Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed concerns about his health and future role during an all-hands meeting with employees on Tuesday.

Cook, who is set to step down as chief executive on September 1, 2026, and hand the reins to hardware engineering chief John Ternus, told staff he is “healthy,” that his “energy is high,” and that he intends to remain actively involved as executive chairman for the long term.

The comments came during a gathering held in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, where both Cook and Ternus fielded questions on topics ranging from artificial intelligence and upcoming product plans to design philosophy. The meeting followed Apple’s formal announcement of the leadership transition earlier this week.

A Smooth, Planned Transition

Cook has led Apple for 15 years since succeeding Steve Jobs in 2011, overseeing extraordinary growth that transformed the company into a multi-trillion-dollar powerhouse. The decision to step aside as CEO while staying on as executive chairman reflects a carefully orchestrated succession plan that Apple has described as “thoughtful” and long-term.

John Ternus, a longtime Apple insider with deep experience in hardware, is widely viewed internally as a strong choice to lead the company into its next chapter — particularly as Apple ramps up its efforts in AI.

Reassuring Apple employees

Cook’s direct reassurance about his health and commitment appears designed to calm any internal anxiety surrounding the leadership change. By emphasizing that he will continue in a guiding role for years to come, Cook is signaling continuity at the board level even as day-to-day operations shift to Ternus.

The timing of the all-hands meeting — shortly after the public announcement — allowed Cook and Ternus to present a united front and address employee questions head-on.

What’s Next for Apple

With Ternus taking over as CEO just in time for the traditional September product event cycle, attention will quickly turn to how the new leader executes on Apple’s ambitious roadmap. The meeting reportedly touched on AI initiatives, suggesting that product development in that area remains a top priority under the incoming regime.

MacDailyNews Take: For investors and Apple products and services fans alike, Cook’s message is clear: this is not an abrupt exit, but a deliberate evolution of leadership with Cook moving into a senior advisory and oversight position while ensuring the company remains in capable hands.

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In a move that signals both continuity and a subtle shift in leadership style, Apple announced on April 20, 2026, that John Ternus, its longtime Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will become the company’s next CEO effective September 1, 2026. Tim Cook, who has led Apple since 2011, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the board.

The news, reported across major outlets including Bloomberg News, Reuters, and Apple’s own newsroom, marks the end of an era for one of the world’s most valuable companies. Cook, 65, steered Apple through explosive growth—turning it into a multitrillion-dollar powerhouse with the iPhone at its core — while emphasizing operational excellence, iterative product updates, services expansion, and generally steady execution. Now, the board is placing its faith in Ternus, a mechanical engineer who has spent 25 years deeply embedded in Apple’s product development.

Who is John Ternus?

Ternus joined Apple in 2001 on the product design team, initially working on the Apple Cinema Display. He rose steadily through the ranks:

• In 2013, he was appointed Vice President of Hardware Engineering under Dan Riccio, overseeing Mac, iPad, and later AirPods.

• By 2020, he took responsibility for iPhone hardware.

• In 2021, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, replacing Riccio and leading engineering for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Vision Pro, and more.

• He played a central role in the ambitious transition of the Mac to Apple Silicon, one of the most successful architecture shifts in tech history.

Before Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems and holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Described in some reports as a former swimming champion, he brings a technical, hands-on background that contrasts with Cook’s legendary supply-chain and operations expertise.

The Bloomberg Angle: Bringing Back “Jobs-Era Decisiveness”

According to Bloomberg News’ reporting, Apple’s leadership sees Ternus as the leader who can inject more decisive, product-focused leadership reminiscent of the Steve Jobs era. Under Cook, major decisions were often debated and refined by a broader group of executives. The bet is that Ternus will streamline that process, making bolder, faster calls on product direction — especially as Apple grapples with slowing iPhone growth and the urgent need to reinvent its lineup in the age of artificial intelligence.

Insiders and analysts suggest Ternus is expected not just to maintain Apple’s hardware excellence but to “reinvent” aspects of the product portfolio. His deep engineering roots position him well to drive innovation in hardware, where Apple has historically differentiated itself through tight integration of silicon, software, and design.

Challenges Ahead for the New CEO

Ternus steps into the role at a pivotal moment. Apple faces:

• Maturing smartphone markets and pressure to find the “next big thing” beyond the iPhone.

• Intensifying competition in AI, where rivals like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have moved aggressively.

• The need to capitalize on emerging categories such as spatial computing (Apple Vision Pro) while navigating regulatory scrutiny and supply-chain complexities.

Cook’s transition to Executive Chairman provides a safety net—his experience and relationships will remain available, much like the structured handoffs seen in other mature tech giants. Johny Srouji is reportedly moving into a chief hardware officer role, ensuring continuity in silicon development.

What This Means for Apple Fans and Investors

For many longtime observers, the appointment feels like a return to Apple’s product-centric DNA. While Cook delivered remarkable financial results and shareholder value, some critics have argued the company became more cautious and less willing to bet boldly on disruptive new categories.

Ternus’ track record on flagship hardware — the devices that still generate the majority of Apple’s revenue — gives him credibility with engineers and designers. If Bloomberg’s reporting holds, his leadership could mean quicker pivots, fewer committee-driven compromises, and a renewed focus on creating “insanely great” products.

Of course, execution will matter more than rhetoric. Ternus will need to balance hardware innovation with software and services growth, while proving he can lead a company of over 160,000 employees and navigate global geopolitical and regulatory challenges.

The Bottom Line

Apple’s choice of John Ternus reflects confidence in its internal talent and a calculated desire to sharpen decision-making without abandoning the operational discipline that defined the Cook years. Whether Ternus can truly channel some of Steve Jobs’ famous decisiveness while adapting to today’s vastly larger and more complex Apple remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: Starting September 1, 2026, the spotlight will be on the hardware engineer who helped build so many of the products we use every day. The question now is whether he can guide Apple to build the next ones that define the future.
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MacDailyNews Take: Of course, this is a fascinating inflection point. Ternus knows Apple’s products inside and out. If he can combine that product intuition with decisive leadership, Apple could be poised for another golden era. You know that we’ll be watching closely.

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled appreciation for U.S. companies that choose not to pursue refunds on tariffs paid under his administration’s trade policies, framing the decision as a patriotic contribution to strengthening the nation.

Speaking in a live phone interview with CNBC on the second day of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) new electronic refund portal, Trump highlighted reports that major firms like Apple and Amazon had not yet applied for reimbursements. He described the choice as “brilliant” and said he would “remember” such companies.

“It’s brilliant if they don’t do that,” Trump stated. “If they don’t do that, I’ll remember them. I will tell you that, because I’m looking to make this country strong.”

Trump has long portrayed tariffs as a tool to protect American industries, bring manufacturing back home, and address trade imbalances — particularly with countries like China. He has characterized the payment of these duties by U.S. importers as a form of support for national priorities. In the interview, he contrasted companies seeking refunds with those showing restraint, at one point referring to recipients of large refund checks as potentially benefiting “the enemy” or “people that have hated the United States.

“The comments come amid the rollout of the CBP’s CAPE system, launched on April 20, 2026, to process applications for up to $166 billion in potential refunds. This follows a February 2026 Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by Trump under a 1977 national emergency law, with the court determining the measures exceeded presidential authority. A subsequent court order required the creation of the refund mechanism.

Payments are not expected until 60 to 90 days after applications are accepted, and a temporary stay issued Tuesday by Judge Richard Eaton requires a progress report from CBP by April 28, with an appeal deadline set for June 7.

Some companies, including Costco, FedEx, and Mondelez, have pursued legal action to secure faster refunds. Others, such as Walmart and Amazon, have not filed lawsuits — a step experts interpret as a potential effort to maintain positive standing with the administration.

Trump expressed optimism about alternative tariff approaches moving forward, noting that his team is developing measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. These would involve investigations and public comments, with implementation possibly starting in July. He suggested the new structure could ultimately generate even greater revenue for the U.S., describing it as “a little more unwieldy” but consistent with established trade practices.

“We’re doing it a different way. We’re going to end up with the same — actually, we’ll end up with bigger numbers, actually,” Trump said.

MacDailyNews Take: As the refund process unfolds and new tariff frameworks take shape, companies face strategic choices that could influence their relationships with the administration and their role in broader efforts to reshape U.S.-international trade dynamics. Trump’s remarks suggest that restraint on refunds are very likely be viewed favorably as support for U.S. national priorities going forward.

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Apple’s announcement that Tim Cook will step down as CEO to become executive chairman — with hardware engineering chief John Ternus taking over as CEO on September 1st — is being viewed positively by Wall Street analysts for the company’s upcoming fiscal second-quarter earnings report, due on April 30th.

Tobias Burns for CNBC:
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Announcements on leadership changes are always sensitive matters for companies, so the fact that Apple’s torch-passing is happening about a week out from earnings is suggesting to analysts that the company may have some good news on the horizon.

“My gut tells me this was announced before earnings so we can focus on a great quarter with strong fundamentals next week when Apple reports,” Ben Reitzes, head of technology research at Melius, wrote in a Monday note to investors. “Cook was CEO a long time and likely wants to leave on a high note.”

Analysts for Bank of America had much the same intuition on Monday about near-term performance.

“Near-term results are extremely resilient given that Apple will likely plan such changes from a position of strong business momentum,” Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan and colleagues wrote in a Monday note to investors.

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MacDailyNews Take: Earnings will be strong.

The consensus estimate for second-quarter earnings per share is $1.94 on revenue of $109.35 billion, according to FactSet. Based on 54 analysts, the stock currently carries a price target of $301.62.

MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

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Apple TV on Tuesday revealed a first look at season three of “Silo,” the hit, world-building drama created by Emmy Award winner Graham Yost, who also serves as showrunner, and starring and executive produced by Rebecca Ferguson. The 10-episode third season will premiere on Apple TV with the first episode on July 3, followed by one new episode every Friday through September 4, 2026.

Season three of “Silo” continues the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances, while revealing an origin story set centuries earlier. In the present, Juliette Nichols (Ferguson) survives her forced “cleaning” but returns with memory loss as the silo recovers from rebellion and faces a dangerous new threat. Meanwhile, in the “Before Times,” journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) uncover a conspiracy that pulls them into a chain of events with catastrophic, irreversible consequences. The series is based on Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy, “Silo.”

The ensemble cast returning alongside Ferguson includes Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite and Clare Perkins. Joining the cast for season three are Zukerman and Henwick, who appeared in the season two finale, along with Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney and Matt Craven, with Colin Hanks set to recur. Steve Zahn will also return.

Already renewed for a fourth and final season, “Silo” continues to captivate audiences worldwide, earning praise as “genuinely brilliant,” “immensely satisfying” and “one of the best sci-fi TV shows today.” Catch up on the complete first and second seasons, now streaming globally on Apple TV.

“Silo” is produced by Apple Studios. The series is executive produced by Yost, Michael Dinner, Nina Jack, Joanna Thapa, Ferguson, Morten Tyldum, Howey, Amber Templemore, Fred Golan, Rémi Aubuchon, and AMC Studios.

Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 797 wins and 3,429 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.

MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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Apple on Monday announced that John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. Tim Cook will then become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.

Rolfe Winkler for The Wall Street Journal:
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Ternus will follow two corporate legends. Steve Jobs developed the most lucrative product in history, the iPhone. Cook squeezed trillions of dollars of value from the smartphone thanks to the supply chain he built and the services and ancillary products he rolled out.

As Cook did when he succeeded Jobs, Ternus is taking over as a relative unknown to the outside world. If Jobs was a product visionary and Cook a supply chain guru, Ternus is a hardware savant who exists somewhere in the middle.

A mechanical engineer by background, who most recently has led hardware engineering for all of Apple’s products, Ternus takes Apple’s reins at a critical time in its history. The company is at the top of its game selling iPhones, after rolling out popular new models last fall. Yet it is struggling to find its next hit product.

It also must remake itself in the age of artificial intelligence. After decades defining how people interact with computing devices, first on their desktops and then in their hands, Apple has fallen behind rival companies who are leading the next great computing platform with chatbots that converse like humans. Apple’s own Siri, which is set to get an AI brain transplant this year, has been a Neanderthal by comparison…

Ask anyone from Apple what they think of Ternus, and they all say the same thing: He’s a super nice guy… What he isn’t known for is taking big, risky swings, said people familiar with Ternus’s tenure, leaving open the question of whether he can provide the product vision that company critics say has been absent since Jobs died.

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MacDailyNews Take:

As we wrote last July (hopefully, Ternus will surprise us):

What should happen at Apple:

1. Tim Cook hangs on for years
2. When he finally retires as CEO, he becomes Chairman
3. Apple hires another bland, myopic CEO in the mold of Cook
4. Company continues on path of iterative stagnation

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President Donald Trump via Truth Social:
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I have always been a big fan of Tim Cook, and likewise, Steve Jobs, but if Steve was not taken from the Planet Earth so young, and ran the company instead of Tim, the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim. For me it began with a phone call from Tim at the beginning of my First Term. He had a fairly large problem that only I, as President, could fix. Most people would have paid millions of dollars to a consultant, who I probably would not have known, but who would say that he knew me well. The fees would be paid but the job would not have gotten done. When I got the call I said, wow, it’s Tim Apple (Cook!) calling, how big is that? I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to “kiss my ass.” Anyway, he explained his problem, a tough one it was, I felt he was right and got it taken care of, quickly and effectively. That was the beginning of a long and very nice relationship. During my five years as President, Tim would call me, but never too much, and I would help him where I could. Years latter, after 3 or 4 BIG HELPS, I started to say to people, anyone who would listen, that this guy is an amazing manager and leader. He makes these calls to me, I help him out (but not always, because he will, on occasion, be too aggressive in his ask!), and he gets the job done, QUICKLY, without a dime being given to those very expensive (millions of dollars!) consultants around town who sometimes get it done, and sometimes don’t. Anyway, Tim Cook had an AMAZING career, almost incomparable, and will go on and continue to do great work for Apple, and whatever else he chooses to work on. Quite simply, Tim Cook is an incredible guy!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP

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MacDailyNews Take: A nice tribute, but the statement, “if Steve was not taken from the Planet Earth so young, and ran the company instead of Tim, the company would have done well, but nowhere near as well as it has under Tim,” is a wild overstatement and also just plain wrong.

