Latest news with #APPLEInc.
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Apple's macOS Tahoe to be final operating system to work on Intel Macs
APPLE Inc.'s new macOS Tahoe 26 will be the final Mac operating system software that will work on Macs running Intel Corp. processors, the company said Monday following its developer conference. The announcement marks the beginning of the end of support for the legacy systems based on Intel's chips, which Apple first shipped about 20 years ago. The Cupertino, California-based company started replacing Intel-based Mac PCs with computers running its own Apple Silicon semiconductors at the end of 2020. Apple said it will still provide smaller software updates for supported Intel Macs for two years. The Tahoe 26 OS unveiled Monday supports Intel Macs as old as the Mac Pro and some high-end MacBook Pros released in 2019. The company made the disclosure during its developer keynote following the consumer announcements at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, as well as in briefings with reporters from its headquarters. –BLOOMBERG
Malaysian Reserve
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
Apple to debut dedicated gaming app within days of Switch 2's arrival
APPLE Inc. is planning a dedicated app for video games on its devices, seeking to sell gamers and developers on the idea that it's a leader in the market. The company will preinstall the app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV set-top box later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The software will serve as a launcher for titles and centralize in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications and other activity, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven't been announced. The move is meant to enhance the experience on Apple devices at a time when gamers have plenty of alternatives, including cloud services and consoles. Nintendo Co. is preparing to roll out its much-anticipated Switch 2 device just days before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, when the new app will be introduced. The new app will feature editorial content from Apple about new titles, offer access to the App Store's game section and promote Arcade, the company's $6.99-a-month subscription offering. And it will replace Game Center, an existing social network dedicated to this category that debuted in 2010 but never gathered serious momentum. Apple is also planning a Mac version of the app that can tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store. A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment. 9to5Mac reported last year that the company was working on a new games app for a future software update. As part of its gaming push, Apple has acquired RAC7 Games, a two-person studio behind the popular Sneaky Sasquatch title. The move was previously reported by Digital Trends. By market share, the iPhone remains one of the world's most used devices for gaming — a category that has been central to the App Store since 2008. In recent years, developers have added high-end games like Resident Evil, Death Stranding and Assassin's Creed. About two-thirds of Apple's App Store revenue currently comes from games and in-app purchases. That includes tokens, levels and other upgrades bought within the titles themselves. The Mac platform has made strides in recent years as well. Speedier chips have allowed better graphics, and the company released tools that make it easier for developers to port existing games over to the Mac. But Apple isn't generally seen as a gaming giant, and many developers and players say that the Mac in particular leaves a lot to be desired compared with Windows computers. While the new app will likely make Apple products easier to use for gaming — and make the category more prominent — testers of the software say it probably won't change the perception among players and makers of high-end titles. The app is one of several features planned for the next version of iOS, which will be released to users in September — around the same time as the next iPhone lineup. Apple is also planning a revamped user interface code-named Solarium, which will make the interface more cohesive across different devices and more similar to the Vision Pro's operating system. Other new features include AI-powered battery management and health capabilities, a revamped Translate app, and live translation of conversations via AirPods and the Siri voice assistant. The company is also expected to announce a new bidirectional Arabic and English keyboard, a virtual calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users and a new system for syncing hotel Wi-Fi login details across devices. The Vision Pro, for its part, is getting a new eye-scrolling feature. –BLOOMBERG
Malaysian Reserve
04-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Apple renews fears about tariffs, China with wobbly report
APPLE Inc.'s much-awaited quarterly earnings report failed to soothe investor concerns about its biggest challenges, including escalating tariff costs and a slowdown in China. The company's shares declined 3.7% in New York on Friday after second-quarter results included worse-than-expected sales in China. The iPhone maker also warned that tariffs will increase costs this quarter, a sign that geopolitical tensions are taking a growing toll on the business. Apple expects $900 million in higher costs from tariffs in the current period, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said Thursday during a conference call. Revenue will increase by a percentage in the low- to mid-single digits in the quarter, compared with a 5% average analyst estimate. The company didn't offer any guidance on the impact of tariffs beyond the current period. 