Yes, Apple still has a unique ability to create sinfully sexy gadgets with similarly drool-inducing functionality. That was clear this week with the debut of the iPhone X, Apple's forthcoming flagship phone featuring a sleek edge-to-edge screen, a glass back, higher resolution and energy efficiency thanks to an OLED display, 3-D touch technology, facial recognition sensors, and wireless charging.

What does Facebook know that the U.S. Census Bureau doesn't? I ask because the social giant is claiming that its Ads Manager can potentially reach 41 million 18- to 24-year-olds within the country, even though the Census Bureau only counted 31 million 18- to 24-year-olds last year.

Promotional push notifications drive nearly 10 times as many users to make a purchase compared to customers who did not receive a message.

Despite highly publicized efforts by platforms to curb fraudulent apps, the problem is still costing marketers a ton of green. That's according to new findings from security research firm DataVisor. Like a virus adapting to its host, fraudsters are adjusting to shifting user acquisition strategies, says Ting-Fang Yen, director of research at DataVisor.

It may be a little late in the season for beach-reading recommendations, but -- if you haven't already -- you need to put Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow" on your list. In relatively simple terms, the book summarizes the psychologist's Nobel Prize-winning research into decision-making, cognitive biases, and behavioral economics. "Thinking" was published in 2012, but I was reminded of its worth this week, when I read about the release of a report from app marketing and retargeting startup Liftoff.

Amid reports of unhappy advertisers, merciless competition, and a slumping stock price, Snap watchers have had a field day bashing the young company. For my part, I recently said Snap was getting desperate. But, ahead of its quarterly earnings report, some knowledgeable folks are betting on a bright future for the social maverick.

Revenue from the Apple Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud pumped $7.3 billion into the company's coffers during the fiscal third quarter. That's up 22%, year-over-year, and an all-time high for Apple.

As Facebook reports substantial Q2 earnings -- up 45% from same period last year, mostly mobile-based -- its brand also remains strong, especially among U.S. consumers. Asked about companies that connect the world, Facebook was mentioned far more than any other brand, according to recent findings from System1 Research.

We'll give business folks the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they spend most of their mobile time messaging clients and colleagues, organizing their calendars, and combing through the trades for fresh leads. Yet, after tracking 100,000 corporate mobile devices over the past 12 months, Wandera found that professionals spend plenty of time slacking off on social media. "Our analysis shows that these services use about 15%-20% of a typical wireless user's monthly data allocation," according to Michael Covington, VP of product strategy at the mobile security startup.

Microsoft just sent a clear message to consumers brave enough to bet on its mobile strategy a few years back: You're on your own. Yes, the software giant revealed this week that it will no longer be updating Windows Phone 8.1, which means that most Windows-powered phones will soon be as obsolete as a street-corner payphone.