Photographer Rachael Short explores the beauty of simplicity with iPhone<br/>California-based photographer Rachael Short likes to keep things simple. Shooting photographs around Carmel, California, she searches for new textures, lighting and contrasts to capture in her portraits and landscapes. She prefers black and white, brushing off color as a distraction. “Life is so chaotic, so it’s something to simplify and calm things down,” Short explains. <br/>In 2010 at age 28, Short suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident along California’s Highway 1 on Halloween night. She was diagnosed with a C5 fracture in her spine. She was quadriplegic. <br/>It would take 60 days in-hospital for Short to touch her nose with her left hand, and a full year before her arms had the strength to hold anything, let alone a camera. While she was there, her best friend gifted her an iPhone 4 because it was easier to use after her injury. <br/>“It took about a year for me to have enough arm strength to start holding an iPhone,” Short recalls. “It was the first camera that I started using [after the accident], and now it’s the only camera that I’ve been using because it’s nice and light, small and easy to use.” <br/>Since then, Short’s creative process has shifted to one that is digitally streamlined and mobile. “It used to be that I had my 4x5 camera, and I had my medium format camera and 35 mm and it got complicated,” she says. “Now it’s more about the image and less about the technical and the equipment. It’s made me more focused.” <br/>She no longer carries multiple cameras or a variety of films. Instead, she captures a color photo with her iPhone X<span class="all-small-caps">S</span> using the Hipstamatic app, converts it to black and white and edits it in the Snapseed app, prints a digital negative and then produces a platinum print as an archival image. “I've been really impressed with the camera on the iPhone and how I’ve been able to make it do what I did with film,” she says. “The image quality has been really amazing and surprising.” <br/>“Technology has changed so much. It just opens up so many possibilities for people with disabilities and limited mobility.” <br/>Today Short lives a short distance from Gallery EXPOSED in Carmel, her photo gallery where she exhibits local artists’ work. As a wheelchair user, she looks for accessible places to shoot and still be in nature, like Point Lobos for its flat trails and natural beauty, or the long coastal trail weaving along the ocean near Monastery Beach, one of the only places in the area that gets her close to the ocean at all. Though she rarely visited these places before her injury, she now shoots these locations often. She prefers capturing wandering paths or endless roads that lead a viewer’s eye down the frame of a photograph. <br/>Despite the unexpected obstacles put in Short’s path almost a decade ago, she still finds this lightness and dreaminess in the world around her. She embraces today’s technology as a new way for her to create, finding beauty wherever she is, whether in a peace poppy flower that’s sitting in her window, or in the shadow of a tree cast on the facade of the Carmel Mission. <br/>“I couldn’t imagine being in my situation even 15 years ago without my iPhone,” Short says. “Technology has changed so much in that time. It just opens up so many possibilities for people with disabilities and limited mobility. It’s my camera, it’s my email, it’s my photo editing, it’s ‘Hey Siri, do stuff for me.’ It’s everything.” <br/><em>In partnership for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple worked with California photographer Rachael Short to showcase her art, all shot on iPhone. Today, Apple is hosting events around the world to promote inclusive design and emphasize how technology can empower everyone. To learn more about Apple’s accessibility features and services, visit <a href="https://www.apple.com/accessibility/" target="_blank">apple.com/accessibility</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em> <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Lori Lodes,Apple,llodes@apple.com,(408) 974-1192<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

All-new Apple TV app available in over 100 countries starting today<br/>Apple TV App Brings Together Favorite Shows and Movies from Apple TV Channels, iTunes and Over 150 Video Apps<br/>The all-new Apple TV app, which brings together all the ways to watch TV into one app, is available starting today in over 100 countries across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and select Samsung smart TVs. <br/>With the free iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 software update, customers around the world can now subscribe to Apple TV channels within the Apple TV app — paying for only the ones they want — and watch on demand directly in the app. In the US, Apple TV channels include popular services such as HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade and new services like MTV Hits, with more to be added over time around the world.