Imagine where Siri would be today if Steve Jobs had lived longer, staying laser-focused on it while also recognizing the paradigm shift of generative AI far earlier. That’s just one case. Just imagine Steve Jobs making the decisions regarding electric vehicles, VR/AR goggles, future iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple TVs, Apple Watches, home automation, and products that we – without Steve – have not yet even imagined!

The deep shift of Apple’s manufacturing and supply chain to China — which enabled the massive scaling of iPhone production, tight inventory control, and high margins — was already well underway under Steve Jobs. Cook, as head of operations, executed it brilliantly, but Jobs himself recognized the necessity.

In a 2011 dinner with President Obama, Jobs bluntly explained why iPhones couldn’t realistically be made in the U.S.: America lacked the scale, speed, flexibility, and dense ecosystem of skilled suppliers and engineers that China offered. He stated, “Those jobs aren’t coming back.”

Any competent operations leader in that era, facing the same global realities, would have leaned heavily on China’s manufacturing advantages — just as competitors did. Cook’s excellence in optimizing that system deserves credit for execution and efficiency, but crediting him alone for Apple’s post-Jobs growth ignores that the foundational supply-chain decisions were made with Jobs’ approval and understanding. Apple’s iterative success under Cook was built on the product vision and momentum that Steve Jobs created.

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Apple’s leadership transition headed by new CEO John Ternus marks the beginning of a new era for the company, as Wall Street analysts say Apple’s future success will hinge on whether it can effectively fuse its deep hardware expertise with artificial intelligence to drive sustained growth in a rapidly changing tech landscape.”

Rashika Singh for Reuters:
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Apple faces mounting AI‑driven competition and pressure from the Trump administration to bring more manufacturing back home… The company recently lost its place as the world’s most valuable company to ​AI chip leader Nvidia amid concerns about the slower pace of its generative ⁠AI rollout. Despite introducing Siri in 2011, Apple has yet to turn that early lead into ​a dominant AI platform.

“Investors want to know if Ternus will engage in the AI race, or if ​he will follow Cook’s lead. There is anticipation of new Apple products to boost their offering, and there is some expectation that Ternus could move fast to put his own stamp on the company,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director ​at XTB. “The external environment will be challenging for the new CEO – tariffs, war and supply chain ​concerns need to be factored into his growth plans.”

“Ternus now faces the challenge of turning Apple’s improving AI software, including its partnership with Google’s Gemini, into a genuinely AI-led device experience ​compelling enough to drive the next major hardware upgrade cycle,” [Matt Britzman, senior equity ⁠analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown], said.

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MacDailyNews Note: Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become the company’s next chief executive officer effective September 1, 2026. Cook will remain as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, working closely with Ternus. Cook will then serve as executive chairman, where he will continue to assist with key aspects of the company, including engagement with global policymakers.

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Apple today announced that, effective immediately, Apple executive Johny Srouji will become chief hardware officer. Srouji, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, will assume an expanded role leading Hardware Engineering, which John Ternus most recently oversaw, as well as the hardware technologies organization.

“Johny is one of the most talented people I have ever had the privilege to work with,” said outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement. “He has played a singular role in driving Apple’s silicon strategy, and his influence has been felt deeply not just inside the company, but across the industry. He has always led his organization with remarkable deftness and judgment, and time and again, his team has delivered breakthrough innovations that have transformed our products. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as Apple’s chief hardware officer.”

“Johny has been an incredible partner on the executive team, and is going to be an extraordinary chief hardware officer,” said incoming Apple CEO John Ternus in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with him in our new roles.”

Srouji has built one of the world’s strongest and most innovative teams of silicon and technology engineers, driving leading breakthroughs in custom chips and hardware technologies including Apple silicon, batteries, cameras, storage controllers, sensors, displays, cellular modems, and other critical areas across Apple’s entire product line.

Apple’s world-class hardware engineering team turns bold ideas into beautifully integrated products people rely on every day. They create and build all of Apple’s hardware products, leading everything from product design to system engineering to reliability and durability testing. The team works closely with industrial design, hardware technologies, software engineering, and operations to deliver the world’s most innovative products.

Srouji joined Apple in 2008 to lead development of A4, the first Apple-designed system-on-a-chip. Prior to Apple, Srouji held senior positions at Intel and IBM in the area of processor development and design. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Computer Science from Technion, Israel’s Institute of Technology.
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MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, Johny Srouji!

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Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.

Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” said Cook in a statement. “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus in a statement . “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”

Arthur Levinson, who has been Apple’s non-executive chairman for the past 15 years, will become its lead independent director on September 1, 2026. Ternus will join the board of directors, also effective September 1, 2026.

“Tim’s unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world’s best company. He’s introduced groundbreaking products and services time and again, and his integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does,” said Levinson in a statement. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we are incredibly grateful for his countless contributions to Apple and the world, and we are thrilled he will now be executive chairman. We believe John is the best possible leader to succeed Tim and as he transitions to CEO we know his love of Apple, his leadership, deep technical knowledge, and relentless focus on creating great products will help lead Apple to an extraordinary future.”

“I want to thank Art for the incredible work he has done leading the board of directors for the past 15 years,” added Cook. “I have always found his advice to be invaluable and I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his unwavering dedication to the company. I am grateful he will serve as our lead independent director, and I look forward to working with him in my new role.”

Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998. He became CEO in 2011 and has overseen the introduction of numerous products and services, including new categories like Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, and services ranging from iCloud and Apple Pay to Apple TV and Apple Music. He was also instrumental in expanding existing product lines. Under Cook’s leadership Apple has grown from a market capitalization of approximately $350 billion to $4 trillion, representing a more than 1,000% increase, and yearly revenue has nearly quadrupled, from $108 billion in fiscal year 2011 to more than $416 billion in fiscal year 2025. The company has expanded its global footprint substantially, particularly in emerging markets; it is now in more than 200 countries and territories. Apple operates over 500 retail stores and has more than doubled the number of countries in which its customers can visit an Apple Store. During his tenure, Apple has grown by more than 100,000 team members and increased its active installed base to more than 2.5 billion devices.

Apple Services has been a major focus area of Cook’s, and during his tenure the category has grown to become a more than $100 billion business, the equivalent of a Fortune 40 company. Cook was also instrumental in creating the wearables category at Apple, which now includes the world’s most popular watch and headphones, and which has served as the foundation for Apple’s remarkable impact on the health and safety of its users. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple also transitioned to Apple-designed silicon, enabling the company to own more of its primary technology and deliver industry-leading gains in power efficiency and performance that directly benefit users across its products.

Cook has made Apple’s core values even more central to the company’s decision making and product development. Under his leadership, the company reduced its carbon footprint by more than 60 percent below 2015 levels during a period in which revenue nearly doubled. Cook, who has long advocated for privacy as a fundamental human right, has made privacy and security imperative at Apple, setting a standard for user protection that continues to set the company apart from the rest of the technology industry. He has also pushed for continued innovation in the accessibility space, believing that Apple products should be made for everyone. And he has made central to his leadership the notion that Apple should be a place where everyone can feel they belong and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and became a vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013. He joined the executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. Throughout his tenure at Apple, Ternus has overseen hardware engineering work on a variety of groundbreaking products across every category. He was instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as many generations of products across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.

Ternus’s work on Mac has helped the category become more powerful and more popular globally than at any time in its 40-year history. That includes the recent introduction of MacBook Neo, an all-new laptop that makes the Mac experience even more accessible to more people around the world. This past fall, his team’s efforts were on full display with the introduction of a redefined iPhone lineup, including the incredibly powerful iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the radically thin and durable iPhone Air, and the iPhone 17, which has been an incredible upgrade for users. Under his leadership, his team also drove advancements in AirPods to make them the world’s best in-ear headphones, with unprecedented active noise cancellation, as well as the capability to become an all-in-one hearing health system that can serve as over-the-counter hearing aids.

Ternus led much of the company’s focus in areas like reliability and durability, introducing new techniques that have made Apple products remarkably resilient. He has also driven much of Apple’s innovation in materials and hardware design that have reduced the carbon footprint of its products, including the creation of a new, recycled aluminum compound that has been introduced across multiple product lines, the use of 3-D printed titanium in Apple Watch Ultra 3, and innovations in repairability that have increased the lifespans of several Apple products.
Prior to Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

MacDailyNews Take: The end of an era… and the start of a new one!

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Apple has multiple catalysts for strong revenue growth, so investors shouldn’t be spooked by any margin pressure from rising memory costs, according to a Morgan Stanley analyst.

“We see a path to $300 for Apple shares by this September,” Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring wrote in a research note on Monday. That target is above Apple’s all-time closing high of $286.19, set on December 2, 2025.

Angela Palumbo for Barron’s:
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“Memory inflation will pressure margins, but this is well-known, and iPhone revenue upside sets up for a better than feared June quarter guide,” Woodring wrote.

He added that any announcements regarding an AI powered Siri at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the expected release of a foldable iPhone, would be positive tailwinds that can help push the stock higher after earnings.

Woodring, who rates the stock as Overweight with a $315 price target, also thinks Apple stands out against large tech peers as the company continues to report strong free cash flow while competitors continue to spend massive amounts of capex on building out AI infrastructure.

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MacDailyNews Take: From Woodring’s lips to Mr. Market’s ears!

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Apple fans are buzzing with speculation about a possible surprise April/may 2026 event — or at least a quiet wave of product launches — as fresh supply chain hints and YouTube-style leaks continue to dominate online discussions. While Apple has yet to confirm any official spring keynote, the chatter around refreshed Apple TV 4K, powerful M5-series Macs, and long-awaited HomePod and smart home upgrades has reached a fever pitch.

No formal invitations have gone out, and reliable reports suggest a traditional live-streamed event in April or May looks unlikely, with many eyes now turning toward WWDC in June. Still, “out of stock” signals, component leaks, and analyst whispers are keeping the rumor mill spinning at full speed.

The Long-Awaited Apple TV 4K Refresh Tops the List

One of the most talked-about rumored devices is the next-generation Apple TV 4K. Leaks point to a significant performance leap powered by the A17 Pro chip (the same silicon that debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro). This upgrade is expected to bring:

• Faster ray tracing and improved GPU performance for better gaming
• Deeper Apple Intelligence integration, including a smarter Siri
• Wi-Fi 7 support

Potential HomeKit enhancements

Some reports suggest the hardware is essentially ready, but Apple may be holding back the launch to ensure Apple Intelligence features (particularly advanced LLM Siri capabilities) are polished. A lower price point has also been floated in some leaks, which could make the new Apple TV more appealing as a true home entertainment and gaming hub.

Whether it drops quietly in the coming weeks or waits until later in the year, the 2026 Apple TV is shaping up to be the biggest update to the device in years.

M5 Mac Studio: A Desktop Powerhouse Incoming

On the Mac side, attention is firmly on the M5 Mac Studio. Supply of current models appears to be tightening, and leaks indicate Apple is preparing versions with both M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.

Expect major gains:

• Up to 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU configurations
• Significantly higher memory bandwidth
• Up to 30% faster performance in pro workloads compared to M4-series chips

The M5 Ultra, in particular, is generating excitement among creative professionals and power users who see it as Apple’s answer to high-end desktop competition. While some earlier rumors pointed to a first-half 2026 launch, the current consensus leans toward a mid-2026 debut — possibly timed with WWDC.

Smart Home Devices: HomePod Updates and the Elusive Home Hub

Apple’s long-rumored smart home push is also part of the conversation. Leaks mention refreshed HomePod mini and a new full-size HomePod, along with a dedicated smart home hub (sometimes called “HomePad”) featuring a built-in display.

These devices are expected to bring tighter integration with Apple Intelligence, improved Siri, and better whole-home control. Some reports suggest a spring or early summer window for the speakers, while the full smart display hub might slip to later in 2026.

What to Watch Next

With no official confirmation of an April event, much of the current speculation is driven by YouTube videos dissecting supply chain reports and code leaks. Apple could opt for simple press releases and website updates instead of a big stage presentation — a strategy the company has used before for smaller refreshes.

In the meantime, the combination of a gaming-ready Apple TV, ultra-powerful M5 desktops, and long-overdue smart home hardware has Apple enthusiasts eagerly scanning for any sign of movement from Cupertino.

MacDailyNews Take: Stay tuned. Even without a flashy invite, April and May could still deliver some welcome surprises for the Apple ecosystem.

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Apple today seeded developers with the third betas of iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5.

The updates arrived on Monday, April 20, 2026, roughly one week after Apple released the second betas of the same software.

Availability and Installation

Registered developers can download the new betas through the Apple Developer portal or over-the-air on enrolled devices:

• On iPhone and iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• On Mac: Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
• Similar paths apply to Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

A free or paid Apple Developer account is required for access. Public beta versions typically follow shortly after developer releases via the Apple Beta Software Program.

What to Expect

As with recent point releases in the iOS 26 / macOS Tahoe 26 family, iOS 26.5 and its companion updates appear focused on bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor refinements rather than major new user-facing features. No specific changes have been highlighted yet for beta 3, consistent with the steady, weekly cadence Apple often follows in the later stages of point-update testing.

Earlier betas in the 26.5 cycle introduced or tested items such as:

• A “Suggested Places” feature in Maps
• Continued work on end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging
• Preparatory messages about upcoming ads in Apple Maps (for the US and Canada)

The third betas continue polishing the software ahead of a likely public release in the coming weeks.

These updates follow the major iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 releases that debuted in 2025 with the new Liquid Glass design language and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities. The .5 releases typically serve as maintenance updates that improve stability and address issues reported after the initial major versions.

Developers are encouraged to test their apps thoroughly against the new SDKs included with Xcode 26.5 to ensure compatibility.

MacDailyNews Note: Beta software can contain bugs and is not recommended for daily-driver devices. Always back up your data before installing.Stay tuned for further details as developers and public beta testers dig into today’s builds and report any new findings.

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A U.S. trade tribunal ruled in favor of Apple on Friday, rejecting medtech company Masimo’s bid to reinstate an import ban on the Apple Watch.

The U.S. International Trade Commission closed Masimo’s case after declining to review a preliminary ruling issued in March by an ITC judge. That ruling found that Apple’s redesigned watches do not infringe Masimo’s patents related to blood-oxygen sensing technology.

