Apple News
Apple’s Vision Pro job cuts were broader than first reported
Apple’s recent Vision Pro layoffs reached further across the company than initially disclosed, according to Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman.
Last month, Gurman reported that Apple cut about 100 jobs from the Vision Products Group, largely by shutting down the headset’s gaming team and shrinking the unit that produces immersive video. Combined with reductions on Siri and related software teams, the changes affected more than 200 people. Apple said it was realigning teams to focus on new devices and AI, while creating some new roles and offering affected employees a chance to apply elsewhere.
Gurman now says the cuts also hit Vision Pro-related staff in other parts of Apple, including device security, audio engineering, Siri integration, testing, and visionOS. Because visionOS is expected to underpin upcoming smart glasses as well as the headset, the broader reductions affect shared software rather than Vision Pro hardware alone.
According to Gurman, the company has told employees that Vision Pro and visionOS are not going away. A redesigned successor, internally known as N224, is still not expected before late 2028. Near-term emphasis has shifted to AI wearables, including smart glasses code-named N50 that remain on track for next year. Those glasses are not expected to support the same immersive video or advanced gaming experiences as the current headset.
The moves follow the June departure of Paul Meade, who led Vision Pro and smart glasses work before leaving for OpenAI. People inside the Vision organization have spent months urging new CEO John Ternus to keep investing in the platform even as sales lag, Gurman reports. Colleagues who have discussed the headset with Ternus say he was skeptical from the start that a bulky, expensive enclosed device could reach a mass market. He is still said to support the glasses project, but Gurman reports he would consider walking away from head-worn devices as a category if they fail to catch on.
Apple has described the changes as limited and tied to evolving product priorities. Vision Pro launched in 2024 as the company’s spatial-computing flagship but never became a high-volume product, constrained by price and form factor. In-house immersive videos can cost millions to produce and have not proven cost-effective given relatively small active use. Apple now plans fewer internal productions and more third-party content.
MacDailyNews Take: Vision Pro should never have shipped in its initial or present form and it never would have shipped under Steve Jobs or, it sounds like, under John Ternus.
[This] is exactly what you’d expect to occur when a product is released too early to average users… Apple Vision Pro is a devkit for developers, not for average users, and should have been released as a devkit for developers. – MacDailyNews, March 26, 2024
There are a lot of people inside and outside of Apple who think the company should have waited on the Vision Pro, but it’s fairly easy today to see why Tim Cook released this beta (alpha?) devkit: He likely knew last year, or had a strong inkling, that Project Titan was a goner and there wasn’t much excitement in Apple’s pipeline. He’d need something to point to as “innovation” while he continued on his seemingly unending quest to iterate and monetize products invented by Steve Jobs’ Apple (a very different place) while continuing Apple’s retail store buildout. He also needed something to energize developers and, who knows, they might come up with a killer visionOS app while Apple toils on the long road to real lightweight spatial computing glasses and beyond.
More importantly, Apple last year had already come to the sad realization that they’d missed the generative artificial intelligence revolution and would need a distraction while they feverishly scrambled to catch up (the fruits of which — alongside what sound like disappointing partnerships which hopefully, somehow, preserve user privacy — we’ll hopefully begin to see at WWDC this June).
You have to feel for Cook. After a decade plus of being able to iterate and monetize Jobs’ inspired products and services and continue adding retail stores around the world to spectacular effect, and being lauded for it, he now finds himself in a place that requires actual vision to be able to see which path to take. And he’s not the guy. Even the guy who put him in the position knew it.
Tim’s not a product person, per se. – Steve Jobs
See also:
• Contrary to popular belief, Steve Jobs knew about Apple Watch – February 13, 2023
• Work on Apple Vision Pro began under Steve Jobs – August 23, 2023
Beyond the fact that Cook can’t even execute a compelling live keynote address, his big send off, the “Apple Car,” [the idea of which was also germinated under Jobs] fizzled in ignominious failure.
See also:
• Scrapped Apple Car ‘a massive disappointment that will alter the course of the company’s history, perhaps for decades to come’ – Gurman – March 11, 2024
• Apple employees referred to doomed Apple Car project as ‘The Titanic Disaster’ – February 29, 2024
So, despite myriad misgivings and protestations inside Apple, Cook pulled the trigger early on the Vision Pro. He had to have something to point to that would buy him some time. Even Apple’s rubber-stamping board of lackeys would wake up and start asking questions otherwise.
