@Barchart: Apple $AAPL has now made a new all-time high in 9 consecutive trading days. Beast mode continues!!
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☑️ #224 Dec 11, 2024 🔴 rumor
Apple Is Working on AI Chip With Broadcom
theinformation.com: [Excerpt] Apple is developing its first server chip specially designed for artificial intelligence, according to three people with direct knowledge of the project, as the iPhone maker prepares to deal with the intense computing demands of its new AI features. Apple is working with Broadcom on the chip’s networking technology, which is crucial for AI processing, according to one of the people. If Apple succeeds with the AI chip — internally code-named Baltra and expected to be ready for mass production by 2026 — it would mark a significant milestone for the company’s silicon team.
Baltra
The chip, known internally as Baltra, could be used for inferencing, which has the chip capable of processing new data and then hands them off to the large language models to produce an output, a task different than training models.
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☑️ #223 Dec 11, 2024
iOS 18.2 and Sequoia 15.2: Tap into ChatGPT with Siri and Writing Tools
apple.com: [Excerpt] Apple is enabling ChatGPT access in Siri and Writing Tools experiences within iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between applications. With the ChatGPT integration, Siri can suggest a user access ChatGPT for certain requests, and Siri can provide the response directly.
With Compose, users can ask ChatGPT to generate content for anything they are writing about from the systemwide Writing Tools. They can also use ChatGPT’s image-generation capabilities to add images alongside their written content.
Users can choose whether to enable ChatGPT integration, and are in full control of when to use it and what information is shared with ChatGPT. By default, a ChatGPT account is not required to use this integration. When using ChatGPT without an account, OpenAI will not store requests, and will not use the data for model training. Additionally, users’ IP addresses are obscured to prevent their sessions from being linked together. For those who choose to connect their account, OpenAI’s data-use policies apply.
@wsj (10/23/24): Apple’s Craig Federighi Explains Apple Intelligence Delays, Siri’s Future and More | WSJ.
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☑️ #222 Dec 6, 2024 🔴 rumor
Apple’s in-house modem system
bloomberg.com: [Excerpts] Apple Plans Three-Year Modem Rollout in Bid to Top Qualcomm.
Company plans first modem in 2025 and high-end version in 2026
Initial chip, in iPhone SE, won’t match Qualcomm capabilities
Sinope, 2025
The first Apple modem will also only support four-carrier aggregation, a technology that combines bands from several wireless providers simultaneously to increase network capacity and speeds. Modems from Qualcomm can support six or more carriers at the same time.
Ganymede, 2026
In 2026, Apple looks to get closer to Qualcomm’s capabilities with its second-generation modem, which will start appearing in higher-end products. This chip, Ganymede, is expected to go into the iPhone 18 line that year, as well as upscale iPads by 2027
The big difference is that Ganymede will catch up to current Qualcomm modems by adding support for mmWave, download speeds of 6 gigabits per second, six-carrier aggregation when using Sub-6, and eight-carrier aggregation when using mmWave.
Prometheus, 2027
In 2027, Apple aims to roll out its third modem, code-named Prometheus. The company hopes to top Qualcomm with that component’s performance and artificial intelligence features by that point. It will also build in support for next-generation satellite networks.
bloomberg.com: [Excerpts] Apple Explores Macs, Headsets With Built-In Cellular Data.
For years, Apple engineers and designers complained that the Qualcomm modem and related parts took up too much space in the iPhone. So the company designed the new modem, code-named Sinope, to be more tightly integrated with other in-house components. That means it requires less space and less battery power.
By using its own modem, Apple is able to create a smartphone that’s about 2 millimeters thinner than an iPhone 16 Pro, while still having room for the battery, display and camera system. Over time, the shift could allow for other new designs. That includes foldable devices — a concept Apple continues to explore.
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☑️ #221 Dec 4, 2024 🔴 rumor
Apple’s intention to invest $1 billion in Indonesia
bkpm.go.id: [Pending press release] Indonesian Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said Thursday that Apple plans manufacturing plant investment.
"We will discuss with them some more ... our hope is for everything to be announced in the next week after receiving a written commitment from them,"
Apple has faced a recent ban on its iPhone 16 due to failure to meet the "local content" requirements.
+ Related content:
@NikkeiAsia (12/3/24): Indonesian Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani has said tech giant Apple has expressed an intention to invest $1 billion in the country, 10 times the amount it offered last month, in a bid to overturn a ban on iPhone 16 sales.
u/xyst: Received an e-mail stating T&C updated recently:
We’ve made a few updates to the Apple Pay & Wallet Terms & Conditions. Here’s a summary of the key changes:
We have simplified our Terms and Conditions for Apple Pay and Wallet so that your review and agreement of these Terms and Conditions is effective across all of your Apple devices.
For our US customers, Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc.
Our Terms and Conditions now include standard assignment provisions.
