Updates & Followup

Quick updates to long-running stories the show continues to track, and to stories covered in recent shows.

• Apple Business tools are now available to download for free — appleinsider.com/… (these are the same tools that were once sold as Apple’s dedicated server OS!)
• 🇺🇸 Studio Display XDR Medical Imaging Feature Gets FDA Clearance Rolls Out This Week — www.macobserver.com/…
• Apple’s history in space goes back a lot further than the iPhone 17!
  • Apple AirPods Quietly Find Their Way Into Space Missions — www.macobserver.com/… (seen on the ISS!)
  • From Apple II to iPhone 17 Pro, Apple’s space story comes full circle — appleinsider.com/…
  • Astronaut Captures a Stunning Shot of the Moon Using an iPhone 17 Pro Max — www.macobserver.com/… (8x telephoto FTW yet again 😉)
  • 🎦 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day for 22 April 2026: Earthset with an iPhone — apod.nasa.gov/…

Legal Latest

• 🇺🇸 Apple -v- Epic — no closure, but still some significant activity:
  • Apple started the month by filing with the US Supreme Court appealing their loss on app store fees for external payments — appleinsider.com/…
  • Apple faces a battle on two fronts as Epic forces a return to Circuit Courts — appleinsider.com/… & www.macobserver.com/…
    • Earlier in the month Apple had convinced the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to grant them a stay on the enforcement of the zero-rating of fees for external payment options in the US app store
    • Before the end of the month, Epic succeeded in getting the same court to change its mind and revoke their stay!
  • None of this has any immediate effects, but the momentum seems to be in Epic’s favour, making low or no fees for external payments on a permanent basis more likely.
  • Related: 🇯🇵 Fortnite Returns to iOS in Japan Through Epic Games Store but Mac Users Are Still Waiting — www.macobserver.com/…
• 🇺🇸 DOJ -v- Apple — some legal jockeying, but no major decisions:
  • 🇰🇷 Apple seeks internal data from Samsung in South Korea in ongoing antitrust case — 9to5mac.com/… (Request under the Hague Evidence Convention in international law)
  • Apple’s Samsung Korea demand prompts DOJ rebuke in antitrust lawsuit — appleinsider.com/…
• 🇺🇸 Masimo -v- Apple: two more setbacks for Masimo
  • After last month’s loss Masimo appealed to the US ITC (International Trade Commission), that appeal has now been rejected — appleinsider.com/…
  • In parallel Masimo had also appealed to the Federal District Court, that too has gone against them, dismissed with predjudice — appleinsider.com/…
  • These two rejections clear the way for Masimo to appeal again to the Federal Circuit Court
• 🇺🇸 A preliminary finding agrees with ICE app developers that the Trump Administration violated their first amendment free speech rights, and the federal government are now enjoined from pressuring app stores in this way while the case continues — appleinsider.com/…
  • Officially Apple did not cave to this illegal demand, the official reason the apps were removed is App Store terms violations, so Apple are not forced to allow the apps back
  • In the weeks since the ruling, the apps have not returned 🙁

Apple HR & Acquisition News

• 🇺🇸 Apple closes 3 US stores, including its first to unionize — www.cultofmac.com/… & Towson Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Apple — www.macobserver.com/…

