#Apple

Meta is aggressively acquiring top AI talent, notably hiring Ruoming Pang, former head of Apple’s foundational models team. This strategic move, reportedly driven by a lucrative compensation package, highlights Meta’s drive to bolster its AI capabilities amidst intense industry competition. Pang’s departure may impact Apple’s AI team morale, as the company seeks to advance its AI initiatives.

The foldable smartphone market faces a slowdown in 2024-2025, with a potential single-digit decline anticipated after years of rapid growth. However, the market is anticipating Apple’s entry, rumored for 2025, which could reshape the landscape. Supply chains also see significant potential, with Apple’s involvement stimulating growth across various component sectors and potentially driving further innovation.

TSMC’s 2nm process has achieved a production yield exceeding 60%, solidifying its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. This puts them far ahead of Samsung, whose 2nm yield is around 40%. TSMC’s 2nm technology, leveraging GAA, promises significant performance and efficiency gains. Key clients like Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD are expected to adopt it, while Samsung is targeting 2nm production for its Exynos 2600 processor later this year.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Apple’s request to stay a lower court order concerning its App Store operations. This ruling impacts Apple’s ability to control in-app purchases by disallowing developers to direct users to external payment options. The ongoing antitrust battle, initiated by Epic Games, is the root of this legal dispute. Apple plans to appeal the decision, disagreeing with the ruling that they violated a previous court order promoting market competition.

A woman’s unusual method of eating an apple, involving meticulously extracting the flesh with a straw over two hours, has gone viral. While the video generates mixed reactions online, health experts caution that the technique could cause jaw strain and oral damage. They also point out increased oxidation and bacterial growth, along with potential mycotoxin risks, making the practice questionable beyond its novelty.

Apple is appealing the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), arguing it threatens user privacy and security by requiring data sharing with external developers. The company claims the DMA’s interoperability demands, including features like cross-device functionality, could jeopardize intellectual property and expose sensitive data. This legal action, following DMA violation fines, underscores rising tension between Apple and regulators, particularly concerning innovation and competition.

A US federal court has blocked the former President’s attempts to impose tariffs on imported goods, including those from Apple, citing overreach of executive power. This decision led to a market rally as it averted potentially crippling tariffs on iPhones and other smartphones. Analysts warned of significantly increased prices and difficult logistics if production shifted to the US, potentially taking years and drastically impacting consumer spending.