Anybody here understand the reasoning behind this? Is the recent litigation against banks and Apple Pay a possible reason (ie, reducing impact to LLC)? Or is this a direct cause of the CFPB ruling to bring oversight to digital payments [1]?
apple.com: Apple Pay & Wallet Terms and Conditions.
consumerfinance.gov (11/21/24): [Excerpt] CFPB Finalizes Rule on Federal Oversight of Popular Digital Payment Apps to Protect Personal Data, Reduce Fraud, and Stop Illegal “Debanking”.
Today's rule represents the latest step to strengthen oversight of large technology firms in consumer financial markets. The CFPB warned Big Tech firms in 2022 about their obligations under consumer protection laws when using behavioral targeting for financial products. The CFPB also issued a report about how funds held in some popular apps are not protected by federal deposit insurance, and advised consumers to regularly move their funds to an insured account. The CFPB also published research about regulations imposed by Apple and Google in the “tap-to-pay” market.
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☑️ #219 Nov 27, 2024
Has Apple senior leadership tried visiting one of their stores recently?
@_saagarjha/status: Has Apple senior leadership tried visiting one of their stores recently? It’s such a miserable experience. I wanted to get a pair of AirPods so I went to grab a box from the wall (now labelled “Self Service” and with an App Clip code to pay, lol). Surprisingly there is only one?
It’s a fake labeled “display only”. In the self-service area. Next to all sorts of other boxes you can just pull off the shelf and buy. In true Apple fashion, the label is on the underside so you can’t see it until you pick it up.
3/13 I trudge over to the store greeters, who are thankfully unoccupied because it’s not that busy today. They point me to another dude all the way across the store. Apparently *he* is the AirPods salesman. If you want stuff for your ears, you talk to him. Nobody else.
4/13 I make my way in that direction and as if on cue this guy starts walking away. No matter. I’ve done enough boss fights to know that this must be the phase where you chase after them. I have trained for this moment. I will not be bested in speed.
5/13 The guy has his back to me and stops to straighten a keyboard for the new Mac mini. A fatal mistake; in a flash I am on him. He turns and I do not hesitate.
“Hi, I’d like to buy AirPods? Can you help me with that?”
6/13 He freezes for a moment. I have caught him unawares, and he’s only gotten halfway through putting his Apple Retail smile back on his face. But he’s trained for this, and it’s only a fleeting instant before he regains his composure and the artificial grin with it.
7/13 “Absolutely! Just wait here and let me get someone who can help you out!”
I was complacent. The information was bad, and I was a fool to have trusted it. *Of course* this guy would have backup. Only an idiot would stand their ground and face me alone. Bah, I’ve ruined it!
8/13 I sputter something about ANC but he’s already gone. The seconds turn to minutes as I’m left to stew in my own thoughts. How to challenge such an opponent? The boxes taunt me from the shelf, as if reveling in my failure. There’s nothing to do but wait. Maybe doomscroll a little.
9/13 I spot her out of the corner of my eye. She hasn’t made herself obvious yet, but her armament makes it clear who she is here for. She wields weapons in triplicate, slowly but deliberately combing the aisles to locate my presence. I know her stratagem, I am ready. I call her over.
10/13 The first move is hers: I can’t show my hand early.
“Hi! I didn’t know which one you wanted, so I brought them all. Here’s the AirPods Pro, and here’s the two AirPods models.”
With the last word, her gaze flits over to me, scanning for weakness. I will not give her an opening.
It’s a direct shot at full power. There’s nowhere to hide; she knows it’s finished as well as I. The rest is just a formality. I make my move–not to my pocket, but to my watch. I have bested this ordeal, and I *will* be getting my 3%.
13/13 Total time, ten minutes. Could be worse for a glitchless run, but definitely not what I was hoping for. I take some small solace in playing with the Mac minis. They are cute, but definitely not something I came equipped to handle. That will have to wait for another day.
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☑️ #218 Nov 26, 2024
Mercedes-Benz introduces new App for Apple Watch
media.mbusa.com : [Excerpt] Mercedes-Benz is enhancing the digital customer experience with the introduction of its popular Mercedes-Benz app features on the Apple Watch – responding to customer demand. This new integration allows owners to interact with their vehicles seamlessly, without needing to access their smartphone. Key functionalities and features include real-time access to vehicle range based on its current location, as well as battery or fuel levels. The Mercedes-Benz app on Apple Watch also enables users to remotely locate their vehicle and lock or unlock it from a distance. In addition, owners can use the app to check that the vehicle's windows are properly closed after leaving the car.
CMA publishes provisional findings in Mobile Browsers and Cloud Gaming market investigation
gov.uk [Excerpt] Findings by an independent inquiry group suggest Apple’s policies are holding back innovation in the browsers we use to access the web on mobile phones.
