reason.

Google Play Music being absorbed into YouTube Music is too far down the road to think seriously about right now.

YouTube Music was majorly hyped up ahead of its release, and to be sure, there’s a lot in it to like… but YouTube Music is essentially a beta right now. Some albums aren’t populating in search and artist pages correctly. Casting is a complete disaster. Library management is bordering on non-existent. Downloaded content is fickle, especially on phones with SD cards and which menu you play downloaded content from.

There is no proper Android Auto integration, no gapless playback, no integration with Google Play Music yet. Yes, the official library on YouTube Music is smaller than Google Play Music. I don’t know when that’s going to change, but Google Play Music still has it, so just listen to it there! Google Play Music is not dead. YouTube Music is not finished yet.

If this is what you think things look like right now, you’re wrong.

Can we let YouTube Music get its act together before we go projecting the expectations of a decade-old, legacy music service onto it? And can we let YouTube Music roll out beyond five countries before we start ringing the death bells for Google Play Music? Can we find it within ourselves to let Google work out the bugs before it gets on to the metric ton of insanity it needs to do before it can prepare to absorb Google Play Music?

And if you’re using the new YouTube Music, submit feedback so Google knows what they need to fix, and then go listen to something that will help you chill out.

YouTube Music: Everything you need to know!

Where to buy the LG G7 ThinQ

Your guide for buying the G7 in the U.S. and Canada.

LG’s playing it safe this year with the G7 ThinQ, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad phone. In fact, the G7 is one heck of a smartphone that’s at least worth a look.

If you live in the United States or Canada and are interested in picking up the G7 ThinQ for yourself, here’s everything you need to know.

United States

AT&T

Although LG devices usually show up on AT&T like clockwork, this year appears to be slightly different.

Instead of carrying the G7, AT&T is instead selling the V35 — a phone that has the design of last year’s V30 and the modern specs of the G7. It’s an interesting mashup, to say the least, and one that’ll cost you a pretty penny at $900.

See at AT&T

Sprint

If Sprint’s your carrier of choice, you’re going to pay more than most to own the G7.

On Sprint, the phone will cost you $33/month for an 18-month lease, and if you decide to keep paying for six more months to actually own the G7, you’ll be looking at a final price of $792 — $42 more than T-Mobile and Verizon.

Sprint is offering a lease one, get another for free deal, but you’re required to either add two new lines or upgrade two existing ones.

See at Sprint

T-Mobile

Jumping over to T-Mobile, the G7 costs $30 down and then $30/month afterward, resulting in a final retail price of $750 ($30 more than the Galaxy S9). To help offset the cost, T-Mobile is running a BOGO promo that allows you to get two G7s for the price of one via monthly bill credits.

See at T-Mobile

U.S. Cellular

The LG G7 is also available at U.S. Cellular. It costs $749.70 if you buy it with a prepaid plan, but if you purchase it on an installment setup, you can save $300 by paying just $14.99/month for 30 months after monthly bill credits.

Should you choose to go the installment route, you’ll pay $0 down and have 0% APR. Not too shabby!

See at U.S. Cellular

Verizon

Last but not least for U.S. carriers, pricing for the G7 at Verizon is similar to that of T-Mobile, including a payment of $31.25/month for 24 months for a final price of $750.

In honor of the G7’s launch, Verizon’s offering an instant $100 off discount just for buying it on an installment plan. Better yet, that deal can be combined with Verizon’s other trade-in promotions.

See at Verizon

B&H

If you prefer buying your phones unlocked, B&H is selling the G7 for $749.99. The phone’s available in Platinum and Black colors, expedited shipping is free, and no tax is collected if you live outside of New York and New Jersey.

See at B&H

Canada

Bell

At Bell, you can purchase the G7 between $199.99 and $399.99 depending on what kind of two-year plan you sign up for. If you prefer to purchase it outright, it’ll set you back $1,049.99.

If there’s a Bell store nearby, you can go there, trade-in an eligible phone, sign up for a two-year Premium Plus plan with data, and get the G7 for as little as $0.

See at Bell

Freedom Mobile

If Freedom Mobile is your Canadian carrier of choice, there are four main ways you can buy the G7:

• Pay $0 down + $20/month MyTab Boost for 24 months on current $50+ plans (save $480)
• Pay $250 down + $25/month MyTab Boost for 24 months on current $40+ plans (save $110)
• Pay $480 down + $20/month MyTab Boost for 24 months on current $30+ plans
• Pay $960 to buy the G7 outright

See at Freedom Mobile

Rogers

Rogers is also selling the G7 in The Great White North, with pricing working out as follows:

• $199 on two-year Premium+ Tab
• $399 on two-year Premium Tab
• $549 on two-year Smart Tab
• $699 on two-year Talk & Text Tab
• $999 with outright with No Tab

See at Rogers

SaskTel

For SaskTel customers, the carrier’s running a promotion through June 30 that lets you get a $200 bonus credit on top of the trade-in value of your existing phone when you upgrade to the G7.

