OpenAI and Jony Ive Discuss HW Venture, What Is AI Hardware?, Humane Provides First Look At Ai Pin
Hello everyone. Yesterday, we talked about live events. Today, we talk about AI hardware. Let's jump right in.
OpenAI and Jony Ive Discuss HW Venture
“OpenAI is in advanced talks with former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son to launch a venture to build the ‘iPhone of artificial intelligence’, fuelled by more than $1bn in funding from the Japanese conglomerate.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief, has tapped Ive’s company LoveFrom, which the designer founded when he left Apple in 2019, to develop the ChatGPT creator’s first consumer device, according to three people familiar with the plan.
Altman and Ive have held brainstorming sessions at the designer’s San Francisco studio about what a new consumer product centred on OpenAI’s technology would look like, the people said.
They hope to create a more natural and intuitive user experience for interacting with AI, in the way that the iPhone’s innovations in touchscreen computing unleashed the mass-market potential of the mobile internet.
The process of identifying a design or device remains at an early stage with many different ideas on the table, they said.
Son, SoftBank’s founder and chief executive, has also been involved in some of the discussions, pitching a central role for Arm — the chip designer in which the Japanese conglomerate holds a 90 per cent stake — as well as offering financial backing.
Son, Altman and Ive have discussed creating a company that would draw on talent and technology from their three groups, the people said, with SoftBank investing more than $1bn in the venture.
Discussions are said to be ‘serious’, but no deal has been agreed, they cautioned, and it could be several months before a venture is formally announced. Any resulting hardware product is likely to take years to bring to market.”
The most surprising part of this news may be that it leaked in the first place. It’s tough to see Jony being thrilled with this kind of attention being placed on him and his design company. It's one thing to put information out there in hopes of garnering friendly press coverage which can then be used for employee hiring and other financial considerations. It's another to begin fueling high expectations that will become difficult to beat.
Upon hearing this news, my first impression was that
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U2 Opens Sphere in Las Vegas, iPhone and Live Events, Apple Vision Pro and Live Events
Hello everyone. Happy Tuesday.
Today's update will take us through a few topics. We need to first set the scene though with the Sphere, an all-new entertainment venue that rethinks live events, officially opening in Las Vegas. Our discussion will then expand to iPhone usage trends and conclude with Vision Pro.
Let's jump right in.
U2 Opens Sphere in Las Vegas
Here's The Hollywood Reporter:
“Given U2's reputation for pushing technical and creative boundaries with its live concerts, it seemed fitting that the band opened the anticipated Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday with its most ambitious and transportive live ever: an electrifying live performance and visual odyssey that unfolds on Sphere's enveloping 160,000-square-foot wraparound interior LED display.
Built for an estimated $2.3 billion, Sphere is a big gamble by MSG mogul James Dolan and Sphere Entertainment Co. (which was formed in April to combine Sphere and MSG Networks) on the future of entertainment. At 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, the venue is now the largest spherical structure in the world, housing the largest interior and exterior wraparound LED displays. Inside, the enveloping LED display supports a high resolution of 16K, meaning that it delivers images so lifelike that it may make you feel as though you're no longer in a Las Vegas venue but transported into the visual content - something that U2 used to great effect during the two-hour show. Meanwhile, an all-new immersive sound system from Berlin-based Holoplot is configured with roughly 1,600 loudspeakers to deliver the experience to all of the seats in Sphere's challenging design.”
Sphere provides ~20,000 people experiences that include visual, audio, haptic vibrations (for 10,000 seats), temperature, scent, and wind (compressed air) components. The goal: “convince you that you are somewhere else.” One of the more intriguing aspects to the Sphere is how it changes the perspective of what constitutes a good or bad view or experience at a live event. Sure, there is still only one front row when it comes to being near the musical act. However, one is able to consume the broader (video) experience from most of the 17,500 seats.
Over the weekend, the Sphere took over social media.
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Meta Connect 2023, Two Meta Pivots, The Elephant in the Room
Hello everyone. In what has become an annual event aimed at VR/AR/metaverse developers and creators, Meta held its Connect conference last week.