¹ <br/>Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV channels using just their Apple ID and password. Subscribers can watch and download shows and movies both online and offline, making the Apple TV app the first and only place where HBO subscribers can download movies and shows such as “Game of Thrones” for offline viewing. <br/>Also starting today, users worldwide can enjoy personalized recommendations of shows and movies from more than 150 video apps and streaming services and over 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows, including the largest collection of 4K HDR titles available to browse, buy or rent — all within the new Apple TV app. The Watch Now section features Up Next, where users can quickly find and watch their favorites with activity synced across devices, as well as explore expertly curated collections based on a secure and comprehensive understanding of users’ viewing interests. <br/>Customers can also enjoy a new, dedicated Kids section, highlighting editorially handpicked shows and movies for kids of all ages, alongside the breakthrough Sports section that makes it easy to find games and receive notifications about favorite teams and leagues. Additionally, customers can find their purchased movies and shows from iTunes in the redesigned Library tab, now organized by Recently Added, Downloaded, Genres and more. <br/><strong>Availability</strong> <br/><ul> <li>The all-new Apple TV app is available today for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV customers in <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204411" target="_blank">over 100 countries</a> with iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3, and will be available on Mac this fall.</li> </ul> <br/><ul> <li>Starting today, the Apple TV app offering Apple TV channels and iTunes movies and TV shows will also be available on all 2019 Samsung smart TVs and select 2018 models.</li> </ul> <br/><ul> <li>Also starting today, customers with AirPlay 2-enabled Samsung smart TVs can effortlessly play videos and other content from their iPhone, iPad or Mac directly to their smart TVs. Customers must update to iOS 12.3 or macOS 10.14.5 to play or mirror to AirPlay 2-enabled smart TVs.</li> </ul> <br/><ul> <li>Customers with eligible VIZIO, LG and Sony smart TVs will be able to enjoy AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support later this year.</li> </ul> <br/><ul> <li>This fall, Apple TV+, Apple’s original video subscription service, will be available in the Apple TV app.</li> </ul> <br/>¹ Network and streaming app availability may vary by country. Some features are not available in all regions or all languages. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Bernadette Simpao,Apple,bsimpao@apple.com,(669) 227-9273<br/>Christine Monaghan,Apple, cmonaghan@apple.com ,(408) 974-8850 <br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple starts a new chapter at Carnegie Library<br/>Apple Carnegie Library and the new DC History Center opened this morning, returning the library to the Washington, D.C. community as a center for learning, discovery and creativity. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Nick Leahy,Apple, nleahy@apple.com, (408) 862-5012<br/>Abby Reisinger,Apple,areisinger@apple.com,(669) 227-3527<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple Carnegie Library opens Saturday in Washington, D.C.<br/>Washington — Apple today previewed its newest location at the Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square. This is Apple’s most extensive historic restoration project to date, restoring and revitalizing the Beaux-Arts style building once home to Washington, D.C.’s Central Public Library. Originally funded by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1903, the library will once again be a center for learning, discovery and creativity for the community, keeping with Carnegie’s vision of a public and free space for all.  <br/>Apple Carnegie Library will host free daily Today at Apple programming, including sessions led by local artists and world class creators. To celebrate the opening, 40 artists will lead sessions during the six-week StoryMaker Festival. At the store, customers can explore Apple’s latest products and work with over 225 highly trained staff members offering advice and technical support, as well as assistance for small businesses. <br/>“Whether customers come to explore new products, visit one of our Geniuses or unlock their creativity in a Today at Apple session, Apple Carnegie Library is a place for everyone,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People. “We are excited to share this magnificent space with all of our visitors in Washington, D.C., and to provide a home for inspiration for the next generation.” <br/>Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square also features the new DC History Center, which includes the Kiplinger Research Library, three galleries and a museum store, all owned and operated by the 125-year-old Historical Society of Washington, D.C. To restore the building to its original grandeur, Apple worked with conservation experts to carefully preserve the historic facades, return interior spaces to their original footprints, and restore distinctive early 20th-century detailing. Foster + Partners worked in close collaboration with Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive to give this cultural icon a new lease of life. <br/>“I love the synergy between old and new, the juxtaposition of the historic fabric and contemporary design,” said Ive. “In its ‘new’ phase of life, Apple Carnegie Library will be a way for us to share our ideas and excitement about the products we create, while giving people a sense of community and encouraging and nurturing creativity. It has been a significant honor to restore the Carnegie Library for the people of Washington, D.C.”