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Tag: Apple

  • Those Viral Photos of Elon and Zuck Are AI. But Google Launched a New Way to Check for Fakes

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    Photos appearing to show Elon Musk and several other Big Tech CEOs have gone viral in the past week on X and Bluesky. The mundane environments, including humble apartments and McDonald’s parking lots, should have given everyone a hint that they’re fake. But there’s a new way for the average person to check for themselves whether the images were made with AI. And it’s actually really useful.

    Right off the bat, it should be said that the vast majority of AI image detectors are not reliable. Many people think you can use tools that are openly available on the web and figure out if a given image is AI. But they’re not good. For example, people often ask Grok on X whether a photo was created with generative artificial intelligence. And it frequently gets the answer wrong. Sometimes in amusing ways.

    Google developed an AI watermark called SynthID a couple of years ago, but the company didn’t allow the average user to check whether an image had the watermark. That changed just a few days ago. Now anyone can upload an image to Gemini and ask if it has the SynthID watermark, which is invisible to the naked eye.

    The watermark is embedded in the pixels and every image created with Google’s AI creation tools will have it. Checking for the watermark is now easy for anyone who opens up Gemini.

    From Google’s announcement:

    If you see an image and want to confirm it has been made by Google AI, upload it to the Gemini app and ask a question such as: “Was this created with Google AI?” or “Is this AI-generated?”

    Gemini will check for the SynthID watermark and use its own reasoning to return a response that gives you more context about the content you encounter online.

    Obviously Gemini is less equipped to tell you if an image is AI if it wasn’t made with Google tools like Nano Banana Pro. And that’s the entire reason the company appears to be launching SynthID detection in Gemini in this moment. Nano Banana Pro launched last week and it’s allowing users to make incredibly realistic images, including images of Elon Musk and other tech CEOs that look very real.

    Some of those images have recently gone viral, like one that racked up nearly 9 million views on X before migrating to other platforms like Bluesky. The image shows Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg all standing together in a small apartment.

     

    Other versions of the image include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, with the men standing around in a parking lot, pictured at the top of this article. For some reason, Musk is seen smoking a cigar in a couple of them. Another image showed the men in the parking lot from a different angle. And still another had the men eating McDonald’s on the ground with a Cybertruck in the background.

    If you run any of these images through Gemini it confirms they all have the SynthID watermark. If you’re wondering whether an image appears too weird to be true, it’s probably a good idea to check with Gemini.

    Did you see that viral image of President Donald Trump with Bill “Bubba” Clinton in a very compromising position? Running that image through Gemini confirms it was made with Google’s AI image generator. Gemini won’t necessarily be able to ID every AI image with certainty. But if you run an image through Gemini and it tells you the “photo” has the SynthID watermark, you know it’s not real.

    Fake images are still going to be everywhere in the current social media environment. But at least Google has given the average user a new tool to identify at least some of the fakes for themselves. It’s only going to get harder and harder to recognize AI-generated content as the years progress. Sometimes you just need to apply some common sense. For example, do you think Elon Musk and Sam Altman would be hanging out in a parking lot together? Given their very public conflicts, that seems very unlikely.

    Then again, it seemed very unlikely that Musk and President Trump would become friendly again after the Tesla CEO accused Trump of being in the Epstein files. Weirder things have happened when billions of dollars are at stake.

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    Matt Novak

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  • Tech Companies Were Everywhere at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Except One

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    If you wanted to understand how much Formula 1 has become a technology story, you didn’t have to look at a single lap time in Las Vegas. All you had to do was walk around.

    Google was there, partnering with McLaren, including prominent Gemini, Android, and Chrome branding throughout the weekend. HP is literally in Ferrari’s team name. The same is true for Oracle and Red Bull Racing.

    Photo Credit: Jason Aten

    T-Mobile was the official 5G partner of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and built out major magenta-branded experiences. Peloton, serving as the race’s official fitness partner, created on-site activations tied to its workout and training content.

    Amazon, through AWS, was there. The cloud giant continued its long-standing role as a technology and data partner of Formula 1, powering everything from race analytics to broadcast graphics. Paramount+, the streaming service, had an entire corner painted with its logo. Meta had its logo on the top of the Mercedes helmets. And across the paddock and garages, companies like Salesforce, Siemens, CrowdStrike, Dropbox, 1Password, and Zoom were represented through their team and series-level partnerships.

    Everyone showed up. Well, except one.

    Apple takes over F1 rights in the U.S. next year

    At a race where it seemed like tech companies were everywhere, there was one obvious absence: Apple. And that’s strange, because next season Apple will be the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner for Formula 1—taking over for ESPN, which has held the rights since 2018.

    For Apple, it’s the most ambitious sports-rights deal the company has ever done. You would think this would be the moment Apple started telling a story. Something. Anything. But at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Apple was invisible.

    There were no Vision Pro racing simulators tucked into the paddock clubs. Unlike the Super Bowl, there were no Apple Music performances. No Apple TV fan zones or “shot on iPhone” installations. No Apple Maps AR activations, even though the event is literally a street circuit.

    Expanding the relationship

    Sure, technically Apple’s deal doesn’t start until next year, but the companies already have a relationship through F1: The Movie. And, with Formula 1, holding its flashiest U.S. race in front of the largest concentration of tech, media, and entertainment decision-makers imaginable, it seems a little strange that Apple didn’t even bring a banner.

    Photo Credit: Jason Aten

    To be fair, part of that is how F1 works. It’s a maze of sponsorship categories and exclusivities. The commercial rights structure is notoriously rigid. Almost everything inside the paddock is spoken for. If someone already owns the wearable category, Apple can’t just plop Vision Pro units down wherever it wants. If another partner holds streaming rights, Apple TV can’t set up a branded stage.

    But here’s the thing: everybody else figured it out. After all, Google managed to turn McLaren’s wheel covers into Chrome logos. If Apple wanted to be seen, it would have figured out a way.

    I mean, Atlassian—an enterprise software company—literally wrapped a Formula 1 car in a livery celebrating its AI assistant. If they can find space for Jira on a race car, surely there’s room on the Strip for an Apple activation.

    Which leaves the more likely explanation: Apple doesn’t show up until it can control the experience. And right now, it can’t.

    More than just logos on a car

    The problem is that brand presence in Formula 1 isn’t just advertising; it’s signaling. It tells fans—and executives, and partners, and teams—what you think this sport is worth. And right now, one of the world’s most valuable companies is about to take over the broadcast of the world’s fastest sport, and hasn’t given fans any hint of what to expect.

    Obviously, the 2026 season hasn’t arrived yet, and Apple usually waits to show its hand until it’s ready. The company doesn’t do anything that hasn’t been fully considered and intentionally rolled out. When it decides to reinvent an experience—music, phones, payments, fitness—it starts quietly and then rewrites the script.

    But if the Las Vegas Grand Prix is a preview of the future of Formula 1 as a cultural event, one thing is clear: tech companies aren’t just attending these races. They’re taking over the grid. This year, it seemed as though everyone was in Las Vegas. Well, everyone except the one company that’s about to own the broadcast.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Jason Aten

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  • Apple now lets you add your passport to your phone’s Wallet

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Apple now lets you add your passport to your phone’s Wallet, giving you a new way to move through TSA lines with less stress this holiday season. Instead of digging through your bag for your ID, you can use a secure Digital ID on your iPhone at more than 250 airports across the United States. With more digital ID options appearing across the country, here is what you need to know before you start using it.

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    How Apple Digital ID works

    Digital ID stores your passport information securely on your device. Your data stays encrypted at all times. Apple cannot see where or when you use your Digital ID.

    Apple’s new Digital ID lets you store a passport on your iPhone for faster TSA checks. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

    When you present your Digital ID, you choose what information the TSA can see. You review the request on your screen and confirm it with Face ID or Touch ID. This helps prevent situations where someone else could access your ID without your approval.

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    Where Digital ID works

    Digital ID works for identity checks at select TSA lanes during domestic travel. It does not work for international flights or border crossings. Apple says support will expand to certain hotels, stores and online services where age or ID checks are needed.

    Eligibility requirements for Apple Digital ID

    Before you add a Digital ID to Apple Wallet, you need to meet a few basic requirements. To start, you must have a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. You also need an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.1 or later. 

    If your iPhone is not up-to-date, you can install iOS 26.1 by opening Settings, tapping General, choosing Software Update and following the on-screen steps. Make sure your phone is charged and connected to Wi-Fi before you start the update.

