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Good move. At least it get rid of some faked iPhone, not mention some large scale fake store. Centralise repair, like currently Amazon did for vacuum cleaner or other house hold item with warranty is great for consumers. IMHO. .

typical behavior difference between the companies has a lot of cash and secure, compare with the other of totally opposite (any market perception could damage "brand" - especially when the burn rate is higher than rev... on the death march watch, unless Gov handout life line for Xiaomi). 

judge the number of patent those good fellow's name listed - not surprise they might burned out or want to do something new.  Life (time) is limited, what you want to do for rest of your life may not be just Apple.  Besides, some of professionals experience once in a while of lost of passion - just like Steve Woz (i-Woz  p. 274."it was like I had sort of reached my limit of being able to mentally, put my self through this king of design effort ...."  it is a shocking feeling IMHO).  What ever those chaps want to do, they have glory under their belt.  Its time for 2nd act and enjoy what future brings (unknow is challenge and advanture ;-).  

sammy, stop using Journalists as "in market" tester.  They are brain dead to start with (peel off the plastic like they dig out storyline).  spend some money to hire few teenages as beta tester instead.  they will perform highly accelerated test and found all the faults prior to your in market test start and most  likely give you a no-sugar coated response (like a piece of ....).  Surely the user deserve a good tester if they paid 2K.   Fold screen or rolled up screen do have place in product, just a bit odd to use on hand (holding a book open and writing on it even on the edge is always a bit hard for me).  

Good move on Intel. Get it perfect on the IoT prior to mobile is a good game plan. Hopefully, Apple will provide some thing to sooze the pain (ego too). 5G still early in the game, everyone still got chance to catch up... even QC set is not that impressive as yet. Just make sure it can be drop in fit for future (pin to pin compatible would be better, especially in high speed - to re-spin a board with all the impedance matched design is pain). Lay low and ready to jump high next ;-).