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Apple’s massive buybacks can’t hide flat growth
Apple, before this year a standout long-term performer in equity markets, faces a valuation increasingly disconnected from its core fundamentals. Instead of innovation or significant growth driving its stock, the company has relied heavily on financial engineering, particularly through massive share buybacks, to prop up its performance.
Chase Alexander for GuruFocus:
While Tim Cook’s capital allocation strategy has been highly effective, the benefit of buybacks diminishes when shares are richly priced, the fundamental issue with buybacks in this case is:
1. They rely on valuations being low enough to act as accretive to earnings (they no longer are at roughly 200 a share)
2. They mask underlying issues fundamental to the company by propping up the order book without real underlying demand. At current valuations, 30+ PE and effectively zero growth, not only is the valuation high, which limits the ability of the company to significantly reduce float through buybacks, there is effectively zero impact on EPS. A 30 PE is a significant premium to the greater market, while there is value to stable cash flows and effective capex, this on its own is really not enough, a 30 PE with zero growth is obscene.
This reference to zero growth is not an exaggeration, the company has not increased revenues meaningfully since 2022 (EPS is flat as well) and the company does not have the significant investment pipelines other mega-caps display. Service growth has also stagnated with significant focus on regulatory headwinds such as within the EU regarding App store policies and anti competitive processes.
The company seemingly has done nothing to expand within the artificial intelligence boom and as an extensive user of the Apple ecosystem, the company seems to have been left in the dust and has not offered any compelling reason to utilize any of its “tools” related in any way to industry megatrends.
MacDailyNews Take: For now, Teflon Tim’s protective coating is intact, but, at some point — yes, it’ll have to get even worse than shedding a quarter of share value in less than six months — Apple shareholders will en masse see behind the curtain and finally force what should’ve already happened years ago.
See also:
• Time to Think Different: Tim Cook’s leadership has run its course at Apple – June 20, 2025
• Tim Cook is not the best person to be CEO of Apple – April 2, 2019
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Barclays bearish on Apple stock: iPhone is ‘ex-growth,’ and Mac, iPad, Vision Pro are irrelevant
Barclays’ most recent research report on Apple (AAPL), issued on June 24, 2025, from lead analyst Tim Long, maintains an Underweight rating with a price target of $173, despite Apple’s stock closing at $201.50 that day. The report, titled “Tim’s Three Things on AAPL, and Why We Still Don’t Like the Stock,” expresses skepticism about Apple’s growth prospects, particularly focusing on three key concerns:
• iPhone as “Ex-Growth:” Barclays argues that investors should pay closer attention to the iPhone being “ex-growth,” suggesting that the core product driving Apple’s revenue has limited growth potential. The analysts note, “Investors need to pay more attention to iPhones being ‘ex-growth,’” highlighting stagnating demand and market saturation as significant hurdles.
• Concentrated At-Risk Services Business: The report emphasizes risks in Apple’s Services segment, describing it as “very concentrated and at risk.” Barclays points out that the Services business, while a high-margin contributor, relies heavily on a few key revenue streams, making it vulnerable to competitive pressures and regulatory challenges.
• Lack of Impact from Other Products: The analysts assert that “no other products matter for the stock,” downplaying the significance of Apple’s newer offerings, such as Macs, iPads, and wearables. They argue these products lack the scale to meaningfully drive stock performance compared to the iPhone.
Barclays’ bearish stance persists despite Apple’s significant year-to-date underperformance, which sees the stock down $59.02, or 22.7%, from its all-time high of $260.10 set on December 26, 2024.
MacDailyNews Take: Every product is “irrelevant” (in terms of sales) compared to the iPhone whose influence is massive; reshaping technology, culture, and behavior in innumerable ways. iPhone popularized smartphones, putting personal computers in users’ pockets, merging communication, computing, and entertainment into one device. By 2025, over 6 billion smartphones are in use globally, all of which are either iPhones or iPhone knockoffs.
The Mac, iPad, and Apple services are not irrelevant, they’re additive as part of the Apple ecosystem where every Apple product and service you add increases the value of your other Apple products and services.
This report is also by yet another “analyst” who ignores Apple’s number one concern: “Leadership” that neglected the Siri lynchpin for a decade and a half, completely missed the GenAI paradigm shift, and is so far incapable of even looking like they’re catching up, much less actually getting there.
For how much longer will Teflon Tim’s protective coating last?