Apple Services & Original Content Highlights

• Apple’s cross-service Formula 1 push continues:
  • Apple Maps Brings a Detailed 3D Experience to the Miami Grand Prix — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Apple Updates its Sports App with F1 Weather and Car Widgets — www.macobserver.com/…
  • [Formula 1 coverage expands across Apple services for Miami Grand Prix — appleinsider.com/…](https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/04/29/formula-1-coverage-expands-across-apple-services-for-miami-grand-prix]
    • “Apple will stream the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2026 live on Apple TV with full race weekend coverage available across the United States … will carry every session, including practice, qualifying, and the race, with live and on-demand access through the Apple TV app.”
• Apple Arcade:
  • The May releases as described by Apple: Apple Arcade brings endless family fun with Nick Jr. Replay! on May 7 — 📣 Apple PR
  • The same releases as described by TMO: Apple Arcade May Lineup Adds Four New Games Including Pizza Hit — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Related: Netflix Launches Playground App for Kids with Ad-Free Games — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Related: Steam Announces Steam Link for Apple Vision Pro and Releases Beta Version — www.macstories.net/…
• Apple TV:
  • Apple TV Vietnam Documentary Earns Three New Emmy Nominations — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Prestigious Peabody Awards go to Apple TV for its most-viewed drama and a documentary — www.cultofmac.com/… (Pluribus & Come See Me in the Good Light)
  • Related: Apple Brings its Top Shows to Life with a Free Los Angeles Fan Event — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Related: Blackmagic’s camera for Apple Vision Pro content is now available for $30K — appleinsider.com/… (Should allow more 3rd-parties to shoot VisionPro content)
• Apple Wallet:
  • 🇺🇸 Apple Wallet Digital ID Just Took its First Step Toward Becoming a True Digital Passport Alternative — www.macobserver.com/…
    • “A Digital ID in Apple Wallet created using a U.S. passport can be used to confirm that you’re an adult.” — Apple
  • 🇺🇸 Apple Pay Brings Faster Transit Riding Options to Major US Cities — www.macobserver.com/… (New York, Chicago & LA)
  • iOS 26 boarding passes now available for American Airlines flights — appleinsider.com/…
  • 🇲🇾 Apple Rolls Out Tap to Pay on iPhone for Businesses in Malaysia — www.macobserver.com/…
  • Related: Apple’s weirdest aware yet: Apple Pay Takes Home a Webby Award Thanks to a Lionel Messi Campaign — www.macobserver.com/…
• New three-week pilates course now available on Apple Fitness+ — appleinsider.com/…
• App Store: Apple makes expensive app subscriptions easier to pay — www.cultofmac.com/… (annual contract billed monthly, like Adobe offer)

