Apple News
Apple TV lands new thriller starring Dakota Fanning
On Thursday, Apple TV announced it has landed a new original series created by Emmy Award winner Alex Cary (“A Spy Among Friends,” “Homeland”), with Dakota Fanning (“All Her Fault,” “Ripley”) set to star and serve as executive producer.
Fanning will star as an undercover Treasury agent in a multibillion-dollar international conglomerate with world-changing political and criminal tentacles, who becomes conflicted between her mission and a belief that her principal target, the heir apparent to all that corrupt power, is at his core a good man and worthy of her love.
Hailing from Sony Pictures Television, the untitled thriller is executive produced by Cary, who also serves as creator and showrunner under his overall deal with Sony Pictures Television and his FLW Productions banner. Julie Gardner (“Lady in the Lake,” “Doctor Who”) executive produces for Bad Wolf America, and Dakota Fanning executive produces alongside Elle Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward of Lewellen Pictures (“Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” “The Great”). Kari Skogland (“Smoke,” “The Loudest Voice,” “The Handmaid’s Tale”) will direct and serve as executive producer.
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 3,191 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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Air France announces new partnership with Apple TV to enhance its in-flight entertainment offer
As of January, Air France is teaming up with award-winning streaming service Apple TV to enhance its in-flight entertainment offer. Over 45 hours of original content including multiple global hit series are now available for all passengers on the airline’s long-haul flights. Customers can also enjoy free access to Apple TV directly via Air France’s new high-speed wifi portal, which is being progressively rolled out across the entire fleet.
A prestigious Apple TV catalogue on long-haul flights
On all its long-haul flights, Air France now offer exclusive access to a selection of Apple TV programs.
During their trip, customers can enjoy some of the most acclaimed original series of the moment, such as Ted Lasso, Silo, The Morning Show, and Severance. Series promoting French lifestyle, like Carême, are also available. Documentaries such as Prehistoric Planet and The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, as well as children’s content including WondLa and The Snoopy Show, complete the catalogue.
The first three episodes of each series are featured in a dedicated channel within the in-flight entertainment system. They are accessible on each passenger’s individual screen, in French and English, with subtitles and accessibility options for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. In total, 45 hours of entertainment are available, with content renewed every two months.
Discover Apple TV via Air France’s high-speed wifi service, available soon on all flights
Air France also offers one week of free access to Apple TV content via its new high-speed wifi portal. This is an ideal way to enjoy the service on personal devices throughout the airline’s network, and to continue watching your favourite series after the flight.
This feature, currently available via the portal, will soon be enhanced with content by Air France and Apple TV to offer travellers a bespoke trial experience exclusively on board.
Air France is gradually rolling out its new high-speed wifi service, across its fleet, including regional aircraft. The service will be extended to all aircraft by the end of the year.
Over 1,500 hours of in-flight entertainment
On all long-haul flights, each passenger has access to a high-definition screen offering over 1,500 hours of on-demand entertainment. In the most recent cabins, the anti-glare screen, offering 4K quality, is equipped with a Bluetooth connection for connecting personal headphones or earphones. In addition, the airline is gradually rolling out a new touch-sensitive graphic interface on its 38,000 screens, available in 12 languages and allowing passengers to choose their programmes more easily.
Air France’s carefully selected entertainment offer caters to diverse tastes and cultures, and is available in the original version or dubbed into multiple languages. The airline dedicates 30% of its entertainment offer to French productions, showcasing French cinema through a selection of films and series.
In total, more than 310 films of all genres, from the most classic to the most recent, are on offer. Air France’s entertainment offer is further enhanced through exclusive partnerships (Canal+, Apple TV), providing a wide selection of series, reports, documentaries, music, podcasts, destination guides and children’s programmes. There’s also a section dedicated to well-being, where young and old alike can try their hand at meditation or chair yoga during their trip. Finally, an interactive map and an on-board camera allow users to follow the flight path and watch the take-off and landing from their seat.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats to all of the Air France fliers who’ll soon get a taste of Apple TV’s quality fare. Bon appétit!
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Verizon offers $20 account credit to subscribers affected by mass outage
In a gesture of accountability following a widespread network outage that disrupted service for millions of customers on January 14, 2026, Verizon has announced a $20 account credit for affected users as a token of apology. The telecommunications giant acknowledged falling short of its service standards, emphasizing that while no compensation can fully rectify the inconvenience, this credit—equivalent to multiple days of average service—aims to recognize the impact on daily lives and businesses. Customers can redeem the offer via the myVerizon app upon receiving a notification text, with business accounts to be handled directly, as the company continues efforts to restore and maintain reliable connectivity.
Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief to those affected, we will give you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app. You will receive a text message when the credit is available. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Business customers will be contacted directly about their credits.
This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us.
If you’re still having trouble connecting, please restart your device (power down and power back on). This is the fastest way to reconnect your phone to the network.
We are sorry for what you experienced and will continue to work hard day and night to provide the outstanding network and service that you expect from Verizon.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s always nice to see some accountability!
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Spotify again jacks up subscription prices in the U.S.
Spotify has just announced price hikes in the U.S., Estonia, and Latvia — the company’s third U.S. increase in under three years.
In the United States, all major Premium plans are going up:
• Individual Premium: $11.99 → $12.99/month
• Student: $5.99 → $6.99/month
• Duo (2 accounts): $16.99 → $18.99/month
• Family (up to 6 accounts): $19.99 → $21.99/month
The changes take effect for new subscribers immediately, with existing subscribers seeing the new rates at their next billing cycle.
