Summer Slate of Kids Shows Planned for Apple TV+
16 MAY 2022 - With summer break fast approaching, why send the kids out to play when you can sit them in front of the TV? Apple Insider says Apple TV+ has a full slate of kids and family shows for the season. Among them:
There’s a new special and four short installments of the Jack McBrayer series “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show.” That hits on 24 June.
“Duck & Goose” is described by Apple as an “endearing animated series based on The New York Times bestselling books by Tad Hills.” That premiers 8 July.
“Best Foot Forward” is a live-action series “based on the real-life story of Paralympic athlete and author Josh Sundquist.” That’ll arrive on 22 July.
One week later “Amber Brown,” based on the Paula Danziger books, will land 29 July.
“Lucy's School,” another in the growing list of Peanuts specials, will make its way to Apple TV+ on 12 August.
Then there are shows with no dates yet, it seems. “Later in the summer,” says Apple Insider:
Apple's shows [will] include “Surfside Girls,” a series based on the IDW graphic novels by Kim Dwinell, as well as “Life By Ella.” Apple says the last show is “the story of a young girl as she takes a new outlook on life into a world that seems determined to break it down.”
LA’s Apple The Grove Hosts Apple TV+ Pop-Ups Through Month’s End
Image via 9 to 5 Mac
16 MAY 2022 - If you’re in LA before the end of the month, there are a couple of things you might want to do: Head to the LA Farmers Market, then walk over to The Grove.
Why would you want to go to a Farmers Market in LA? Because there is so much great food. And souvenirs. It’s been a thing for like 100 years. Kind of awesome. I’m a fan of Fritzi Coop, but that’s me.
The Grove is right next to the Farmers Market. It has a recently redesigned Apple Store that is really amazing looking, but that’ll be there for years. The Apple thing going on outside the store will only be there until the end of the month. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says the area is currently playing host to “multiple pop-ups themed around the Apple TV+ shows.” Highlighting “The Afterparty,” “Schmigadoon!,” “Pachinko,” “Ted Lasso,” “The Morning Show,” “WeCrashed,” and “Severance,” the piece says:
Each pop-up has features related to the shows. For instance, the pop-up of The Morning Show features a stand and background used in the series so that everyone can take a picture as the show’s hosts. Visitors can also get some food, such as pretzels and ice cream at the pop-ups.
I’m not saying make the trip to LA for it. I’m saying, if you’re in LA, it’s something you might want to do.
Tim Cook Delivers Gallaudet University Commencement Address
16 MAY 2022 - Gallaudet University’s commencement exercises were last Friday 13 May, and Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered the address. Gallaudet serves students who are deaf and hard of hearing. A piece from CNET says the CEO used the speech to reiterate Apple's “commitment to the environment, privacy and accessibility…” According to the report:
Cook said his company's partnership with Washington, DC's Gallaudet University underscores Apple's efforts to create inclusive products. He singled out cooperation with the Gallaudet community as being particularly important in helping the company create a guide within Apple Maps to help people find deaf-owned businesses.
Not that the whole speech was about accessibility. Most of it wasn’t. I mean, it’s a commencement address. Gotta pep people up for… going out and doing. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says, “throughout the commencement speech, Cook offered life and professional advice to the graduating class of 2022,” though he said it all boiled down to one piece of advice - the only advice he would offer: “Whatever you do,” he said, “lead with your values.”
Cook’s speech was about 12-minutes long. I personally found it inspirational. You can watch it for yourself below.
Foxconn, Apple, and the Perfect Storm
Image by Presentsquare Presentsquare from Pixabay
Foxconn Sees Highest Q1 Net Income Since 2014
13 MAY 2022 - I wonder whether a phrase we hear more in the coming weeks and months might be, “even Apple.” As in, “Top names in electronics are having trouble meeting demand - even Apple.” We’ve already seen that with the Mac, with reports of orders placed as early as February slated for delivery as late as June. But new word from Foxconn indicates that things may get worse for other product categories before they get better.