While Cook is hemming and hawing when faced with shareholders (virtually, of course, never again in person for as long as Cook remains), Apple is currently in scramble mode trying to catch up to rivals in generative AI, a technology the company seems to have completely missed while focusing instead on the not-ready-for-primetime Apple Vision Pro, visionOS, its now-canceled decade-long multi-billion-dollar electric vehicle boondoggle, replacing leather in iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands with overpriced junk in a quest to “save the planet,” forcing employees to endure a constant barrage of time-wasting zero-productivity DEI sessions, and myriad other various and sundry “initiatives” which Cook deems of import. – MacDailyNews, February 28, 2024
When you lose your visionary CEO and replace him with a caretaker CEO, this is the type of aimless, late, bureaucratic dithering that ensues. – MacDailyNews, November 21, 2017
Thankfully, blessedly, today is finally a Brand New Day for Apple!
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Apple updates Leadership page as John Ternus becomes CEO
Apple has updated their Leadership page as John Ternus becomes the company’s eighth CEO.
The full list of Apple CEOs in chronological order is:
• Michael Scott (1977–1981)
• Mike Markkula (1981–1983)
• John Sculley (1983–1993)
• Michael Spindler (1993–1996)
• Gil Amelio (1996–1997)
• Steve Jobs (1997–2011)
• Tim Cook (2011–September 1, 2026)
• John Ternus (September 1, 2026–present)
John Ternus is the CEO of Apple and serves on its board of directors.
John joined Apple’s product design team in 2001 and became a vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013. He joined the executive team in 2021 as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. Throughout his tenure at Apple, John has overseen hardware engineering work on a variety of groundbreaking products and was instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as many generations of products across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch.
John has led much of the company’s focus in areas like reliability and durability, introducing new techniques that have made Apple products remarkably resilient. He has also driven much of Apple’s innovation in materials and hardware design that have reduced the carbon footprint of its products, including the creation of a new recycled aluminum compound that has been introduced across multiple product lines, the use of 3D-printed titanium in Apple Watch Ultra, and advancements in reparability that have increased the life spans of several Apple products.
Prior to Apple, John worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
MacDailyNews Take: This is an important day for Apple, whose fifteen-year, iterative slumber may have finally ended!
Of note is the emphasis on durability and reliability in John’s bio. Apple products do last a long time and they do hold their value much better than do rival products. Expect Apple to emphasize this as the worldwide memory crunch causes higher prices.
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Apple accuses OpenAI of destroying evidence as trade-secrets fight intensifies
Apple ratcheted up its lawsuit against OpenAI on Monday, telling a federal judge that the ChatGPT maker is destroying evidence while a former iPhone engineer used a confidential Apple circuit schematic in his new job.
In a court brief filed in support of expedited discovery, Apple said OpenAI is actively destroying crucial evidence in the Northern District of California case, which accuses the AI company, hardware chief Tang Yew Tan, former Apple engineer Chang Liu, and io Products of misappropriating hardware trade secrets. Apple also alleged that Liu “not only downloaded a confidential Apple circuit schematic but also used it in his work” at OpenAI.
The filing comes as Apple presses for early document production, forensic imaging of devices and accounts, and depositions of key witnesses. OpenAI has sought to dismiss the suit and has opposed Apple’s request for a fast-track discovery schedule and a preliminary injunction that would bar defendants from using or disclosing alleged Apple secrets while the case proceeds.
Apple sued in July, claiming a pattern of theft after OpenAI hired hundreds of former Apple employees and acquired Jony Ive’s hardware startup io. The complaint centers on Liu, an eight-year Apple senior systems electrical engineer who left in January 2026, and Tan, a 24-year Apple veteran who led iPhone and Watch product design and is now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer. Apple says Liu kept an Apple-issued laptop, exploited residual network access and an authentication bug, and downloaded dozens of confidential files—engineering presentations, specs for unreleased products, and manufacturing details for main logic boards—while already working for OpenAI. Tan, Apple alleges, used internal Apple project names in interviews and encouraged recruits to bring parts, prototypes, and supplier information.