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
This latest increase is the third time Spotify has raised U.S. subscription prices since mid-2023. In July 2023, Spotify implemented its first U.S. price hike since launching in the country in 2011, increasing the Individual Premium plan from its long-standing $9.99 monthly price. A second increase followed in June 2024, bringing the Individual plan to $11.99 per month. The January 2026 change moves that price another dollar higher, continuing a pattern of more frequent adjustments after more than a decade of unchanged pricing.
Outside the United States, Spotify has also raised prices in recent years. The company increased subscription costs in multiple international markets in August 2025, and previously raised prices in regions including the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
MacDailyNews Take: More great news for the superior Apple Music streaming service which includes high-resolution lossless audio (up to 24-bit/192kHz) and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at no extra cost. Spotify’s max quality remains at 320kbps (compressed), and while they’ve teased a HiFi/lossless tier for years, it still isn’t widely available in 2026.
Apple Music pricing:
• Individual: $10.99/month, first month free for new subscribers
• Student: $5.99/month, first month free for new subscribers
• Family (up to five people): $16.99/month, one month free for new subscribers
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Apple AirTag 4-pack hits insanely low price of $64.98 on Amazon
The popular 4-pack of Apple AirTag item trackers is currently selling for just $64.98, or 34% off its $99 list price.
Apple’s AirTag is a small and elegantly designed accessory that helps keep track of and find the items (and pets and children) that matter most with Apple’s Find My app. Whether attached to a handbag, keys, backpack, a pet, or other items, AirTag taps into the vast, global Find My network and can help locate a lost item, all while keeping location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption.
Each round AirTag is small and lightweight, features precision-etched polished stainless steel, and is IP67 water- and dust-resistant. A built-in speaker plays sounds to help locate AirTag, while a removable cover makes it easy for users to replace the battery. AirTag features the same magical setup experience as AirPods — just bring AirTag close to iPhone and it will connect. Users can assign AirTag to an item and name it with a default like “Keys” or “Jacket,” or provide a custom name of their choosing.
img src=”https://macdailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/210420_airtag_12.png” alt=”With the Find My network accessory program, the vast and secure Find My network now helps users locate and keep track of even more important items in their lives using the Items tab in the Find My app.” width=”660″ height=”1323″ class=”size-full wp-image-244499″ /> With the Find My network accessory program, the vast and secure Find My network now helps users locate and keep track of even more important items in their lives using the Items tab in the Find My app.Once AirTag is set up, it will appear in the Items tab in the Find My app, where users can view the item’s current or last known location on a map. If a user misplaces their item and it is within Bluetooth range, they can use the Find My app to play a sound from the AirTag to help locate it. Users can also ask Siri to find their item, and AirTag will play a sound if it is nearby.
MacDailyNews Take: Get ’em while they last for 34% off the $99 list price here!
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Sam Altman’s OpenAI could go bankrupt in the next 18 months
As OpenAI continues its meteoric rise — boasting billions in revenue from ChatGPT and API usage while dominating headlines — the company faces a stark financial reality that could threaten its very existence. In a new New York Times opinion piece this week, historian and financial expert Sebastian Mallaby warns that despite massive fundraising rounds and explosive growth, OpenAI is hemorrhaging cash at an unprecedented scale, with projections suggesting it could run out of money within the next 18 months if current burn rates persist and new capital doesn’t materialize.
This dire prediction for OpenAI highlights the high-stakes gamble of frontier AI development: enormous compute costs, relentless R&D spending, and losses in the billions annually — even as revenue surges. While OpenAI eyes eye-popping valuations and potential mega-rounds (including talks of $40–100B raises), the clock is ticking on whether investor enthusiasm can outpace the burn.
Sebastian Mallaby, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for The New York Times:
Generative A.I. businesses are not like the software successes of the past generation. They are far more capital-intensive. And while behemoths such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta earn so much from legacy businesses that they can afford to spend hundreds of billions collectively as they build A.I., free-standing developers such as OpenAI are in a different position. My bet is that over the next 18 months, OpenAI runs out of money.
According to reporting by The Information, the company projected last year that it would burn more than $8 billion in 2025 and more than $40 billion in 2028. (Though The Wall Street Journal reported that the company anticipates profits by 2030.)
Not even Mr. Altman can keep juggling indefinitely. And yet he must raise more — a lot more. Signaling the scale of capital that he believes he needs, OpenAI has committed to spending $1.4 trillion on data centers and related infrastructure. Even if OpenAI reneges on many of those promises and pays for others with its overvalued shares, the company must still find daunting sums of capital. However rich the eventual A.I. prize, the capital markets seem unlikely to deliver.
The probable result is that OpenAI will be absorbed by Microsoft, Amazon, or another cash-rich behemoth.
MacDailyNews Take: No worries: Jony Ive’s always-listening OpenAI necklace will save them. /s
There is a very real possibility that as Creative Technology was to MP3 players, OpenAI will be to GenAI.
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India issues final warning to Apple in long-running App Store antitrust probe
India’s Competition Commission (CCI) has delivered a final warning to Apple, stating it will advance its antitrust investigation against the U.S. tech giant without further delay. A confidential order reveals that Apple has repeatedly postponed providing responses to regulators for over a year, despite multiple extensions, thereby hindering and undermining the probe.
The case centers on allegations that Apple abused its dominant position in the iOS App Store by enforcing restrictive practices, such as mandatory use of its in-app payment system. Apple strongly denies the claims.The company has expressed concerns that it could face penalties of up to $38 billion if the CCI applies fines based on its global turnover — a method introduced under India’s updated competition law. To challenge this approach, Apple has filed a case in the Delhi High Court, where the matter remains pending, with a key hearing scheduled for January 27, 2026.