For today, we will keep the discussion to what was announced and some big picture takeaways.
Meta Connect 2023
Thanks to the Apple Vision Pro unveiling at WWDC in June, there was a greater level of intrigue surrounding this year’s Meta Connect versus previous years. Ho hum product events from Amazon and Microsoft earlier in the month opened the tech news cycle a bit for Meta last week. Offsetting those positive developments, Meta previously announced its Meta Quest 3 headset on June 1st. That removed quite bit of suspense from last week’s Connect keynote. (A video of the keynote is available here via YouTube).
Mark Zuckerberg handled the first 45 minutes of the keynote. It’s become rare to see one person (CEO/founder) present so much of a tech keynote without speaker breaks or interruptions. Ken Segall and Om Malik must have been happy (check out the daily update from last Wednesday for the full story). From a theatrical perspective, Meta is no Apple. Instead of a high production video, Meta relied on its pre-pandemic keynote template that other Big Tech companies have fallen back on as well.
Meta Connect 2023 revolved around three topics:
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Microsoft’s Copilot Event, Microsoft (Quietly) Pulling the Surface Plug, Apple Is Thinking Differently
Hello everyone. Last Thursday, we talked about Amazon's product event. Today, we focus on the Microsoft event that took place last week.
Let's jump right in.
Microsoft’s Copilot Event
For Amazon’s product event, the overall theme was a smarter, more conversational Alexa with the company betting on voice as the medium to push generative AI in the home. Last Thursday, Microsoft held its annual fall event for new products in NYC. A video of the presentation is available here.
Out of the two, Microsoft’s event came across as weaker. Some people wondered if Panos Panay’s surprise departure complicated Microsoft's event plans. It's not clear how much advanced notice Panay provided Microsoft. The event did have the vibe of being thrown together at the last moment. Coming in at only 58 minutes, a good portion of which went to demos and CEO Satya Nadella's opening monologue, the presentation was lean. One wonders why Microsoft even bothered to hold an actual in-person event.
Without Panay's energy, the audience seemed to be asleep for much of the presentation.
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Apple Presentation Criticism, Attending the Apple Event, Vision Pro and Apple Events
Happy Wednesday.
Today’s update will be a bit different. There’s been something circulating in my mind since attending the Apple event earlier this month. A few recent articles about Apple’s digital presentations got me thinking more about the topic. Let’s discuss.
Apple Presentation Criticism
Ken Segall, who was involved in many iconic Apple advertising campaigns in the late 1990s and 2000s is not a fan of Apple’s virtual presentations. Here’s the beginning of his blog post published this past Monday:
“Okay, it took me forever, but I finally got around to watching the 2023 iPhone event.
Why so long? It’s all Apple’s fault. The more they announce new products in these prepackaged events, the less I feel like watching.
My viewing did not change my opinion of virtual presentations. Instead, in an odd way, it got me thinking about the power of A.I. Not that Apple used A.I. to generate the script—rather that A.I. could have written the script, and few would have noticed.
That’s because what Apple is doing is exactly what A.I. is so good at. They’re writing a script based on the show before. And the one before that. And the one before that. They’re stuck in a loop where a parade of presenters describe new products, minus any emotional connection.
ChatGBT wouldn’t break a sweat pulling that together.
To be sympathetic (for a brief moment), Apple’s pre-fab format was born of pandemic restrictions. It was the right solution at the right time. Kudos. But now, even as restrictions have been lifted, Apple chooses to self-restrict. Puzzling.”
This article came to my attention via Om Malik who like Segall does not think too highly of Apple’s virtual presentations. Interestingly, Malik doesn’t like how Apple relies on so many presenters these days. Instead, he yearns for the days when one person (Steve) handled most of the presentation.
One thing that both Segall and Malik disclosed is that
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An Apple vs. Qualcomm Refresher, Apple Extends Qualcomm Supplier Agreement, The WSJ’s Apple Modem Hit Piece
Hello everyone. Today's update will be dedicated to discussing the latest developments in the ongoing feud between Apple and Qualcomm.
