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President Trump announces framework deal with NATO on Greenland, halts planned tariffs on European nations
In a significant development amid escalating transatlantic tensions, President Donald Trump announced today that the United States has reached a “framework” agreement with NATO regarding the future status of Greenland. As part of this understanding, Trump stated he will not proceed with previously threatened punitive tariffs on several European countries.
The announcement came following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump posted on social media: “Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
The U.S. import tariffs in question — initially set at 10% on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom, escalating to 25% by June 1 — were threatened earlier this month unless a deal was reached for the U.S. to acquire or gain control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump had framed the move as essential for U.S. national security, citing strategic Arctic interests and potential threats from Russia and China.
Trump also reiterated in Davos remarks that he would not use military force to acquire Greenland, emphasizing negotiations instead, though he maintained that U.S. control would enhance security for the broader NATO alliance and the region.
The framework deal appears to represent a de-escalation after days of sharp criticism from European leaders, who had condemned the tariff threats as coercive and a risk to NATO unity. Reports indicate the European Parliament had moved to freeze aspects of a recent U.S.-EU trade agreement in response to the Greenland pressure.
While details of the framework remain limited, Trump’s statement suggests progress toward a negotiated resolution on Arctic security matters, potentially averting a trade dispute that could have impacted billions in transatlantic commerce.
European reactions were mixed, with some officials expressing cautious relief at the tariff rollback, though broader concerns about U.S. demands on Greenland persist. NATO officials have not yet provided detailed comments on the framework’s specifics.
MacDailyNews Note: This development marks a potential turning point in the ongoing saga, which began with President Trump’s interest in Greenland’s strategic value for defense, resources, and Arctic dominance. Further talks are expected as negotiations continue.
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Nvidia overtakes Apple as TSMC’s top customer, ending years of priority access for Apple Silicon
Apple, long the dominant force behind TSMC’s growth through its exclusive chip production deals, is now facing a dramatic shift as Nvidia’s explosive AI demand surges ahead.
In a recent exclusive report from Tim Culpan, TSMC CEO CC Wei reportedly informed Apple executives during an August 2025 visit that the iPhone maker would encounter significant price increases and no longer enjoy guaranteed priority access to wafer capacity across the foundry’s fabs. Nvidia is believed to have overtaken Apple as TSMC’s top customer in at least some quarters of 2025, fueled by massive orders for high-performance GPUs that consume larger wafer footprints amid the ongoing AI boom.
While Apple’s broad portfolio ensures its enduring importance to TSMC, the near-term power dynamic has tilted toward Nvidia, forcing Apple to compete more aggressively for advanced node production slots.
According to Culpium analysis and discussions with sources in the supply chain, Nvidia likely took top spot in at least one or two quarters of last year. “We don’t discuss that,” Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang told Culpium Thursday when asked about the change in client rankings…
Apple’s chip catalog is broader and more varied, while Nvidia’s lineup is more concentrated around a huge number of wafers at, or near, leading-edge. It’s for these reasons that Apple will remain important for at least another decade.
In the near-term, however, TSMC’s technology roadmap coupled with broader industry trends favor Nvidia, AMD, and their ilk, meaning Apple may need to keep fighting for capacity over the next year or two…
Nevertheless, as SemiAnalysis recently wrote in a fabulous report on the TSMC-Apple relationship, the balance will shift back to Apple because [TSMC’s] A14 [node planned for 2028] is designed “for both mobile and HPC from the start.”
More importantly, what Apple offers is stability. Nvidia has been a client for a lot longer than Apple, but broadly speaking it’s a bit niche. Right now that “niche” is the hottest product on the planet, but niche it is. Apple, on the other hand, has products being made in no fewer than a dozen TSMC fabs. Even if Nvidia did overtake Apple by purchases, the breadth of its manufacturing footprint at TSMC is nowhere near as large.
MacDailyNews Take: Even the mightiest can temporarily lose their VIP status when someone else’s demand becomes too big to ignore.
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Apple TV reveals ‘For All Mankind’ season five teaser trailer
On Wednesday, Apple TV revealed the premiere date for and a first look at season five of “For All Mankind,” the hit, critically acclaimed space drama series from creators Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. The 10-episode fifth season will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27th, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29th.
Season five of “For All Mankind” picks up in the years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents and a base for new missions that will take us even further into the solar system. But with the nations of Earth now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, friction continues to build between the people who live on Mars and their former home. The ensemble cast returning for season five includes Joel Kinnaman, Toby Kebbell, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña and Wrenn Schmidt, alongside new series regulars Mireille Enos (“The Killing,” “Hanna”), Costa Ronin (“The Americans,” “Homeland”), Sean Kaufman (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Ruby Cruz (“Bottoms”) and Ines Asserson (“Royalteen”).
