Apple TV+ Announces Sci-Fi Series “Dark Matter”
Image via Apple
30 MARCH 2022 - Apple TV+ has another time twisting, mind bending sci-fi series in the works. The Cupertino-streamer issued a press release Tuesday announcing “Dark Matter,” a series adaptation of the best-selling novel by Blake Crouch. Starring Joel Edgerton, the release says:
“Dark Matter” is a story about the road not taken. The series will follow Jason Dessen (played by Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.
The release refers to it as a nine-episode series, which I personally think is awesome. No “Caprica” or “Flashforward” syndrome. While it’s cool to know we won’t be left dangling at the end, we are for now. No word in the release on a premier date for “Dark Matter.”
Gabrielle Union Joining Third Season of “Truth Be Told”
Gabrielle Union - Image via IMDB
30 MARCH 2022 - Add another big name to the Apple TV+ series “Truth Be Told.” Deadline ran a piece last week saying that Gabrielle Union will join the cast for season three of the anthology drama series.
The piece says the series follows true crime podcaster Poppy Scoville (played by Octavia Spencer) as she “risks everything—including her life—to pursue truth and justice.” The show’s first season featured Aaron Paul. Season two featured Kate Hudson. In season three, Deadline says Union will play Eva, “an outspoken high school principal who becomes embroiled in a problematic incident.” No word in the piece on when season three will make the scene.
Apple TV+ Outs “Shining Girls” Trailer Ahead of 29 April Premier
30 MARCH 2022 - If you want to get a better feel for the Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls,” there’s a trailer to help you along. iDownloadBlog says Apple TV+ has released a new one for the Elizabeth Moss-led thriller. A past press release from Apple describing the show says:
“Shining Girls” follows Kirby Mazrachi, a Chicago newspaper archivist whose dreams of becoming a journalist were put on hold after surviving a brutal attack that has left her in a constantly shifting reality. When Kirby learns that a recent murder is linked to her assault, she teams up with veteran reporter Dan Velazquez to understand her ever-changing present and confront her past.
Based on the best-selling novel by Lauren Beukes, “Shining Girls” hits Apple TV+ on Friday 29 April. Between now and then, you can catch the trailer below.
Mick Jagger and Daniel Pemberton Team on “Slow Horses” Theme
Image via Apple
30 MARCH 2022 - The Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses” features star power - even for the opening credits. With a cast that boasts Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott-Thomas, and Jonathan Pryce among others, a piece from The Mac Observer says the show’s theme song was co-written and performed by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. “Strange Game” is the name of the song, featuring lyrics by Jagger and music by Daniel Pemberton. His list of credits is impressive, having written music for Being the Ricardos, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its upcoming sequels, the 2015 movie The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the film Steve Jobs, funny enough. Not sure the open will be worth sitting through every time, the way the “Peacemaker”open was, but it’ll be worth at least one look and listen.
Did You Bring a Clip?
If you’re looking for more on the upcoming series, iMore says Apple has released a short clip promoting it. Not a trailer. Not a behind-the-scenes moment. Just a minute-thirty conversation between two characters. You can check it out for yourself below. “Slow Horses” hits Apple TV+ this Friday 1 April. No foolin’.
Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ Free for All
Image via Apple
30 MARCH 2022 - I can’t help wondering - is Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ one giant, expensive ad for Apple TV+ through which people will be happy to sit? Because, it’s gonna be free. I do not mean, “included with the cost of Apple TV+.” For the first several weeks, at least, it’s going to be free. According to a piece from Engadget:
The games will be available to watch for free for the time being. All you need is an internet connection and access to the Apple TV app. An Apple device isn’t necessary.
The piece then proceeds to list a number smart TVs and game consoles through which the Apple TV app is available - again, for free.
Not being huge into baseball myself, I have been really curious about the Apple broadcasts. I know they’re happening in conjunction with Major League Baseball. I’m curious who’s hosting. I’m curious whether there’ll be ads. And I can’t help wondering whether Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ is one giant, expensive ad for Apple TV+ through which people will be happy to sit. We’ll find out in a little over a week. Engadget says the first doubleheader will see the Mets at the Nationals on Friday 8 April at 7PM ET/3PM Pacific. That’ll be followed by the Astros at the Angels at 9:30PM ET/6:30PM way out west.