OpenAI has denied the claims, calling the lawsuit careless and “oddly personal,” and saying it has no interest in Apple’s trade secrets. It has published messages it says show Apple employees contacting Liu after he left and asking for technical help, and it argues Apple delayed raising the core allegations for months.
As Bloomberg News’ Chris Welch and other reporters covering the Silicon Valley hardware race have noted, the case sits at the collision of two of tech’s most closely watched product efforts: Apple’s next devices under new CEO John Ternus and OpenAI’s push into consumer hardware after buying io. A hearing on Apple’s expedited-discovery motion is scheduled for Oct. 1 before Judge Edward Davila, though the court could rule sooner. Both companies declined additional comment beyond prior statements.
MacDailyNews Take: If you have nothing to hide, you don’t need a shredder. If your first device depends on Apple’s trade secrets, you definitely don’t want the schematics on your laptops.
Judge Davila gets this in October. Until then, OpenAI can keep insisting it’s all a misunderstanding. Apple is simply asking the court to look before the hard drives get “accidentally” wiped.
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Apple seeds eighth betas of macOS 27, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27
Apple on Monday released the eighth developer betas of macOS 27, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27, continuing the final stretch of testing before the software is expected to ship to the public in September.
The new builds arrive one week after the seventh developer betas, which went out on August 24. At this point in the cycle, Apple is typically focused on bug fixes, performance, and stability rather than large new user-facing features. Release candidates are widely expected after Apple’s September hardware event.
Build numbers
• iOS 27 beta 8: 24A5430a (replacing 24A5424a)
• iPadOS 27 beta 8: 24A5430a (replacing 24A5424a)
• macOS 27 beta 8: 26A5425a (replacing 26A5421a)
• watchOS 27 beta 8: 24R5360a (replacing 24R5358a)
Apple also issued matching eighth betas for tvOS 27 and visionOS 27.
macOS 27 continues under the Golden Gate name. It is the first macOS release limited to Apple silicon Macs.
How to install
Registered developers can install the updates over the air:
• iPhone and iPad: Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates, then choose the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 Developer Beta.
• Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update.
• Apple Watch: Use the Watch app on a paired iPhone. The watch should be on the charger, on Wi-Fi, and at least 50 percent charged.
Full restore images are also available from the Apple Developer site. Public beta testers usually receive corresponding public builds shortly after the developer drop.
What these releases are building toward
The “27” operating systems were first shown at WWDC 2026 on June 8, with developer beta 1 following the same day. Public betas began in mid-July. The official fall releases are expected alongside new iPhones and other hardware.
Headline features across the platforms include:
Siri AI. Apple’s rebuilt assistant is the centerpiece. It is designed as a more conversational chatbot with general world knowledge, personal context from apps such as Messages and Mail, and on-screen awareness. iOS 27 also adds a standalone Siri app for conversation history, systemwide Write with Siri, and Visual Intelligence relocated into the Camera app with a Siri mode. On Apple Watch, Siri AI requires a paired iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and later).
Apple Intelligence elsewhere. New AI features land in Photos, Safari, Shortcuts, Wallet, and Passwords. On the Mac, Spotlight and Shortcuts pick up deeper Siri AI integration, including natural-language shortcut creation.
Liquid Glass refinements. After last year’s more aggressive glass look, Apple has improved legibility and added a transparency slider so users can dial the effect from glassy to more opaque. macOS 27 also revisits window chrome, including traffic-light controls and more consistent corner radii.
Performance. Apple has emphasized faster app launches, quicker keyboard appearance, snappier AirDrop, better Wi-Fi/cellular handoff, and improvements that are noticeable even on older supported iPhones. watchOS 27 includes battery optimizations, an updated Find My experience with Precision Finding, Workout Buddy improvements that work without a nearby iPhone, and a Dynamic app grid with Siri suggestions.
Some capabilities remain limited by region or regulation. Earlier in the cycle, Siri AI features were reported as blocked for EU developers under Digital Markets Act rules, and certain Apple Intelligence features have been unavailable in China while Apple works through local requirements.
What to expect next
Ninth-week betas this late in the summer are often the last regular developer drops before release candidates. Those RCs frequently appear after Apple’s September event, when the company also tends to reveal any remaining watch faces, health features, or hardware-tied software that was held back from earlier betas.
The finished versions of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 are still expected for the public this fall.