“For All Mankind” is created by Emmy Award winner Moore and Emmy Award nominees Wolpert and Nedivi. Wolpert and Nedivi serve as showrunners and executive produce alongside Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions, as well as Kira Snyder, David Weddle, Bradley Thompson and Seth Edelstein. “For All Mankind” is produced for Apple TV by Sony Pictures Television.
All four seasons of “For All Mankind” are now streaming on Apple TV.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 682 wins and 3,208 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple Fitness+ is now available in Japan
Apple Fitness+ is now available in Japan as of January 21, 2026, marking a significant expansion of Apple’s award-winning fitness and wellness service to the market.
The service delivers 12 types of workouts and meditations — including Pilates, yoga, dance, strength training, and core—ranging from 5 to 45 minutes. Content requires little to no equipment, suiting small spaces and busy schedules. Sessions feature 28 inclusive trainers, Japanese subtitles, and digital translation audio generated from the trainers’ actual voices. New episodes with Japanese audio arrive weekly.
Music plays a central role, with playlists spanning upbeat anthems, latest hits, chill vibes, and pure dance, incorporating global genres like K-Pop and J-Pop. The “Artist Spotlight” series highlights Japanese duo YOASOBI, featuring workouts set to their songs. The “Time to Walk” series includes episodes with comedian/actor Nao Watanabe (available now) and “Drops of God” actor and musician Tomohisa Yamashita (starting next month).
Fitness+ integrates seamlessly with Apple devices via the Fitness app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Compatible setups include iPhone 8 or later (iOS 16.1+), or older models paired with Apple Watch Series 3 and later. Real-time metrics—heart rate, calories burned, Move ring progress appear onscreen with Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3. A calorie burn comparison bar is available for select workouts like HIIT, cycling, and rowing. Custom plans personalize schedules based on preferences for activity, duration, trainers, and music. Playlists save to Apple Music (subscription required).
Pricing in Japan is ¥980 monthly or ¥7,800 annually, with Family Sharing for up to five members.
Jay Blahnik, Apple’s Vice President of Fitness Technologies, stated: “We are thrilled to bring the Fitness+ experience to Japan. With seamless integration with iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, Fitness+ makes it easy to work out or meditate anytime, anywhere… When users have an Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3, personal fitness metrics appear in real-time on the screen, further motivating them.”
Promotions include up to three months free for au/UQ mobile subscribers, Benefit Station members, and eligible device buyers; two months for new Anytime Fitness members (Fitness+ is included in Anytime Fitness memberships); and one month standard for new subscribers.
This launch follows a December 2025 announcement of Fitness+ expansion to 28 markets, with Japanese dubbing, bringing the total to 49 countries and regions.
MacDailyNews Note: Congrats, Japan!
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OpenAI’s Jony Ive-designed always-listening AI device on track for late 2026
OpenAI is accelerating toward its long-rumored entry into consumer hardware, with the company confirming it’s “on track” to unveil its inaugural always-listening AI device in the second half of 2026. Designed by the team led by former Apple design chief Jony Ive (following OpenAI’s acquisition of his io Products studio), the mysterious gadget is described as a pocket-sized, completely screen-free companion—potentially a pill-shaped, behind-the-ear wearable (codename “Sweetpea”) that uses advanced contextual awareness, custom 2nm chips, and environmental sensors to handle tasks traditionally managed by smartphones or voice assistants like Siri.
OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane emphasized at Davos that “devices” represent one of the “big coming attractions” for 2026, while noting the company is “looking at something in the latter part [of 2026].” As speculation mounts about direct competition with Apple’s AirPods ecosystem — especially given features like voice-command integration and audio-focused design — this debut could mark a pivotal shift in how users interact with AI assistants, blending Ive’s signature minimalist elegance with OpenAI’s ChatGPT-powered intelligence.
Lehane didn’t go into specifics about the upcoming product, which is being designed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s oi Products team. Ive’s startup officially merged with OpenAI last year after it was acquired for $6.5 billion.
According to the leaker known as Smart Pikachu, the devices will be metallic and feature a custom 2nm chip to “replace iPhone actions by commanding Siri,” suggesting some functional overlap with AirPods. The back-of-the-ear modules are also believed to feature sensors for environmental or contextual awareness, and are stored inside an egg-shaped case.
OpenAI is said to be considering launching several AI products over the next few years, potentially including a pen and a “home-style device.” The leak could therefore relate to a different product to the one that OpenAI launches first. That said, Smart Pikachu claims Ive’s team is prioritizing the behind-the-ear wearable, which is reportedly being manufactured by Foxconn and could launch as soon as September, so we’ll have to wait and see.
