Apple News
How the creators of the Apple TV+ series ‘Platonic’ blew up their plans for an anthology series
How the creators of the Apple TV+ series ‘Platonic’ blew up their plans for an anthology series can be summed up concisely: the chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne was too good to give up.
Seija Rankin for The Hollywood Reporter:
When Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco started working on the first season of Platonic, they thought they were writing an anthology series. The concept they originally pitched to Apple TV+ was built around one season that would follow Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne‘s friendship, with subsequent seasons featuring entirely different stories and casts — like a period piece about women’s and men’s colleges becoming co-ed campuses in the 1970s and a work-wife/work-husband story. Then, about halfway through production of the first season, they realized they were having way too much fun with Rogen and Byrne to move on.
“They have such amazing chemistry together, and it was such a great experience, that we decided to ask them if they would be open to doing more, and they said yes,” Stoller tells THR. “And Apple, rightly so, felt like they were the show’s identity. I remember they said, ‘Who is going to want to watch a season two without them?’”
What that revelation meant for the show’s creators — who are also married and have three children together — was that they now had a brand new, and bigger, challenge as they started working on season two. “We had to blow up this neat little bow we’d originally tied at the end of the season,” says Delbanco. “We had told a complete story. But it wound up being a great creative exercise — we had to figure out, one chapter of their life is over, so now what are they doing to do? And through that we realized that where we first thought of the show as one snapshot of one time in their lives, we could actually tell stories about these two forever.”
MacDailyNews Note: Platonic‘s 10-episode sophomore season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly until October 1, 2025.
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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Apple set to purchase another Silicon Valley campus for $365 million
Apple is in contract to buy a Sunnyvale property for $365 million in its third massive Bay Area deal this year, the San Francisco Chronicle reports Wednesday citing “a person with direct knowledge.”
Roland Li for the San Francisco Chronicle:
The tech giant has agreed to buy the four-building Mathilda Campus at 505-599 North Mathilda Ave. and 605 West Maude Ave. from Kilroy Realty, said two sources who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the pending sale. Apple already leases 581,429 square feet, or the majority, of the 663,000-square-foot complex.
Kilroy, a major West Coast landlord, said in its earnings report Monday that it was in contract to sell “a four building campus in Silicon Valley,” without identifying the buyer or property. It said the deal is expected to close in the late third quarter at $550 per square foot.
Apple has been on a Bay Area real estate spending spree, with three deals totaling $882 million. Last month, it also bought the neighboring 615 and 625 North Mathilda Ave. properties for $350 million. The iPhone maker also paid $166.9 million for the three-building Cupertino Gateway at 10200 North Tantau Ave., next to its headquarters. Apple had been leasing all those buildings, as well as three of the buildings at the Mathilda Campus.
MacDailyNews Take: Still growing!
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Apple TV+ debuts trailer for Peanuts special ‘Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical’ – the first Peanuts musical in 37 years
Apple TV+ on Wednesday debuted the pitch-perfect trailer for the all-new original Peanuts musical special, “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,” set to premiere globally on Friday, August 15. The special features original music by Emmy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, composer and bestselling author Ben Folds, plus Emmy Award-nominated composer Jeff Morrow and the veteran Broadway composing duo Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. This latest special under the acclaimed “Snoopy Presents” banner by Peanuts and WildBrain for Apple TV+ marks the first Peanuts musical in 37 years. Original songs in the new special include “When We Were Light,” “Look Up, Charlie Brown” and “Leave It Better” by Folds, plus “Best Time Ever” and “A Place Like This” by Morrow, Zachary and Weiner.
This summer, celebrate the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love. Charlie Brown loves camp and is determined to make his final year special, but Sally, a first-time camper, is nervous and skeptical of the new and unfamiliar place. While everyone settles into camp, Snoopy and Woodstock discover a treasure map that takes them on a wild adventure nearby.
One morning, the Peanuts gang learns that their beloved camp is shutting down because fewer campers are joining each summer. The news especially saddens Charlie Brown, who feels hopeless about losing a place that has meant so much to him and his friends and is determined to preserve its legacy. Meanwhile, on their adventure, Snoopy and Woodstock find the sought-after treasure chest, but are quickly disappointed when they discover it’s not riches, but instruments and photos from past summer concerts held at the camp. Newly inspired, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang use the treasure to host their own concert to save the camp.
Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” is directed by Erik Wiese and is written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano. Executive producers are Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, Uliano, Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Logan McPherson.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang, and Apple TV+ is the place for families to celebrate the milestone all year long. Apple TV+ is the official and only streaming home for all Peanuts content through an expanded partnership with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.
The exciting slate of recent offerings for kids and families on Apple TV+ features the latest Peanuts series “Camp Snoopy”; the second season of beloved animated series “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning books; animated adventure trilogy “WondLa,” based on the New York Times bestselling book series “The Search for WondLa” by Tony DiTerlizzi; celebrated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!,” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy; “Wonder Pets: In the City,” from Jennifer Oxley; animated series “Goldie” inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning short film of the same name; and “BE@RBRICK,” the music-driven, animated series inspired by the iconic collectibles from MEDICOM TOY.
Award-winning all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+ also include celebrated live-action animated hybrid special, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” the Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated film “Wolfwalkers,” Skydance animated feature “Luck,” the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” WGA Award-winning “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy,” “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award winning “Jane” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”
Also featured are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers. Specials from Peanuts and WildBrain include Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.”
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 earned 580 wins and 2,787 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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U.S. GDP surges much better-than-expected to 3% for Q2; American consumer spending up 1.4%
American gross domestic product (GDP) jumped 3% for the second quarter, significantly better than the 2.3% estimate. U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the GDP report with a fresh demand for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.