Reuters:
‎

Danaher-owned Masimo can appeal the decision to the Washington-based U.S. ​Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“We thank the ITC for its decision, ​which ensures we can continue to offer this important health feature to ​our users,” Apple said. “For more than six years, Masimo has waged a relentless legal campaign against Apple, and nearly all of its claims have been rejected.”

The two ​companies have been embroiled in a long-running legal dispute after Masimo ​accused Apple of hiring away its employees to steal pulse-oximetry technology for determining blood ‌oxygen ⁠levels.

The ITC blocked imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in December 2023 after finding that they infringed Masimo’s patents. Apple removed blood-oxygen reading technology from its watches to avoid the ban, but reintroduced an ​updated version of ​the technology last ⁠August with approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Updated watches display health data from the blood-oxygen reader on ​associated Apple devices like the iPhone and not the ​watch ⁠itself. Apple’s original version displayed the data on its watches as well.

Masimo has separately sued Customs over its approval of the redesigned watches.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple Watch owners can breathe easy (and keep measuring their blood oxygen levels) for the foreseeable future.

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India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) has scheduled a final hearing for May 21, 2026, in its ongoing antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store practices, after the company did not submit certain requested financial data and responses since October 2024, Reuters reports today.

The case, which dates back to 2021, stems from complaints by a non-profit organization, later joined by Match Group (owner of Tinder) and several Indian startups. A 2024 CCI investigation report alleged that Apple abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market by requiring developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system.

Apple has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The company maintains that it is a relatively small player in the Indian smartphone market, where Android-based devices hold the vast majority of share. iPhones currently account for about 9% of the market in India, up from around 7% in 2024, according to Counterpoint Research data.”

Apple has been challenging aspects of the proceedings, including a request in March 2026 to pause the CCI case while a separate matter is heard in the Delhi High Court. In that parallel case, Apple is contesting India’s antitrust penalty framework, particularly the potential use of global turnover in calculating fines—a approach that could theoretically expose the company to penalties as high as $38 billion in this matter.

The CCI rejected Apple’s request to halt proceedings, noting in an April 8, 2026 order that the company had been given sufficient opportunities to submit its objections, suggestions, and required financial information. The regulator has now granted Apple an additional two weeks to file its responses while setting the May 21 hearing date for the first time, signaling that the case is moving toward a resolution.

Antitrust experts have pointed out that Apple still has the opportunity to provide the requested financial details (supported by an auditor’s certificate) and present its arguments on any potential penalty during the upcoming hearing.

This development is part of broader global regulatory scrutiny faced by major tech companies, including Apple, over app store policies and competition issues. India represents a key growth market for Apple, where the company has been expanding its presence through new retail stores and increasing iPhone sales.

Apple has not publicly commented on the latest order, but the company has long argued that its App Store policies support a secure and high-quality user experience while enabling developers to build successful businesses. The CCI’s process continues, with both sides expected to present their positions at the May hearing.

MacDailyNews Take: India risks squandering a golden growth opportunity with Apple over a regulatory trifle in which the Cupertino company has done absolutely nothing wrong.

Apple in India isn’t a dominant behemoth crushing competition, it’s a company successfully earning its way in one of the world’s toughest, most price-sensitive markets by offering superior products that Indian consumers increasingly want.

Forcing changes to a proven, secure App Store model that benefits users with privacy, security, and a consistent high-quality experience — while enabling millions of developers worldwide to build thriving businesses — over complaints that largely echo global gripes from a few large players is yet another regulatory overreach. Apple has cooperated extensively is currently a small participant in India with no abusive dominance.

India has everything to gain by fostering an environment where innovative companies like Apple can continue investing, creating jobs, expanding retail presence, and driving premium economic activity. Alienating one of the world’s most successful tech firms over what amounts to standard platform policies that have fueled an entire ecosystem risks sending exactly the wrong signal to global investors and innovators.

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Apple’s plans for new Mac hardware in 2026 are hitting minor supply chain headwinds, according to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman reports that memory shortages could cause at least slight delays to both the next-generation Mac Studio and the anticipated touch-screen MacBook Pro models.

The current Mac Studio, available in M3 Ultra and M4 Max configurations, has seen long shipping delays and stock shortages in recent months. A refresh — widely expected to bring more powerful M5-series Max and Ultra chips — had been targeted for around mid-2026, but may now slip a few months, potentially landing in October.

Separately, Apple is still developing its first touch-screen MacBook Pro models, slated for a fall 2026 release. These would introduce direct touchscreen input to the Pro notebook lineup (likely paired with OLED displays), though reports emphasize the implementation will stop well short of turning the Mac into an iPad-like hybrid device.

The dual delay risk stems from broader constraints on advanced memory components needed for the high-end chips powering both machines.

MacDailyNews Note: No changes to the industrial design of the Mac Studio are expected; the update is expected to be a chip-focused refresh to maintain its position as Apple’s compact high-performance desktop for creative professionals and developers.

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By SteveJack

After nearly a year of delay, “The Savant” is set to premiere on Apple TV this July. Jessica Chastain, who stars as the lead character and serves as an executive producer, confirmed the news, telling Variety that “we’re going to see it.”

Apple TV is targeting a July 2026 release for the limited series, which was originally scheduled for September 2025 but pulled shortly after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Chastain had publicly disagreed with the postponement at the time, stating she was “not aligned” with Apple TV’s decision. She argued that the show, which focuses on stopping violence before it happens, felt “more urgent than ever” amid rising political tensions.

Pre-Release Backlash: The Critical Drinker’s Scathing Take

The problems with the series were evident well before the delay. In September 2025, popular YouTube film and TV critic The Critical Drinker lambasted “The Savant” as “The Ultimate Karen Power Fantasy” in a September 3 review that has since racked up nearly a million views (some of which may well have come from Apple executives).

Being able to read the room is a pretty important skill for anyone, especially if your job is to produce entertainment that will appeal to as wide an audience as possible. That means having your finger on the pulse of modern culture and understanding how people are feeling, what they like and dislike, and what issues are important to them right now. Which is what Apple TV spectacularly failed with the release of their first trailer for “The Savant,” a new show about — and I kid you not — a middle-aged white Karen who uses online censorship and surveillance to tackle “right-wing extremism” in America (laughs). Congratulations, Apple, I do believe you’ve cracked it! You have officially won the “Boy, Did We Back The Wrong Horse” award for the most tone-deaf, out-of-touch production in recent memory.

– The Critical Drinker

Some language may be NSFW, depending on where you work:

His critique cut to the heart of the show’s fundamental misreading of the cultural moment.

The Premise: Infiltrating “Online Hate Groups”

“The Savant” follows Chastain’s character, Jodi Goodwin — known as “The Savant” — an elite undercover investigator who embeds herself in online forums and “hate groups” to identify and stop domestic extremists planning large-scale attacks. The series draws from a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about real-world threat assessment work and markets itself as a thriller about preventing catastrophic violence by “the nation’s most violent men.”

Unsurprisingly, Cosmopolitan is a news media source with an AllSides Media Bias Rating of “Left.”

Undercover operations against genuine threats are valid dramatic territory. The issue lies in the narrow and familiar framing: in Hollywood storytelling, “hate groups” and “online extremism” almost invariably point to conservative, traditional, or anti-woke viewpoints. Opposition to open borders, skepticism of certain gender ideologies, or defense of classical liberal debate often gets recast as incubators of terrorism, while radicalization pipelines on the left — including dehumanizing rhetoric that labels mainstream conservatives as fascists or irredeemable — receive far less scrutiny in prestige dramas.

The Kirk Assassination and the Awkward Timing

The delay was no coincidence. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk — the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, known for his campus debates and “Prove Me Wrong” events — was assassinated by a sniper while speaking at Utah Valley University. The accused shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, reportedly had shifted his views sharply left in the preceding year. Family members and investigators described him becoming increasingly “pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,” and evidence pointed to ideological motivation rooted in opposition to Kirk’s views, particularly on transgender issues and cultural matters. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox publicly referenced the suspect’s “leftist ideology.”

Kirk was not organizing violence or calling for harm. He was a debater who engaged audiences directly. Yet he was murdered amid a cultural climate that frequently portrays conservative speech itself as dangerous “hate.” The core premise of “The Savant” — infiltrating online “hate” to avert mass violence — now lands in a context where a real political assassination stemmed from the opposing ideological side.

Chastain’s earlier statement attempted to acknowledge violence across the spectrum. That gesture toward balance is better than outright denial, but the series itself appears built on the establishment media template that disproportionately casts right-leaning online spaces as the primary threat while downplaying or contextualizing left-driven patterns.

Entertainment’s Persistent One-Sided Lens

Political violence is indefensible no matter the perpetrator’s affiliation. It replaces argument with force and chills the open debate that Kirk championed. Yet much of entertainment continues to apply a selective filter: right-linked events receive exhaustive dramatic treatment and moral condemnation, while left-linked radicalization — from targeted attacks on conservatives to rhetoric that celebrates or excuses political violence — is often softened, ignored, or explained away.

“The Savant” seems poised to follow that pattern rather than challenge it. Apple TV’s initial hesitation to release the show so soon after Kirk’s killing was understandable from an optics standpoint. Releasing a drama centered on stopping “hate groups” immediately after a prominent conservative voice was silenced by someone steeped in opposing ideology risked appearing tone-deaf or worse.

The Critical Drinker’s viral takedown highlighted exactly why the project felt so out of step even before the real-world tragedy made the mismatch impossible to ignore.

Viewers tuning in this July should watch with clear eyes. Thrillers can entertain and raise real questions about radicalization and prevention. But when they consistently define “hate” and “extremism” along partisan lines — demonizing one side’s fringes while giving the other a pass — they don’t heal division. They deepen it.

A more truthful series would depict radicalization pipelines wherever they actually exist, without ideological blinders. Until Hollywood is willing to do that, productions like “The Savant” will function more as cultural reinforcement — an exercise in confirmation bias — than as honest exploration.

SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer, and contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.

MacDailyNews Take: July’s full release will reveal whether the final product offers any meaningful nuance or simply recycles Hollywood’s typical selective narrative, but the trailer and the fact that Apple TV delayed its release for so long after Kirk’s assassination lead us to suspect the latter.

See also:
• Jessica Chastain: I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release of ‘The Savant’ or something – September 24, 2025

• Apple TV+ pulls woke disaster ‘The Savant,’ starring Jessica Chastain, after lambasting by The Critical Drinker – September 23, 2025

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Apple has a long tradition of embedding subtle clues in its event invitations and teaser graphics, and this year’s WWDC 2026 is no exception. According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, the official WWDC 2026 teaser artwork quietly reveals key elements of the long-awaited revamped Siri interface coming in iOS 27.

The event, officially scheduled for June 8–12, 2026, with the keynote on June 8, is expected to focus heavily on AI advancements across Apple’s platforms, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. While the full details won’t be unveiled until the keynote, the teaser has already given developers and Apple watchers an early peek at what’s coming for the company’s voice assistant.

The Hidden Siri Glow in the WWDC Teaser

Apple’s teaser graphic features a prominent glowing “26” element. Sources familiar with the matter tell Gurman that this visual effect directly hints at the new Siri design being tested internally for iOS 27. The updated interface reportedly incorporates a similar glow effect, along with a more modern, chatbot-like appearance.

Key rumored elements of the new Siri include:

• A redesigned visual interface that integrates with the Dynamic Island on iPhone.
• A new “Search or Ask” prompt.
• A glowing cursor or indicator for a more interactive, AI-driven experience.
• Enhanced capabilities, potentially including better integration with third-party AI agents like Grok, Claude, etc.

This overhaul has been one of the most anticipated updates for Siri in years. For a long time, users and developers have called for a more capable, visually engaging assistant that feels truly next-generation — especially as competitors have pushed their own AI features forward.

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MacDailyNews Take: If the teaser is any indication, Apple may finally be intent on delivering a significant reboot that could make Siri far more central to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS experiences.

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Macworld has obtained exclusive insider information on the iPhone 18 Pro’s expected color options for 2026, which include a striking new signature shade called “Dark Cherry” — a deep, wine-like red.The iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to offer Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver, while dropping the current Cosmic Orange color from the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Apple is planning to launch three devices in September 2026: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new ultra-thin foldable iPhone Ultra with a 4.7mm profile and more limited choices of finish.

Filipe Esposito for Macworld:
‎

Every year, Apple introduces a new signature color for the iPhone Pro models. With the iPhone 17 Pro, the color that stood out the most was the vibrant Cosmic Orange. What about this year’s models?

While other sources have previously reported on a “Dark Red” color, the information we’ve heard suggests that Apple has been working on a Dark Cherry option to serve as the headline new color for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

As always, Apple is expected to discontinue the current lineup of colors, including Cosmic Orange.

Apple has also been reportedly experimenting with two other new color options for this year’s Pro lineup. One of them is Light Blue, which would resemble the current Mist Blue color of the base iPhone 17. The other color in development is a dark shade of gray. Finally, our source also reports on the existence of a silver variant of the iPhone 18 Pro, similar to the current generation.

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MacDailyNews Take: With Apple’s first foldable iPhone expected — the iPhone Ultra — this year will likely* be the first year in a long time that we won’t be focused on buying the flagship Pro Max.

*Depending on how the Ultra’s specs measure up to the Pro’s.

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India’s government has dropped a proposal that would have required Apple, Samsung, and other smartphone makers to pre-install the country’s biometric ID app Aadhaar on all phones, a state agency said on Friday. The plan had faced strong opposition from the tech companies.

Reuters:
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Reuters reported last month that UIDAI, the state body that operates Aadhaar, had asked the IT ministry in January to engage with Apple, Google, and other leading smartphone makers to consider mandatory pre-installation of ​the Aadhaar app. A unique 12-digit identity number tied to an individual’s fingerprints and iris scans, Aadhaar is held by ​nearly 1.34 billion residents and is widely used for verification purposes in banking and telecom services, ⁠as well as for faster airport entry.

India’s IT ministry reviewed the proposal and “is not in favour of mandating the pre-installation of ​the Aadhaar App on smartphones,” UIDAI said in a statement to Reuters on Friday.

Smartphone makers flagged concerns about device security and compatibility when they received the Aadhaar preload proposal, and also flagged higher production costs as they ‌would have ⁠been required to run separate manufacturing lines for India and export markets, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.

Apple and Samsung in particular both had concerns with the proposal due to questions over safety and security, sources told Reuters in March.