    Digital ID in Wallet works only at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel. It cannot replace a physical passport. Because of that, you should still bring your physical passport or license in case TSA needs to review it. You must also carry your physical passport for any international travel or border crossing.

    TSA agent works at Houston airport security checkpoint

    With Digital ID, you control what information is shared at security and confirm each request with Face ID. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

    How to add your passport to Apple Wallet 

    • Setting up Digital ID only takes a few minutes. You need an iPhone and a valid U.S. passport.
    • Open the Wallet app on your iPhone
    • Tap the Add button
    • Select Driver’s License or ID Cards
    • Choose Digital ID
    • Click Add to iPhone and Apple Watch or Add to iPhone Only
    • Scan the photo page of your passport
    • Hold your iPhone to read the passport chip
    • When it says “Verification Required”, click Continue
    • Take a selfie
    • Complete the short head movement prompts
    • Wait for verification
    • Your Digital ID appears in Apple Wallet when approved. You will receive a notification that says, Digital ID is ready to use. 

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    How to use your Digital ID at TSA

    How to add a passport to Google Wallet

    Google users can also store a digital version of their U.S. passport in Google Wallet. This option works at TSA checkpoints that support digital IDs for domestic travel, just like Apple’s version. You still need to keep your physical passport or license with you in case TSA requests it. Setting it up is simple and only takes a few minutes.

    How to add your passport to Google Wallet

    Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer 

    • Open the Google Wallet app on your Android phone
    • Tap Add to Wallet
    • Select ID Card
    • Choose U.S. Passport
    • Scan the photo page of your passport
    • Hold your phone near the passport chip to read it
    • Take a selfie video so Google can verify your identity
    • Follow the on-screen head movement prompts
    • Wait for verification
    • Your passport will appear in Google Wallet once approved
    passport at front desk

    Digital ID works at more than 250 airports for domestic travel, with more locations coming soon. (iStock)

    How to use your digital passport at TSA with Google Wallet

    Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer 

    • Open Google Wallet on your phone
    • Tap your passport
    • Hold your device near the TSA identity reader
    • Review the information TSA requests
    • Confirm with your device unlock method, such as fingerprint or PIN

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    Kurt’s key takeaways 

    Digital ID gives you a fresh way to move through crowded TSA lines with less hassle. It uses the security features built into iPhone and Apple Watch and keeps your passport information stored on your device. Use it for domestic travel and keep your physical ID handy as a reliable backup.

    Would you feel confident using a digital passport during your next TSA screening? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved. 

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  • iOS 27 Will Reportedly Just Be Bug Fixes for iOS 26

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    Are you still waiting for more patches to materialize and fix something that’s bugging you about iOS 26?

    I have good news: A really big patch for iOS 26 is reportedly coming, and it’s iOS 27.

    iOS 26 was actually pretty well received, and I wouldn’t want to make it sound like Apple is scrambling to fix it, but it was a big, ambitious update. Bloomberg’s Apple scoop-getter, Mark Gurman, claims the next mobile operating system will be, quite reasonably, less ambitious. Gurman says it will be to iOS 26 what 2009’s Snow Leopard MacOS update was to 2007’s Leopard—less a reinvention than an attempt to perfect what its predecessor was trying to do.

    First of all, once again to all the Liquid Glass haters: Apple has indicated that there will be no takebacks here. You’re stuck with this vibe across all your Apple devices for the next few years. There have already been some tweaks, and Gurman hints that iOS 27 will “include adjustments to the new styling.” 

    Intuitively, the most obvious area of focus when trying to mop up problems with this hardware-intensive update would be the slight but pervasive jank distributed across the whole OS—interconnected issues of sluggishness, weirdness, battery drain, and overheating.

    Indeed, the unfailingly polite Gurman says that while he personally never experienced any of these downsides, Apple engineers are “combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality.”

    He also notes that “user interface glitches,” “keyboard failures,” and “cellular connectivity snags” have been reported by users.

    But it won’t all be minor tweaks, and there will reportedly be a few major updates that “center on AI, an area where the company is still playing catch-up.” 

    Given that AI notification summaries in particular still seem to be a solution in search of a problem, this is an area where a small fix might make a huge difference. The feature rolled out in a disastrous, hallucination-laden form, breaking non-existent news stories that undermined trust in at least one news outlet that did nothing wrong. The feature was pulled, and then returned in a less exciting form. By being stingy with specificity in iOS 26, notification summaries avoid catastrophe, but also usefulness. With iOS 27, Apple has a chance to finally nail it on the third try. 

    iOS 26.4 is when users will reportedly get the long-awaited, secretly Google-powered, Siri update—the one that might finally make Apple’s voice assistant do something interesting for the first time in over a decade. But that big AI feature added to the current OS could be followed by related iOS 27 features like a paid “health focused AI agent,” AI-powered web search features, and apparently an Apple chatbot app that Gurman says is currently known as “Veritas,” and used as a “proving ground for the re-architected Siri.” 

    All this Siri talk feels like a time shift back to the 20-teens, so forgive me if I sum up what the update from iOS 26 to iOS 27 will probably mean with a paraphrase from that era: If you like your iOS, you can keep it.

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    Mike Pearl

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  • Get $120 off Apple’s Mac mini M4 for Black Friday

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    It’s a good idea to look for Black Friday Apple deals this time of year if you’re thinking about upgrading an aging laptop or picking up a pair of AirPods or an Apple Watch as a gift. One of the best discounts we’re tracking at the moment is on the M4-powered Mac Mini desktop — it’s $120 off right now, down from $599 to $479. That applies to the 16GB of RAM/256GB SSD model, and it’s pretty close to its all-time-low price.

    We gave the Mac mini M4 a 90 in our review, in part, because it packs an incredible amount of power into such a small design. It also has front facing USB-C and headphone ports, a first for the Mac mini lineup. Plus, it starts with 16GB of RAM, an upgrade from its predecessors.

    Apple

    However, if you want more memory or storage, the other Mac Mini M4 models are also on sale. You can get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD for $719, down from $799. Then there’s the option for 24GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD at $889, down from $999. Plus, if you want to bundle in three years of AppleCare+, each model ends up being about $100 cheaper than normal.

    If you’re looking to build a desktop setup from scratch, there’s a small but notable discount on Apple’s Magic Trackpad as well. It’s down to $120, which is only seven percent off its usual price but it’s the cheapest we’ve seen it.

    Image for the mini product module

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    Sarah Fielding

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  • Best Apple Black Friday deals: Save up to 44 percent on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirTags

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    According to our reviews, Apple makes some of the best tech you can buy. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay full price for the devices. Now that Black Friday sales have arrived, we’re seeing plenty of discounts on iPads, MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watches and more. A few of the discounts are hitting all-time lows, and others are the best prices we’ve seen in months. So if you’ve got your eye on a new iPad for family, an Apple Watch for a gift or a pair of AirPods for yourself, this is the list to check out. Here are the best Apple Black Friday deals around.

    Apple Black Friday deals: AirPods

    Apple

    In our review of the new AirPods Pro 3, we said they were Apple’s “most comprehensive update” to its Pro line yet. They feature live translation and heart-rate sensing, as well as improved overall sound, better active noise cancellation and a longer battery life. This is the lowest price yet on the new buds. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and Target.

    $220 at Amazon

    AirPods 4 (with ANC) for $100 ($79 off) at Amazon: If you just need moderate noise cancellation and prefer an open-wear fit (where nothing goes in your ear canal), you may prefer the new AirPods 4. They don’t have heart rate sensing or the hearing features the Pro models have. But we found the sound quality to be pretty good and appreciated Pro-level features like live translation. Also at Walmart and $140 at Best Buy.

    AirPods 4 (no ANC) for $80 ($50 off) at Amazon: You miss out on a few more features on the base-model AirPods 4: no live translation, no noise cancellation and no heart rate sensing, but you do get Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, like on the pricer models. We gave the entry-level buds an 88 in our review. The previous low price was $89. Also available at Walmart and Target.

    AirPods Max for $430 ($120 off) at Walmart: These cans have been around for quite some time now, only getting the slightest upgrade with a new USB-C port in 2024. The hardware is otherwise the same as it was when the over-ear headphones debuted in 2020. Still, they’re comfortable, have good sound quality and the on-board controls are unique but good. Amazon is selling it for $40 more.

    EarPods for $17 ($2 off) at Amazon: For those who prefer a cord, here is the only Apple-branded wired earphone option. This is a dollar more than the all-time low. Also at Walmart.