Along with that, pricing works out as follows:

• Pay $0 down + $20/month with Plus Pricing on a two-year $20/month+ plan
• Pay $199.99 down + $10/month with Plus Pricing on a two-year $10/month+ plan
• Pay $399.99 with a two-year voice and data plan
• Pay $99.99 with a monthly, device only, or prepaid plan

See at SaskTel

Telus

Last but not least, Telus is also selling the LG G7 ThinQ.

You’ll pay between $200 and $400 down depending on which plan you choose, and if you prefer to buy the phone outright, you’ll need to hand over $980.

See at Telus

Updated June, 2018: Now that the G7’s launched, we’ve refreshed this guide to include final pricing at all U.S. and Canadian carriers/retailers.

LG G7

• LG G7 hands-on preview: All about that bass
• LG G7 Specifications: Everything you need to know
• Join the LG G7 forums

Lenovo is working on a new version of its unique Yoga Book 2-in-1

It looks like Lenovo is taking another shot at the Yoga Book.

The Lenovo Yoga Book was certainly one of the most unique computers to come out of 2016, largely thanks to its futuristic-looking touch keyboard that can operate as an inking surface as well. But while it garnered plenty of eyeballs due to its strange design, Lenovo never followed it up with another version in 2017. It looks like the company may be remedying that, however.

According to a new regulatory filing with Bluetooth SIG (via Liliputing), Lenovo is working on a second generation digital pen that works with an unannounced Yoga Book Pro 2. The filing provides no details other than confirmation that a Yoga Book Pro 2 apparently exists, but it’s an interesting development.

The original Yoga Book was available with either Windows 10 or Android on board. A Chrome OS version was expected to launch later, but that version never made it to market.

It’s hard to predict what to expect from a successor, but it’s not unrealistic to expect a that a processor update is in the cards, potentially with Intel’s latest 8th Gen lineup. The Yoga Book’s highlight feature, its touch surface, is likely to return as well. It’ll be interesting to see if Lenovo has managed to figure out a way to make what is essentially a Wacom tablet connected to the display easier to use.

See at Lenovo

6 Best Tech Gifts for Dad Under $100

Make this a Father’s Day to remember with a great tech gift for Dad!

Father’s Day is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the fatherly figure in your life.

If you’re stumped for ideas for your dad, hopefully, one of these great tech gifts under $100 will inspire you.

• Amazon Echo
• Chromecast Ultra
• Edifier R1010BT Studio Speakers
• UE Boom 2 Bluetooth Speaker
• Audio-Technica ATH-M30X Over-Ear Headphones
• Anker 20100mAh PowerCore Battery Pack

Amazon Echo

A smart speaker as capable and stylish as the Amazon Echo makes a great gift. Whether it’s the first Echo speaker or a second speaker to expand Alexa’s reach throughout the house, you really can’t go wrong with the Echo.

The second-gen Echo speaker looks stylish with its fabric finish and shorter stature. Your dad will surely find the value of having these Amazon Echo speakers around the house, whether he only uses it for weather and news updates, for listening to his favorite music, or as a starting point to creating the ultimate connected smart home.

At just $85, it’s a great gift, but if you’re able to afford it, the Echo Plus is also a great option at $150.

See at Amazon

Chromecast Ultra

If your dad bought himself a brand new 4K TV “for the family”, a Chromecast Ultra makes for a great complimentary gift. This is the updated version of Chromecast that Google released a couple of years ago that takes all the great functionality of the Chromecast and adds support for 4K Ultra HD video.

This is a great gift if your dad is an Android user, as there’s a ton of great apps that work with Chromecast. You can become the favorite child by pairing this gift with a Google Home Mini which would allow dad to cast his favorite shows to the TV using just his voice.

You can pick up a Chromecast Ultra for just $59 at Best Buy.

See at Best Buy

Edifier R1010BT Studio Monitor Speakers

Edifier makes some amazing speakers at a very reasonable price. Take these bookshelf speakers, which deliver incredible sound and multiple ways to connect up to audio devices, whether via 3.5mm headphone output or dual RCA output. That means dad will be able to connect these up to his PC, his old record player, or stream his favorite Spotify playlists from his phone over Bluetooth.

The sound is delivered via a 13mm silk dome tweeter and a 4-inch bass driver, and they sound great for the price — just $100 on Amazon. These speakers also look fantastic, with wood grain finish along the sides and a removable fabric speaker grill.

See at Amazon

UE Boom 2 Bluetooth Speaker

If your father’s the outdoorsy type who also loves to crank the tunes, a quality Bluetooth speaker is a great gift idea. And when it comes to Bluetooth speakers, few can outmatch the form factor, sound quality, and ruggedness of the UE Boom 2.