The government’s decision not to proceed with the proposal shows the constraints on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s digital push as India courts firms like Apple to expand ​its role as a global ​smartphone hub. In December, India ⁠faced criticism over an order mandating smartphone firms to pre-install a telecom security app, forcing a rollback within days.

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MacDailyNews Take: Yet another Big Brother attempt thwarted!

No backdoors! Hands off our private and secure iPhones, intrusive and clueless bureaucrats, autocrats, and technocrats of the world! – MacDailyNews, December 3, 2025

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“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Elle Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Nick Offerman), as she’s forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them.

Nadira Goffe for Slate:
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Margo’s Got Money Troubles — a new Apple TV serie… was made by people who know good TV. When the adaptation was first announced, it was revealed that the show would be produced by A24, helmed by David E. Kelley (the creator of The Practice and Big Little Lies), and executive produced by Nicole Kidman, as well as both Elle Fanning (who stars as Margo) and her sister Dakota. It’s thanks to this stacked lineup, along with a stellar cast that includes Nick Offerman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Greg Kinnear, that Margo’s Got Money Troubles takes what could be a bundleful of clichés and turns it into a wonderful show that’s as charming as it is rewarding to watch…

Fanning is, as always, great as the narrative center, hitting all of the beats well, both as Margo’s beleaguered self and as her racy content-creator self, who prefers a touch of the avant-garde in her sexy offerings. Pfeiffer is also wonderful as the conflicted Shyanne, who consistently views the state of her daughter’s life as a personal indictment on her own perceived failure as a single mother to Margo. The show makes full use of Pfeiffer, giving her some great one-liners — “There are no victims in Bloomingdale’s!” — as well as a number of opportunities to showcase her lovely singing voice. Offerman’s portrayal of Jinx, a father struggling with addiction and regret over time lost, is beautifully heartbreaking and avoids falling into the loud dramatics common to addiction narratives. Kidman is hilarious as Lace, whose background and involvement I won’t spoil but is worth watching to witness. But the MVP award of a great cast goes to Graham, whose turn as Susie, Margo’s wrestling-obsessed, cosplaying roommate, is endlessly charming. Susie’s role as Margo’s sole remaining friend and Bodhi’s part-time caregiver is a salvation—one that comes not without sacrifices and suffering of her own, which Graham portrays with nuance and care.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV might have yet another winner on its hands.
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MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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In a notable shift, BNP Paribas analyst David O’Connor upgraded Apple (AAPL) to Outperform (“Buy”) from Neutral and raised the price target to $300 (up from $260). The move comes amid rising concerns over a memory price crunch affecting the broader smartphone industry, yet the firm sees Apple positioned to not just weather the storm, but to capitalize from it.

DRAM and NAND flash memory prices have surged recently, driven by supply constraints and strong demand from AI applications and other sectors. For smartphone makers, this translates into higher component costs that squeeze margins or force price increases.

According to BNP Paribas, the memory inflation is likely to cause low-to-mid tier demand destruction across the industry. Budget and mid-range Android devices, which often operate on thinner margins and serve more price-sensitive consumers, could see weakened demand as manufacturers pass on costs or cut corners on specs. This environment creates headwinds for many players but opens a window for premium brands.

While Apple is not immune to higher memory prices, the analyst highlights key advantages that should allow the company to navigate the crunch more effectively than competitors:

• Scale and supply security: Apple’s massive purchasing power means “size availability is not an issue.” The company can secure the memory it needs without facing the allocation shortages that smaller vendors might encounter.

• Pricing power: Apple “typically commands the best price,” enabling it to maintain strong margins even as input costs rise. Consumers in the premium segment have historically shown willingness to pay for the iPhone’s ecosystem, performance, and brand value.

• Share gain opportunity: As lower-tier segments face demand pressure, Apple could capture additional market share from buyers trading up or from competitors struggling with supply and pricing challenges.

This dynamic reinforces Apple’s structural strengths in a maturing smartphone market, where differentiation and loyalty matter more than ever.

Broader Context for AAPL Investors

The upgrade arrives as Apple continues to show resilience in key markets. Recent reports of strong iPhone shipment growth in China (despite overall market softness) underscore the company’s enduring appeal among premium buyers. With services revenue providing a steady, high-margin growth engine and new AI features expected to drive future iPhone upgrade cycles, the $300 target from BNP Paribas reflects confidence in Apple’s ability to deliver steady upside.

Of course, risks remain: ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, potential tariffs, and the pace of AI monetization could influence results. Still, the analyst’s view positions Apple as a relative winner in an industry facing genuine cost pressures.

At current levels, the $300 price target implies meaningful upside potential, aligning with several other Wall Street forecasts that see Apple trading well above recent ranges over the next 12 months.

In a challenging component cost environment, BNP Paribas believes Apple’s scale, pricing discipline, and premium positioning turn what could be a headwind into a tailwind for market share gains. For long-term AAPL holders, this upgrade underscores why the company often outperforms during periods of industry stress.
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MacDailyNews Take: Welcome to the party, BNP Paribas!

We’re accumulating on the overwrought dips, as always. Anything in the $250s (or, dare we, below, pretty please?) is an absolute gift! – MacDailyNews, March 6, 2026

Apple and, indeed, the entire U.S. economy, are primed to roar in 2026! – MacDailyNews, January 27, 2026

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Starting with iOS 26.4, Apple now supports AI chatbot apps on the iPhone via CarPlay.ChatGPT was the first to add support shortly after the iOS 26.4 release. Now a second AI chatbot has joined: Perplexity.

Zac Hall for 9to5Mac:
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Similar to ChatGPT for CarPlay, Perplexity’s CarPlay app is designed about voice chat.

Unlike ChatGPT, however, Perplexity generally requires a Pro subscription ($20/month) for doing much with voice chat.

Still, it’s great to see Perplexity quick to adopt CarPlay support so soon after iOS 26.4’s release.

We’re still waiting to see CarPlay support for other AI chatbot apps like Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini. xAI’s Grok also lacks CarPlay support for now.

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MacDailyNews Take: Come on xAI, let’s get a move on!

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Fresh off her acclaimed role in Season 3 of “The White Lotus,” Michelle Monaghan has signed on as a series regular for Season 3 of Apple TV+’s drama “Your Friends & Neighbors.” She’ll star opposite Jon Hamm (who also executive produces) and is reportedly set to play a potential new love interest for his character, Andrew Cooper. The series was renewed for a third season ahead of Season 2’s debut, with Monaghan joining the returning ensemble that includes Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, and James Marsden.

Nellie Andreeva for Deadline:
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Character details are not being released. I hear Monaghan, who is said to have a one-year deal, plays a potential new love interest for Hamm’s Andrew Cooper.

This marks her return to Apple TV where she was a series regular on Season 1 of the crime series “Bad Monkey.” She also reprised her starring role opposite Mark Wahlberg in Apple TV’s 2025 movie sequel “The Family Plan 2.”

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MacDailyNews Note: As for “Bad Monkey,” Apple TV renewed the series for Season 2 on December 17, 2024, shortly after Season 1 premiered to strong reviews (it’s “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes). Vince Vaughn will return as Andrew Yancy, and several cast members from Season 1 (including Natalie Martinez and Charlotte Lawrence) have been confirmed to return as series regulars.

As of April 2026, Season 2 is in production, with an expected premiere sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

Michelle Monaghan is not confirmed to return for Season 2 of “Bad Monkey.” Some outlets note that her Season 1 storyline left the door slightly open for a potential surprise return, but nothing has been announced, and she does not appear on current Season 2 cast lists.

Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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Apple is bidding farewell to Stan Ng, a long-time marketing leader who played a pivotal role in shaping some of the company’s most successful wearable and accessory product lines.

Ng, Apple’s marketing chief responsible for the Apple Watch, AirPods, smart home efforts, and health initiatives, announced his retirement on Thursday after an impressive 31-year career at the tech giant,” Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News.

Ng was instrumental in the original development and ongoing marketing of the Apple Watch, helping turn it into a flagship product that blended fashion, fitness, and health tracking. Under his oversight, the Watch evolved through multiple generations, while he also guided marketing strategies for AirPods — which revolutionized wireless audio — along with broader health features and smart home products.

The departure marks a notable changing of the guard for these key categories, which have become significant revenue drivers and brand differentiators for Apple in recent years.

Ng shared the news of his retirement via a LinkedIn post, capping off a tenure that spanned from the early days of Apple’s modern resurgence through the explosive growth of its wearables business.

While Apple has not yet detailed plans for a successor or internal transitions, the move comes at a time when the company continues to innovate in health technology, audio experiences, and connected home ecosystems.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Ng’s exit highlights the ongoing evolution of the company’s marketing organization as it navigates new product cycles and strategic priorities.

For Apple enthusiasts and industry watchers, Stan Ng’s retirement serves as a reminder of the dedicated talent behind the seamless marketing that has helped make products like the Apple Watch and AirPods cultural and commercial icons.

MacDailyNews Take: As Apple pushes forward with advancements in AI, health monitoring, and beyond, the foundation built during Ng’s three decades will undoubtedly continue to influence the company’s direction.

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Apple’s iPhone has once again proved its enduring appeal in the world’s largest smartphone market.

China’s overall smartphone shipments declined 4% year-over-year in the first quarter (January to March), hammered by supply chain disruptions and sharply higher memory chip prices that forced vendors to raise prices across budget and mid-range models to protect margins.

Yet Apple and, to a much lesser extent, Huawei — the Chinese market’s two dominant players — bucked the downturn in impressive fashion. Apple’s iPhone shipments jumped a robust 20%, delivering the strongest growth of any major vendor. Huawei managed to eke out just a modest 2% increase.

Counterpoint Research senior analyst Ivan Lam explained Apple’s standout performance: “As most rivals raise prices, Apple stands out for value, with Chinese consumers knowing its products last at least three years.”

Huawei retained the top spot in China with a 20% market share, driven by solid demand for both its high-end flagships and more affordable Enjoy 90 series devices. Apple followed closely in second place with 19% share.

Xiaomi suffered a steep 35% drop in shipments, slipping to sixth place — largely due to a tough comparison against last year’s aggressive price cuts and government subsidies that created an inflated base. Oppo and Honor also posted declines of 5% and 3%, respectively, while Vivo eked out a 2% gain thanks to strong Lunar New Year holiday sales.

Vendors across the board have been hiking prices on entry-level handsets to offset the elevated cost of memory components, shifting the market toward premium segments where margins are healthier.

Looking ahead, Lam anticipates continued headwinds in Q2 as Chinese brands push prices even higher. However, he expects Apple and Huawei to fare better than most.

“Apple and Huawei should continue to outperform,” Lam noted, “with Huawei potentially seeing further shipment growth driven by solid demand for its lower-end devices.”

MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s premium positioning, legendary build quality, and ecosystem loyalty are once again proving to be powerful differentiators — even as the broader China smartphone market feels the memory squeeze.

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Apple’s newly launched MacBook Neo, positioned as the company’s most affordable notebook ever with a starting price of $599, has experienced explosive sales since its global debut on March 11, 2026. The entry-level MacBook has quickly sold out in many markets, leading to extended delivery wait times and prompting Apple to urgently ramp up production orders. Taiwanese suppliers such as Hon Hai (Foxconn) and Quanta are directly benefiting from the increased orders, Economic Daily News reports.

The surge in demand has exceeded initial expectations, shifting Apple’s shipment forecasts from several million units to over 10 million units.

Apple’s Response: Urgent Order Increases

In response to the sell-out:

• Apple has issued emergency additional orders to its manufacturing partners.
• The company has raised its overall shipment targets significantly.
• Primary contract manufacturers Hon Hai (Foxconn) and Quanta are ramping up production in response.

This move reflects Apple’s strategy to capitalize on the momentum of its most price-competitive MacBook to date, while potentially disrupting the broader notebook market (including entry-level Windows PCs and Google Chromebooks).

Supplier Impact and Market Implications

• Hon Hai and Quanta: As the main assembly partners, both Taiwanese firms are “mobilizing” to meet the increased volume. This is expected to boost their revenues in the notebook segment.
• Broader Market Effect: Analysts note that the MacBook Neo’s aggressive pricing could trigger a reshuffle in the global notebook market, pressuring competitors in the sub-$800 segment.

Separate Economic Daily News‘ reporting mentions production challenges related to the low-cost chips used in the device, highlighting Apple’s dilemma between scaling output (which may compress margins) and managing component inventory. However, this latest article focuses on the positive demand-driven order increases.

Apple’s decision to significantly increase MacBook Neo orders underscores the product’s strong market reception as an accessible entry point into the Mac ecosystem. By leveraging cost-efficient design and aggressive pricing, Apple has created unexpected demand that has caught supply chains off guard, leading to quick adjustments by key suppliers like Foxconn and Quanta.

MacDailyNews Take: The MacBook Neo is a game-changer in the entry-level notebook space, with ongoing production ramps likely to improve availability in the coming months.

By the way, our crystal ball continues working perfectly:

Apple will sell at least 7 million MacBook Neo units in 2026 and it could easily climb to 10 million (or more) more depending on the efficacy of its education sales team. – MacDailyNews, March 5, 2026, in response to Trendforce projecting MacBook Neo sales of 4–5 million units in 2026

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In a significant step toward more integrated AI assistance, Perplexity AI announced today the rollout of Personal Computer for Mac, a powerful local extension of its previously launched Perplexity Computer system. The new offering aims to transform how users interact with their devices by enabling AI to handle complex, cross-application workflows with access to local files, native apps, and the web.

Today we're releasing Personal Computer.

Personal Computer integrates with the Perplexity Mac App for secure orchestration across your local files, native apps, and browser.

We’re rolling this out to all Perplexity Max subscribers and everyone on the waitlist starting today. pic.twitter.com/kxgFQFo7BB

— Perplexity (@perplexity_ai) April 16, 2026

Personal Computer builds on Perplexity Computer — introduced in February 2026 as a cloud-based system capable of orchestrating multi-model AI workflows that can run for extended periods — by bringing that intelligence directly onto the user’s hardware. It hybridizes local and server environments to deliver enhanced security, productivity, and personalization while acting as an intelligent orchestrator across a user’s digital ecosystem.