See also:
• Time to Think Different: Tim Cook’s leadership has run its course at Apple – June 20, 2025
• Tim Cook is not the best person to be CEO of Apple – April 2, 2019
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Apple’s AirTag 2 likely to launch alongside iPhone 17 family this September
Apple’s AirTag 2 is expected to get an autumn release alongside the iPhone 17 family of devices, likely in September, 9to5Mac reports citing “reliable sources.”
We have some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that we are able to confirm that Apple has already set up compatibility with the 2nd-gen AirTag on iOS 18.6. This means that AirTag 2 shouldn’t require iOS 26, which would have been a pretty stingy cutoff.
Now the bad news: According to reliable 9to5Mac sources, Apple is now aiming at a Fall release, likely putting its announcement around the time of the iPhone event, which usually takes place in September.
MacDailyNews Take: The rumor mill expects the following upgrades for the Apple’s AirTag 2:
• Second-Generation Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Chip: Expected to offer up to three times the tracking range (up to 200-300 feet or 60-90 meters) compared to the current AirTag’s U1 chip, improving Precision Finding accuracy. This chip debuted in the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch
• Tamper-Proof Speaker: A redesigned speaker to make it harder to disable, enhancing anti-stalking measures by ensuring alerts remain audible.
• Vision Pro/Spatial Computing Integration: Rumored compatibility with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, potentially enabling augmented reality (AR) tracking or 3D Precision Finding for more precise location visualization.
• Improved Bluetooth Connectivity: Enhanced reliability for communication with Apple devices, as hinted by iOS 26 code updates.
• Battery Life Improvements: Likely to retain the replaceable CR2032 battery but with better power efficiency for potentially longer battery life.
• Similar Design, Possible Slim Variant: No major design overhaul expected, maintaining the circular puck shape. Some rumors suggest a slimmer, card-shaped version for wallets, but this is unconfirmed.
• Enhanced Privacy Features: Stronger anti-stalking protections, such as improved unauthorized tracking alerts, building on existing Find My network safeguards.
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With ‘F1,’ Apple execs hope for a ‘Top Gun: Maverick’-like blockbuster
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.
From Apple Original Films, the high-octane, action-packed feature film “F1 The Movie” was directed by Joseph Kosinski.
Apple executives are hoping “F1” achieves results similar to “Top Gun: Maverick,” the American action drama film also directed by Kosinski, that grossed $1,496,696,292 worldwide in 2022.
Ben Fritz and Joe Flint for The Wall Street Journal:
The tech giant agreed to spend nearly $250 million [on “F1”], more than any other studio thought the drama about an aging driver’s last shot at glory was worth, said people with knowledge of the matter. Pitt was paid more than the $20 million standard for A-list movie stars and will get a cut of the film’s revenue if it’s a hit.
“F1” is one of Apple’s biggest entertainment bets since it leapt into Hollywood in 2019 and embodies its unusually lavish and meticulous approach to the business, which has brought little commercial success. People who have worked at or with the company say Apple executives crave hits, but only want to produce content they believe reflects the high-end, aspirational qualities of the iPhone and MacBook…
With sleek production values and strong reviews, “F1” is exactly the kind of movie Apple wants. It was made by “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Apple executives have privately said they hope it will be the land-based equivalent of the airborne blockbuster, which grossed $1.5 billion in 2022.
But prerelease surveys indicate “F1” is struggling to generate interest among audiences beyond older men. Its success or failure will be a referendum on Apple’s ability to meld carefully curated content with broad popular appeal after six years in which it hasn’t released a single box-office hit.
“F1” will be available on Apple TV+, the company’s streaming service, after its run on the big screen. Apple TV+ has an estimated 27.2 million subscribers in the U.S., according to Nielsen, below competitors that launched around the same time including Disney+ and HBO Max.
It has earned a reputation for content that excites critics more than audiences, including the Leonardo DiCaprio–Robert De Niro movie “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA,” literary adaptation “Pachinko,” and the spy drama “Slow Horses.”
Its few mainstream successes include sports comedy “Ted Lasso,” sci-fi workplace drama “Severance” and straight-to-streaming film “The Gorge.”
MacDailyNews Take: The extent of the marketing reveals the height of Apple exec’s hopes for “F1.”
