We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… Apple Aims to Revive Sluggish Sales with iPhone 16 Unveil on September 9, HMD Global Unveils Barbie-Themed Flip Phone: A £99 Retro Throwback, Study Ranks Spectrum and Xfinity as Most Reliable U.S. ISPs, Beating Verizon and AT&T and more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
Apple Aims to Revive Sluggish Sales with iPhone 16 Unveil on September 9
Macrumours
Apple will host its major product launch event on September 9, at the Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The tech giant will unveil the latest iPhones, watches, and AirPods. The event which will be followed by the new iPhones going on sale on September 20. The is crucial for Apple, especially given recent sluggish sales of its smartphones and wearable devices. The release of the iPhone 16 on September 20 would allow some revenue to be recorded in Apple’s fiscal fourth quarter, where the company expects a 5% sales growth compared to the previous year. The iPhone 16 series introduces an Action Button, a new Capture Button with gestures, and larger displays for Pro models. The Apple Watch Series 10 features a thinner design, and updates to the SE and Ultra models might include new health features. Two AirPods 4 versions are coming, one with Active Noise Cancellation.
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HMD Global Unveils Barbie-Themed Flip Phone: A £99 Retro Throwback
HMD
HMD Global has officially launched its Barbie-themed flip phone, first showcased at MWC24 in Barcelona, in partnership with Mattel. Priced at £99, the retro-style device is designed for minimal digital distraction, focusing on calls, texts, and a 0.3-megapixel camera. The phone comes with a nine-hour battery life, digital well-being tips, and meditative sounds, all wrapped in Barbie’s iconic pink branding from 1992. HMD also includes replaceable covers, stickers, and a phone strap. The handset is available in the UK, with a U.S. release planned soon.
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Study Ranks Spectrum and Xfinity as Most Reliable U.S. ISPs, Beating Verizon and AT&T
OpenSignal
A recent study by Opensignal on broadband reliability ranked Charter’s Spectrum and Comcast’s Xfinity as the top two providers in the U.S., despite their mixed reputations in customer satisfaction surveys. The study, which analyzed data from April 1 to June 29, scored Spectrum highest with 741 out of 1,000 points, followed by Xfinity with 710. The study focused on downtime, service consistency, and meeting basic speed and latency benchmarks. Spectrum and Xfinity, which use similar cable infrastructure, outperformed Verizon and AT&T, whose networks include slower DSL and wireless services. T-Mobile’s broadband service, mainly fixed wireless, ranked lowest in reliability.
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Encryption Under Fire: Telegram’s Legal Battle in France Worries U.S. Tech Giants
NYT
When French prosecutors charged Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with operating without a license for cryptology services, it spotlighted the issue of encryption, raising concerns among U.S. tech giants like Signal, Apple, and Meta’s WhatsApp. According to the News York Times, these companies, which offer end-to-end encrypted messaging, worry that Telegram’s legal troubles could tarnish the reputation of encrypted messaging technologies broadly. Unlike WhatsApp and Signal, Telegram’s encryption practices differ, and if its case becomes a high-profile example, it could damage the credibility of encryption as a whole. This could put these tech firms in a difficult position regarding whether to support Telegram, as encryption remains a contentious issue between tech companies and governments over privacy versus security.
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Korean Regulator Urges France to Help Investigate Telegram as Crimes Surge on Platform
Korea JonnAng Daily
Korea’s telecommunications regulator KCSC has asked the French government for assistance in investigating Telegram, emphasizing the urgency of addressing crimes that have involved over 220,000 participants, many of whom are underage victims.
The commission, the Korea JongAng Daily reports, seeks to establish direct communication and a permanent partnership with Telegram to tackle these issues more effectively.
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Uber Hit with Historic €290 Million Fine by Dutch Regulator for Illegal Data Transfers
EDPB
Uber has been fined €290 million by the Dutch data protection authority for illegally transferring sensitive data on European drivers to its U.S. servers, violating GDPR regulations. This marks the highest fine ever imposed by the authority and the steepest penalty faced by the ride-hailing giant. The fine stems from Uber’s failure to adequately protect personal data during its transfer outside the EU. Aleid Wolfsen, president of the Dutch authority, emphasized that while GDPR safeguards fundamental rights in Europe, companies like Uber must take extra precautions when handling European citizens’ data abroad. Uber’s failure to comply with these requirements led to the significant penalty.
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Silicon Valley vs. Europe: AI Innovation at Risk as U.S. Companies Halt Rollouts
Bloomberg
US tech companies are withholding their latest AI products from Europe due to regulatory concerns, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
Apple paused the European rollout of its AI software, citing security issues under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, while Meta withheld its advanced AI model, Llama, after regulatory scrutiny. This follows earlier warnings from OpenAI’s CEO about potentially leaving Europe over strict regulations.
The standoff highlights growing tension between Silicon Valley and the EU, which has imposed tough tech laws — Bloomberg’s article reads. While the absence of these products has minimal immediate impact, it raises questions about the future of AI innovation in Europe. Some US tech leaders argue that the EU’s regulations could stifle progress, while European officials insist on balancing innovation with citizens’ rights. Local startups fear that losing access to advanced AI models could hinder Europe’s tech ecosystem.
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