Fans of the hit Apple TV+ show Severance are aware of the important role that self-help book "The You You Are" from Ricken Hale plays in the TV show, and now Apple has made a version of the book available to read or listen to.
The You You Are is available as a 39-page book or an hour-long audio book that's narrated by Michael Chernus, the actor who plays Ricken Hale on the show. In the foreword, Ricken Hale says that this is the first eight chapters of the book and the "first steps on the journey," suggesting Apple might debut additional chapters in the future.
Severance viewers who like to theorize about what's going on in the show will undoubtedly want to take a deep dive into the new book, which Apple is using to promote the show.
The second season of Severance debuted earlier this month, with Apple releasing new episodes on a weekly basis.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is widely rumored to feature an iPhone 14-style all-screen design with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, and USB-C. Images of dummy models showcasing the new design were recently shared online.
Recent reports suggest that the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to support Apple Intelligence thanks to the A18 chip and 8GB of memory. Both the main and front-facing cameras are expected to receive major upgrades to 48- and 12-megapixel sensors, respectively. Contrary to earlier rumors, the device is no longer expected to feature the Camera Control, Action Button, or Dynamic Island.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is highly likely to be the first to feature Apple's custom 5G modem. While it won't feature mmWave connectivity and may be slower than the Qualcomm components currently used in iPhones, it is expected to offer lower power consumption, improved cellular network scanning, and satellite connectivity enhancements.
The iPhone SE 4 is due to be released before iOS 18.4, sometime around March or April. It is expected to be slightly more expensive than the current model with a price point of about $470.
We also look ahead to the Apple Watch SE 3, which is expected to debut later this year. With an all-new plastic casing that evokes the iPhone 5C, we reflect on the direction of Apple's entry-level devices. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about how Samsung's latest announcements challenge Apple.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
If you own one of Apple's latest Mac mini or MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max processors, you may be interested to learn that CalDigit today announced its first Thunderbolt 5 product, the Element 5 Hub.
The Element 5 Hub boasts nine ports, including four Thunderbolt 5 ports capable of up to 120Gb/s bandwidth, two USB-C ports at 10Gb/s, and three USB-A ports also running at 10Gb/s. The hub delivers consistent 90W charging to host devices, regardless of connected peripherals, thanks to its compact 180W power supply.
Display support includes dual 8K monitors at 60Hz or dual 4K at 240Hz refresh rates, leveraging Thunderbolt 5's new Bandwidth Boost feature. CalDigit notes that Windows machines can handle up to three displays through a single Thunderbolt 5 connection, but unfortunately Mac users are limited to dual displays due to macOS limitations, even when using Apple's latest M4 chips.
The hub doubles PCIe bandwidth to 64Gb/s compared to its predecessor, allowing it to accommodate faster storage devices. Meanwhile, power delivery remains stable at 90W for host charging, with 15W available from each downstream Thunderbolt 5 port and 7.5W from USB ports.
The Element 5 Hub is available now direct from CalDigit in the United States for $249.95, with UK and EU availability expected in mid to late February 2025. Pricing is set at £249.99 in the UK and €249.99 (minus VAT) in the EU.
Apple has reached a $20 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that certain early Apple Watch models suffered from a battery defect that caused screens to detach or crack (via CNET).
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit accused Apple of manufacturing the original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches without sufficient internal space to accommodate normal battery swelling. The plaintiffs argued that the lithium-ion batteries put pressure on the display and other components when they expanded, leading to structural damage. In some cases, users reported that the screens separated entirely from the watch casing. Apple has strongly denied any wrongdoing, but the company has agreed to settle the case to avoid prolonged litigation.
Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will create a $20 million non-reversionary fund to compensate consumers who experienced battery swelling issues with the affected models. Consumers who qualify will receive a payment of $20 per affected device, with the potential for a higher amount depending on the total number of claims filed. As with most class-action settlements, the total amount received by individual claimants will depend on the number of participants and a significant portion of the $20 million fund will also go toward legal fees and administrative costs.