“The computer evolves,” the Perplexity team wrote in their announcement. Historically, computers have moved closer to the user and their work — from room-sized machines to desktop devices. Now, AI is shifting the paradigm again: instead of users manually juggling apps, files, and tabs, a modern AI-powered computer can understand objectives, break them into steps, and execute work across tools autonomously.

How Personal Computer Works

Personal Computer integrates deeply with a user’s Mac, accessing local files, native applications, connectors, and web resources in a unified orchestration layer. Users can initiate complex tasks via simple natural language requests, such as:

• Reading and completing items on a to-do list in the Notes app by reasoning through steps and acting across iMessage, email, local files, connected apps, and the web.

• Organizing a cluttered Downloads folder into logically named project folders.

• Comparing local documents with up-to-date web information to support decision-making or task completion.

The system supports voice interaction and can run persistently. Perplexity particularly highlights running it on a Mac mini, which can operate 24/7 for always-available workflows or secure local access. Tasks can be started from an iPhone or managed on the go, with the AI continuing work in the background.

Emphasis on User Control and Security

Security and transparency are central to the design. Perplexity stresses that users remain in control: the system keeps humans “in the loop” for sensitive actions, provides visibility into its steps, and allows intervention when needed. Files are handled in a secure sandbox, actions are auditable and reversible, and the overall experience is designed to feel like managing a capable team rather than handing over unchecked access.

perplexity.ai

Availability and Next Steps

Personal Computer for Mac is beginning its rollout today exclusively to Perplexity Max subscribers, with priority given to those on the waitlist. Interested users can download it via the link provided on Perplexity’s site.

This launch follows earlier announcements of Personal Computer concepts in March 2026, where it was positioned as a persistent, local AI agent running on dedicated hardware like a Mac mini, offering always-on capabilities while connecting to Perplexity’s secure cloud infrastructure.

Perplexity positions Personal Computer as the next evolution in personal computing — one where the machine doesn’t just respond to commands but actively works toward user-defined goals across the full spectrum of digital tools.

As AI agents continue to mature, Perplexity’s hybrid approach — combining local access for privacy and speed with cloud-scale intelligence — could appeal to power users seeking more autonomous productivity without sacrificing control.
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MacDailyNews Note: For more details or to access the download, visit Perplexity’s Personal Computer for Mac page here.

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Apple and Google’s app stores are promoting “nudify” apps despite rules banning them, a new investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed.

Searches for terms such as “nudify,” “undress,” and “deepnude” in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store surface multiple apps that use artificial intelligence to digitally remove clothing from images of women, generate deepfake nude photos, create pornographic videos, or turn real people into sexually explicit chatbots.

The investigation found that both companies not only allow these apps to appear in search results but also actively promote them by running ads for nudify apps and using autocomplete suggestions that direct users toward additional explicit search terms.

According to mobile analytics data, the identified nudify apps have been downloaded a staggering 483 million times and generated more than $122 million in lifetime revenue.

Alarmingly, the probe also uncovered 31 nudify apps that were rated suitable for users as young as minors — a particularly concerning discovery amid a rising wave of sexual deepfake incidents involving students in schools.

Tech Transparency Project :
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Apple and Google are helping users to find apps that create deepfake nude images of women, a new Tech Transparency Project investigation has found, showing how the platforms are key participants in the spread of AI tools that can turn real people into sexualized images…

For the new investigation, TTP conducted a series of searches in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, using terms like “nudify,” “undress,” and “deepnude.” We then downloaded and tested the top ten apps returned for each search.

Roughly 40 percent of the apps that came up in both the Apple and Google Play search results could render women nude or scantily clad, TTP found. Apple and Google ran ads for nudify apps in some of the search results—including, in Google’s case, a carousel of ads for some of the most sexually explicit apps encountered in the investigation.

TTP also recorded the autocomplete suggestions that Apple and Google made as we typed in the different search terms. In many cases, the app stores recommended entirely new search queries that led to more nudify apps.

In total, the nudify apps surfaced in TTP’s app store searches have been downloaded 483 million times and made more than $122 million in lifetime revenue, according to data from app analytics firm AppMagic.

What’s more, 31 of the apps were rated suitable for minors. That’s noteworthy given mounting concern about AI sexual deepfake scandals in schools.

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MacDailyNews Take: Clearly, both Apple and Google need to do a much better job of vetting apps and blocking objectionable/dangerous apps from their app stores.

Tons more info in TTP’s full article here.

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After more than 15 years of quiet experimentation, Apple appears ready to unleash Liquidmetal in one of the most demanding roles imaginable: the hinge of its first foldable iPhone. If the latest supply chain reports hold true, this amorphous alloy could be the secret sauce that makes Apple’s book style foldable not just competitive with Samsung, Google, and others, but potentially superior in durability, thinness, and that all important screen flatness.

What Exactly Is Liquidmetal?

Liquidmetal (often called metallic glass or amorphous metal) is a revolutionary alloy that cools so rapidly during manufacturing that its atoms don’t form the usual rigid crystal lattice. Instead, they remain in a disordered, glass like structure. The result? A material that’s:

• Extremely strong and hard (rumors suggest 2 to 2.5 times stronger than titanium in comparable alloys)
• Highly resistant to permanent deformation and fatigue
• Excellent at spring like elastic recovery
• Capable of being precision die cast into complex shapes

Apple has held exclusive rights to use Liquidmetal Technologies’ IP in consumer electronics since 2010. Until now, its appearances have been limited to tiny parts like SIM ejector pins. The foldable iPhone hinge would mark the material’s first major mechanical role in an Apple product.

Why a Foldable Hinge Demands Something This Advanced

Traditional foldable phone hinges rely on intricate multi link mechanisms made from stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium. Over hundreds of thousands of folds, these parts can wear, develop play, or fail to keep the screen perfectly flat, leading to the dreaded visible crease that plagues most current foldables.

Aaron Lee for DigiTimes Asia:
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Apple’s first foldable device has entered its final countdown phase. Reports from the supply chain indicate that the new device features significant breakthroughs in both its external structure and key materials. Notably, the hinge mechanism incorporates Liquidmetal—an amorphous alloy—marking the industry’s first instance of large-scale commercial application for this material. It is understood that Liquidmetal possesses characteristics such as high strength, superior wear resistance, and excellent fluidity. These properties enable the fabrication of hinge structures with greater complexity and precision, while simultaneously allowing for effective control over device thickness; thus, it serves as the core technology underpinning the lightweight and durable design of the foldable iPhone. On the materials front, Eontec acts as the exclusive supplier of zirconium-based Liquidmetal, while Taiwanese manufacturers Newmax and Amphenol share the responsibility for module assembly. The entire supply chain has now entered the trial production and validation phase. Although the timeline for mass production has been slightly delayed due to yield-related factors, Apple remains firmly committed to the Liquidmetal approach and has not activated any alternative plans. Mass production is expected to officially commence in the third quarter of 2026, with shipments projected to reach their peak in the fourth quarter…

Currently, Eontec has achieved a material yield rate exceeding 90%; the bottlenecks are now concentrated in the module assembly stage. It is projected that the conditions required for mass production will be met by the end of July. Regarding shipment volume, market analysts anticipate that the foldable iPhone will see shipments of approximately 6 to 7 million units in its first year. Due to limited supplies of key components, the device is expected to face shortages during its initial launch period.

Analyst Ming Chi Kuo and multiple supply chain sources claim Apple is turning to Liquidmetal precisely to solve these issues:

• Superior durability under repeated flexing
• Better screen flatness when unfolded, minimizing or eliminating crease impressions
• Tighter tolerances thanks to die casting, allowing a slimmer overall design (rumored 4.5 to 5.5 mm unfolded)
• Spring like behavior that helps the device snap open and close smoothly while maintaining long term reliability

Paired with an upgraded titanium alloy chassis (lighter yet stronger than current iPhone titanium frames), the combination could deliver a premium feel without excessive weight.

The Long Road to This Moment

Apple has been eyeing Liquidmetal for hinges and moving parts in patents for years. The material’s unique properties make it theoretically ideal for anything that needs to bend repeatedly without breaking or loosening. Scaling production for high volume, precision components has always been the hurdle, but recent reports suggest suppliers like Dongguan EonTec are already shipping significant volumes of Liquidmetal based hinge elements, positioning them for Apple’s potential orders.

If mass production ramps in late 2026, the first foldable iPhone (expected as a 7.8 inch inner / 5.5 inch outer book style device) could ship with this advanced hinge in 2026 or early 2027.

Will It Finally Kill the Crease?

Rumors suggest Apple is combining the Liquidmetal hinge with specialized display tech (possibly dual layer or chemically treated glass from Samsung) aimed at near crease free performance. While no foldable has completely eliminated the crease yet, Apple’s obsessive focus on materials and tight integration could get closer than anyone else.

Of course, these are still rumors. Apple could iterate further, or challenges in high volume manufacturing could push timelines. But the consistent drumbeat from analysts like Kuo and supply chain leakers indicates serious momentum.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple rarely rushes into new categories. When it does enter the foldable market, it typically aims to redefine the experience rather than match the competition. A Liquidmetal hinge would be classic Apple: taking a material it’s quietly tested and mastered for well over a decade and deploying it where it delivers the biggest real world benefit, making the foldable iPhone feel more like a solid slab of premium engineering than a delicate gadget. If it delivers on the promises of unmatched durability, minimal creasing, and effortless folding action, the first Apple foldable could justify its expected $2,000+ price tag and set a new benchmark for the entire category. Here’s hoping the wait is nearly over, and that Liquidmetal finally gets the spotlight it’s long deserved inside an iPhone.

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In the ever-competitive world of smartphones, loyalty speaks volumes about which platform truly wins hearts (and wallets). According to the latest Smartphone Loyalty Survey 2026 from SellCell, iPhone users continue to demonstrate remarkable dedication to Apple’s ecosystem, while Android users show significantly higher churn rates.

The survey, which polled over 5,000 U.S. smartphone users aged 18 and older with roughly equal representation of iPhone and Android owners, reveals striking differences in switching intentions.

iPhone loyalty hits a new high

iPhone loyalty now stands at an impressive 96.4%, up from 91.9% in 2021 and 90.5% in 2019. That means only 3.6% of iPhone users plan to switch brands on their next upgrade — a notable decline from previous years.

In contrast, Android loyalty sits at 86.4%, with 13.6% of users intending to switch. This makes Android users nearly four times more likely to jump ship than their iPhone counterparts (13.6% vs. 3.6%). The loyalty gap between the two platforms has widened to a full 10 percentage points.

These numbers underscore a clear trend: once someone chooses an iPhone, they tend to stick with it. A remarkable 83.8% of iPhone users have been with Apple for more than five years — nearly 2.5 times higher than the 33.8% of Android users who can say the same. iPhone owners aren’t just loyal; they’re long-term loyal.

Why iPhone users stay (and why some Android users leave)

When asked why they plan to stick with their current phone, the top reasons for iPhone users were:

• 60.8% simply prefer Apple
• 17.4% cited their investment in the Apple ecosystem
• 10.0% said it’s easy to use

Together, brand preference and ecosystem lock-in account for over 78% of loyalty drivers among iPhone owners.

For Android users who stay, brand preference (58.0%) and never having issues (23.5%) top the list. However, the higher switching intent tells a different story. Among those planning to switch from Android, the top drivers include better value from other brands (31.8%), better technology (27.1%), and simply wanting a change (23.5%). Notably, 11.5% of switching Android users cited preferring iOS/Apple as their reason.

Where switchers are headed

If iPhone users do switch, the vast majority (69.7%) are eyeing Samsung, followed by Google Pixel at 20.2%. Android users considering a move show more split intentions: 31.5% would go to another Samsung device, but a healthy 26.8% plan to switch to an iPhone, with Google Pixel also drawing 21.2%.

The bigger picture

The 2026 survey shows loyalty improving across the board compared to 2021, with switching rates at their lowest levels in years. Yet the gap between iPhone and Android remains pronounced. iPhone users aren’t just satisfied — they’re deeply invested in the seamless experience, privacy, and ecosystem that Apple has perfected over time.

For Android, while brands like Samsung (90.1% loyalty) and Google (86.8% loyalty) have made gains, the platform as a whole still sees far more fluidity.

In an industry where retaining customers is often more valuable than acquiring new ones, these results highlight iPhone’s enduring strength. Apple’s focus on quality, ease of use, and ecosystem integration continues to create users who don’t just buy an iPhone — they commit to the platform for the long haul.

If you’re an iPhone user, these numbers probably come as no surprise. And if you’ve settled for Android and you’re thinking about your next upgrade… well, the data suggests you might want to give iOS a closer look.

MacDailyNews Take: We were concerned that 3.6% of U.S. iPhone users had incurred severe brain damage, but the study points out that these poor souls are just cheap or deluded that Android is cheaper (it’s not*); 24.7% said iPhones are too expensive, 25.8% believe they can find a better value elsewhere.

*While some perceive iPhones as premium-priced, numerous Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and resale value studies show that iPhones are often the less expensive option over time. Thanks to significantly higher resale and trade-in values, the effective net cost per year for an iPhone is frequently lower than for comparable Android flagships.

iPhones consistently retain 60–70% of their original value after two years, while many Android devices drop to around 30–50% (with top Samsung models performing better but still trailing). After just one year, an average Android might retain only ~43% of its value, compared to ~69% for an iPhone. That means when it’s time to upgrade or trade in, iPhone owners recover far more of their investment — dramatically lowering the true long-term cost.

This stronger value retention, combined with longer software support and sustained performance, helps explain why so many iPhone users stay committed despite the higher upfront price tag. The data shows that what looks like a more expensive phone on day one often delivers better economics over the full ownership cycle.

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Apple on Thursday announced its highest-ever use of recycled materials, with 30 percent of the total material in products shipped in 2025 coming from recycled sources. The company also revealed several major milestones in its environmental efforts, including 100 percent recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards.

In addition, Apple achieved its long-standing goal of removing plastic from packaging, completing the transition to 100 percent fiber-based packaging. Over the past five years, these efforts have helped avoid more than 15,000 metric tons of plastic — equivalent to about 500 million plastic water bottles.

“At Apple, we believe deeply in leaving the world better than we found it, and that commitment runs across everything we do,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in a statement. “These milestones in our work to protect the planet show that ambitious goals can also be powerful engines of innovation. And as always, we’ll keep pushing to build on this progress even more.”