The U.S. economy grew at a much stronger-than-expected pace in the second quarter, powered by a turnaround in the trade balance and renewed consumer strength, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
Gross domestic product, a sum of goods and services activity across the sprawling U.S. economy, jumped 3% for the April through June period, according to figures adjusted for seasonality and inflation.
That topped the Dow Jones estimate for 2.3%…
“The anti Trump story has been that we’re going to have a recession or a depression because of the tariffs, which are going to jack up prices and cause consumers to run for the exits” Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council director, said on CNBC. “In fact, every single thing about this GDP release has shown strength.”
Consumer spending rose 1.4% in the second quarter, better than the 0.5% in the prior period.
The Fed meets later Wednesday and is expected to hold its key overnight borrowing rate steady in a 4.25%-4.5% range, where it has been since December.
Trump responded to the GDP report with a fresh demand for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.
President Trump via Truth Social, July 30, 2025 at 8:38am EDT:
2Q GDP JUST OUT: 3%, WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED! “Too Late” [Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell] MUST NOW LOWER THE RATE. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!
MacDailyNews Note: In fiscal year 2024, it’s estimated that roughly 35% of Apple’s total revenue, or about $136.86 billion, came from the U.S. market. In terms of revenue, America is Apple’s single largest market compared to other regions like Europe (24%) or Greater China (18%).
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How U.S. President Trump steamrolled the EU in trade deal
Amid Donald Trump’s trade offensive, the EU began its path to capitulation on April 10th, suspending its retaliatory tariffs and agreeing to U.S.-led talks under pressure, facing 10% tariffs on most of its trade plus higher duties on steel, aluminum, and vehicles. Unlike Canada and China, which responded with immediate retaliation, the EU, constrained by differing member state opinions, opted for compromise to negotiate a better outcome.
Andy Bounds, Henry Foy, and Ben Hall for Financial Times:
Under the framework deal struck by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Trump at his Turnberry golf resort on Sunday, the EU has swallowed a broad-based “baseline” US tariff of 15 per cent, including crucially for cars, but not for steel, which will be subject to a quota system.
Relief among policymakers about avoiding an immediate transatlantic trade war was tinged with regret: could the EU, the world’s largest trading bloc and supposedly an economic heavyweight, have extracted better terms had it not pulled its punches early on?
Trump views the EU as a parasite, feeding off the lucrative American market while closing its own through regulation and standards. The US president has said the union was “formed to screw the US” and “nastier than China”.
Germany, France and a few others pushed for the commission to consult on using its new “trade bazooka”, the anti-coercion instrument. Designed after Trump’s first term to counter trade policy being used to pressure governments over other matters, it would allow Brussels to bar US companies from public tenders, revoke intellectual property protection and restrict imports and exports.
However, it was not clear a majority of member states agreed with the threatening move, diplomats said… While EU technocrats were boxing under Queensberry rules, Trump was in a New York street fight…
There was also concern that a more confrontational stance towards Washington could spill over into other areas. Europe’s dependency on America’s security guarantee was a further argument against trade confrontation, especially for the bloc’s eastern and northern members.
A further priority for the commission president was to preserve the EU’s right to regulate. The US tech industry has pushed hard for Trump to pressure the EU to weaken laws regulating online speech and data management. They also opposed national digital taxes. So far von der Leyen has refused to compromise on those issues.
MacDailyNews Take: After all, regulation plus taxation is the lifeblood of the EU vampire. Of course, any national digital taxes and EU laws regulating online speech and data management directly impact Apple.
After Trump rebuffed the deal hatched by his own officials, the commission’s negotiating team concluded they had no option but to accept a US tariff of 15 per cent. They pitched the number to member state ambassadors this week…
There is no hiding the fact the EU was rolled over by the Trump juggernaut, said one ambassador. “Trump worked out exactly where our pain threshold is.”
MacDailyNews Take: This lopsided US-EU trade deal always was a fait accompli.
The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have. Leverage is having something the other guy wants. Or better yet, needs. Or best of all, simply can’t do without. – Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal, 1987
As we wrote back in April:
The United States of America is the far and away No.1 economy on this planet, with nominal GDP of $30.34 trillion. China is a distant number two with $19.53 trillion, followed by Germany ($4.92T), Japan ($4.39T), and India ($4.27T).
If countries want unfettered access to sell their goods and services into the world’s preeminent economy, they should, at the very least, provide unfettered American access into their far lesser economies. (In pure business terms, they should actually pay for the privilege of selling in America’s rich environment).
Any country that wants to try to forgo America by keeping or increasing their import tariffs, have at it. They’ll be begging for access sooner than later.
Anyone who thinks Americans can’t make or get whatever they want/need without importing it from any other country, failed history 101.
In 2024, the EU’s nominal GDP was reported by the World Bank to be $19.423 trillion; China-sized, but still dwarfed by the American economy.
As we wrote in May:
Here is a list of the top 5 consumer markets by country, based on household final consumption expenditure (HFCE) in U.S. dollar value (consumer spending):
1. United States: ~$18.8 trillion
2. China: ~$7.0 trillion
3. Japan: ~$2.5 trillion
4. Germany: ~$2.3 trillion
5. India: ~$2.2 trillion
Add up the 2nd – 5th consumer markets on earth and they still total $4.4 trillion less than the U.S.
Annualized estimates based on quarterly figures suggest the EU’s total HFCE for 2024 is roughly $10 trillion, though exact annual figures are not yet finalized.
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President Trump says he will levy 25% import tariff on India starting August 1st
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on India effective August 1st and indicated an additional penalty related to India’s energy purchases from Russia.
