Friday Apple Rumors: Facebook to Launch iPhone Rival

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daily apple rumors AAPLHere are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

Competition: Social media giant Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) is expected to unveil its own smartphone at a special event next week, TechCrunch notes. The company sent out invitations to reporters on Thursday. Analysts have long expected Facebook to enter the smartphone market. The new smartphone will run on a modified version of Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android OS, similar to the way Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) customized Android for its Kindle tablets. The new smartphone, manufactured by HTC, will feature deep social media functionality. A Facebook smartphone would permit the company to compile even more detailed information about its users, which would provide valuable marketing opportunities.

Warning: On the heels of several hostile media stories about Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) products in China’s state run media, a Chinese regulator is calling for greater state scrutiny of the company’s product warranties, CNET notes. In recent weeks, Apple’s customer service and warranty policies were harshly criticized by China Central Television and the Communist Party newspaper The People’s Daily. The campaign against Apple has prompted an outcry from Chinese Apple fans. The newest salvo comes from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, which is recommending that regulators tighten their control over Apple’s warranty policies in China. The People’s Daily recently called Apple’s warranty conditions “arrogant.”

Another Lawsuit: In addition to trouble with Chinese regulators, Apple is being sued by Shanghai-based animation studio over alleged unauthorized sales of its films on iTunes, the South China Morning Post notes. Shanghai Animation Film Studio claims that Apple sold 110 of its films, including Calabash Brothers and Black Cat Detective without approval. It is asking to be compensated for the downloads. The case comes as Apple is facing another lawsuit from a Chinese company that claims that Apple’s Siri voice assistant infringes on its technology patents in China.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.


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