Plenty of folks are buzzing over Apple’s shift to services. From Apple Arcade to iCloud to Apple TV+, Apple’s got a new lucrative business stream which could pick up some of the slack from falling hardware sales.
Keybanc analyst Andy Hargreaves isn’t convinced, however. In fact, he points out that not only are services a competitive market (which everyone knows), but that Apple may actually be headed in the wrong direction.
Apple hasn’t told us when we can expect the public release of macOS Catalina, but a clue on one of Apple’s regional websites suggests that it could very well be next week.
On Apple’s Danish website, it notes that Apple Arcade will launch on the Mac App Store on October 4. Given that Apple Arcade requires macOS Catalina to work, it suggests that this might be when Apple’s next-gen macOS will debut.
One in five compatible devices are already running iOS 13, data from analytics company Mixpanel suggests.
According to the company’s data, as of this morning 20.27% of users are running iOS 13. Meanwhile, 74.66% are using iOS 12, and the remaining 5.08% are running some earlier version of iOS. That still leaves a long way to go — but it’s a fantastic start.
Mario Kart Tour went live this week — and despite being, technically, free to download its in-app purchases make it pretty pricey. Certainly compared to Apple Arcade.
Eagle-eyed gamers quickly noted that Mario Kart‘s so-called Gold Pass subscription will set you back $4.99 per month. That’s the same price that Apple is charging for its entire 100+ game subscription service!
Apple’s home town might be Cupertino, but Apple is a truly global company, circa 2019. (And it has been for years, too.) The latest evidence of this is a ranking of the top tech companies to work for in the U.K. Apple came in at number one on the list.
Apple employs some 6,500 people in the U.K. In capital city London alone it employs 2,500 people. Overall, Apple has around 132,000 full-time employees worldwide.
Here’s a top tip: If your job involves promoting hardware that is not made by Apple, do not use an Apple device in public.
It sounds easy, right? As it turns out, it’s pretty darn difficult. And it’s a problem suffered by many, many people who are likely way above your pay grade. The latest example? Amazon exec Dave Limp, who yesterday gave an interview promoting Amazon’s new wireless Echo Buds. While wearing Apple’s AirPods, of course.
The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly preparing an antitrust investigation into Facebook. This comes the same month that U.S. attorneys general revealed plans to probe Google for antitrust violations.
No Facebook investigation has been announced yet. But a “person familiar with the matter” says that is going to happen. This would be the fourth recent antitrust probe of Facebook — and the latest example of the growing pushback against tech giants.
As part of its environmental efforts, Apple recently made a donation to nonprofit Conservation International. Apple’s money will help restore degraded grasslands in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya.
“By restoring tens of thousands of hectares in the Chyulu Hills, we can remove carbon from the air, protect a critical wildlife corridor for elephants, and support the livelihoods of the Maasai people,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of environmental, social, and policy initiatives.
An AirPods-based wall display at Apple’s recently re-opened Fifth Avenue Apple Store features a cool Easter egg for long-time fans.
The Easter egg features Apple’s ultra popular AirPods being used as notes in a piece of sheet music. The music represented is from Apple’s iconic “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” ad campaign, which ran shortly after Steve Jobs’ return in the late 1990s.
Apple could go back to one of its most beloved iPhone designs with next year’s iPhone refresh. According to a new report from seasoned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s 2020 iPhone redesign will resemble the iPhone 4.
If true, that would make an already exciting upgrade even more of a must-have!
It’s been a long time coming, but Mario Kart Tour has finally raced (well, maybe dawdled) into the App Store.
The free-to-play kart racing game is available to download now, although currently you can only play a New York City-based course. Other courses will roll out at a later date.
So what did we make of it? Read on for Cult of Mac’s first impressions.
Apple has received a glimpse of hope in its giant $14.4 billion tax battle against the EU. On Tuesday, the European Commission’s similar tax case against Starbucks collapsed. The EC claimed that Starbucks had received an unfair sweetheart tax deal in the Netherlands. The European Commission’s General Court overturned this earlier 2015 decision.
But another case against Fiat Chrysler concluded with the European court saying that it had enjoyed preferential tax treatment in Luxembourg.