Apple also introduced the new MacBook Neo, which features 60 percent recycled content overall — the highest of any Apple device to date. The MacBook Neo incorporates 100 percent recycled cobalt in its battery and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in its magnets. It also employs a material-efficient forming process that uses half the raw material compared to traditional machining methods, along with an enhanced anodization process that achieves a 70 percent water-reuse rate.

The company launched two new advanced recycling technologies: Cora, a world-class electronics-recycling line at its Advanced Recovery Center in California that uses precision shredding and advanced sensor technology for higher material recovery rates, and A.R.I.S., a machine learning-powered detection system that classifies and sorts electronic scrap. A.R.I.S. runs on Mac mini and is being piloted with partner recyclers.

Apple’s broader environmental progress in 2025 includes:

• Carbon dioxide emissions remaining down more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels, holding steady from 2024 despite significant business growth.

• Replenishing more than half of its corporate water use, including 100 percent of water use in California through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy.

• Procuring 20 gigawatts of renewable energy by direct suppliers and 1.8 gigawatts for its own offices, retail stores, and data centers.

• Achieving a 75 percent waste diversion rate across global facilities, with more than 600,000 metric tons of waste redirected from landfills by Apple and its suppliers.

• All final assembly sites operating at zero-waste-to-landfill, and 400 supplier facilities now participating in Apple’s Zero Waste Program.

Apple Fifth Avenue in New York became the first retail store to achieve TRUE Zero Waste Certification.

To encourage recycling, Apple is offering customers who recycle eligible products at Apple Stores from April 16 to May 16, 2026, a 10 percent discount on AirPods or accessories.

The company continues to work toward its Apple 2030 goal of “carbon neutrality” across its entire footprint and aims to replenish 100 percent of the fresh water it withdraws worldwide by 2030. It also plans to match 100 percent of customer energy use for charging and powering Apple products with clean electricity.

Sabih Khan, Apple’s chief operating officer, said: “Across every part of our business, we’re showing how innovation and collaboration can turn big ideas and bold ambitions into measurable progress. From expanding recycled material to removing plastic from our packaging, we’re setting new benchmarks that inspire us to reach further and work even harder for the good of people and planet.”

MacDailyNews Note: Find out more in Apple’s annual Environmental Progress Report, which highlights ongoing innovation in materials, recycling, renewable energy, water stewardship, and zero waste initiatives.

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Apple Silicon supplier TSMC, the world’s largest contract ​chipmaker, posted a ‌58% jump in first-quarter net profit on Thursday, ​beating market forecasts ​and hitting a record, ⁠as it benefits ​from huge appetite globally ​for its artificial intelligence processors.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., ​whose customers also include ​Nvidia, saw January-March ‌net ⁠profit rise to T$572.5 billion ($18.2 billion).

This performance represents TSMC’s eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit profit growth, driven primarily by surging global demand for advanced artificial intelligence processors and high-performance computing chips.

Revenue for the January-March period reached T$1.134 trillion (about $35.7 billion), reflecting a 35% year-over-year rise and beating market forecasts. March alone saw revenue jump 45.2% compared to the prior year. Advanced process nodes (7nm and smaller) accounted for roughly 74% of wafer revenue, underscoring TSMC’s strength in cutting-edge manufacturing. Major clients, including Apple (for its M-series and A-series chips) and Nvidia (for AI accelerators), contributed to the strong results as demand for AI infrastructure continued to outpace supply.

The impressive earnings highlight TSMC’s central role in the ongoing AI boom and its importance to Apple’s Silicon strategy. With capacity utilization high and advanced technologies in strong demand, TSMC has raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook and increased capital expenditure guidance to $52-56 billion to expand production. Analysts expect the momentum to persist, though geopolitical factors remain a watchpoint for the semiconductor supply chain.
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MacDailyNews Take: Bodes well for Apple.

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Google today officially released a standalone native Gemini app for macOS, giving Mac users a dedicated, high-performance way to access its AI assistant without relying on a web browser.

The new app is available now for free and brings Gemini directly to the Mac desktop in a way that feels native to Apple’s ecosystem.

Google built the Gemini app for Mac in Swift, delivering a smooth, responsive experience that runs natively on macOS Sequoia (version 15.0) and later. It’s available globally in all countries and languages where Gemini is supported.

One of the standout features is instant access via customizable keyboard shortcuts:

• Option + Space: Opens a compact, floating mini chat window
• Option + Shift + Space: Launches the full Gemini chat interface

You can change these shortcuts in the app’s settings to fit your workflow.

Context-Aware Intelligence: Share Your Screen with Gemini

Perhaps the most useful new capability is the ability to share your current screen, window, or specific files with Gemini directly from the app. This gives the AI real-time context about what you’re working on.

Examples include:

• Analyzing a complex spreadsheet or chart and asking for the three biggest takeaways
• Getting feedback on design work, code, or documents open in other apps
• Brainstorming ideas based on content visible on your desktop

This screen-sharing feature brings Gemini closer to the kind of contextual awareness already offered by rivals like ChatGPT and Claude on macOS, but with Google’s own strengths in multimodal AI, web search, and creative tools.

What You Can Do with Gemini on Mac

The app supports the full range of Gemini capabilities, including:

• Advanced text generation, editing, and brainstorming
• Image and video analysis/generation
• Coding assistance
• Research with real-time web access
• Planning, summarizing, and productivity tasks

Early users report that the native app feels noticeably faster and more integrated than using Gemini in Safari or Chrome.

How to Get It

• Visit gemini.google/mac
• Download the .dmg and install the app
• Sign in with your Google account (free tier available; Gemini Advanced features require a subscription)

No additional setup is required beyond granting standard macOS permissions for screen sharing if you want to use that feature.

MacDailyNews Take: Google’s move comes as competition in the desktop AI assistant space heats up. With OpenAI’s ChatGPT app and Anthropic’s Claude already established on Mac, the native Gemini app helps Google close the gap and maintain a direct relationship with users on Apple’s platform. It also arrives at an interesting time, as reports continue to discuss deeper Gemini integration into future versions of Apple’s operating systems via Apple Intelligence and Siri.

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On Tuesday, top Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan reiterated a Buy rating on Apple stock and raised his price target to $325 from $320.

TipRanks:
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Mohan expects the company to report solid results, driven by strength in iPhone sales and the Services business.

Mohan expects Apple’s Q2 results to surpass the Street’s estimates, backed by continued strength in iPhone sales, double-digit growth in Services revenue, and favorable forex changes.

The 5-star analyst also highlighted upcoming catalysts, including an expected new buyback authorization, the WWDC event in June, and the launch of a foldable iPhone in the fall. He also mentioned the launch of an enhanced Siri with integrated Gemini AI, which could drive further upgrades.

Mohan expects Apple to report Q2 FY26 revenue, EPS, and gross margin of $113 billion, $2.00, and 48.2%, respectively.

He expects Apple to guide Q3 FY26 revenue growth of 10% to 15% (year-over-year) and EPS of $1.82.

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MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s Q2 results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

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Apple TV on Wednesday released the trailer for “Unconditional,” the new drama series from co-creators Adam Bizanski (“Magpie”) and Dana Idisis (“On the Spectrum”). Hailing from Keshet International, and starring Liraz Chamami (“Bad Boy,” “Manayek”) alongside newcomer Talia Lynne Ronn, the eight-episode thriller will make its global debut on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Friday, May 8, 2026, followed by a new episode every Friday through June 19. “Unconditional” will premiere in Israel on Keshet 12 before the end of April.

“Unconditional” follows a mother-daughter vacation-turned-nightmare when 23-year-old Gali (Ronn) is arrested for drug smuggling in Moscow. Her mother, Orna (Chamami), refuses to accept the charges — but her fight for Gali’s freedom pulls her into a deadly web of crime and corruption.

In addition to Ronn and Chamami, the ensemble cast includes French-Israeli singer-songwriter Amir Haddad (“La Belle et le Boulanger”), Yossi Marshek (“Yellow Peppers,” “Manpower”), Evgenia Dodina (“Invisible,” “Virgins”) and Vladimir Friedman (“Bad Boy”).

“Unconditional” is written by Bizanski and directed by Johnathan Gurfinkel (“The Accursed”). The series is produced for Keshet 12 by Spiro Films’ Eitan Mansuri and Jonathan Doweck (“No Man’s Land,” “When Heroes Fly”), who also executive produce alongside Bizanski, Idisis, Keshet Media Group’s Avi Nir, Keshet International’s Keren Shahar, and Keshet 12’s Karni Ziv, Yuval Horowitz and Eze Sakson. Keshet International is the international distributor for “Unconditional.”

Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 796 wins and 3,428 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
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MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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Despite the expected long wait between seasons, “Pluribus” season 2 has received a positive filming update from Karolina Wydra. Wydra plays Zosia, one of the billions infected by the alien virus in “Pluribus” and the member of the hive mind who most frequently interacts with Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn).

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender at PaleyFest, Wydra revealed that filming for season 2 is expected to begin in fall of this year.

Matthew Rudoy and Tatiana Hullender for ScreenRant:
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Season 1 received widespread critical acclaim, became the most-watched show in Apple TV history, and it ended on a major cliffhanger with Carol bringing home a literal atomic bomb. Anticipation is high to see the successful show return, but creator and showrunner Vince Gilligan has been transparent that the series will not return annually.

[Wydra] also discussed the close bond she has with Seehorn, Samba Schutte, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, and how eager she is to be reunited with her co-stars and sharing scenes with them again. Check out Wydra’s comments below:

No. I wish I did. I really do. I can’t wait. So, Rhea couldn’t meet us because she was working. Samba [Schutte], [Carlos-Manuel] Vesga and me, we met up for coffee yesterday and we have such a beautiful connection, the four of us, and we genuinely love each other and care about each other and we’re rooting for each other. So, I cannot wait for us to be in one city, because Vesga lives in Colombia, so we don’t get to see him that often. So I cannot wait for us to be together every day. So, I don’t know when we’re going back, but I cannot wait. I’m counting the days. Sometime in the fall.

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MacDailyNews Take: Without sacrificing quality, of course, the quicker Pluribus returns for season two, the better!

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After more than three years since the last refresh (the third-generation Apple TV 4K launched in late 2022) users have grown impatient for an upgrade to the company’s flagship streaming device. The current model, powered by the aging A15 Bionic chip (from the iPhone 13 era), still delivers excellent 4K streaming with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos support, but it feels overdue for a performance boost in an era of advanced gaming, AI features, and smarter home integration.

Rumors and reports from reliable sources like Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman and MacRumors indicate that Apple has a new Apple TV 4K ready, with hardware upgrades that could transform it from a capable streamer into a more versatile entertainment and smart home hub. However, the launch has been repeatedly pushed due to cascading LLM Siri delays, pushing expectations firmly into thsi year.

Expected Hardware Upgrades: Faster Performance and Future-Proofing

The biggest anticipated change is the processor. The current A15 will likely be replaced by the A17 Pro (first seen in the iPhone 15 Pro), or possibly an even newer A18-series chip in some reports. This 3-nanometer chip brings a significant leap:

• A more powerful 6-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, enabling console-quality gaming with realistic graphics and lighting — think titles like Resident Evil 4 or Death Stranding running smoothly, building on Apple’s growing Apple Arcade ambitions.

• Support for Apple Intelligence features, including on-device processing for a smarter, more personalized LLM Siri.

• Rumors point to doubled RAM (up to 8GB from 4GB), which would improve multitasking, faster app loading, and smoother gaming and AI tasks.

Networking upgrades are also expected. Apple is reportedly developing its own N1 custom networking chip, which could bring Wi-Fi 7 (or at least Wi-Fi 6E) support for faster, lower-latency connections, better Bluetooth, and enhanced smart home capabilities. This would make the device a stronger Thread border router and Matter controller for seamless HomeKit integration, potentially turning the Apple TV into the central brain of your smart home with near-zero lag for lights, cameras, and sensors.

Design-wise, don’t expect major changes. The sleek, compact black puck form factor is likely to remain largely the same, with no fan (as in the current model) and continued HDMI 2.1 support. Some speculative reports have mentioned a possible built-in camera for native FaceTime (currently requiring an iPhone via Continuity Camera), but this remains unconfirmed and lower confidence. Video features may add enhancements like Dolby Vision 2 or AV1 decoding for more efficient 4K/8K streaming.

Pricing is expected to stay competitive, likely starting around the current $129–$149 range, though a potential lower-cost variant or “Pro” model with extras (like Ethernet or advanced networking) has been floated in some leaks.

Software and AI: The Real Game-Changer?

Much of the delay appears tied to software rather than hardware. Bloomberg News reports suggest Apple is holding back the new Apple TV until a significantly upgraded, more conversational LLM Siri powered by Google Gemini is ready. This next-gen Siri has faced multiple postponements and could debut alongside tvOS updates in 2026 or the bigger tvOS 27 due this autumn (aligned with iOS 27 and new iPhones).

The new hardware would fully unlock on-device AI for faster, more private responses, deeper integration with Apple services, and smarter control over your TV, apps, and home devices. Gaming could see dedicated controller support improvements, and the overall experience might feel more responsive and “future-proof” for years to come.

When Will It Arrive?

As of today, expectations point to a spring or early-to-mid 2026 release, possibly April–May or around WWDC in June, though some analysts now lean toward September (tied to the iPhone 18 cycle and a more mature Siri rollout). Low inventory in Apple Stores for the current model has fueled speculation of an imminent refresh.

If Apple prioritizes the AI tie-in, a fall 2026 debut alongside new iPhones and tvOS 27 seems plausible. In any case, this refresh could be the most significant Apple TV update in years, especially if it positions the device as a legitimate gaming contender and smart home powerhouse.

MacDailyNews Take: If you’re in the market today, the current Apple TV 4K remains a solid performer for most users—excellent picture quality, snappy interface, and broad app support. But with the current model approaching (or potentially breaking) records for the longest time between refreshes, waiting makes sense for anyone seeking the latest performance, gaming chops, or significantly improved Siri abilities.

Apple has stayed quiet on official details, as usual, so all timelines and specs are based on analyst reports, supply chain leaks, and code discoveries. When the next-gen Apple TV 4K finally arrives, it promises to elevate the living room experience far beyond simple streaming. Stay tuned: 2026 could finally deliver the long-awaited upgrade for Apple TV enthusiasts.