We begin with a refresher on how the two companies got to where they are today regarding their multi-year license and chipset supply agreement.
The discussion then turns to Neil’s thoughts on the WSJ’s strange article about Apple’s modem efforts.
Let's jump right in.
An Apple vs. Qualcomm Refresher
(The following snippet was from the November 17th, 2021 daily update. Check out the full update here.)
With the exception of the iPhone 11 line, Qualcomm has supplied modems for at least one flagship iPhone model each year going back to 2011. Before 2011, Apple relied on Infineon chips. (Intel later acquired Infineon’s baseband chip business.) The switch to Qualcomm from Infineon was due to Apple needing a CDMA network-equipped modem for iPhone.
In 2016, Apple shocked many by including Intel modems in iPhone 7 units that used non-CDMA networks (AT&T and T-Mobile). The move was a precursor to Apple suing Qualcomm in 2017, accusing the company of a variety of things. In a nutshell, Apple went after Qualcomm’s business model, not just a few patents, or recovering missing rebates. Apple had been in a weak position, dependent on Qualcomm for its chips with little to no recourse unless it was willing to risk its iPhone and iPad businesses. Intel gave Apple the leverage to go after Qualcomm.
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Amazon’s Product Event, Missing Amazon Buzz
The update goes over Neil’s thoughts on Amazon’s product event at HQ2 in Virginia.
Hello everyone.
Following Apple’s product event last week, Amazon and Microsoft held their respective fall product events this week. Today’s update will be focused on Amazon’s event. We will cover Microsoft’s event next week.
Let’s jump right in.
Amazon’s Product Event
Heading into Amazon’s event (video here), expectations were muted. Back in August, David Limp, who has been overseeing Amazon’s consumer gadget strategy for years, announced he was leaving the company.
Late last year, Amazon announced that it was refocusing its HW efforts as part of a broader expense reduction initiative that impacted the entire company. Said another way, CEO Andy Jassy was going to adjust Limp’s portfolio. It wasn’t likely that Amazon would announce products this week that would shock and awe.
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iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Pre-orders in China, Tim Cook’s Very Strong Interview With CBS News
We begin with a closer look at how iPhone 15 and 15 Pro pre-orders have been trending in China. The discussion then turns to Tim Cook’s interview with CBS News and why Neil thought the interview was so strong for Cook.
Happy Wednesday. Let’s jump right into today’s update.
iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Pre-orders in China
Two weeks ago, the rumor about China banning government workers from using iPhones spread like wildfire. This led to broader questions about how the new flagship iPhones would be received in China.
There is some follow-up to go over regarding the iPhone “ban” in China.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said there is no ban on government workers from using iPhones. Here is the full quote: “China has not issued laws, regulations or policy documents that prohibit the purchase and use of foreign brand phones such as Apple's. But recently we did notice a lot of media exposure of security incidents related to Apple's phones. The Chinese government attaches great importance to information and cyber security and treats both domestic and foreign companies as equals."
Presumably, the "security incidents related to Apple's phones" comment is referring to the Pegasus spyware issue. However, Apple addressed that with an iOS update. Even then, the statement doesn't match what was found in the various reports about this ban.
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iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Pre-orders Observations, Microsoft HW Chief Jumps Ship, Revisiting the Gadget Recession
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on iPhone 15 and 15 Pro pre-orders. The discussion then turns to Panos Panay leaving Microsoft to lead Amazon’s HW efforts.
Hello everyone.
One quick follow-up to yesterday’s update.
In terms of Apple Watch Ultra, one member wondered if the collection’s case size will be a limiting factor when it comes to unit sales mix. Would a majority of Apple Watch buyers go for a 49 mm case?
It is a fair question.
Over the years, one trend that we have seen is that Apple Watch case sizes have been getting larger (38 mm -> 49mm) while weight has been addressed by lighter materials. My wrist isn’t large, and the Ultra feels just as comfortable as any other Apple Watch. An even larger Apple Watch wouldn’t scare me away. Another option would be for Apple to bifurcate the Apple Watch Ultra into multiple case sizes.
iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Pre-orders Observations
This past Friday, Apple began accepting iPhone 15 and 15 Pro pre-orders. The devices go on sale on Friday. The following delivery estimates were compiled this morning. They are estimates for unlocked iPhone models. Apple has embraced an underpromise and overdeliver mantra when it comes to delivery estimates for online orders. The stated delivery dates may end up being pulled forward.