The CMA opened its investigation following its Mobile Ecosystems Market Study in 2021, which found that Apple and Google have an effective duopoly on mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores and web browsers on mobile devices. This puts Apple and Google in a position to set the rules on how mobile browsers can work on iOS and Android devices respectively.
The group has provisionally found that Apple’s rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers. Other browser providers have highlighted concerns that they have been unable to offer a full range of browser features, such as faster webpage loading on iPhone. Many smaller UK app developers also told us that they would like to use progressive web apps – an alternative way for businesses to provide apps to mobile users without downloading apps through an app store – but this technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices. In addition, the group has provisionally found that a revenue-sharing agreement between Google and Apple significantly reduces their financial incentives to compete in mobile browsers on iOS.
2/3 Another report says: Apple’s iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will both use a next-generation made using TSMC’s latest 3nm process, N3P, citing Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu. -iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max will use the A19 Pro, also made on N3P -iPhone 16 uses the A18 chip, made on TSMC’s N3E process -iPhone 15 Pro uses the A17, made on TSMC’s N3B process. $AAPL$TSM#iPhone17#iPhone#semiconductors#semiconductorhttps://news.xfastest.com/apple/146273/apple-iphone-17-n3p/
3/3 In September, media reported that the iPhone 18, due out in 2026, will have the first TSMC 2nm chip inside.
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☑️ #215 Nov 12, 2024
Commission and national authorities call on Apple to stop geo-blocking practices on Apple Media Services
ec.europa.eu: [Excerpt] Today, following a coordinated investigation at European level, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities and the European Commission notified Apple of several potentially prohibited geo-blocking practices that the CPC Network has identified on certain Apple Media Services, namely App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books and Podcasts. The network requested Apple to align their practices with the EU's anti-geo-blocking rules.
@hardwarefyi (update; 11/14/24): An interesting design detail on the Mac Mini’s power supply unit (PSU): star shaped solder joints. The star-shaped solder pad design dates back to a 2005 patent (WO2005122655A2) which introduced it as a way to streamline assembly for boards combining SMD and through-hole (TH), leaded components. A popular theory suggests the star shape is an optimized stencil design for the pin-in-paste reflow process used with through-hole (TH) components. Since TH components need more solder than SMDs, the stencil is enlarged beyond the pad size to allow extra paste, which wicks into the through-hole. The star pattern could distribute paste efficiently, reducing overall use and cutting costs
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☑️ #213 Nov 4, 2024
European Digital Markets Act (DMA): Apple’s Non-Confidential Summary of DMA Compliance Report
@EU_Commission: Apple published a compliance report detailing the measures taken to ensure iPadOS complies with the #DMA.
We will now assess whether they meet the obligations.
apple.com/legal/dma: [Excerpt] This page includes information relevant to the EU Digital Markets Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828) (the DMA).
The European Commission has designated Apple as a gatekeeper under the DMA in relation to iOS, App Store, and Safari on 5 September 2023, and in relation to iPadOS on 29 April 2024.
europa.eu (4/29/24): Commission designates Apple's iPadOS under the Digital Markets Act.
To further encourage your research in Private Cloud Compute, we’re expanding Apple Security Bounty to include rewards for vulnerabilities that demonstrate a compromise of the fundamental security and privacy guarantees of PCC.
Our new PCC bounty categories are aligned with the most critical threats we describe in the Security Guide:
Accidental data disclosure: vulnerabilities leading to unintended data exposure due to configuration flaws or system design issues.
External compromise from user requests: vulnerabilities enabling external actors to exploit user requests to gain unauthorized access to PCC.
Physical or internal access: vulnerabilities where access to internal interfaces enables a compromise of the system.
Because PCC extends the industry-leading security and privacy of Apple devices into the cloud, the rewards we offer are comparable to those for iOS. We award maximum amounts for vulnerabilities that compromise user data and inference request data outside the PCC trust boundary.
Arbitrary code execution with arbitrary entitlements
$1,000,000
Access to a user's request data or sensitive information about the user's requests outside the trust boundar
$250,000
Attack on request data from a privileged network position
Access to a user's request data or other sensitive information about the user outside the trust boundary
$150,000
Ability to execute unattested code
$100,000
Accidental or unexpected data disclosure due to deployment or configuration issue
$50,000
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☑️ #208 Oct 23, 2024 🔴 rumor
Apple Sharply Scales Back Production of Vision Pro
theinformation.com: [Excerpt] Apple has sharply scaled back production of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset since the early summer and could stop making the existing version of the device entirely by year end, according to multiple people directly involved in building components for the device.
The move suggests that Apple has enough inventory built up to meet demand for the foreseeable future. It follows Apple's decision earlier this year to focus on building a model that's cheaper than the current version-which retails for $3,500—for possible release by the end of 2025, as The Information has previously revorted.