Jefferies equity analyst Kyle McNealy thinks that the arrival of a 5G iPhone is going to be much bigger for Apple than Wall Street realizes.
The first 5G iPhones are set to arrive toward the end of 2020. McNealy thinks that in the following year, 2021, Apple will sell 208 million iPhones. That’s well above the 190 million total handset sales Wall Street estimates are predicting.
Apple-backed China Clean Energy Fund is backing three wind farms in China. Each farm is capable of generating 48 megawatts of clean energy.
All the companies involved in the fund are Apple suppliers (plus Apple.) Together, they will invest $300 million by 2022. These projects will ultimately generate a whopping 1 gigawatt of renewable energy.
Apple may be a relative latecomer to the streaming video arena but media consultant Michael J. Wolf of Activate Consulting thinks that it’s got a big advantage. Along with Amazon, that is.
In an interview with CNBC‘s “Squawk Box,” Wolf laid out reason why. And it’s a twist on the old Alan Kay saying that a company serious about software should build its own hardware, too.
Apple is using its Apple Store “Today at Apple” creative sessions to showcase Apple TV+ content. As part of upcoming events at its newly reopened Fifth Avenue Apple Store, Apple will focus on promoting films and TV shows from its streaming video service.
In one case this will involve an appearance from the crew behind the production.
Apple has launched a new “Lyrics to Live By” video series. The video series features artists explaining the meaning of some of their best known lines.
It accompanies iOS 13’s new real-time lyrics feature which turns Apple Music into a karaoke experience. It lets users view scrolling song lyrics for the music they listen to.
An endless runner with gorgeous hand-painted graphics, in which you sprint on the backs of enormous flying dragons? Welcome to the world of EarthNight, one of the plentiful launch titles for Apple Arcade.
Put on your running shoes and let us race you through its features in our EarthNight review.
Apple advertised the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s toughness as one of the new devices’ big selling points. But just how durable are Apple’s latest handsets?
Reviewers seemed unwilling to test this out, lest they damage their highly coveted review units. But now that the iPhone 11 is available for sale, an early drop test reveals just how tough the new phones are.
The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro is just making its way into customers’ hands. But work is already underway for next year’s handset refresh.
According to a new report, Apple chipmaker TSMC is gearing up to carry out volume production of its next-gen chips as early as March. And they could offer a major boost over this year’s A13 Bionic chips!
Apple has its eye on dominating next year’s Emmy Awards with its original content. But Apple TV+ wasn’t exactly hiding in the shadows at this year’s event.
Apple bombarded people who tuned in to the Emmys with 15-second spots for its TV+ ads during commercial breaks. This included the first teases for its shows Servant and Truth Be Told. Check them out below.
Apple could get an early indication about the likely outcome of its giant European Union (EU) tax case early this week.
Apple was in court last week protesting its 13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill from the EU. Although the case is likely to drag on for months, two related cases will be ruled on this week. They may offer Apple some clues about its chances of success.
Maybe Apple should tweak the title of For All Mankind, its space race sci-fi show. A new teaser for the upcoming Apple TV+ series reveals that the drama will inject a strong shot of female empowerment into its alternate-history storyline about Russians beating the United States to the moon.
The 15-second clip, released Friday, shows actress Sarah Jones in the role of Tracy Stevens. “Look at you, Tracy Stevens,” says an off-screen male character. “You’re going to be an astronaut candidate.”
“No,” Stevens says. “One day I’m going to be an astronaut.” Cue a shot of an all-female astronaut ensemble.
Sayonara Wild Hearts, one of the Apple Arcade titles Apple showcased at its recent iPhone 11 event, is getting a soundtrack release — on vinyl.
Because, you know, listening to music on Apple Music is totes mainstream, y’all!
Tim Cook opened the doors at the reopening of Apple’s iconic Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York, just as the iPhone 11 went on sale.
Cook counted down to the 8am EST opening with fans, then pushed open the large glass doors to let customers inside the refurbished Apple Store. He even threw out high fives as people filed into the store to buy their new handsets and Apple Watches Series 5s.