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Thoughts on Apple Product Pricing, My iPhone and Apple Watch Sales Mix Estimates, U.S. Carriers Improve iPhone Promotions
In today’s update, we go over a few topics related to the new Apple Watches and iPhones. The discussion begins with Neil’s thoughts on new Apple Watch and iPhone pricing. We then turn to Neil’s estimates for unit sales mix by Apple Watch and iPhone model. The update concludes with U.S. carriers improving their iPhone promotions.
Hello everyone. Welcome to a new week. Let’s jump right in.
Thoughts on Apple Product Pricing
At last week's product event, no major changes to Apple’s product pricing strategy were announced. There were more than a few rumors suggesting iPhone Pro pricing was going up against the board. That did not occur. Generally, Apple pricing rumors should be discounted as Apple is able to keep pricing information under wraps.
Here is entry-level pricing for each Apple Watch collection:
Apple Watch Series SE: $249 (GPS) – did not receive any updates last week
Apple Watch Series 9: $399 (GPS)
Apple Watch Ultra 2: $799 (GPS + Cellular)
We will talk more about my sales mix expectations by Apple Watch model shortly. For now, it is important to point out how Apple is sticking with
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Deconstructing Apple’s Product Event (iPhone Notes)
Hello everyone.
In today’s special Friday edition of the daily update, we will go over the iPhone portion of Apple’s product event.
In looking over my notes, there is a lot to unpack.
One member comment that is worth addressing had to do with Apple’s Mother Nature ad. Paraphrasing the member comment – how could the head of Apple’s sustainability effort say Apple’s goal was to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere? My initial thought was that something got lost in translation between coming up with the script, storyboarding, and the final video. Apple knows it doesn't make sense to remove all carbon from the atmosphere. Instead, Apple's goal is to remove its carbon contributions. The exchange needed some clarity.
The broader point is that kind of criticism regarding the Mother Nature ad is fine while much of the other pushback that has materialized online looks unjustified.
Deconstructing Apple’s Product Event (iPhone Notes)
While the Apple Watch is a new user business, the iPhone is an upgrade business. A majority of iPhone sales are driven by customers who already own an iPhone. Along those lines, the iPhone upgrade cycle is once again stretching out. Prior to the pandemic, we saw some signs of the iPhone cycle shrinking. However, that trend has clearly reversed.
For Apple, this means that new iPhone releases target two groups:
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Deconstructing Apple’s Product Event (Apple Watch), About That Apple “Mother Nature” Video
Hello everyone. We will continue our discussion of Apple’s event with a focus on everything Apple Watch. The discussion then turns to Neil’s thoughts on what has become quite the controversial ad for Apple’s sustainability efforts.
As a reminder, there will be a special Friday edition of the daily update.
This past Tuesday, there was another successful virtual member meet-up. You can check out the discussion in the Above Avalon team in Slack (available here). If you want to add to the discussions, please do so. That is one of the key benefits found with a (written) member meet-up.
Deconstructing Apple’s Product Event (Apple Watch)
Overall / Marketing
The Apple Watch portion of Apple's presentation came across as strong. In what has become something of a trademark of Apple Watch updates, quality trumps quantity in terms of new features. The new features looked useful and add value to Apple Watch out of the gate.
The Apple Watch is still a “new user” business with a majority of sales going to people new to the product. Apple’s target market for Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t Series 8 or even Series 7 owners but rather iPhone users who don’t wear an Apple Watch. In terms of Watch marketing,
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Apple’s September 2023 Product Event, A Different Feeling, Not Taking Anything for Granted
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to going over the major takeaway from Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch event/presentation. This will set the stage for talking about the more granular items tomorrow.
Apple’s September 2023 Product Event
Most of the themes that have underpinned new iPhone and Apple Watch features were on display yesterday.