Reuters:
While the Delhi High Court is still hearing that challenge, a confidential December 31 order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) shows Apple privately sought to pause the entire case while the penalty‑rules dispute is before the court. The CCI rejected the request.
“The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings,” CCI noted in its order, seen by Reuters. “Such indulgence cannot be continued indefinitely,” it added, giving Apple a final warning that it will proceed in the case unilaterally if no response is received by next week.
A source familiar with the matter said Apple views CCI’s December order as a move to preempt the ongoing court proceedings and the company was not likely to respond to it before the judges hear it next on January 27.
Since 2022, Tinder-owner Match and Indian startups have been locked in an antitrust battle with Apple. Investigators in 2024 issued a report saying the U.S. smartphone company engaged in “abusive conduct” on the iOS apps market.
MacDailyNews Take: “Final warning.” Pfft.
We get the feeling that inside the Indian government — which fairly screams “clusterfsck!” — the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.
Seriously, India, do you want to make iPhones or not? Do you want to make chips or not? Do you want to make Macs, iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches, etc., or not? Do you want jobs, or not?
How much did it cost developers to have their apps burned onto CDs, boxed, shipped, displayed on store shelves prior to Apple remaking the world for the better for umpteenth time? Does Apple not have costs to store, review, organize, surface, and distribute apps to 1+ billion users? – MacDailyNews, July 30, 2021
See also:
• Indian government wants Apple to give them iOS source code – January 13, 2026
• India’s iPhone exports go from zero to $50 billion in 5 years – January 6, 2026
• After Apple says no way, India revokes order to preload state-run ‘cybersecurity’ app on smartphones – December 3, 2025
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U.S. State Department halts issuing immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Somalia, Iran, Russia
The U.S. State Department has announced it is indefinitely suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. This indefinite suspension is part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, aimed at reassessing screening and vetting procedures under the “public charge” rule — to prevent entry of individuals deemed likely to rely on American taxpayer-funded public benefits or welfare.
The public charge provision has existed for decades to protect American taxpayers, but has been sporadically enforced depending on the administration in power.
The policy does not affect non-immigrant visas (e.g., tourist, student, or business visas), so it won’t impact travel for major events like the 2026 World Cup.
Morgan Phillips for Fox News:
The countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and more.
The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of immigrant visa processing.
Somalia has drawn heightened scrutiny from federal officials following a sweeping fraud scandal centered in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered massive abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Many of those involved are Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts around the globe instructed consular officers to enforce sweeping new screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law.
The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement. “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
MacDailyNews Note: The U.S. State Department’s pause on immigrant visa processing for those 75 countries has no direct impact on non-immigrant worker visas like the H-1B program, which is commonly used by tech companies including Apple to hire skilled foreign talent.
Immigrant visas are for permanent residency, while H-1Bs are temporary and unaffected by this specific policy.
In September 2025, a $100,000 fee was imposed on new H-1B visas (not renewals).
Enhanced vetting (including social media screening) has caused widespread backlogs at U.S. consulates, leading Apple and other Big Tech companies to advise H-1B holders and similar visa employees against international travel to avoid getting stranded abroad while renewing stamps.
While H-1Bs aren’t halted, workers from the 75 countries who hold them might face blocks when transitioning to immigrant visas for green cards, limiting Apple’s ability to retain such talent permanently. However, since Apple’s H-1B hires are predominantly from countries not on this list, the immediate effect here is minimal.
The full list of countries comprises of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
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Four ex-UPS workers accused of stealing thousands in Apple products
Four former UPS workers at a Louisville facility have been charged with stealing more than $150,000 worth of Apple products while on the clock, according to court documents.
Caroline Neal for the Louisville Courier:
“Takiyha Jones, Jasmine Kimbrough, and Wael Ayari, all of Louisville, pleaded not guilty to complicity to engaging in organized crime and complicity to theft by unlawful taking or disposition from a building during a Jan. 13 arraignment hearing. Each of their cash bonds were set at $112,500, and they are currently being held at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
MacDailyNews Take: Louisvillian villans.
The fourth employee, Kavion Hudson, currently has a felony warrant for his arrest for the same charges, Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Matt Sanders said.”
“According to an arrest citation, UPS discovered the product loss at the destination locations after employees began to unload the trailers and found merchandise boxes left behind. An internal UPS audit found that the thefts occurred at the UPS Centennial Hub on Air Commerce Drive.
Video surveillance reportedly shows Jones and Kimbrough taking the merchandise and having backpacks with the products inside. Police said Kimbrough possessed a backpack that had 22 iPhones, four pairs of AirPods and one charging cable, which had an estimated value of $25,000. According to an arrest citation, Hudson’s backpack contained 45 iPhones.
Since the arrests, LMPD detectives have determined that a total of $155,000 worth of Apple products was stolen.
MacDailyNews Take: Now you know why you didn’t get your Christmas presents, Louisville.
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Apple’s Shazam predicts 2026 stars: Fast Forward list names 65 artists set to explode
Shazam, the music identification powerhouse owned by Apple, has once again flexed its predictive muscle with the release of its annual Fast Forward 2026 list and accompanying playlist. Announced in mid-January 2026, this year’s edition spotlights 65 emerging artists from around the world who are showing strong early signals of breakout success based on Shazam’s massive global data trove.