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, 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 tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Morgan Stanley sees higher-than-expected iPhone and iPad sales for June quarter
Morgan Stanley expects that “deep” 618 Festival channel promotions in China are driving higher-than-expected iPhone and iPad sell-through for the June quarter. The firm now anticipates approximately 3.0 million more iPhone units and 2.5 million more iPad units than previously forecast, which could translate to a $4 billion revenue increase, assuming no other changes.
The analyst noted that September quarter builds are tracking in line or slightly better.
It is worth noting that on June 9, [CNBC] Mad Money host [Jim Cramer] said:
Hey, finally there’s a stock that people now love to downgrade… I’m talking about Apple. I expect to hear some downgrades tomorrow because of today’s supposedly ho-hum Worldwide Developers Conference… But what the critics seemed to be missing constantly is that the only question I heard was upgrade or not. Did you hear switch? I didn’t hear switch. As long as I didn’t hear switch, I’m going to hold the stock…
MacDailyNews Take: On June 13th, Morgan Stanley reiterated its Overweight [Buy] rating on AAPL shares and its $235 price target.
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CarPlay: Vehicle makers push back against Apple’s attempt to takeover the dashboard
Apple is encountering pushback from the automotive industry regarding its CarPlay Ultra software, designed to fully control a vehicle’s dashboard for the first time. German luxury brands Mercedes-Benz and Audi, along with Volvo Cars, Polestar, and Renault, have stated they have no plans to integrate the upgraded software into their vehicles, despite Apple’s earlier suggestions that they would.
Kana Inagaki and Michael Acton for Financial Times:
Some companies have found Apple’s foray into driver screens to be over-reach. One executive at Renault, which is developing a vehicle mainly controlled by software with Google and Qualcomm, said the French carmaker told Apple: “Don’t try to invade our own systems.”
CarPlay Ultra connects the vehicle not only to iPhone’s music and maps, but other vehicle information on the dashboard such as temperature, speed and fuel use.
Aston Martin recently became the first carmaker to introduce the Apple system in its cars, but many other carmakers are developing their own infotainment system in the hope of generating more revenue from in-car services and vehicle data.
A high percentage of new cars come with CarPlay, with the share reaching 98 per cent in the US, according to Apple, and drivers in America using the system more than 600mn times per day.
Although Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis cars were not part of the 14 named by Apple in 2022 as future CarPlay Ultra users, the Korean brands have committed to installing the upgraded system.
More carmakers using CarPlay Ultra were on the way, Apple told the Financial Times. Porsche plans to add support for the new software in its future models, according to its chief designer Michael Mauer…
Apple said customers were going to like CarPlay Ultra and carmakers would ultimately respond to consumer demand.
MacDailyNews Take: Note to vehicle makers: No CarPlay? No sale. CarPlay Ultra? You’re on our list of potential future vehicle purchases.
See also: Vehicle buyers consider Ford, Toyota, after GM announces Apple CarPlay phaseout – April 14, 2023
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U.S. Senators push for American version of EU’s Digital Markets Act
On Tuesday, June 24, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Open App Markets Act.
This bipartisan bill aims to establish enforceable rules to “promote competition and strengthen consumer protections within the app market,” according to Senator Blackburn’s website.
The bill claims that Apple and Google hold gatekeeper control over the two dominant mobile operating systems and their app stores, restricting competition and consumer choice.
“Big Tech giants have operated as unaccountable gatekeepers of the mobile app economy, forcing American consumers to use their app stores at the expense of innovative startups that threaten their bottom line,” said Senator Blackburn. “Our bipartisan Open App Markets Act would ensure a freer and fairer marketplace for consumers and small businesses by promoting competition in the app marketplace and opening the door to more choices and innovation.”
Amber Neely for AppleInsider:
The Open App Markets Act seeks to do a number of things, including:
• Protect developers’ rights to tell consumers about lower prices and offer competitive pricing;
• Protect sideloading of apps;
• Promote competition by opening the market to third-party app stores, startup apps, and alternative payment systems;
• Make it possible for developers to offer new experiences that take advantage of consumer device features;
• Give consumers greater control over their devices;
• Prevent app stores from disadvantaging developers; and
• Establish safeguards to preserve consumer privacy, security, and safety.
Read the full bill here.
MacDailyNews Note: Anything that makes enough money for a long enough time will be regulated whether it needs it or not.