Apple’s unique definition of innovation. Instead of positioning new or different as the goal, a feature’s ability to improve one’s life defines Apple’s innovation strategy. While the quantity of new iPhone and Apple Watch HW items announced yesterday won’t jump out as noteworthy, the quality stood out as value-add features that have a good chance of being adopted by tens of millions of users relatively quickly.
iPhone line bifurcation (pro vs. non-pro models). By launching features exclusively on the iPhone Pro models and then eventually bringing those features to the rest of the iPhone line, Apple can both create
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China Reportedly Extends iPhone Ban for Government Officials, Why the China Story Isn't Adding Up, The Huawei Factor
Hello everyone.
Today’s update will be dedicated to discussing the latest developments regarding China reportedly requiring more government employees not to use iPhones for work. Given how this story is still developing, we will follow up when appropriate.
Before we get to that discussion, one quick item:
Virtual Member Meet-up. As with WWDC, there will be a virtual member meet-up following Apple’s presentation. Mark your calendars. Tuesday, September 12th at 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT. The meet-up will provide an opportunity for members to have conversations in real time about everything Apple announced. In addition to participating in the discussion myself, I moderate the discussion topics. The discussions are made available afterwards for other members to read through in Slack. Any updates/changes related to the virtual meet-up will be shared in Slack, so keep an eye on that space. The meet-up will take place in the #random Slack channel (available here). If you have never joined the Above Avalon team in Slack, you can request an invite here. If you have previously been in the Slack team, your email has already been registered and you can just log in again.
China Reportedly Extends iPhone Ban for Government Officials
In an article published yesterday, here’s Yoko Kubota for the WSJ:
“China ordered officials at central government agencies not to use Apple’s iPhones and other foreign-branded devices for work or bring them into the office, people familiar with the matter said.
In recent weeks, staff were given the instructions by their superiors in workplace chat groups or meetings, the people said. The directive is the latest step in Beijing’s campaign to cut reliance on foreign technology and enhance cybersecurity, and comes as China seeks to limit flows of sensitive information outside of China’s borders.
The move by Beijing could have a chilling effect for foreign brands in China, including Apple. Apple dominates the high-end smartphone market in the country and counts China as one of its biggest markets, relying on it for about 19% of its overall revenue.
It wasn’t clear how widely the orders were being distributed, but similar messages were communicated to employees at some central government regulators…
Beijing has for years restricted government officials at some agencies from using iPhones for work, but the order has now been widened, the people said. The latest order also signals an intensified effort by Beijing to ensure its rules are strictly enforced.”
This article raised more questions than answers for me.
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Spotify 2Q23 Earnings, Spotify’s Podcasting Disappointment, Revisiting Apple Podcasts
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Spotify’s earnings. The discussion then turns to the WSJ’s deep dive into Spotify’s podcasting strategy. We go over three specific problems with the strategy. The update concludes by bringing Apple Podcasts into the mix and looking at the overall podcasting space.
Hello everyone.
One follow-up to yesterday’s update. In late 2022, Apple announced $450M was being spent on U.S. infrastructure to support Emergency SOS via satellite. A majority of the funding is earmarked for Globalstar. The reimbursements that Apple will provide Globalstar for 95% of capital expenditures related to updating its satellite constellation is part of that $450M commitment.
Spotify 2Q23 Earnings
Back at the end of July, Spotify reported 2Q23 earnings. With 3Q23 nearly two-thirds over, we will keep our focus broad. The more interesting topic is found with Spotify and podcasting, which we will discuss shortly.
Spotify’s earnings were similar to those of the past few quarters. User growth is exploding higher – thanks to a ramp up in marketing and promotions – while the company treads water financially.
The following slide did a good job of summing up Spotify’s current status.
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Globalstar Signs Launch Deal With SpaceX, SpaceX on Apple’s Radar?
Hello everyone. We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Globalstar, the satellite operator that Apple is relying on for Emergency SOS via satellite, signing a $64M launch deal with SpaceX. The discussion then turns to answering the question: Does SpaceX’s dominance push Apple to become more hands-on with satellites? Let's jump into today's update.
