Tag: iphone

Posted on

Meta’s AI power play: can it outmanoeuvre Apple and Google in the device race?

META device race

Meta is making a serious play to become the dominant force in AI-powered consumer devices, and it’s not just hype—it’s backed by aggressive strategy, talent acquisition, and a unique distribution advantage.

🧠 Meta’s Strategic Edge in AI Devices

1. Massive User Base

  • Meta has direct access to 3.48 billion daily active users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
  • This gives it an unparalleled distribution channel for deploying AI features instantly across billions of devices.

2. Platform-Agnostic Approach

  • Unlike Apple and Google, which tightly integrate AI into their operating systems, Meta is bypassing OS gatekeepers by embedding AI into apps and wearables.
  • It’s partnering with chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek to optimize AI performance on mobile hardware.

3. Talent Acquisition Blitz

  • Meta poached Ruoming Pang, Apple’s head of AI models, and Alexandr Wang, co-founder of ScaleAI, to lead its Superintelligence group.
  • This group aims to build AI that’s smarter than humans—an ambitious goal that’s drawing top-tier talent from rivals.

4. Proprietary Data Advantage

  • Meta’s access to real-time, personal communication and social media data is considered one of the most valuable datasets for training consumer-facing AI.
  • This gives it a leg up in personalization and contextual understanding.

🍏 Apple and Google: Still Strong, But Vulnerable

Apple

  • Struggled with its in-house AI models, reportedly considering outsourcing to OpenAI or Anthropic for Siri upgrades.
  • Losing this battle could signal deeper issues in Apple’s AI roadmap.

Google

  • Has robust AI infrastructure and Gemini models, but faces competition from Meta’s nimble, app-based deployment strategy.

🔮 Could Meta Win?

Meta’s approach is disruptive: it’s not trying to own the OS—it’s trying to own the AI interface. If it continues to scale its AI across apps, smart glasses (like Ray-Ban Meta), and future AR devices, it could redefine how users interact with AI daily.

That said, Apple and Google still control the hardware and OS ecosystems, which gives them deep integration advantages. Meta’s success will depend on whether users prefer AI embedded in apps and wearables over OS-level assistants.

1. AI Device Leadership Comparison

CompanyAI StrategyDistributionHardware Integration
MetaApp-first, wearable AI3.48B usersLimited (Ray-Ban)
AppleOS-integrated SiriiOS ecosystemFull control
GoogleGemini in AndroidAndroid ecosystemFull control

2. Timeline: Meta’s AI Milestones

  • 2023: Launch of Ray-Ban Meta glasses
  • 2024: Formation of Superintelligence team
  • 2025: AI embedded across Meta apps

Remember, Meta has direct access to nearly 3.50 billion users on a daily basis across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

Bit of a worry, isn’t it?

But good for investors and traders.

Posted on

Apple improves – with best figures since 2021

Apple accounts Q3

Apple has once again defied expectations, posting a record-breaking $94.04 billion in revenue for its fiscal third quarter ending 28th June 2025.

However, not all segments thrived. iPad revenue dipped to $6.58 billion, and wearables saw a decline to $7.4 billion. Still, Apple’s gross margins expanded to 46.5%, and net profit hit $23.4 billion.

Summary

📈 Record Sales Apple made $94.04 billion this quarter, its best performance since 2021. That’s a 10% jump from last year.

📱 Best-Selling Product iPhones were the star—bringing in $44.58 billion, up over 13%. Macs also did well, with $8.05 billion in sales.

💼 Services Boom Apple’s apps, subscriptions, and digital content made $27.42 billion, a new high.

📉 Weaker Spots iPad sales fell to $6.58 billion, and wearables (like AirPods and Apple Watch) dropped to $7.4 billion.

💰 Profits & Payouts Apple earned $23.43 billion in profit and will pay shareholders a $0.26 dividend on 14th August.

🌍 Big Changes To avoid tariff issues, Apple is shifting production to places like India and Vietnam. It spent $800 million on tariffs this quarter, with more expected.

🧠 Looking Ahead Apple is going big on AI, with over 20 new features and a smarter Siri on the horizon.

Apple one-year share price chart

Apple one-year share price chart
Posted on

Apple shares rise as services revenue compensates for iPhone miss

Artificial Intelligence

Apple’s shares recently rose by 3% despite a decline in iPhone sales, thanks to a significant boost in services revenue.

