NYT: Apple Ends Deal with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom

13 JULY 2022 - In what appears to be the actual end of an era, a piece from the New York Times says Apple has ended its consulting agreement with the design firm LoveFrom. That means Jony Ive, the industrial designer behind such iconic Apple products as iMac, iPhone, and even Apple Park has left the building. While he has been gone for a while, the Times piece says:

When Mr. Ive left Apple in 2019 to start his own design firm, LoveFrom, the iPhone maker signed a multiyear contract with him valued at more than $100 million. That made Apple his firm’s primary client, people with knowledge of the agreement said.

That deal did a few things. For one, it gave Ive a guiding hand on then upcoming Apple products. For another, it kept “Ive from taking on work that Apple found competitive,” according to the piece.

And now the deal is done, according to secret people said to know something about something. Both Apple and Ive declined to comment for the New York Times report.

YouTube iPhone/iPad Apps Finally Get PiP in U.S.

13 JULY 2022 - A long awaited feature has finally made it to U.S. users of the YouTube iPhone and iPad apps. After months of testing, a piece from The Mac Observer says the online video service is finally rolling out picture-in-picture to all users. In the U.S.

As the name implies, the feature will let users of the YouTube app watch videos in a smaller screen while using other apps. Great for news, old movie clips, user generated content, and music videos - music videos not included. For picture-in-picture music videos, you have to be a premium subscriber.

If it’s not working for your YouTube app, be patient. The service says the rollout will occur “over the next several days.” No word in the piece on plans for picture-in-picture outside the U.S.

Apple TV+ Nabs 52 Primetime Emmy Noms

Image via Emmys.com

13 JULY 2022 - the time between awards seasons is well and truly over. I told you last week of the 53 nominations Apple TV+ titles had picked up from the Hollywood Critics Association Awards. Now, a piece from Apple Insider says the Cupertino-streamer has picked up 52 Primetime Emmy nominations from the Television Academy.

As with the HCA nominations, two shows lead the pack for Apple TV+. The 20 nominations for “Ted Lasso” and 14 for “Severance” make up well over half of the streamer’s recognition. Also like the HCA noms, a number of Apple TV+ actors are in competition for the same awards. They include three from “Ted Lasso” up for Supporting Actress - Comedy, three from “Ted Lasso” up for Supporting Actor - Comedy, and three Apple TV+ actors up for Supporting Actor - Drama, including Billy Crudup for “The Morning Show,” and John Turturro and Christopher Walken for “Severance.”

Plenty more where those came from. The Emmy organization has posted a full list of all of the Primetime nominees. This year’s Emmy Awards will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock. They’ll be live at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific on Monday 12 September.

CORRECTION: The original Apple Insider article on which this piece was based originally said Apple TV+ had been nominated for 51 Primetime Emmys. Apple has since issued a press release putting that number at 52. The Apple Insider has been update with the correct number, as has this one.

IDC, Gartner, and Mac: A Tale of Two Quarters

IDC: PC Market Got Clobbered in 2Q 2022

12 JULY 2022 - Crazy times for computers, mostly because these are crazy times. CNET highlights new numbers from IDC that show a slump in computer sales for the June-quarter of 2022 versus same quarter a year earlier. The firm estimates a decline in shipments of 15.3% due to three primary factors: lockdowns in China, fear of recession, and an insanely tough compare. The CNET piece points out:

PC shipments reached their highest volume in almost a decade in 2021, and despite the recent downturn, PC shipments are still higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But “what’s past is prologue,” as the truncated quote goes. To Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobile Device trackers, it reads like the crawl before one of those mid-90s dystopian flicks. Something with Dolph Lundgren, maybe. Quoting Mr. Ubrani:

Fears over a recession continue to mount and weaken demand across segments… Consumer demand for PCs has weakened in the near term and is at risk of perishing in the long term as consumers become more cautious about their spending and once again grow accustomed to computing across device types such as phones and tablets.

And just like that, I remember: A new life awaits me in the off-world colonies!