First, the good news for Foxconn. A piece from Apple Insider says the world’s largest contract manufacturer just reported its highest first-quarter net income in eight-years. This it did by being able to make everything everywhere all at once. When smaller firms went into lockdown, Foxconn was able to keep cranking out product. Apple, being Apple, was able to move orders from those shuttered, smaller firms to still functioning Foxconn facilities. This is not lost on Foxconn. The piece has the manufacturer’s chairman Young Liu saying:
The fallout from the pandemic on logistics is sizable…There are many variables in the market due to the pandemic, the supply chain, geopolitics and inflation.
Normally under these kinds of circumstances we would be more cautious. But most recently, our visibility has improved.
Apple Insider had the chairman indicating that lockdowns in China had “only a small effect on Foxconn,” since it has plants all over China and all over the world. Everything everywhere all at once.
Certain Uncertainty
It would seem, as long as everything can keep on keeping on, Foxconn and Apple would be fine. But can they? A report from 9 to 5 Mac has Liu indicating - maybe not. Citing a piece from Reuters, the report says the chairman warned that revenue this quarter form smartphones and other electronics could fall. This as demand from consumers cools (thanks to inflation) and supply chain issues make it more difficult to meet the demand that is there.
“Even Foxconn,” which could mean, “even Apple.” While the Apple Insider piece had the chairman saying:
The fallout from the pandemic on logistics is sizable…There are many variables in the market due to the pandemic, the supply chain, geopolitics and inflation.
Normally under these kinds of circumstances we would be more cautious. But most recently, our visibility has improved.
The Reuters piece cited by 9 to 5 Mac had a different read. That one said:
“There are many uncertainties in the market at the moment,” Foxconn Chairman Liu Young-way told a post-earnings call, citing the pandemic, geopolitical risks and inflation among them for the year.
“They are presenting quite some challenges to demand and supply,” Liu said
Apple Insider seems to be reading optimism into the chairman’s comments, while 9 to 5 Mac is reading in pessimism. Well, for smartphones and other such electronics. The 9 to 5 Mac piece sees Foxconn’s moves into cars as one way for the company to shore up against the apparent slump in consumer electronics. Kind of curious how that makes everything better. They’ll still have to contend with chip shortages, it seems. Even the folks who make the machines that make the chips say shortages will persist for the next couple of years.
On the Apple side, 9 to 5 Mac seems to want to lay the blame at the Cupertino-company’s feet for a perceived over reliance on China. Certainly, that case could be made. At the same time, if the world’s largest contract manufacturer is hinting at trouble, maybe it can’t all be at Apple’s feet. And maybe blame is silly anyway.
You know what phrase we haven’t heard so much lately? “Perfect storm.” It’s one that gets used a lot when people are talking from the outside looking in. With the storm of the pandemic plus the storm of component shortages being broadsided by the storm of war all churning seas of shortage and inflation - I’m not sure when the term “perfect storm” would me more applicable. You know… since the actual perfect storm.
Motherboard: Apple Store Leaders Talking Down Unionization at U.S. Locations
Apple Tower Theatre in Los Angeles - Image: Ken Ray
13 MAY 2022 - Apple has not said that it’s against unionization at its retail stores. But if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… The company has hired Littler Mendelson - the same union-stopping law firm working to end unionization moves at Starbucks stores. Now, Motherboard has obtained and published a list of talking points Apple Store leaders are using during staff meetings at the start of shifts. While Apple has not commented on the talking points, Motherboard says it has verified their dissemination.
The Motherboard piece comes off as pretty pro-union. Though not explicitly anti-union, Apple’s talking points seem designed to instill a bit of fear. Worries expressed include the possibility of:
Fewer opportunities for employees
Less attention to merit
Less flexibility in scheduling
Less flexibility around difficult or extenuating circumstances
The one thing that Motherboard seems to read as a misstep on Apple’s part - the company “paints the union as an outside third-party.” According to Motherboard:
Union organizers say this argument has backfired in recent counter-offensives led by Starbucks and Amazon against union drives, as workers can see that union organizers are their colleagues.