MacDailyNews Take: Obviously, the jury’s out until we see what features such devices can offer, but, the privacy concerns of an always-listening OpenAI device abound aplenty.
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Apple set to sell millions of $2,000 foldable iPhones in 2026, Citi says
Apple could be on the verge of its most transformative iPhone release in years. According to a new note from Citi analyst Atif Malik, the tech giant is poised to launch its first foldable iPhone later in 2026 — likely debuting alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models at Apple’s annual fall event — with shipments ramping up quickly thereafter. Priced at a premium of around $2,000, the device is expected to see limited initial volume of approximately 8 million units in 2026 (roughly 3% of total iPhone shipments), before accelerating to 20 million units in 2027.
Brian Sozzi for Yahoo Finance:
The analyst reiterated a Buy rating on Apple — about 50% of Wall Street analysts rate Apple a Buy, Yahoo Finance data shows. He did cut his price target to $315 from $330, citing margin risk from the surge in memory chip prices.
Shares of Apple have lagged the S&P 500 over the past year, gaining 11% compared to a 15% advance for the S&P 500. The stock isn’t faring any better to kick off 2026, either — shares are down 6%, tying with Meta (META) for the worst-performing member of the Magnificent Seven.
But Apple may be poised to improve the narrative on the stock.
For one, Apple just inked an important deal with Google, where Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology will power the next generation of the smartphone maker’s AI for Siri. While some experts say the deal is an admission that Apple is well behind in the AI race, others would counter at least Apple is now in the game.
Secondarily, a long-rumored foldable iPhone would create a fresh reason for people to finally upgrade from prior iPhone iterations.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple won’t be able to make enough foldable iPhones to satisfy demand well into 2027.
As BofA analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in a recent note to clients, “Upcoming catalysts include launch of a foldable iPhone in the fall and the launch of an enhanced Siri with integration with Gemini AI which can drive higher upgrades.”
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7 criminally overlooked Apple TV series
Among the many streaming services available today, Apple TV+ truly excels when it comes to consistent quality and prestige programming. But if you believe you’ve already exhausted the platform’s standout offerings, think again. Apple TV+ is home to a wealth of exceptional series that, despite their brilliance, have flown under the radar for far too many viewers.
These aren’t filler shows or average fare — these are productions with sharp, intelligent writing, richly layered characters, outstanding acting, and impeccable production values from top to bottom. The main reason they remain overlooked? They’re often not massive blockbusters, didn’t explode on social media, or simply got lost amid the louder hits. Yet each one delivers a compelling, worthwhile experience that’s well worth your time to discover.
Catherine Delgado for Comicbook:
7. Murderbot: Unfortunately, Murderbot falls into the category of overlooked shows, and it’s easy to see why: even though critics loved it, a lot of people skip it, thinking it’s just another sci‑fi series. Sure, Apple TV marketing isn’t the best, which doesn’t help, but it’s absolutely worth giving it a shot because the show has personality — the robot’s sarcasm will make you both laugh and root for it at the same time. It’s a bold production, and you don’t see anything like it every day.
6. Shrinking: It’s not for everyone, but it’s the kind of show that truly rewards you — you feel a range of emotions and connect deeply with the characters, walking away seeing life a little differently. It deserves way more attention, especially in today’s streaming landscape.
5. Defending Jacob:It’s the kind of show you might think is just another drama, but by the end, you realize it’s top-tier quality. From start to finish, the tension is real, and every decision the characters make is loaded with psychological suspense, leaving you constantly wondering how it’s all going to play out. It’s a pure mystery that sticks with you until the very end. For thriller fans on TV, this one is a must-watch.
MacDailyNews Note: Read the write-ups for Delgado’s other four choices — 4. Mythic Quest, 3. The Crowded Room, 2. Pachinko, and 1. Dickinson — in the full article here.
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Wedbush analyst Dan Ives calls Greenland tariff threats ‘noise,’ urges buying Apple and other tech stocks on the dip
Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives dismissed the latest U.S.-Europe tariff threats over Greenland as temporary market “noise” in a client note today, encouraging investors to use any resulting weakness as an opportunity to add to positions in leading tech names, including Apple.
The comments come amid sharp declines in U.S. futures and European equities after President Donald Trump escalated his push for U.S. control of Greenland — a self-governing territory claimed by Denmark — by threatening 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark and several other NATO allies starting February 1, 2026, with increases to 25% by June if no resolution is reached. The rhetoric has heightened fears of broader trade friction just as the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, Switzerland.
Ives, who is attending Davos where Trump is expected to address tech leaders and world figures, struck a calm and bullish tone in his note to clients.