A Very Apple Issue

If you’re wondering how Apple performed - it wasn’t pretty, in IDC’s estimation. Tied for fifth-place in terms of global market share with ASUS, Apple saw shipments plunge 22.5% y-o-y. While everyone saw declines, Apple’s was among the steepest, second only to second-place HP, which saw its shipments decline 27.6%. Away from the chart though, Apple had a typically Apple problem last quarter: An inability to keep up with demand. As a piece on the IDC numbers from Cult of Mac points out:

Almost anyone buying Cupertino’s latest and greatest – the 2021 MacBook Pro and Mac Studio – faced a lengthy wait for delivery. But that was in Q2. Apple is starting to catch up with demand for these models. And the new M2 MacBook Air doesn’t have such long delivery delays.

Apple’s Q2 delivery issues made it possible for Acer to slip into fourth-place in terms of global PC market share - not a place it is expected to keep. “Barring any further supply issues,” IDC says it “expects Apple to ramp up its production in the second half of the year.”

Gartner’s Prelim. Worldwide PC Shipment Estimates for 2Q22 (Units in Thousands) - via MacRumors

Gartner Begs to Differ

While IDC’s take on Mac shipments could well be classified as “gloom and doom,” competing market tracker Gartner’s reading was all “boom, boom, boom.” Where IDC saw Mac shipments decline 22.5% for last quarter versus the June-quarter of 2021, a piece from MacRumors has Gartner saying that Mac sales actually increased 9.3%. Quoting that report, based on the Gartner findings:

Mac shipments were up despite severe supply constraints that saw some MacBook Pro models delayed for multiple weeks or even months, and Apple was the only vendor to see positive growth. All other PC vendors saw a decline in shipments during the quarter due to supply chain issues.

And there you have it. Mac shipments were either terrible or awesome.

Cowen: iPhone and Mac Demand will Lead Apple to Meet June-Q Expectations

12 JULY 2022 - Healthy demand for iPhone and the Mac will bring Apple’s June-quarter earnings in line with expectations. That is the thinking of Cowen analyst Krish Sankar. Apple Insider has had a look at a note he wrote. “Despite supply constraints and macroeconomic issues,” the piece says he says that Apple “remains a defensive name.”

As for what’s ahead - #InThisEconomy? “Given increasing concerns of a recession,” Sankar says he and his lowered their “CY23 iPhone sell-in forecast on potentially slower demand for premium devices. However,” he continues, “a macro slowdown could also impact other hardware and service offerings.” So, iPhone sales could slow down, but… so could everything else.

Unfun as that sounds, Sankar’s still doubleplusstoked on Apple stock. He’s got a positive rating on the shares and a 12-month price target of $200.

Monness Crespi Hardt Analyst Likens Apple Position to Disaster Film

12 JULY 2022 - Apple will not dodge the consumer spending slowdown, so says Monness Crespi Hardt analyst Brian White. Personally, I think it should be Monness Crespi Crespi Hardt, because I like it extra Crespi.

I kid. But seriously - we may want to consider the new life that awaits us in the off-world colonies. Barron’s (via Apple Stocks) highlights Mr. White’s note. Quoting the highlight(?):

White said that while Apple’s portfolio has never been stronger, “the economy appears to be in recession, regulatory headwinds persist, equity markets are in turmoil and the geopolitical landscape is daunting,” comparing the situation with Apple stock to the classic 1974 disaster movie The Towering Inferno.

Two particularly fun quotes from his note: “We fear it will take a deluge of extraordinary forces to put out this blaze and avoid further destruction,” and, “In the end, we expect this economic blaze will curtail Apple’s growth.”

That said, he still likes Apple stock, believe it or not. White maintained a “Buy” rating on Apple shares. With flames fast approaching though, he couldn’t keep his $199 price target. He’s dropped that down to $174, according to Barron’s.

See, in the off-world colonies, they’ve got these robots that do everything for you. Anyway, that’s what the brochure says.

Big Bam Beta News

First Public Betas Out for Next Round of Apple Operating Systems

12 JULY 2022 - If you live your life on the cutting beta edge, now is your time and today is your day. Actually yesterday, but still. MacRumors ran a few pieces on Monday announcing the first public bets of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13 Ventura, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16. Additionally, a piece from 9 to 5 Mac had Apple making the first public beta of HomePod Software 16 available. While the final release will run on the original HomePod, the public beta does not, according to the report.