    Apple Black Friday deals: iPads

    Image for the small product module

    Apple

    The entry level iPad doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, but that didn’t bother us when we reviewed the new slate. We found the speed to be plenty for what most people need an iPad for: casual gaming, streaming, browsing, answering some emails. We wish the display was laminated and had some anti-glare coating. But this is the lowest-priced way to get your hands on a current-model iPad. Also at Walmart, Target and Best Buy.

    $279 at Amazon

    iPad Air (M3, 11-inch, 128GB) for $449 ($151 off) at Amazon: The Air is the Goldilocks Apple tablet. It strikes the perfect balance between price and performance, making it our overall pick for the best iPad you can buy. The build is lovely; it feels premium and the display is a big improvement over Apple’s base-model slate. The M3 chip is plenty fast for everyday use and can handle an average day of productivity no problem, particularly with its improved multi-tasking abilities. This matches the lowest price we’ve tracked. Also on sale at Walmart, Target and Best Buy for a few dollars more.

    iPad Air (M3, 13-inch, 128GB) for $649 ($150 off) at Amazon: A larger screen will make watching shows and playing games more expansive. And if you use your iPad more like a personal computer, you’ll appreciate the extra real estate for spreading out your work. Like the 11-inch Air, this has a powerful M3 chip and an excellent screen, as well as support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Intelligence. This matches the lowest price we’ve tracked. Also at Target, Best Buy and it’s $100 more at B&H.

    iPad mini (A17 Pro, 8-inch, 128GB) for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon: The smallest Apple iPad is really meant for those who put a priority on the portability and palm-ability of an 8-inch tablet. It uses the A17 chip, which enables support for Apple Intelligence, unlike the base model iPad. We gave it an 83 in our review, praising the fact that you get the full iPad experience, just in a more compact package. We found it particularly suited to messaging, reading, watching video and playing lots of Balatro. It went as low as $379 in October. Also at Best Buy.

    iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 256GB) for $900 ($100 off) at Amazon: While we think this is an amazing piece of computing machinery, we admit that it’s overkill for most people. It’s got one of the best displays you’ll find on a tablet, the most recent M5 chip (the same that powers the base-level Apple MacBook Pro) and an almost impossibly thin and light build. We gave it an 85 in our review and had very few complaints — aside from the near-prohibitive price tag. Hopefully this Black Friday discount helps. This $100 discount is a new all-time low. It’s $923 at Walmart.

    Apple Black Friday deals: Apple Watch

    Image for the mini product module

    Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS only) for $350 ($49 off) at Amazon: Apple still makes the best smartwatch money can buy. The flagship Apple Watch Series 11 is not just a stalwart companion for an iPhone, it also offers comprehensive health monitoring and fitness tracking. There wasn’t a huge change from the Series 10 to this one — both have the same thin and light design, but now the glass is tougher and the battery lasts longer. This $50 discount is the steepest we’ve seen yet. Also at Walmart and Target.

    Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS only) for $200 ($49 off) at Amazon: After a couple years, Apple finally updated its budget-model smart watch. And we were pretty happy with the results, awarding the new wearable a review score of 90. It’s got a smaller screen and thicker bezels than the Series 11 and lacks a few of the more advanced health monitoring features. It’s also made from slightly less-robust materials. But it has nearly everything that makes Apple Watches great for a lot less — particularly now. This is the lowest price we’ve seen since the watch came out in September. Also at Walmart and Target.

    Apple Black Friday deals: MacBooks and Macs

    Image for the small product module

    Apple

    As far as we’re concerned, Apple makes the best laptop overall with the M4 MacBook Air. It’s light and portable yet powerful enough to handle all but the most demanding media rendering. The keyboard and touchpad are excellent and the battery will get you through a full day of work and then some. It earned a 92 in our review. Also at Best Buy and it’s $100 off at B&H.

    $749 at Amazon

    Apple MacBook Air (M4, 15-inch, 256GB) for $949 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M4 chip is quite powerful, to take advantage of all the productivity it enables, you might want a little more room on your screen. When Apple first made a 15-inch option for the MacBook Air a couple generations ago, we were surprised at the difference it made. Also at Best Buy and it’s $100 off at B&H.

    Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,444 ($155 off) at Amazon: Apple’s most recent M-series chip is the M5, and only comes equipped on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iPad Pro. When the M5 MacBook Pro M5 came out last month, we promptly reviewed it and awarded it a 92. That new chip gives the laptop an impressive graphics upgrade that helps make it more suited to gaming — an area where Apple still lags behind PCs. Other than the chip upgrade, it’s mostly the same, which is a good thing. It’s sturdy, powerful and has an impressively long battery life — we clocked 34 hours in a video run-down test. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

    Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,749 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M5 chip isn’t yet available in the Pro and Max variants. If Apple follows the same six-month gap that separated the M4 from the M4 Pro and Max chips, we may see the M5 Pro/Max in spring of next year. For now, however, those higher-specced chips can only be found in the M4-series lineup. The MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is on sale and it’s our recommendation for creative professionals who need an obscene amount of processing power. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

    Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 16-inch, 256GB) for $2,189 ($310 off) at Amazon: You sacrifice a little portability for the larger 16-inch screen, as it adds about a pound and a quarter to the weight. But you might appreciate the extra space for your work on the display. Also at Walmart and B&H.

    Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 24-inch) for $1,149 ($150 off) at Amazon: Apple just has one model of an all-in-one desktop computer and it has the M4 chip inside. We called the iMac more cost effective than ever, now that it comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. The M4 chip makes it capable for content creation, productivity and gaming.

    Mac mini (M4) for $479 ($120 off) at Amazon: Apple’s compact desktop computer got a rave review from us. We called it “shockingly small [and] incredibly powerful.” It also benefits from a bump to a minimum of 16GB of internal memory. It can play modern games at reasonable resolutions and handle most productivity tasks you throw at it.

    Apple Black Friday deals: Accessories

    Image for the mini product module

    Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off) at Amazon: The Apple Pencil situation is a little messy, so you’ll want to double check which model is compatible with your particular iPad. The Pencil Pro is the most fully featured in the lineup with haptic feedback, barrel roll and squeeze capabilities, and a hover preview feature. It’ll work with the two most recent models of the Air and Pro iPads, as well as the latest iPad mini. Also at Walmart and Best Buy.

    Apple Pencil USB-C for $69 ($10 off) at Amazon: If you have the new base-model iPad with the A16 chip, this is the pencil that will work for you. It’ll also work with current as well as slightly older models of the Air and Pro iPads.

    Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $65 ($34 off) at Amazon: Even though they haven’t been updated in a few years, Apple’s AirTags are still the gold standard of Bluetooth trackers, and what most people think of when they think of trackers. We may get a new version soon, but they aren’t likely to be this cheap. Also at Walmart. A single AirTag is on sale too.

    Image for the mini product module

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    Amy Skorheim

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  • OpenAI and Taiwan’s Foxconn to partner in AI hardware design and manufacturing in the US

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    TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — OpenAI and Taiwan electronics giant Foxconn have agreed to a partnership to design and manufacture key equipment for artificial intelligence data centers in the U.S. as part of ambitious plans to fortify American AI infrastructure.

    Foxconn, which makes AI servers for Nvidia and assembles Apple products including the iPhone, will be co-designing and developing AI data center racks with OpenAI under the agreement, the companies said in separate statements on Thursday and Friday.

    The products Foxconn will manufacture in its U.S. facilities include cabling, networking and power systems for AI data centers, the companies said. OpenAI will have “early access” to evaluate and potentially to purchase them.

    Foxconn has factories in the U.S., including in Wisconsin, Ohio and Texas. The initial agreement does not include financial obligations or purchase commitments, the statements said.

    The Taiwan contract manufacturer, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., has been moving to diversify its business, developing electric vehicles and acquiring other electronics companies to build out its product offerings.

    A sleek Model A EV made by the group’s automaking affiliate Foxtron was on display at Friday’s event.

    “This year, Model A. ‘A’,’ for affordable,” said Jun Seki, chief strategy officer for Foxconn’s EV business.

    The tie-up with OpenAI can also help Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by China, to build up its own computing resources, said Alexis Bjorlin, a Nvidia vice president.

    “This allows Taiwan’s domain knowledge and key technology data to remain local and ensure data security,” she said.