Every day, millions of users turn to Shazam to identify songs they hear in TikTok videos, commercials, radio, or just out in the wild. This real-time discovery data gives Shazam a unique edge in spotting talent before they hit the mainstream. Curated with input from Apple Music’s global editorial team, the Fast Forward program has proven remarkably accurate over the years. Past honorees who went on to major stardom include Benson Boone and Young Miko (featured in 2023), Ayra Starr and Teddy Swims (2022), and aespa (2021). Last year’s 2025 class saw an average 67% increase in Shazam discoveries year-over-year, with radio spins up 70% and significant gains on Apple Music streams.
The 2026 lineup is impressively diverse, spanning 20 genres — from Afrobeats, Country, Electronic, and K-Pop to Rock, Urban Latino, French pop, and música mexicana — and representing artists from 22 countries.
Highlights include:
• CORTIS, a K-pop group whose debut EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES and track “GO!” have already topped charts in South Korea and cracked global K-pop lists, with massive growth in Apple Music plays.
• Kashus Culpepper, an Alabama country crooner bringing fresh energy to the genre.
• Florence Road, an Irish rock band poised to make waves in the rock scene.
Other standouts like Alessi Rose, Liim, Kidd Carder, Clarent, Ghana’s Gonaboy (with his hit “SAME TIMBS”), Indonesia’s no na, and more.
Shazam describes the selection as “the most exciting talent being discovered on Shazam,” with artists set to “make waves in 2026 and beyond.” The diversity reflects how global listening habits — fueled by platforms like TikTok and social media — are blurring borders and blending sounds like never before.
The Shazam Fast Forward 2026 playlist is now available on Apple Music, featuring tracks from all 65 artists (clocking in at over 3 hours of music). Listeners are encouraged to dive in, add favorites to their libraries, and get ahead of the curve before these names dominate charts and playlists worldwide.
Whether you’re into rising K-pop stars, boundary-pushing country acts, or global hip-hop newcomers, this is your early ticket to the sounds that could define 2026.
As Shazam and Apple Music continue to combine data-driven insights with editorial expertise, Fast Forward remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for the next wave of music superstars. What artists from this list will you be adding first? The future of music is already playing — time to hit Shazam and find out.
MacDailyNews Note: For the full list and deeper breakdowns of each artist, head to Shazam’s dedicated Fast Forward 2026 page here.
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Apple TV debuts trailer for ‘Yo Gabba GabbaLand!’ season two
Wednesday, Apple TV debuted the trailer for season two of the Emmy Award-nominated “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” set to premiere globally on Friday, January 30th. Inspired by the original “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” the vibrant new 10-episode season is led by rising star Kamryn Smith as Kammy Kam and features the original performers: Brobee (Amos Watene), Foofa (Emma Penrose), Muno (Adam Deibert), Toodee (Erin Pearce) and Plex (Christian Jacobs). Season two brings this group together with a new roster of musical guests to create dynamic performances and original songs to help kids and families uncover life lessons through music, movement and joyful discovery.
Created by Emmy Award-nominated Scott Schultz and Jacobs (co-creators of “Yo Gabba Gabba!”), “Yo Gabba GabbaLand” is produced in partnership and collaboration with WildBrain and Yo Gabba Gabba, LLC, co-owners of the brand. Schultz and Jacobs also serve as executive producers for Yo Gabba Gabba, LLC, alongside Stephanie Betts and Josh Scherba for WildBrain. Season one of “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” was recently nominated for a 2026 Children’s & Family Emmy Award.
The Super Music Friends and special guests feature an all-star mix of acclaimed and Grammy-winning artists, including Santigold, Ziggy Marley, Sharon Van Etten, Sleigh Bells, Yola, Still Woozy, Silversun Pickups, Chicano Batman, The Aquabats! and Hemlocke Springs. Viewers will also hear fresh jingles from Freedom Fry, Turnpike Troubadours, Ginger Root, CHVRCHES, King Tuff, Mates of State, Hatchie, Sylvan Esso and Chai. In addition, the new season features returning fan favorites and new guest stars, including Billy Eichner (“Bros”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), David Arquette (“Scream”), Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”), Jaime Camil (“Jane the Virgin”) and more.
The exciting slate of recent offerings for kids and families on Apple TV features the latest family musical specials “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical”; “Lulu Is a Rhinoceros” based on the beloved children’s book of the same name by father-daughter duo Jason and Allison Flom; the music-driven animated comedy series “BE@RBRICK” from DreamWorks Animation; “Goldie,” inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning 2019 short film of the same name; Peanuts series “Camp Snoopy”; the second season of beloved animated series “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor Award-winning books; “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy; and “Wonder Pets: In the City” from Jennifer Oxley.
Award-winning all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV also include the BAFTA Award and Emmy Award-winning live-action animated hybrid special “The Velveteen Rabbit,” BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater” from Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment. Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award-winning “Jane,” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”
Also featured are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.”
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 3,148 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 said to fine-tune Google’s Gemini for un-branded Siri integration
Following the blockbuster announcement of a multi-year AI partnership between Apple and Google, new details from The Information reveal how Apple plans to take full ownership of the experience: by independently fine-tuning Google’s Gemini models to power the revamped Siri and future Apple Intelligence features.
Unlike the current ChatGPT integration — where more complex queries than the current Siri can handle (which are myriad) are explicitly handed off to OpenAI with clear branding — the upcoming Gemini-based enhancements will run invisibly in the background. Prototypes of the more personalized Siri show no Google or Gemini branding whatsoever, ensuring the intelligence feels purely Apple-native. Users will interact with an enhanced Siri that delivers more detailed, conversational, ChatGPT-like answers to factual questions, better emotional support, and improved handling of nuanced or relational queries (such as identifying family members from context in messages).