Apple Re-Issues Select OS Builds for Developers

One other bit-o’ beta news - Apple has re-released a few developer betas to developers. A piece from Apple Insider says the Cupertino-company “has taken the unexpected step of re-releasing its third developer betas for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.” Apple did not say why it did what it did, though Apple Insider hazards a guess, saying it was likely done “to properly synchronize the builds with their public beta counterparts.”

Apple TV+ Signs “Loot” for Second Season

12 JULY 2022 - Half way through its first season, the Apple TV+ comedy “Loot” has been picked up for season two. Apple TV+ issued a press release Monday announcing the news. Starring and executive produced by “Saturday Night Live” alum Maya Rudolph, Apple says news of the renewal:

…comes on the heels of the season one premiere, as well as the announcement of a new multi-year, first-look deal with Animal Pictures, the production company run by “Loot” executive producers Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.

Apple TV+ Outs Trailer and Premier Date for “Amber Brown”

12 JULY 2022 - News of another family-friendly show headed to Apple TV+ soon. The Cupertino-streamer issued a press release Monday, announcing a premier date and a trailer for “Amber Brown.” Based on the “bestselling book series by Paula Danziger,” and created by “Emmy Award-nominated writer and director Bonnie Hunt,” the release says the show “is an unfiltered look at a girl finding her voice through art and music in the wake of her parents' divorce.”

The 10-episode, live-action series hits Apple TV+ on Friday 25 July. Between now and then, you can catch the trailer below.

M2 MacBook Air Deliveries Slip Into August

Midnight M2 MacBook Air - Image via Apple

11 JULY 2022 - Your mid-July, M2-powered MacBook Air is now your mid-August machine. MacRumors ran a piece on Friday - the day the machines went on sale - saying that deliveries for this coming Friday 15 July were dunzo.

Checking Sunday afternoon, both the entry level machine with the 8-core GPU and 256GB SSD and the higher-end model with the 10-core GPU and 512GB SSD showed delivery dates between 10 August and 17 August. Interestingly, adding whistles or bells makes the machine move faster. On either machine, any change I tried brought delivery ahead about a week, landing the fresh Air on my porch between 2 August and 9 August.

So, I wrote that and then I remembered about the various colors. Four of them from which to choose. The aforementioned dates were for the Midnight machines. While changing colors does change delivery dates a bit, Friday 15 July is off the table as far as deliveries go. For both machines off-the-rack, Starlight delivers between 3 August and 10 August. Same goes for Silver surfers, while Space Gray delivers between 27 July and 3 August. Just like their oh-so-blue-brother, changing variables like memory or storage does bring deliveries a head - somewhere between one day and one week, depending on the color.

Of course, there is still a chance of picking one up this Friday. Last week’s press release announcing the 8 July pre-orders said the machine will be available “in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, beginning Friday, July 15.”

USB-C to MagSafe Cable in New Colors Up for Order

USB-C to MagSafe Cable - Image via Apple

11 JULY 2022 - While the M2 MacBook Air ships with a 2-meter USB-C to MagSafe cable… maybe you need an extra one? Or maybe you want the fun of a Midnight power cord without the fun of a Midnight computer. Whatever the reason, a piece from Apple Insider says orders are being taken for USB-C to MagSafe charging cables in Midnight, Starlight, and Space Gray. They’re being taken for Silver as well, but Silver was already out there.

Having already been a thing, you can order the Silver cord and get it delivered this week. Checking Sunday afternoon, the rest show delivery between 19 July and 21 July. Paying an extra $8 shows delivery between 18 July and 20 July. “Apple also says that the new colors will be available in stores from July 20.” The cord itself will run buyers $49.

Several Macs Headed for the Vintage List

11 JULY 2022 - As new Macs make the scene, a number of older machines are slowly being shown the exit. MacRumors says a number of Macs and a couple of iPads are hitting the “vintage” list at the end of this month. The list includes the first MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, according to the report. Quoting the piece:

The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were released in October 2016 as part of a complete redesign of the MacBook Pro. Other new features included a thinner and lighter chassis, the much-maligned butterfly keyboard, Touch ID, a larger trackpad, and the removal of all ports except for Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack.