    “This partnership is a step toward ensuring the core technologies of the AI era are built here,” Sam Altman, CEO of San Francisco-based OpenAI, said in the statement. “We believe this work will strengthen U.S. leadership and help ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared.”

    OpenAI has committed $1.4 trillion to building AI infrastructure. It recently entered into multi-billion partnerships with Nvidia and AMD to expand the extensive computing power needed to support its AI models and services. It is also partnering with US chipmaker Broadcom in designing and making its own AI chips.

    But its massive spending plans have worried investors, raising questions over its ability to recoup its investments and remain profitable. Altman said this month that OpenAI, a startup founded in 2015 and maker of ChatGPT, is expected to reach more than $20 billion in annualized revenue this year, growing to “hundreds of billions by 2030.”

    Foxconn’s Taiwan-listed share price has risen 25% so far this year, along with the surge in prices for many tech companies benefiting from the craze for AI.

    The Taiwan company’s net profit in the July-September quarter rose 17% from a year earlier to just over 57.6 billion new Taiwan dollars ($1.8 billion), with revenue from its cloud and networking business, including AI servers, contributing the most business.

    “We believe the importance of the AI industry is increasing significantly,” Liu said during Foxconn’s earnings call this month.

    “I am very optimistic about the development of AI next year, and expect our cooperation with major clients and partners to become even closer,” said Liu.

    ___

    Chan reported from Hong Kong

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  • Bubble fears ease but investors still waiting for AI to live up to its promise

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    Fears about the artificial intelligence boom turning into an overblown bubble have diminished for now, thanks to a stellar earnings report from Nvidia that illustrated why its indispensable chips transformed it into the world’s most valuable company.

    But that doesn’t mean the specter of an AI bubble won’t return in the months and years ahead as Big Tech gears up to spend trillions of dollars more on a technology the industry’s leaders believe will determine the winners and losers during the next wave of innovation.

    For now, at least, Nvidia has eased worries that the AI craze propelling the stock market and much of the economy for the past year is on the verge of a massive collapse.

    If anything, Nvidia’s quarterly report indicated that AI spending is picking up even more momentum. The highlights, released late Wednesday, included quarterly revenue of $57 billion, a 62% increase from the same time last year. That sales growth was an acceleration from the 56% increase in year-over-year revenue from the May-July quarter.

    What’s more, Nvidia forecast revenue of $65 billion for the current quarter covering November-January, which would be a 65% year-over-year increase.

    Given Nvidia’s forecasts, “it is very hard to see how this stock does not keep moving higher from here,” according to analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri. The UBS analyst also said the “AI infrastructure tide is still rising so fast that all boats will be lifted.”

    Nvidia’s numbers are viewed through a window that extends far beyond the Santa Clara, California, company’s headquarters because its products are needed by a wide range of companies — including Big Tech peers like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta Platforms — to build data centers that are becoming known as AI factories.

    “AI spending isn’t just holding up, it’s accelerating. That’s exactly what the market needed to see,” said Jake Behan, head of capital markets for investment firm Direxion.

    The numbers initially lifted Nvidia’s stock price by as much as 5% in Thursday’s trading, while other tech stocks tied to the AI spending frenzy also got a boost. But Nvidia’s shares and other tech stocks reversed course later in the session as investors found other issues besides AI, such as the government’s latest jobs report and the future direction of interest rates.

    Even with a 3% drop in its stock price amid the broader market decline, Nvidia remains valued at $4.4 trillion, more than 10 times its valuation three years ago when OpenAI released its ChatGPT chatbot, triggering the biggest technological shift since Apple released the iPhone in 2007.

    Nvidia’s rapid rise has turned its CEO Jensen Huang into the chief evangelist for the AI revolution and he sought to use his bully pulpit during a late Wednesday conference call with industry analysts to make a case that the spending to make technology with humanlike intelligence is just beginning.

    “There’s been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point, we see something very different,” Huang insisted while celebrating “depth and breadth” of Nvidia’s growth.

    Huang is hardly a lone voice in the wilderness. A recent report from Gartner Inc. estimates that worldwide spending on AI will rise to more than $2 trillion next year, a 37% increase from the nearly $1.5 trillion that the research firm expects to be spent this year.

    But it remains to be seen if all that money pouring into AI will actually produce all the profits and productivity that proponents have been promising. That leaves the question unanswered if all the real spending that’s happening will be worth it.

    The most recent survey of global fund managers by Bank of America showed a record percentage of investors saying companies are “overinvesting.”

    Big Tech is already so profitable that many of the most successful finance their spending sprees with their ongoing stream of revenue and cash hoards in their bank accounts. But some companies, such as Meta Platforms and Oracle, are relying more heavily on debt to fund their AI ambitions — a strategy that has raised enough alarms among investors that their stock prices have plunged more dramatically than their peers in recent weeks.

    Both Meta and Oracle have suffered more than 20% declines in their stock prices since late October.

    But other Big Tech powerhouses leading the way in AI remain just behind Nvidia and iPhone maker Apple in the rankings of the most valuable companies. Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon boast market values currently ranging from $2.3 trillion to $3.6 trillion.

    “It is true that valuations are high and that there is some froth in the market, however, the spending on AI is real,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for money manager Northlight Asset Management. “Whether or not the spending turns out to be overdone won’t be known for many years.”

    AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York contributed to this story.

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  • Google Just Put a Massive Crack in Apple’s Walled Garden and It’s Good News For Everyone

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    I like my iPhone. I currently use an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and it’s great. It has great cameras, a great display, and it has more than enough power inside for any of the things I want to do, which usually means some combination of taking photos, responding to email and Slack, and looking up random medical questions on ChatGPT.

    Of course, I can do all of those things on really any smartphone. The reason I love the iPhone has very little to do with the camera or the chip. Like millions of iPhone users, it’s the fact that things “just work,” especially when it comes to my other Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad.

    Maybe the best example of this is AirDrop. When you think about it, the fact that you can just beam photos or files from one device to another is the result of an extraordinarily complex set of technologies. For the user, however, it’s incredibly simple. It just works.

    AirDrop is one of those features you don’t think about until you use a device that doesn’t have it. Then you realize how much friction it quietly removes from your life. It’s not fancy, but it’s pure Apple: invisible until the exact moment you need it, and then absolutely effortless.

    That’s why what Google’s announcement this week is so surprising. For the first time, the Pixel 10 can send files directly to an iPhone using Apple’s own AirDrop system. It isn’t some convoluted workaround or some cloud-based link. It’s basically AirDrop, but between Android and Apple. And Google did it without Apple’s help at all.

    AirDrop is Apple at its best

    The magic of AirDrop isn’t that it exists. Dozens of file-sharing protocols exist. The magic is that it works everywhere, instantly, and without any setup. Take a photo, tap share, choose a device, and it just appears. No accounts. No pairing. No QR codes. No asking whether the other person has the same app. No converting file formats. No compression.

    That level of simplicity is extremely difficult to engineer, and even harder to replicate across different hardware and software. It’s also one of Apple’s purest “it just works” moments—something the company does better than almost anyone else.

    And because Apple controls the hardware, software, radios, and protocols, AirDrop has always been strictly an Apple-to-Apple feature. That exclusivity turned AirDrop into one of Apple’s most interesting lock-in advantages. In fact, I think you can argue that AirDrop is far more powerful, in practice, than people give it credit for. If you’ve ever tried to send a video from an Android phone to a Mac user over text message, you understand.

    Which is why what Google pulled off here is a big deal.

    How Google made this work

    On paper, what Google did looks almost impossible. AirDrop isn’t documented publicly. The protocol isn’t designed to accept devices that aren’t signed and trusted within Apple’s ecosystem. And, Google says that Apple wasn’t involved in making this happen, but they figured it out anyway. It’s now possible to send Pixel-to-iPhone transfers that behave almost exactly the way AirDrop normally does.

    Image courtesy, Google

    The short version is that Google effectively built its own compatible implementation of the underlying AirDrop discovery and transfer behavior. It uses the same kinds of signals—Bluetooth LE for discovery, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi for the actual transfer—and wraps it in a security-hardened layer that Apple devices are willing to talk to.

    Google rewrote major portions of the logic in Rust, submitted it to independent security testing, and ensured that everything happens entirely on-device. There is no cloud service or servers involved, and Google isn’t collecting any data. It’s just one device sending bits directly to another.