The sound is delivered in 360 degrees with up to 15 hours of playback on a full charge. You can connect your phone using NFC meaning you just tap your phone and let the good times roll. Perfect for the golf course or chilling out at the lake.

Get this great portable Bluetooth speaker for your pops for $95 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Audio-Technica ATH-M30X Over-Ear Headphones

Every dad could use a new set of noise-canceling headphones — whether he needs them for traveling or he’s an audiophile who wants some professional cans. These over-ear headphones from Audio-Technica are the real deal, specifically designed for studio and field recording, but perfect for any usage.

The design offers excellent sound isolation so everything rings through clear even when you’re in a noisy environment. Reviewers have said these are great for everyday activities like mowing the lawn.

Available for just $69, these are great options for headphones in the sub-$100 range.

See at Amazon

Anker 20100mAh PowerCore Battery Pack

Everyone who owns a smartphone and other portable devices could get good use out of a battery pack — if you’ve ever heard your dad complain about his phone battery dying too soon this is the perfect gift.

This Anker battery pack has a 20,100mAh battery is a great option that’s capable of charging multiple phones on a single charge. Featuring two USB ports that use PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies and Anker’s MultiProtect safety system, you can be confident that your devices will be charged fast and safely.

You can get this great battery pack for just $44. Backed by a 18-month warranty, it’s a no-brainer!

See at Amazon

Want more Father’s Day gift ideas? Check out our full gift guide!

OnLeaks: Budget iPhone X to Have 6-Inch Screen With Notch, Single Rear Camera, and Aluminum Frame

Apple is widely rumored to release what will essentially be a lower-priced but lesser-featured iPhone X later this year. Ahead of then, renders have surfaced that may reveal what the device will look like.

Steve Hemmerstoffer, who runs the OnLeaks account on Twitter, has teamed up with the blog MySmartPrice to share photos and a video of the alleged 6.1-inch iPhone, expected to be announced in September alongside the second-generation iPhone X and a larger 6.5-inch model dubbed the iPhone X Plus.

In addition to the 6.1-inch display, the renders suggest the device will have a notch like the iPhone X, presumably for Face ID given the lack of a home button. The device also has a glass back, making wireless charging a possibility, and an aluminum frame like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

The renders also suggest the device will sport a single rear camera, whereas the iPhone X has a dual setup with telephoto and wide-angle lenses.

The rest of the device is par for course for an iPhone, with a Lightning connector and speaker grilles along the bottom, volume buttons and a mute switch along the left side, and a power button on the right side.

The renders corroborate information previously shared by former KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also said the 6.1-inch iPhone will feature a single-lens rear camera and aluminum frame. He also said it will have an LCD, 3GB of RAM, and perhaps most interesting of all, apparently lack 3D Touch.

Kuo said the 6.1-inch iPhone will be priced from between $700 and $800 in the United States, so tradeoffs were inevitable, including the lack of an OLED, stainless steel frame, 3D Touch, and dual-lens rear camera system. The 6.1-inch iPhone could also be slightly thicker at 8.3mm, versus the iPhone X at 7.7mm.

Earlier today, Korean website The Bell claimed the 6.1-inch iPhone might not launch until November, but the more likely scenario is that Apple unveils and releases all of its new iPhones in September, as the company has reportedly resolved the supply chain issues that led to a staggered rollout last year.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhonesTag: Onleaks
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2019 Emoji Candidates Include Flamingo, White Heart, Diving Mask, Axe, and More

Ahead of the impending arrival of Unicode 11 on June 5, Emojipedia today published an article about all of the emoji characters that will be launching on Apple devices later this year. While these characters were known, the site also looked forward a bit and briefly detailed what users can expect from Unicode 12 coming in March 2019.

On the short list for impending release in 2019 are the Flamingo and White Heart, which are the two “most requested” emojis by Emojipedia readers this year. Otherwise, the following emoji candidates have been drafted for potential launch next year: Diving Mask, Axe, Waffle, Diya Lamp, and Hindu Temple. All of these candidates have also received mockups, seen below, except Waffle.

2019 Emoji concepts via Emojipedia
At this time, these emojis are still only candidates for inclusion in Unicode 12, “and no decisions have been made about the final emoji list for 2019.” Emojipedia has been expanding the Unicode 12 candidates list over the past few weeks, now including characters like Yawning Face, Ballet Shoes, Sloth, Butter, Stethoscope, Ringed Planet, and more.