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Apple TV+ announces new docuseries featuring UConn women’s basketball dynasty
Apple TV+ on Wednesday announced a new three-part docuseries featuring the legendary University of Connecticut (UConn) women’s basketball team — the 2025 NCAA National Champions and one of the most iconic women’s teams in sports history. Spanning 40 years of the program’s historic dynasty under Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma, the series is directed by Emmy Award winner Matthew Hamachek (“The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” “Tiger”) and Emmy Award nominee Erica Sashin (“Harry & Meghan”). The series is produced for Apple TV+ by Skydance Sports and is currently in production.
In 1985, the UConn women’s basketball program had one winning season in its history, but with the arrival of Auriemma as coach and an iconic collection of players, including Rebecca Lobo, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart and No. 1 2025 WNBA Draft pick Paige Bueckers, the Huskies became the gold standard for excellence in college basketball. In all, UConn has won 12 national championships, more than any other team — men or women — in the history of NCAA Division I basketball.
“This series offers fans an exclusive view into 40 seasons of UConn women’s basketball, and I’m really excited for audiences to be able to see all the hard work that has built this program.” — Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, University of Connecticut Huskies Women’s Basketball Team
With a relentless work ethic and drive, Auriemma has mentored multiple generations of superstars, become an unlikely leader in women’s sports and created historic rivalries, with each chapter in his career marked by success, struggle and a passionate pursuit of perfection.
This documentary reveals the epic narrative of UConn’s roller coaster path to becoming the greatest dynasty in women’s sports history, with each episode featuring a blend of unique archival footage, incisive interviews and intimate access with UConn’s 2024-25 championship squad.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Apple TV+ and Skydance Sports on this project that gives a behind-the-scenes look at our National Championship run that has never been seen before,” Auriemma said in a statement. “This series offers fans an exclusive view into 40 seasons of UConn women’s basketball, and I’m really excited for audiences to be able to see all the hard work that has built this program.”
The docuseries is produced by Skydance Sports, with Learfield Studios and Brillstein Creative Partners executive producing.
The currently untitled docuseries joins Apple’s expanding offering of nonfiction programming featuring the biggest stories in sports, including “Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series,” featuring the revival of MLB’s most iconic playoff rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers; “Onside: Major League Soccer,” going beyond the pitch with unprecedented access to players, coaches and clubs during the 2024 season; “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” a documentary event about the New England Patriots, from Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries; “Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend,” the first official and definitive account of Messi’s sensational career with the Argentina national team and his five FIFA World Cup appearances, including his 2022 win; and “Stephen Curry: Underrated,” the remarkable coming-of-age story of one of the most influential, dynamic and unexpected players in the history of basketball — among many others.
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 578 wins and 2,625 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic 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, 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 tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Apple Sports adds tennis ahead of Wimbledon
Ahead of Wimbledon (June 30 – July 13 2025) Apple Sports — the free app for iPhone that gives sports fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more, delivered with speed and simplicity — today added tennis to its growing list of supported sports.
Tennis fans can access live scores for Grand Slam and 1000-level tournaments, and can track every point across all men’s and women’s singles matches, beginning with Wimbledon. Fans can stay updated on a player’s progress throughout the tournament, with live scores delivered incredibly fast in the same way fans have been loving from Apple Sports, plus get results from every match from the first round through the finals. Fans can follow all of the action as the tournament and season unfolds.
With Live Activities, Apple Sports delivers real-time updates directly to a user’s iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch. (To get Live Activities, fans must be on compatible Apple devices running iOS 18 and watchOS 11 or later.) Game Card Sharing lets fans share their excitement for any matchup across all supported leagues.
With Live Activities, Apple Sports delivers real-time updates directly to a user’s iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch.
Apple Sports on Wednesday also introduced a brand-new home experience, making it easier than ever for fans to personalize and follow their favorite teams and leagues. Events and matchups are now grouped by league, with intuitive controls for fans to set their preferred order, ensuring their top leagues appear first. Favorite teams always appear at the top, giving fans instant access to the scores and updates they care about the most.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple Sports gives fans a simple and fast way to stay up to speed on the teams and leagues they love. Designed for speed and simplicity, the app’s personalized experience puts users’ favorite leagues and teams front and center, featuring an easy-to-use interface designed by Apple. Users can customize their scoreboards on Apple Sports by following their favorite teams, tournaments, and leagues. Fans can easily navigate between scores and upcoming games, explore play-by-play information and lineup details, and tap to go to the Apple TV app to watch live games from Apple and connected streaming apps. (A subscription is required for some services. Availability and content may vary by country or region.) Apple Sports also seamlessly syncs with favorites selected within the My Sports experience, including in the Apple TV app and Apple News. Apple Sports is available to download in the App Store in the U.S., the UK, and Canada. Availability and features may vary by country, region, or device. Apple Sports is free to use and is available for all iPhone models running iOS 17.2 or later.