That’s a lot of doings Apple’s started to undo in more recent models. In addition to three 2016 MacBook Pros, Apple’s also adding a 2016 MacBook, a 2015 MacBook Air, two 2015 iMacs, and two 9.7-inch iPad Pros (one with cellular and one without) to the “vintage” list. You can see exactly which models are affected in the MacRumors article. The “vintage” designation means the machines will be eligible for service or repair, but only if the necessary parts are available.

Wedbush Analyst Expects Price Bump for iPhone 14

11 JULY 2022 - Expect higher prices for iPhone 14 - that’s the word from Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives. The Apple bull spoke to the UK paper The Sun, saying he and his “believe a $100 price increase is coming” for Apple’s next communicator. According to the analyst, "Prices have been increasing across the whole supply chain, and Cupertino needs to pass these costs to the consumer on this release.”

Boy, “needs” is a funny word, huh?

Ives has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $200.

Not everyone agrees with Ives. CSS Insight analyst Ben Wood gets why Apple might raise iPhone prices, noting that “production and component costs continue to rise for all consumer electronics makers.” That said, he tells The Sun that “given the cost of living head-winds,” the Cupertino-company “may decide that increasing prices could be counterproductive.”

iPadOS 15.5 Causing Charging Issues for Latest iPad mini

iPad mini - Image via Apple

11 JULY 2022 - If you’ve had problems charging the sixth-gen iPad mini since the last software update, it’s not just you. Cult of Mac says a number of iPad mini users are having issues charging the tablet after installing iPadOS 15.5.

In a memo to support staff, Apple’s said to have suggested telling users to completely restart the device, though the Cult calls that a temporary fix. Folks who’ve tried it say the charging problems resurface in three or four days. The piece says Apple indicates in the memo that service providers should not replace the battery nor the tablet since the problem is not a hardware issue, but one having to do with software.

If you haven’t gotten around to updating from iPadOS 15.4 to v15.5, Cult of Mac suggests holding off for the next iPadOS update. Whether that’ll be iPadOS 15.6 or a 15.5.1 fix remains to be seen.

Colombia Bars Import and Sale of 5G Apple Products in Ericsson Patent Row

11 JULY 2022 - Confusion in Colombia - I’m confused, anyway. A piece from Apple Insider says a court in Bogota has ruled that any products Apple sells that use 5G are in violation of patents held by Ericsson. After a bond posted by Ericsson, the Colombian court issued a preliminary injunction that bans Apple’s subsidiary in the country from importing, advertising, or selling any 5G products. The company also has to “‘warn and communicate’ with retailers, social media platforms, mass media, and other firms to ensure compliance.”

None of that’s the confusing part. Draconian, maybe, but not confusing. Here comes the confusing part. According to Apple Insider, the judge in the case:

…decided that Apple cannot seek or enforce an “antisuit injunction” from a foreign country that can prevent or restrict the enforcement of the preliminary injunction.

Which I guess means no other country is going to tell Colombia what it can or cannot do. According to the report, “the so-called ‘anti-antisuit injunction,’ makes it hard for Apple to gain an antisuit injunction against Ericsson, as that would go against the court order.” So, Apple has gone to the Eastern District of Texas to file an antisuit damages case. According to Cupertino’s argument, the Colombian injunction gives Ericsson “economic and logistical leverage” to pressure Apple into giving in and paying what Ericsson wants, rather than letting the courts decide what’s right. Apple wants the U.S. court to have Ericsson “indemnify Apple from any fines, fees, penalties, and costs it incurs as a result of the Colombian injunction.” The way Apple Insider explains it:

The logic behind the move is that Apple's motion isn't seeking an antisuit injunction, but instead an antisuit damages claim, which would technically appease the Colombian court's limitations.

I think I understand. To be sure though, I’m going to need a cork-board, some yarn, and some pushpins.

Improved Apple Maps Features Expand to France, Monaco, and New Zealand

11 JULY 2022 - More Apple Maps features in more places. iMore says Apple’s improved mapping experience has rolled out to France, Monaco, and New Zealand. The “fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth countries to get the expansion” now have “more detailed Maps,” as well as improvements to “the 3D details of major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.”

Gameloft Adds Fitness Element to The Oregon Trail

11 JULY 2022 - It’s all fun and games until somebody loses weight? The Mac Observer says Gameloft, the developer behind the Apple Arcade version of The Oregon Trail, has added a fitness component to the game. According to the report:

…an integrated “Walk the Trail” feature takes advantage of data from the Health app on your iPhone. As you step through your day, you walk a virtual Oregon trail that crosses Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie, Fort Hall, and more. All told, the experience spans 64 real-world locations on your way to Oregon City.

