Apple services censored in China where devices flourished

A smartphone displaying the 'HKmap.live' app in Hong Kong. Apple on Oct 10 removed an app criticised by China for allowing protesters in Hong Kong to track police, as Beijing steps up pressure on foreign companies deemed to be providing support to the pro-democracy movement. — AFP

When it comes to many of Apple Inc's latest services, iPhone users in China are missing out. Podcast choices are paltry. Apple TV+ is off the air. News subscriptions are blocked, and Arcade gaming is nowhere to be found.

For years, Apple made huge inroads in the world's most populous nation with hardware that boasted crisp displays, sleek lines and speedy processors. It peddled little of the content that boxed US Internet giants Google and Facebook Inc out of the country. But now that Apple is becoming a major digital services provider, it’s struggling to avoid the fate of its rivals.