President Trump via Truth Social, July 30, 2025 at 8:09am EDT:
Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!
In a quick series of subsequent posts, just minutes thereafter, Trump wrote, “THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!… AUGUST FIRST, A GREAT DAY FOR AMERICA!!!… WE HAVE A MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!”
MacDailyNews Take: India’s energy purchases from Russia are likely being used to fund Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so, hopefully, the penalty can help curtail India’s purchases of Russian energy and help to finally bring about an end to the hostilities in Ukraine.
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Ahead of earnings, Apple under pressure from slow-to-no AI roll-out, U.S. import tariffs
Apple faces challenges heading into Thursday’s earnings, including a late entry into the high-stakes AI race, U.S. import tariffs, and intense competition in China. The consensus on Wall Street anticipates a 4.2% revenue increase for the April-June quarter, for a revenue total of $89.34 billion. However, attention will center on how Apple navigates a shifting landscape where its global supply chain, once a strength, now poses potential risks.
Akash Sriram and Zaheer Kachwala for Reuters:
U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted the consumer electronics giant for its reliance on overseas manufacturing, threatening 25% tariffs on foreign-made iPhones. To limit the damage, Apple shifted production of U.S.-bound iPhones to India, further drawing Trump’s ire.
The total volume of Indian-made smartphones jumped 240% in the second quarter, largely driven by Apple’s supply chain shift, according to research firm Canalys.
Analysts and investors are now expecting the strategy to help Apple limit the hit from tariffs to well below $900 million it had estimated in May…
Analysts also said Apple, like many other firms, potentially overestimated tariff costs to leave room for an earnings beat. “Most companies we follow have made conservative assumptions by overestimating tariff costs as the goal of management is generally to beat its own guidance,” said Jamie Meyers, senior analyst at Apple shareholder Laffer Tengler Investments.
Doubts still remain over Apple’s prospects in China, where domestic companies including Honor are rolling out smartphones packed with AI features such as generative AI photo editors.
Apple’s cautious approach to AI has fueled concerns it is sitting out what could be the industry’s biggest growth wave in decades. The company was slow to roll out its Apple Intelligence suite, including a ChatGPT integration, while a long-awaited AI upgrade to Siri has been delayed until next year.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple clearly overestimated tariff costs. Whether doing so was to ensure an earnings beat and/or for another reason or reasons, we’ll never know.
Note, President Trump said just this morning that the United States will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on August 1st. In remarks, Trump said India will also face an unspecified penalty on August 1st, but did not elaborate on the amount or reason.
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Brain drain: Apple loses fourth AI researcher to Meta Platforms
Apple has seen its fourth AI researcher, Bowen Zhang, depart for Meta Platforms Inc. in a month, with Zhang joining Meta’s superintelligence team. The string of exits has disrupted Apple’s models team, leaving the future of its foundation models group uncertain and prompting other engineers to seek opportunities elsewhere. Apple is now exploring a greater reliance on third-party AI models, as some executives view its in-house models as a barrier to competing with AI industry leaders.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Bowen Zhang, a key multimodal AI researcher at Apple, left the company on Friday and is set to join Meta’s recently formed superintelligence team, according to people familiar with the matter. Zhang was part of the Apple foundation models group, or AFM, which built the core technology behind the company’s AI platform.
Meta previously lured away the leader of the team, Ruoming Pang, with a compensation package valued at more than $200 million… Two other researchers from that group — Tom Gunter and Mark Lee — also recently joined Meta. AFM is made up of several dozen engineers and researchers across Cupertino, California, and New York.
In response to the job offers from Meta and others, Apple has been marginally increasing the pay of its AFM staffers, whether or not they’ve threatened to leave, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the moves are private. Still, the pay levels pale in comparison with those of rivals.
Apple shares declined as much as 1.5% to $210.82, reaching a session low in New York trading. The stock was already down 15% this year through Monday’s close.
The departures have thrown Apple’s models team into flux. Pang played a central role in defining the department’s road map and research direction, and multiple people within AFM now say its future is unclear. Additional engineers are actively interviewing for jobs elsewhere, according to the people. Another team member — Floris Weers — left for a startup in recent weeks.
MacDailyNews Take: Tim Cook’s myopic, dithering C-Suite is shooting out AI researchers like t-shirts from a bleacher-reacher.
But, hey, don’t look there, watch this overproduced canned video: Liquid Ass… uh, Glass!
As we explained, as presciently as usual, many years ago:
Half a decade after Steve Jobs’ death, people are beginning to see the results of the lack of a charismatic, focused leader. You cannot go from Steve Jobs to someone who “doesn’t like people arguing” and not cause a profound culture change. – MacDailyNews, April 10, 2017
If he retired today, Tim Cook’s Apple would be known for coasting along on Steve Jobs’ innovations, rolling up tremendous profits that any halfway competent CEO would have accrued (or more), and devolving into being lazy, sloppy and routinely late. That’s a great legacy, Tim. — MacDailyNews, April 10, 2018
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Apple’s lucrative Services business under pressure as investors eye June quarter results
Apple’s Services business, which includes iCloud storage, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and other subscriptions, paid apps and app advertising, as well as payments related to web search, as a group have quintupled since 2015, while device revenue has grown less than 40%. And those services generate significantly higher gross profit margins: north of 70%, estimates Bank of America, compared with roughly 30% to 40% for hardware sales. But, now, Apple’s lucrative Services is business under pressure as investors eye June quarter results due this Thursday.
*Profit shares are Bank of America estimates Wearables,
home and accessories
Note: Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Sources: the company (share of revenue); Bank of America (share of profit). Image: WSJ
Rolfe Winkler and Nate Rattner for The Wall Street Journal:
That means the services business has a greater impact on Apple’s profit than on its revenue.
