iPhone Sales Angst Continues, Sales on Apple Products Spread, Tesla Announces 10% Layoff
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
iPhone Sales Angst Continues
Sales on Apple Products Spread
Tesla Announces 10% Layoff
We kick things off with my thought’s on iPhone sales trends in the first three months of 2024. The discussion then turns to more retailers running with surprisingly large discounts on Apple products. We conclude with Tesla layoffs.
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Tesla Reportedly Cancels Inexpensive Car Project, Tesla’s Master Plan, Part Deux, Friday Q&A
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Tesla Reportedly Cancels Inexpensive Car Project
Tesla’s Master Plan, Part Deux
Friday Q&A
We kick things off with my thought’s on Reuters’ article regarding Tesla cancelling its Model 2 project. The discussion then revisits Elon Musk’s revised master plan for Tesla from the mid-2010s. The update concludes with a Friday Q&A and the following questions:
Were Project Titan’s cancellation and the in-house microLED displays team disbandment driven by cost-cutting motives as revenue stagnates?
Why can’t Apple build a battery-powered HomePod or HomePod mini for portable use cases?
Do you think it will take years for Apple Vision Pro to become a meaningful contribution to Apple’s revenue story?
Why didn’t Apple launch Apple Vision Pro with a larger catalog of Apple Immersive Video films?
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Revisiting iPhone Manufacturing In India, U.S. Announces TSMC Subsidy, Samsung to Receive U.S. Subsidy
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Revisiting iPhone Manufacturing In India
U.S. Announces TSMC Subsidy
Samsung to Receive U.S. Subsidy
Hello everyone. Today’s update has an Apple manufacturing / supply chain apparatus theme. We begin with my thoughts on some new reporting regarding iPhone manufacturing and assembly in India. There are a few underlying themes found with the iPhone manufacturing in India story. The update then turns to TSMC and Samsung receiving U.S. subsidies under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act.
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Apple Talks up Vision Pro at Work, Apple Announces Enterprise Spatial Design Lab, Inside Apple Vision Pro
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Apple Talks up Vision Pro at Work
Apple Announces Enterprise Spatial Design Lab
Inside Apple Vision Pro
In today’s update, we take a closer look at Apple’s attempt to draw attention to Vision Pro in business settings. The discussion turns to Apple announcing a new Enterprise Spatial Design Lab. We conclude with Lumafield publishing one of the more interesting “teardowns” of an Apple product.
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Apple Reportedly Partnering With Shutterstock for AI Model Training, Shutterstock’s Attractiveness, Apple Adds More Licensed Movies to Apple TV+
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Apple Reportedly Partnering With Shutterstock for AI Model Training
Shutterstock’s Attractiveness
Apple Adds More Licensed Movies to Apple TV+
Hello everyone. Yesterday (Monday) turned out to be crazier than expected given the solar eclipse and the NCAA basketball championship game. Even though we didn’t experience totality in Connecticut, the eclipse still made for an exciting day. A few members reached out with some impressive photos and videos.
Congratulations UConn on winning their SIXTH basketball championship in style by going back-to-back. Go Huskies.
In today’s update, we go over my thoughts on the Reuters story regarding the how and why everyone in Big Tech is running to established content (photo) providers for ML and AI model training. The discussion then turns specifically to Shutterstock. We conclude with a few new observations regarding more licensed movies being available on Apple TV+.
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Tesla 1Q24 Deliveries, What’s up With Tesla?, Ford Increases Bet on Hybrids, GM Shakes up Software Team
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Tesla 1Q24 Deliveries
What’s up With Tesla?
Ford Increases Bet on Hybrids
GM Shakes up Software Team
One member in the forum raised a good point regarding livestreaming Apple Immersive Video. Last year, Apple acquired WaveOne. We talked about the acquisition in the March 28th, 2023 update (available here). The company was in the business of AI algorithms for video compression. The takeaway from that acquisition wasn’t specific to livestreaming sports but rather the broader trend of consuming video and your surroundings on spatial computers.
Today’s update will be dedicated to the auto space.
A few quick notes regarding how we will approach the auto industry following Apple halting Project Titan. In summary, there won’t be any major changes to coverage.
It is good to keep abreast of what’s unfolding in the car industry as the market is too large for Apple to ignore. While the ingredients may not be in ripe for Apple’s entry over the next few years, we can’t rule out the company having renewed interest down the road.
Apple’s CarPlay initiative is one of the more promising integrations between first-party hardware and non-Apple hardware. There are plenty of related implications worth monitoring including Apple Services’ role on the road (maps, music, etc.). It is good to stay up to date as to how CarPlay is being embraced via vehicles sales trends etc.