According to sources familiar with the matter cited in the report, Apple retains significant control over the underlying technology:The company can fine-tune Gemini’s responses on its own to align with Apple’s preferred tone, style, privacy standards, and safety guidelines.
Apple also has the option to request specific tweaks directly from Google for broader model adjustments.
Processing will occur exclusively on-device or via Apple’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, preventing Google from accessing any user data and upholding Apple’s industry-leading privacy commitments.
This level of customization marks a departure from typical third-party AI integrations and serves as a strategic bridge: Apple gains access to Gemini’s advanced capabilities (including rumored massive parameter counts in custom variants) while continuing development of its in-house foundation models. The partnership, reportedly worth around $1 billion annually to Google, allows Apple to accelerate Siri’s long-delayed overhaul without fully outsourcing the user-facing experience.
The phased rollout is expected to begin as early as spring 2026 (potentially with iOS 26.4), starting with core conversational improvements. More advanced features — like memory of past interactions, proactive suggestions based on calendar and location data, and deeper app integrations — could arrive later, possibly announced at WWDC 2026.
This approach not only addresses years of criticism about Siri’s relative lag in generative AI but also positions Apple to deliver a “smarter Siri” that feels distinctly its own — powered by a rival’s tech, yet customized, controlled, and branded as Apple Intelligence through and through.
As one report summarized the sentiment in the tech community: It’s Gemini under the hood, but Siri all the way on the surface.
MacDailyNews Take: All but the most-knowledgeable iPhone users may soon experience what’s expected to be a massive Siri upgrade without ever realizing that it’s Google really doing the thinking behind the curtain.
Hopefully, the days of a COO masquerading as an Apple CEO are finally drawing nigh. Apple deserves a visionary leader who can once again drive relentless, world-changing product innovation. – MacDailyNews, December 9, 2025
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‘Civilization VII’ comes to Apple Arcade on February 5th
Build the greatest empire the world has ever known. On February 5th, the award-winning strategy franchise by legendary game designer Sid Meier comes to Apple Arcade with the launch of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition. Players can now take this AAA PC gaming experience on the go, as it’s playable across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In a pivotal new chapter of the iconic series, empires evolve with the dawn of each distinct age of human history, and players’ strategic decisions will shape the unique cultural lineage of their civilizations. Whether players choose to follow a path rooted in history or imagine new possibilities, they can create a legacy that echoes through the ages. Civilization VII joins other popular PC games that have recently launched on Apple Arcade, including PowerWash Simulator and Cult of the Lamb Arcade Edition.
On February 5, Apple Arcade welcomes three additional new games to its standout catalog of highly rated games, all without ads or in-app purchases. Go back in time to the golden age of video arcades with Retrocade, enter a magical world of music and dreams in Felicity’s Door, and create order out of chromatic chaos in I Love Hue Too+.
Step into the neon glow of the ’80s and relive the thrill of the classic video arcade like never before. Retrocade brings acclaimed games from old-school arcades together in one place — no quarters needed. Players can immerse themselves in an actual arcade with their Apple Vision Pro and experience games like Pac Man, Asteroids, Bubble Bobble, Centipede, Galaga, and more, just like how they were played when they were originally released. Retrocade games are also playable on iPhone and iPad.
Felicity’s Door is a brand-new rhythm game that takes players on a journey through Tom and Felicity’s magical world of dreams. Players will join the twins and their lovable bear Mi-chan as they travel deep into the depths of space, traverse seaside cliffs, and navigate sprawling cyberpunk cities. And a fan-favorite from the App Store — I Love Hue Too+ — brings a psychedelic puzzle game full of color, light, and shapes, where players arrange mosaics of colored tiles into perfectly ordered spectrums.
Alongside new games, players can also dive into their favorites with regular updates and exclusive crossovers. On January 22, Paddington is back for another limited-time exclusive event in Crayola Create and Play+. Players will spend a special snowy day with Paddington, enjoying a host of winter-themed activities and games, like building a snowman, creative cake crafting, cozy coloring, and more.
For more details on new games and updates, players can visit the App Store or check out the Apple Games app — the best place to experience Apple Arcade to instantly jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends.
Pricing and Availability
• Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 (U.S.) per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free.
• Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95 U.S.), Family ($25.95 U.S.), and Premier ($37.95 U.S.) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial.
• Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
• An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
• Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
MacDailyNews Take: Have fun!
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Apple releases new firmware for iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
Apple has released a new firmware update for the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, the slim, magnetically-attaching power accessory designed exclusively for the ultra-thin iPhone Air lineup.
The update brings the firmware to version 101.0 (build 8B32), an incremental jump from the previous version 99.0 (build 8B25).
As with prior accessory updates, Apple has not released detailed release notes, leaving the specific improvements under wraps.
These silent refreshes typically include under-the-hood optimizations such as better power management, enhanced charging stability, improved magnetic alignment detection, or minor bug fixes to ensure seamless performance.
The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery remains a standout companion for users who value the iPhone Air’s sleek, lightweight design while still needing extra juice on busy days. It delivers wireless charging and attaches perfectly without adding excessive bulk, thanks in part to its use of battery technology closely related to the iPhone Air’s own cells.
Firmware installations happen automatically and in the background whenever the battery is attached to an iPhone Air, plugged in, and in active use. To manually check your current version (or confirm the update has applied):
- Attach the MagSafe Battery to your iPhone Air.