“Being here at Davos this week on the ground… the tariff scuffle is clearly an overhang on the conference as Trump gets here tomorrow to speak to tech leaders and various world leaders,” Ives wrote. “Our view is just like over the last year the bark will be worse than the bite on this issue and tariff threats as negotiations take place and tensions ultimately calm down between Trump and EU leaders.”
He characterized the current environment as sentiment-driven rather than fundamentally threatening.
“Tech stocks will be hit as the ‘risk off dynamic’ hits AI names front and center but ultimately we view this as an opportunity to own the tech winners for 2026 and beyond,” Ives wrote.
Ives explicitly stated that the Greenland tariff noise “does not change the long-term outlook.” He recommended using the pullback to build positions in core AI and technology leaders.
“On weakness this morning we would be buying many of our IVES AI 30 names, including Nvidia, Microsoft, Palantir, CrowdStrike, Nebius, Apple, Palo Alto, Google, and Tesla,” he added.
The analyst framed the episode as consistent with previous trade-related flare-ups that have ultimately resolved through negotiation, leaving the secular growth story of the “4th Industrial Revolution” — including AI, cloud, and consumer tech — firmly intact heading into 2026.
While the note did not single out Apple-specific supply chain or sales risks from the proposed European tariffs, Ives’s inclusion of AAPL among his top buy-on-weakness recommendations underscores his continued confidence in the company’s long-term trajectory despite short-term geopolitical headlines.
MacDailyNews Take: Investors will likely monitor developments at Davos closely, as any progress — or lack thereof — in discussions involving Greenland could influence whether the current dip proves fleeting or more persistent.
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Apple preps higher-end AirPods Pro for release this year
Apple may be preparing to shake up its premium earbuds lineup once again. According to recent reports from reliable sources like Ming-Chi Kuo and corroborated by Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman, a higher-end version of the AirPods Pro (building on the AirPods Pro 3 released last year) is slated to arrive in 2026.
This pricier variant isn’t a full generational overhaul but rather a premium tier positioned above the standard $249 model—potentially approaching $299 or more. Key rumored upgrades include at least one tiny infrared camera for advanced gesture controls (possibly replacing physical pressure sensors), enhanced spatial audio integration with devices like Vision Pro, support for new Apple Intelligence features, and Apple’s next-generation H3 chip for superior sound quality and lower latency.
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
Kuo said that the 2026 AirPods Pro will feature a “more significant” hardware upgrade in the form at least one tiny infrared camera. He previously said AirPods with infrared cameras could recognize hand gestures and provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The Chinese leaker known as “Instant Digital” subsequently corroborated the rumor with some additional details and clarifications. Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the AirPods Pro 3 introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.
The current AirPods lineup has offerings priced at $129, $179, $249, and $549. An additional product between the $249 AirPods Pro 3 and $549 AirPods Max seems possible, especially given the rise of higher end Bluetooth earbuds from the likes of Bang Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.
MacDailyNews Take: Bring ’em on!
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Apple Intelligence. Powered by Google™.
Apple’s reliance on Google’s Gemini AI model to power key features of Apple Intelligence — including an upgraded Siri — highlights a perceived shortfall in the iPhone’s independent AI capabilities, according to a recent Bloomberg News newsletter analysis.
In a piece titled “Apple’s Use of Google Gemini Shows iPhone’s Lack of AI Advantage,” author Austin Carr argues that Apple’s multiyear partnership with Google, announced on January 12, 2026, effectively undercuts claims of a unique AI edge for the iPhone. The deal sees Apple integrating Gemini models and Google’s cloud technology as the foundation for future Apple Foundation Models and enhanced AI experiences on iOS devices. This move, Carr suggests, resembles an admission that Apple’s in-house AI efforts have not kept pace with rivals, particularly Google itself, which natively embeds Gemini across Android ecosystems for seamless, advanced features.
The partnership builds on earlier reports from 2025, when Bloomberg News revealed Apple was in talks to leverage a custom or powerful Gemini variant (including a potential 1.2 trillion parameter model) for a revamped Siri. Estimates at the time pegged Apple’s annual payments to Google in the range of $1 billion, with some analysts later suggesting the overall deal could be worth several billion dollars over time—echoing the lucrative, long-standing Google search default agreement on iPhones.
While Apple has positioned Apple Intelligence as a privacy-focused, on-device-first AI suite (launched in stages starting in 2024–2025), the Bloomberg News piece contends that outsourcing core generative capabilities to a competitor casts doubt on its differentiation. Android devices, powered directly by Google’s own AI stack, can offer cutting-edge features without similar dependencies, potentially giving them an advantage in real-world performance and innovation speed.