Report: CFPB Set to Fine Goldman Sachs $50 Million After Credit Card Probe
pymnts.com: [Excerpt] Goldman Sachs disclosed in August 2022 that it was cooperating with an investigation by the CFPB into its credit card business, PYMNTS reported at the time.
The investment banker said in a regulatory filing that the CFPB probe was looking at its “credit card account management practices, including with respect to the application of refunds, crediting of nonconforming payments, billing error resolution, advertisements, and reporting to credit bureaus.”
At the time, Goldman Sachs offered two credit cards via partnerships with Apple and General Motors, but it was unclear which card was the focus of the investigation.
The federal investigation into Goldman Sachs’ credit card business apparentlyexpanded by February 2023.
wsj.com (10/22/24): Goldman Sachs Faces CFPB Fine Over Credit-Card Business. An enforcement action is expected as soon as this week pertaining to bank’s Apple credit-card program.
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☑️ #206 Oct 21, 2024
Tim Cook on Why Apple’s Huge Bets Will Pay Off
wsj.com: [Excerpt] The CEO of the world’s most valuable company led two of the biggest product launches of his tenure this year—and believes they will be as life-changing for the rest of us as they are for him.
Source: Dow Jones & Company, Inc. on X: Tim Cook is our 2024 Technology Innovator!
apple.com: [Excerpt] With ChatGPTintegrated into experiences within iPadOS 18, users have the option to access itsexpertise, as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities, within Siri and Writing Tools without needing to jump between tools. And privacy protections are built in so a user’s IP address is obscured, and OpenAI won’t store requests. Users can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT’s data-use policies apply for those who choose to connect their account.
bloomberg.com (update; 10/20/24): [excerpt] Apple’s New iPad Mini Highlights the Company’s Secret AI Advantage. And yet, Apple Intelligence won’t actually launch until about five days after the new iPad hits stores on Oct. 23. That means early buyers will need to install the software upgrade at home, potentially irking some customers. But given how easy Apple operating system updates are these days, it’s not a big deal.
The bigger obstacle is that the first Apple Intelligence features are underwhelming — with the more impressive capabilities coming later. In the iPad mini marketing on Apple’s website, the company spotlights four features; three of them aren’t launching until between December and March.
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☑️ #204 Oct 7, 2024
Submerged, the first scripted film in Apple Immersive Video
@Apple: Submerged — Official Trailer | Apple Vision Pro.
A WWII submarine crew combats a harrowing torpedo attack in this adrenaline-pumping thrill ride. From filmmaker Edward Berger, director of the Academy Award® winning All Quiet on the Western Front.
@Apple: The Making of Submerged | Apple Vision Pro. A behind the scenes look at Submerged, the first scripted film in Apple Immersive Video. Join Academy Award® Winners Edward Berger and James Friend on set as they break down the entire filmmaking process for Apple Vision Pro. From writing and directing, to cinematography and production design, take a deep dive into a new format of storytelling.
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☑️ #203 Oct 10, 2024
Apple TV+ is launching on Prime Video in the US
Apple TV+ will be available on Amazon's Prime Video in the United States starting in late October, with an add-on subscription of $9.99 per month, Amazon said in a statement on Thursday.
The company added Prime members will not have to download any additional app beyond Prime Video.
The subscription can be canceled at any time, Amazon stressed.
"As we continue to expand our offering and make it easy for customers to personalize their streaming experience directly in one app, we are proud to welcome Apple TV+ and its popular and critically-acclaimed shows, films and events to Prime Video," Mike Hopkins, senior vice president and head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios,
Catastrophic hack of AT&T and Verizon is proof Apple is right about iPhone encryption
bgr.com [Excerpt] What seems clear is that the Chinese hackers breached the surveillance systems that carriers like AT&T and Verizon have in place to comply with court orders related to criminal and national security investigations. It’s essentially a backdoor that only certain people have access to. These would be so-called “good guys” who work in the interest of regular users.
The involved parties have yet to comment on the alleged Salt Typhoon campaign, which is under investigation. As expected, China has already denied involvement in the attack.
🔹Related content:
U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack (10/5/24): [Excerpt] For months or longer, the hackers might have held access to network infrastructure used to cooperate with lawful U.S. requests for communications data, according to people familiar with the matter, which amounts to a major national security risk. The attackers also had access to other tranches of more generic internet traffic, they said.
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☑️ #201 Oct 7, 2024
M4 MacBook Pro?
@markgurman: Unconfirmed but looks fairly legitimate: a Russian YouTube channel claims to have the yet to be announced M4 MacBook Pro and gave it a full unboxing and hands-on. We’ve seen prototypes leak early but never a full retail Apple device weeks in advance.
🔹Related content:
@VadimYuryev: BREAKING: Apple's M4 chip is now confirmed to be the fastest mass production chip in the world in terms of single-core performance!
