[NF2024-03] Apple Vision Pro, 1Q24 Fiscal Results, Apple TV+ and more...


Hello Reader,

I hope February went well for you and you're not too impacted by the global events happening right now.

Fun fact: On March 4, 2007, Estonia held, for the very first time, an election during which people could vote online. Over 30,000 out of almost a million Estonians who could vote did it online. They had to use special IDs and passwords to make sure it was secure. In 2019, even more Estonians, about 44%, voted online.

Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro is the talk of the town since it dropped in February 2024, packed with over 600 cool apps right from the start, including some awesome stuff on the Apple TV app.

Even with all its cool features, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Like, you can't get AppleCare straight from the headset and it doesn't have Find My, but Apple's got some handy video guides to help you get the hang of it.

And for YouTube fans, the best app out there (Juno) is made by someone else, not Google who has yet to make an app for Vision Pro.

When it comes to holding up against bumps and drops, the Vision Pro is pretty solid, and it even charges up quick with stronger chargers. But there's some chatter about the front glass cracking for some folks, though not many are returning it – only about 1%.

Despite these little hiccups, the Vision Pro is still winning over lots of people with its next-level features and super immersive experience.

1Q24 Fiscal Results

Apple finished 2023 with some solid numbers, and yes, Apple's fiscal year starts in October.

They pulled in $119.6 billion in revenue, which is a slight 2% bump from the previous year.

They're doing great all over, especially in places like Europe, the Asia Pacific, and some up-and-coming markets like Malaysia and Mexico.

Their earnings per share hit a new high of $2.18, up by 16%.

Plus, Apple's got more than 2.2 billion devices in use worldwide now – that's huge!

Looking at what's selling, iPhones are still leading the pack with $69.7 billion in sales, thanks to the new iPhone 15.

Macs are doing well too, with a slight increase to $7.8 billion, all thanks to the new M3 MacBooks.

iPads, though, took a bit of a hit, dropping 25% to $7 billion in sales, while the accessories and wearables section also saw a dip, down by 11% to $12 billion.

But, services are booming, hitting a record $23.1 billion, up 11% with more people using Apple's cloud, ads, and payment services.

Apple TV+

Movies

Apple TV+ is stirring up some excitement with fresh stuff like Ridley Scott's big movie 'Napoleon', which hit the screens on March 1, 2024.

Joaquin Phoenix is playing Napoleon, and the movie is getting a lot of praise for how it looks, its massive battle scenes, and some great acting, especially Vanessa Kirby as Josephine. It's even got some Oscar nods, but some folks are pointing out it might not be super accurate historically or deep enough with the characters.

TV Series

Apple TV+ isn't slowing down in 2024, rolling out all kinds of series from a drama about Paris under Nazi rule called 'The New Look' to a series about soccer star Messi called 'Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend'.

'Masters of the Air' is breaking records as the most-watched series opener on the platform, and 'Invasion' is getting a third season.

They're also bringing 'Neuromancer' to the screen, which is a big deal if you're into cyberpunk stories about digital spying and all that.

Awards

Apple TV+'s originals are racking up awards left and right, like 'Lessons in Chemistry' snagging a DGA Award and 'Killers of the Flower Moon' winning a SAG Award, with Lily Gladstone making history there.

Martin Scorsese also got some love at the Berlin Film Festival. All this just adds more shine to Apple TV+'s rep for top-notch, award-winning content.

Operating System Updates

On February 8, 2024, Apple rolled out iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1, macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, and watchOS 10.3.1.

These updates primarily address bugs, including a significant fix for a text bug that caused overlapping and other display issues on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The release aims to enhance the overall stability and performance of Apple devices, ensuring a smoother user experience.

Following up on February 9, 2024, Safari 17.3.1 was introduced for macOS Monterey and Ventura. This update likely brings improvements to the Safari browsing experience, enhancing compatibility with the latest web technologies.

Later, on February 12, 2024, Apple unveiled visionOS 1.0.3, featuring a reset option for forgotten passcodes. This update provides added convenience for users of Apple's vision-based devices, offering a solution in case of forgotten passcodes, ensuring users can regain access to their devices without needing to visit an Apple Store, which was required until this version.