No claim form is required for class members who are already registered in Apple's records as having reported battery swelling issues. These individuals will automatically receive compensation unless they choose to opt out of the settlement by February 24, 2025. Apple Watch owners who believe they qualify but have not yet confirmed their eligibility need to do so by submitting their payment method on the official settlement website before April 10, 2025.
Apple is in the final stages of selecting a key supplier for its next-generation foldable display technology, according to a new report from the Naver blog account "yeux1122," citing a source within Apple's supply chain.
According to the report, Apple has maintained strict technical requirements for potential suppliers, focusing on maintaining current industry standards for thickness, size, and curvature radius while demanding significant improvements in durability and crease prevention. Some domestic component manufacturers are said to have recently made substantial progress in meeting Apple's exacting specifications.
The supplier selection process is reportedly expected to conclude between late February and early April, though Apple has not yet made a final decision.
While the report doesn't specify which device this display is intended for, the timing suggests a foldable iPhone. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently indicated that Apple's foldable iPhone remains in the planning stage, with various analysts projecting a release between late 2025 and 2027. The Information has suggested Apple could release a clamshell-style foldable iPhone as soon as 2026.
Apple is also reportedly exploring larger foldable devices. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the company is developing a roughly 19-inch foldable device "intended to serve as a laptop." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also mentioned plans for a "giant" foldable iPad that could launch in 2028, noting Apple's intention to create a device without a visible crease that appears as a single piece of glass.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced during the company's Q4 2024 earnings call that Apple Intelligence will soon support eight additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese.
An update coming in April, likely as part of iOS 18.4, will also bring localized English support for users in India and Singapore, said Cook. Apple Intelligence is currently limited to English-speaking regions including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
During the earnings call, Cook expressed his belief in the importance of Apple Intelligence features, noting that "once you start using the features you can't imagine not using them anymore." He specifically mentioned the email summarization function as a particularly valuable tool, stating that he personally relies on it to manage hundreds of daily emails.
Several Apple Intelligence features have been available since the release of iOS 18.1, but its limited language support has restricted its global reach.
Popular game series PGA Tour is coming to Apple Arcade, with PGA Tour Pro Golf set to launch on the gaming service on February 6. This will be the first PGA Tour game on Apple Arcade, and it will feature true-to-life PGA Tour locations.
Recreations of iconic golf courses at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Latrobe Country Club, and more will be featured. According to Apple, players can expect real-time competitive gameplay where everyone plays simultaneously, without the need to wait for turns. "It's golf like you've never played before," reads the app's description.
There will be daily and multi-day tournaments to complete, with exclusive rewards offered. Players will earn coins and cash in all game modes, and that currency will be used to purchase new clubs and equipment.
Next week, Apple Arcade Vision Pro game Synth Riders is set to gain a new Kendrick Lamar experience that features moody spotlights shifting to the beat. The soundscape is designed to accompany Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX.
This week, existing games like Jetpack Joyride 2, Temple Run: Legends, Wheel of Fortune Daily, and Stitch are receiving content updates.
Apple Arcade is a gaming service that's priced at $6.99 per month in the U.S., and it is also included in Apple One bundles. Games that are available through Apple Arcade do not include ads or in-app purchases.
Apple designed Macs with Apple silicon chips to automatically turn on and start up when the Mac's lid is opened or when the Mac is connected to power, but there is a workaround in macOS Sequoia if you don't like this behavior.
In a new support document, Apple provided separate instructions on how to prevent an Apple silicon Mac from turning on when the lid is opened or when it's connected to power. Both processes require the Terminal app. Apple's instructions:
1. Make sure that your Mac laptop with Apple silicon is using macOS Sequoia or later. 2. Open the Terminal app, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. 3. Type one of these commands in Terminal, then press Return: - To prevent startup when opening the lid or connecting to power: sudo nvram BootPreference=%00 - To prevent startup only when opening the lid: sudo nvram BootPreference=%01 - To prevent startup only when connecting to power: sudo nvram BootPreference=%02 4. Type your administrator password when prompted (Terminal doesn't show the password as it's typed), then press Return.
If you use these commands to change your Mac's behavior and want to undo it, you can open up Terminal and enter sudo nvram -d BootPreference.
