Apple

• The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.48% to 16,240.35 on Monday, April 26, driven by weakness in mega-cap technology stocks including Apple (down 1.2%) and Microsoft (down 0.9%), as investors reassess growth expectations ahead of the Federal Reserve's May meeting. • Treasury yields climbed to 4.35% for the 10-year note amid inflation concerns, pressuring valuations of rate-sensitive tech companies and spurring profit-taking after recent market gains. • The decline reflects growing caution among portfolio managers about earnings sustainability in the second quarter, with earnings guidance from major tech firms expected to dominate trading through early May.

• Apple unveiled iOS 20 on April 25, 2026, featuring Apple Intelligence enhancements for on-device AI processing in Siri and Photos apps, rolling out first to US users. • Key additions include real-time language translation supporting 15 languages and AI-generated summaries for Safari, trained on 3 trillion parameters without cloud dependency. • The update addresses privacy concerns post-EU DMA rulings, boosting Apple's 45% US smartphone market share amid AI race with Google Pixel.

Hardware engineering executive is a longtime Apple insider, indicating company will continue strategy that has led to record profitsApple has announced longtime company veteran John Ternus as the next CEO of the company, succeeding current CEO Tim Cook, who is set to transition to executive chair of Apple’s board of directors later this year.Ternus’s term as CEO will begin on 1 September. The hardware engineering executive is a longtime Apple insider, indicating the company will stay the course that has led to record profits under Cook’s leadership. Apple’s yearly profit now tops $100bn, and in January it announced record revenue from its iPhones, boosted by renewed demand in China. Continue reading...

Cook, who will assume the role of executive chair, will be succeeded by John Ternus as CEO on 1 SeptemberApple announced on Monday that it had named a replacement for Tim Cook as CEO, with head of hardware engineering John Ternus to succeed him. Cook will stay at the company in the role of executive chair.“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being,” Cook said in a press release. Continue reading...

• Apple announced a delay of the Vision Pro 2 launch to Q4 2026 on April 19, pushing the release back six months as initial sales of the first-generation headset underperformed internal forecasts. • The company cited mixed customer feedback regarding the $3,499 price point, limited app ecosystem, and extended battery life requirements as factors influencing the postponement and product refinement timeline. • The delay marks a strategic recalibration for Apple in the spatial computing market and provides competitors including Meta's Quest 3 and Sony's PlayStation VR2 additional time to strengthen market position.

• Apple TV+ acquired exclusive streaming rights to a four-part documentary series chronicling Serena Williams' legendary tennis career and post-retirement business ventures. • The series will premiere in June 2026 and features intimate interviews with Williams, her family, fellow athletes, and business partners, spanning her 30-year career and current role as a venture capitalist. • Williams executive produces alongside acclaimed director Marina Zenovich, known for her Oscar-nominated documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."

Fraudsters send emails claiming storage is full or nearly full, then trick people into clicking on links that can expose bank and personal detailsFor a while you’ve been getting messages from Apple saying “your iCloud storage is full”. They say you have exceeded your storage plan, so documents are no longer being backed up, and photos you take aren’t being uploaded.You have been resisting Apple’s efforts to get you to pay a minimum of 99p a month for more storage. But it seems that you can’t keep putting off the inevitable: you have received an email which says your iCloud account has been blockedand your photos and videos will be deleted very soon. To keep them you need to upgrade immediately, it says. Continue reading...

• Apple pushed iOS 19.4 on April 9, 2026, introducing Siri 3.0 with on-device multimodal AI for 1 billion US iPhone users. • Update adds contextual understanding and app automation, processing queries 3x faster without cloud reliance. • Addresses privacy demands post-EU probes, with Tim Cook stating 'AI belongs on device.'

• Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on March 31 that it will target 18 major US technology and industrial companies in the West Asia region starting 8 PM Tehran time on April 1 (1630 GMT), in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iranian pharmaceutical facilities and leadership. • The hit list includes Microsoft, Google, Apple, Meta, Intel, IBM, Tesla, Nvidia, Boeing, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Dell, and others, accused of enabling high-tech warfare through AI, ICT, and satellite tracking for assassinations. • IRGC urged employees to immediately evacuate workplaces and residents within a one-kilometer radius to leave for safety, labeling the firms as 'terrorist companies' and promising destruction of their regional units.

• Berkshire Hathaway disclosed in SEC filings that its position in Apple has grown to $170 billion in market value, reinforcing Apple as the conglomerate's largest single equity holding at approximately 48% of total equity portfolio. • The increase reflects both organic price appreciation of Apple shares and incremental purchases by Warren Buffett's investment team amid the company's strong iPhone 16 sales and services segment growth. • The substantial concentration signals Berkshire's high conviction in Apple's long-term competitive moat, capital allocation discipline, and valuation at current levels, providing a powerful endorsement to institutional investors amid market volatility.

Apple Distribution International, based in Ireland, made payments worth £635,000 to a Russian streaming serviceThe UK government has fined a subsidiary of Apple £390,000 for breaching sanctions against Moscow over payments it made to a Russian streaming platform.Apple Distribution International (ADI), based in the Republic of Ireland, instructed an unnamed UK-based bank to make two payments to a company owned by a sanctioned Russian entity. Continue reading...

Fusion of cherished American eateries hopes to revive brands that have ‘gone hungry’ while rest of industry feastsNo one could say the New York union of Applebee’s and Ihop happened without fanfare.A car park in Hawthorne, 30 miles north of Manhattan, had been decked out with a 30ft-high inflatable red apple. Red, white and blue bunting flew from masts. Upbeat music blasted from speakers. Continue reading...

• Apple is projected to generate more than $1 billion in AI-related revenue this year, even as it trails rivals in generative AI product launches, according to The Wall Street Journal. • Wall Street analysts focus on Apple's monetization strategy leveraging its services ecosystem and premium hardware rather than first-to-market demos. • This approach highlights how distribution and installed base can drive consumer AI profitability over raw model capabilities.

• Google has expanded its Personal Intelligence feature to all US users after months of limited testing, allowing Gemini AI to access Gmail, Google Photos, and other services for highly personalized responses. • The feature enables Google to compete directly with Microsoft's Copilot and OpenAI's ChatGPT by leveraging user data for context-based AI responses. • Privacy concerns have emerged as the AI increasingly accesses personal information, raising questions about data protection as Google advances its AI integration into flagship products.

Need something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the last seven days Continue reading...

The move, which lowers fees to 25%, is a breakthrough for Chinese developers Tencent and ByteDanceSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxApple announced late on Thursday it would lower the commission fees collected in its App Store in mainland China. The move follows pressure from regulators in the tech company’s second-largest market, as well as global scrutiny of its payment requirements.Fees for in-app purchases and paid transactions will be lowered to 25% from 30% starting on Sunday, Apple said in a statement on its blog for developers. Continue reading...

Apple TV+ announced *Shrinking* Season 3 premieres next week, rated TV-MA with an A from critics for its humor on family dynamics and healing. The series explores loss and forgiveness, building a 'found family vibe' as noted by cast insights. Seasons 1-2 are available now for catch-up viewing. The release adds to streaming momentum during Oscars weekend.