Carr’s analysis frames this as part of the broader Apple-Google dynamic: a mix of cooperation and competition. The collaboration validates Gemini’s strength while underscoring Apple’s challenges in building frontier-level models independently amid massive infrastructure demands. For iPhone users, the result could mean more capable Siri and Apple Intelligence tools sooner — but at the cost of relying on a rival’s technology, which may erode the perception of iPhone as the undisputed leader in smartphone AI.
As the AI landscape evolves rapidly in 2026, this partnership could accelerate feature rollouts for iPhone owners while raising strategic questions about Apple’s long-term positioning against Google, OpenAI, and other players. Apple has not disclosed full deal terms, but the arrangement appears structured as a cloud computing contract, allowing Apple to tap Gemini without fully replicating the massive training and compute investments required for equivalent models.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote last August:
Google Gemini? Why not just get a Samsung Galaxy phone which already integrates Google’s Gemini AI as a core component of their AI-powered features?
Google Gemini on an iPhone offers precious little differentiation from Samsung, the chief iPhone knockoff peddler.
If you’re going to with an external AI partner, why not choose the smartest one? We find xAI’s Grok to be more accurate and useful than Google’s Gemini, ChatGPT, and the rest. – MacDailyNews, July 21, 2025
Apple would likely need a CEO who is more open to thinking outside the box than the one with which it’s currently saddled.
Google Gemini. Puleeze. OpenAI’s ChapGPT or Anthropic’s Claude would be better choices. Even better would be for Apple to allow users to choose – gasp! – which AI model they’d like to underpin Siri.
Regardless of what Apple chooses, they will at least be safely behind Apple’s privacy wall.
The issues are: Google’s Gemini is not the best and everyone knows it, Google has a poor reputation for privacy that will tarnish Apple’s, and Google, hello, ripped off the iPhone with Android. Enough with the Google, Apple!
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Apple TV debuts season two trailer for ‘The Last Thing He Told Me,’ starring Jennifer Garner
Apple TV on Tuesday revealed the trailer for the second season of “The Last Thing He Told Me.” The series stars and is executive produced by Jennifer Garner, with returning stars Angourie Rice, David Morse and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and new additions Judy Greer and Rita Wilson. The eight-episode second season will debut globally with the first episode on Friday, February 20, 2026, followed by one episode every Friday through April 10, 2026.
Based on “The First Time I Saw Him,” Laura Dave’s instant New York Times bestselling sequel to her acclaimed No. 1 New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick, in season two of “The Last Thing He Told Me” Owen (Coster-Waldau) shows up after five years on the run, Hannah (Garner) and her stepdaughter Bailey (Rice) find themselves in a race to figure out how to reunite their family before the past catches up to them.
The second season also welcomes new and returning cast members Augusto Aguilera, Josh Hamilton, Nick Hargrove, Michael Galante, John Noble, Michael Hyatt, Luke Kirby and Elizabeth O’Donnell.
Ahead of the hit drama’s second season premiere, audiences can dive deeper into the story with Dave’s riveting and deeply moving novel, “The First Time I Saw Him.” Read or listen on Apple Books before watching Hannah Hall’s (Garner) pulse-pounding journey unfold on screen.
“The Last Thing He Told Me” is produced by 20th Television and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, a part of Candle Media. Created and adapted by Dave, alongside Academy Award-winning co-creator Josh Singer, “The Last Thing He Told Me” was the first collaboration between the married Dave and Singer, who both serve as executive producers alongside Garner and Hello Sunshine’s Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter. Emmy Award nominee Aaron Zelman joins season two as co-showrunner and executive producer with Singer. Daisy von Scherler Mayer and Merri D. Howard also serve as executive producers.
Catch up on the first season of “The Last Thing He Told Me” ahead of the season two premiere, now streaming globally on Apple TV.
First published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster in 2021, the novel “The Last Thing He Told Me” was a Reese’s Book Club pick, becoming an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller and remaining on the list for more than 80 weeks, selling over five million copies worldwide. It was the winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Thriller/Suspense of 2021; an Amazon Best Book of the Year in 2021; an Apple Best Book of the Year in 2021; and in 2022, “The Last Thing He Told Me” was one of the most popular books checked out at libraries across America as well as the No. 1 most popular e-book. The book has been embraced in 39 countries around the globe, including the U.K., where it was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick.
In addition to “The Last Thing He Told Me,” Apple Originals produced by Hello Sunshine include Emmy, SAG and Critics Choice Award-winning series “The Morning Show,” starring Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston; psychological thriller “Surface,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw; and the upcoming limited series “Lucky” starring Anya Taylor-Joy, based on the book by Marissa Stapley, a Reese’s Book Club pick, among others.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 682 wins and 3,186 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple stock poised for gains ahead of earnings as iPhone sales surge, analysts predict
Analysts are bullish on Apple stock heading into its upcoming earnings report, citing strong iPhone demand. iPhones “flew off the shelves” in recent months, driven by robust sales figures that exceeded expectations. This performance is expected to translate into positive upside for the stock, with Wall Street anticipating solid results that could push shares higher.