    There is one catch: to receive files from a Pixel, an iPhone must temporarily be set to “Everyone for 10 Minutes,” Apple’s AirDrop visibility mode that loosens the usual “contacts only” restrictions. It’s not quite as seamless as Apple-to-Apple sharing, but it’s surprisingly close and—assuming Apple doesn’t make a change to nuke this capability, it’s a win for everyone.

    Of course, because Apple didn’t formally approve this, the company could break it at any time through a protocol change. And historically, Apple hasn’t been shy about doing exactly that when it believes a feature threatens security, privacy, or its overall user experience.

    This is good for everyone–including Apple

    Here, however, the risk is different. If Apple shuts this down, it won’t look like it’s protecting users. It will look like it’s protecting its walled garden and taking away a capability that genuinely makes using an iPhone better.

    The reality is, people who use iPhones don’t only know other people who use iPhones. I talked to a couple recently where the wife uses an iPhone and the husband has a Pixel. This is the kind of thing that will make sharing photos of their children infinitely better, as one example.

    AirDrop is great because it’s useful and removes friction. And frictionless experiences are more valuable when they work for everyone, not just for the people who bought a specific piece of hardware.

    Apple already knows this. It’s why Messages is adopting RCS. It’s why Apple brought Apple TV to smart TVs. It’s why Apple Music ships on Android. Even Apple—the world’s most successful walled garden—understands there are moments when expanding the garden is better than adding more walls.

    This is also smart for Google in that it positions the Pixel 10 as the Android phone to get if you want to reduce friction with the iPhone users in your life. That’s a powerful competitive advantage that shouldn’t go overlooked.

    Make the experience better for everyone

    There’s a broader takeaway here that applies far beyond smartphones:

    AirDrop is the kind of feature people love because it solves a real problem in the simplest of ways. People want things that reduce friction to exist everywhere. If you won’t provide that interoperability yourself, someone eventually will—whether it’s a competitor, a regulator, or an enterprising engineer on a deadline.

    Google didn’t beat Apple by creating a replacement for AirDrop. It beat Apple, at least temporarily, by making AirDrop more useful. That should get Apple’s attention—not because it undermines the iPhone, but because it reinforces what made the iPhone successful in the first place.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Jason Aten

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  • These Beats Headphones Are Marked Down to $150 for Black Friday

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    Say what you will about Beats fans, but at least they know what they like. These headsets and earbuds are instantly recognizable for their slick styling and bass forward sound profile. If that sounds like your speed, the Beats Studio Pro are currently marked down as low as $150 Amazon, depending on your color preference. I spotted them at the lower price in matte white, sand gray, and dune, with a slightly higher $170 price tag for the remaining colors, though your availability may vary.

    Courtesy of Beats

    While the Studio Pro lack some of the Apple-exclusive features you get with AirPods, for example, the upside is that they’re much more friendly with Android devices. Both platforms get access to one-touch pairing and the helpful Beats app, while iPhone owners also get the benefits of Hey Siri and Find My Device. The other features are a bit of a mixed bag, with a decent battery life of up to 24 hours with ANC on, or 40 with ANC off, but no auto pause when you take them off, or multi-point pairing beyond Google’s Chromebook and Android option.

    Like most headphones from Beats, the sound profile is decidedly bass-forward, but Apple’s ownership has tempered that tendency over the last few years. As a result, this generation is more balanced than previous eras, with our reviewer Ryan Waniata complimenting the expansive sound stage and sharp details. Unfortunately, most Beats headsets don’t have any equalizer, and the Studio Pro are no different. For better or worse, you’re stuck with how they sound coming out of the box. These at least support high-resolution audio, up to 24-bit/48-kHz, but only in the wired USB-C mode.

    For the Beats enthusiast looking for an upgrade or a second headset for the gym, these are a solid option at a deeply discounted price. They lack some of the richer and more advanced features found on more expensive headsets, but that may be the right compromise for some folks who just want something simple that works every time. If you’re not sure you can stand the bass, make sure to check out all of our favorite wireless headsets.

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    Brad Bourque

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  • Pick up a four-pack of AirTags for a record-low price for Black Friday

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    Good deals on Apple products are generally harder to come by throughout the year than with other brands, but sale events are usually the best time to look around. And sure enough, for Black Friday, Apple’s AirTags are cheaper than ever. You can pick up a four-pack of these handy Bluetooth trackers for $65, a record low price. Bear in mind that this deal brings the price per AirTag down to $16 if you were to buy them individually, and when not on sale they usually cost $29.

    Apple

    Pick up this four-pack for a record low price ahead of Black Friday. 

    $65 at Amazon

    If you use Apple devices and are prone to losing stuff, AirTags are the obvious choice of Bluetooth tracker to buy. Adding one to your account requires little more than a single tap, and with Apple’s Find My network offering such extensive coverage these days, it’s never been easier to find missing belongings.

    Tracking down a still nearby misplaced item is as easy as using your iPhone to trigger a sound from the AirTag’s built-in speaker, or alternatively you can use Precision Finding to pinpoint its location through Find My. You just follow the instructions on your iPhone’s screen, paying attention to its vibrations as you get closer.

    If you only need a single AirTag, they’re also on sale right now for $18, another record low. It works out a bit better as a deal if you purchase the four-pack, but if you just want to attach one to your keys or backpack, $65 might seem like a stretch. Just remember that AirTags can’t be attached to items right out of the box. You’ll need to add an accessory in order to turn one into a keyring, or even attach it to your pet’s collar.

    Image for the mini product module

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    Matt Tate

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  • What Apple Already Knows About Creativity That Small Businesses Can’t Ignore

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    Apple has always understood one idea that most small businesses overlook. Creativity grows from speed. Not perfection. Not long planning cycles. But speed. That rhythm of testing, revising, and shipping again is what keeps Apple ahead even when competitors have bigger budgets or louder voices. 

    Guy Kawasaki explained this mindset in his well-known TED Talk on the art of innovation. As the former evangelist at Apple, he described innovation as a simple decision to keep moving when others slow down. He said that great companies jump curves while the rest wait for permission. They release ideas before they feel ready and learn from real behavior instead of internal debate.  

    His message is direct. Do not chase perfection. Chase progress. That is the only way ideas gather strength. 

    Most companies hesitate 

    Small businesses can now work at the same pace thanks to AI. Yet, most founders still hesitate. They wait for the perfect product idea, the ideal plan, or the perfect pitch. They try to outthink the risk rather than outlearn it. Apple never works that way. Apple moves. 

    I was reminded of this during an unexpected call with an old friend from college who now works in an executive leadership role at an oil and gas company and wanted to reconnect. Our quick catch-up chat led to a two-hour follow-up call focused on how to use AI to work smarter and faster. 

    The conversation shifted when he mentioned a research problem that normally drags on for weeks. His team needed detailed confirmation of land and mineral rights—a full chain of ownership through county records. Anyone who has done this kind of work knows the grind. You chase documents across systems that rarely agree. You wait for clerks to respond. You dig for references in databases that feel older than the counties themselves. 

    I told him we could test a different approach. We opened public databases and quickly pulled county records. Then, we used a set of AI tools to run searches in parallel instead of in sequence. The results appeared in minutes. Then, we sought the next round of results. Then, a third. Each pass filled gaps for the next one. What usually takes weeks is now compressed into an afternoon.  

    He kept stopping mid-sentence to say, “This changes everything. I can’t believe it.” By the end of the call, he planned to brief his colleagues. From what I hear, my friend has been talking about it ever since. 

    Apple’s ‘shorter idea to insight’ philosophy 

    This is what Apple understands: Creativity grows when the cycle from idea to insight gets shorter. You learn faster, you trust your instincts, and you can make decisions with confidence because you have new information every few minutes, not every few weeks. 

    The mistake small businesses make is assuming they must think longer to think better. Apple does the opposite. It reduces the cost of testing ideas, which encourages more ideas. AI now gives founders the same ability. You can explore new products without waiting. You can check assumptions without fear. You can shift direction without sunk costs dragging you down. 

    The right answer appears after trial and error 

    In my work as a professor of technology and innovation management, I see this every semester. Students want to move fast, but they fear mistakes. They want the right answer before they begin. I tell them the right answer rarely appears until after they start testing. To help them work at a faster pace, I build custom AI chat tools that act as teaching assistants.  

    The AI chat tools guide students through research steps and planning sequences. They ask questions, push for clarity, and respond in ways that feel natural but never hand over the solution. Students enter the process with scattered ideas, but they leave with clearer direction because the feedback loop is short. They see the path unfold instead of waiting for it to appear. 