As mentioned before, Apple declined to comment for the Motherboard piece, choosing instead to reiterate its pervious statement around such questions:
We are fortunate to have incredible retail team members and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple. We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits.
Apple’s full talking points are available on Motherboard.
Release Candidates Are Go for Developers and Public Testers!
13 MAY 2022 - We seem to be just days away from public release of the next round of Apple operating system updates. A few pieces from MacRumors say Apple on Thursday seeded release candidates of iOS and iPadOS 15.5, macOS 12.4, watchOS 8.6, and tvOS 15.5 to developers and public testers. Not much news of newness for most of the RCs, though the macOS and watchOS prospects have notes of note.
macOS Gains One Feature, Splits with Another
It seems that the macOS 12.4 RC adds one feature and pulls out another. On the addition, a piece from iMore says the update for Mac catches Apple’s desktop/laptop operating system up to iPhone and iPad where podcasts are concerned. According to Apple’s release notes:
Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your Mac and automatically delete older ones
That’s a feature that’s been available for Apple Podcasts on iPhone and iPad “for a while now,” according to the report.
As for what’s been pulled out, it’s not a thing that’s gone away, but a thing that’s gone out on its own. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says this round of releases should make the firmware for Apple’s Studio Display available as its own thing, rather than a thing lodged inside macOS.
Since Studio Display was released, users have had issues with it’s built-in webcam. Apple said it would fix those issues with a software update. While it has been working to do that, that work was in lockstep with various macOS update betas. “As of right now,” the piece says:
…Studio Display Firmware 15.5 RC is only available to beta testers. However, Apple has confirmed that once the update becomes available to the public, it will be available as separate software – so you won’t need to install macOS Monterey 12.4 before updating the Studio Display firmware.
As for how the improvements are going, 9 to 5 Mac says:
After these tweaks, Studio Display owners were able to notice some improvements in the image quality, which now has more natural colors and increased sharpness. However, due to the small ultra-wide sensor, even the software fixes were not enough to make the images look super good.
watchOS 8.6 to Activate Heart Features for Mexico
The new feature for watchOS isn’t really a new feature, but an old feature for a new region. A piece from iMore says watchOS 8.6 will activate the device’s ECG app south of the border, down Mexico way. According to notes spotted by the site:
watchOS 8.6 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Mexico
Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Mexico
As the piece points out, the feature only goes as far back as the Series 4 watch because that was the first series with the necessary hardware.
Evercore Stoked Over AR and Apple’s Chances in It
13 MAY 2022 - Evercore has hosted a webinar focused on realities augmented and virtual. Though Apple did not participate, Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani finished the event as stoked as ever around Apple and its AR/VR prospects. Apple 3.0 ran part of a note he wrote. Among the analyst’s key takeaways:
AR glasses could command a smartphone-sized market, while VR will be limited to console-size
Companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google are likely to win the AR game since you need a 1,2,3 combo of hardware, software, and developers
“There is no shortage of killer AR applications that will drive consumer adoption,” writes the analyst, “so the limiting factor here is really around the hardware and getting that to an acceptable form factor.”
Daryanani and Friends expect “major launches” from big players in the next 18 months. Being first won’t mean much though, “because first gen products will likely be very limited in their applications,” in the analyst’s estimation. “Net/net,” he writes:
We remain bullish on the long-term AR opportunity and we continue to think Apple will release the category defining product even if they aren’t first to market.
Daryanani has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $210.
Ken Jeong and Patton Oswalt Headed to Shows on Apple TV+
13 MAY 2022 - Apple TV+ will be welcoming two decidedly funny people in upcoming series - one in a decidedly unfunny show. Well - intentionally unfunny.
A piece from Deadline says Ken Jeong, Señor Chang himself, will be joining season two of “The Afterparty.” Quick reminder:
“The Afterparty” is a genre-defying comedy series in which each episode explores a different character’s account of one fateful evening, all told through the lens of popular film genres and unique visuals to match the storyteller’s perspective.
