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Companies make use of various strategies in order to attract new customers, retain existing customers, and differentiate their products from those of their competitors. Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. The company specializes in consumer devices, software, and online services. Apple is the most valuable firm in the world, the fourth-largest vendor of personal computers by unit sales, and the second-largest producer of mobile phones as of May 2022. The iPhone is a product with a strong reputation. Apple has always maintained product quality and continuously made innovations. The iPhone has a unique design, and in view of that, the model is too expensive compared to other mobile phones. Although the price is expensive, demand for the iPhone still increases from time to time. The aim of this research is to understand the factors behind iPhone purchase decisions. An investigation has been conducted to evaluate the relationship between price and quality on customer buying patterns for an iPhone. This study will adopt quantitative methods, and data collection has been conducted through online questionnaire distribution. The target respondents in this study are STML students, and the overall population of STML was 1645 students; thus, the sample size for the study should be 310 respondents. The cluster sampling technique has been used in this study. In this study, a total of 340 respondents were received, and there are 27 missing values in the data set. However, only 313 respondents are valid for the data analysis. Findings revealed that price and quality have a significant effect on the buying pattern of an iPhone. Lastly, this study discusses the limitations of the study and its conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elements, including market demand, client requirements, and technological advancement of a product family in the current global competition, greatly influence the evolution of a product family. All of these impacting aspects must be completely comprehended for the dynamic modelling of a product family's progression. However, the dynamic modelling of a complex system is often affected by (high) uncertainties due to the lack of information or measurement error. This study presents different sources of uncertainty in the area of product family. In this paper, the dynamic modelling system's data uncertainty and parameter uncertainty are addressed by an advanced multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique. An interval-valued fermatean fuzzy-based multi-attribute border approximation area comparison (IVFFN-MABAC) technique is used to pinpoint a product family's key characteristics and support decision-making under uncertainty. This dynamic model is integrated with a deep learning-based forecasting model to predict the specifications of those critical properties of future products. For this application, Apple's iPhone product family is taken into account as the case study. The numerical results validate the effectiveness of this approach. With the help of this method, the management will benefit from being able to identify the features that have a big impact on subsequent development and optimize the investment accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To evaluate the precision and reliability of the conventional method of facial measurement with the smartphone-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanning method. This prospective study was performed on forty-seven patients. Measurements between anthropometric soft tissue landmark points were obtained on each participant by two operators, who were blinded to each other's measurements for interrater reliability, using two techniques: i) conventional (C) method using Vernier calliper (Mitutoyo, Kawasaki, Japan) and ii) LiDAR (L) method using the LiDAR scanner (iPhone-12Pro, iOS 15.2.1, Apple Inc.). Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analysis was used to evaluate the intra-observer reliability of the repeated measurements and measurement accuracy between the different measurement methods. On comparison of the mean values of conventional and LiDAR vertical measurements, the values are statistically not significant with a p-value of 0.704. On comparison of the mean values of conventional and LiDAR horizontal measurements, the values are statistically not significant with a p-value of 0.129. Intraclass correlation is very high, with an agreement of 0.9 and above, indicating LiDAR measurements are highly reliable and reproducible. The digital scanning system (LiDAR) is equally accurate in reproducing facial measurements compared to the conventional system, making it an excellent alternative analytical tool for taking facial measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When launching a new app in one of the major app stores, the developer must decide how to generate revenues from that app. The decision includes whether to charge an upfront payment from the customer or make it free to download and whether to include in-app payments. In this study, we analysed the effect of these decisions on the amount of revenue an app generates and if it differs for gaming (hedonic value-orientation) and productivity (utilitarian value-orientation) apps. To analyse this effect, we used approximately two years of mobile app panel data from 330 newly launched US Apple App Store gaming and productivity apps. Based on random effects regression analysis, we report that free downloads combined with in-app payments are superior in revenue generation for gaming apps. By contrast, for productivity apps, relying only on either upfront payment for the app or on in-app payments generates the highest revenues. For gaming app developers, offering free to download apps is thus recommended. For productivity app developers, charging for either downloading or in-app features is more successful. This study complements existing literature by investigating revenue generation of new apps and the performance effect of specific revenue model options that developers must make in app store settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the need for a mobile application to teach Arabic sign language to deaf children in the Arab world. Therefore, the team develop an educational android application to teach deaf children the Arabic sign language using gamification. Also, the research aims to investigate the impact of using a mobile application for Arabic sign language on children's learning performance. To achieve its goals, the research entails two main stages. The first stage focuses on building the mobile application based on the literature review and on searching the Google and Apple stores for similar applications. In the second stage, an experiment is conducted on 10 deaf children--the experimental group adopted the mobile application for the learning process, whereas the control group followed the traditional learning approach. A pre-test and post-test was conducted and the results show that children who used the game-based mobile application performed better in their quiz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper examines the opinions and attitudes of young adults as the target audience towards a high-tech brand on several specific levels. The goal of research is to investigate and explore the perception of both Apple product users and non-users related to the Apple brand, brand loyalty, purchase intention, recommendation intention, and other aspects. Methodology: The research instrument was created for the purpose of this research and was partially based on several prior studies with different standpoints. The online questionnaire consists of 22 items and was carried out in 2019. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used for testing the difference between sample segments. Results: The results indicate that the Apple brand has a generally positive image among the respondents. The majority of the respondents use or have used at least one Apple product. Apple users are generally loyal to the brand and willing to recommend Apple products to their friends and family. Users primarily recall Apple as a top-of-mind (first-mention) high-quality smartphone brand. In contrast, non-consumers tend to recall different brand names when thinking about high-end smartphones but also suggest that a brand name is an important factor in the consumer decision-making process. Conclusion: Collected data and related analysis provide insight into (non)consumer perception of the Apple brand and Apple products in the Croatian market accentuating the main consumer attitudes and brand perception related to a high-tech brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the ever-evolving concerns surrounding data privacy, this study analyzes Apple's and Google's ads for their iPhone and Android devices, respectively, as well as each company's privacy policies. Findings via critical discourse analysis reveal that the ads conflate privacy with security, relying on powerful imageries that depict the phones as safes from which data cannot travel. These depictions, however, do not align with the policies that provide separate sections for privacy and security. With these findings in mind, I propose a widespread adoption of "privacy-washing" to promote a newfound literacy of granular data types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of forecasts depends on the method used and the number of data samples taken in the orchard. An automated system for simple and fast data acquisition consists of an application on a personal computer (PC) for user to create a daily journey through the plantations and export the data to a navigation device. The second part represents an android mobile phone (AMP), which serves for capturing various data, such as positions and images when inspecting the plantations and data. Processing of all collected data runs on a PC, which requires a synchronization of all new, changed or updated data stored in the AMP’s database with the database on the PC. After testing the procedure in two successive growing seasons in 245 intensive apple orchards, orchard register inaccuracy and GPS errors were detected as most frequently in the first year. After introducing the automatic discovery of orchards into the procedure, the accuracy of detected position rose from 91.98 % in the first year to 99.99 % in the second. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether non-ionizing radiation emitted by smartphones is likely to cause genotoxic effects on oral epithelial cells. Methods: Thirty adults were distributed into two groups according to the mobile phone brand used, namely Samsung (Samsung, Seoul, South Korea) and Apple (Apple, California, USA). The material was collected with gentle swabbing of the right and left buccal mucosa using a cervical brush, then the micronucleus test was performed. Results: The Mann-Whitney test with a 5% significance level did not reveal statistically significant differences in micronuclei frequency between the exposed and non-exposed sides (p=0.251). The different brands do not seem to cause risks of inducing genetic damage because there were no statistically significant differences between them (p=0.47). Conclusion: Therefore, our results suggest no correlations of micronuclei frequency in the exposed buccal cells of mobile phone users at the exposure standard levels observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

committing the same crime in furtherance of a gang. This article identifies three double jeopardy violations, then offers three distinct suggestions for defense attorneys, ethical prosecutors, and judges to right these wrongs. First, gang prosecutions violate classic double jeopardy when predicated on a single, previously adjudicated criminal offense. Second, gang prosecutions violate collateral estoppel where criminal Defendants are found not guilty of a substantive criminal act, yet found guilty of the same act in furtherance of the gang. Third, multiple punishment double jeopardy is violated when Defendants are punished consecutively for a gang statute and conspiracy to violate the same gang statute. This is the fourth article in a series that argues that gang statutes were created, and have operated, to incarcerate poor, young men of color--including seasoned gang members, novice gang members, and simply accused gang members--under a peculiar set of legal standards that violate the plain language of the United States Constitution. To ensure criminal Defendants, including gang members, due process of law, gang statues must be abolished. Until then, ethical prosecutors should refrain from bringing gang charges, and if they do bring gang charges, should avoid the constitutional violations described in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Digital learning and professional training require processing of large volumes of information, mostly in the text format. The new information environment requires the development of new studying methods and, most importantly, a new tool for assessing its quality in order to adjust the strategy of compiling the educational content. Management and control of perception in reading can be performed with the use of technology, assessing attention, engagement, understanding, cognitive load and tiredness of readers. The article describes an early effort towards creation of a commercial technology based on a machine-learning (ML) algorithm that uses readers' eye-tracking recording as a proxy for their cognitive state. The solution was realized on Ipad Pro with a standard iOS operating system, which provides opportunities for mass adoption in educational and training settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multi-tier STEM Career Builder grant, funded by the National Science Foundation, focused on professional development to prepare high school teachers for teaching information systems and analytics. The project teams partnered with Apple, IBM, and the FBI to research and