Nikkei and Ming-Chi Kuo Sees Reduction in iPhone SE Production
29 MARCH 2022 - What do “the Ukraine war and looming inflation” have in common? They’re contributing to Apple cutting iPhone SE production plans by 20% next quarter, according to a piece from Nikkei. Well, according to so-and-so’s “briefed on the matter” who spoke with Nikkei Asia. According to the piece, four secret sources tell Nikkei Asia that Apple:
…is now telling multiple suppliers that it aims to lower production orders by about 2 million to 3 million units for the quarter, citing weaker-than-expected demand…
Nikkei’s not the only source making the assertion. TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hit Twitter on Sunday night/Monday morning saying:
Shanghai lockdown doesn't affect the iPhone SE production. However, the new iPhone SE demand is lower than expected (the delivery status "in stock" as one of the proofs), and I cut my shipment estimation in 2022 to 15-20M (vs. 25-30M previously).
I saw a headline somewhere that said the reported reduction in production proves that Apple should drop the whole iPhone SE idea. If you’ll allow me to opine, I think that’s wrong for a couple of reasons: One - secret sources aren’t proof of anything. They could be correct. They could be mistaken. But, assuming they are correct gets us to thing Two - no one is saying there’s a lack of interest in the phone itself. But concerns over inflation and war may weigh more than a new phone right now. As Nikkei points out:
Numerous governments, from the U.S. and the EU to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, have imposed economic sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, and the supply chain has been rocked by turmoil in the oil, energy and raw materials markets. The looming inflation risks further adding to people's living costs and creates concerns over demand for consumer electronics products.
Bad Day/Good Day/Same Day for Apple Shares
Early: Apple Shares Lose Altitude After iPhone SE Story
29 MARCH 2022 - In the wake of Nikkei’s iPhone SE report, Apple shares did something predictable, then something unpredictable. Predictably, the shares went down. Barron’s (via Apple News) ran a piece Monday morning noting the Nikkei notice, followed by the fall of shares of Apple and some of its component suppliers. The report said that shares of Apple, Qorvo, Broadcom, Qualcomm, and Skyworks Solutions were all down. And they were. In the morning.
Qorvo fell 2.2%, though they recovered a bit, ending the day down one-and-a-half-percent to close at $128.86. Broadcom declined 0.1%, though it ended up gaining half a percentage point on the day, closing a few cents shy of $633. Qualcomm fell 0.6%, though it ended the day up a third of a percentage point, closing at $158.45. Skyworks dropped 0.8% though it recovered an itty-bitty bit of that, ending the day just above $137.
And - oh yeah, the whole reason we’re here - Barron’s said Apple shares were “falling 5% on Monday to $171.36. The stock has risen for nine straight sessions.” And now, you can make that ten. Not only did it claw back the 5%, it picked up close to another percentage point - ending the day at $175.60.
Late: Apple Shares Surprise with Historic Rise
By definition, any trading session is history. Monday’s was historic for Apple in the way we tend to mean it colloquially, though. A piece from MarketWatch sailed in under the headline, “Apple stock just accomplished something for the first time in more than a decade.” That had the subheading:
Shares increase for the 10th consecutive session for the first time since 2010, shrugging off report of iPhone SE production cuts to end in the black
October 2010 was the last time that happened, according to the report. A chart I found from the Wall Street Journal showed that happening a very few times and only beating the ten-day streak once. Apple’s longest string of up days was a 12-day streak that ended in May of 2003.
Morgan Stanley Analyst Digs Apple Hardware Subscription Idea
29 MARCH 2022 - A note from Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty may have helped buoy Apple shares despite the iPhone SE note from Nikkei. Apple 3.0 had Huberty publishing a note Monday in reaction to talk of Apple hardware subscriptions. Bloomberg ran a piece late last week saying that “Apple is working on a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products…” That piece said that Apple wants to make that happen by the end of this year, though the company could push the plan to next year or drop the idea entirely.
Despite that heaping helping of uncertainty, the idea’s worth considering in Huberty’s estimation. Quoting her note:
…a pivot from selling hardware products in the traditional price x units model to monetizing Apple’s >1 billion user base through bundled monthly subscription offerings could drive meaningful upside to Apple’s share price today given the growing lifetime value of an Apple user.