Jeong has featured in such films as Crazy Rich Asians and the “Hangover” movies. But he’ll always be Kevin, Señor Chang, and Emperor Chang to me, thank to his #sixseasons on “Community.”
Still waiting for that movie.
As for the funny guy in the intentionally unfunny show, a separate piece from Deadline says Patton Oswalt is joining the cast of “Manhunt.” That’s the limited series about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the days immediately after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Lots of other new cast members listed including Brandon Flynn (13 Reasons Why), Betty Gabriel (Get Out), Will Harrison (Daisy Jones & The Six), Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass), Damian O’Hare (Perry Mason), and Lili Taylor (Outer Range).
Oswalt will play a detective, which is kind of disappointing. I was hoping he’d be the comedy warmup ahead of “Our American Cousin.”
Apple TV+ Drops Trailer for “Cha Cha Real Smooth”
Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson in Apple Original film “Cha Cha Real Smooth."
13 MAY 2022 - And finally today, the world at large can finally get a peek at Apple’s big Sundance buy. iDownloadBlog says Apple TV+ has released a trailer for the romantic comedy Cha Cha Real Smooth. In a past description of the film, Apple said:
Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. But if there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants — even if it might not be his own.
Writer and director Cooper Raiff also stars as Andrew. Domino is played by Dakota Johnson. Other stars include Vanessa Burghardt, Bard Garrett, Evan Assante, and Leslie Mann.
Cha Cha Real Smooth hits theaters and Apple TV+ on Friday 17 June. You can catch the trailer below.
Aramco Unseats Apple as World’s Most Valuable Company
AAPL Chart for 11 May 2022 - Image via Apple Stocks
12 MAY 2022 - The reversal between Apple and Saudi Aramco happened again. Stuck this time. After the closing bell Wednesday, Bloomberg (via Yahoo) ran a piece saying:
Saudi Aramco overtook Apple Inc. as the world’s most valuable company, stoked by a surge in oil prices that is buoying the crude producer while adding to an inflation surge throttling demand for technology stocks.
Aramco hit a near record-high midweek, ending the day with a market cap of roughly $2.43 trillion. Apple’s eight-dollar loss led shares to close at $146.50, leaving Apple with a market cap of roughly $2.37 trillion.
Bloomberg says rising interest rates and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are lifting companies like Aramco and playing havoc with companies like Apple. The piece has Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder, saying:
There’s panic selling in a lot of tech and other high-multiple names, and the money coming out of there seems headed in particular for energy, which for now has a favorable outlook, given commodity prices… Companies like Aramco are benefitting significantly from this environment.
Apple Responds to Concerns Expressed by ACCC
12 MAY 2022 - Apple has answered complaints from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). MacRumors says that organization has been studying aspects of Apple’s ecosystem since last year. According to a report last month regarding both Apple and Google, the ACCC said:
There is a need for consumers to have more choice through an ability to change any preinstalled default app on their device that is not a core phone feature… This would provide consumers with more control to choose the app that best meets their needs, and promote more robust competition in downstream markets for apps.
Surprising no one, Apple disagrees. The company came back with its usual stated concerns around security. Apple says the ACCC should be more mindful of that, rather than “purported competition concerns…” The company says:
…[consumers] want stronger, not weaker, protection - from the unlawful conduct which affects the hundreds of thousands of Australians every year whose information is stolen, scammed, traded and exploited to their detriment.
The piece says Apple also highlighted “confidential data” showing:
…a meaningful, consistent, and upward-trending willingness of users to switch between devices and platforms, and an ongoing capacity for them to do so.
It’s hard to know whether that would satisfy the ACCC though, since the group seems as concerned about Android as it is Apple. Quoting last month’s report:
Apple and Google's dominance in mobile OS, combined with the control exerted over the app marketplaces permitted into their mobile ecosystems, means that the App Store and the Play Store control the key gateways through which app developers can access consumers on mobile devices…
For its part, Apple argues that it works to get a wide range of developers into the App Store. The company also points to web apps as “an alternative means for developers to distribute apps to iOS users.”
