“FOX Business Cameras caught Apple CEO Tim Cook on asking [sic whisking?] into the White House about 10 minutes ago,” Edward Lawrence, Fox Business White House Correspondent, reported on X Thursday morning. One probable topic could be trade policy and tariffs. Historically, Cook has engaged Trump on this issue, notably in 2019 when he successfully lobbied to soften tariffs on Chinese imports that affected Apple’s supply chain. With Trump back in office and his administration emphasizing “America First” economic policies, Cook might have raised concerns about potential new tariffs on imported tech components or finished goods from China, where much of Apple’s manufacturing occurs. He could have pushed for exemptions or incentives to keep costs manageable for American consumers while aligning with Trump’s goal of boosting domestic investment. Another likely discussion point is U.S. investment and job creation. Trump recently teased on January 19, 2025, that Cook hinted at a “massive investment” in the U.S., possibly spurred by Trump’s election win. This meeting might have been a follow-up to flesh out details—perhaps plans for new manufacturing facilities, data centers, or expanded R&D hubs. Cook could have emphasized how Apple’s $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund reflects a commitment to collaboration, while Trump might have pressed for specifics on job numbers to tout as a political win. Technology policy and AI could also have been on the table. With the tech landscape shifting toward artificial intelligence, Cook might have sought clarity on Trump’s stance on regulating AI development or ensuring U.S. competitiveness against global rivals like China. Apple’s recent integration of AI tools into its devices aligns with Trump’s interest in emerging technologies, as seen in his December 2024 SoftBank deal for AI-focused jobs. They might have explored how Apple could contribute to workforce training initiatives, a topic Cook championed during Trump’s first term via the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. Finally, antitrust and regulatory pressures might have surfaced. Apple faces ongoing scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department over alleged smartphone market dominance, a case that intensified under Biden. Cook could have probed Trump’s intentions regarding this lawsuit or sought assurances that his administration would take a lighter touch on Big Tech regulation, especially given Trump’s past praise for Cook’s direct engagement over hiring consultants. MacDailyNews Note: The private Oval Office discussion between President Trump and Apple’s CEO concluded at approximately 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time. Lawrence noted that Cook, speaking to FOX Business afterward, described the encounter as a “great meeting” with the President Trump. We are currently about 1/4th of the way to being sustainable with Substack subscriptions. Please tell your Apple-loving friends about MacDailyNews on Substack and, if you’re currently a free subscriber, please consider $5/mo. or $50/year to keep MacDailyNews going. Just hit the subscribe button. Thank you! You're currently a free subscriber to MacDailyNews. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Thursday, February 20, 2025
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with President Trump at the White House
Apple TV+’s new sci-fi series ‘Murderbot,’ starring Alexander Skarsgård, premieres May 16th
Apple TV+ on Thursday unveiled a first look at “Murderbot,” its highly anticipated comedic thriller created by Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz (“About a Boy,” “Mozart in the Jungle”) and starring Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård (“Succession,” “Big Little Lies”), who also serves as executive producer. The 10-episode sci-fi series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, May 16, 2025 followed by new episodes every Friday through July 11. Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series of the same name, “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe. The ensemble cast also includes Noma Dumezweni (“Presumed Innocent”), David Dastmalchian (“Oppenheimer”), Sabrina Wu (“Joy Ride”), Akshay Khanna (“Critical Incident”), Tattiawna Jones (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Tamara Podemski (“Outer Range”). “Murderbot” hails from Paramount Television Studios. The Weitz brothers wrote, directed and produced under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces for Depth of Field. David S. Goyer executive produces alongside Keith Levine for Phantom Four. Wells serves as consulting producer. Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 550 wins and 2,557 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.” MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.  We are currently about 1/4th of the way to being sustainable with Substack subscriptions. Please tell your Apple-loving friends about MacDailyNews on Substack and, if you’re currently a free subscriber, please consider $5/mo. or $50/year to keep MacDailyNews going. Just hit the subscribe button. Thank you! You're currently a free subscriber to MacDailyNews. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Starting at $599, iPhone 16e shows Apple is unwilling to trade margins for unit sales
Apple on Wednesday announced iPhone 16e, a new entry-level addition to the iPhone 16 lineup that offers powerful capabilities at a $599 starting price. iPhone 16e delivers fast, smooth performance and breakthrough battery life, thanks to the industry-leading efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple.
iPhone 16e is also built for Apple Intelligence, the intuitive personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence while taking an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. The 48MP Fusion camera takes gorgeous photos and videos, and with an integrated 2x Telephoto, it is like having two cameras in one, so users can zoom in with optical quality. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite — help iPhone 16e users stay connected and get assistance when it matters most. Dan Gallagher for The Wall Street Journal:
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Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with President Trump at the White House
“FOX Business Cameras caught Apple CEO Tim Cook on asking [sic whisking?] into the White House about 10 minutes ago,” Edward Lawrence, Fox B...