- Open Settings > General > About.
- Scroll down and tap iPhone Air MagSafe Battery to view the firmware details.
If you’re still seeing version 99.0 or earlier, keep the battery attached and charging for a while — updates often roll out over hours or days. For those wanting to force the process, some users report success by connecting the battery directly to a Mac via USB-C.
MacDailyNews Note: iPhone Air owners are encouraged to keep their accessories updated for the best possible experience. No action is typically required beyond normal use.
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EU’s internal trade barriers create higher costs than President Trump’s steepest tariff proposals, says European Central Bank
According to a new analysis from the European Central Bank (ECB), internal trade frictions within the European Union impose significantly higher costs on commerce than the steepest tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump against the bloc last year.
The ECB research highlights how barriers — such as differences in national rules and regulations, cumbersome administrative procedures, and anti-competitive practices — create intra-EU trade costs equivalent to tariff-like levies of 67% on goods and a staggering 95% on services.These internal hurdles are described as more burdensome than the highest U.S. tariff levels Trump proposed targeting the EU in 2025 – 50% on EU goods, which was simply an opening bid at the start of negotiations.
The findings underscore a recurring theme in recent ECB commentary: while external threats like U.S. tariffs grab headlines, the EU’s own fragmented single market continues to hinder growth and integration far more severely. Economists Lucia Quaglietti and Vanessa Gunnella authored the article, published January 14, 2026.
MacDailyNews Take: ‘Tis shocking that a bloated quasi-governmental bureaucratic blob excretes massive impediments to commerce. Just shocking.
The European Union arose because the Europeans couldn’t compete on their own with the rest of the world, so they each lined up to surrender their national sovereignty, unique cultures, and dignity for an undemocratic, opaque, wasteful, bloated, bureaucratic quasi-governmental blob – and, even with the EU’s thumbs all over the scale, they still can’t compete. — MacDailyNews, March 4, 2024
We usually prefer the government to be hands-off wherever possible, Laissez-faire… Regulations are static and the marketplace is fluid, so extensive regulations can have unintended, unforeseen results down the road. – MacDailyNews, June 9, 2006
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Apple’s films and TV series land record noms for the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards
On Tuesday, Apple TV was recognized with a record 22 total nominations across nine programs for the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards, with nine nominations for “Highest 2 Lowest,” including Outstanding Motion Picture; and Outstanding Supporting Actor Damson Idris and Outstanding Stunt Ensemble for “F1,” following its global release as the highest-grossing sports feature of all time. Acclaimed series “Government Cheese,” “Dope Thief,” “Loot” and “The Morning Show” earned honors for outstanding performances, and “Number One on the Call Sheet” scored Outstanding Television Documentary and Directing nods. Emmy, Golden Globe, AFI and Critics Choice Award-winning comedy “The Studio” landed a nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, and “Chief of War” was recognized with a nomination for Outstanding Make-Up (TV or Film). The winners will be revealed on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Pasadena.
In addition to Outstanding Motion Picture, Apple Original Films’ “Highest 2 Lowest” scored NAACP Image Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble Cast; Outstanding Actor Denzel Washington; Outstanding Supporting Actors Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky; Outstanding Breakthrough Performance A$AP Rocky; Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album; Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Make-Up. “F1” also earned nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor Damson Idris and Outstanding Stunt Ensemble.
Apple TV scored top NAACP Image Award acting nominations including Outstanding Actor in a Comedy for David Oyelowo for “Government Cheese”; Outstanding Actress in a Comedy for Maya Rudolph in “Loot”; Outstanding Supporting Actresses in a Drama for Karen Pittman and Nicole Beharie’s performances in “The Morning Show”; and “Dope Thief” landed nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series for Brian Tyree Henry and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for Ving Rhames. “Government Cheese,” “The Studio” and “Chief of War” received nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy and Outstanding Make-Up, respectively. “Number One on the Call Sheet” landed an Outstanding Television Documentary nod, alongside a nomination for Outstanding Directing.
Additionally, Apple landed 11 total nominations across eight titles for the 73rd Annual Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing, Dialogue/ADR and Effects/Foley for “F1”; Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing and Music Editing for “The Studio”; Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Dialogue/ADR and Music Editing for “Severance”; Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Effects/Foley for “Pluribus”; Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for “Murderbot” and “Side Quest”; Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Feature Documentary for “Deaf President Now!”; and, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Non-theatrical Feature for “The Gorge.” The winners will be revealed on Sunday, March 8, in Los Angeles.
To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 682 wins and 3,148 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
Apple TV received 22 total nominations for the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards, including:
“Highest 2 Lowest”
• Outstanding Motion Picture
• Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
• Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture — Denzel Washington
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — Jeffrey Wright
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — A$AP Rocky
• Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture — A$AP Rocky
• Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
• Outstanding Costume Design — Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
• Outstanding Make-Up (TV or Film) — Ngozi Olandu Young
“F1”
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture — Damson Idris
• Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)
“Government Cheese”
• Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series — David Oyelowo
• Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Paul Hunter, “Father Facts, Figures, and Failures”
“Loot”
• Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series — Maya Rudolph
“The Morning Show”
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Karen Pittman
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Nicole Beharie
“Dope Thief”
• Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie) — Brian Tyree Henry
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie) — Ving Rhames
“Number One on the Call Sheet”
• Outstanding Documentary (Television)
• Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Film) — Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch
“The Studio”
• Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series — Frida Perez, “The War”
“Chief of War”
• Outstanding Make-Up (TV or Film) — Christien Tinsley
Apple landed 11 nominations for the 73rd Annual Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Awards, including:
“F1”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Feature Dialogue / ADR
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Feature Effects / Foley
“The Studio”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Broadcast Short Form, “The Golden Globes”
• Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing — Broadcast Short Form, “The War”
“Severance”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Broadcast Long Form Dialogue / ADR, “Cold Harbor”
• Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing — Broadcast Long Form, “Cold Harbor”
“Pluribus”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Broadcast Long Form Effects / Foley, “Pirate Lady”
“Murderbot”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Broadcast Short Form, “All Systems Red”
“Side Quest”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Broadcast Short Form, “Fugue”
“The Gorge”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Non-theatrical Feature
“Deaf President Now!”
• Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing — Feature Documentary
All titles are currently streaming on Apple TV.
“Highest 2 Lowest”
When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business,” is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the fifth time in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller “High and Low,” now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.
“F1”
Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.
“Severance”
In “Severance,” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.
“Pluribus”
“Pluribus” is a genre-bending original in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.
“The Studio”
In “The Studio,” Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.
“The Morning Show”
Season four of “The Morning Show” opens in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three. With the UBA-NBN merger complete, the newsroom must grapple with newfound responsibility, hidden motives and the elusive nature of truth in a polarized America. In a world rife with deepfakes, conspiracy theories and corporate cover-ups — who can you trust? And how can you know what’s actually real? Along with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the star-studded season four ensemble cast includes Billy Crudup, Karen Pittman, Nicole Beharie, Nestor Carbonell, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Boyd Holbrook and returning fan-favorite Jon Hamm.
“Government Cheese”
“Government Cheese” is a surrealist family comedy set in 1969 San Fernando Valley that tells the story of the Chambers, a quirky family pursuing lofty and seemingly impossible dreams, beautifully unfettered by the realities of the world. When Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo) is released from prison, his long-awaited family reunion doesn’t go quite as he’d planned. During his absence, Hampton’s wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), and sons, Einstein (Evan Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), have formed an unconventional family unit, and Hampton’s return spins their world into chaos.
“Loot”
In “Loot,” Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph) embarks on a journey of self-discovery after getting an $87 billion divorce settlement from her wealthy tech billionaire husband John Novak (Adam Scott) of 20 years, and we find her thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation. Molly has landed the jet for season three, with viewers left on the edge of their seats following the season two finale that saw Wells and her trusted assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) board Molly’s private jet with her orders to take her as far away as possible after blowback from her fellow billionaires about stepping up philanthropy and her awkward exchange with her will-they, won’t-they colleague Arthur (Nat Faxon).
The new season continues to follow the antics of the beloved group of misfits at the Wells Foundation as they work together so Molly can live up to her promise of giving away all of her vast fortune. Alongside Rudolph, the returning ensemble cast includes Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches and Joel Kim Booster.
“Dope Thief”
Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book “Dope Thief,” the series follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern Seaboard.
“Murderbot”
Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.
“Side Quest”
An expansion of the “Mythic Quest” universe, “Side Quest” explores the lives of employees, players and fans who are impacted by the game in an anthology format.
“Chief of War”
Performed by a predominantly Polynesian cast led by Jason Momoa, “Chief of War” follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonization of Hawai‘i at the turn of the 18th century. The ensemble cast includes Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, newcomer Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale‘o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“Number One on the Call Sheet”
With unprecedented access and candid interviews, “Number One on the Call Sheet” takes us on an intimate journey with some of Hollywood’s most extraordinary leading Black men and women as they shine a light on the joys and challenges of being a Black actor, share breakthrough moments, discuss blueprints for success and honor legends, while recognizing the next generation’s enormous potential.
“The Gorge”
Two highly-trained operatives (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy) are appointed to posts in guard towers on opposite sides of a vast and highly classified gorge, protecting the world from an undisclosed, mysterious evil that lurks within. They bond from a distance while trying to stay vigilant in defending against an unseen enemy. When the cataclysmic threat to humanity is revealed to them, they must work together in a test of both their physical and mental strength to keep the secret in the gorge before it’s too late.
“Deaf President Now!”
The story of the greatest civil rights movement of which most people have never heard.
“Deaf President Now!” recounts the eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school’s board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. After a week of rallies, boycotts and protests, the students of Gallaudet University triumph as the hearing president resigns and beloved dean Dr. I. King Jordan becomes the university’s first Deaf president. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Deaf President Now!” features exclusive interviews with the five key figures of the movement, including the Gallaudet Four — Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Tim Rarus and Greg Hlibok — alongside I. King Jordan, as well as archival and scripted elements. The film also incorporates an experimental narrative approach called Deaf Point of View, using impressionistic visual photography and intricate sound design to thrust the audience into the Deaf experience.
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.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats to all of the casts and crews of the nominated fare!
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JPMorgan Chase profit dips as it builds $2.2 billion reserves for Apple Card
JPMorgan Chase reported a decline in quarterly profit after setting aside $2.2 billion in reserves related to its agreement with Goldman Sachs to assume the Apple Card partnership.
The Wall Street giant, led by CEO Jamie Dimon, posted fourth-quarter earnings of $13 billion, or $4.63 per share — down from $14 billion, or $4.81 per share, in the same quarter a year earlier, according to a statement released Tuesday.
James Franey for The New York Post:
“Excluding the one-time hit to earnings, JPMorgan’s quarterly profit increased to $14.7 billion, or $5.23 per share, fueled by trading. Shares of the bank rose 1.5% before the bell.