Let’s jump into today’s update.
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Apple Releases "2023 MLS Cup Highlights" for Vision Pro, A Breathtaking Moment for Vision Pro, Apple Immersive Video Questions
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Apple Releases "2023 MLS Cup Highlights" for Vision Pro
A Breathtaking Moment for Vision Pro
Apple Immersive Video Questions
Hello everyone. It feels good to be back after a long weekend. We will get back into the swing of things by discussing one thing that captured my attention in recent days: Apple releasing a new immersive film for Apple Vision Pro.
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U.S. Justice Department Turned to European Commission for Help in Apple Battle, Apple Will Seek U.S. Antitrust Complaint Dismissal, The Big Picture
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
U.S. Justice Department Turned to European Commission for Help in Apple Battle
Apple Will Seek U.S. Antitrust Complaint Dismissal
The Big Picture
In today’s update, we will tackle a few tangential topics related to the Justice Department’s antitrust complaint against Apple.
As for the complaint itself, the past two updates covered most of what needed to be said. There were additional examples of completely absurd statements and tales told by the Justice Department that we won't go over. In the grand scheme of things, our time and attention are better spent elsewhere.
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U.S. Justice Department Sues Apple on iPhone Monopoly Allegation (My Thoughts and Reactions – Part 2)
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topic:
U.S. Justice Department Sues Apple on iPhone Monopoly Allegation (My Thoughts and Reactions – Part 2)
In today’s update, we will continue our discussion from yesterday regarding the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust complaint against Apple. We will focus on the specific allegations included in the complaint (available here).
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U.S. Justice Department Sues Apple on iPhone Monopoly Allegation (My Thoughts and Reactions – Part 1)
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topic:
U.S. Justice Department Sues Apple on iPhone Monopoly Allegation (My Thoughts and Reactions – Part 1)
Hello everyone. We will begin to discuss and analyze the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust complaint against Apple. The full 88-page document is available here. For today’s update, we will keep the discussion focused on my overall thoughts and reactions. We will take a deeper look at some of the specific arguments put forth in the complaint tomorrow.
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Thoughts on CNBC’s ESPN Documentary, Bob Chapek Breaks Silence, Big Tech’s True Interest in Live Sports
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Thoughts on CNBC’s ESPN Documentary
Bob Chapek Breaks Silence
Big Tech’s True Interest in Live Sports
Hello everyone.
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Justice's long-awaited antitrust complaint against Apple, which has been re-worked numerous times over the years, was released. Apple is accused of possessing an iPhone monopoly in the U.S. smartphone market. I will go through the document in the coming days so that we can begin talking about things on Monday. The full 88-page document can be found here.
For today's update, we cover a news item that jumped out at me earlier today involving ESPN, Big Tech, and live sports.
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Sonos Earnings, Sonos Dropping More Hints of Headphones, Sonos vs. Apple Competition
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Sonos Earnings
Sonos Dropping More Hints of Headphones
Sonos vs. Apple Competition
The update begins with Neil’s thoughts on Sonos’ FY1Q24 earnings. The discussion then turns to Sonos dropping some of the clearest hints to date that it will soon unveil headphones. We look at the somewhat complicated competitive dynamic between Sonos and Apple.
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Walmart Begins Selling $699 M1 MacBook Air, Apple Becomes Aggressive with MacBook Air, Revisiting Mac Sales
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Walmart Begins Selling $699 M1 MacBook Air
Apple Becomes Aggressive with MacBook Air
Revisiting Mac Sales
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to Walmart beginning to sell the Mac for the first time. The announcement is tied to Apple running with new entry-level pricing for the MacBook Air. There are a few angles to the news worth discussing.
Let’s jump right in.
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My Thoughts Regarding the Apple / Gemini AI Licensing Rumor
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topic:
My Thoughts Regarding the Apple / Gemini AI Licensing Rumor
Hello everyone. Welcome to a new week. For today’s update, we will discuss Bloomberg’s article about Apple and Gemini. There is quite a bit of speculation and nonsense flying around.
Let’s jump right in.
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Project Titan Follow-Up, Apple vs. EU Follow-Up
Today's Above Avalon Daily email covers the following topics:
Project Titan Follow-Up
Apple vs. EU Follow-Up
We close out the week with a few follow-ups to topics that continue to generate buzz among Above Avalon members. We will begin with Project Titan and then turn to the suggestion that Apple should leave the EU.
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