Globalstar Signs Launch Deal With SpaceX
The direct-to-device satellite communications space is heating up.
Last year, Apple unveiled Emergency SOS via satellite for iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. Apple partnered with satellite operator Globalstar for the feature. Earlier this year, the two companies signed a ~$250M funding deal that boils down to Apple funding Globalstar's efforts to update its dozens of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in exchange for making the constellation available to Apple. Meanwhile, SpaceX is working with T-Mobile on providing cell phone users satellite service. AT&T is working with AST SpaceMobile to boost its coverage. Qualcomm has turned to Iridium with Android devices in mind.
As for Globalstar updating its constellation, here's SpaceNews:
“Globalstar has contracted SpaceX to launch Apple-backed satellites in 2025 to replenish its low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity constellation.
The operator said in an Aug. 30 regulatory filing it will pay a total $64 million to launch the first set of satellites ordered last year from MDA, which is using Rocket Lab to supply chassis for the spacecraft.
While the company did not give further details about the launch agreement, its $327 million contract with MDA covered 17 satellites for deliveries anticipated in 2025. The manufacturing contract also includes an option for up to nine additional satellites at $11.4 million each.
Apple has agreed to reimburse Globalstar for 95% of the constellation, including manufacturing and launch costs. The smartphone giant is also lending Globalstar $252 million to help cover upfront costs.
In return, Apple would use 85% of the new network’s capacity to upgrade satellite services launched last year for its latest iPhone, which can connect with one of Globalstar’s 24 existing satellites for emergency services when cell towers are out of reach.”
Even though Globalstar relied on SpaceX to launch a satellite in mid-2022, this new deal will raise the level of awkwardness between the two companies.
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Apple Considering Supplier Shift for Vision Pro Displays, Vision Pro and China, Thursday Q&A
We kick things off with some news on the Vision Pro supply chain front. While things can certainly change between now and the Vision Pro launch next year, we are getting a better view of what appears to be a challenge manufacturing Vision Pro at scale: OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) displays. The discussion then goes over Neil’s thoughts on Vision Pro manufacturing and assembly in China. We conclude with the latest installment of Thursday Q&A in which Neil answers the following questions from Above Avalon members:
What’s motivating Apple’s deal strategy with live sports?
Do you agree that it has become increasingly challenging to estimate installed base totals for key Apple product categories? Will Apple change its approach? Is the lack of disclosure related to antitrust issues?
Did Apple change its commentary regarding installed base figures in the last earnings call?
Apple Considering Supplier Shift for Vision Pro Displays
“When Apple dealt with Chinese manufacturers in the past, it was to buy low-level components such as small metal parts, paper boxes and batteries. For advanced parts such as displays and chips, the iPhone maker turned to firms headquartered in the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Times are changing.
Apple is currently testing advanced displays made by two Chinese suppliers for possible inclusion in future models of its Vision Pro mixed-reality headsets, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter. The two suppliers, BOE Technology and SeeYa Technology, are among a crop of Chinese companies that are making high-end technologies, spurred by government policies designed to reduce China’s reliance on foreign tech while also making its homegrown firms more competitive.”
The Information’s article suffers from what has unfortunately become a norm in the Apple news sphere: narrative-based writing. A piece of reporting is wrapped in an opinion-based narrative. In this case, the new reporting is BOE Technology and SeeYa Technology working with Apple on a possible future supplier arrangement with Vision Pro in mind. The story used to wrap the reporting in is that Apple is benefiting from Chinese policies put in place to hurt the U.S. It’s quite the stretch. We will talk more about China shortly.
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Amazon Reportedly Interested in ESPN Deal, Apple Vision Pro and Live Sports Consumption, Apple Changes Scorsese Film Release
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Amazon talking with Disney about a potential ESPN deal. The update goes over Disney’s motivation with ESPN, where Big Tech becomes involved, and Apple’s connection. The discussion then turns to how live sports consumption can become a major use case for Apple Vision Pro. We go over two big questions about live sports as immersive experiences. We conclude with Apple changing the theatrical release plan for “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Hello everyone. Happy Wednesday. Apple sent invites for its next product event. September 12th at Steve Jobs Theater. New iPhones and Apple Watches are expected.