Yet after a big boost during the pandemic, growth of services has moderated, and two clouds are visible on the horizon that could reduce or even eliminate key parts of the business.
A primary component of Apple’s services business is the fees Apple collects on sales in its App Store, which drove almost a third of the total services revenue in the fiscal year that ended in September, according to Bank of America estimates.
Some developers say the fees are usurious and have appealed to regulators or sued Apple to force changes. A California judge ruled that Apple must allow app developers to sell their iPhone services from their own websites. In that scenario, she said, Apple can’t collect any fee at all.
In a worst-case scenario, Bank of America estimates that Apple could lose 10% of its net profit. But that assumes all large developers shift all of their app purchases outside the App Store, which is very unlikely, and Apple is appealing the ruling in the U.S.
In the European Union, a law called the Digital Markets Act requires similar changes to allow developers to avoid Apple’s fees.
MacDailyNews Take: The available data suggests that Apple’s App Store revenue in the European Union has not taken a significant hit following the introduction of third-party app stores to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into full effect in March 2024. Instead, evidence points to continued revenue growth, with minimal impact from alternative app stores.
A report from Investopedia, citing Bank of America analysts and Sensor Tower data, indicates that Apple’s App Store revenue in the EU rose by 13% in the fiscal third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year, reaching an estimated $7.5 billion. This growth occurred despite the DMA’s allowance for third-party app stores and alternative payment systems. The analysts noted that consumer behavior remained “largely unchanged,” with only a small number of downloads occurring through alternative app stores, suggesting that the App Store retained its dominance.
Apple’s App Store continues to benefit from its seamless integration, trusted brand, and features like In-App Purchase, which are not fully supported in alternative marketplaces.
The next piece of Apple’s services business—and one of its most lucrative—is the money Google pays so it gets to be the default search provider in Apple’s Safari web browser.
It accounted for about 6% of Apple’s overall revenue in the 12 months through March, estimates Bank of America. But because it has essentially no costs associated with it, it falls straight to the bottom line, where it accounts for 19%, or nearly a fifth, of Apple’s total operating profit.
After the Justice Department won its antitrust case against Alphabet’s Google, it asked the judge to throw out the search giant’s Apple contract, which the judge is still considering.
Apple’s estimated subscription-services revenue, quarterly
Source: Bank of America (Image: WSJ)
MacDailyNews Take: Apple has cornered the market on premium customers; the people with means and the proven will to spend it. Without Apple device users, Google has much less value to sell to advertisers. A bunch of cheapskate Android settlers, willing to handicap themselves with cheap iPhone knockoffs, just aren’t an appealing target demographic. This is why Google pays Apple some $20 billion annually.
So, if Apple were ever forced by a judge to make their own search engine, beyond just being required to present a default search engine choice dialog box to Apple Safari users (the most likely outcome), then “Apple Search” would quickly begin to amass the cream of the crop in search engine users – a high-value demographic that would be coveted by high-paying advertisers – an avenue to begin replacing Google’s payments to access those online users with money and taste.
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JPMorgan Chase nears a deal to replace Goldman Sachs on Apple Card
JPMorgan Chase is in advanced negotiations to assume control of Apple’s credit-card program, sources familiar with the discussions say. Talks between the nation’s largest bank and Apple have intensified recently, with Apple indicating JPMorgan as its top choice to succeed Goldman Sachs as its card partner. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that negotiations between JPMorgan and Apple began in early 2024.
AnnaMaria Andriotis for The Wall Street Journal:
An agreement would be one of the biggest credit-card deals ever, cementing JPMorgan’s status as the largest credit-card issuer in the U.S. It would serve to bring two of the country’s most influential companies closer together, giving the bank a loyal base of Apple customers to whom it can pitch more financial products, and giving the Apple a sprawling consumer franchise to help it sell and finance more gadgets.
The Apple card has around $20 billion in balances currently at Goldman Sachs…
Separately, there has been a battle between the networks. Visa has offered a roughly $100 million payment to Apple to try to replace Mastercard as the card’s network, the Journal reported.
Several roadblocks have kept this program from moving so far.
First and foremost is its high exposure to subprime borrowers. That is affecting the price that JPMorgan would be willing to pay Goldman to take on the balances, the people said.
As of the end of March, some 34% of Goldman’s credit-card balances are tied to people with less than a 660 credit score, on a scale that tops out at 850. At JPMorgan that figure was 15%, while at Capital One, which has for decades specialized in subprime cardholders, borrowers with a credit score of 660 or lower held 31% of balances.
Most credit-card issuers make up for having delinquent borrowers by charging late fees. But the Apple card with Goldman doesn’t charge late fees, wiping out a key revenue generator.
MacDailyNews Take: Ay yi yi, 34% of Goldman’s credit-card users are subprime! No wonder it’s been a tough sale.
As WSJ notes, most credit-card issuers make up for having delinquent borrowers via late fees, but the Apple Card with Goldman doesn’t charge late fees, wiping out a key revenue generator.
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Apple releases iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6
Apple on Tuesday rolled out iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6, and visionOS 2.6 to the public, addressing a bug in the Photos app that affected movie sharing while primarily focusing on patching numerous security vulnerabilities.
For iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, the updates resolve over two dozen CVEs, tackling issues in the Metal graphics API, WebKit, networking, and filesystem permissions. The other OS updates address many of the same vulnerabilities.
Apple’s release notes indicate that none of these flaws are currently being exploited in the wild, so while prompt updating is recommended, no known zero-day vulnerabilities are present.
