Apple CEO Tim Cook today provided some commentary surrounding artificial intelligence amid the surging popularity of ChatGPT and other chatbots.
Speaking on Apple's quarterly earnings call today, Cook said artificial intelligence's potential is "very interesting," but noted that there are a "number of issues that need to be sorted" out with the technology and that it is "very important to be deliberate and thoughtful" in regards to how artificial intelligence is used.
Cook said Apple has already integrated artificial intelligence and machine learning across several of its products and services, pointing out features like Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and the ECG app on the Apple Watch. He added that Apple will continue to weave artificial intelligence into its products on a "very thoughtful basis."
The New York Times in March reported that excitement surrounding chatbots demonstrates how Siri and other traditional voice assistants have "squandered their lead in the A.I. race," as Siri's functionality remains far more limited than chatbots despite launching over a decade ago. The Information last month reported that Apple employees "widely criticize Siri for its shortcomings" and have proposed large language model improvements that they hope will be ready to launch in an iOS version released next year.
Apple first released the HomePod mini in October 2020 in the U.S. and select other countries, and the speaker and has not received any major hardware upgrades since, but new color options launched in November 2021 and the speaker's temperature and humidity sensor was enabled earlier this year. The launch of the HomePod mini in Denmark today likely rules out a second-generation model of the speaker launching in the near future.
Apple had discontinued the full-size HomePod in 2021, but the company introduced a second-generation model in January. The new HomePod features a similar design as the original smart speaker, with a larger backlit touch surface and a few other improvements. Despite having two fewer tweeters, reviews found the new HomePod sounds virtually the same as the original, but Siri still has shortcomings compared to other virtual assistants.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today said he still views mass layoffs as a "last resort," and ensured this is not something the company is considering right now.
"I view that as a last resort and, so, mass layoffs is not something that we're talking about at this moment," said Cook, in an interview with CNBC.
Major tech companies like Google and Facebook parent Meta have laid off tens of thousands of employees in recent months amid economic uncertainty, after aggressively hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple has not made any mass layoffs of full-time employees, but the company has reportedly laid off some corporate employees within its retail teams, let go of some contracted recruiters, and stopped hiring for some roles.
In a regulatory filing last year, Apple said it had approximately 164,000 full-time equivalent employees as of September 24, 2022.
Apple today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter of 2023, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $97.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $25.0 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
Apple set a new all-time record for Services revenue at $20.9 billion and a new March quarter record for iPhone revenue at $51.3 billion, but the Mac in particular saw a significant year-over-year decline in quarterly revenue, falling from $10.4 billion to $7.2 billion.
Gross margin for the quarter was 44.3 percent, compared to 43.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple's board of directors also authorized an additional $90 billion for share repurchases and declared an increased dividend payment of $0.24 per share, up from $0.23 per share. The dividend is payable May 18 to shareholders of record as of May 15.
"We are pleased to report an all-time record in Services and a March quarter record for iPhone despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, and to have our installed base of active devices reach an all-time high," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We continue to invest for the long term and lead with our values, including making major progress toward building carbon neutral products and supply chains by 2030."
As has been the case for three years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in June.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q2 2023 financial results conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Last year, the EU passed legislation that will require the iPhone and many other devices with wired charging to be equipped with a USB-C port in order to be sold in the region. Apple has until December 28, 2024 to adhere to the law, but the switch from Lightning to USB-C is expected to happen with iPhone 15 models later this year.
It was rumored in February that Apple may be planning to limit charging speeds and other functionality of USB-C cables that are not certified under its "Made for iPhone" program. Like the Lightning port on existing iPhones, a small chip inside the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models would confirm the authenticity of the USB-C cable connected.
"I believe Apple will optimize the fast charging performance of MFi-certified chargers for the iPhone 15," Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March.
In response to this rumor, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has sent Apple a letter warning the company that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU when the law goes into effect, according to German newspaper Die Zeit. The letter was obtained by German press agency DPA, and the report says the EU also warned Apple during a meeting in mid-March.
Given that it has until the end of 2024 to adhere to the law, Apple could still move forward with including an authentication chip in the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models later this year. And with iPhone 16 models expected to launch in September 2024, even those devices would be on the market before the law goes into effect.