Apple today held an earnings call to report results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 (fourth calendar quarter of 2024), with Apple CEO Tim Cook and new Apple CFO Kevan Parekh providing insight into Apple's performance, holiday quarter product sales, and more.
We've highlighted the most interesting takeaways from the Q1 2025 earnings call.
iPhone Sales and Apple Intelligence
Services revenue was up, and there was an increase in Mac and iPad sales, but iPhone sales were down. iPhone revenue came in at $69.1 billion, down from $69.7 billion last year. Apple Intelligence, which debuted in updates to iOS 18, does not appear to have resulted in a major upgrade cycle.
Cook said that the iPhone 16 models are, however, selling better in markets where Apple Intelligence is available.
On Apple Intelligence adoption increasing over time, Cook said that since the feature set is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 models in the iPhone lineup, growth will come as people upgrade to newer devices. Cook also said he expects to see some improvement when Apple Intelligence becomes available in additional languages in April.
"And I think I know from my own personal experience, once you start using the features you can't imagine not using them anymore," Cook said. "I know I get hundreds of emails a day, and the summarization function is so important."
In a separate answer, Cook said that new Siri Apple Intelligence features will be coming "over the next several months." Siri features were expected in iOS 18.4, and it's not yet clear if Apple's plans have changed or the "next several months" means April.
Best Quarter to Date
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Q1 2025 was Apple's best quarter to date with revenue of $124.3 billion, a four percent increase year-over-year.
Apple's installed base of active devices reached a new all-time high across all products and geographic segments, and Apple now has over 2.35 billion active devices worldwide. Sales in China were down, however. China brought in $18.5 billion, down from $20.8 billion last year.
Services Revenue
Services revenue continues to see notable growth, and the category brought in $26.3 billion, up 14 percent from $23 billion in the year-ago quarter.
All-time records were set in the Americas, Europe, and the rest of Asia-Pacific.
Paid subscriptions grew double digits, and Apple has more than a billion subscriptions across its services.
Mac Sales
Mac sales saw significant year-over-year growth, with revenue at $9 billion, up from $7.8 billion last year. Cook said Mac growth was thanks to new M4 Mac models.
There was double digit growth in both upgraders and people new to the Mac.
iPad Sales
iPad sales grew 15 percent, and Cook said it was largely driven by the iPad Air and the low-cost iPad rather than the iPad Pro. Over half of sales in the December quarter went to customers who were new to iPad.
DeepSeek
Cook was asked about DeepSeek, and the perspective that Apple will benefit from lower cost on-device compute. Cook said that he believes that "innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing."
Upcoming Products
When Cook was asked if there was "a lot of room for form factor innovation" for future iPhone models, Cook said that "there's a lot more to come" and that "there's a lot of innovation left on the smartphone."
Tariffs
On the potential for tariffs, Cook said that Apple is "monitoring the situation" and doesn't have anything more to say.
Next Quarter
In the March quarter, Apple expects its overall revenue to grow low to mid single digits with gross margin between 46.5 and 47.5 percent.
During today's earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about whether he felt there was room for form factor innovation in future iPhone models, with the question hinting perhaps spurred by rumors of the upcoming "iPhone 17 Air."
Cook often declines to provide insight into future products during earnings calls, but he did give an encouraging answer. "I think there's a lot more to come," Cook said. "I could not feel more optimistic about our product pipeline."
Cook went on to say that there is indeed room for change in the iPhone lineup. "I think there's a lot of innovation left on the smartphone," said Cook.
Rumors suggest that Apple is designing a super thin version of the iPhone that will replace the "Plus" model in the series. The device is expected to be between 5mm and 6mm thick, which would make it the thinnest iPhone to date.
In a separate question, Cook was asked whether the super thin design of the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro was driving iPad revenue, but Cook said that wasn't the case. It's the iPad Air and the iPad that were responsible for the 15 percent revenue growth the iPad category saw during the holiday quarter.
That's not a surprise given the high price of the iPad Pro. Rumors have been split on how much Apple's super thin iPhone will cost, but it is expected to be less expensive than the Pro models. Apple will focus on design, with the device set to use a lower powered chip than the Pro models and a single-lens camera.
