iOS 9.1 Update Causes Touch ID Problems

Apple's Support Community website has been flooded by posts from disgruntled customers who are complaining about the latest update for iPads and iPhones, which they say only served to break the gadgets' software instead of fixing it.

Released on Oct. 21, the iOS 9.1 update included 11 features that were designed to address bugs in the gadgets' system, such as issues with incorrect unread email counts, activation errors and unresponsive Calendar and Game Center apps.

Instead of fixing the bugs, however, Apple product users wrote on the company's official support forum that the update caused the Touch ID across iPads and iPhones to break.

Many of the complaints focus on the Touch ID's inability to recognize the fingerprint of users. Customers pointed out that the system is no longer reliable as fingerprints pressed against the gadgets do not seem to register anymore.

Apple's decision to discontinue granting permission to install the iOS 9.0.2 update within days of launching iOS 9.1 has also prevented affected users to downgrade back to the older version of the software.

The recent issues with iOS 9.1 have once again raised questions regarding the Apple's strategy of rushing update releases.

While it has become a standard practice to release subsequent updates after launching a new product, observers believe Apple should rethink its strategy to avoid running into similar problems with the last year's iOS 8, which is considered to be the buggiest update the company has ever released.

Tech experts also criticize Apple's discontinuance of providing downgrade routes that would have allowed users to switch back to a more usable version of gadgets software in case they experience issues with newer releases.

For the moment, users affected by the iOS 9.1 issues will have to wait for Apple to launch a new software update to fix the bugs.

Credit: techtimes.com

Apple Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2015 fourth quarter ended September 26, 2015. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $51.5 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.1 billion, or $1.96 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $42.1 billion and net profit of $8.5 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 39.9 percent compared to 38 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 62 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The growth was fueled by record fourth quarter sales of iPhone®, the expanded availability of Apple Watch®, and all-time records for Mac® sales and revenue from services.

“Fiscal 2015 was Apple’s most successful year ever, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion. This continued success is the result of our commitment to making the best, most innovative products on earth, and it’s a testament to the tremendous execution by our teams,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are heading into the holidays with our strongest product lineup yet, including iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Apple Watch with an expanded lineup of cases and bands, the new iPad Pro and the all-new Apple TV which begins shipping this week.”

“Apple’s record September quarter results drove earnings per share growth of 38% and operating cash flow of $13.5 billion,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “We returned $17 billion to our investors during the quarter through share repurchases and dividends, and we have now completed over $143 billion of our $200 billion capital return program.”

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2016 first quarter:

• revenue between $75.5 billion and $77.5 billion
• gross margin between 39 percent and 40 percent
• operating expenses between $6.3 billion and $6.4 billion
• other income/(expense) of $400 million
• tax rate of 26.2 percent

Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $.52 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on November 12, 2015, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 9, 2015.

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