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Apple ready with App Store changes to dodge more EU fines
Apple is set to implement additional App Store changes to satisfy European Union antitrust regulators, who issued an ultimatum following a €500 million ($580 million) fine.
Samuel Stolton for Bloomberg News:
The iPhone maker’s proposal — due by June 26 — would make it easier for third-party developers to direct customers away from the Apple ecosystem to make software purchases, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The pledge, following weeks of tense discussions with EU regulators, would potentially ward off future penalties for failing to fix alleged violations of the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, which led to the fine in April. Apple has said it plans to appeal the penalty through the bloc’s courts in Luxembourg.
Apple responded fiercely to its penalty at the time, accusing the bloc’s regulators of discriminating against the company and forcing it to give away its technology for free.
MacDailyNews Take: When red tape is your number one export, you’re doomed.
The U.S. has leverage and recourse. We expect both to be used.
Trump administration has been warning the EU against excessive regulation of American technology firms. On February 21st, President Trump issued a directive, “Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties,” threatening to impose tariffs on Europe to combat what he called “overseas extortion” of American tech companies through digital services taxes, fines, practices, and policies.
See also: President Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook called to complain about EU’s $17 billion in fines – October 17, 2024
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
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Sonny Dickson’s Collectible Phones transforms original iPhone into timeless art
Sonny Dickson’s new venture, Collectible Phones, aims to give iconic mobile devices a second life as treasured collectibles. Sonny’s passion for the history of technology inspired the idea to preserve the significance of groundbreaking devices, starting with the original first-generation iPhone — Steve Jobs’ revolutionary product that reshaped global connectivity and set new standards for smartphone innovation.
“Collectible 2G” transforms Apple’s groundbreaking first iPhone into a timeless piece of art. Expertly mounted in a sleek, high-quality frame, this display captures the elegance and legacy of the device that revolutionized the tech world.
Collectible 2G transforms Apple’s groundbreaking first iPhone into a timeless piece of art.Collectible Phones’ main goal is to reduce electronic waste by turning old mobile devices into beautiful and long-lasting art pieces. These framed collectibles allow fans to celebrate technology while also helping to protect the environment. Every iPhone displayed as art in a high quality presentation is one less in a landfill.
Each $349 Collectible 2G is meticulously framed – in a choice of Black or Silver – combining historical significance with vibrant, museum-quality aesthetics to elevate your space.
Collectible 2G specs:
• Outer frame size: 30 × 42.3 cm (11.8 × 16.7 inches)
• Thickness: 3.4 cm (1.3 inches)
• Weight: Approx. 2.2 kg (4.9 lbs)
You can also get an iPhone 2G – Apple’s original iPhone – in 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB – for $149 each. (Each iPhone is a genuine device and 100% functional. While small marks or signs of age may be present, Collectible Phones hand-picks the best possible units to ensure quality. These are original, unmodified phones intended for collectors who value authenticity and tech history.)
More info about Collectible Phones here.
MacDailyNews Take: While we already have several original, functional iPhone, we want one of these framed Collectible 2G exploded-view artworks to adorn a wall of our palatial headquarters!
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BofA Securities reiterates buy rating on Apple stock, sees several potential benefits to mooted Perplexity acquisition
Apple is reportedly in discussions to acquire AI startup Perplexity. Bank of America Securities (BofA) suggests this move could boost Apple’s stock, which has declined precipitously this year.
Christine Ji
for Business Insider:
Apple has been the worst-performing Magnificent Seven stock in 2025, with shares down 20% year-to-date. On top of weak iPhone sales and tariff concerns, the company has lagged in the AI race among its mega-cap tech peers.
At Apple’s WWDC earlier this month, the company failed to ease Wall Street’s concerns about its Apple Intelligence product…
However, Apple executives could be eyeing a purchase of AI startup Perplexity, Bloomberg reported last week. While Perplexity has denied any M&A discussions and Apple has declined to comment, Wall Street didn’t ignore the buzz. Bank of America believes a deal could throw a lifeline to Apple’s thus-lacking AI strategy and turn the stock around.
