
Apple iPhones Set for Lunar Orbit on Artemis II
NASA has approved the use of Apple iPhones for the Artemis II mission, with Crew-12 astronauts set to carry iPhones on the lunar-orbit flight.
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NASA has approved the use of Apple iPhones for the Artemis II mission, with Crew-12 astronauts set to carry iPhones on the lunar-orbit flight.

Apple forecast gross margins of 48%–49% for the March quarter, above December’s 48.2% and the 47.3% consensus, aided by a favorable mix of high‑margin hardware and Services growth (a record $30 billion in the December quarter). Memory pricing is rising and could pinch margins, but Cook said Apple will look at a range of options to mitigate it. Strong iPhone momentum and the Services pull helped support margins, and the stock rose about 1% in after-hours trading.

Apple agreed to acquire the secretive Israeli startup Q.AI for close to $2 billion, aiming to use its facial‑expression analysis tech to enable private, non‑verbal AI interactions through wearables like headphones or smart glasses, as part of a broader push to close the gap with Meta, Google and OpenAI in AI-powered wearables and features such as Vision Pro.

Geoffrey A. Fowler uses ChatGPT Health to analyze 29 million Apple Watch steps and 6 million heart-rate measurements, asking it to assess his cardiac health. The AI’s conclusions were inconsistent and sometimes questionable, shifting with each query, highlighting the risks of relying on AI to interpret long-term health data from personal devices without medical context or oversight.

Apple Cinemas, a long-standing independent theater chain, is defending its name against a lawsuit from Apple Inc., which claims the theater chain's use of the name causes confusion and seeks damages and an injunction. Apple Cinemas argues their brand is distinct and legally compliant, and the dispute involves attempts to trademark the name that were denied due to potential confusion with Apple Inc.

Automattic Inc., the company behind WordPress.com, has acquired the messaging app Beeper, which was at the center of a recent dispute with Apple Inc. The deal includes absorbing Beeper's 27 employees, with co-founder Eric Migicovsky set to become Automattic’s head of messaging.

Apple's stock has fallen below a key support level, prompting traders to closely monitor its movement. The company's shares have dropped nearly 12% this year, erasing over $300 billion in market value and losing its title as the most valuable US company to Microsoft. Traders are concerned about the broader impact on technology shares, but some analysts believe that as long as Apple's stock doesn't break its multi-year uptrend, the US stock market can continue to rise.

Apple Inc (AAPL) stock, which has a 21.7% year-over-year lead but is down 6.5% in 2024, is showing signs of potentially reaching a new record high, with the stock currently down 0.2% at $180.76. Historical data suggests that the stock may soon reach a fresh peak, and options are currently affordably priced, making it an opportune time for speculation.

Meta Platforms Inc. has released new guidelines for small businesses advertising on Facebook and Instagram, advising them to buy ads through a web browser to avoid Apple's commission on in-app purchases. Apple's new policy requires advertisers to use its In-App Purchase feature when paying to boost social media posts, leading to tension between the tech giants. The change will affect Meta's smaller advertisers, some of whom rely on boosted posts as their sole form of advertising.

Masimo Corp CEO Joe Kiani has expressed openness to settling the ongoing legal dispute with Apple Inc over patent infringement related to the Apple Watch. Kiani stated that he would be willing to work with Apple to improve their product but did not disclose the amount of money he would seek in a settlement. The International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled earlier this year that the Apple Watch violated two Masimo patents, resulting in an import ban on certain models starting on December 25. Apple plans to appeal the decision and has already begun removing the affected devices from its retail channels. Kiani accused Apple of deliberately taking Masimo's intellectual property and hiring its engineers to work on similar medical technology for the Apple Watch.

Apple Inc. shares closed at a record high, reaching $197.96, as part of a broader rally in technology stocks driven by expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve due to slowing inflation. The recent surge in Apple's stock price marks a significant turnaround from October when concerns about revenue growth and sales in China caused the stock to hit a five-month low. However, Wall Street analysts project that Apple's revenue growth will rebound in 2024 as demand for smartphones, laptops, and computers picks up.

Tata Group, a conglomerate in India, is planning to construct a large iPhone assembly plant to support Apple's goal of expanding its manufacturing operations in the country. This move aims to help Apple diversify its production beyond China. Tata Group is seeking to secure more business from Apple after acquiring one iPhone factory.

Apple Inc. plans to challenge the European Union's crackdown on Big Tech's dominance by appealing against the inclusion of the App Store in the bloc's new digital antitrust list and arguing that its iMessage service should not be subject to closer scrutiny. This move could lead to another legal battle between Apple and the EU, as the company is already facing disputes over alleged unpaid taxes and separate antitrust probes. The EU's new Digital Markets Act imposes strict regulations on large digital firms, requiring them to treat rivals fairly and prohibiting certain practices. Despite the appeal, Apple will still need to comply with the rules when they take effect in March 2024.
Warren Buffett, an influential investor, recommends investing in high-quality dividend stocks to generate passive income. He has had success with stocks like Coca-Cola, American Express, and Apple Inc., which have provided substantial dividend income and capital gains over the years. Buffett believes that investing in dividend aristocrats can provide a steady source of income during market downturns and recessions.

Hedge fund Appaloosa LP, led by David Tepper, has revealed new positions in Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Apple Inc., while dropping its position in Tesla Inc. The fund also increased its stake in Nvidia Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. Additionally, Appaloosa increased its holdings in Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp., while shedding stakes in Salesforce Inc. and Tesla Inc. Tepper's moves align with George Soros, who also reported new positions in AMD, Nvidia, and Microsoft, while selling Salesforce shares. Appaloosa also established new positions in chip-related stocks such as Intel Corp., Lam Research Corp., Broadcom Inc., Marvell Technology Inc., Micron Technology Inc., Qualcomm Inc., and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.