“The U.S. economy has remained resilient,” the bank’s CEO Dimon said in a statement. “While labor markets have softened, conditions do not appear to be worsening. Meanwhile, consumers continue to spend, and businesses generally remain healthy… These conditions could persist for some time, particularly with ongoing fiscal stimulus, the benefits of deregulation, and the Fed’s recent monetary policy.”
“Earlier this month, JPMorgan and Apple agreed that the bank became the new issuer of the iPhone maker’s card.
The bank had said it expects to record a $2.2 billion provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter tied to the portfolio.
A credit reserve — or provision for credit losses — is money a bank effectively squirrels away as a safety net to cover loans that might go bad in the future.
JPMorgan is establishing this massive cushion now to prepare for the influx of new credit card customers from Apple, signaling it is taking a cautious approach to the new portfolio.
MacDailyNews Note: Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card with a transition period expected to unfold over approximately 24 months.
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Indian government wants Apple to give them iOS source code
In the world’s second-largest smartphone market — with nearly 750 million devices in use — the Indian government has proposed a sweeping set of security standards aimed at combating rising online fraud and data breaches. The measures, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader digital security initiative, would require manufacturers including Apple and Samsung to share source code for review, maintain detailed device logs for a year, and implement other strict software controls.
While the IT ministry insists the goal is purely to enhance user data security and has promised to address industry concerns “with an open mind,” the proposals have triggered sharp backlash.
Reuters:
Companies including Apple and Samsung have privately protested the proposed package of security standards, which also includes a requirement to maintain phone logs on devices for a year, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a review of confidential government and industry documents.
The Internet Freedom Foundation, a privacy and free speech rights organization, said it “strongly rejects any proposed regime that effectively grants the state access to confidential source code and embeds persistent controls into devices used daily by hundreds of millions of Indians.”
The ministry called off a meeting scheduled for Tuesday with the tech giants to discuss their feedback and concerns about the proposal, according to three people with direct knowledge.
Seeking source code – the underlying programming instructions that make phones work – erodes trust and “is a massive step backwards from India’s goal of improving the ease of doing business,” said Akash Karmakar, a partner at Indian law firm Panag & Babu who specialises in technology law.
Last month, India revoked an order mandating a state-run cybersecurity app on phones following opposition from opposition parties and privacy advocacy groups.
MacDailyNews Take: Not gonna happen.
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Apple TV announces upcoming docuseries featuring tennis icon Andre Agassi
Today, sixteen years after the publication of his celebrated memoir, “Open: An Autobiography,” widely regarded as one of the greatest sports books in American literature, Apple TV announced that it will be home to a multi-part documentary series on the incredible life of Andre Agassi. The series, which will tell the thrilling, complex and inspiring story of an American legend, will be directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith, produced by Smith’s Library Films, and executive produced by Stacy Smith and Justin Gimelstob.
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 3,148 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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Brand-new Titan unveiled in teaser for Apple TV’s ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’
Apple TV released a new teaser for the highly anticipated second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” its global hit Monsterverse series starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett, and Anders Holm. The 10-episode second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” will premiere globally on Friday, February 27, 2026 with the first episode, followed by one episode every Friday until May 1, 2026.
In addition to Kong, season two will feature Godzilla and introduce a new Titan: the enigmatic Titan X, now officially on the loose. Titan X isn’t just another monster; it’s a living cataclysm. When its massive bioluminescent form breaks the surface of the ocean, the world seems to hold its breath. In “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” season two, Titan X stands at the center of the mystery — an ancient force emerging from the deep, its purpose uncertain, its power unmatched, its awe and terror in equal measure. Additional season two guest stars include Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, Curtiss Cook, Cliff Curtis, Dominique Tipper and Camilo Jiménez Varón.
Season one of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings looking to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), both in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.
Season two will pick up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. The dramatic saga reveals buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea. The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend and foe — all with the threat of a titan event on the horizon.
Hailing from Legendary Television, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is executive produced by Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, alongside Chris Black, Jen Roskind, Matt Shakman and Lawrence Trilling, who also directs four episodes, as well as Andrew Colville, who writes two episodes and serves as executive producer. Black serves as showrunner on season two. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship with the film franchise. Apple TV has a multi-series deal with Legendary Entertainment, which includes the second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” and multiple spinoff series based on the franchise.
Catch up on the first season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” now streaming globally on Apple TV.
In addition to “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” Apple TV recently announced plans for multiple series set within the Monsterverse featuring both new and fan-favorite Titans. The first spinoff is a thrilling, new, untitled Young Lee Shaw prequel with Wyatt Russell executive producing and reprising his role as Colonel Lee Shaw. The prequel will be showrun and executive produced by Emmy Award-nominee Harold. The expansion of Legendary’s entire Monsterverse franchise on Apple TV will be overseen by Harold under a newly announced overall deal with Legendary.
Legendary’s Monsterverse is an expansive cross-platform story universe centering around humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality — the monsters of our myths and legends are real. Beginning with the “Godzilla” film in 2014 and continuing through 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and most recently, the record-breaking “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” the franchise’s highest-grossing installment and the highest-grossing “Godzilla” film of all time, along with the eagerly anticipated sequel “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova,” which is set to release in 2027, the Monsterverse has accumulated over $2.5B at the global box office and expanded into the highly successful series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” for Apple TV. Including an interconnected world of video games, graphic novels, toys and live experiences, the Monsterverse represents epic entertainment on the largest possible scale.
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 679 wins and 3,137 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.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
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