    Creativity and speed are the strategy 

    Apple’s real advantage is not design, branding, or marketing. Those aspects matter, but they come later. Apple’s edge is that the company treats creativity like a system that must run every day. The ideas get better because the process never slows. They launch, learn, adjust, and launch again. Continuous cycles. Minimal friction. Constant movement. 

    Small businesses can adopt this rhythm with surprising ease. Start testing ideas the moment they appear, rather than waiting to polish them. Let AI explore multiple versions of a concept before you invest your own time. Use tools that merge scattered notes into early prototypes. Try different customer angles in minutes. If one direction fails, it fails quickly enough to teach you something. Then, you try again. 

    My friend used to think that land research depended on slow procedures and long waits. He thought the only path was the traditional path. After one conversation, he now sees the value of rapid testing. His team can reach accurate conclusions in a fraction of the time. The process changed because the speed changed. 

    What to learn from Apple’s approach to creativity 

    Founders often ask how they can compete with larger companies. Creativity is not about size; It is about velocity. Apple proved this theory years ago. Small businesses can follow the same pattern now that AI is available to anyone with a laptop and an idea. 

    You do not need a perfect plan. Instead, you need the next experiment. You need to shorten the distance between question and insight. As you learn faster, you can grow faster, too. That is the lesson Apple mastered, and the lesson small businesses ignore at their own cost. When you move at the speed of discovery, creativity stops being a mystery. It becomes a habit, and habits scale far better than luck. 

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Monica Amadio

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  • Digital Driver’s License? Apple and Illinois Get It. Your Business Should Too

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    Just in time for holiday trials, travels and other tribulations, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that Illinois has teamed up with Apple to be the largest of more than a dozen states to date to fully implement a statewide program enabling its citizens to quickly add their Illinois driver’s licenses or state IDs to the Apple Wallet on their iPhone. A few simple steps and you’re good to go. Quicker, more convenient, and much safer, it’s a huge step forward—especially for anyone who’s ever left their wallet at home or lost their license.

    Forget about grabbing your wallet while both of your hands are already full; you’re holding up the TSA line; and you’re getting dirty looks from everyone in line behind you including your own family. Now you just tap your phone, and the job is done. Same deal while you’re freezing your butt off standing in line and trying to get into a concert or sporting event. And proving your age at bars and restaurants will now be a piece of cake. For the college kids with fake IDs, life just got a lot tougher.

    If you own or operate a consumer-facing retail enterprise, entertainment venue, or other age-gated institution, get ready. You can expect this technology to spread pretty quickly nationwide and expand to provide additional functionality and benefits. The Illinois arrangement with the TSA already covers more than 250 airports across the country.

    Google and Samsung wallets will also be covered in the near future so that even those using Android devices will be able to use the program. It’s important to note that the digital license is not acceptable for any interactions with law enforcement, so you still need to carry the real thing when you’re driving. Lots more to come down the road including, I would guess, systems that will eventually enable digital identification for voters.

    In any case, for a guy who just took office in 2023 after his predecessor spent 30 years in the job, Giannoulias has moved rapidly to address the structural problems, hidebound procedures, and ancient code that he inherited and also to implement the changes and updates he promised when he ran for the position. It’s not easy to balance the need to clean up the past messes and move the machine forward at the same time, and a lot of the burden falls on the crack IT team that he’s assembled. He has been very diligent in giving credit to his IT team and following some of the directions I set out in 2016 for IT professionals. These ideas are just as critical and relevant today as they were a decade ago for every tech-centric business and, by the way, there are no longer any businesses that aren’t tech-centric.

    By far the most important idea I suggested was to focus on the future and stop patching the past. I suggested that it was crucial to build new bridges on top of old code rather than just adding more patches and bandages. Eventually, if you keep at it, you can toss the old stuff and move entirely to new structures. One of the smartest choices that Giannoulis made at the outset of the digital license project was to partner with Apple for three main reasons.

    • First, he didn’t have to try to find and attract the right audience for his new innovation. Everyone who has an iPhone has immediate access to the Wallet as well, so there were literally millions of folks already equipped to use the new feature on the day it was released. It saves enormous amounts of time to ride someone else’s rails who has already built a user base.
    • Second, by partnering with Apple, he gained access to their existing technology, avoided substantial development and resource costs, and was able to rely upon all of the already installed devices nationwide which were capable of connecting to and communicating with the iPhone. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel and ending up with a less robust and reliable offering, he was able to incorporate all of Apple’s years of investment and expertise into the Illinois system.
    • Third, because there were substantial issues and discussions with various interested parties about privacy and security and because this was one of Giannoulias’s primary concerns, he was able to partner with the nation’s leading advocate for privacy and one of the most security conscious tech companies in the world and make those important attributes part of his program. No one has a better reputation in these essential areas than Apple.

    While this is simply the latest improvement that’s been implemented in a relatively short time, the real message for change agents, new business builders and, frankly, for seasoned business owners as well who don’t want to get left behind is that everything today in service sector—whether you’re a government agency or a private entity—is about three things: speed, convenience and security/privacy.

    This has been Secretary Giannoulias’ mantra from day one—attacking the “time tax” that we all pay every day for inefficiency, incompetence, and simple bureaucratic and procedural friction in our interactions with government agencies as well as with plenty of other institutions. I call this the business necessity of being there when the buyer is ready to buy—ready, able, prepared, properly equipped, and fully engaged. Today, our time is more valuable than our money, and it’s the scarcest resource we have.

    But any successful service strategy must be combined with a sincere demonstration of interest and concern. My impression is that this EQ component is the secret sauce that Secretary Giannoulias has brought to his work and to his team. He radiates this commitment and energy every day. While technology is a powerful tool to assist in this process, the real key to consistent improvement and service success is to educate, energize and excite your team about the importance of delivering the right information, the appropriate solutions, and an emotional experience that demonstrates a real interest in and clear empathy for every individual they interact with on a daily basis.

    No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Howard Tullman

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  • Nvidia earnings clear lofty hurdle set by analysts amid fears about an AI bubble

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    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nvidia’s sales of the computing chips powering the artificial intelligence craze surged beyond the lofty bar set by stock market analysts in a performance that may ease recent jitters about a Big Tech boom turning into a bust that topples the world’s most valuable company.

    The results announced late Wednesday provided a pulse check on the frenzied spending on AI technology that has been fueling both the stock market and much of the overall economy since OpenAI released its ChatGPT three years ago.

    Nvidia has been by far the biggest beneficiary of the run-up because its processors have become indispensable for building the AI factories that are needed to enable what’s supposed to be the most dramatic shift in technology since Apple released the iPhone in 2007.

    But in the past few weeks, there has been a rising tide of sentiment that the high expectations for AI may have become far too frothy, setting the stage for a jarring comedown that could be just as dramatic as the ascent that transformed Nvidia from a company worth less than $400 billion three years ago to one worth $4.5 trillion at the end of Wednesday’s trading.

    Nvidia’s report for its fiscal third quarter covering the August-October period elicited a sigh of relief among those fretting about a worst-case scenario and could help reverse the recent downturn in the stock market.

    “The market should belt out a heavy sigh, given the skittishness we have been experiencing,” said Sean O’Hara, president of the investment firm Pacer ETFs.

    The company’s stock price gained more than 5% in Wednesday’s extended trading after the numbers came out. If the shares trade similarly Thursday, it could result in a one-day gain of about $230 billion in stockholder wealth.

    Nvidia earned $31.9 billion, or $1.30 per share, a 65% increase from the same time last year, while revenue climbed 62% to $57 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had forecast earnings of $1.26 per share on revenue of $54.9 billion. What’s more, the Santa Clara, California, company predicted its revenue for the current quarter covering November-January will come in at about $65 billion, nearly $3 billion above analysts’ projections, in an indication that demand for its AI chips remains feverish.

    The incoming orders for Nvidia’s top-of-the-line Blackwell chip are “off the charts,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a prepared statement that described the current market conditions as “a virtuous cycle.” In a conference call, Nvidia Chief Financial Officer Collette Kress said that by the end of next year the company will have sold about $500 billion in chips designed for AI factories within a 24-month span Kress also predicts trillions of dollars more will be spent by the end of the 2020s.

    In a conference call preamble that has become like a State of the AI Market address, Huang seized the moment to push back against the skeptics who doubt his thesis that technology is at tipping point that will transform the world. “There’s been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point, we see something very different,” Huang insisted while celebrating “depth and breadth” of Nvidia’s growth.