&nbsp; <br/>Visitors to Apple Carnegie Library are welcomed by a revitalized grand entry plaza on K Street, and a new grand entry staircase on Mount Vernon Place creates an inviting route through the building to the adjacent Convention Center and neighboring Shaw District. The library’s Vermont marble facade and sculptures on the south are completely restored. <br/>A skylight that once illuminated the original library’s circulation desk in the heart of the building returns with a new design to transform the space into a soaring double-height atrium. The dramatic gathering space, called the Forum, is the new home for Today at Apple in Washington, D.C. Visitors can attend free daily sessions focused on photography, filmmaking, music creation, coding, design and more. <br/>For six weeks following opening, the StoryMaker Festival will bring together 40 artists, poets, activists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, lawmakers and community builders to celebrate storytelling and inspire attendees to tell their own stories. The festival will conclude with a weekend block party to celebrate the stories the community has come together to share. <br/>The area that housed the book stacks is now the Genius Grove where Apple’s team of Geniuses will offer personalized technical support and advice. A grand staircase leads to the DC History Center on the second floor and the Carnegie Gallery in the basement, which displays historic photographs and documents for the public to learn about the origins and history of the building. <br/>Nearly half of the store’s employees are Washington, D.C. residents and others have joined from Apple stores across the region and country. The team speaks 27 languages, including more than 20 team members fluent in American Sign Language.&nbsp; <br/>Apple Carnegie Library and the DC History Center open at Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square Saturday at 10 am. To sign up for Today at Apple sessions, visit <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/" target="_blank">apple.com/today</a> and the <a href="https://www.apple.com/today/collection/story-makers-festival/carnegielibrary/" target="_blank">StoryMakers Festival page</a>. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Ashley Rivera,Apple,ashley_rivera@apple.com,(408) 862-1381<br/>Nick Leahy,Apple, nleahy@apple.com, (408) 862-5012<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple Reports Second Quarter Results<br/>Services Revenue Reaches New All-Time High of $11.5 Billion<br/>Cupertino, California — April 30, 2019 —&nbsp;Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2019 second quarter ended March 30, 2019. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $58 billion, a decline of 5 percent from the year-ago quarter, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.46, down 10 percent. International sales accounted for 61 percent of the quarter’s revenue. <br/>“Our March quarter results show the continued strength of our installed base of over 1.4 billion active devices, as we set an all-time record for Services, and the strong momentum of our Wearables, Home and Accessories category, which set a new March quarter record,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We delivered our strongest iPad growth in six years, and we are as excited as ever about our pipeline of innovative hardware, software and services. We’re looking forward to sharing more with developers and customers at Apple’s 30th annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.” <br/>“We generated operating cash flow of $11.2 billion in the March quarter and continued to make significant investments in all areas of our business,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “We also returned over $27 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Given our confidence in Apple’s future and the value we see in our stock, our Board has authorized an additional $75 billion for share repurchases. We are also raising our quarterly dividend for the seventh time in less than seven years.” <br/>Reflecting the approved increase, Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.77 per share of the Company’s common stock, an increase of 5 percent. The dividend is payable on May 16, 2019 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 13, 2019. <br/>The management team and the Board will continue to review each element of the capital return program regularly and plan to provide an update on the program on an annual basis. <br/>Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2019 third quarter: <br/><ul> <li>revenue between $52.5 billion and $54.5 billion</li> <li>gross margin between 37 percent and 38 percent</li> <li>operating expenses between $8.7 billion and $8.8 billion</li> <li>other income/(expense) of $250 million</li> <li>tax rate of approximately 16.5 percent</li> </ul> <br/>Apple will provide live streaming of its Q2 2019 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on April 30, 2019 at <a href="https://www.apple.com/investor/earnings-call/" target="_blank">www.apple.com/investor/earnings-call/</a>. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter. <br/>Apple periodically provides information for investors on its corporate website, <a href="https://www.apple.com/" target="_blank">apple.com</a>, and its investors relations website, <a href="https://investor.apple.com/" target="_blank">investor.apple.com</a>. This includes press releases and other information about financial performance, reports filed or furnished with the SEC, information on corporate governance and details related to its annual meeting of shareholders. <br/>This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, other income/(expense), tax rate, and plans for return of capital. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation: the effect of global and regional economic conditions on the Company's business, including effects on purchasing decisions by consumers and businesses; the ability of the Company to compete in markets that are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change; the ability of the Company to manage frequent introductions and transitions of products and services, including delivering to the marketplace, and stimulating customer demand for, new products, services and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that shifts in the mix of products and services and in the geographic, currency or channel mix, component cost increases, increases in the cost of acquiring and delivering content for the Company’s services, price competition, or the introduction of new products or services, including new products or services with higher cost structures, could have on the Company’s gross margin; the dependency of the Company on the performance of distributors of the Company's products, including cellular network carriers and other resellers; the inventory and other asset risks associated with the Company’s need to order, or commit to order, product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components, services and new technologies essential to the Company's business, including components and technologies that may only be available from single or limited sources; the dependency of the Company on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties, many of which are located outside of the US and which may affect the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered to the Company; the effect of product and services design and manufacturing defects on the Company’s financial performance and reputation; the dependency of the Company on third-party intellectual property and digital content, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all; the dependency of the Company on support from third-party software developers to develop and maintain software applications and services for the Company’s products; the impact of unfavorable legal proceedings, such as a potential finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the impact of changes to laws and regulations that affect the Company’s activities, including the Company’s ability to offer products or services to customers in different regions; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with its international activities, including complying with laws and regulations affecting the Company’s international operations; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with the Company’s retail stores; the ability of the Company to manage risks associated with the Company’s investments in new business strategies and acquisitions; the impact on the Company's business and reputation from information technology system failures, network disruptions or losses or unauthorized access to, or release of, confidential information; the ability of the Company to comply with laws and regulations regarding data protection; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; political events, international trade disputes, war, terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues, and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products; financial risks, including risks relating to currency fluctuations, credit risks and fluctuations in the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio; and changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contact <br/>Kristin Huguet,Apple,khuguet@apple.com,(408) 974-2414<br/>Investor Relations Contacts<br/>Nancy Paxton,Apple,paxton1@apple.com,(408) 974-5420<br/>Matt Blake,Apple,mattblake@apple.com,(408) 974-7406<br/>© 2019 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.<br/> […]