If you can’t make your own special AI sauce, buying it might be the next best option, according to BofA…
“Any such deal (we do not have any direct knowledge of the probability of such a deal) would likely be positive for shares that are currently in the penalty box given Apple is largely viewed as an AI laggard (deep Siri integration delayed and no cutting edge models),” Wamsi Mohan, technology research analyst at Bank of America, wrote.
MacDailyNews Take: BofA’s Apple “analysts” prefer to live in fantasyland, choking down Gurman’s summer newsletter filler like it’s manna from heaven, rather than look at the real crux of the issue:
Blind, deaf, and dumb.
We’ve forgotten more about Apple than some of these “analysts” will ever know.
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Apple promotes ‘F1 the Movie’ via Wallet app push notification
Apple sent a Wallet app push notification ad to an unspecified number of U.S. iPhone users. The ad highlights a limited-time Apple Pay discount from Fandango for two tickets to Apple’s upcoming – and very heavily-promoted – film, “F1 The Movie.”
Joe Rossignol for MacRumors:
Some of the iPhone users who received the push notification have complained about it across the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, X, and other online discussion platforms.
“As far as I can tell, Apple is now just sending me ads to my screen now as push notifications, something I hate with an absolute passion and disable across the board in every app that tries this,” said one person who received the notification.
Some people are especially upset about receiving a push notification ad through the Wallet app because it is a very important app for personal finances, so simply turning off notifications for the entire app is not a feasible solution.
Worse, Apple seems to be ignoring the guidelines that apply to App Store apps. The company says push notifications should not be used for promotions or direct marketing purposes unless users have explicitly opted in to receive them for said purposes.
The full text of Apple’s guideline:
Push Notifications should not be used for promotions or direct marketing purposes unless customers have explicitly opted in to receive them via consent language displayed in your app’s UI, and you provide a method in your app for a user to opt out from receiving such messages.
MacDailyNews Take: Given the amount of promotion Apple is lavishing on “F1 The Movie,” it seems the company is fairly desperate to have the summer blockbuster of 2025. We will note that this is certainly not the first time we’ve received a push notification of an Apple Pay deal via the Wallet app. If any of these missives interest us, we appreciate it. If not, we simply ignore it and swipe left to clear it. Color us nonplussed by the whole affair.
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Apple joins China’s national subsidiary program
Apple has joined China’s national subsidy program, giving a lift to the U.S. company as it faces fierce competition from major local rivals and increasing challenges in the world’s second-largest economy. Consumers in Beijing and Shanghai can now get discounts of up to 2,000 yuan (US$278) on select Apple products — including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook — when purchasing directly from Apple, according to a statement released Tuesday on Apple’s mainland China website.
Ben Jiang for South China Morning Post:
To avail themselves of the government subsidy in Shanghai, consumers must make their purchase at one of the eight bricks-and-mortar Apple Stores in the city. Those in Beijing can enjoy the subsidy when placing orders via Apple’s online retail shop and providing a shipping address within the Chinese capital.
Select models of the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that cost below 6,000 yuan are eligible for a subsidy of up to 500 yuan, while as much as 2,000 yuan in discounts cover certain Mac computer models, according to Apple’s statement.
Although certain Apple products sold via local e-commerce platforms, such as JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao marketplace, have been eligible for such subsidies, Tuesday’s announcement marks the first time the US company has started offering discounts under the government scheme through its own retail channels.
The national subsidy scheme, which was launched earlier this year to incentivise consumer spending, provided a 15 per cent subsidy for purchases of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches that cost under 6,000 yuan. Discounts are capped at 500 yuan per item bought.
MacDailyNews Take: Can’t beat ’em? Join em. Think Different? Nah. ‘Tis bad for your health to do that in Communist China, as Tim Cook’s same old, same old one-trick Apple knows all too well. Instead, Tim Cook’s Apple will do even more of the same: suckling off the CCP teat.
Think Same. Yeah, for Tim Cook’s uninspired, underperforming Apple, that’s the ticket!
See also:
• Time to Think Different: Tim Cook’s leadership has run its course at Apple – June 20, 2025
• How Tim Cook’s Apple may have undermined America’s lead in technological innovation and even its national security – June 17, 2025
• Tim Cook firmly latched Apple onto China’s CCP teat. What’s his plan for weaning it off? – November 2, 2022
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Dennis Lehane’s Apple TV+ thriller series ‘Smoke’ only occasionally ignites interest
Inspired by true events, “Smoke” follows a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.