'We will manage the company the way we always have, with thoughtful and deliberate decisions, with a focus on investing for the long term,' Cook said during the call. Sales from China, meanwhile, fell 2.3% to $16 billion in the second quarter, which ended March 29. Analysts had predicted $16.83 billion. That shortfall is an ominous sign for what was once a growth market. Apple has lost ground to local phone brands, such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo, and the government there banned foreign-made technology from some workplaces. Apple's China-centric production also makes it especially vulnerable to tariffs announced by the Trump administration. The company is struggling in AI as well, especially in China, where its Apple Intelligence platform isn't yet available. And the brand is increasingly seen as behind the times by consumers in China, where competitors have rolled out foldable devices. Apple is preparing to launch its AI services in China in the coming months — relying on partners Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc. — and a foldable iPhone is due next year. As part of the quarterly report, the company announced plans to increase its share buyback program by $100 billion and boost the quarterly dividend 4% to 26 cents a share. Apple shares are now 18% this year. With Friday's decline, the company has fallen back below Microsoft Corp. as the world's most valuable business. Overall sales gained 5% to $95.4 billion last quarter, above the $94.6 billion average estimate. Apple had projected percentage growth in the low- to mid-single digits. Earnings came in at $1.65 a share in the second quarter, compared with an average estimate of $1.62. Apple sold $46.8 billion worth of iPhones in the period, exceeding estimates of $45.9 billion. Still, that's up less than 2% from $46 billion in the year-earlier quarter and compares with $51.3 billion in the same period two years ago. The latest flagship iPhones aren't markedly different than the prior models and mostly offer the same AI features as the iPhone 15 Pro from 2023. That's given consumers less reason to upgrade. The company debuted the iPhone 16e during the quarter, replacing its low-end $429 SE model. That phone's $599 price is higher than competitors' offerings — something that may have deterred some shoppers. Later this year, the company is planning more significant iPhone upgrades, including a skinnier design. Cook praised the company's homegrown C1 modem chip, which is part of the 16e, saying the new component is the beginning of a 'journey.' The company has been contending with a range of challenges — beyond the looming tariffs. Apple shuffled AI management in recent weeks, and it's under mounting regulatory pressure in the EU and its home country. On Wednesday, a federal judge demanded that the company open up its App Store to third-party payment options and stop charging commissions on outside purchases. Services, which includes the App Store and Apple TV+, grew 12% to $26.7 billion last quarter — in line with estimates. That business is under threat in a few areas, though. This week's App Store ruling is poised to hurt the platform's revenue. And the US government is trying to break up Apple's lucrative search deal with Alphabet Inc.'s Google. The company didn't provide guidance on future services growth due to 'uncertainty.' The Mac division, which launched new MacBook Air and Mac Studio models during the quarter, generated $7.95 billion in revenue. That beat estimates of nearly $7.8 billion. The iPad accounted for sales of $6.4 billion, topping projections of about $6.1 billion. In March, the company rolled out a refreshed low-end iPad as well as iPad Air models with faster M3 processors. It's planning to introduce a new iPad Pro with an M5 chip as early as the end of this year, Bloomberg News has reported. The company's Wearables, Home and Accessories category, which has struggled in recent quarters, generated $7.52 billion in sales. That missed an average estimate of $8.05 billion. Tariffs remain one of the biggest question marks. Though Apple is likely to sidestep the 145% China levy that the administration originally proposed, new tariffs on electronics are still coming. The turmoil threatens to upend the company's supply chain and potentially force it to raise prices. Cook said during the call that he had nothing to announce about possible price increases. Already, Apple is looking to make more of its US-bound iPhones in India rather than China. That country is now fulfilling half of US demand, Cook said. He said that the majority of production for Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads and Macs sold in the US will be made in Vietnam, which has a lower tariff level than China. Highlighting the tariff concern, Apple cited 'trade and other international disputes' in the list of risks and uncertainties in its quarterly report. That's something it typically mentions in its annual filings. But the Cupertino, California-based company got one boost from the tariff threats in the current quarter: Customers flooded Apple retail stores to buy new iPhones and other products out of fear that price hikes were coming. Those sales would show up in the June quarter. Cook said the tariffs didn't create extra demand in the March quarter, and he's unsure of the precise impact in the current period. The Apple CEO sidestepped questions about bringing additional manufacturing to the US. But he touted that the company will use tens of millions of US-made device processors this year. Cook also defended the company's AI strategy. He was asked about delays to a new version of the Siri voice assistant and said the company needed more time to work on the features so they meet Apple's 'high-quality bar.' 'We are making progress,' he said. 'And we look forward to getting these features into customers' hands.' –BLOOMBERG