The facts about parental control apps<br/>Apple has always believed that parents should have tools to manage their children’s device usage. It’s the reason we created, and continue to develop,&nbsp;Screen Time. Other apps&nbsp;in the App Store,&nbsp;including&nbsp;Balance Screen Time by Moment Health and Verizon Smart Family,&nbsp;give parents the power to balance the benefits of technology with other activities that help young minds learn and grow. <br/>We recently removed several parental control apps from the App Store, and we did it for a simple&nbsp;reason: they put users’ privacy and security at risk. It’s important to understand why and how this happened. <br/>Over the last year, we became aware that several of these parental control apps were using a highly invasive technology called Mobile Device Management, or MDM. MDM gives a third party&nbsp;control and access&nbsp;over&nbsp;a device and its most sensitive information including user location, app use, email accounts, camera permissions, and browsing history.&nbsp;We started exploring this use of MDM by non-enterprise developers back in early 2017 and updated our guidelines based on that work in mid-2017. <br/>MDM does have legitimate uses. Businesses will sometimes install MDM on enterprise devices to keep better control over proprietary data and hardware. But it is incredibly risky—and a clear violation of App Store policies—for a private, consumer-focused app business to install MDM control over a customer’s device. Beyond the control that the app itself can exert over the user's device, research has shown that MDM profiles could be used by hackers to gain access for malicious purposes. <br/>Parents shouldn’t have to trade their fears of their children’s device usage for&nbsp;risks to privacy and security, and the App Store should not be&nbsp;a platform to force this choice. No one, except you, should have unrestricted access to manage your child’s device. <br/>When we found out about these&nbsp;guideline violations, we communicated these violations to the app developers, giving them 30 days to submit an updated app to avoid availability interruption in the App Store. Several developers&nbsp;released updates to bring their apps in line with these&nbsp;policies. Those that didn’t were removed from the App Store. <br/>We created the App Store to provide a secure, vibrant marketplace where developers and entrepreneurs can bring their ideas to users worldwide, and users can have faith that the apps they discover meet Apple’s&nbsp;standards of security and responsibility. <br/>Apple has always supported third-party apps on the App Store that help parents manage their kids’ devices. Contrary to what The New York Times reported over the weekend, this isn’t a matter of competition. It’s a matter of security. <br/>In this app category, and in every category, we are committed to providing a competitive, innovative app ecosystem. There are many tremendously successful apps that offer functions and services similar to Apple’s in categories like messaging, maps, email, music, web browsers, photos, note-taking apps, contact managers and payment systems, just to name a few. We are committed to offering a place for these apps to thrive as they improve the user experience for everyone. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Tom Neumayr,Apple, tneumayr@apple.com ,(408) 974-1972 <br/>Tammy Levine,Apple,tammy_levine@apple.com,(408) 862-8600<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Important notice for certain AC wall plug adapters and Apple World Travel Adapter Kits<br/>Voluntary Recall and Exchange Program<br/>Cupertino, California — Apple today announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adapters designed for use primarily in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In very rare cases, affected Apple three-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched. These wall plug adapters shipped with Mac and certain iOS devices between 2003 and 2010 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. Apple is aware of six incidents worldwide. <br/>The recall does not affect any Apple USB power adapters. <br/>Because customer safety is a top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using affected plug adapters. Customers should visit <a href="https://www.apple.com/support/three-prong-ac-wall-plug-adapter/" target="_blank">apple.com/support/three-prong-ac-wall-plug-adapter</a> for details about how to exchange them for new adapters. <br/>An affected three-prong plug adapter is white, with no letters on the inside slot where it attaches to the main Apple power adapter. See website for more details and images to identify an affected adapter. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Todd Wilder,Apple, wilder@apple.com, (408) 974-8335 <br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Conserving mangroves, a lifeline for the world<br/>Apple, Conservation International and Colombian Communities Partner to Protect Earth’s Carbon-Trapping Coastal Trees<br/>The roots of a mangrove tree are like veins. They rise up and plunge down into the salty waters of Cispatá Bay in Córdoba, Colombia, along the coast of the Caribbean Sea, sprawling in every direction. A series of channels have formed an arterial highway connecting to the Sinú River, providing single-lane access into and out of the mangroves where fishermen and loggers begin their day’s work. <br/>“Right now we have a lot of people working on opening channels to keep the water flowing,” says Luis Roberto Canchila Avila, president of Asoamanglebal, the first mangrove association in San Bernardo del Viento in Córdoba. “Because we are in summer, there are parts where the water flow is different and fish die as they are left without oxygen.” It’s a delicate balance: too much river water or too little salt water, and the mangroves could be destroyed. <br/>The mangroves have long been a lifeline for the coastal communities of Colombia. They protect them from storm surges and provide food and wood supplies to families. They are also a lifeline for the world, sucking carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it deep in their soil below water for centuries. Recent studies show they can store up to 10 times the amount of carbon per acre as land-based forests.