For EU users, iOS and iPadOS 18.6 also introduce support for alternative app stores and direct app installations from websites, complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
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Leagues Cup returns to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV on July 29th
Leagues Cup, the first in-season club tournament in North America across all men’s professional sports, begins today, July 29, and MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is the only place where fans in over 100 countries and regions can watch every match.
Entering its third year, Leagues Cup will be played in two rounds: Phase One, which begins on July 29, and the knockout round, which will end with the Leagues Cup Final on August 31. For 2025, the tournament introduces a new format featuring MLS vs. Liga MX matchups exclusively throughout Phase One and the Quarterfinals stage.
Leagues Cup 2025 will feature 62 matches in total, with no ties. The MLS and Liga MX regular seasons will continue through the month of August, with most Leagues Cup knockout matches played midweek.
The monthlong tournament concludes with the top three teams receiving automatic bids to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, with a chance to represent the confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I’m very excited to play in the Leagues Cup with San Diego FC,” said San Diego FC forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano in a statement. “It’s going to be a great tournament between MLS and Liga MX, and a perfect opportunity to show what San Diego is made of.”
“I made my debut with Rayados de Monterrey during Leagues Cup, so the tournament holds special meaning for me,” said C.F. Monterrey midfielder Sergio Canales in a statement. “The arrival of more high-profile players in both leagues has only elevated its level. It will continue to gain popularity and grow in the years to come.”
Columbus Crew took home the 2024 Leagues Cup trophy, besting Los Angeles Football Club in dramatic fashion by breaking a 1-1 deadlock with two goals in stoppage time to claim the title. During Leagues Cup 2023, Lionel Messi made his debut for Inter Miami CF and scored 10 goals in just seven matches, earning him Leagues Cup Golden Boot and MVP accolades after he helped his club secure the inaugural tournament title.
For a complete look at the 2025 Leagues Cup schedule and additional broadcast details, visit leaguescup.com.
How to Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS Season Pass will feature every live Leagues Cup match in one place with commentary available in English and Spanish, and no blackouts. Subscribers can enjoy exclusive on-demand Leagues Cup content and a comprehensive and accessible lineup of complimentary programming, including Leagues Cup Countdown and Leagues Cup Wrap-Up in English, and Leagues Cup La Previa and Leagues Cup El Resumen in Spanish.
Leagues Cup 2025 will be played in two rounds: Phase One, which begins on July 29, and the knockout round, which will end with the Leagues Cup Final on August 31.
New for 2025, MLS Season Pass will welcome five acclaimed Spanish-language broadcasters to its Leagues Cup coverage. Former players Francisco “Kikín” Fonseca, Pável Pardo, Daniel Brailovsky, and legendary goalkeeper Oswaldo Sánchez, along with Emmy-nominated host Ana Jurka, will join one of the most respected and diverse broadcast teams in global sports to lend their expertise to broadcasts throughout the tournament.
Fans can watch up to four simultaneous matches at once with Multiview on Apple TV 4K devices and on iPad, so they never have to miss a minute of the action. With Catch Up, viewers who tune in for a match after kickoff can watch all the key moments before joining live.
Fans can watch up to four simultaneous matches at once with Multiview on Apple TV 4K devices and on iPad, so they never have to miss a minute of the action.
MLS Season Pass is available through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, Android devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on DIRECTV, Xfinity, and at tv.apple.com. Additionally, 37 Leagues Cup matches will be available for Apple TV+ subscribers at no additional cost, including all knockout round matches. Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their physical space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and in Spatial Audio for an even more immersive viewing experience.
More Ways to Enjoy Leagues Cup
• For an in-depth look at Leagues Cup stats and standings, iPhone users can follow the action with Apple Sports, a free app for iPhone that gives sports fans a simple and fast way to stay up to speed on the tournament as it progresses. Users can easily navigate between scores and upcoming games; explore play-by-play information, team stats, lineup details, and live betting odds; and tap to go to the Apple TV app to watch live matches. Just in time for Leagues Cup, Apple Sports is now available in Mexico.
• Apple Music is helping fans gear up for Leagues Cup with exclusive warm-up playlists curated for select matches — including a refreshed mix from Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi and a brand-new playlist from Diego Luna debuting in Phase One.
• In Apple Maps, fans can explore Maps Guides to every stadium where MLS clubs play to learn more about the history, unique features, and supporter traditions of the stadiums at the epicenter of soccer culture in North America.
• In the Apple News app, fans can follow a dedicated Leagues Cup hub to read the latest stories, plus see scores and standings. And by signing up for the new Apple News Sports newsletter, fans can get personalized updates right in their inbox throughout the entire tournament.
Available in Canada, Mexico, the UK, and the U.S., Apple Sports allows users to easily navigate between scores and upcoming games, as well as explore play-by-play information, team stats, and more.
MacDailyNews Note: Fans can sign up for a seasonal subscription to MLS Season Pass for $49 to enjoy the entire Leagues Cup tournament and the remainder of the 2025 season — 50 percent off the original price of $99 — and existing Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up for a seasonal subscription to MLS Season Pass for $39. For more information, and to subscribe to MLS Season Pass, visit apple.co/_MLS_.
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Apple unveils first look at new thriller ‘Down Cemetery Road,’ from ‘Slow Horses’ writer/producer
Apple TV+ on Tuesday unveiled a first look at the highly anticipated new thriller “Down Cemetery Road,” starring and executive produced by Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award winner Emma Thompson (“Sense and Sensibility”), and also starring Golden Globe Award and two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson (“Luther”). The eight-episode thriller will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Wednesday, October 29th, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through December 10th.
When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Tucker (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead.