Let’s jump into today’s update.
Amazon Reportedly Interested in ESPN Deal
“Amazon has had early talks with The Walt Disney Company about working on the streaming version of ESPN it is developing, said people familiar with the matter. The tech giant could offer the service through one of its streaming offerings, helping to expand its distribution, while possibly also taking a minority stake in ESPN.
Such an arrangement could shore up ESPN’s status as the biggest force in sports media, even as declining TV viewership and advertising, combined with rising sports programming costs, have squeezed the sports channel and Disney, its majority owner. It could also reposition the tech behemoth, which has been trying to make a dent in sports streaming, as more friend than foe to ESPN. And it could weaken the sports leagues’ bargaining power.
ESPN is considering charging between $20 and $35 a month for the new streaming service, said people familiar with the matter, a potential price range that could make it the most expensive streaming service in the U.S. and add pressure on already-stagnant growth in the streaming sector."
The Information went on to say “multiple current and former Disney and ESPN insiders” value ESPN at between $25B and $35B. My first reaction was to wonder if former executives are running with ultra conservative assumptions when coming up with that $25B figure. While we don’t have a whole lot to go off of from a Disney financials perspective, my math (discussed in the July 19th update) pegged ESPN as potentially being valued at anywhere from $40B to $100B depending on one’s assumptions about future performance.
While there seems to be a throw everything against the wall and see what happens complex going on with Disney and ESPN, the crux of the situation is somewhat straightforward.
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More on Apple’s Photo of Vision Pro in a Developer Lab, EyeSight’s Visual Cues, My EyeSight Theory
Happy Tuesday.
Given incoming questions about yesterday’s update, we are going to keep the discussion going. Some members wanted to know more about what was and wasn’t shown in the following image included in Apple’s article drawing attention to the Vision Pro developer labs. Let's jump right in.
More on Apple’s Photo of Vision Pro in a Developer Lab
Following the Vision Pro unveiling at WWDC, there have been quite a few questions regarding EyeSight. Positioned as one of the device’s marquee features, EyeSight is meant to lower the personal computing barrier found with wearing a computer in front of your eyes.
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Apple Gives Sneak Peek Inside Apple Vision Pro Labs, Vision Pro Apps vs. Apple Watch Apps
Welcome to a new week. Today’s update takes us to Vision Pro land. Apple is peeling back the cover of its Apple Vision Pro developer labs. We examine Apple’s motivation for hosting the labs. The discussion then turns to key differences between early Apple Watch app development and what we see unfold with Vision Pro app development. Let’s jump right in.
Apple Gives Sneak Peek Inside Apple Vision Pro Labs
“As CEO of Flexibits, the team behind successful apps like Fantastical and Cardhop, Michael Simmons has spent more than a decade minding every last facet of his team’s work. But when he brought Fantastical to the Apple Vision Pro labs in Cupertino this summer and experienced it for the first time on the device, he felt something he wasn’t expecting.
‘It was like seeing Fantastical for the first time,’ he says. ‘It felt like I was part of the app.'
That sentiment has been echoed by developers around the world. Since debuting in early August, the Apple Vision Pro labs have hosted developers and designers like Simmons in London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Cupertino. During the day-long lab appointment, people can test their apps, get hands-on experience, and work with Apple experts to get their questions answered. Developers can apply to attend if they have a visionOS app in active development or an existing iPadOS or iOS app they’d like to test on Apple Vision Pro.”
Included in Apple’s article is one of the first press photos, shown below, of someone wearing and presumably trying out Vision Pro. To date, ABC News has been the only news outlet allowed to film (video and picture) someone wearing Vision Pro. The Vision Pro mini-site on Apple’s webpage has a number of marketing clips/snippets of Vision Pro being worn.
Judging from the visuals shown on the headset’s outward-facing display, the wearer is fully immersed in an experience.
These developer labs have been flying under the radar this month.
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