The company’s overall revenue for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 reported an increase of 4% to $124.3 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations.

However, iPhone sales fell short of estimates, totalling $69.14 billion compared to the expected $71.03 billion.

The services division, which includes subscriptions, warranties, and licencing deals, reported a revenue of $26.34 billion, a 14% increase from the same period last year. This growth in services revenue helped offset the decline in iPhone sales and contributed to the positive market response.

Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly highlighted that iPhone sales were stronger in countries where Apple Intelligence is available.

The company reportedly plans to release additional languages for Apple Intelligence in April 2025, including a version in simplified Chinese.

Posted on

Apple launches its Apple Intelligence – ChatGPT integration with Siri

Apple Intelligence

Apple has finally rolled out updates for iPhone on Wednesday 11th December 2024, iPad, and Mac software, featuring the highly anticipated ChatGPT integration with Siri.

The integration is activated when Siri is posed with complex questions. If a question is deemed more suitable for ChatGPT by Apple’s software, Siri will request user consent to utilise the OpenAI service. Apple has incorporated privacy safeguards into this feature, ensuring that OpenAI does not retain any requests. This integration employs the GPT-4o model from OpenAI.

No OpenAI account is necessary for Apple users to engage with the ChatGPT feature, although Apple offers paid upgrades for ChatGPT. Additionally, ChatGPT can be accessed via certain text menus.

The launch of iOS 18.2 marks a pivotal point for Apple, which is banking on Apple Intelligence to spearhead the marketing for its iPhone 16 series. Apple Intelligence encompasses a range of artificial intelligence capabilities. The ChatGPT integration was initially revealed in June 2024.

The inaugural segment of Apple Intelligence was introduced in October 2024, including text editing tools capable of proofreading or rephrasing, a revamped Siri interface that illuminates the entire phone screen, and a summary of notifications.

Next year, Apple plans to introduce a further update to Apple Intelligence, promising substantial enhancements to Siri that will enable it to perform tasks within apps.

Many investors are of the opinion that the addition of features to Apple Intelligence will enhance iPhone sales, initiate an upgrade cycle, and possibly establish Apple as a frontrunner in consumer AI.

This integration marks a significant triumph for OpenAI by showcasing its flagship product to millions of iPhone users. The financial details of the partnership between Apple and OpenAI remain undisclosed.

To install and utilise Apple Intelligence, users must have an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, or any iPhone 16 model, despite the fact that ChatGPT integration mainly operates on cloud servers – iPhone owners can enable software updates in the General tab of the Settings app.

Upon updating to the newest Apple software, users will be prompted to configure Apple Intelligence. Their devices will have to download substantial files, including Apple’s AI models, which are necessary for the service’s functionality.

The updates also bring Apple’s image creation app, named Playground, which generates images from people’s descriptions or prompts, and Image Wand, a tool that lets users edit out objects or imperfections from photos.

Apple finally issue a version of AI – not just any AI but Apple Intelligence, whatever that really means.

Posted on

Apple smartphones return to top 5 rank in China following iPhone 16 release

Apple smartphones

Apple has returned to the top five smartphone vendors in China’s market during the third quarter, lifted by the release of the iPhone 16, according to data.

Apple’s shipment growth remained steady year-on-year in the Q2, securing the company a second-place rank by market share in Q3.

Following Apple, Huawei held the third position with a 15.3% market share, as per reported data. Despite this, Huawei’s smartphone shipments in China saw a significant increase of 42% year-on-year.

Posted on

Apple’s iPhone crown slips again in China

Mobile

Apple has been ousted from the top five smartphone vendors in China during Q2, as local brands like Huawei continue to escalate competition

Apple is no longer among the top five smartphone vendors in China as local brands take over the market.

Apple’s market share in China has declined, falling to 14% in the second quarter from 15% in the first quarter and 16% 2023.

For the first time in history, domestic vendors have taken over all top five positions in China.

According to reports, incorporating Apple’s Intelligence systems in its products in mainland China will be crucial over the next 12 months, as Chinese brands are rapidly integrating generative AI into their designs.

This is not good news for Apple. The company is facing challenges, notably lagging behind in the AI innovation race, and compounded by a rapidly falling share of the mobile market in China.