You can check out Apple's full response on the website for the ACCC.
Apple Promo Adds Bonus Amounts to Hardware Trade-Ins
Image via Apple
12 MAY 2022 - Word of a weird promotion from Apple. A piece from iDownloadBlog says:
Apple is offering bonus values when trading in your old device for a new one until May 31, with extra credit ranging from $10 for a Mac to $50 for an iPhone.
What makes it weird, it was just last week that Apple reduced the maximum trade-in value on nearly everything it accepts for trade - iPhone not included. Then again, last week’s reductions were done quietly (or as quietly as Apple can do anything). iDownloadBlog says the trade-in bonuses announced this week were actually announced. A piece from Apple Post had Apple emailing customers, saying:
More credit. More savings. Get the device you want with Apple Trade In… For a limited time, trade in an eligible Apple device and get more credit towards the purchase of a new one. Benefit from incredible savings on a device you’ll love.
The piece says the bonuses include:
An extra $10 to $50 on eligible iPhones and iPads
An extra $20 to $40 on eligible Apple Watch units
An extra $10 on an eligible Mac
The trade-in bonuses are available through Apple’s online stores in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, and the US. More info is available through Apple’s trade-in site.
Apple Sells Out of iPod touch in the States
iPod touch - Image via Apple
12 MAY 2022 - If you are looking to get one of Apple’s last iPods, you are too late. Earlier this week, Apple announced the discontinuation of iPod touch - officially ending the two-decade-old iPod line. At the time, Apple said it would keep selling iPod touch while supplies last. And last they did not. A piece from Apple Insider says the Cupertino-company has officially sold out of the iPhone without the phone in its online store in the states, though there is said to be “some stock remaining in Canada, Brazil, and the UK.” At least there was yesterday. While a piece midday Wednesday from The Mac Observer said that third-party online retailers were starting to run low, Amazon still had some available when I checked last night, as did BestBuy, B&H Photo, Target, and Walmart. If what you want is an iPod touch, there’s still a chance. If what you want is to buy an iPod touch from Apple - sounds like you’re out of luck.
"Helpsters" and "Physical" Get New Trailers
Anna Suzuki, Mr. Primm, Heart, Cody, Bradley Cooper and Scatter in “Helpsters” season three, premiering globally May 27, 2022 on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ Releases Season Three Trailer for “Helpsters” Ahead of 27 May Return
12 MAY 2022 - Season three of “Helpsters” is on the way, and Apple TV+ has a trailer for it. They’re kind of hiding that light under a bushel, though. First, the part they’re displaying. The company announced the season-three premier and trailer in a press release Wednesday, highlighting a number of guest appearances. Listed among them are Bradley Cooper, James Monroe Iglehart, Bradley Cooper, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Bradley Cooper, and others - including Bradley Cooper.
In case you’ve lost track of this one, Apple says:
“Helpsters” is a live-action pre-school series from the makers of “Sesame Street,” featuring Cody and the Helpsters, a team of vibrant monsters who love to solve problems. Whether it’s planning a day at the beach, inventing a new machine, or learning how to line dance, the Helpsters can figure anything out — because everything starts with a plan.
It’s a Daytime Emmy Award-winning show that’s also been honored with a Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Award and a Common Sense Media Award. Season three will hit Apple TV+ on Friday 27 May. If you want to see the trailer… find a bushel and look under it. While Apple TV+ has a YouTube channel where most of its trailers go, no season-three Helpsters to be had there. It is imbedded in Apple’s press release though. You can also find it on the “Helpsters” page in Apple TV+.
“Physical” season two premieres globally Friday, June 3 on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ Outs Second Season Trailer for “Physical”
Hiding another trailer in a different way, Apple has released one for the second season of the Rose Byrne series “Physical,” only this one without a press release.