Artificial Intelligence

Apple

Apple's really diving into AI this year, and Tim Cook's pumped about what they're going to show us. They're spreading AI goodness everywhere, like this AI that can tweak images just by understanding what you tell it. It's all about making creativity easier and more fun. Plus, Apple's joining hands with the U.S. Commerce Department's AI Safety Institute Consortium, showing they're serious about keeping AI use safe and smart.

They're also cooking up an AI helper for Xcode, making coding a breeze for developers, and there's this internal AI 'Ask' tool they're trying out to pull up answers from their own data stash. Apple's painting a big picture with AI, aiming to make our tech experiences richer while keeping things safe and responsible.

OpenAI

OpenAI had a busy February 2024 with some big wins and cool new stuff. They aced a major court case, tossing out claims they used copyrighted stuff wrong, which is a big deal for AI, setting the stage for how AI can learn from existing content. They are also testing a nifty feature with a few users letting them specify what ChatGPT can remember or forget, making chats way more tailored to what they need.

But that's not all. OpenAI dropped "Sora," this wild new AI that can whip up 1-min long videos just from what you tell it. Imagine the possibilities for making all sorts of digital content, though it's got some folks worried about how it might be used wrongly.

Despite some hurdles and head-scratchers about where AI's headed, OpenAI's keeping the pedal to the metal, churning out innovations that keep everyone on their toes, blending creativity with tech in ways we've just started exploring.

Microsoft

Microsoft's been busy making Windows 11 even cooler with this new AI Super Resolution thing, making games and apps look sharper with AI magic. It's kinda like what Nvidia and AMD are doing but baked right into the operating system, so lots of software, especially old games, are going to look way better.

They've also dropped PyRIT, this tool for spotting potential AI risks, which is all about keeping AI use on the up and up, covering everything from misuse to privacy worries.

And teaming up with Mistral AI from France, they're beefing up their AI game with some top-notch language skills.

But wait, there's more – Microsoft and Intel are joining forces to cook up some AI-focused chips. This isn't just about making smarter tech; it's also about mixing up the chip-making scene, which has been pretty focused on Asia. This move shows Microsoft's all-in on pushing AI forward, making sure it's smart and secure. They're definitely not playing around when it comes to leading the AI pack.

Google

Google's stepping up its AI game with Gemini Ultra, their latest and greatest AI model that's giving GPT-4 a run for its money. They're weaving AI into everything they do, like Google Workspace and Chrome for Mac, adding cool features like "Help Me Write" that tap into Gemini to crank up your productivity and creative skills.

They've also thrown Magika into the mix, an AI tool for figuring out files, and they're sharing it with the world, showing they're all in on AI security. Then there's Genie from DeepMind, an AI that can whip up playable video games from just text, drawings, or photos, pushing the boundaries of what AI can do in gaming and beyond.

With all this AI action, Google's not just pushing tech forward; they're reshaping how we think about and use AI in our daily lives and work, all while keeping an eye on making sure it's safe and sound.

Other AI news

In the AI world, the U.S. Patent Office just laid down the law: only people can hold patents, not AI. They're sticking to the idea that patents are all about encouraging human creativity and innovation.

Meanwhile, Nvidia's on fire, outdoing even the big shots like Amazon and Google in value, thanks to its top-dog status in the AI scene with those in-demand H100 chips.

Reddit's also cashing in, making a cool $203 million by sharing its massive data stash with AI firms, showing how big data licensing is getting in AI times.

Adobe's diving into the AI music mix with a research project called 'Music GenAI Control', that will let folks whip up and tweak tunes with AI, showing off AI's growing role in creativity.

But it's not all smooth sailing; a deepfake scam duped someone into sending over $25 million, a stark reminder of the darker side of AI tech.

These stories show just how mixed and far-reaching AI's impact is, from legal battles and market wins to new creative tools and security headaches.

Macpreneur podcast

In February, I released 5 episodes of the podcast:

If you know solopreneurs who run their business on their Mac, I’d be super grateful if you could tell them about it.

Have a great day!

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Hi! I'm Damien, Certified Apple Teacher & Consultant

Once a month, get a curated list of 5 articles related to the Apple eco-system. Once in a while receive an alert explaining the latest security updates released by Apple.

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