Posted on

Apple finally now has AI and it’s called: Apple Intelligence (AI)

AI

Apple has entered the artificial intelligence race with the announcement of its version of AI – Apple Intelligence on Monday 10th June 2024, in its attempt to catch up in the AI race.

Reportedly to use it on your phone, you’ll need at least the high-end iPhone 15 Pro from this year’s lineup.

According to Apple’s website, Apple Intelligence will also be compatible with devices equipped with the M1 chip, including the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and Macs.

Apple Intelligence, set to launch in beta this autumn, will offer a variety of features. It will be able to proofread and rewrite your text in different tones, create personalized emojis known as ‘Genmoji,‘ and search for specific messages on your iPhone.

Additionally, it will summarize and transcribe phone calls, manage priority notifications, and integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT for enhanced Siri responses.

Nothing new here then, just AI features already available elsewhere. Hopefully it will have a decent Apple AI make-over when it finally and fully arrives across all Apple products and platforms.

Apple isn’t leading in AI… yet – it’s just following for now!

Posted on

Apple reportedly being accused of monopolising smartphone market

U.S. vs Apple Lawsuit

The U.S. has reportedly initiated a significant lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the technology giant has monopolised the smartphone market and stifled competition.

The Justice Department claims that Apple has misused its dominance over the iPhone App Store to ‘lock in’ customers and developers. The company is also accused of taking unlawful measures to obstruct applications perceived as competitive threats and to degrade the appeal of competing products.

Apple has pledged to ‘vigorously’ contest the lawsuit and refutes the allegations.

A slowdown in iPhone sales in China, the reported dumping of an EV project, no iPhone AI interface to speak of and now a U.S. lawsuit to defend. Is Apple’s ‘crown of dominance‘ slipping ever-so-slightly?

Posted on

Apple and Alphabet reportedly in Gemini AI talks

AI mobile phone

Apple playing AI catchup

Apple is reportedly engaged in negotiations to acquire a licence for Google’s Gemini, a generative AI platform, with the intention of integrating it into iPhones. These ongoing discussions may result in Gemini enhancing iPhone software with new features later this year.

The terms, branding, and implementation details have not been finalised. This potential partnership could significantly impact the AI capabilities of future iPhones.

Posted on

More than a ‘hot’ new phone – It can double up as a hand warmer too!

Hot new phone

Apple said on Saturday 30th September 2023 that it will issue a software update that would address customer complaints about the latest iPhone 15 models, released just over a week ago, running hot.

The new iPhones were running hot because of a combination of bugs in iOS 17, bugs in apps, and a temporary set-up period that requires extra processing and therefore heat generation, Apple confirmed.

Statement from Apple

‘We have identified a few conditions which can cause iPhone to run warmer than expected. The device may feel warmer during the first few days after setting up or restoring the device because of increased background activity.’

‘We have also found a bug in iOS 17 that is impacting some users and will be addressed in a software update. Another issue involves some recent updates to third-party apps that are causing them to overload the system. We’re working with these app developers on fixes that are in the process of rolling out.‘

Posted on

Excessive radiation fears for iphone 12

Apple iphone 12

France ban Apple iphone 12

According to news reports, France has banned the Apple iPhone 12 because it emits too much electromagnetic radiation, which could be harmful to human health. 

The French watchdog (ANFR) said that the iPhone 12’s specific absorption rate (SAR), which measures the rate of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body, was above the legal limit of 4.0 watts per kilogram in tests simulating the phone being held in the hand or kept in a pocket. 

Dispute

Apple disputed the tests and said that the iPhone 12 was certified by multiple international bodies and compliant with all global radiation standards. The French digital minister said that Apple had two weeks to respond and fix the issue, or else he would order a recall of all iPhone 12 devices sold in the country. 

The minister also said that France would share its findings with other regulators in the European Union, which could lead to a wider ban of the phone.

France ban Apple iPhone 12 due to excessive radiation fears

What is electromagnetic radiation?

Radiation from mobile phones is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by cell phones and cordless phones when they send and receive signals. Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that travels in waves or particles through space.

It can be classified into two types: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation has high energy and can damage DNA, which may increase the risk of cancer such as; x-rays, radon, and cosmic rays. Non-ionizing radiation has low energy and cannot damage DNA directly – such as; radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet light.

