In its latest iOS App Store promotion, Apple is for a limited time knocking 50 percent off a selection of 14 productivity titles like PCalc, task manager Things, second screen solution Duet Display and more.

Source:: Apple Insider

US government policies on device encryption should be decided by the public and Congress, not companies like Apple, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in an interview at the World Economic Forum being held this week in Davos, Switzerland.

Source:: Apple Insider

Earlier on Thursday Apple CEO Tim Cook attended a private meeting in Brussels with Margrethe Vestager, the head of the European Commission’s antitrust efforts, presumably in an attempt to diminish the chances of owing billions in back taxes because of the company’s Irish tax deals.

Source:: Apple Insider

The split of U.S. iPad sales is now weighted in favor of the iPad mini, although the iPad Pro captured a “meaningful” 12 percent share during the December quarter, according to a survey compiled by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.

Source:: Apple Insider

An assortment of new and returning offers this week include: $70 off 16GB iPad Airs, $80 off iPad Air 2s, $100-$200 off current 13″ MacBook Pros, $187-$290 off current 15″ MacBook Pros, and limited inventory closeout duo of a 15″ MacBook Pro and 27″ iMac — both at $700 off.

Source:: Apple Insider

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made headlines this week with a protectionist proposal that included a vow to force Apple “to build their damn computers and things in this country” if he’s elected. It’s a suggestion that has been outright dismissed by most observers — but should it be?

Source:: Apple Insider

Microsoft on Thursday updated the core Office for iOS apps — Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — with support for 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, as well as several other features, such as illustrated annotations.

Source:: Apple Insider

A U.S. patent application published on Thursday suggests that Apple is at least experimenting with the concept of wraparound displays for some of its portable devices.

Source:: Apple Insider

A video posted to YouTube this week contains footage of what is purportedly a new 4-inch iPhone, boasting the same industrial design as the current iPhone 6 series.

Source:: Apple Insider

Ireland’s left-leaning Sinn Fein party could hold Apple accountable for taxes owed following a still-ongoing European Commission investigation, according to a party finance spokesman.

Source:: Apple Insider