Main Stories

1. Tim Cook starts the process of transitioning John Ternus into the CEO role
   • Apple’s press releases:
     • Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman, John Ternus to become Apple CEO — 📣 Apple PR
     • Johny Srouji named Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer — 📣 Apple PR
   • A good summary of the changes: Apple’s Executive Leadership Transition Announced — www.macstories.net/…
     • Tim Cook will become Apple’s first Executive Chair of the Board of Directors in September
       • As Executive Chair he will retain responsibility for engaging with regulators, governments, and world leaders
     • John Ternus will become the new CEO in September, and join the Board of Directors
     • Effectively immediately, Ternus is leaving his post as SVP of Hardware Engineering and becoming Tim Cook’s assistant — seems like he’s becoming Tim’s student!
     • Effective immediately, Johny Srouji becomes Apple’s first Chief Hardware Officer — appleinsider.com/…
       • Note the major promotion over Ternus’ old role — Senior VP of Hardware Engineering → Chief Hardware Officer!
       • New Apple hardware chief wastes little time in introducing five underlings — appleinsider.com/… (nothing unexpected or surprising about these changes)
     • To balance the power between independent and corporate board members, long-time Independent Chair of the Board of Directors will becomes the Lead Independent Director in September — appleinsider.com/…
   • Tim’s letter to the Apple Community: Community Letter from Tim — 📣 Apple PR (the most open and honest I think I’ve yet seen Tim be)
   • Cook & Ternus hosted an Apple All-hands after the announcement — appleinsider.com/…
     • “‘I’m excited to continue my journey at Apple as executive chairman,’ Cook told attendees. ‘I am healthy. My energy is high, and I plan to be in this new role for a long time.’” — Apple Insider
     • Apple Maps was Tim Cook’s biggest mistake — appleinsider.com/…
   • Opinion & analysis:
     • A well earned I told you so from John Gruber: Another Day Has Come — daringfireball.net/…
     • The best overview of the Cook years I read: How Tim Cook started at Apple in 1998, and how 15 years of being the CEO ends — appleinsider.com/…
     • Insightful analysis from Jason Snell: That was Tim, this is Ternus: Some first thoughts on Apple’s CEO transition — sixcolors.com/…
     • A thoughtful opinion piece that nips a lot of Tim Cook stereotypes in the bud, including the canard that Apple didn’t innovate under Cook: Is Tim Cook Apple’s best CEO ever? — www.cultofmac.com/…
     • A good overview of the challenges facing Ternus from Om Malik: John Appleseed — om.co/…
     • The best bio of John Ternus I read: Apple’s new CEO: Who is John Ternus? — appleinsider.com/…
   • Related: 🎦 From a commencement address a few years ago: When he was hired, Ternus wasn’t sure he even belonged at Apple — appleinsider.com/… (the video is worth watching)
2. Apple’s Q2 2026 Earnings — 📣 Apple PR
   • Literally all the numbers were up Year-on-Year in Apple’s best ever Q2
     • Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Report Released $111.2 Billion Revenue $2.01 EPS $29.58 Billion Profit — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Booming iPhone sales fuel Apple’s latest record-breaking quarter — www.cultofmac.com/…
     • Apple Q2 earnings crush Wall Street consensus again — appleinsider.com/…
     • Apple is predicting up to a $110 billion fiscal third quarter 2026 — appleinsider.com/…
     • Record quarter leads to new $100B share buyback, increased dividend — appleinsider.com/…
     • 📊 🎦 Jason Snell’s usual excellent charts and breakdown video — sixcolors.com/…
   • Jason Snell’s usual transcript: This is Tim (and John and Kevan): Complete transcript of Apple’s Q2 2026 financial call — sixcolors.com/…
     • Apples Next Ceo John Ternus Makes First Public Appearance During Q2 2026 Earnings Call — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Future Apple CEO John Ternus promises fiscal discipline, ‘incredible’ product pipeline — www.cultofmac.com/…
     • Tim Cook’s advice to incoming Apple CEO John Ternus — www.cultofmac.com/… (answering an analyst question)
       • “What I told him is that one of the most important decisions he’ll make is where to spend his time, and I would spend it where the greatest benefit to the company and the users are. Never forget the North Star for the company. We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives, and if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again.” — Tim Cook
     • Tim Cook Says iPhone 17s 99% Satisfaction Rate Explains its Record Sales — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Tim Cook Says Apple “Undercalled” Demand for its Cheapest MacBook — www.macobserver.com/… (the MacBook Neo)
     • Apple Expects ‘Significantly Higher Memory Costs’ in June Quarter and Beyond — www.macrumors.com/…
       • This quarter Apple was buffered from the full impact of the RAM shortage and price hike by parts inventories, and that’s still somewhat true for the current quarter
       • related: Mac Mini Now Starts at $799 because Apple Drops the 256GB Model — www.macobserver.com/…
     • Apple plans to reinvest tariff refunds in US manufacturing — www.cultofmac.com/… (very clever!)
       • Related: President Trump praises Tim Cook, threatens companies that want tariffs repaid — appleinsider.com/… (In response to Cook’s transition announcement, and before the earnings call)
   • Opinion & Analysis:
     • What the analysts said about Apple’s record-breaking second quarter — appleinsider.com/…
     • iPhone and Services Drive Apple to Record Q2 2026 Despite Supply Constraints — tidbits.com/…
     • Apple results analysis: Net-net over the moon — sixcolors.com/…

Quick Stories

• Apple & Amazon make a deal to secure the future of Apple’s satellite data features — www.cultofmac.com/…
  • Apple had been a major investor in GlobeStar, their current provider
  • Amazon are taking over GlobeStar to merge it into their Amazon Leo network
  • Amazon and Apple have made a separate deal to safe-guard Apple’s access to satellite connectivity
• Software updates:
  • Pixelmator Pro & Logic get big upgrades, rest of iWork gets minor ones — appleinsider.com/… (Spatial Audio for Logic, camera work flow improvements for Pixelmator, and bug fixes for the rest)
  • Apple Updates GarageBand with New Icon and Small Tweaks — www.macobserver.com/… (mainly just transition to Liquid Glass)
  • Apple Invites app gets biggest update yet with 7 new features — www.cultofmac.com/…
• Apple Adds Seven New Devices to its Self Service Repair Store — www.macobserver.com/… (iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and Max MacBook Pro, Standard 2026 Studio Display & Studio Display XDR)
• To coincide with Earth Day, Apple released their annual environmental report: Apple hits record recycled material use, eliminates plastic packaging — www.cultofmac.com/… (📣 Apple PR)
  • Analysis: Nice summary from John Gruber — daringfireball.net/…

Legend

Note: When the textual description of a link is part of the link it is the title of the page being linked to, when the text describing a link is not part of the link it is a description written by Bart.