And you will pay, in her estimation. After doing a bit of back of the envelope math, Huberty’s note says:
…Apple users spent slightly less than $1 per day on all Apple products and Services in 2021. Compare that with your average daily coffee, lunch or transportation bill, and it’s easy to see how the ceiling on Apple daily spend per user is well ahead of current trends given 1) the importance of the Apple technology platform to user’s everyday lives, 2) high user engagement rates for Apple products and services, 3) industry leading loyalty rates, and 4) the optionality of integration with future product launches in adjacent markets like AR/VR, home, payments, health and autos. We are confident that the average Apple user’s willingness to pay for access to their Apple devices and services is meaningfully higher than $1/day or $30/month.
Huberty has an “Overweight” rating on Apple shares. Her price target on the shares is $210.
CIRP: Consumers Are Primed for Apple Hardware Subscriptions
29 MARCH 2022 - Morgan Stanley’s Huberty isn’t the only one buying the idea of people renting iPhones. The folks at Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) say consumers are halfway down that road already. According to a survey run last December, almost half of Apple customers quizzed in the U.S. “already finance their iPhone purchase, two-thirds use paid iCloud storage, and almost half subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service.” In short - they are primed. That said, not unlike Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi, CIRP partner Josh Lowitz thinks Apple will need to sweeten the deal. Quoting the Research Partners partner:
The most successful subscription services provide new or otherwise unavailable benefits. Amazon Prime delivery is distinct from other delivery options. Costco shopping and Netflix and other streaming video services are only available with a subscription. The challenge for Apple is to create a new subscription service that provides unique value to its customers.
Wedbush: CODA’s Best Picture Oscar Bodes Well for Apple TV+ Growth
Image from the Twitter feed of Apple CEO Tim Cook
29 MARCH 2022 - One surprising factor to consider around the turnaround surprise for Apple shares Monday - the Sunday night Best Picture win for CODA. Not kidding. With that win, Apple TV+ became the first streaming service to land an Academy Award for Best Picture, a win that Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives refers to as a “drop the mic moment” for Apple. Apple 3.0 ran part of a note he wrote on Monday. The way he sees it, Apple beating Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to a Best Picture statue:
…should significantly bolster its subscriber base while attracting more A+ Hollywood talent to its platform for future projects. We view this Oscar win as a game changer for Apple on its content efforts and legitimizes the Apple TV+ as a major streaming platform with much more success ahead and the Street now starting to take more notice.
The note goes on to say:
We believe consumer subscriber growth should accelerate from Apple’s Oscar win and will give Cook & Co. more confidence around potentially doubling their content efforts over the next year. With Apple spending ~$7 billion annually on original content and having roughly $200 billion of cash on its balance sheet, we believe the company is gearing up to ramp original content and also bid on a number of upcoming sports packages (NFL Sunday Night Ticket) coming up for contract/renewals in future years.
Ives has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $200.
Apple’s Latest Third-Party Payment Proposal Still Being Weighed by Dutch Regulators
29 MARCH 2022 - A follow up to a story we’ve been discussing since the first of the year - insistence by Dutch authorities that Apple make it possible for dating apps in the App Store in the Netherlands to employ third-party payment solutions, rather than being bound to Apple’s in-app payment mechanism. Last week we heard that Apple had submitted new proposals to come inline with Dutch authorities. Over the weekend we heard that regulators in Holland had rejected the new proposals. It’s unclear whether that report was in error or Apple has presented newer proposals still. Whatever the case, a piece from Apple Insider says that ball is still in the air, and there’s even a hint of optimism around it. “In a statement," the piece says:
…the [Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets] offers that it welcomes Apple's proposal, and that “the adjusted proposal should result in definitive conditions for dating-app providers that wish to use the App Store.” After receiving a proposal for definitive conditions, the ACM then will consult with “market participants,” such as dating app providers, before issuing a decision of compliance.
Conversely, if the proposal is rejected again (or still), stop on a Whammy! Despite having hit the €50 million penalty ceiling, Apple Insider says:
…the ACM warns that there could be more payments in the future. "If ACM comes to the conclusion that Apple does not meet the requirements, ACM may impose another order subject to periodic penalty payments," the regulator writes.
Apple Maps Walking Cities in England for Better “Look Around”
29 MARCH 2022 - If you see somebody walking around England with a big, teched-out backpack, scanning and beeping like he’s from the future, fear not. It’s just someone from Apple mapping the nooks and crannies of three of the country’s big cities. The UK’s Evening Standard says:
Apple has launched ground surveys on the streets of London, Birmingham and Manchester to gather pedestrian data for its Apple Maps service using special backpacks to capture the necessary data.
