Technology & IT | Saturday 17 September, 2016 10:13 am |

Apple's iPhone 7 launch generated trademark queues and brisk sales in stores around the world on Friday, but excitement mixed with frustration due to supply shortages that left many fans empty-handed.
Buyers queued up outside stores in Australia early on Friday to become some of the first consumers worldwide to get their hands on the device which comes with an improved camera, no headphone jack, and a water resistant body.
The picture was repeated elsewhere in Asia and then in Europe, where stock quickly sold out — either a deliberate sales tactic or because of supply problems, analysts said.
"I really wanted the new camera and new software," said 49-year-old Paul du Buf, who was at the head of a queue of dozens of people under pouring rain at the Apple store in Covent Garden in central London.
There has been much chatter among Apple fans since the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were unveiled about the groundbreaking decision to eliminate headphone jacks and embrace a wireless future.
The California-based group is seeking to regain momentum and set new trends for the industry but it remains to be seen if it can generate the same excitement that surrounded previous versions of the iPhone.
While the company has touted total iPhone sales of one billion, the number sold in the quarter ending June 25 fell 15 percent from a year earlier, highlighting concerns over growth for the key profit driver.
Mobile phone markets are saturated and Chinese firms including Huawei are becoming increasingly popular.
Apple also faces stiff competition from traditional rival Samsung, although the South Korean giant is currently on the back foot after being forced into a massive recall because of exploding batteries.