The report says the EU intends to publish a guide to ensure a "uniform interpretation" of the legislation by the third quarter of this year.
It is worth emphasizing that Apple potentially limiting the functionality of uncertified USB-C cables connected to iPhone 15 models is only a rumor for now, so it remains to be seen whether or not the company actually moves forward with the alleged plans. iPads with USB-C ports do not have an authentication chip for this purpose.
Apple's supply chain has started stockpiling the rumored 15-inch MacBook Air, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes. The report says the laptop is expected to be announced at Apple's annual developer conference WWDC, which begins June 5.
Despite the upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air launch, the sources believe that overall MacBook shipments will likely face a single-digit decrease in 2023 due to a "disappointing" first half of the year. The sources also said "pull-in momentum" for the 15-inch MacBook Air "has not been as strong compared with previous new products."
No design changes have been rumored for the 15-inch MacBook Air beyond its larger display size. The 13-inch model is equipped with a notch housing a 1080p camera, a MagSafe 3 charging port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a scissor switch keyboard with a Touch ID button, and a Force Touch trackpad.
The sources believe MacBook shipments could recover in the second half of 2023 if new MacBooks with 3nm chips are released, but Apple's chipmaker TSMC has reportedly faced 3nm yield issues, so it's unclear when Apple's M3 chip will debut.
Apple today announced that 20 new games are launching on its Apple Arcade gaming subscription service.
The announcement comes alongside a new ad for the subscription service that features some of the new titles and many of the most popular games on the platform. In Apple's press release, Apple Arcade senior director Alex Rofman said:
Apple Arcade brings together hundreds of fun titles in one gaming destination for our users to discover and enjoy. Today's launch boosts our award-winning catalog with 20 new games people will love playing and sharing with their friends and families.
The new games today joining Apple Arcade include:
TMNT Splintered Fate (Paramount Global)
Disney SpellStruck (Artist Arcade)
WHAT THE CAR? (Triband)
Cityscapes: Sim Builder (Magic Fuel Games)
Chess Universe+ (Tilting Point)
Disney Coloring World+ (StoryToys)
Disney Getaway Blast+ (Gameloft)
Farming Simulator 20+ (GIANTS Software)
Getting Over It+ (Bennett Foddy)
Hill Climb Racing+ (Fingersoft)
Iron Marines+ (Ironhide Game Studio)
Kingdom Two Crowns+ (Raw Fury)
Playdead’s LIMBO+ (Playdead)
My Town Home - Family Games+ (My Town Games LTD)
Octodad: Dadliest Catch+ (Young Horses)
PPKP+ (SHIMADA TOSHIHIRO)
Snake.io+ (Kooapps)
Temple Run+ (Imangi Studios)
Time Locker+ (Sotaro Otsuka)
Very Little Nightmares+ (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Games like WHAT THE CAR?, TMNT Splintered Fate, Disney SpellStruck, and Cityscapes: Sim Builder are exclusive to Apple Arcade, while titles like Temple Run+, Playdead's LIMBO+, and PPKP+ bring popular App Store classics to the subscription service for the first time.
Last year, Apple added more than 50 games to the Apple Arcade catalog and over 300 updates were released for games already on the paltform. Later this month, major updates are set to come to Jetpack Joyride 2, Angry Birds Reloaded, SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit, Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat, LEGO Star Wars: Castaways, Asphalt 8: Airborne+, Cut the Rope Remastered, My Little Pony: Mane Merge, and more.
Apple today increased trade-in values for a limited number of older iPhone models in the United States in an effort to encourage customers to upgrade to the iPhone 14 lineup.
Trade-in values have gone up for the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro, although older iPhone mini models have gone down in value. The latest trade-in values are listed below.
iPhone
iPhone 13 Pro Max: Up to $630 (vs. $600)
iPhone 13 Pro: Up to $530 (vs. $500)
iPhone 13: Up to $400 (No Change)
iPhone 13 mini: Up to $330 (vs. $350)
iPhone SE (3rd generation): Up to $160 (No Change)
Apple today posted a new support document outlining the security content of AirPods and Beats firmware updates, disclosing that the 5B66 firmware released yesterday for Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro addresses a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to gain access to your headphones.