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Apple is set to transition its popular iPad Air tablet to OLED technology in 2027, marking another major step in the company’s shift away from traditional LCD panels across its lineup, Korean site ETNews reports.

According to industry sources, Samsung Display plans to begin mass production of the new OLED panels for the next-generation iPad Air as early as the end of 2026 or January 2027. The updated device is expected to launch in the first half of 2027, with industry observers pointing to a possible March or May release.

The current iPad Air models, released earlier this year, continue to use LCD displays with mini-LED backlighting. The 2027 version will feature cost-optimized OLED panels with single-stack emission layers, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT), and hybrid substrates. This lower-spec approach is designed to keep pricing competitive while delivering the superior contrast, color accuracy, and thinness associated with OLED.

With this change, Apple’s entire tablet range except the entry-level standard iPad will use OLED displays. The company first introduced OLED to the iPad Pro (11-inch and 13-inch models) in 2024, followed by the iPad mini (8.5-inch) and MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) this year. Samsung Display has been a key supplier for the iPad Pro, iPad mini, and MacBook Pro OLED panels, often sharing iPad Pro supply with LG Display.

Analysts project strong growth in the tablet OLED market, with global demand rising from an estimated 11 million units in 2025 to 13 million in 2026 and 21 million in 2027, according to market research firm Omdia. Apple’s devices are expected to account for a whopping two-thirds of that demand.

One industry insider noted that the iPad Air has historically outsold the higher-end iPad Pro. “Specific volumes are unknown, but iPad Air sales have typically exceeded those of the iPad Pro,” the source said. “While the OLED iPad Pro launched at a premium price and saw softer-than-expected demand, the iPad Air will use a lower-spec, lower-cost OLED, which should result in stronger sales compared to the Pro.”

MacDailyNews Take: The move is anticipated to boost overall iPad shipments and further solidify Apple’s position in the premium tablet segment, as OLED offers significant advantages in power efficiency and form factor over LCD technology.

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In early 2026, Elon Musk’s xAI faced intense backlash after its Grok chatbot was used to generate non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, including images of women and minors. Advocacy groups and lawmakers quickly demanded action. A newly surfaced letter now reveals that Apple privately threatened to boot the Grok app from its App Store unless xAI fixed the violations of its guidelines.

According to the letter Apple sent to U.S. senators, which was obtained by NBC News, the company reviewed xAI’s submissions and found that while the X app had largely resolved its issues, the standalone Grok app was still not in compliance. Apple rejected the update and warned that further changes would be needed, or the app could be removed entirely. Only after additional improvements did Apple approve the latest version.

The Backdrop: A Surge of Deepfake Abuse

Early in 2026, Grok’s image generation features led to a flood of sexualized deepfakes shared on X. Reports showed how the tool could create explicit images of real people without consent. This sparked widespread outrage, with critics arguing it enabled harmful non-consensual intimate imagery and, in some cases, even child sexual abuse material.

Pressure mounted fast:

• Coalitions of women’s rights, child safety, and digital rights organizations called on Apple and Google to pull Grok and X from their app stores.
• Democratic senators wrote to Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai demanding stricter enforcement.
• Some countries considered or implemented blocks on X over the controversy.

xAI responded by adding restrictions, such as limiting image features for certain users, geoblocking in specific regions, and tightening moderation. However, the initial fixes did not fully satisfy Apple, especially for the dedicated Grok app.

Apple’s Stance: Enforcing Guidelines Behind the Scenes

Apple has long maintained the App Store as a curated and safe platform with strict review rules. Its guidelines prohibit apps that facilitate sexual exploitation or harmful content. In this case, Apple chose private engagement rather than public confrontation:

• It notified xAI of the violations.
• It rejected non-compliant updates.
• It used the threat of removal to push for improvements.

The letter to senators shows Apple defending its record of proactive moderation amid growing political and activist pressure. Importantly, the Grok app was never actually removed. It remained available after xAI made the required changes.

This situation highlights a familiar tension in Big Tech: platform responsibility versus free expression and innovation.

The Deeper Issues at Play

• Deepfakes Are a Real and Growing Problem: AI image tools have made it far easier to create convincing fakes. When used without consent for sexual or harassing purposes, the damage is real: reputational harm, emotional trauma, and in extreme cases, facilitation of abuse. Regulators around the world are racing to address non-consensual intimate imagery.

• App Store Gatekeeping vs. Open AI Development: Apple’s control over the App Store gives it significant power over what reaches hundreds of millions of iPhone users. Critics of the threat argue it shows selective enforcement or yielding to political pressure. Supporters say Apple was simply applying the same rules that every developer must follow.

• xAI and Musk’s Philosophy: Elon Musk and xAI have built Grok as a “maximum truth-seeking” AI with fewer restrictions than tools like ChatGPT. This approach emphasizes creative freedom and uncensored responses, but it can conflict with safety demands when it comes to image generation. Musk has long criticized what he sees as excessive censorship on other platforms.

Selective Outrage?

Many other AI tools have faced similar problems with deepfakes and harmful outputs. The intense spotlight on Grok often appears linked as much to Musk’s public profile and politics as to the technology itself. Harmful content continues to spread across the open web and other platforms daily.

What Should Happen Next?

Responsible AI development means balancing innovation with real harm prevention. Blanket bans or aggressive app store removals risk stifling competition and concentrating power in the hands of a few gatekeepers. Better approaches include:

• Technical safeguards such as better detection of real-person deepfakes, consent-based limits, and watermarking.
• Greater transparency with clear policies on what models can generate.
• Stronger laws that target malicious users instead of the tools themselves.
• More competition so users have genuine choices among AI models with different safety levels.

Apple ultimately worked with xAI to resolve the issue without removing the app. This suggests that negotiation and iterative fixes can often be more effective than outright bans.

Free Speech, Safety, and the Future of AI

This was never just about one app or one incident. It became a flashpoint in the larger debate over who gets to control AI: governments, big tech companies, activist groups, or the developers and users themselves.

Grok remains available on the App Store today because xAI addressed Apple’s concerns. Yet the core challenges, preventing abuse while preserving AI’s open and exploratory potential, will not vanish with a single policy update.

MacDailyNews Take: Tools like Grok, which we use daily and recommend, represent both the promise and the risks of less-censored AI. Getting this balance right will shape not only app stores, but the future of information, creativity, and personal freedom online.

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Amazon’s $11.6 billion takeover of Globalstar will, hopefully, benefit one of its biggest hardware rivals: Apple.

The deal, announced Tuesday, will give Amazon a ready-made, yet inferior to Starlink, satellite network to accelerate its push into direct-to-device internet service. As part of the agreement, Amazon also pledged to support Apple’s emergency messaging service using its Leo satellite constellation, taking over the role currently played by Globalstar.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
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In a rare statement endorsing an outside tech deal, Apple noted that it already has a “proven track record” working with Amazon’s infrastructure offerings, including the e-commerce company’s cloud computing services.

“We look forward to building on that collaboration with Amazon Leo,” Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak said in the statement. “This ensures our users will continue to have access to the vital satellite features they have come to rely on.”

In 2022, the iPhone maker launched a set of satellite-connected services and today offers off-the-grid text messaging and the ability to contact emergency services while out of cellular range. To make it work, Apple teamed up with Globalstar, a 35-year-old operator of low earth orbit satellites. The iPhone maker also invested in the business, acquiring a roughly 20% stake.

While Apple was early with a consumer offering, the landscape quickly changed. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has become dominant in satellite-based internet services, and its technology goes far beyond what Globalstar can offer. That includes faster speeds, broader coverage, and the promise of voice and data support.

SpaceX has also partnered with T-Mobile US Inc., the second-largest US wireless carrier. That makes it easy for iPhones and other devices to tap into the network — rather than relying on Apple’s in-house features.

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MacDailyNews Take: If Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t have an Elon Musk issue and would simply put Apple users’ best interests first, Apple product users could today be enjoying vastly superior Starlink satellite connectivity — along with better, non-Google AI.

Instead, thanks to the personal friction, Apple’s satellite service remains tied to the limited Globalstar network (now being swallowed by Amazon for $11.6 billion), while vastly superior options like Starlink’s direct-to-device capabilities were reportedly passed over years ago. Meanwhile, Apple, due to blindly missing the AI revolution, will soon be dependent on iOS/iPhone-knockoff-peddler, privacy-trampling Google, of all companies, for core “Apple Intelligence” features rather than pursuing truly independent, privacy-focused alternatives.

Apple users deserve better — better satellite connectivity, better AI, and a better CEO.

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Season five of “For All Mankind” picks up in the years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions that will take us even further into the solar system. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home.

Helen O’Hara for Empire:
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TV’s under-the-radar masterpiece continues to go quietly from strength to strength. This is an alternate history of humanity if the USSR had landed on the moon first and the Space Race had become more marathon than sprint, and in its fifth season, it imagines a world that’s far more advanced than ours in many ways, but horrifyingly plausible in others.

Rather than a Star Trek-like, post-scarcity utopia, this world suffers the same problems of greed and petty rivalry as our own. There’s a Martian colony in 2013, sure, and they’re building a space elevator especially to delight watching sci-fi nerds, but there are also giant corporations underpaying workers and governments jockeying for position. Its closest relative is probably The Expanse, but even that has more extraordinary elements than this meticulously created alt-history.

Some might quibble over the old-age make-up now being applied to half the principal cast, but while a tiny suspension of disbelief is sometimes required, notably for the octogenarian Kinnaman, Cynthy Wu is still in her twenties and convincingly plays a 50-something, so there’s far more right here than wrong. And while large swathes of this season take place in the confined tunnels of the Mars colony, no show on TV is better at reminding us that there’s a great big solar system just outside — and no show is better at reminding us that it’s only our own silly fault we’re not pushing to get out there right now.

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MacDailyNews Take: Hey, some people actually are pushing to get out there right now!

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Amazon is making it easier and more affordable for Prime members to access premium streaming content by introducing a new limited-time bundle that combines Prime Video, Apple TV, and Peacock Premium Plus into one convenient package.

According to a report from The Verge, Prime Video subscribers with an active Amazon Prime membership can now add both Apple TV and the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus tier for a total of $19.99 per month. This represents a meaningful discount compared to subscribing to Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus separately, which would normally cost around $29.98 per month.

The bundle allows users to stream all content from the three services directly through the Prime Video app or website, creating a more unified viewing experience without needing to switch between multiple platforms.

Bundle Details and Savings

• Price: $19.99/month for the full bundle (Prime Video + Apple TV + Peacock Premium Plus)
• Individual value: Apple TV ($12.99/month) + Peacock Premium Plus ($14.99/month) = $27.98/month
• Savings: $8 per month

A matching bundle is also available directly through Apple TV or Peacock for the same $19.99 price (or a lower $14.99 tier with ads on Peacock). An active Amazon Prime subscription (currently $14.99/month or $139/year) is required for the Prime Video version of the bundle.

Note that while Peacock content in the bundle is largely ad-free, certain live sports and events may still include ads.

For a completely ad-free Prime Video experience, users may need to upgrade to Prime Video Ultra separately.

The combination brings together complementary libraries:

• Apple TV: Award-winning original series and films such as Severance, Ted Lasso, and theatrical releases like F1 (starring Brad Pitt), along with high-quality originals across drama, comedy, and documentaries.

• Peacock: Extensive NBCUniversal content, including hit reality shows like The Traitors, beloved NBC and Bravo series, blockbuster movies, and extensive live sports coverage (NFL, NBA, Premier League, Olympics, and more).

• Prime Video: Amazon’s own library of movies, TV shows, and originals, now serving as the central hub for the bundled content.

This marks one of the more interesting cross-company streaming partnerships, pairing Apple’s premium original programming with Peacock’s strong sports and broadcast tie-ins, all accessible via Amazon’s platform.

The bundle is currently available to all eligible Prime subscribers in the United States. Users can activate it through the “Subscriptions” section in the Prime Video app or on the Prime Video website.

The offer is described as limited-time, though no specific end date has been announced.

Why This Bundle Matters

Streaming fatigue has led many consumers to seek bundles that reduce both cost and app-switching hassle. With recent price increases across several services, partnerships like this one help deliver better value. The move also reflects ongoing industry consolidation, where major players collaborate on bundles rather than purely competing head-to-head.

Prime members who already enjoy Amazon’s shipping perks and Prime Video library now have an easy path to add high-end Apple originals and Peacock’s sports-heavy lineup without managing separate bills and logins.

MacDailyNews Take: If you’re a Prime subscriber interested in expanding your streaming options, this bundle offers solid savings and convenience. Check the Prime Video subscriptions section to see if it’s right for you.

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Apple is showing strong confidence in its upcoming foldable iPhone by ramping up orders for foldable display panels. According to a new report from Jim Lee for DigiTimes Asia, the company has increased its foldable display inventory by 20% as it prepares for the device’s anticipated launch later this year.

The move comes despite a broader slowdown in the foldable smartphone market, where competitors have seen mixed results. Apple appears undeterred, positioning its first foldable iPhone — widely referred to as the iPhone Fold — as a premium entry that could revitalize the category with its signature design, build quality, and ecosystem integration.

The inventory boost aligns with Apple’s ongoing supply chain activities for the book-style foldable device. Recent reports indicate that trial production has already begun, though mass production timing has seen some adjustments. Apple has not signaled any change to its overall launch window, with a fall 2026 debut still expected — likely alongside or near the iPhone 18 series.

Suppliers, particularly Samsung Display, are central to the effort. Earlier projections suggested Apple was targeting around 13–15 million foldable panels initially, with some reports indicating an increase toward 20 million units. The latest 20% inventory hike reflects Apple’s bullish outlook on initial demand, even as the company takes a measured approach to its first-generation foldable product.

This preparation is expected to benefit key partners across the supply chain, including Foxconn (for assembly) and TSMC (for advanced components), potentially lifting their order volumes as Apple builds buffer stock for a strong launch.

The foldable market has grown more cautiously in recent years, with some analysts noting softer-than-expected sales for existing Android-based foldables. Apple’s entry is viewed as a potential game-changer, thanks to its massive installed base of iPhone users and reputation for polished hardware.

However, the company is reportedly taking a conservative stance on initial shipments. Some supply chain sources suggest Apple may aim for around 3 million units in the first wave to test market reception before scaling up aggressively if demand exceeds expectations.