From now through the middle of May, backpacks with cameras and other data collecting sensors will turn up on the backs of walkers where cars can’t go. The report says the push is part of Apple’s plan to improve the “Look Around” feature in Apple Maps. That’s Apple’s Google Street View type feature that lets people look around and “walk” around an area, without actually walking around it.
EU’s DMA Proposal Pretty Much Everything Apple Does Not Want
28 MARCH 2022 - The EU hit with its Digital Markets Act plan on Friday and it pretty much sounds like everything Apple does not want. In addition to the interoperability for messaging apps about which we heard last week, a piece from The Verge says all of the European Commission’s initial proposals are still present. That includes making room on Android and iOS devices for app stores besides the ones run by Google and Apple, allowing “users to install apps from third-party sources,” and allowing developers in app stores run by Google and Apple to use third-party payment processors for transactions pertaining to their applications.
On the proposed actions, European Commission spokesperson Johannes Bahrke said:
We believe that the owner of a smartphone should have the freedom to choose how to use it… This freedom includes being able to opt for alternative sources of apps on your smartphone. With the DMA, a smartphone owner would still be able to enjoy safe and secure services of the default app store on their smart phones. On top of that, if a user so chooses, the DMA would allow a smartphone owner to also opt for other safe app stores.
Apple and Google Bummed By DMA Proposals
The proposals aren’t law yet, though The Verge seems to see it as a fait accompli. Not surprisingly, neither Apple nor Goole are stoked. A piece from Apple Insider had its Cupertino-namesake basically sticking with the statement it made last week ahead of Friday’s announcement. The piece had Apple saying:
[Parts of the DMA] will create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users… Others will prohibit us from charging for intellectual property in which we invest a great deal.
For its part, Google said:
We support many of the DMA's ambitions around consumer choice and interoperability… We remain concerned that some of the rules could reduce innovation and the choice available to Europeans.
Passage could happen as early as this October, according to The Verge. “Members states of the EU will then be able to choose how exactly to interpret the EU act into national law,” according to the report.
Apple Still in Dutch in the Netherlands
28 MARCH 2022 - If you were excited about the Dutch App Store fines story coming to an end, that may not be a thing that’s actually happening. At the very end of last year, Dutch regulators ruled that Apple had to allow developers of dating apps in the App Store in the Netherlands to allow third-party billing options, rather than limiting them to Apple’s own in-app payment mechanism. At the time, the regulators said, “If Apple does not adjust the unreasonable conditions within two months, it will have to pay a periodic penalty of 5 million euros per week up to a maximum of 50 million euros.”
Apple has appealed the regulator’s ruling. It’s also offered a couple of proposals to come in-line with regulatory demands. The first, submitted in early February was rejected. Last week, the ACM said Apple had submitted “new proposals,” that it would “assess the substance of these proposals,” and that it would consider the proposals along with “various market participants.” Now, those have been rejected as well. Over the weekend, without saying what Apple’s proposals were nor with which other parties it had consulted, Engadget has the ACM rejecting Apple’s latest offer. Highlighting a Reuters report, the piece says Apple “has yet to adhere to the order in a way that satisfies” Dutch regulators.
Sort of odd that Apple would try one more proposal as the whole situation was coming to an end. Today’s €5 million fine brings the total levied to €50 million, the most allowed according to Dutch regulators. Dutch regulators who may have changed their minds. Highlighting the same Reuters report, a piece from MacRumors says “now it looks like the total fines could exceed” the aforementioned 50-million. That piece has Reuters indicating that “subsequent fines after the 50 million euro total could be higher…”
Apple Pay Cuts Off Mir Cards in Russia
28 MARCH 2022 - Apple Pay seems to be as dead in Russia as Apple can make it. While we’d heard late last month that US and EU sanctions had forced both Google Pay and Apple Pay offline in the country, a loophole let some users there keep using Apple’s service. Users of Russia’s Mir card were able to keep making transactions, with the aforementioned sanctions only affecting Mastercard and Visa users. Now a piece from Apple Insider says the end of last week brought the end of Mir’s time with Apple’s contactless payment solution. The piece had both Sberbank and Russia's National Card Payment System letting users know late last week that they could no longer add new cards to Apple Pay, while support for previously added cards would stop “over the next few days.”