There are more than 2.35 billion active iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices worldwide, Apple CEO Tim Cook said today in the earnings call covering the first fiscal quarter of 2025.
2.35 billion active devices is a new record for Apple. Apple last shared its active install base numbers in February 2024, when the company had 2.2 billion active devices worldwide.
Apple did not provide numbers for individual devices, but Apple has long had more than a billion active iPhones worldwide.
Apple today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025, which corresponds to the fourth calendar quarter of 2024.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $124.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $36.3 billion, or $2.40 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $119.6 billion and net quarterly profit of $33.9 billion, or $2.18 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
Apple set all-time records during the quarter for total revenue, earnings per share, and services revenue. Total revenue was up 4 percent year-over-year, while earnings per share rose by 10 percent. Services, Mac, and iPad revenue figures were all up significantly year-over-year, while iPhone and Wearables saw small declines.
Gross margin for the quarter was 46.9 percent, compared to 45.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.25 per share, payable on February 13 to shareholders of record as of February 10.
"Today Apple is reporting our best quarter ever, with revenue of $124.3 billion, up 4 percent from a year ago," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We were thrilled to bring customers our best-ever lineup of products and services during the holiday season. Through the power of Apple silicon, we're unlocking new possibilities for our users with Apple Intelligence, which makes apps and experiences even better and more personal. And we're excited that Apple Intelligence will be available in even more languages this April."
As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in March.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q1 2025 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Apple held discussions with X (formerly Twitter) about once again showing ads on the social media site, reports The Wall Street Journal. The talks are said to have taken place "in recent weeks."
In an attempt to maintain a relationship with X, Apple was one of the companies that did not pause ad buying when Elon Musk took over the company, but Apple did stop its ad buying in 2023 after Musk made antisemitic comments and there was evidence that Apple ads were being shown alongside pro-Hitler content.
Given that Musk just recently made a hand gesture that was widely interpreted as a Nazi salute at Donald Trump's inauguration, Apple's decision to resume purchasing ads on X could be perceived as ill-advised.
Musk is, however, a close Trump advisor and deeply involved with the Trump administration, so he could influence Trump's decisions concerning tech companies like Apple. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and also attended the event, and other tech CEOs and companies have been plying the administration with funds. Apple did not donate.
The Wall Street Journal says that several major companies are reevaluating their stance on advertising on X. Amazon plans to up its ad spending as well, and the boost in advertising could help X with some of its debt. In January, Musk said that user growth was stagnant, revenue was "unimpressive," and that the company was "barely breaking even."
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Mac apps can often go under the radar, with apps for the iPhone and iPad receiving more attention. For that reason, we have a Mac-focused video series that highlights useful Mac apps we've come across. Our first picks of the year are largely simple, one-task apps that add utility to your Mac.
Ice Menu Bar Manager (Free) - Ice is a menu bar management tool that's an alternative to Bartender. Last year, Bartender was quietly acquired by a less than trustworthy company, and many no longer want to use it. Ice has a rich feature set. You can rearrange menu bar apps, change the look of the menu bar with colors, hide cruft, and more.
DropOver ($5.99)- DropOver is a simple macOS app that enhances the Mac's Drag and Drop functionality. You can grab multiple files and move them around without opening side-by-side windows. You activate DropOver with a shake of the cursor, add items to a "shelf" and then you can move to your destination folder and unload them.
Latest (Free) - Latest is a super simple app that checks to ensure that your apps are up to date. It supports apps that use the Mac App Store and those that use Sparkle for updates, which is a good deal of the Mac apps out there.
NotchNook ($25) - NotchNook turns your Mac's notch into a little Mac version of a Dynamic Island. You can click into it and get shortcuts like a media player, the Calendar, quick notes, and more, plus it has drag and drop functionality that makes it easy to move files and send them using AirDrop. It's $25, or $3 per month.
Shortwave (Free, but unlocking more features costs $7/month) - Shortwave is yet another email app, but it uses AI in a helpful way. It organizes your inbox to surface what's most important, it can create to-dos for you, add labels, archive unimportant email threads, search for content, alert you to emails that still need a response, and more. You can also use AI to summarize emails and get writing help, with the AI able to respond in your own voice based on past email correspondence. This is not a bare bones email app, so note that it can take some time to get used to. This is a subscription app and it starts at $7 per month, paid annually.