develop innovations including forensic databases, immersive environments, and forensic analytical tools with interdisciplinary curricula, real-world contexts, and emerging technologies. Thirty teachers were provided with four knowledgeacquisition and skill-development venues with innovations: an annual conference, teacher institute, and a summer academy. Mixed data were collected via surveys and focus groups. Project findings revealed that strategic PD and innovations impacted teachers positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to find perceptional differences on colors according to individual characteristics, products and company brands. This research collects surveys from participants on their cognition on colors alone with their statistical information. The independent variables are gender, age, favorite fruits, favorite foods, favorite subjects, favorite colors, favorite cellphone brands, favorite carriers, favorite car styles, and favorite car brands. The dependent variables are the associated products, the associated words, and the associated feelings of 6 colors: red, blue, green, yellow, white, and black. The results from decision tree analysis show the differences among the associated feeling of blue, the associated word of yellow, and the associated feeling of yellow. Firstly, most men feel 'calmness' and most women feel 'sadness' on blue. Secondly, people who like red thought that yellow is related to 'family', 'variety', or 'fun'. People who like black, green, or blue think of 'child', and ones who liked yellow or white think of 'fun' for yellow. Thirdly, people who like sedan or sports car feel 'happiness' and ones who like SUV, minivan, or coupe feel 'pleasure' for yellow. When comparing the associated products, the associated words, and the associated feelings of two brands (Samsung's Galaxy and Apple's iPhone) and two products (sedan and SUV), most results are similar but there are differences in several colors. In network graph of Samsung's Galaxy, Apple's iPhone, sedan, and SUV, the important words also appear somewhat differently. This study suggests applying the cognitive difference on colors by brands and products to the advertisement. Reflecting consumers' cognitions in the advertisement can be a comparative advantage to companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several Open Source planetary orbital mapping and utility image processing software packages, including, VICAR, AFIDS, ISIS, GDAL, and GeoTIFF, have been integrated into a single software environment (POMM), where package programs can be run independently from a Linux command line, or combined in synergistic scripts that facilitate advanced trans-package applications. Several integrated scripts have been prepared to simplify some of the more difficult database building tasks such as (1) image co-registration (for stacking and time series analysis), (2) mosaicking (for regional analysis), and (3) map-projection of raw Planetary Data System (PDS) images for selected Mars and Luna sensor systems. A user interface/GUI is provided for the three planetary applications, but the underlying scripts can also be modified by an advanced user and run at the command-line. POMM is Open Source software available in "docker" container and "Yum-Install" versions that support cross-platform installation on Windows, Apple, and Linux products using available desktop applications and/or virtual containers. However, installation on systems requiring emulation can be slow, and the installation process can be challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big Tech is on a buying spree. Companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon are gobbling up smaller companies at an unprecedented pace. But the law of competition isn't ready for Big Tech's endless appetite. Today's antitrust law is controlled by the Chicago School of Law and Economics. The Chicago School's ideological frame is toothless when a dominant firm purchases a startup that could be a future competitor. Under the "potential competition" doctrine, the Chicago School is impotent to face the anti-competitive thread of Big Tech. This Article shows how the Chicago School of law and economics hobbles antitrust law and policy on potential competition mergers. It illustrates this problem with a close study of public information regarding Facebook. The Article assembles a database of Facebook's completed acquisitions--ninety in all--and shows how the "potential competition" doctrine renders competition law entirely impotent to protect the consumer interest in this space. What is true for Facebook applies to the market generally. While we offer no opinion on any particular merger, protecting the consumer against the ravenous appetite of Big Tech requires rejecting the potential competition test and adopting the empirically tractable structural approach to potential competition mergers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sun is setting on the days when multinationals could establish intricate tax systems to drastically reduce their tax bills. Since the 19905, the OECD and the EU have taken resolute steps to compel their members to eradicate corporate tax elusion and hannful tax competition. These solutions are forward-looking, and aim at auerting future issues. Imponantly, the European Commission has picked up a jight against past tax schemes by targeting tax rulings via State aid, a part of Eu competition law. In the most publicized case, Apple was asked to pay US$15 billion to Ireland in outstanding taxes. The decision was annulled by the General Court in July 2020, and an appeal before the Court of Justice is currently pending. This Article assesses the value of State aid law as a tool to Jight unfair corporate taxation. It does so by scrutinizing the decisional practice of the Commission and the judgments of the General Court. The point of departure is that it is legitimate to resort to State aid rules to monitor tax planning practices. While the Commission faces an uphill struggle to win individual cases, the general principles and strategy delineated by the inuestigations serue to enhance detmence and decrease undesirable predictability. Unintendedly, the Commission's losses reinforce the robustness of judicial reuiew, and serve to question the narrative that EU competition law may be strategically applied against US tech giants. Overall, the Article perceives State aid as a useful weapon to combat corporate tax malpractices, but as a complement, not a substitute, of the preferred tax harmonization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on interpreting and applying Section 289 of the Patent Act, the courts should, to the extent possible and Supreme Court's test for arriving at a damages award under Section 289. It mentions procedural history of the seven-year legal battle between Apple and Samsung. It also mentions historical evidence demonstrates that the Supreme Court's dictionary-based definition of the phrase "article of manufacture" is incomplete.