Available for: Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro
Impact: When your headphones are seeking a connection request to one of your previously paired devices, an attacker in Bluetooth range might be able to spoof the intended source device and gain access to your headphones.
Description: An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management.
CVE-2023-27964: Yun-hao Chung and Archie Pusaka of Google ChromeOS
Apple subsequently released another firmware update (5E135) for these models yesterday, but it's unclear what changes were included beyond unspecified bug fixes and other improvements.
AirPods and Beats models will automatically update their firmware if they are paired with an iOS device or Mac and are charging while within Bluetooth range of your device. Android users can update their Beats firmware using the Beats app for that platform.
Employees at the unionized Towson, Maryland Apple Store are this week negotiating with Apple for new benefits, and have asked for higher pay, tips, and changes to leave policies, reports Bloomberg.
Employee representatives have requested raises of up to 10 percent and they want Apple to implement a tipping system that would provide customers with the option to offer 3%, 5%, or custom tips when checking out with an in-store credit card transaction. "This will allow thankful patrons the ability to express gratitude for a job well done without any obligations," the union said. Tip money would be split among employees based on hours worked.
The union is requesting double pay for employees who work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours a week, along with more pay for employees working overtime on weekends. Employees also want higher pay over a larger number of holidays, a $1 an hour increase for workers who become first-aid certified, up to 34 weeks of severance pay for layoffs, extended paid bereavement leave up to 45 days per year, with pets and close friends to be included under the allowed time off, and expanded vacation pay.
The union said that "these are initial proposals" and that it realizes that this "is a negotiation." Apple's Towson, Maryland store unionized last summer, and it is one of two unionized retail locations.
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.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 169 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web Inspector, CSS, Scroll Snap, JavaScript, Popover, SVG, Accessibility, Media, Rendering, and Web API.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is version 16.4 and is compatible with machines running macOS Ventura and macOS Monterey 12.3 or later.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Apple is partnering with Nike this month to give Apple Card users six percent Daily Cash back on purchases, up from the typical three percent cash back offer. The deal is available through the end of May, and customers can get the higher cash back percentage on up to $500 in goods.
The additional cash back is available when using the Apple Card to make purchases from the Nike website, U.S. Nike stores, or the Nike app, and Apple Pay is required. A Nike customer who spends $500 with Apple Pay and the Apple Card will receive $30 in total, and after that, the Daily Cash back total drops back down to three percent.
Customers who open a new Apple Card account by 5/31 and spend $75 or more at Nike within the first 30 days of having the card will be able to get $75 cash back.
Apple partners with a number of vendors to offer three percent Daily Cash back on Apple Pay purchases made with Apple Card. Companies that support the extra cash back include Ace, T-Mobile, Nike, Uber Eats, Uber, Panera, Walgreens, Exxon Mobil, and of course, Apple's own retail stores. Standard Apple Pay purchases earn two percent cash back, and all other purchases earn one percent.
Daily Cash can be transferred to a bank account, used for Apple Cash purchases, or deposited into the new Apple Card Savings account that came out in April.
The Apple Card continues to be limited to customers in the United States.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said that Ford has no plans to drop support for CarPlay due to its popularity with Ford customers. He made the comment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern.
"70 percent of our Ford customers in the U.S. are Apple customers. Why would I go to an Apple customer and say good luck?" he said.
Farley was commenting on car manufacturers that do not support CarPlay, like Tesla and General Motors. Tesla has never added CarPlay support into its vehicles, and GM earlier this year announced plans to phase out support for both CarPlay and Android Auto starting in 2023.
GM plans go with a built-in infotainment system co-developed with Google as it transitions from combustion vehicles to electric vehicles. CarPlay will be available in non-electric models, but GM ultimately has plans to switch to an all-electric lineup by 2035.
iPhone users have been asking Tesla to support CarPlay for years, and unsurprisingly, GM's announcement has not been particularly popular with those who are in the Apple ecosystem. By removing control of the infotainment system from Apple, GM and Tesla have access to more data about their customers, and can also push vehicle-related digital subscription services.
Farley doesn't think there's money to be made in the content that car owners consume in their vehicles, with Ford instead focusing on safety, security, autonomy, and productivity features.