Created and written by Dennis Lehane and inspired by true events, “Smoke” follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. Starring Egerton as arson investigator Dave Gudsen and Emmy Award nominee Jurnee Smollett as police detective Michelle Calderone, the cast of “Smoke” also features Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Emmy Award nominee Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Greg Kinnear, and Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo.
“Smoke” will make its global debut on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025 with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Friday through August 15, 2025.
Dan Einav for Financial Times:
Smoke, a new Apple TV+ series about an arson investigation, should have been a sure-fire hit, with scripts by seasoned crime writer Dennis Lehane, a star turn from Taron Egerton and an eerie original theme by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. But the nine-part psychological thriller is less a gripping slow-burn than one that only occasionally ignites interest.
The slack pacing is partly offset by a keen sense of style and a moody atmosphere; dynamic performances meanwhile keep up with both narrative turns and a tone that lurches between noirish gloom and hit-and-miss humour.
The hackneyed scripting gets in the way of the show’s well-intentioned attempt at asking what fuels pyromaniacs… A subplot involving one of the arsonists — a lonely, laconic chicken shop worker played by a quietly unsettling Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine — explores how feelings of powerlessness can mutate into a destructive urge. It’s a point Smoke perhaps oversells, but arson is nothing if unsubtle.
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, 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 tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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Apple in last-minute App Store negotiations to avoid EU fines
Apple is in urgent talks with EU regulators to modify its App Store and dodge escalating fines set to begin this week. The $3 trillion company, previously fined €500 million for violating the EU’s Digital Markets Act, is negotiating with the European Commission to comply with the law.
Barbara Moens for Financial Times:
People involved in the negotiations said Apple was expected to offer concessions on its “steering” provisions that stop users accessing offers outside the App Store.
Regulators ordered the Silicon Valley company to revise its rules within two months of its initial €500mn fine, with the deadline for the company to comply with the bloc’s rules in order to avoid new levies expiring on Thursday. Those financial penalties can escalate over time and reach up to 5 per cent of average daily worldwide revenue.
According to those with knowledge of the talks, Apple is expected to announce some concessions that buy the company more time, as the commission would first assess those changes before making a final decision…
The upcoming decision comes as US President Donald Trump is visiting Europe for a Nato summit in The Hague this week and as Brussels and Washington are nearing a July 9 deadline to agree on a trade deal.
The EU’s rules on Big Tech are a big flashpoint between Brussels and Trump, who has previously compared the EU’s fines with “overseas extortion” and called them a “form of taxation”.
MacDailyNews Take: The U.S. has leverage and recourse. We expect both to be used.
Trump administration has been warning the EU against excessive regulation of American technology firms. On February 21st, President Trump issued a directive, “Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties,” threatening to impose tariffs on Europe to combat what he called “overseas extortion” of American tech companies through digital services taxes, fines, practices, and policies.
See also: President Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook called to complain about EU’s $17 billion in fines – October 17, 2024
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
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Apple TV+ kids series ‘Stillwater’ set to return for fourth season
Apple TV+ on Tuesday announced an all-new season four of the award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering on Friday, August 1, 2025.
Based on the award-winning and bestselling Scholastic “Zen” book series by Jon J Muth, “Stillwater” follows a wise panda who teaches three young siblings about the world and each other. The series centers on siblings Karl (Judah Mackey), Addy (Eva Ariel Binder) and Michael (Tucker Chandler), who encounter everyday challenges — big and small — which sometimes feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater (James Sie), a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor. Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater teaches the children the concept of mindfulness, while offering them a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges.
Take a deep breath and embrace your inner peace by embarking on a fun adventure with the first three seasons of “Stillwater” available on Apple TV+. Through breathing exercises, mindful moments and simple everyday practices, this uplifting, Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning series invites you and your family to discover your own Zen through each episode. “Stillwater” was produced through Apple TV+’s changemakers initiative in collaboration with awareness and intention expert Mallika Chopra, author of “Buddha and the Rose” and the “Just Be” series for kids, and CEO of Chopra Global.
Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment produce, with Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky, Jun Falkenstein and Rob Hoegee serving as executive producers.
All three seasons of “Stillwater” are available to stream now on Apple TV+.
The exciting slate of recent offerings for kids and families on Apple TV+ features the recently released, 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-winning books; celebrated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; “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 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,” and Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space” and “The Snoopy Show.” 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 your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 578 wins and 2,62541 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic 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, 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 tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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AAPL investors have opportunity to lead Apple securities fraud lawsuit
AAPL investors now have the opportunity to take a leading role in a securities fraud lawsuit against Apple, as the company faces allegations of misleading statements regarding its business practices and financial outlook.
