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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Apple

Flair Adds Apple AirTag Tracking for Lost Luggage

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Flair Airlines has introduced Apple’s Share Item Location feature to assist customers in locating delayed or misplaced baggage. Travellers can now securely share the location of an AirTag or other Find My network accessory with Flair’s customer service via the airline’s baggage services portal.

The feature, available on devices running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2, automatically ends once baggage is returned, can be stopped by the customer, and expires after seven days. Built on Apple’s encrypted Find My network, the tool enhances tracking while safeguarding privacy. Flair says the integration reflects its commitment to reliability.

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Apple Leads Market Drop Amid Trade Fears

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Technology stocks fell sharply Thursday following President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs on imported goods, triggering widespread investor alarm. Apple, which manufactures in Asia, plunged 8%, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 5%—its worst session in five years. Meta and Amazon declined 7%, Nvidia and Tesla over 4%.

Semiconductor firms such as Arm, Broadcom, and Lam Research dropped 8%+, with Micron tumbling 14%. Trump’s tariffs include a 34% duty on China, sparking criticism from Beijing. Microsoft and Alphabet also slipped. The selloff reflects market fears of a global trade war and deepening concerns over U.S. economic stability.

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Trump’s Tariffs Hit Apple’s Green Aluminum Plan

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Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian aluminum are driving up costs for Apple, which sources carbon-free aluminum from Montreal-based Elysis. The joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa produces aluminum exclusively in Quebec, a province with nine major aluminum facilities powered by hydroelectricity.

While Canada’s steel industry struggles under U.S. tariffs, aluminum producers are better positioned due to America’s lack of domestic production. Apple’s push for carbon neutrality by 2030 hinges on sustainable materials like Elysis aluminum, but rising costs may force adjustments. The trade war’s latest target could be your iPhone.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

E-Commerce Giant Temu Leads Canada’s App Charts

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Temu has emerged as Canada’s most downloaded iPhone app of 2024, according to Apple’s newly released App Store data. It is the only e-commerce app in Canada’s top 15 free app rankings.

Launched in Canada in February 2023, Temu enabled faster deliveries by connecting sellers to local warehouses, allowing customers to receive products in as little as one business day. Globally, Temu ranks #1 in Canada and 23 other countries, including the U.S., UK, and Germany. Since its 2022 U.S. launch, Temu’s direct-from-factory model has fueled its rapid global expansion across 80+ markets.

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Apple, Meta, Samsung Absent from Canada Payment Registry

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Apple, Samsung, and Meta are notably absent from the Bank of Canada’s list of payment providers registered under its new oversight regime. The regulation, aimed at reducing risks like hacks and company failures, required non-bank payment services to register by mid-November. While Amazon, Google, and Shopify complied, the central bank is pursuing firms that may have missed the deadline.

Bank of Canada’s Paul Badertscher said companies assessing their registration requirements aren’t included on the list. Apple, Samsung, and Meta, all of which provide payment services in Canada, declined to comment on their absence from the registry.

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Apple Begins Beta Testing ‘Intelligence’ Suite in Canada

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Apple Intelligence became available through beta for the first time last month and now the tech titan’s emerging suite of AI offerings is beginning to appear in Canada. The toolkit of AI-powered features is slated to enhance everything from writing and design to smarter notifications—including Siri.

“Apple Intelligence is … integrated into the core of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac through on-device processing—so it’s aware of your personal information without collecting your personal information,” stated the Silicon Valley giant. “And with groundbreaking Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can draw on larger server-based models, running on Apple silicon, to handle more complex requests for you while protecting your privacy.

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Apple Promises Self-Service Repairs for Canada in 2025 After European Expansion

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Apple announced it will introduce self-service repairs in Canada in 2025, following its recent expansion to 32 European countries. The initiative allows customers to access diagnostic software and purchase Apple parts for self-installation, previously exclusive to professional repair shops.

Apple also released a white paper on repairability, supporting the use of non-Apple parts with appropriate warnings about risks. This marks a significant shift in Apple’s stance on the “right to repair,” which it now supports with conditions. The Canadian government is currently grappling with this issue, making Apple’s new position particularly relevant.

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Apple Unveils AI System, Partners with OpenAI for Siri Integration

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At its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced Apple Intelligence, a new AI system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. This system allows users to manage notifications, summarize emails, and generate images. Additionally, Apple revealed a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri.

Despite entering the AI race later than rivals like Microsoft and Google, Apple’s strategy of enhancing existing product categories has previously proven successful. The company aims to boost device upgrades and counteract sluggish sales growth since the pandemic by leveraging this new AI technology.

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Apple Bolsters AI Ambitions with Canadian Startup DarwinAI’s Acquisition

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Apple’s recent acquisition of DarwinAI, a Kitchener-Waterloo-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence, marks a significant move in the tech giant’s AI strategy. DarwinAI, known for its innovative approach to building efficient deep learning models, was founded by a team of computer vision experts and tech executives linked to the University of Waterloo.

The acquisition, which closed in January, followed DarwinAI’s rapid advancement in AI technology, notably in optimizing training processes and providing insights into AI decision-making. This move aligns with Apple’s growing AI ambitions and reflects the tech leader’s interest in expanding its AI capabilities within its product ecosystem.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.