As in real life, the more you virtually travel, the more you virtually see. The developer has added trivia to let users learn about the places they pass and their importance to the actual Oregon Trail in the 1800s.

If you like the idea of gamification but don’t play the game, Gameloft has a similar offering for Apple Watch. Just like the game, the piece says The Oregon Trail: StepTracker “brings the trivia and motivation” of the game, letting people trek past 11 settlements, 22 natural features, 15 river crossings, 8 landmarks, and 8 Pony Express stations.

If you’re wondering what it’ll take, Gameloft says the average person traveling 10,000 steps per day can complete the 2,000-mile-plus trail in just over a year. The game is available to Apple Arcade subscribers on iPhone, iPad, the Mac, and Apple TV. The standalone app for Apple Watch is free and available in the App Store for Apple Watch. And, for those who’ve played, developers promise the Apple Watch app has 99.99% less dysentery.

Happy trails.

Loop Capital Sees No Impact from Shift in iPhone Orders

08 JULY 2022 - Whatever changes you’ve heard about upcoming iPhone builds will have “no material impact…” That’s the word from Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah. The analyst is likely referring to the back-and-forth between DigiTimes and TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Last week, DigiTimes ran a piece saying that Apple was cutting or had cut orders for iPhone 14 by 10% due to kinks in the supply chain. That got a big “nope” from Ming-Chi Kuo, saying build plans remained unchanged.

Now, a piece from Seeking Alpha (via Apple Stocks) has Baruah seeing a way they can both be right, kind of. The way that analyst sees it, Apple probably did shift the mix between iPhones 13 and 14 recently, but whatever they did will have no discernible impact over the next few quarters. And besides, other analysts are missing a big part of the iPhone story anyway. According to Seeking Alpha:

Baruah also pointed out that Wall Street “continues to materially under-model iPhone [average selling prices],” suggesting there is a good chance iPhone revenue in the next quarter tops estimates.

The way the analyst sees it, the Cupertino-company is “well positioned” to meet and maybe beat iPhone revenue for the next couple of quarters. Baruah has a “Buy” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $180.

Goldman Sachs Drops Apple Target Over Economy Fears

08 JULY 2022 - News of a lowered price target that is honestly practically not worth mentioning. A piece from TheStreet says Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall - ever the Apple bear - has lowered his 12-month Apple target over concerns around the economy.

The piece from TheStreet started off covering the M2-powered MacBook Air, which goes up for pre-order today. Not only does Apple have a new Mac, the piece points out that the Mac’s been going gangbusters. Quoting the report:

Mac sales were the standout performer in terms of Apple hardware last quarter, with revenues rising 14.7% to $10.44 billion over the three months ending in March.

Paging Dr. Downer. The report goes on to say:

Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall, however, cautioned that hardware and device sales, the bulk of Apple revenues, could be at risk if the global economy were to tip into recession.

With that, Mr. Hall maintained his “Neutral” rating on Apple shares. He dropped his target $27 though, moving that from $157 to $130.

Apple to Face Trial in UK Over App Store Commissions

08 JULY 2022 - It looks like Apple will have to answer for its App Store commission structure in the UK. Late last week, Apple Insider ran a piece saying that the Cupertino-company will “face a full trial” in the United Kingdom, accused of overcharging consumers in the App Store, thanks to its commission rate. According to the complaint, according to Apple Insider:

…Apple’s 30% commission on app and in-app purchases is unfair. Additionally, [the woman leading the case against Apple] argues that Apple's cut has forced developers to raise prices and push the cost to consumers.

Digital economy specialist and lecturer Dr. Rachael Kent leads the charge. While Apple had hoped to have the case tossed, London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal dashed that hope, giving Dr. Kent the warm fuzzies. Quoting the doctor:

I applaud the Competition Appeal Tribunal for this clear and well-thought-out decision… A claim of this magnitude is always going to be heavily defended. The anti-competitive practices that we are alleging against Apple go to the heart of Apple's business strategy, and with its almost unlimited resources, it will always make this a challenging fight.