In terms of content, we kind of lost that battle 10 years ago. So like get real with it, because you're not going to make a ton of money on content inside the vehicle. It's gonna be safety, security, partial autonomy, and productivity in our eyes. So that relationship for content is between you, The Wall Street Journal, and the customer. I don't want to get in the middle of that, but Tesla and other companies believe differently. They want to have complete control over the interior experience.
Having a familiar navigation and infotainment system in the car is appealing to customers who don't want to have to transition between two incompatible software setups, so GM's decision to drop support for CarPlay and Android Auto will be off-putting to those who have become used to the way that in-car solutions from Apple and Google extend the smartphone experience to the vehicle. No CarPlay will be a dealbreaker for some customers, so it will be interesting to see how GM's transition affects future vehicle sales.
Starting in 2023, Apple plans to roll out a next-generation CarPlay experience that will offer even deeper integration into new vehicles for manufacturers who choose to continue to offer CarPlay as an option.
Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during its WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, which is just over a month away. Ahead of time, rumors suggest the update will include at least eight new features and changes for iPhones, as outlined below.
The first iOS 17 beta should be made available to members of Apple's Developer Program moments after the keynote, while a public beta will likely be available in July for members of Apple's Beta Software Program. As usual, the update should be widely released in September, around the time that new iPhones launch.
Some of the features and changes listed below might not be added until later iOS 17 versions, such as iOS 17.1 or iOS 17.2.
iMessage Contact Key Verification
In December, Apple previewed a new iMessage Contact Key Verification security feature and said it would launch globally in 2023. This timeframe means the feature would be available in iOS 17, although it could launch earlier.
iMessage Contact Key Verification allows users who face "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials, to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend. In conversations between users who have enabled iMessage Contact Key Verification, users are alerted if a state-sponsored attacker or other malicious actor were ever to succeed breaching cloud servers and inserting their own device to eavesdrop on the conversation.
As an additional layer of security, iMessage Contact Key Verification users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call to further verify they are communicating only with whom they intend.
Control Center Revamp
iOS 17 will feature a revamped Control Center, according to @analyst941, a source who accurately leaked some details about the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island before the device launched last year. The source said Control Center will be more customizable, and the flashlight brightness slider might become freely adjustable up or down, whereas it is currently limited to four preset brightness levels.
A revamp for Wallet could make sense as new features continue to be added to the app, including Apple Pay Later and Apple Card Savings.
Next-Generation CarPlay
At WWDC 2022, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, which will feature support for multiple displays, widgets, and integration with vehicle functions like the instrument cluster, climate controls, and FM radio.
Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, with committed automakers including Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Volvo, and others. Apple said it would share additional details about the next generation of CarPlay later this year, and this timeframe suggests it will be an iOS 17 feature.
Journal App
Apple is developing a journaling app for the iPhone that would compete with the likes of Day One, according to The Wall Street Journal. It's unclear when the app will be released, but it could be introduced alongside iOS 17 if ready.
App Sideloading in EU
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year reported that Apple was preparing to allow app sideloading on the iPhone in order to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act. This would allow users to install apps outside of Apple's App Store, but the change is only expected to be made in European Union countries, at least initially.
Gurman said Apple has aimed to have the sideloading functionality ready as part of an "update to iOS 17," such as iOS 17.1 or later.
Mood Tracking
iOS 17 will include new tools for tracking emotion and managing vision conditions in the Health app on the iPhone, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He also expects the Health app to launch on the iPad this year.
Unwanted Tracking Alerts Expansion
Apple and Google recently submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, Apple plans to expand AirTag-like unwanted tracking alerts to third-party item trackers in a future version of iOS. Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, according to Apple.
Apple plans to release a "production implementation" of the specification by the end of 2023 that will then be supported in a future version of iOS. Based on this timeframe, unwanted tracking alerts will likely be expanded in a later version of iOS 17.
Amazon and B&H Photo today have a collection of discounts on the 2021 MacBook Pro, including both 14-inch and 16-inch models. These savings reach up to $800 off select notebooks and are the best prices we've ever seen on each computer.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB), this model is available for $1,998.99, down from $2,499.00. Amazon has this notebook in Silver and Space Gray, with an estimated delivery window of May 5 through May 9 for most United States residences.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB) has hit $2,099.00 on B&H Photo, down from $2,699.00. Additionally, the 16-inch MacBook (10-Core M1 Max, 1TB) is available for $2,699.00 on Amazon, down from $3,499.00. These are both new all-time low prices.