Produced by 60Forty Films, “Down Cemetery Road” is written by Morwenna Banks (“Slow Horses”), who also serves as executive producer alongside Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, and Tom Nash at 60Forty Films, Thompson, and “Down Cemetery Road” author Mick Herron. Natalie Bailey (“Bay of Fires”) serves as lead director for the series.
The series joins the celebrated, Emmy Award-winning spy drama “Slow Horses” on Apple TV+. “Slow Horses” was recently renewed for a seventh season, and its fifth season will premiere on September 24, 2025. The series, on which Banks also wrote, is based on Herron’s celebrated “Slough House” book series and stars Academy Award winner Sir Gary Oldman.
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 earned 580 wins and 2,787 nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Apple’s foldable iPhone rumored to feature Liquidmetal hinge for unmatched durability
Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is shaping up to be a game-changer in the smartphone market, with industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo providing fresh insights into its innovative design. According to recent reports, Apple is set to incorporate Liquidmetal, a high-strength amorphous alloy, into the hinge assembly of its first foldable iPhone, aiming to address common durability and screen creasing issues that have plagued competitors. This move could position Apple’s foldable device as a premium offering with a focus on robustness and a seamless user experience.
Apple is rumored to be leveraging Liquidmetal — also referred to as metallic glass or amorphous metal — for the hinges of its foldable iPhone. Unlike traditional metals with crystalline structures, Liquidmetal’s randomized atomic arrangement offers superior resistance to bending, deformation, and denting. This material, processed through a die-casting method, is 2.5 times harder than titanium alloy and boasts a glossy finish comparable to stainless steel, enhancing both durability and aesthetics. Apple’s use of Liquidmetal is not entirely new; the company has employed it in smaller components like SIM ejector pins, but its application in the foldable iPhone’s hinge marks its first significant use in a critical mechanical part.
In the U.S., iPhone 3G units shipped with a SIM ejector tool made of Liquidmetal
In July 2025, Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc. announced the formation of a joint venture, Hangzhou Feifeng Liquidmetal Co. Ltd., to establish a 71,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China, for producing amorphous alloy products. The facility, located near major companies like Foxconn and Alibaba, will house up to 40 high-speed die-cast machines and is expected to begin operations in mid-2026. Liquidmetal Asia Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, will own 70% of the joint venture, with an individual investor contributing 30% and $6 million in initial capital. The facility will be led by Professor Lugee Li, Chairman of Liquidmetal Technologies and founder of Eontec, focusing on leveraging the unique properties of amorphous alloys, such as high strength and elasticity, for applications like the rumored foldable iPhone hinge.
The foldable iPhone, expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027, is anticipated to feature a book-style design with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. Kuo suggests that Apple is prioritizing a crease-free screen, a common pain point in foldable devices from brands like Samsung. While the Liquidmetal hinge itself may not directly eliminate creases, its precision and durability are expected to complement Apple’s efforts to enhance screen flatness and maintain a minimum bend radius to prevent display fatigue. The hinge, combining stainless steel and titanium alloy alongside Liquidmetal, is designed to withstand repeated folding while maintaining tight tolerances.
Apple’s investment in Liquidmetal dates back to 2010, when it secured exclusive rights to use the material in consumer electronics. Developed by Liquidmetal Technologies, this zirconium-based alloy offers high tensile strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and the ability to be molded with precision akin to thermoplastics. The material’s unique properties make it ideal for the complex hinge mechanism required for a foldable device, potentially giving Apple an edge over competitors.
Dongguan Yihao Metal, a subsidiary of EonTec, is reportedly the exclusive supplier of Liquidmetal components for Apple, with projections indicating significant revenue growth—potentially RMB 1.5-2 billion (US$209-279 billion) from the first-generation foldable iPhone alone.
Beyond the hinge, rumors suggest Apple is exploring other innovative features for the foldable iPhone. The device is expected to forgo Face ID due to space constraints, opting instead for a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button. It may include a dual-lens rear camera system, with 48-megapixel lenses, and dual front-facing cameras for folded and unfolded states. The device’s titanium alloy casing and high-density battery cells, similar to those rumored for the iPhone 17 Air, underscore Apple’s focus on a slim, premium design, with a thickness of just 4.5–4.8mm when unfolded and 9–9.5mm when folded.
However, this innovation comes at a cost. Kuo and other sources predict the first-generation foldable iPhone will retail between $2,000 and $2,500, positioning it as a top-tier, ultra-premium device. Despite the high price, Apple’s loyal fanbase and the iPhone’s status as a must-have device are expected to drive strong demand, with shipment estimates of 3–5 million units in 2026 and up to 20 million by 2027, including a second-generation model.
While competitors like Samsung and Huawei have dominated the foldable market, their devices often face criticism for visible creases and durability concerns. Apple’s meticulous approach, backed by its decade-long exploration of Liquidmetal and advanced hinge designs, suggests it aims to redefine the category. As Kuo notes, the foldable iPhone’s specifications are expected to be finalized in Q2 2025, with mass production slated for Q4 2026, setting the stage for a potential launch that could shake up the smartphone industry.
MacDailyNews Take: As anticipation builds, Apple’s foldable iPhone promises to blend cutting-edge materials like Liquidmetal with its signature design philosophy, potentially delivering a device that’s as durable as it is innovative. For now, all eyes are on Apple’s supply chain and further leaks to confirm whether this foldable iPhone will live up to the hype.
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Driven by Apple’s iPhone, India overtakes China as the leading manufacturer for smartphones sold in America
New research from Canalys (now part of Omdia) reveals that United States smartphone shipments grew by 1% in Q2 2025 as vendors continued to frontload device inventories amid tariff concerns. The uncertain outcome of negotiations with China has accelerated supply chain reorientation. The share of US smartphone shipments assembled in China shrank from 61% in Q2 2024 to 25% in Q2 2025. Most of this decline has been picked up by India; the total volume of “Made-in-India” smartphones grew 240% year on year and now accounts for 44% of smartphones imported into the US, up from only 13% of smartphone shipments in Q2 2024.