The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc. (“Apple” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: AAPL) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between June 10, 2024 and June 9, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 19, 2025.
We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of The Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm’s website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at bschall@schallfirm.com.
The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.
According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Apple misled investors about the time necessary for AI-based advanced Siri features to be integrated into its devices. The Company was unlikely to have these features ready for the iPhone 16. The lack of AI features hurt sales of the iPhone 16. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Apple, investors suffered damages.
MacDailyNews Note: If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
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Apple improves Liquid Glass Control Center readability in iOS 26 Beta 2
On Monday, Apple released iOS 26 Beta 2, addressing a significant issue with its new user interface, Liquid Glass, especially regarding Control Center. Liquid Glass was unveiled at WWDC 2025 earlier this month.
Liquid Glass, which redefines the aesthetic of iOS, iPadOS, and other Apple platforms, draws inspiration from the optical properties of glass, emphasizing light refraction and translucency to create a sleek, modern look. However, the initial developer beta of iOS 26 drew criticism from early testers who highlighted flaws in the interface’s readability and usability, particularly in the Control Center.
Accessed by swiping down from the top right corner of the iPhone’s display, the Control Center’s semi-transparent design made buttons and sliders difficult to distinguish from the Home Screen’s icons and widgets visible beneath it.
yeah i cant defend this pic.twitter.com/MmFQ4hMjba
— Holly – I like tech (@AnxiousHolly) June 10, 2025
While some critiques of the unfinished beta were arguably premature, the feedback prompted Apple to act swiftly. In the latest beta, the company enhanced the Control Center’s background blur, effectively reducing the visibility of underlying Home Screen content and improving clarity and usability, marking a step toward refining the ambitious Liquid Glass design.
The background blur in Control Center changed to make readability better.
Left: beta 1. Right: beta2.#iOS26 #Apple pic.twitter.com/9w6pcusbfv
— Bas van der Ploeg (@basvanderploeg) June 23, 2025
MacDailyNews Take: Significantly better. More work to do vis-à-vis Liquid Glass for Apple throughout the summer.
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Apple Original Films celebrates the European premiere of ‘F1 The Movie’
Apple Original Films’ “F1 The Movie” build anticipations with the star-studded European premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London, attended by stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Tobias Menzies, director Joseph Kosinski, and producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis Hamilton, Jeremy Kleiner and Chad Oman. Executive producers Daniel Lupi and Stefano Domenicali and the film’s creative collaborators including Claudio Miranda (Cinematography), Julian Day (Costume Design), Ben Munro (Production Design), Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann (Casting), Ehren Kruger (Screenplay) and Hans Zimmer (Score) were also in attendance, with a special appearance by Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt attend the European premiere of “F1: The Movie” at Cineworld Leicester Square on June 23, 2025 in London, England. “F1 The Movie” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters and IMAX nationwide on June 27, 2025 and internationally beginning June 25, 2025.
Additional guests attending the premiere included “F1 The Movie” soundtrack artists Ed Sheeran, Peggy Gou, RAYE, Tate McRae, along with Tommy Hilfiger, Naomi Campbell, Gareth Bale, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Becky G and more.
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.
From Apple Original Films and the filmmakers from “Top Gun: Maverick” comes the high-octane, action-packed feature film “F1 The Movie,” directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kosinski, famed FORMULA 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Chad Oman.
Momentum around the Apple Original Films slate continues to grow since the debut of Apple TV+ five years ago. In addition to Apple making history as the first streaming service to land the Academy Award for Best Picture with “CODA,” Apple Original Film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” also earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Short, and “Killers of the Flower Moon” landed 10 historic Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Apple TV+ recently premiered worldwide streaming hits “The Gorge,” starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, “Wolfs,” starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, “The Instigators,” starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, as well as Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” and “Echo Valley,” the thriller from BAFTA Award winner Michael Pearce, starring Academy Award winner Julianne Moore and multi-Emmy Award nominee Sydney Sweeney. Coming up, Apple Original Films will also debut “Highest 2 Lowest,” the latest feature reuniting Spike Lee with Denzel Washington for the fifth time, premiering in theaters on August 22 and on Apple TV+ on September 5.
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 578 wins and 2,625 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic 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, 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 tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
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