Financial analyst, media personality, and Apple shareholder Rob Black joins host Ken Ray to talk investing angles on Apple. How’s Apple Vision Pro doing? What should one make of Apple TV+? What – if anything – could Apple do to scare investors? Rob brings a wealth of insight to The Mac Observer Show.
China
Cook, China, and the Latest Round of Updates - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-28
Travelin’ Tim’s taking his time in China. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over a meeting between China’s commerce minister and Apple’s CEO. Also, Jeff has a look at the lates OS updates from Apple.
Mixed Feelings on Apple's MR Headset - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-27
Both the New York Times and Bloomberg say there are certain misgivings around Apple’s mixed reality headset inside Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the latest chatter. Plus China, the Steve Jobs audio chatbot, and soccer pour out of the mailbag.
Sobering Thoughts from TSMC's Founder - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-17
The founder of Apple’s chipmaking partner TSMC struck a worrying note this week when assessing US/Taiwanese relations. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about that. Plus – Adventures in Sleep in the Apple Health app.
More iPhone Making for India and More Soccer for Everyone - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-06
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have tales of more Apple manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk those over. Plus a quick trip to the Apple Store and Apple’s soccer push continues.
Mailbag Monday! Now on Friday! - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-03
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken bring Mailbag Monday back for a second round. Email on China, AirDrop, and Passcodes. First though, the EC wants every messaging app to interoperate with every other messaging app. The TDO duo has thoughts.
Questioning the Apple Silicon Mac Pro and Apple’s China Exit - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-02
Will there be an Apple Silicon Mac Pro? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts wonders aloud about that. Plus – Ken wonders whether Apple actually wants a China exit, or just wants to know where the exit is.
Apple Thinks Mastodon Has Legs - TMO Daily Observations 2023-02-20
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss stories that may speak to sentiment around Apple, and social media’s plans to nickel and dime users for security. Plus — A vote of confidence for Mastodon from Apple.
Lower iPhone Prices? You know what THAT means... - TMO Daily Observations 2023-02-07
Lots of Monday headlines said that Apple had cut the price of iPhone 14 Pro in China. But did it? And if not, who did and why’d they do it? TMO managing editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk that over. Plus a tale of lost luggage three-months in the making, undone by an AirTag.
The iPhone Succeeds Where Others Falter and Chinese Censorship in Hong Kong
The iPhone surges despite a smartphone slump, while China flexes its censorship powers in Hong Kong. Plus, our podcast gets a special guest.
From One Frying Pan to Another? - TMO Daily Observations 2023-01-20
India has given Chinese companies a green light that should help Apple grow manufacturing on the subcontinent. But, if it requires Chinese companies, is diversification into India really diversification? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over that. Plus – a how-to on making use of HomePod’s temperature and humidity sensors.
Ken Ray's Most Important and Interesting Stories of 2022 - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-30
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts turns the tables on TDO Host Ken Ray today, asking Ken about his most important and most interesting stories of 2022. That the answers are COVID and AR respectively will likely come as no surprise.
Negative Zero COVID - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-19
The closed loop at Foxconn’s iPhone City plant in Zhengzhou is open. Most of the plant’s COVID restrictions have been lifted as China pulls a big “never mind” on its zero-COVID policies. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk that over. Plus – Will Smith, AirDrop, and Continuity are in for Mailbag Monday.
Canada Takes Apple to Task and Playing the Twitter Blues - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-12
Canadian politicians are angry about changes to AirDrop on behalf of Chinese citizens. Wait’ll they hear what’s going to happen to Canadians! Also, Twitter Blue is a thing again. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk it all over.
iPhone Misses Christmas and Musk Misses the Point - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-06
Foxconn says it’s getting iPhone production back on track. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk righting the ship post holidays. Plus Apple’s pause in Twitter ads was not about Elon Musk nor free speech. It was apparently about propriety and decency. We’ll talk it over.
Unrest for 'iPhone City' and Actual Cities in China
Pro iPhones aren’t getting easier to get, unrest in iPhone City and actual cities in China, and St. Louis gives togetherness the slip.
Rare Civil Disobedience in China Shows Country’s Frustration With COVID-19 Restrictions
Demonstrators across China are protesting the country’s strict COVID-19 restrictions and calling for President Jinping to step down.
Protests in China and Chipmaking in Arizona - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-28
“iPhone City” isn’t the only city in China seeing protests. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins us to talk societal issues, Foxconn issues, and issues for Apple investors. Then, a Mailbag Monday question from Johnny: If chipmaking needs water, why are chipmakers going to Arizona?
Major Overseas Client Dumps Chinese AirPods Maker for Certain Orders, Could Be Due to Quality Issues
A major overseas client has reportedly canceled orders from a Chinese AirPods maker as Apple continues to diversify its supply chain.
What Does Warren Buffett's TSMC Investment Tell Us? - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-16
Warren Buffet doesn’t invest in fads. This used to mean he didn’t invest in tech, though between his Apple holdings and the $4.1B he’s invested in chipmaker TSMC, he’s pretty deep in tech at this point. So – what does that mean for technology? “Daily Tech News Show” host Tom Merritt joins Ken to trip down memory lane and peer into tomorrow.
A Shorter AirDrop and the Happiest Merger on Earth - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-11
China’s new AirDrop limit may go global in 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss that. Plus, rumor has people inside Disney hoping that Apple will try to buy Disney. Ken and Jeff kick the idea around.
Apple Warns on iPhone 14 Pro Production - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-07
A press release on a Sunday night? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about the bad iPhone news Apple offered and who the news was for. Plus – Major League Soccer may be Apple’s advertising test kitchen for that other football people like so much.
A Louder iPhone City and Considering the Plastic iPad - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-01
Concerns around iPhone production and COVID lockdowns have grown louder since the weekend. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk through some of those. Plus – was Apple right to shelve a plastic iPad?
Report: It Would Take Eight Years to Remove 10% of Apple's Dependence on China
Bloomberg estimates that it will take eight years before Apple’s dependence on China is reduced by just 10%.