In Q2, iPhone shipments declined by 11% year on year to 13.3 million units, a correction from the 25% growth in Q1 2025. Samsung’s shipments grew 38% year over year to 8.3 million units. Motorola continued its expansion in the US, growing 2% to 3.2 million units. Google and TCL rounded off the top five, with Google growing 13% to 0.8 million while TCL declined 23%, shipping 0.7 million units.
Vendors accelerate manufacturing diversification amid shifting geopolitical landscape
“India became the leading manufacturing hub for smartphones sold in the US for the very first time in Q2 2025, largely driven by Apple’s accelerated supply chain shift to India amid an uncertain trade landscape between the US and China,” said Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Canalys (now part of Omdia). “Apple has scaled up its production capacity in India over the last several years as a part of its ‘China Plus One’ strategy and has opted to dedicate most of its export capacity in India to supply the US market so far in 2025. Apple has begun manufacturing and assembling Pro models of the iPhone 16 series in India, but is still dependent on established manufacturing bases in China for the scaled supply needed for Pro models in the US. Samsung and Motorola have also increased their share of US-targeted supply from India, although their shifts are significantly slower and smaller in scale than Apple’s. Motorola, similar to Apple, has its core manufacturing hub in China, whereas Samsung relies mainly upon producing its smartphones in Vietnam.”
Vendors frontload shipments to mitigate tariff risk
“Vendors continue to frontload devices and maintain high inventory levels to best cope with the risk of tariffs coming into play later in the year,” said Runar Bjorhovde, Senior Analyst at Canalys (now part of Omdia). “Apple built up its inventories rapidly toward the end of Q1 and sought to maintain this level in Q2. Samsung scaled up its inventory stock in Q2, boosting its shipments to grow 38% year on year, predominantly driven by Galaxy A-series devices. Yet, the market only grew 1% despite vendors frontloading inventory, indicating tepid demand in an increasingly pressured economic environment and a widening gap between sell-in and sell-through. Even if smartphones remain exempted from tariffs, many other categories are impacted, which might greatly impact consumers’ spending patterns and keep smartphone demand modest in H2.”
Scale-driven polarization intensifies as challengers struggle to justify US investment
“With the arrival of new requirements to local operations, uncertain tariff policies and pressured demand, it is becoming less attractive for mid-to-small-sized vendors to operate in the US, exemplified by HMD’s announcement to scale back its US operations,” added Bjorhovde. “Successful long-term strategies for smartphone vendors in the US require significant scale, but over 90% of the market is held by the three largest vendors. That leaves a very small opportunity for the remaining vendors, focused on prepaid carrier slots or non-carrier-driven channel strategies. Currently, OnePlus and Nothing are attempting non-carrier-focused strategies, focusing on their direct websites, BestBuy, Walmart and Amazon, but their current scale remains limited, and ambitions are dependent upon scale in other regions. Reducing the large investments required to be included in portfolios or finding new incentives for vendors to build their own brick-and-mortar stores could help improve the market’s attractiveness.”
About the Smartphone Horizon service
The worldwide Smartphone Horizon service from Canalys (now part of Omdia) provides a comprehensive country-level view of shipment estimates far in advance of our competitors. We provide quarterly market share data, timely historical data tracking, detailed analysis of storage, processors, memory, cameras and many other specs. We combine detailed worldwide statistics for all categories with Canalys’ unique data on shipments via tier-one and tier-two channels. The service also provides a unique view of end-user types. At the same time, we deliver regular analysis to give insights into the data, including the assumptions behind our forecast outlooks.
About Canalys
Canalys, now part of Omdia, is a leading global technology market analyst firm with a distinct channel focus. We strive to guide clients on the future of the technology industry and to think beyond the business models of the past. We’ve delivered market analysis and custom solutions to technology vendors worldwide for over 25 years. Our research covers emerging, enterprise, mobile and smart technologies. Understanding channels is at the heart of everything we do. Our insightful reports, data and forecasts inform our clients’ strategies, while the Canalys Forums and Candefero online community give the channel feedback opportunities. We stake our reputation on the quality of our data, our innovative use of technology and our high level of customer service.
MacDailyNews Take: Moving in the right direction.
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Apple Manufacturing Academy opens in Detroit on August 19th
Apple will open its all-new Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit on Tuesday, August 19th, with free programming to train and support American businesses, innovators, and manufacturers. The academy is part of Apple’s pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and builds on the company’s long history of investment in American innovation and advanced manufacturing.
“We’re thrilled to welcome companies from across the country to the Apple Manufacturing Academy starting next month,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement. “Apple works with suppliers in all 50 states because we know advanced manufacturing is vital to American innovation and leadership. With this new programming, we’re thrilled to help even more businesses implement smart manufacturing so they can unlock amazing opportunities for their companies and our country.”
Beginning August 19th, Apple, in partnership with Michigan State University, will host small and medium-sized businesses from across the country in Detroit for various workshops with Apple experts. The courses are designed to help American companies transition to advanced manufacturing by implementing artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing techniques.
Sessions will focus on machine learning and deep learning in manufacturing; automation in the product manufacturing industry; leveraging manufacturing data to improve product quality; applying digital technologies to enhance operations; and more.
In addition to in-person courses, Apple engineers are already consulting with American companies to help them drive productivity, efficiency, and quality in their supply chains. Consulting services are available both virtually and in person.