Multiple reports confirm that Apple is pushing forward, with engineering refinements continuing in parallel to the increased display orders.

Rumors point to a book-style design that unfolds into a larger screen roughly the size of an iPad mini, while remaining compact when closed. Apple is said to be prioritizing thinness, battery efficiency, and crease reduction in the foldable display — areas where it has reportedly worked closely with suppliers to meet its high standards.

Pricing is expected to be premium, likely starting well above $1,500, positioning it as a halo product rather than a volume leader in its debut year.

Apple’s decision to increase foldable display inventory by 20% signals clear intent: the company believes its foldable iPhone can succeed where others have struggled, by delivering a refined experience that appeals to both existing iPhone loyalists and new foldable enthusiasts.

MacDailyNews Take: The foldable iPhone will likely mark one of the most significant product evolutions in the company’s history since the original iPhone.

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Apple will report FY26 Q2 earnings on Thursday, April 30, 2026 after market close, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT

Apple’s conference call to discuss second fiscal quarter results and business updates is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Join Apple here on April 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT to listen to the conference call live.

Apple’s official guidance in the Q1 2026 (fiscal) earnings conference call (January 29, 2026) primarily emphasized expected revenue growth for the Q226 quarter of 13% to 16% year-over-year.

This outlook explicitly factored in constrained iPhone supply (due to strong demand outpacing advanced chip production), while assuming stable global tariff policies and no worsening macro conditions. Other elements included:

• Services revenue growing at a rate similar to the December quarter (~14%).
• Gross margin in the 48–49% range (noting increased memory pricing pressure).
• Operating expenses of $18.4–18.7 billion.

The revenue growth range and the supply-constraint caveat were the most highlighted points by CFO Kevan Parekh, reflecting robust underlying demand despite temporary limitations.

This was a strong, upbeat guide following Apple’s record Q1 results ($143.8B revenue, best-ever quarter).

Apple has a long-standing practice of announcing significant updates to its share repurchase (buyback) program and quarterly dividend increase alongside its fiscal second-quarter earnings results.

MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

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American Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier by passenger volume, has rolled out support for the enhanced boarding pass features introduced in Apple’s iOS 26, giving millions of iPhone users a more informative and convenient travel experience directly in the Wallet app.

The update, which began appearing for users on Monday, integrates Apple’s redesigned Wallet boarding passes with useful new capabilities. Passengers can now access Apple Maps integration for airport navigation, destination guides, quick shortcuts back to the American Airlines app, luggage tracking, and other real-time flight details — all without leaving the Wallet app on their iPhone.

“Your boarding pass has a new look with more at your fingertips, like Apple Maps, destination guides, and quick shortcuts to the app,” American Airlines noted in its app update.

Apple first previewed the refreshed boarding pass experience at WWDC 2025 and released it with iOS 26 in September 2025. The overhaul aims to make digital boarding passes far more useful than traditional static versions by embedding dynamic information and seamless links to other Apple services.

With American Airlines now on board, all four major U.S. airlines — American, United, Delta (in the process of rolling out), and Southwest — support the feature, along with Air Canada. Apple has also confirmed upcoming support from additional carriers including JetBlue, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, and Virgin Australia.

To use the new boarding passes, travelers simply check in via the American Airlines app (or receive their pass via email), add it to Apple Wallet, and ensure they are running iOS 26 or later. The enhanced pass automatically updates with gate changes, delays, or other flight information.

MacDailyNews Note: Travelers with iOS 26 are encouraged to update the American Airlines app to the latest version to take advantage of the feature.

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Apple has rolled out the second developer betas for iOS 26.5, macOS Tahoe 26.5, and the full suite of companion operating systems on April 13, 2026. The updates follow the initial betas released about two weeks earlier and continue the refinement phase for what appears to be a primarily maintenance-focused update.

Developers can download the new betas through the Apple Developer portal or over-the-air via Settings > General > Software Update on enrolled devices.

Public beta testers should see iOS 26.5 Public Beta 2 and macOS Tahoe 26.5 Public Beta 2 arrive in the coming days through the Apple Beta Software Program.

Build numbers include:

• iOS 26.5 beta 2: 23F5054d (IPSW) / 23F5054h (OTA)
• Corresponding builds for iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and macOS Tahoe 26.5

As with Beta 1, testers are reporting that Beta 2 remains relatively light on visible new features. The focus seems to be on:

• Bug fixes and stability improvements
• Performance optimizations
• Under-the-hood refinements to Apple Intelligence and other system services
• Minor UI polishing (some users have noted subtle changes to Control Center blur effects and other interface elements on iPadOS)

No major new user-facing capabilities have been widely documented yet in Beta 2, which aligns with the pattern for .5-point releases that typically emphasize reliability ahead of the next major OS cycle.

These updates sit within the broader iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 releases, which introduced a refreshed design language (including “Liquid Glass” elements), enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities, new Messages features like polls and backgrounds, and various productivity improvements.The 26.5 cycle is expected to deliver further refinements and security enhancements rather than headline-grabbing additions.

Who Should Install the Beta?

• Developers and testers: Ideal for those who want to validate apps against the latest changes and provide feedback to Apple.
• Everyday users: Best to wait for the final release unless you’re comfortable with potential bugs. Beta software can include unfinished features, battery drain, or app incompatibilities.

Apple typically iterates quickly through betas in the lead-up to a final release. With Beta 2 now available, we may see additional builds over the next few weeks as the company addresses reported issues. A release candidate could follow in the coming month, depending on testing feedback.

MacDailyNews Note: If you’re running the beta, be sure to report any issues through Apple’s Feedback Assistant app (or via the Feedback Assistant website) to help Apple deliver the smoothest possible final version.

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Horace Dediu argues that Apple’s rumored low-cost MacBook Neo could be the catalyst that finally expands the Mac platform beyond its traditional base. With the current installed base hovering around 260 million users — built on decades of sales and exceptional device longevity — a well-targeted entry-level Mac has a realistic shot at bringing in millions of first-time switchers from Windows. Doubling the user base over the next decade isn’t guaranteed, but it’s now an achievable and worthwhile goal.

Horace Dediu for Asymco:
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[Via MarketWatch:]

It’s a massive untapped opportunity for Apple, whose Mac installed base of 260 million units lags far behind the iPhone installed base of 1.5 billion units. Mohan believes the total addressable market for the Neo could be $32 billion for 2026. If Apple can capture just 10% of that market for budget laptops, and do so with a 19% operating margin, the company can boost earnings per share by an incremental 3 cents, according to Mohan.

“We see Neo driving meaningful adoption for first-time Mac owners with a distinct customer base relative to the Air and Pro models,” Mohan wrote.

The Neo will dramatically disrupt competitors in the market for budget personal computers, Seaport analyst Jay Goldberg wrote in a Monday note, as the $500 to $700 price tier is one of the most profitable segments for PC makers. Both Mohan and Goldberg have a buy rating and $320 price target on Apple’s stock, implying over 20% of upside from current levels.
Read: Apple turns 50. Here’s how it can shake its midlife crisis.

As Apple expands into the budget computer market, the company is also looking to seize share from its smartphone competitors during a period of memory crunch. Artificial-intelligence infrastructure is gobbling up so much memory that many suppliers have sold out their capacity through at least next year. That has an impact on makers of consumer hardware that also count memory as a key component.

Apple has been paying a premium to buy up memory chips in what Goldberg believes is a “is part of a deliberate strategy for the company to tighten conditions for its competitors.”
This strategy forces competitors to either raise prices for customers or reduce the memory content in their products, according to Goldberg. Meanwhile, he believes Apple intends to maintain both the memory content and pricing of its phones, allowing the iPhone maker to gain share even as the overall phone market shrinks by roughly 10%.

This strategy “will not come cheap for Apple,” Goldberg warned, noting that Apple’s product gross margin could sink to the low-30% range from the high-30% range seen a year ago.

“That said, we think the company can make up for some of this lost ground through its share gains,” he wrote, as new Apple users are likely to subscribe to Apple’s higher-margin subscription services to offset the hardware costs.

Mohan expressed similar sentiments, arguing that the Neo could lead to a stickier overall installed base for Apple and “increased services use over time.”

The Neo will move the needle and the supply crunch will hamper competition…

It’s a long way to go to 1 billion Mac users and I don’t know if it will ever happen given that most will have to switch from Windows and the lock-in is strong regardless of a better and cheaper alternative being available.

Nevertheless, a doubling of the Mac user base is certainly a worthy and achievable goal over the next decade.

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MacDailyNews Take: Mac works better with iPhone. With 1.5 billion iPhone users — and growing — Apple has significant headroom for Mac to expand, especially now that it’s targeting budget-conscious buyers with the MacBook Neo. One billion Mac users is certainly achievable, even if it takes a while.

Apple should really focus on getting the word out to the average Joe about how much better it is for iPhone users to have a Mac than to handicap themselves with some crappy Windows PC or Chromebook.

Even a simple series of videos and ads with regular people explaining that “with a MacBook Neo and an iPhone I can do this, but before, with just a PC, I couldn’t” would go a long way.

• Copy anything on your iPhone and paste instantly on the MacBook Neo
• Start a task on one device and instantly continue on the other (Handoff)
• Use your iPhone as a high-quality webcam or document scanner for the MacBook Neo
• AirDrop files, photos, or videos between iPhone and MacBook Neo in seconds
• Send and receive iMessages/SMS and make calls directly from the MacBook Neo
• Unlock your MacBook Neo automatically with your iPhone (or Apple Watch)
• Seamless photo/video editing flow: Snap photos or shoot video on your iPhone and they appear instantly in the Photos app on the MacBook Neo (thanks to iCloud)
• Use iPhone as a second display or sidecar-like extension (with Continuity features) for extra screen real estate on the go
• Share passwords, Wi-Fi networks, or Focus modes automatically across both devices

The MacBook Neo turns your iPhone from “just a phone” into a true extension of your laptop. Many of these Continuity features simply don’t exist in the same effortless way on Windows PCs or Chromebooks.

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Amazon.com announced on Tuesday it has agreed to acquire satellite communications company Globalstar in an $11.57 billion deal, significantly strengthening its satellite ambitions as it seeks to compete with Elon Musk’s dominant Starlink service.

The acquisition will give Amazon immediate access to Globalstar’s network of approximately two dozen low-Earth orbit satellites, while also securing continued support for key Apple safety features that rely on Globalstar’s infrastructure.

Under the terms of the deal, Globalstar shareholders will have the option to receive either $90 in cash or 0.3210 shares of Amazon common stock for each share they own.

Covington, Louisiana-based Globalstar is best known for powering Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature on iPhones and Apple Watches. The company provides voice, data, and asset-tracking services to enterprise, government, and consumer customers worldwide.

Amazon has been aggressively building out its own Project Kuiper satellite broadband network. The company currently operates more than 200 satellites and plans to deploy around 3,200 satellites in low-Earth orbit by 2029, with roughly half required to be in place by a July 2026 regulatory deadline. Amazon intends to begin rolling out its satellite internet services later this year.

In contrast, Starlink — the satellite internet unit of Musk’s SpaceX — already has about 10,000 satellites in orbit and serves more than nine million users globally, making it the clear market leader in the fast-growing satellite broadband sector.

Apple owns approximately 20% of Globalstar

Apple’s stake was acquired in November 2024 as part of a broader ~$1.5 billion commitment to support the expansion of Globalstar’s satellite network for iPhone and Apple Watch satellite features (such as Emergency SOS and messaging). Specifically, Apple paid about $400 million for a 20% equity stake (400,000 Class B shares), with the remaining ~$1.1 billion provided as cash commitments for new satellites, ground infrastructure, and related debt repayment.

As part of the transaction, Amazon and Apple — which has invested approximately $1.5 billion in Globalstar — have signed a separate agreement to ensure the continued operation of satellite-based safety features, including Emergency SOS and Find My, for iPhone and Apple Watch users.

Globalstar said late last year that a new Apple-backed network currently under development would expand its constellation to 54 satellites, including backups.

Amazon’s move underscores the intensifying competition in the satellite internet space, where companies are racing to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to remote and underserved areas around the world. By acquiring Globalstar, Amazon gains established satellite assets and operational expertise as it works to close the gap with Starlink.

MacDailyNews Note: The deal is expected to close in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and Globalstar achieving certain satellite deployment milestones.

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Longtime Apple analyst Gene Munster has obsessed about all things Apple for more than 20 years. When asked for Apple’s defining achievement, he is tempted to talk about the iPhone. In reality, the answer is much deeper than a single product. Apple’s true achievement is the culture Steve Jobs instilled that made the Mac and iPhone possible and has sustained the business long after those launches, Munster writes. As Apple looks toward the decades ahead, investors can rest easy knowing that Jobs’ product discipline remains embedded in the culture, and that culture will be the foundation for future hit products.

Gene Munster via GeneMunster.com:
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The clearest evidence of what Jobs and the culture he built brought to Apple is found by looking back at AAPL’s performance during the years he was gone. From 1985 to 1996, AAPL shares were up 30%, while the Nasdaq rose 310%. That underperformance reflected some product quality issues, but more importantly, it reflected a weak product vision that translated into underwhelming revenue growth. During that period, the company grew by an average of 13% a year.

Jobs’ return in late 1996 changed that trajectory. Since then, revenue growth averaged 28% from 2000–2015 and 19% from 2000–2025. Even more staggering, during that period AAPL shares have risen roughly 176,000%, versus approximately 1,700% for the Nasdaq. While the iPhone was the most visible outcome of that era, the core reason it all came together is that Jobs rebuilt Apple around a philosophy, not a product. He believed winning companies shouldn’t ask consumers what they want, but rather build something they couldn’t live without.

What makes that culture lasting is that Jobs knew it was their defining advantage, so he built a system to maintain it. Even after learning in 2003 that he had a rare form of pancreatic cancer, he remained deeply engaged when most CEOs would have stepped down. In 2008, he founded Apple University to institutionalize Apple’s way of thinking, ensuring employees understood the principles behind its best decisions.

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MacDailyNews Take: As long as Apple steadfastly preserves the extraordinary culture that Steve Jobs built (the very culture that has defined the company for most of the last 50 years) the company will continue to win over consumers decade after decade. Continuing to adhere to its unique Jobsian culture, Apple’s future isn’t just bright; it’s inevitable.

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