Evercore ISI added Apple to its Tactical Outperform list on Tuesday, arguing that robust iPhone demand positions the company for a strong earnings print. The firm reiterated an Outperform rating and a $330 price target on Apple stock, which remain its top pick for 2026.
Evercore expects iPhone revenue to climb 17% from the same period last year, well above the consensus call for 11% growth. Sales skewed toward higher-end models over the holiday quarter, the firm noted, which should mean higher-than-expected average sales prices.
Analysts at Citi agree that a surge in demand for iPhone 17 models carried through the end of the year. The firm expects an earnings beat for the December quarter, driven by the sale of 82 million iPhone units—ahead of consensus.
MacDailyNews Note: The analyst firm kept its Buy rating on Apple stock intact while lowering the price target to $315 from $330, citing concerns that escalating memory prices could pressure margins.
As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 29, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Apple honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Apple is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the company website’s homepage with a collection of his quotes:
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ — Sermon delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, 1957
I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. — “Advice for Living,” Ebony magazine, 1957
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are. — “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” address, delivered at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1967
Today, Apple CEO Tim Cook posted on X:
Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, his commitment to justice, and his belief that every one of us has the power to make a difference, because as he reminded us, “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” pic.twitter.com/DzF70FIGg9
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 19, 2026
MacDailyNews Note: Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the U.S. and the markets are closed. As usual on such trading holidays, we will have limited posting today.
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Apple’s next-gen Studio Display coming soon with 120Hz ProMotion, HDR, and A19 power
Apple’s Studio Display, which has stayed largely unchanged since its March 2022 debut, appears poised for a long-overdue upgrade that could bring it in line with the company’s latest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro displays.
A new unreleased model identifier, A3350, has appeared in a Chinese regulatory filing, describing a “high-performance LCD display.” This strongly indicates that Apple is preparing to refresh the Studio Display — potentially launching as early as spring 2026, around the product’s four-year anniversary.
Leaked internal references and prior reports point to several significant upgrades: An A19 chip (a substantial jump from the current A13 Bionic) for improved performance in features like Center Stage, Spatial Audio processing, and “Hey Siri” responsiveness.
120Hz ProMotion with variable refresh rates, doubling the existing 60Hz cap for noticeably smoother scrolling, animations, and cursor movement.
HDR support, likely through mini-LED backlighting in some configurations, addressing the current model’s biggest limitation: a 600-nit SDR-only panel that lacks the contrast and brightness punch of modern premium displays.
The refreshed Studio Display is expected to maintain its 27-inch 5K resolution, premium aluminum design, built-in 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, six-speaker Spatial Audio system, and robust Thunderbolt/USB-C connectivity.
MacDailyNews Take: With Apple’s Mac Studio and Mac mini expected to receive M5-series updates in early 2026, a matching Studio Display refresh would create a cohesive, high-end creative workstation ecosystem. After years of waiting, Mac professionals and enthusiasts may finally get the modernized monitor for which they’ve been waiting.
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Annaleigh Ashford cast in Apple TV limited series ‘The Off Weeks,’ starring Jessica Chastain and Ben Stiller
Annaleigh Ashford (“Happy Face”) has joined the main cast of Apple TV+’s upcoming eight-episode limited series “The Off Weeks” as a series regular, Deadline reports. The show stars and is executive produced by Jessica Chastain and Ben Stiller, with Arian Moayed also set as part of the core ensemble.
From executive producer and showrunner Alissa Nutting and directed by Michael Showalter, who developed the project with Semi-Formal Productions, “The Off Weeks” follows writing professor Gus Adler (Stiller), whose divorce has thrown his life into chaos. He struggles to hold things together during “on weeks” when he has custody of his kids. But in his “off weeks,” he’s falling dangerously in love with Stella West (Chastain), a mysterious woman whose arrival puts Gus’ on-week duties and off-weeks ambitions on a fatal collision course.
Ashford most recently starred in the Paramount+ drama series “Happy Face” opposite Dennis Quaid, from executive producers Robert & Michelle King. She received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2023 for the Hulu limited series “Welcome to Chippendales” opposite Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett and Juliette Lewis.