Always trying something new, those kids.
“Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego,” Apple says:
“Physical” is a half-hour dark comedy following Sheila Rubin, a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband’s bid for state assembly.
She gets into aerobics, though, and follows that into business. At least that’s what I’ve heard. I have not seen the first season yet. If you have and are ready for more, the show’s second season will premier on Friday 3 June. You can catch the season two trailer below.
UPDATE 12 MAY 2022 - I don’t know if I was wrong about there being no press release for season two of “Physical” or just early. Cruising back by the Apple TV+ press site Thursday though, I spotted one “beneath the fold,” as they say. Here’s a link to the release if you want to see it.
JP Richards, Head of Film Marketing for Apple TV+, Leaving Cupertino-Streamer
Image by anncapictures from Pixabay
12 MAY 2022 - One of the tastemakers working for Apple TV+ is leaving the Cupertino-streamer. Variety says JP Richards, head of film marketing strategy for Apple’s streaming service is taking the off ramp.
Not a long-timer - he started at Apple TV+ in January of 2021, according to the piece, having come from Warner Bros. Films released during his time at Apple include Tom Holland’s Cherry, Tom Hanks’ Finch, Mahershala Ali’s Swan Song, and - I’ll go ahead and say - Troy Kotsur’s CODA.
There was, one could argue, more built-in recognition in the work he did at Warner Bros. With a focus on digital marketing and media, multi-cultural marketing, branded content and promotional partnerships, titles he tended at Warner included Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Joker, A Star Is Born, both of the It films, both of the Creed films, and The Lego Movie, among others.
Richards let his team know of his departure on Wednesday, according to Variety. While no express reason was mentioned, Variety sources have him eyeing “several new opportunities.”
Report: TSMC Raising Prices on Advanced and Legacy Processors
Image via TSMC
11 MAY 2022 - Interesting news around TSMC in a piece from the Japanese business site Nikkei. They’ve got a few sources saying that Apple’s processor partner and the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer plans a “modest” rate increase in early 2023. Six unnamed sources have the firm saying it’ll raise rates by “single-digit percentages” for “both mature and advanced chip production technologies…” Additionally, Nikkei has two unnamed sources saying “the price increases will be about 5% to 8% for different process technologies, from cutting-edge to legacy nodes…”
Assuming the report is correct, this is happening at a weird time. While 5% to 8% doesn’t sound like a tremendous amount, it comes on the heels of last year’s 20% price increases. The piece points out, it also comes:
…at a time when demand for smartphones and personal computers has slowed on market uncertainties sparked by inflation, the Ukraine war, and COVID-related lockdowns in China.
In other words, outside of TSMC, this might not look like the best time. The piece has one exec who’s heard word of the rising prices saying that:
…given the slowing demand for products like smartphones and PCs, it might be difficult for clients to fully accept TSMC's planned price hike. "For the advanced chips it might work, but for matured nodes, it could be quite challenging for customers to accept," the person said.
Okay. But there’s a shortage, so where are they gonna go? Also, inside TSMC, they might try to pitch it as short term pain for long term gain. Nikkei says secret insiders tell it that TSMC cites “looming inflation concerns, rising costs and its own massive expansion plans to help alleviate a global supply crunch” as reason for the rising prices. That last one’s no joke. The piece says TSMC “is spending $100 billion through 2023 to increase capacity, with $40 billion to $44 billion earmarked for this year alone.”
A piece from iMore on the planned price hikes addresses what it might mean for Apple. It’s a valid question, since TSMC makes the A-series chips that power iPhone and some iPads, as well as the M-series processors that power most Macs and the rest of the iPads. On the anticipated higher processor costs, iMore says:
Increasing prices for components across Apple's lineup could be bad news for consumers, with Apple likely facing a choice to either increase prices to offset such costs or absorb the losses in an already uncertain market.
One could easily see Apple doing either. It’ll be worth watching.