For Unicode 11 in 2018, users can expect social media companies to adopt the new emojis sometime over the summer, while Apple and other smartphone makers will likely add all of the new characters into OS updates in the fall. As a reminder, some of the new emojis include Parrot, Llama, Lobster, Softball, Kangaroo, Partying Face, and more. Check out a glimpse below:

Emojis coming in 2018
If going by traditional releases, Apple should add in these new characters to iOS, macOS, and watchOS devices around September 2018. The company might also provide further details about the incoming 2018 emojis in a press release later this summer, as it did on World Emoji Day last year, in addition to giving the iTunes Movies store an emoji-themed makeover.

Tags: emoji, Unicode Consortium, Unicode 12
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iPhone X Plus Said to Feature Triple-Lens Rear Camera in 2018, Despite Most Rumors Pointing to 2019

A new report suggests that the next flagship smartphones from Apple and Samsung could be equipped with three rear-facing cameras.

A triple-lens iPhone X mockup by Martin Hajek via iDrop News

The Korea Herald claims that the so-called iPhone X Plus, the widely rumored 6.5-inch version of the iPhone X expected to be announced this September, and Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy S10, likely to be released in early 2019, will both sport a trio of lenses on the backside.

The prediction about the Galaxy S10 comes from Kim Dong-won, an analyst with investment firm KB Securities, based in South Korea:

Samsung, which has a lower-than-expected demand for its latest Galaxy S9 lineup, will consider to equip its next premium phone with the triple cameras and a 3-D sensor to reinvigorate its smartphone business.

The prediction about the iPhone X Plus is only briefly mentioned in what is otherwise a Samsung-focused report:

One of Apple’s next premium smartphones, reportedly named as the iPhone X Plus, is also anticipated to come fitted with three camera lenses on the rear.

While this the fourth time we’ve heard about an upcoming iPhone with three rear cameras, all of the earlier reports have suggested it will be a 2019 move at the earliest, so the chances this is a 2018 move seem unlikely.

Earlier this year, for example, former KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the 6.5-inch iPhone will have a dual-lens rear camera.

Huawei P20 Pro
The Korea Herald could be right about the what, but wrong about the when. Triple-lens smartphones are only just reaching the market, starting with the Huawei P20 Pro in March, and Apple often waits to perfect a technology rather than rushing to include a feature to compete with the best possible tech specs.

In the end, 2019 could end up being the year of triple-lens smartphones, starting with the Galaxy S10 in the spring and the iPhone in the fall.

The third lens would likely enable 3x optical zoom on an iPhone for the first time, enabling users to magnify the image in the viewfinder by up to three times without a blurry reduction in quality like digital zoom. iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models feature 2x optical zoom for comparison.

The three-lens system could also enable advanced 3D sensing for augmented reality, an area in which Apple CEO Tim Cook has expressed interest.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhonesTag: koreaherald.com
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Apple Turns Down Invite to EU Hearing on Tax Evasion Because it Could Be ‘Detrimental’ to Appeal Process

As Apple continues to face a legal battle with the European Commission concerning the regulator’s claim that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland and owes billions in back taxes, the latest development has seen the Cupertino company decline an invitation to testify before a special committee on the tax evasion claims (via Reuters).

According to a letter to the European Parliament shared on Twitter today by Parliament member Sven Giegold, Apple said it “will not be able to participate in a public hearing” on the topic of tax evasion.

The company’s senior director for European government affairs, Claire Thwaites, explained that while the company appeals the Commission’s decision alleging state aid from Ireland, “it is important to ensure public commentary does not prejudice those proceedings.”

This is rotten! #Apple refuses to testify before the special committee on tax evasion of the European Parliament. No company stands above democracy! We should now withdraw Apple’s lobby badges to access to the Parliament! This is the company’s letter: pic.twitter.com/U2I4G6jNp9

— Sven Giegold (@sven_giegold) June 1, 2018

Because of this, Apple fears its presence at the June 21 EU hearing “could be detrimental” to its appeal, and “any potential appeals thereafter.” Thwaites ended the letter by stating Apple would, however, be open to meeting privately with Committee members to address questions on its decision.

Since the appeal is ongoing and likely to be heard at the General Court in the near future we will not be able to participate in a public hearing on this topic as it could be detrimental to the proceedings at the Court, and any potential appeals thereafter.

I’d like to emphasize that we have the deepest respect for the Committee, it’s members and the important work you are undertaking. We would be happy to meet privately with you or other Committee members and address any questions you may have.

Despite Apple’s appeal, the company has started paying the 13 billion euros in back taxes to the Irish government this month. Like the wording in Thwaites’ letter today, Apple has remained adamant that the company follows the law and pays “every cent of tax” it owes “in every country” it operates. In the wake of the legal battle, Apple CEO Tim Cook called the decision “total political crap” back in 2016, saying that “the decision is wrong, and it’s not based on law or facts, it’s based on politics. And I think it’s very important that we stand up and say that very loudly.”

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: European Union, Europe, Apple-Ireland tax case
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