Core Insights - Apple reported record sales of $85.3 billion in the last quarter, driven by the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air lineups [1] - CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that Apple could not meet all the demand for iPhones due to chip supply constraints [1][2] Group 1: Sales Performance - The company achieved record sales of $85.3 billion, indicating strong demand for its latest iPhone models [1] - Cook described the demand for new iPhones as "staggering," highlighting the popularity of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air [2] Group 2: Supply Chain Challenges - Apple is facing supply-chain constraints similar to other tech companies, primarily due to increased memory prices and shortages [2][4] - The rise in RAM prices is attributed to the diversion of components to AI technology, impacting availability for smartphones [4] Group 3: Manufacturing Capacity - Apple is struggling to find sufficient manufacturing capacity for its A and M systems-on-a-chip, which are produced by TSMC and Apple [3] - There are no widespread reports of iPhone shortages currently, but the company is preparing for potential demand spikes [5] Group 4: Future Product Strategy - To manage demand, Apple may stagger the release of specific iPhone models, starting with the upcoming iPhone 18 generation [5] - Reports suggest that Apple could introduce a new foldable phone and advanced iPhone 18 models later this year, while delaying the basic iPhone 18 to 2027 [6]

The last time I did a full review of ADT, more than a year ago, the security company had just released its new platform, ADT Plus, as well as more compact home devices.I came away impressed by the many improvements ADT had made to its system, including useful smart features and the Trusted Neighbor interactions with Google Nest devices. The system could now identify familiar faces and unlock compatible Yale smart locks. It was still a little clunky and needed continued development, but it represented a broa ...

Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent, Alphabet, expand into more areas. On Thursday, the company opened up fully autonomous rides to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), starting with a select group of riders before expanding to the general public over the coming months. To start, pick-ups and drop-offs will take place at the SFO Rental Car Center, which riders can access from the airport via the AirTrain. ...

Core Insights - Tesla is ending production of the Model S and Model X, marking the retirement of its two longest-running electric vehicles as part of a strategic shift towards an autonomous future [1][3] Production and Sales - The Model S was introduced in 2012 and the Model X in 2015, both contributing significantly to Tesla's establishment in the premium EV market [2] - In 2025, the Model 3 and Model Y accounted for approximately 97% of Tesla's total vehicle deliveries, which reached 1.6 million units [2][4] - The total production for 2025 was 1,654,667 vehicles, with 1,600,767 being Model 3/Y and 53,900 classified as "Other Models" [4] Strategic Shift - The decision to cease production of the Model S and Model X aligns with Tesla's broader strategy to cut costs and focus on more profitable models, as these older models are among the slowest sellers [3] - Tesla is transitioning from a traditional hardware-focused automaker to a "physical AI" company, with plans to scale up production in robotics, energy storage, and battery manufacturing [6] Future Focus - The Fremont factory, currently producing the Model S and Model X, will be repurposed for the production of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot, with plans to ramp up production to 1 million units per year [7][8]

A Waymo self-driving vehicle hit a child pedestrian near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on Friday. Waymo addressed the incident in a Wednesday blog post, noting it "voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that same day."  NHTSA told Waymo it plans to investigate the incident, according to the blog post. Waymo added, "we will cooperate fully with them throughout the process."  Alphabet-owned Waymo, which operates a robotaxi service around the Los An ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta is planning to introduce premium subscription tiers for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, allowing users to access additional features beyond the free versions currently available [1][2]. Group 1: Subscription Plans - Meta has confirmed the testing of premium subscription tiers for its three main services, which will provide users with "special features and more control" over their sharing and connectivity [1]. - The specifics of the subscription plans have not been detailed, but they are expected to differ from the existing Meta Verified badge aimed at businesses and content creators, which starts at $15 [2]. - The new subscriptions will likely include AI-related features, such as access to AI image generators or agents, with the offerings potentially evolving based on customer feedback [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - The trend of introducing subscriptions for previously free social media services is becoming common, with platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat already offering paid options for enhanced features [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the professional background and expertise of Gael Cooper, emphasizing her extensive experience in journalism and her contributions to pop culture literature [1][2]. Group 1: Professional Background - Gael Cooper has been a journalist since 1989, working for various notable publications including Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital [1]. - She is a co-author of two pop-culture encyclopedias focused on Generation X, published by Penguin Books [2]. Group 2: Awards and Recognition - Cooper has received multiple accolades, including the "Headline Writer of the Year" award from the American Copy Editors Society in 2017, 2014, and 2013 [2]. - She also won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism [2].

Core Insights - Verizon experienced a significant service outage affecting approximately 175,000 customers, with reports indicating that some devices were stuck in SOS mode [2][3] - The company acknowledged the issue and stated that engineering teams are actively working to resolve the service interruptions as quickly as possible [2][4] - User reports peaked at over 180,000 on Downdetector, indicating widespread impact on service availability [3] Service Impact - The outage primarily affected wireless voice and data services, leading to difficulties in making calls and using data for many customers [4] - Some users reported intermittent service restoration, only to lose connectivity again shortly after [3][4] - Verizon's official communication emphasized their commitment to restoring service and addressing the ongoing issues [2][4]

Core Viewpoint - Tesla will transition its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to a monthly subscription model starting February 14, moving away from outright sales [1] Group 1: Subscription Model Change - Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that FSD will no longer be sold outright and will only be available as a subscription service [1] - This change indicates a shift in Tesla's business model regarding its FSD technology [1] Group 2: Legal and Regulatory Context - The change in FSD sales strategy may be influenced by ongoing lawsuits and investigations concerning the technology, particularly in California [2] - A judge in California ruled that Tesla was making misleading claims about the capabilities of its Autopilot and FSD features, which could impact sales in the state [2] Group 3: FSD Technology Clarification - Despite the name "Full Self-Driving," the software does not provide complete autonomy, and Tesla has labeled it as "Supervised" to indicate that drivers must remain attentive [3] - Recent updates to FSD include a "Sloth" speed option for cautious driving and enhancements to self-parking capabilities [3]

Core Insights - Apple has selected Google's Gemini to enhance Siri, with the new version expected to launch later this year, marking a significant partnership between the two tech giants [1][2] - Apple will reportedly pay Google $1 billion annually for the use of Gemini, which has been noted for its strong performance compared to OpenAI's ChatGPT [1][4] - The collaboration aims to provide innovative experiences for Apple users while maintaining Apple's privacy standards, as Siri will continue to operate on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute [2] Company Strategies - Apple has been lagging in the AI sector and opted to collaborate with Google rather than developing its own foundational models, which have faced challenges [4] - The partnership with Google is seen as a strategic move to improve Siri's capabilities, which have not met expectations in the past [4] - The financial relationship between Apple and Google is further solidified, as Google previously paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to keep Google Search as the default on Apple devices, indicating a flow of funds back to Google for Siri's enhancement [5]