Apple Highlights Improvements in Employee Diversity
Image via apple.com/diversity
28 MARCH 2022 - Half of Apple’s staff in the States is from underrepresented communities. That’s the word from Apple’s Inclusion and Diversity report, by way of The Mac Observer. From 2014 through 2021, Apple’s site says:
The number of female employees globally is up 89%
The number of employees from underrepresented communities in the U.S. is up 74%
The number of Black employees in the U.S. is up 71%
The number of Hispanic/Latinx employees in the U.S. is up 104%
The company also has numbers for shifts in leadership from 2014 through 2021. Including managers at all levels of the company, Apple says:
The number of female employees in leadership globally is up 87%
The number of employees from underrepresented communities in leadership in the U.S. is up 80%
The number of Black employees in leadership in the U.S. is up 84%
The number of Hispanic/Latinx employees in leadership in the U.S. is up 90%
Lots more numbers to go through, as well as declarations of intent and highlights of employees from various backgrounds. You can dig deeper into all of it on Apple’s site.
Apple Launches a Round of Retention Stock Bonuses
Image via Apple Maps
28 MARCH 2022 - Apple is said to be handing out more stock as employee retention bonuses. Cult of Mac highlights a Bloomberg report that says the company is awarding certain software and hardware engineers between $100,000 and $200,000 in restricted stock to stick around. “Because the payouts vest over several years,” the piece says, Apple stands “a chance of keeping employees from leaving.”
If all of this sounds familiar, the company did the same thing a few months ago. “The last time Apple offered big bonuses to employees came in December,” according to the Cult. More people then, though with a smaller maximum. The “top payouts in December were $180,000,” according to the report.
Apple TV App Lands in Hotel Rooms with Philips MediaSuite
28 MARCH 2022 - Look for the Apple TV app in your home away from home. iDownloadBlog ran a piece last week saying that Apple’s video platform has hit hotel rooms that employ Philips MediaSuite. I must confess, I’m a bit confused about whether it’ll be on a room’s TV, or guests can just get it onto the TV. According to the piece, “Philips has now released a MediaSuite firmware update that lets users download the Apple TV app from Google’s Play Store…” And suddenly you see the source of my confusion. That said, it could be cool for frequent travelers. “Aside from bringing the world of Apple TV+ entertainment to hotel rooms,” iDownloadBlog says:
…the move lets logged-in travelers access curated recommendations, watch rentals and purchases, pick up watching where they left off via the Up Next queue and more.
While available across a range of devices, the piece says this “is the first time the TV app is available in hotel rooms.” The functionality went live last Friday, according to the report.
ReelGood: Apple TV+ Series “Severance” Retains Most Watched Series Title
From the LinkedIn Page of Lumon Industries
28 MARCH 2022 - Last week was another big week for the Apple TV+ series “Severance.” The good folks at streaming video tracker ReelGood say the creepy, Adam Scott-led series was the most streamed series between 17 March and 23 March. Same as the week before and the week before that, it was the most watched series, though not the most watched title. That went to the Pixar coming of age story Turning Red, leaving “Severance” in second in terms of most watched titles. And props to another Apple TV+ series. ReelGood has “WeCrashed” turning up in the seventh spot between the 17th and the 23rd of March.
CODA Makes Apple TV+ First Streamer with a Best Picture Oscar
Image from the Twitter feed of Apple CEO Tim Cook
28 MARCH 2022 - Congratulations all around to CODA, and a reminder to “The Tragedy of Macbeth” that it’s an honor just to be nominated. The two films put Apple TV+ up for a total of six Academy Award nominations. While the latest film adaptation of “the Scottish play” failed to nab any of its trophies, CODA walked off with all three of its. That had the film’s writer and directer, Sîan Heder, leaving with the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Troy Kotsur taking home the award for Best Supporting Actor, and - the grandest of the grand prizes - the Oscar for Best Picture went to CODA.
As the New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan pointed out on Twitter:
“CODA” just broke a lot of records: It’s the first film distributed by a streaming service to win best picture, the first Sundance premiere to ever take the top Oscar, and the first film since 1932’s GRAND HOTEL to prevail without nominations for directing and editing.
Buchanan noted in a separate Tweet that this is the first time that films directed by women have won Best Picture in consecutive years. Chloé Zhao’s NOMADLAND won best picture last year, followed by the Heder directed CODA last night.
A couple of hours later, Apple CEO Tim Cook also hit Twitter to send out his congratulations, saying:
Team CODA created a profoundly beautiful movie, a story of hope and heart that celebrates our differences. Congratulations to the producers, @sianheder, @TroyKotsur, @MarleeMatlin, @EmiliaJonesy, @DanielNDurant, @EugenioDerbez, and all involved in these historic wins!