Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Disney+ Loses Subscribers After Price Hike

2025-02-06

Disney's Q1 2025 earnings report revealed a loss of 700,000 Disney+ subscribers globally in recent months, attributed to price increases implemented in the fall. The ad-supported version rose from $7.99 to $9.99, while the ad-free tier jumped from $13.99 to $15.99. Simultaneously, Disney's crackdown on password sharing, introducing a paid sharing plan in select regions, likely contributed to the decline. Despite the loss, CEO Bob Iger stated the churn was less severe than anticipated. Conversely, Hulu gained 1.6 million subscribers, reaching 53.6 million. Disney's overall revenue saw a 4.8% increase, largely driven by the box office success of Moana 2, exceeding $1 billion in revenue.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech subscriber loss

Apple Q1 Earnings: Record Revenue, AI-Powered Future

2025-01-31

Apple announced its financial results for fiscal Q1 2025 (calendar Q4 2024), reporting record revenue of $124.3 billion, a 4% year-over-year increase. Earnings per share rose 10% to $2.40. Services, Mac, and iPad revenues saw significant growth, while iPhone and Wearables experienced slight declines. CEO Tim Cook highlighted this as Apple's best quarter ever, emphasizing the role of Apple Intelligence in enhancing user experience and driving future growth. Apple Intelligence will support more languages in April. The earnings call also provided guidance for the next quarter, projecting low-to-mid single-digit revenue growth.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Apple Earnings Revenue Growth

Bird Buddy Unveils 'Wonder' Insect-Watching Camera

2025-01-10

The creators of Bird Buddy, a camera-equipped bird feeder, have launched a new line of products under the 'Wonder' brand, designed for observing insects, birds, and other wildlife. The Petal camera captures photos and videos, using AI-powered 'Nature Intelligence' to identify various natural events. Paired with Wonder Blocks, which create habitats for wildlife, the system aims to bring nature closer. Both will be available via Kickstarter in Spring 2025.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech smart camera nature observation

Apple Vision Pro Production Reportedly Halted Amidst Weak Demand

2025-01-01

Reports suggest Apple's first-generation Vision Pro headset may have ceased production. This follows earlier reports of reduced demand and production cuts. Apple appears to have sufficient inventory to meet future demand, mirroring its approach with low-demand products like the iPhone 12 mini. The Vision Pro's high price tag ($3,499) and insufficient content ecosystem are cited as primary reasons for weak sales. Apple is pivoting to a lower-cost headset with a planned production run of 4 million units, significantly lower than the Vision Pro's target. However, Apple retains the option to resume Vision Pro production and may release an iterative update with limited changes, such as a chip upgrade.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Production Halt

Blackmagic Unveils $30K 3D Camera for Apple Vision Pro Video Capture

2024-12-19

Blackmagic has announced its URSA Cine Immersive camera, priced at $30,000, available for pre-order with deliveries starting late in the first quarter of 2025. This is the world's first commercial camera system designed for capturing 3D content specifically for Apple's Vision Pro headset. Featuring a custom stereoscopic 3D lens system with dual 8K sensors, it captures 180-degree field of view video with spatial audio at up to 90fps. Each eye boasts 8160 x 7200 resolution and 16 stops of dynamic range.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware

Apple Accuses Meta of Unreasonable Interoperability Requests Under EU's DMA

2024-12-19

Apple has accused Meta of making 15 interoperability requests under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), more than any other company. Apple claims Meta's requests, which could compromise user security and privacy, seek access to extensive user data including messages, emails, call logs, app usage, photos, files, calendar events, and passwords. Apple argues these requests are unreasonable, emphasizing the importance of iOS and iPadOS integrity and the potential infeasibility of creating effective interoperability solutions. The European Commission is consulting on the matter and may adjust measures based on feedback.

(www.macrumors.com)

Tech Digital Markets Act

Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

2024-12-13

Microsoft has discontinued its Surface Studio 2+, ending its only direct competitor to Apple's iMac. The high-end all-in-one PC, aimed at creative professionals, featured a unique tilting touchscreen display. However, its high price and lagging specs hampered its success. This leaves a gap in the Windows ecosystem for premium all-in-one devices and cements Apple's dominance in this market segment.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware All-in-one PC