Although we have tracked a few solid markdowns on the newer 2023 MacBook Pro, today's deals on the previous generation models are far steeper and perfect for anyone looking to purchase an Apple notebook and doesn't need the latest model.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Google today announced that it is introducing support for passkeys, providing an easier and more secure login method for Google accounts. Apple integrated passkeys into iOS with the launch of iOS 16, and it is also available in iPadOS 16.1 and later as well as macOS Ventura.
Passkeys are an industry standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium, so Google's passkey integration will work on Apple devices as well as on other devices that support the feature. As Google notes:
Last year — alongside FIDO Alliance, Apple and Microsoft — we announced we would begin work to support passkeys on our platform as an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. And today, ahead of World Password Day, we've begun rolling out support for passkeys across Google Accounts on all major platforms. They'll be an additional option that people can use to sign in, alongside passwords, 2-Step Verification (2SV), etc.
Passkeys are both easier to use and more secure than passwords because they let users sign in to apps and sites the same way they unlock their devices: With a fingerprint, a face scan or a screen lock PIN. Passkeys are also resistant to online attacks like phishing, making them more secure than things like SMS one-time codes.
To create a passkey, Google users can log in to their Google account and then choose the "Create a passkey" option. Passkeys on iOS and Mac devices sync with iCloud Keychain for security purposes, and logins are authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID. This protects you from being locked out of your account in case you lose your devices, and makes it easier for you to upgrade from one device to another.
Google says the switch to passkeys will take time, which is why traditional passwords and two-step verification will still work for Google Accounts.
Google is just one of several companies to implement support for passkeys in recent months, with other supporting apps and websites including PayPal, Best Buy, eBay, Dashlane, and Kayak.
Reddit's official iOS app has received an update that gives users the ability to more easily share content on the social discussion website with the help of rich link previews.
Previously, sharing a link to a Reddit post via a messaging service such as Apple's Messages app only displayed the URL address in the conversation thread, offering the recipient little idea of its contents.
By contrast, rich link previews display a visual preview of the post being linked to, including the subreddit name, total upvotes, and comments, providing the recipient with a clearer gist of the content they can expect to see if they decide to tap the link and visit the post.
In another update addition, it's now easier for people to share content in the Reddit app to Instagram, thanks to a new Instagram Stories button in the sharing options. The new button automatically generates a similar preview of the post that appears on Instagram.
Outlining the new sharing features in a blog post, Reddit also mentions a new "one-tap screenshot-sharing experience that allows users to share content without saving images to their device – meaning they can link back to the content rather than only sending a screenshot."
The new share options are accessible via a new custom share sheet which appears when Reddit app users tap the share icon under a post. The redditor's most used sharing channels are displayed at the top of the sheet to make the sharing process more convenient without having to leave the app.
Alongside the update, Reddit says it is also making sharing simpler for publishers by introducing a new toolbox that makes it easier to display Reddit content on their own platforms. Publishers can learn more by referring to Reddit's documentation.
WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud.
Currently, WhatsApp only lets iPhone users migrate their chat history and media to another iPhone if they have created a Chat Backup which is uploaded to iCloud.
With the new feature, called "Transfer Chats to iPhone," users need only download WhatsApp on their new phone, register with the same number, and then use their old iPhone to scan a QR code shown on the new device to automatically transfer their chat history.
As noted by WaBetaInfo, the new built-in service offers a significant advantage to users limited to iCloud's 5GB of free storage who do not have the space available to back up their chat history on Apple's servers.
The new chat transfer feature is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. It is expected to roll out to even more people over the coming days, but it's not clear when the feature will appear for regular WhatsApp users.
News of the feature in testing follows parent company Meta's announcement last week that it is rolling out multi-device login support for more than one phone. The change means users will be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, instead of being limited to just one phone and multiple desktop devices.
With the new feature, said to be rolling out to all users within the coming weeks, users' messages will be synced across multiple devices including other phones. So even if one device is switched off, they can access the app on other devices.
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