Cell phone radiation

Cell phones use radiofrequency (RF) waves, which are a type of non-ionizing radiation, to communicate with cell towers and other devices. RF waves have frequencies ranging from 0.7 to 80 GHz, depending on the generation of the cell phone (2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G). The human body can absorb some of the RF energy from cell phones, which may cause some heating to the area of the body where the phone is held (e.g., the ear and head). However, it is suggested this heating is not enough to raise the core body temperature or cause any harmful effects.

Research

There has been a lot of research on whether cell phone use can cause health problems, such as cancer, in humans. However, it has been reported that the evidence so far is not conclusive and does not show a clear link between cell phone use and cancer risk. There could be a link but we do not know 100%… yet?

Some studies have suggested that there may be a small increase in the risk of certain types of brain tumors (such as acoustic neuromas) for people who use cell phones for a long time or frequently. However, other studies have not found any consistent evidence to support this.

The incidence of brain and central nervous system cancers has not changed significantly during the time that cell phone use has increased dramatically. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the possible effects of cell phone use on human health.

Posted on

Apple $200 billion loss in just a few days – NASDAQ falls

Apple

50 million iPhones sold in China every year

Apple sells around 50 million iPhones in China annually. A sweeping ban is what investors fear and that spells trouble for Apple.

Apple stock drops after The Wall Street Journal reported a day earlier that Chinese authorities have curbed the use of the iPhone. Apple’s flagship product will no longer be legal to use by some central government officials.

The potential crackdown threatens to dissrupt Apple’s sales as China accounts for about 20% of Apple’s total revenue. Uncertainties about the news prompted investors to retreat from Apple postions, leading to a 6% drop in Apple shares in two days. More than $200bn of market cap was wiped out.

$200 market cap drop

Apple shares fall $200 billion in just days September 2023

The iPhone commeth

Adding to the concern, Apple is just days away from its key event. On the 12th september 2023, the company is expected to officially announce the launch of its newest smartphone – the iPhone 15.

Posted on

‘Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do’.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011, Inventor and visionary.

Co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple.

Steve Jobs was one of the most influential and visionary entrepreneurs of the 21st century. He was the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc., the company that revolutionized personal computing, music, mobile phones, tablets, and digital animation. He was also the founder and CEO of NeXT, a computer and software company that was acquired by Apple in 1997, and the majority shareholder of Pixar, a computer animation studio that was acquired by Disney in 2006.

Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, who raised him in Mountain View, California. Jobs attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after one semester. He then travelled to India in 1974 to seek spiritual enlightenment and became a follower of Zen Buddhism.

Apple

In 1976, he co-founded Apple Computer with his friend Steve Wozniak in his parents’ garage. They created the Apple I and Apple II, which were among the first successful personal computers. In 1984, they launched the Macintosh, which introduced the graphical user interface and the mouse to the mass market. In 1985, Jobs left Apple after a power struggle with the board of directors.

NeXt

In 1986, he founded NeXT, which developed innovative computers and software for the education and business markets. NeXT also created the NeXTSTEP operating system, which was later used as the basis for Mac OS X and iOS. In 1997, Apple bought NeXT for $429 million and brought Jobs back as an interim CEO.

Watercolour image and likeness of Apple Lisa computer

iMac

In 1998, Jobs led the turnaround of Apple with the launch of the iMac, a sleek and colorful all-in-one computer. He then introduced a series of groundbreaking products that changed the world of technology and entertainment, such as the iPod (2001), iTunes (2003), iPhone (2007), iPad (2010), and iCloud (2011). He also oversaw the development of software platforms such as Mac OS X, iOS, iTunes Store, App Store, and Safari.

Pixar

In 1986, he also acquired Pixar from George Lucas for $10 million. Pixar became one of the most successful animation studios in history, producing hit films such as Toy Story (1995), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), and Inside Out (2015). In 2006, Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion and made Jobs its largest shareholder.

Stay hungry, stay foolish

Steve Jobs was known for his charisma, creativity, innovation, and perfectionism. He had a vision to make products that were not only functional but also beautiful and intuitive.

His passion to create experiences that enriched people’s lives and inspired them to think differently. He had a motto to ‘stay hungry, stay foolish’.

Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He left behind a legacy that will continue to shape the world for generations to come.