Local Send (Free) - If you need to share content between an iOS device or Mac and an Android device or a Windows PC, you can do so with Local Send. This is great if you're not entirely in the Apple ecosystem, because AirDrop doesn't work on non-Apple devices.
Hyperduck ($4) - With Hyperduck, you can share links between your Macs, iPhones, and iPads with more control than AirDrop. You can, for example, save a webpage on your iPhone and have it open up later on your Mac, even if your Mac isn't turned on when you first save the website.
Rocket (Free) - Rocket is another simple, one-function app that lets you add emojis in any app. Press on the colon key and then start typing in the emoji that you want. It's free to use, but a pro version adds options for adding GIFs and images.
Know of a great Mac app that we haven't highlighted yet? Let us know in the comments below and we might feature it in a future video. For more of our Mac app picks, check out our Mac apps archive.
Google today started rolling out a new experimental "Ask for Me" feature that's available as part of Search Labs. Google Search users can take advantage of AI to make calls to businesses for information like pricing and availability.
As of now, Google is testing the experimental feature with auto shops and nail salons, and it is designed to prevent users from having to place calls themselves. Businesses can opt out of the AI-based calls, and the feature does disclose that AI is being used at the beginning of a call.
To use Ask for Me, Google Search users can opt-in to Search Labs and then search for a phrase like "oil change near me" or "manicure near me" to test it out. There are capacity limits in place, so there could be a waitlist before a call can be placed.
We’re testing right now with auto shops and nail salons, to see how AI can help you connect with businesses and get things done. pic.twitter.com/inf5hhj1BS
— Rose Yao (@dozenrose) January 30, 2025
Google says that the feature uses some of the underlying technology used for making restaurant reservations through the Google Search and Google Maps apps.
While the other countries that saw the promotion launch this month offered either free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with the purchase of any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, or a free Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C) with the purchase of any new iPad Pro or iPad Air, the Japanese promotion is offering Apple Gift Cards with the purchase of select Mac and iPad models.
MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac: 22,000 yen Apple Gift Card
iPad Pro or iPad Air: 15,000 yen Apple Gift Card
This year's promotion in Japan runs from January 30 through April 9 and is available to qualified education customers who certify their eligibility through UNiDAYS at the time of order. Current and admitted students to universities, colleges, and vocational schools, as well as faculty, staff, and PTA officers at junior high, high, university, and vocational schools, are eligible.
Apple and the University of Michigan have released new results from the Apple Hearing Study highlighting the increase in noise levels seen around recent Super Bowl games. The results come just ahead of Super Bowl LIX taking place in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9.
Based on data collected from over 115,000 users via the Noise app on Apple Watch in the Apple Hearing Study, researchers found that study partipicants were exposed to noise levels about 1.5 to 3 decibels higher over the past four Super Bowl games compared to the following Sundays.
While the study's authors note that a 3 dB increase may be "barely noticeable," given the logarithmic nature of the decibel scale it equates to up to a doubling of sound energy that can be detrimental to hearing health.
Noise levels were significantly higher for users in states where the Super Bowl was played and whose teams participated in the game each year, compared to those in other states, likely representing a higher number of users in those states gathering for the game, potentially in larger groups and louder environments.
Alongside the results, Apple has highlighted some of the hearing health features offered through the company's devices, including the Noise app on Apple Watch that can alert you to high environmental sound levels and the Hearing Protection feature of AirPods Pro 2 that can reduce your sound exposure in loud environments.
Samsung this week introduced a new sitewide sale with big discounts on TVs, monitors, storage accessories, and home appliances. You can also still save up to $1,250 when pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup, which includes the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In terms of TVs, the highlight of this sale is up to $1,300 off The Frame TVs, with the popular 65-inch model available for $1,299.99, down from $1,999.99. Another steep TV discount is on Samsung's 85-inch Neo QLED 4K TV for $1,749.99, down from $3,999.99.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Deals Newsletter
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