MacDailyNews Note: Hailing from Apple Studios, “The Off Weeks” is produced for Apple TV+ by global independent studio wiip. The series is showrun and executive produced by Nutting. Stiller executive produces for Red Hour alongside John Lesher. Chastain executive produces alongside Kelly Carmichael for Freckle Films. Showalter, who directs and developed the project with Semi-Formal Productions, executive produces alongside Jordana Mollick. Paul Lee and Gabriel Fisher executive produce for wiip. Peter Principato, Allen Fischer and Brian Steinberg executive produce for Artists First. Dean Bakopoulos (“Made for Love”) also serves as executive producer.
The project marks Stiller’s latest collaboration with Apple TV+ following the Emmy Award-winning global phenomenon “Severance,” as well as upcoming documentary feature “Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost.” Chastain will also soon be seen in the Apple Original thriller “The Savant,” billed by Apple as “coming soon,” in which she stars and serves as executive producer.
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Apple faces increasing demands to follow Elon Musk’s lead to do more for the Iranian people
As massive anti-government protests sweep across Iran amid a brutal regime crackdown—including a near-total internet blackout, widespread civilian killings, and economic collapse — Elon Musk’s SpaceX has stepped up dramatically by making Starlink satellite internet free for users in the country. This bold move provides a critical lifeline, allowing protesters and citizens to bypass government restrictions, share evidence of atrocities, communicate with the outside world, and organize despite severe jamming attempts and severe risks (including potential execution for using unauthorized terminals).
Now, mounting pressure is building on Apple to follow Musk’s lead. With iPhones widely used in Iran (despite high costs and past import hurdles), activists, a U.S. Congressman (Rep. Buddy Carter), and others are urgently calling on the company to enable its satellite-based messaging feature — available on iPhone 14 and newer models — for Iranian users. This would allow texting without cellular or WiFi service, helping people contact family and report regime violence during the blackout. Apple’s current satellite texting is limited to select countries like the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan, and the company has not yet responded publicly to these demands. The contrast highlights how tech giants can become pivotal in humanitarian crises, with Starlink already proving transformative—now the spotlight is on Apple to act swiftly and expand access to save lives.
Rebecca Heilweil for Fast Company:
The office of Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia, confirmed to Fast Company that they’d been in touch with Apple about opening up satellite messaging—which lets iPhone users send messages even when there is no wifi or cellular service—in the country, though they didn’t say what response, if any, they might have received from the company. That outreach comes after, on Wednesday, Carter called on the company to do so publicly.
Some activists have called for Apple to turn on satellite-based messaging, a service that the company is quickly rolling out. One of these calls, which as of Thursday night racked up nearly half a million views on X, reads: “During this nationwide blackout, the brutal killing of civilians has started in the past 24 hours. We urgently call on Apple to enable Satellite Messaging for users inside Iran, or confirm whether the service is already active and functioning without interference.”
“Communication is a lifeline. Lives depend on it,” the person added.
It isn’t immediately clear if this is something Apple can do, or what Apple might have already turned on in Iran.
When asked about SpaceX and Starlink, a spokesperson for the State Department [told] Fast Company on Wednesday, the administration “is committed to helping to preserve and protect the free flow of information by the most effective means to the people of Iran in the face of the Iranian regime’s brutal repression.”
MacDailyNews Take: Carter’s post on X:
Iran has gone nearly a week without access to the internet and phone calls, with thousands of protestors reportedly murdered.@Apple, the leading phone brand in the world, must enable satellite messaging for Iran so they can message family and report atrocities being committed…
— Buddy Carter (@RepBuddyCarter) January 14, 2026
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Apple’s 2nm A20 Pro chip to unleash massive leap for foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max
According to industry analyst Jeff Pu, Apple’s highly anticipated first foldable iPhone (dubbed “iPhone Fold”) will launch in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, all powered by the next-generation A20 Pro chip.
The 2026 iPhone 18 lineup as per Jeff Pu:
Source: Jeff Pu
This advanced processor is built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm (N2) process, delivering performance improvements of up to 15% faster and 30% more power efficient compared to the A19 chips. The A20 Pro also incorporates TSMC’s Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, integrating RAM directly onto the wafer with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine for enhanced Apple Intelligence performance, better battery life, and a more compact design.
The foldable iPhone is expected to feature a book-style design with a crease-free 7.8-inch inner display, 5.5-inch outer display, Touch ID, and other premium specs shared with the Pro models.
Regular iPhone 18 variants with the A20 chip (also 2nm) are slated for a later spring 2027 release.
MacDailyNews Take: This 2nm breakthrough promises one of the biggest generational jumps in iPhone performance and efficiency yet!
By the way, when we started posted on MacDailynews.com, the cutting-edge process node for computer chips was 130nm. Most chips shipping at the time were 180 nm.