Saudi Aramco Briefly Tops Apple as World’s Most Valuable Company
AAPL Chart YTD Through 05.11.2022 - Via Apple Stocks
11 MAY 2022 - To me, the question is not “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin,” but “what kind of dance would they do?” The Charleston? The Foxtrot? Lambada? Probably not. That’s the forbidden dance.
A piece from Cult of Mac says, for a period of time on Tuesday, Apple was not the most valuable company on the planet. “For a brief period,” says the piece, “the Saudi Aramco oil giant took over from Apple as the world’s most valuable company.” Didn’t stick. Apple saw a surge that sent shares up $2.45. That said, “Apple has lost over 14% of its value in 2022,” according to the Cult, “while Aramco gained about 28%.” Quoting the report:
Which company is the world’s largest by market capitalization shows where people are putting their priorities. During COVID-19 lockdowns, computers became critical to almost everyone and tech stocks surged. But with most countries opening up again, oil is having a resurgence.
There’s something I hate about that passage. I think it’s the implication that people are choosing. I mean, they kind of do. When gas prices are low, lots of people go “big American car with tail fins,” which is to say something in an F-150. I remember a president a few presidents ago encouraging people to buy economy because gas wouldn’t always stay as low as it was then.
But what did he know?
Barring decisions made five-years ago or more, it’s not so much about choice right now. The world is going back to work at work, which means people have to drive to work. People didn’t choose for Russia to invade Ukraine. People aren’t saying, “I’d rather have two tanks of gas than a pair of AirPods.” They’re saying, “If I want to be able to afford anything, I have to be able to get to work.”
Maybe those angels would do the Jitterbug.
Consumer priorities. Price gouging. Whatever the reason, for a short period of time on Tuesday, Apple was not the world’s most valuable company.
Judge Tosses Proposed iCloud Class Action Suit
11 MAY 2022 - Apple’s got one less court case with which to deal. Bloomberg Law says a federal court in California has tossed a proposed class action suit against the company over iCloud storage. According to the report, plaintiffs alleged:
…Apple deceives consumers into thinking they can maintain their data storage for free, but in reality they quickly exceed the free 5GB limit and then must pay for an increasingly costly service.
Bloomberg Law had the court indicating that:
…the customers failed to adequately explain how the company’s recurring charge notification was deficient or how they were fooled.
It’s the little things, isn’t it?
Plaintiffs “may amend their complaint,” according to the report. Barring that, the case is dunzo.
Maisie Williams Joins Apple TV+ Series “The New Look”
Maisie Williams in “Game of Thrones” - Image via IMDB
11 MAY 2022 - “The New Look” is adding a new star. Variety says “Game of Thrones” alum Maisie Williams is joining the Apple TV+ series. Quick reminder - Variety says:
“The New Look” is set against the World War II Nazi Occupation of Paris when Coco Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer ends and Christian Dior rises helping return spirit and life to the world with his ground-breaking, iconic brand.
Juliette Binoche will play Coco Chanel. Ben Mendelsohn will play Christian Dior. As for Williams, the piece says she’ll play Catherine Dior, “Christian’s younger sister and Medal of Honor winner for Courage in the cause of Freedom.”
No word on when the series will premier.
Apple TV+ Outs Trailer for Upcoming Kids Series “Lovely Little Farm”
Image via Apple
11 MAY 2022 - There’s another kids show headed to Apple TV+, and the Cupertino-streamer has released a trailer for it. The company issued a press release Tuesday, promoting the live-action/animated hybrid series “Lovely Little Farm.” From the people who brought you the shows “Topsy & Tim” and “Teletubbies,” Apple says:
“Lovely Little Farm” follows sisters Jill and Jacky as they love and nurture all the animals on their farm nestled in lavender fields. Being a young farmer isn’t easy, but every day brings these sisters adventure and a chance to grow.
The force may be strong with this one - or the technology behind it, anyway. Industrial Light and Magic is handling the animation side of the show. Viewers can visit “Lovely Little Farm” beginning Friday 10 June. Between now and then, you can catch the trailer below.