Later this year, the academy will also offer virtual programming, with a skills development curriculum that teaches workers vital skills like project management and manufacturing process optimization.
MacDailyNews Note: Businesses interested in registering for courses or consultations should visit manufacturingacademy.msu.edu.
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Apple TV+ announces ‘Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age’
Apple TV+ on Tuesday announced “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” a sweeping new installment of the award-winning natural history series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit (“Planet Earth”), and narrated by Golden Globe Award and Olivier Award winner Tom Hiddleston (“Earthsounds”), with an original score by Hans Zimmer, Anže Rozman and Kara Talve from Bleeding Fingers Music. The five-part docuseries, set to premiere globally on November 26, 2025, invites viewers into a dramatic new era of prehistoric life, millions of years after the extinction of the dinosaurs — an era shaped by ice, the intense fight to survive and the rise of a new cast of giants: the iconic megafauna.
Woolly rhinos in “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” premiering Wednesday, November 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” uses the latest scientific research and cutting-edge visual effects to bring this frozen world to life like never before, unveiling the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient Earth for a one-of-a-kind experience. From towering woolly mammoths to elusive snow sloths, terrifying saber-toothed tigers to resilient dwarf elephants (only 3 feet tall), the series reveals the epic struggles and unexpected stories of animals that once ruled the Ice Age. Viewers will journey through vast tundras, barren deserts, expanding grasslands and melting permafrost as these creatures battle for survival in the face of extreme climates, shifting landscapes and the onset of “The Big Freeze,” and ultimately, “The Big Melt.”
A Glyptotherium in “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” premiering Wednesday, November 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
The series is produced by the world-renowned team at BBC Studios Natural History Unit with support from the photorealistic visual effects of Framestore (“Gravity,” “The Golden Compass”). Theme by Hans Zimmer and Andrew Christie. Original score by Zimmer, Anže Rozman and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music.
Rock-climbing sloths in “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” premiering Wednesday, November 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” continues the storytelling journey of the acclaimed Apple TV+ natural history series “Prehistoric Planet,” which transported viewers 66 million years into the past to witness the age of dinosaurs across two seasons. Blending cinematic storytelling with photorealistic visual effects, the series brings ancient worlds to life, offering a firsthand look at some of the most extraordinary creatures ever to walk the Earth. The complete first two seasons of “Prehistoric Planet” are available to stream now on Apple TV+.
A saber-toothed tiger in “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” premiering Wednesday, November 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
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 your 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 580 wins and 2,787 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Spain’s watchdog expands probe into Apple over App Store pricing
On Tuesday, Spain’s antitrust authority announced it is broadening its probe into Apple for potential anti-competitive practices, alleging the company imposed unfair commercial terms on developers of mobile apps distributed through its App Store.
Reuters:
The wider probe by the CNMC will examine whether the tech giant established a pricing schedule that developers must follow in order to distribute their apps on the App Store, restricting competition between companies, the watchdog said.
Apple said in a statement the App Store was designed to be a “safe and trusted experience for users and a great business opportunity for developers in Spain and around the world” and it will continue to engage with the CNMC “to ensure our concerns are fully understood”.
MacDailyNews Take: The saga continues. With bad prequels and sequels in countries worldwide.
How much did it cost developers to have their apps burned onto CDs, boxed, shipped, displayed on store shelves prior to Apple remaking the world for the better for umpteenth time? Apple incurs costs to store, review, organize, surface, and distribute apps to over one billion users. — MacDailyNews, June 10, 2022
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Apple iPhone-assembler Hon Hai’s share trading halted ahead of disclosures
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.’s shares were halted from trading in anticipation of market-sensitive information, a rare step indicating a significant announcement expected on Wednesday.
The world’s largest assembler of Apple Inc.’s iPhones will apply for a resumption of trading after that disclosure, Taiwan’s stock exchange said in a statement.
A Hon Hai representative did not have immediate comment to provide. Trading suspensions typically take place ahead of the announcement of potentially market-moving decisions, such as an acquisition.
MacDailyNews Take: Things than make you go, “hmm…”
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Google will soon be told how to end its monopoly abuse. How that affects Apple
Alphabet investors are eagerly awaiting the judge’s ruling on remedies Google must implement to address its monopoly. Apple investors should also take note.
Angela Palumbo for Barron’s:
A federal judge ruled in August 2024 that Google maintained a monopoly in general search services and general text advertising. This was done through exclusive distribution agreements with browser developers, smartphone makers, and wireless carriers. Wall Street has since been waiting to hear what remedies the judge will put in place to end the monopoly.
J.P. Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth wrote in a research note on Monday that he believes the remedy decision will come by Aug. 8.
One possible remedy would be the banning of exclusive search engine agreements with companies such as Apple. Currently, Google pays Apple, and Apple in turn makes Google the default search engine on all of its devices.
Anmuth thinks a compromise might be made.
“We see an opportunity for a potential middle ground to be framed in the judgment where Google can make payments to Apple, but only for consumers organically choosing Google as their default General Search Engine,” Anmuth wrote.
The outcome is important to Apple. Anmuth believes the company could lose about $12.5 billion in revenue in addition to the profits it currently receives from Google, which could negatively impact earnings by about 10%.
MacDailyNews Take: A hungry Apple would have forged ahead with its own search engine long ago. A complacent Apple just sat back taking payments (some estimates are in the are of $20 billion annually) as the inevitable legal intervention loomed. We expect, unlike in GenAI, Apple has a plan. Hopefully, it’s a good plan, an innovative and bold one, not just a mandatory default search engine choice screen thrown up to users* as dictated by a judge.
*90% of whom will choose Google because that’s all they know.
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