<br/>But pressures from illegal farming, fishing and logging combined with climate change are threatening their existence. “There are many illegal groups working in the mangroves,” Canchila Avila says. “They don’t know or care for the sustainability efforts.” According to Conservation International, when degraded or destroyed, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems emit the carbon they have stored for centuries into the atmosphere and become sources of greenhouse gases. They estimate that as much as 1 billion metric tons of CO<font size="2">₂</font> are being released annually from degraded coastal ecosystems.¹ That’s equivalent to the total annual emissions from cars, buses, aircraft and boats in the US in 2017.<br/>On this humid, sunny April morning, Cispatá Bay is still, save for a few local fishermen waist deep in the sea casting their hand-woven nets. Here, Conservation International and Invemar Research Institute are collecting mangrove soil samples to be analyzed for carbon stored in sediment below the waterline, known as “blue carbon.” Together with the Omacha Foundation, the three organizations are designing a carbon financing model to incentivize conservation and restoration of mangroves in the region, working in partnership with the local government environment authority (CVS) and the local communities.<br/>For Apple’s Earth Day 2018 <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/04/apple-expands-global-recycling-programs/">Give Back campaign</a>, Apple partnered with Conservation International to protect and restore the 27,000-acre mangrove forest in Cispatá Bay, which is expected to sequester 1 million metric tons of CO<font size="2">₂</font> over its lifetime. At the Global Climate Action Summit last September in California, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson underscored the importance of this type of preservation. “These forests are critical because they’re one of nature's most important tools in the battle against climate change,” she said. “Globally, we’ve lost half of the world’s mangrove forests since the 1940s — so it’s high time we start preserving and protecting them.”<br/><a href="https://www.conservation.org/stories/Pages/A-Critical-Investment-In-Blue-Carbon.aspx">Conservation International’s project</a> is the first in the world to fully quantify blue carbon credits in both trees and soil, and will be a model for scaling carbon sequestration in global mangrove ecosystems and curbing emissions caused by deforestation in these areas.<br/>“We are pioneering this new wetland model,” says María Claudia Díazgranados Cadelo, marine biologist and director of Marine and Community Incentive Programs at Conservation International. “We need to strengthen the way we measure carbon stocks in the soil component of the mangroves. Other methodologies only use above-ground biomass without taking much consideration of the soil, which for mangroves and other coastal ecosystems is the most important place where those ecosystems store carbon.”<br/>Beyond the bay, there are hundreds of families living and working with the mangroves. The <em>mangleros</em>, as they are called, are part of a network of local mangrove associations formed to conserve and protect the mangroves as well as the communities that rely on them for food and income. <br/>In the neighboring town of San Antero, Cispatá native Ignacia De La Rosa Pérez, manages the relationship between the community and the nonprofit organizations through the Independent Mangrove Association. “I was practically born in the mangroves,” De La Rosa Pérez says. “When I was a little girl I began to lead expeditions into the woods and explore life. I didn’t know I was a leader, but everyone followed me. That’s how I began leading movements.” <br/>Since 1976, De La Rosa Pérez has collected decades of data on the mangroves, including details on the animals that live there, the health of the mangroves and the channels that run through them. Binders of maps and in-depth analysis on the characteristics of these coastal trees line two bookshelves in her home office. She holds the greatest collection of data on the region since long before Cispatá Bay was classified as a Marine Protected Area Subsystem, the terms of which also reside in a few binders in De La Rosa Pérez’s home. <br/>“We saw the shift in the mouth of the river,” De La Rosa Pérez says. “We saw changes in the ecological processes from the animals to the forest. Everything continued to change, and finally one mangrove that had been there for three or four centuries shifted onto the land, so as time went by, people began to sustain themselves from the mangroves.” <br/>As De La Rosa Pérez recalls, the community would sell whatever they could: wood, tree bark, fish and crabs. So when a local politician tried to label the mangrove workers as ecological predators, De La Rosa Pérez was enraged. While the mangrove workers were accused of destroying the trees through their fishing and logging practices, the reality is the trees were actually dying on their own. <br/><strong>“We’ve begun to speak a new language, a cross between the language of the professionals, of technicians and scientists, and the language of the community.”