    The upbeat results, optimistic commentary and ensuring reaction reflects the pivotal role that Nvidia is playing in the future direction of the economy — a position that Huang has leveraged to forge close ties with President Donald Trump, even as the White House wages a trade war that has inhibited the company’s ability to sell its chips in China’s fertile market.

    Trump is increasingly counting on the tech sector and the development of artificial intelligence to deliver on his economic agenda. For all of Trump’s claims that his tariffs are generating new investments, much of that foreign capital is going to data centers for AI’s computing demands or the power facilities needed to run those data centers.

    “Saying this is the most important stock in the world is an understatement,” Jay Woods, chief market strategist of investment bank Freedom Capital Markets, said of Nvidia.

    The boom has been a boon for more than just Nvidia, which became the first company to eclipse a market value of $5 trillion a few weeks ago, before the recent bubble worries resulted in a more than 10% decline. As OpenAI and other Big Tech powerhouses snap up Nvidia’s chips to build their AI factories and invest in other services connected to the technology, their fortunes have also been soaring. Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Amazon all boast market values in the $2 trillion to $4 trillion range.

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  • "Joe Rogan Experience" tops Apple Podcasts for 2025

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    Earlier this week, Apple unveiled its list of top podcasts this year, with Joe Rogan claiming the number one spot. Reggie Ugwu, culture reporter for the New York Times, joins “The Daily Report” to discuss.

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  • Android Quick Share now works with Apple’s AirDrop feature on Pixel 10 phones

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    Count this as the latest unexpected detente between Apple and Google. Today, Google announced that the Pixel 10 series of phones can use Android Quick Share with the iPhone’s AirDrop feature, meaning it’ll be much easier to shoot files and photos between the two platforms. While this feature is currently limited to Pixel 10 series phones, Google says it is looking to expand the feature to other devices.

    Google dropped details on how it made this work from a privacy and security standpoint in its technical blog if you want to get into the nitty-gritty. But it certainly sounds as if Google did this on its own without any input from Apple. “We accomplished this through our own implementation,” Alex Moriconi from Google told Engadget. “Our implementation was thoroughly vetted by our own privacy and security teams, and we also engaged a third party security firm to pentest the solution.”

    But functionally, it sounds like this will work the same as Quick Share currently does. The receiving Apple device (this will work with iPads and Macs as well as iPhones) needs to set their Airdrop visibility preferences to “anyone for 10 minutes.” This means that people outside of your contact list will be able to initiate an AirDrop or Quick Share transfer. From there, the Pixel 10 user should be able to see the receiving Apple device when they go to share things via Quick Share as normal.

    Google also notes that Android devices can receive files from Apple devices that are using AirDrop. They’ll just need to make sure their Quick Share visibility settings are similarly set to “everyone for 10 minutes” or that they’re in “receive” mode on the Quick Share page.

    It’s not clear if Apple was involved in making this new feature work or if Google did this all on its own. Apple hasn’t released a corresponding post on its own newsroom. If Apple wasn’t involved, the obvious question is whethere or not they’ll treat this as a security breach and release a software update that undos Google’s work. And if they do, it’s entirely possible that we’re going to head down another long road of the company’s bickering about security versus openness.

    We’ve reached out to Apple to get more details and will update this post if we learn anything.

    Update, November 20, 2025, 1:27PM ET: Added a statement from Google.

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  • Tim Cook’s Retirement Looms as His $4T Reinvention of Apple Defines His Legacy

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    Tim Cook’s looming retirement caps a 14-year run defined by record growth and disciplined execution. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    Apple CEO Tim Cook is poised to retire as early as next year after 14 years at the helm, according to a Financial Times report last week citing multiple anonymous company insiders. Rumblings about Cook’s exit come amid accelerated succession planning by the board and senior executives, the report says.

    Some observers suggest Cook, 65, may not step away entirely, but could transition into a role as chairman of the board. Others, including Bloomberg editor Mark Gurman, believe the leak from unnamed insiders may be an intentional effort to prepare the market for a major leadership shift. Most experts don’t expect any changes before Apple’s next earnings release in January, but say a handoff could occur ahead of its mid-2026 developer conference and product launches.

    What’s clear is that Cook, who succeeded Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011, is nearing the end of his run as Apple’s longest-serving CEO, putting renewed attention on both his legacy and the question of who comes next.

    Tim Cook’s unparalleled legacy

    Apple’s growth under Cook has been staggering. The company’s market capitalization stood at $350 billion when he took over 14 years ago. Today, it’s approaching $4 trillion—more than an elevenfold increase. For comparison, the S&P 500 rose just over 460 percent in the same period.

    Just a year into the job, Cook restructured Apple’s leadership team, dismissing senior vice president of retail John Browett and accepting the resignation of Scott Forstall, then senior vice president of iOS. He redistributed many of their responsibilities to existing leaders in an effort to ease internal tensions.

    Cook has overseen the release of 48 iPhone variants—from the iconic iPhone 4 in 2011 to the bold iPhone 17 Pro this September—while steering the launch of major new product lines including the MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. Under his leadership, Apple also introduced the M-series silicon chips, a multiyear transition that reshaped the performance and energy efficiency of the Mac lineup and reasserted Apple’s dominance in hardware design.

    Beyond devices, Cook supercharged Apple’s services business, expanding the App Store ecosystem and launching new offerings such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+ and Apple Pay. These services have grown into a multibillion-dollar pillar of Apple’s business, helping the company diversify its revenue streams and build one of the most powerful subscription ecosystems in the world.

    Cook has turned Apple into “the most valuable business in the world while keeping its products central to everyday life,” Natalie Andreas, communication management professor at the University of Texas, told Observer.

    Still, Apple faces criticism for lagging behind rivals in the artificial intelligence arms race, even as its Apple Intelligence features roll out slowly. Many of the capabilities remain in beta. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Apple has shelved plans for a more affordable, lighter Vision Pro headset (codenamed N100) and is instead diverting resources toward building A.I.-powered smart glasses that directly target Meta’s Ray-Ban-style devices.

    “Whoever takes the reins will face big challenges in artificial intelligence, immersive technologies like the Vision Pro, and increasing global regulation,” Andreas said.

    Tim Cook’s successor

    John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering and a direct report to Cook, is widely viewed as the leading candidate for the top job.

    Ternus has been at Apple for more than two decades. He joined the product design team in 2001 after working as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. In 2013, Ternus was promoted to vice president of hardware engineering under Dan Riccio, overseeing development across the iPad, Mac, and AirPods product lines. By 2020, he had taken on responsibility for the iPhone hardware, and in January 2021, he succeeded Riccio as senior vice president of hardware engineering. In late 2022, his purview expanded further when he was put in charge of Apple Watch hardware.

    Under his leadership, Ternus has played a pivotal role in some of Apple’s most ambitious hardware efforts, including the transition of Mac computers to Apple Silicon. He has also regularly appeared at major Apple events, presenting new iMacs, MacBook Pros, redesigned iPads and other flagship devices.

    Ternus is “one of the few leaders inside the company who blends engineering depth with the same person-first philosophy Apple was built on,” Steven Athwal, founder and CEO of The Big Phone Store, a refurbished tech gadget company, told Observer.

    “He’s charismatic and well-regarded by Apple loyalists and trusted by Cook,” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has written.“Apple probably needs more of a technologist than a sales or operations person.”

    Ternus has also begun taking a more public, outward-facing role. He has appeared at high-profile product launches and greeted customers, including during the iPhone 17 launch in London. At 50 years old, he is about the same age Tim Cook was when he became CEO — a symbolic point often raised in succession discussions.

    Tim Cook’s Retirement Looms as His $4T Reinvention of Apple Defines His Legacy

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    Rachel Curry

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  • Meta prevails in historic FTC antitrust case, won’t have to break off WhatsApp, Instagram

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    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Meta has prevailed over an existential challenge to its business that could have forced the tech giant to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp after a judge ruled that the company does not hold a monopoly in social networking.

    U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued his ruling Tuesday after the historic antitrust trial wrapped up in late May. His decision runs in sharp contrast to two separate rulings that branded Google an illegal monopoly in both search and online advertising, dealing regulatory blows to the tech industry that for years enjoyed nearly unbridled growth.

