abriden
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Apple's Services add 165 million subscribers in last 12 months
It seems odd to claim 785 million subscribers overall, then qualify all of them as 'paid' ...they have not stated that trial subscriptions are explicitly excluded. Also, it would be interesting to have data on the relative duration of these subscriptions, and whether in the headline figures a one-month paid subscription is counted the same as a 12-month subscription.omasou said:
"We now have 785 million paid subs," he continued, "[and] we just we've increased 165 million in the last 12 months alone.abriden said:The question is : how many of these are paying subscribers? ...I did not take up free Apple TV subscription with purchases as I might have done, but currently have free 6-month trial subscriptions on Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News and Apple Arcade thanks to Barclaycard.
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Thunderbolt 5 details leak via deleted Twitter photo by Intel executive
Irrespective of future speeds, the basic design of the usb-c/thunderbolt connector is flawed. I have tried so many certified cables and they vary in fit (tightness) whilst the ports seemingly loosen over time as well. I was 'lucky' that my MBP required an out-of-warranty keyboard change and replacement battery and that Apple who were picking up the tab — they agreed to address the ports at the same time, though unfortunately the improvement has been shortlived. This is such a basic issue that it's difficult to get excited about new hardware annoucements or the next OS, when something so fundermental is ignored. Until the design is changed things won't improve.
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Everything in new in Safari 15 and how you can try it yourself right now
An abomination. Cramming navigation controls, extensions, tabs and the search field into one bar results in tabs becoming quickly unrecognisable, whilst the full-address can nolonger be easily visualised to confirm its authenticity. That is plainly less functional.Furthermore, the colour-changing toolbar is a fail as either Safari controls become 'merged' with those of the current website, or they seem unnecessarily re-coloured when one scrolls down the page and the actual website header has disappeared from sight.Version 14 seemed to have finally hit a sweet spot, but Safari 15 is trashing sensible UI behaviour as was done with Finder., Alas, not only are they reversing usability themselves, by example Apple are encouraging third-party developers to do likewise.
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EU presses Apple for details on latest tax arrangements in wake of Paradise Papers
Apple uses shell companies that are businesses in name only, with no more than a business address — as arranged by Appleby, in common with its other clients. Apple has tangible operations all over the world, that's not in dispute. I'm disputing the bouncing of profits between shell companies and the offsetting of these profits against unsubstantiated 'fees' which are not open to scrutiny — I don't believe that is honest or in the spirit of the law, a theme that Tim Cook chose to draw particular attention to.bb-15 said:
You are misinformed.abriden said:To those who have so far defended Apple's tax avoidance and blame the laws rather than those abusing them, it is by no means certain that Apple have operated legally at all — by all accounts the arrangement with the Irish government was illegal and the subject of an EU investigation. Secrecy is the reason these tax avoidance schemes have thus far been allowed to happen unchallenged, but hopefully the so-called Paradise Papers will prompt reforms (though I won't hold my breath).
There is a reason why private and public companies have to publish their accounts for transparency — hiding the money in countries with greater secrecy does not make it legal.
1. The tax situation in Ireland was not secret. It is based on the double Irish arrangement which has been in effect since the late 1980s.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Irish_arrangement
2. The tax arrangement between Ireland and Apple was legal in Ireland. Why? Because Ireland is a sovereign nation which can pass its own laws which are enforced by its government.
- And again this arrangement has been known for decades.
3. The EU does not strip the Irish government of all its power. Ireland is appealing the actions of the EU in this situation.
Ireland believes that the tax situation with Apple is appropriate.
4. You imply that Apple does nothing to contribute to the funding of services in Ireland. That is false.
- Apple employs 4,000 workers in Cork (6,000 total in the country). The income of those workers helps the Irish economy which in turn helps to fund services.
- Apple's profits in Ireland are taxed at the rate of 12.5% in an agreement with the Irish government. Besides being legal, 12.5% is not 0%.
The tax money from Apple in Ireland helps the Irish economy and therefore services in Ireland.
- Apple pays lots of taxes around the world. Probably more taxes than any other company. All of that money helps to fund services.
5. Finally, the money that Apple is holding outside of the US has to do with US taxes. Apple wants a lower US tax rate before paying US taxes on that money. This money from the view of the US and Apple, is not about taxes that should go to the EU.
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EU presses Apple for details on latest tax arrangements in wake of Paradise Papers
I know the difference, which is why I say 'so-called' — many schemes have claimed to be legal tax avoidance, but the release of the Paradise Papers demonstrates that at least some constitute illegal tax evasion. It remains to be seen which category Apple's arrangements fall when they are properly scrutinised.
Tax avoidance is legal. Tax evasion is not.These so-called tax avoidance schemes are NOT necessarily legal…