</strong> <br/>“When I was 3, we would compete to see who could find the biggest tree that was buried,” De La Rosa Pérez says. “The mangrove had disappeared, maybe because of the salinity or lack of tributaries. That experience resulted in an answer in ’92 … I went out to the salt mines with the mangrove workers. They dug out the dirt with their hands and with shovels. They pulled up the tree to prove they hadn’t cut it down.” <br/>That proof laid the groundwork for a long-term alliance between the local community and CVS, establishing a set of sustainable practices for using the mangroves. Among them is a rotation plan for leveraging the mangroves from only one designated area at a time so that each zone has time to recover and restore itself. <br/>“We’ve begun to speak a new language,” De La Rosa Pérez explains, “a cross between the language of the professionals, of technicians and scientists, and the language of the community. That’s what made us grow and be able to reach the place that we all are in today.” <br/>Twenty-five miles east of San Antero in San Bernardo del Viento, Asoamanglebal’s Canchila Avila is managing a similar relationship between the community, the local organizations and local government. While Canchila Avila coordinates the sustainable cutting and clearing of mangroves to maintain water flow, he also assigns permits for cutting wood to be sold for construction purposes. “We take from the mangroves but we’re also preserving them,” Canchila Avila says. “If we find an area with very few trees, we know that it needs rehabilitation and it needs to recuperate. We let that area restore and we add trees.” <br/>“We know the area and we know the height of the river, so we used to cut without any prior technical knowledge just because we grew up watching how it was done,” Canchila Avila says. “Today we combine technical knowledge from CVS with our experience.” <br/>Canchila Avila, De La Rosa Pérez, Díazgranados and a team of marine biologists and environmentalists are all on the frontlines of these conservation efforts. Without the knowledge and experience of the mangleros, preserving the mangroves would be almost impossible. <br/>“They are our right hand in terms of conservation efforts,” Díazgranados says. <br/>The root between the people of Cispatá Bay and the mangroves runs deep. So much so, that every year, the Festival of the Donkey during Holy Week serves as a reminder. Based on a biblical tale retold through the lens of a local puppeteer, masked donkeys carry a man to the town square where he is sentenced to death for his crimes and must read his will. In it, he declares: “To the people of the mangroves, I leave the mangroves.” <br/>¹ Pendleton, L., D.C. Donato, B.C. Murray, S. Crooks, W.A. Jenkins, S. Sifleet, C. Craft, J.W. Fourqurean, J.B. Kauffman, N. Marbà, P. Megonigal, E. Pidgeon, D. Herr, D. Gordon and A. Baldera. “Estimating Global ‘Blue Carbon’ Emissions from Conversion and Degradation of Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems,” 2012.<br/>Press Contacts<br/>Keri Fulton,Apple,keri_fulton@apple.com,(240) 595-2691<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Apple expands global recycling programs<br/>Cupertino, California — Apple today announced a major expansion of its recycling programs, quadrupling the number of locations US customers can send their iPhone to be disassembled by Daisy, its recycling robot. Daisy will disassemble and recycle select used iPhones returned to Best Buy stores throughout the US and KPN retailers in the Netherlands. Customers can also turn in their eligible devices to be recycled at any Apple Store or through apple.com as part of the <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in/" target="_blank">Apple Trade In</a> program. <br/>Apple has received nearly 1 million devices through Apple programs and each Daisy can disassemble 1.2 million devices per year. In 2018, the company refurbished more than 7.8 million Apple devices and helped divert more than 48,000 metric tons of electronic waste from landfills.  <br/>“Advanced recycling must become an important part of the electronics supply chain, and Apple is pioneering a new path to help push our industry forward,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We work hard to design products that our customers can rely on for a long time. When it comes time to recycle them, we hope that the convenience and benefit of our programs will encourage everyone to bring in their old devices.” <br/>Daisy is now able to disassemble 15 different iPhone models at the rate of 200 per hour, recovering even more important materials for re-use. Once materials have been recovered from Daisy, they are recycled back into the manufacturing process. For cobalt, which is a key battery material, Apple sends iPhone batteries recovered by Daisy upstream in its supply chain. They are then combined with scrap from select manufacturing sites and, for the first time, cobalt recovered through this process is now being used to make brand-new Apple batteries — a true closed loop for this precious material. <br/>Apple also uses 100 percent recycled tin in a key component of the main logic boards of 11 different products. The company’s engineering of an aluminum alloy made from 100 percent recycled aluminum allows the new MacBook Air and Mac mini to have nearly half the carbon footprint of earlier models. Starting this year, aluminum recovered through the Apple Trade In program is being remelted into the enclosures for the MacBook Air. <br/>To further its research on recycling, Apple today also announced the opening of its Material Recovery Lab dedicated to discovering future recycling processes. The new 9,000-square-foot facility in Austin, Texas, will look for innovative solutions involving robotics and machine learning to improve on traditional methods like targeted disassembly, sorting and shredding. The Lab will work with Apple engineering teams as well as academia to address and propose solutions to today’s industry recycling challenges. <br/>Apple continues to expand its programs to ensure devices are used for as long as possible. The number of Apple Stores and network of Authorized Service Providers has grown to over 5,000 worldwide. Last fall, Apple rolled out a new method for optimizing iPhone screen repairs that allows thousands more independent shops to offer the service. Apple also launched a battery replacement and recycling program for all of its products. <br/>Today, Apple released its 2019 Environment report, which contains additional information on the company’s climate change solutions, including its recent announcement that 44 of its suppliers have committed to 100 percent renewable energy for their Apple production. The report can be viewed at <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/" target="_blank">apple.com/environment</a>. The company will be celebrating Earth Day on April 22 with environmentally themed Today at Apple sessions at all Apple Stores, and will be featuring original stories and collections of apps and games on the App Store to help people honor the Earth and consider their role in the natural ecosystem. Apple’s Earth Day Challenge also encourages Apple Watch wearers to complete any workout of 30 minutes or more to earn a special Earth Day Award and stickers for Messages.¹ <br/>Apple will also be supporting the efforts of environmentally-focused non-profits Conservation International, SEE Foundation and The Recycling Partnership — expanding on its conservation and resource efficiency work from last year. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>¹ In order to see the Activity challenge, users must have iOS 12.1.3 and watchOS 5.1.3, or later.<br/>Press Contacts<br/>Keri Fulton,Apple,keri_fulton@apple.com,(240) 595-2691<br/>Apple Media Helpline,media.help@apple.com,(408) 974-2042<br/> […]

Qualcomm and Apple agree to drop all litigation<br/>* Agreement ends all ongoing litigation, including with Apple’s contract manufacturers * Companies have reached a global patent license agreement and a chipset supply agreement<br/>San Diego and Cupertino, California — Qualcomm and Apple today announced an agreement to dismiss all litigation between the two companies worldwide. The settlement includes a payment from Apple to Qualcomm. The companies also have reached a six-year license agreement, effective as of April 1, 2019, including a two-year option to extend, and a multiyear chipset supply agreement. <br/>Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. <br/>Qualcomm invents breakthrough technologies that transform how the world connects, computes and communicates. When we connected the phone to the Internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our inventions are the foundation for life-changing products, experiences, and industries. As we lead the world to 5G, we envision this next big change in cellular technology spurring a new era of intelligent, connected devices and enabling new opportunities in connected cars, remote delivery of health care services, and the IoT — including smart cities, smart homes, and wearables. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, all of our engineering, research and development functions, and all of our products and services businesses, including, the QCT semiconductor business. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq" target="_blank">OnQ blog</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/qualcomm" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/qualcomm" target="_blank">Facebook</a> pages. <br/>Press Contacts<br/>Kristin Huguet,Apple,khuguet@apple.com,(408) 974-2414<br/>Josh Rosenstock,Apple,jrosenstock@apple.com,(408) 862-1142<br/>Pete Lancia,Qualcomm,corpcomm@qualcomm.com,(858) 845-5959<br/>Mauricio Lopez-Hodoyan,Qualcomm Investor Relations,ir@qualcomm.com,(858) 658-4813<br/> […]