    The Federal Trade Commission “continues to insist that Meta competes with the same old rivals it has for the last decade, that the company holds a monopoly among that small set, and that it maintained that monopoly through anticompetitive acquisitions,” Boasberg wrote in his ruling. “Whether or not Meta enjoyed monopoly power in the past, though, the agency must show that it continues to hold such power now. The Court’s verdict today determines that the FTC has not done so.”

    The federal agency had argued that Meta maintained a monopoly by pursuing an expression CEO Mark Zuckerberg made in 2008: “‘It is better to buy than compete.’ True to that maxim, Facebook has systematically tracked potential rivals and acquired companies that it viewed as serious competitive threats.”

    During his April testimony, Zuckerberg pushed back against claims that Facebook bought Instagram to neutralize a threat. In his line of questioning, FTC attorney Daniel Matheson repeatedly brought up emails — many of them more than a decade old — written by Zuckerberg and his associates before and after the acquisition of Instagram.

    While acknowledging the documents, Zuckerberg has often sought to downplay the contents, saying he wrote the emails early in the acquisition process and that the notes did not fully capture the scope of his interest in the company. But the case was not about the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp more than a decade ago, which the FTC approved at the time, but about whether Meta holds a monopoly now. Prosecutors, Boasberg wrote in the ruling, could only win if they proved “current or imminent legal violation.”

    The FTC’s complaint said Facebook also enacted policies designed to make it difficult for smaller rivals to enter the market and “neutralize perceived competitive threats,” just as the world shifted its attention to mobile devices from desktop computers.

    Meta said Tuesday’s decision “recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition.”

    “Our products are beneficial for people and businesses and exemplify American innovation and economic growth. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Administration and to invest in America,” said Jennifer Newstead, chief legal officer, in a statement.

    The social media landscape has changed so much since the FTC filed its lawsuit in 2020, Boasberg wrote, that each time the court examined Meta’s apps and competition, they changed. Two opinions to dismiss the case — filed in 2021 and 2022 — didn’t even mention popular social video platform TikTok. Today, it “holds center stage as Meta’s fiercest rival.”

    Quoting the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “that no man can ever step into the same river twice,” Boasberg said the same is true for the online world of social media as well.

    “The landscape that existed only five years ago when the Federal Trade Commission brought this antitrust suit has changed markedly. While it once might have made sense to partition apps into separate markets of social networking and social media, that wall has since broken down,” he wrote.

    Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley said Meta’s win “is not necessarily surprising considering the lengths it’s gone to in recent years to keep up with TikTok.”

    “But from a regulatory standpoint, Meta is far from out of the woods: next year, major social networks will face landmark trials in the US regarding children’s mental health,” she added. “Still, today’s win is surely a boost for the company as it battles criticism and questions over how its massive AI spending will ultimately benefit Meta in the long run.”

    Facebook bought Instagram — then a scrappy photo-sharing app with no ads and a small cult following — in 2012. The $1 billion cash and stock purchase price was eye-popping at the time, though the deal’s value fell to $750 million after Facebook’s stock price dipped following its initial public offering in May 2012.

    Instagram was the first company Facebook bought and kept running as a separate app. Up until then, Facebook was known for smaller “acqui-hires” — a type of popular Silicon Valley deal in which a company purchases a startup as a way to hire its talented workers, then shuts the acquired company down. Two years later, it did it again with the messaging app WhatsApp, which it purchased for $22 billion.

    WhatsApp and Instagram helped Facebook move its business from desktop computers to mobile devices, and to remain popular with younger generations as rivals like Snapchat (which it also tried, but failed, to buy) and TikTok emerged. However, the FTC has a narrow definition of Meta’s competitive market, excluding companies like TikTok, YouTube and Apple’s messaging service from being considered rivals to Instagram and WhatsApp.

    Investors didn’t appear surprised at the ruling. Shares of the Menlo Park, California-based company were down $1.52 at $600.49 in afternoon trading Tuesday, in line with broader market trends.

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  • Nvidia’s earnings attest to its leadership in the AI race. By the numbers

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    Nvidia reported more eye-catching numbers for its fiscal third quarter Wednesday, with net income jumping 65% and revenue increasing 62% from a year earlier.

    Last month, Nvidia became the first public company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion.

    The ravenous appetite for the Silicon Valley company’s chips is the main reason that the company’s stock price has increased so rapidly since early 2023.

    Nvidia carved out an early lead in tailoring its chipsets known as graphics processing units, or GPUs, from use in powering video games to helping to train powerful AI systems, like the technology behind ChatGPT and image generators. Demand skyrocketed as more people began using AI chatbots. Tech companies scrambled for more chips to build and run them.

    Nvidia’s journey to be one of the world’s most prominent companies has produced some extraordinary numbers. Here’s a look.

    $31.9 billion

    Nvidia’s net income for the third quarter, up from $19.3 billion a year ago.

    38.9%

    Nvidia stock’s gain for the year, as of the close of trading Wednesday. That follows gains of 171% in 2024 and 239% in 2023.

    $4.53 trillion

    Nvidia’s total market capitalization as of the close of trading Wednesday, tops in the S&P 500.

    Apple at $3.98 trillion and Microsoft at $3.62 trillion were next among the most valuable companies in the S&P 500. In all, nine companies in the index have market cap’s above $1 trillion.

    $4.28 trillion

    The gross domestic product of Japan, the world’s fourth largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund.

    79

    The number of trading days it took for Nvidia’s market cap to grow from $4 trillion to $5 trillion earlier this year. The market cap had jumped from $3 trillion on May 13, to $4 trillion on July 9 (41 trading days), although Nvidia had crossed and fallen back below the $3 trillion threshold a number of times between June 2024 and May 2025 before making the run to $4 trillion.

    19.8%

    The company’s contribution to the gain in the S&:P 500 this year as of Oct. 31, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

    $162 billion

    The net worth of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, according to Forbes, putting him eighth on its Real-Time Billionaires List. Elon Musk is No. 1 at $467.7 billion.

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  • Asset Management Advisors LLC Cuts Holdings in Apple Inc. $AAPL

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    Asset Management Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPLFree Report) by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 33,557 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock after selling 405 shares during the quarter. Apple makes up approximately 4.6% of Asset Management Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Asset Management Advisors LLC’s holdings in Apple were worth $6,885,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

    A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC grew its holdings in Apple by 573,627.2% during the 2nd quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 205,692,660 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $39,065,374,000 after purchasing an additional 205,656,808 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in Apple in the first quarter worth about $17,472,482,000. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Apple by 13.3% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 171,385,531 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $42,918,365,000 after buying an additional 20,079,472 shares during the period. Amundi grew its stake in shares of Apple by 27.4% during the first quarter. Amundi now owns 68,190,569 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $13,870,795,000 after buying an additional 14,651,321 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in shares of Apple by 14.3% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 104,706,358 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $26,220,566,000 after buying an additional 13,137,968 shares during the last quarter. 67.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

    Insiders Place Their Bets

    In other news, insider Chris Kondo sold 3,752 shares of Apple stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.23, for a total value of $1,017,654.96. Following the transaction, the insider owned 15,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,095,030.54. The trade was a 19.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Deirdre O’brien sold 43,013 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.39, for a total transaction of $11,071,116.07. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 136,687 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $35,181,866.93. This trade represents a 23.94% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 228,052 shares of company stock worth $58,604,588. Insiders own 0.06% of the company’s stock.

    Apple Stock Down 0.0%

    Shares of NASDAQ AAPL opened at $267.44 on Wednesday. Apple Inc. has a 12-month low of $169.21 and a 12-month high of $277.32. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $257.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $227.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.95 trillion, a PE ratio of 40.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25.

    Apple (NASDAQ:AAPLGet Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The iPhone maker reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.74 by $0.11. Apple had a return on equity of 170.91% and a net margin of 24.30%.The firm had revenue of $102.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $101.65 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.64 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Apple Inc. will post 7.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

    Apple Dividend Announcement

    The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 10th were given a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. Apple’s dividend payout ratio is presently 13.92%.

    Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

    A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price target on Apple from $241.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. CLSA upgraded Apple to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, October 5th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $240.00 target price (up from $230.00) on shares of Apple in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Loop Capital raised shares of Apple from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $226.00 to $315.00 in a research note on Monday, October 20th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Apple from $275.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $278.22.

    Read Our Latest Research Report on Apple

    Apple Profile

    (Free Report)

    Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; Mac, a line of personal computers; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and wearables, home, and accessories comprising AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, and HomePod.

    Recommended Stories

    Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AAPL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPLFree Report).

    Institutional Ownership by Quarter for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)



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