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Apple TV’s sci-fi masterpiece with 98% Rotten Tomatoes score likely to get even better
Apple TV’s sci-fi masterpiece boasting a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes is likely to get even better thanks to the creative visionary behind the project.
Nick Bythrow for ScreenRant:
Apple TV’s perfect sci-fi masterpiece, Pluribus… follows Carol, the most miserable person on Earth, contending with the Joining, an event that causes all but 13 people around the world to have their minds morphed into a euphoric, shared consciousness.
The series has earned critical acclaim, with reviews for Pluribuspraising the storytelling and filmmaking, alongside cast members like Rhea Seehorn, who portrays Carol. Notably, this is the first series created by Vince Gilligan since Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. It also has the potential to be even better when it returns for season 2 based on the creator’s history.
The first season of every Vince Gilligan show is usually its worst. Although it’s become a highly-decorated series, Breaking Bad season 1 was a slow start to the show… Similarly, Better Call Saul took its time…
MacDailyNews Take: Speaking of taking time, Vince Gilligan addressed the timeline for Pluribus season two in a December 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly following the season one finale, stating: “We’re working on it. It takes us a while. I would love to go faster if I could.”
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Can Apple finally turn Apple Intelligence and Siri into features people actually want?
Apple has struck a major multi-year partnership with Google to integrate Gemini models as the foundation for next-generation Apple Intelligence features — most notably a long-awaited, significantly smarter and more personalized version of Siri set to arrive later in 2026.
After a rocky rollout of Apple Intelligence, repeated delays to Siri’s advanced capabilities, and mounting pressure to catch up in the generative AI race, Cupertino is leaning on Google’s leading technology while preserving its signature privacy protections through Private Cloud Compute. This deal not only marks a strategic win for Google’s Gemini as a dominant force in consumer AI, but also signals Apple’s candid acknowledgment that internal development alone wasn’t enough to deliver the transformative experiences users expect — setting the stage for a pivotal year where execution will determine whether Apple Intelligence finally becomes a compelling reason to users upgrade or remains in the shadow of rivals.
Allison Johnson for The Verge:
The mess that was the Apple Intelligence rollout was embarrassing, to be sure, but through it all, the company kept doing what it does best: selling iPhones. With this week’s news that it’ll use Gemini models to power the long-awaited smarter Siri, Apple seems to have taken a big ‘ol L in the whole AI race. But there’s still a major challenge ahead — and Apple isn’t out of the running just yet.
this week’s deal isn’t about adding a quick way to chat with Gemini on an iPhone. You can already do that in the Gemini app. This is about building smarter Siri on Google’s models and running it all in Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. If and when a smarter Siri arrives this year, it’ll have some serious Gemini DNA.
You could argue Apple made the right call from a business standpoint, but was it the right Apple move? Consider Tim Cook’s own words in a 2009 earnings call: “We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products we make…”
That’s the real challenge ahead of Apple: turning Apple Intelligence into a product people actually want, not one that they feel indifferent toward. It needs to turn Siri into the thing the company has promised all along, not a glorified timer-setting machine.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, those aren’t Tim Cook’s original words — they’re merely a reiteration of Steve Jobs’ words from years prior, much like how Cook reiterates products that were created under the visionary Jobs:
“I’ve always wanted to own and control the primary technology in everything we do.” – Steve Jobs, October 12, 2004
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Major Apple supplier TSMC boosts U.S. footprint with Arizona land purchase, driving total $165 billion investment
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple supplier, has completed the purchase of a second parcel of land in Arizona to fuel further expansion of its U.S. operations, as the company responds to explosive demand for AI-related chips and hints at additional capacity during its latest earnings call.
This move builds on the landmark U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement announced on January 15, 2026, under which Taiwanese firms—including TSMC—will drive $250 billion in investments into American semiconductor, energy, and AI production, crediting initiatives advanced by the Trump administration that have encouraged massive onshoring of critical chip manufacturing.
With its first fab already in volume production and more facilities ramping up, TSMC continues to deepen its strategic presence in the U.S. to serve key clients like Apple and Nvidia.
Reuters:
January 2026: TSMC says it has completed the purchase of a second parcel of land in the U.S. state of Arizona to support its expansion plan and give it more flexibility to respond to strong AI-related demand. The plan would enable TSMC to scale up an independent gigafab cluster in Arizona.
March 2025: TSMC says it will expand its U.S. investment to a total of $165 billion, including three additional fabs, two advanced packaging facilities and an R&D centre.
Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm are customers of TSMC’s Arizona fabs. In April 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple is TSMC Arizona’s first and largest customer. In October 2025, TSMC Arizona began volume production of Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs using its advanced N4P process.
MacDailyNews Take: TSMC’s American investments are moving right along!
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