MacDailyNews Note: As always, beta software can be unstable. A backup is strongly recommended before installing.
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Apple veteran Phil Schiller steps down from App Store and product events
Apple’s Phil Schiller, one of the company’s most visible executives spanning the Steve Jobs and Tim Cook eras, has stepped down from running the App Store and Apple’s product events, according to Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman.
The 66-year-old, who left the senior vice president of marketing role in 2020 and became an Apple Fellow, made the change in recent days, people familiar with the matter told Gurman. Schiller will remain at Apple as a Fellow and work on unspecified initiatives. Company employees view the move as a significant step toward an eventual retirement.
Schiller first joined Apple in 1987, left in 1993, and returned in 1997 when Jobs came back. He was a central figure in launches of the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and later oversaw App Store policy through years of regulatory pressure, including Europe’s Digital Markets Act. In 2020, Apple said he would keep leading the App Store and events after handing marketing to Greg Joswiak. As recently as 2024, he was still reported to be working nearly 80 hours a week.
Responsibility for the App Store is moving to the services organization led by Eddy Cue, who previously oversaw the store until 2015. Day-to-day operations, including app distribution, third-party marketplaces, and Apple Arcade, will be handled by Carson Oliver. Ann Thai, who has worked on distribution tools and alternative marketplaces, will report to Oliver. Leadership of product events is going to Nola Weinstein, Schiller’s deputy since 2023, who will report to communications vice president Kristin Huguet Quayle.
The shift comes on Tim Cook’s last day as CEO and as John Ternus prepares to take over, with Cook becoming executive chairman. The App Store remains a major services business, widely estimated to generate more than $30 billion a year. Weinstein’s team is preparing for Apple’s September 9th event, expected to include a foldable iPhone and updated Apple Watch models.
MacDailyNews Take: The only constant is change,
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Apple tests ceramic Watch cases, always-on heart tracking, and a foldable iPhone pencil
Apple is preparing incremental updates to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 for its September 9th event, while internally experimenting with a shorter Apple Pencil for its first foldable iPhone — an accessory that is unlikely to ship with the phone.
According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, neither the Series 12 nor the Ultra 4 is expected to receive a major design overhaul versus last year’s Series 11 and Ultra 3. Touch ID is not expected this cycle. What Apple has tested is a return of ceramic cases for the Series 12, in both white and dark gray finishes reminiscent of the high-end Series 3 from 2017. New band colors and configurations are also in the works.
The more meaningful work is inside the watch. After multiple years on essentially the same silicon, the new models are expected to get a faster chip — likely an S11 or similar — along with health and fitness upgrades. One feature in testing would let the heart-rate sensor collect data continuously throughout the day rather than in periodic snapshots. Apple is also reworking its Health and Fitness apps so they surface wellness metrics in a style closer to dedicated trackers such as Whoop and Oura.
A broader Apple Watch redesign is still planned, but not for this generation. This year’s watches are framed as a modest step: more speed, richer all-day health data, and a premium ceramic option, not a new silhouette.
The foldable iPhone, expected to debut at the same September event and often referred to internally as iPhone Ultra, prompted a more unusual experiment. Apple prototyped, tested, and considered selling a dedicated Apple Pencil sized for the device. The stylus was stubbier than iPad Pencils to match the shorter height of the folded phone. Like current Pencils, it was designed to snap magnetically to the side for storage and charging.
That side mount is part of why the accessory is not expected to launch next month. A Pencil parked along the tall edge gets in the way when the phone is opened — including the many times a user has no intention of drawing. The other problem is the display itself. Foldable panels use a softer top layer than conventional glass; a hard stylus tip can leave visible marks similar to a fingernail.
Steve Jobs famously dismissed phone styluses when the original iPhone launched. Apple later built a highly refined Pencil for iPad. For the first folding iPhone, the company got far enough to weigh a companion stylus, then appears to have concluded the engineering and product-fit problems outweigh the benefit — at least for day one.
MacDailyNews Take: The September 9th event is still expected to center on iPhone 18 Pro models and the foldable, with Series 12 and Ultra 4 as the wearable counterparts. Buyers looking for a ceramic Watch or continuous heart-rate logging may find those in the new hardware and software. Buyers hoping the foldable arrives with a pocket-sized Pencil should plan on fingers for now.
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