My Notes From the WWDC Keynote

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story: 

• My Notes From the WWDC Keynote

Happy Friday. Today’s update will conclude our immediate analysis of the WWDC 2026 keynote with my granular notes. We cover 15 different topics.

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A Different Kind of WWDC Keynote, Compatible Device Controversy, Inside Apple's Post-Keynote Tech Talk

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• A Different Kind of WWDC Keynote

• Compatible Device Controversy

• Inside Apple's Post-Keynote Tech Talk

Tuesday’s update went over the primary takeaway from WWDC 2026. Apple unveiled a rebuilt Siri AI to anchor a broader update given to Apple Intelligence. With Google Gemini models as a technological foundation, Apple is relying on its first-party Apple Foundation Models (third generation) to beef up Apple Intelligence, especially in the areas of image generation and dictation capabilities.

For today’s discussion we will continue our WWDC discussion by covering several subthemes / topics. We take a look at the uniqueness found with the WWDC keynote’s format relative to prior years. The update then addresses the controversey surrounding device compatibility. We conclude with Neil’s description of what it was like to attend Apple’s post-keynote tech talk.

There will one be additional update this week that includes Neil’s granular notes.

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WWDC 2026: A Rebuilt Siri Anchors Apple Intelligence’s Next Step

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story: 

• WWDC 2026: A Rebuilt Siri Anchors Apple Intelligence’s Next Step

The update covers Neil’s initial thoughts regarding WWDC 2026. Among the discussion topics, Neil goes over the feeling being on the ground at Apple Park, why Siri AI is not an Apple wrapper for Gemini, how it felt like we received a few years of Siri features wrapped into one, and where Siri is headed.

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Thoughts Heading Into WWDC 2026

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story: 

• Thoughts Heading Into WWDC 2026

Hello everyone. WWDC kicks off on Monday. For today’s update, we will go over what’s been on my mind in preparation for next week’s WWDC.

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Alphabet Raises Equity, Berkshire Increases Alphabet Stake, Apple Implications

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Alphabet Raises Equity

• Berkshire Increases Alphabet Stake

• Apple Implications

We begin with Neil’s thoughts on Alphabet’s plan to raise $80B+ of equity. The discussion then turns to Berkshire Hathaway increasing its stake in Alphabet to more than $30B. We conclude by discussing the potential of Apple following Alphabet in raising equity.

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Oura Unveils Ring 5, Revisiting Swiss Watch Sales, Swatch and Audemars Piguet Launch Royal Pop Watch

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Oura Unveils Ring 5

• Revisiting Swiss Watch Sales

• Swatch and Audemars Piguet Launch Royal Pop Watch

Today’s update will have a wearables theme as we begin with smart rings and then shift up a bit to the wrist. We discuss why it remains difficult for Neil to get worked up over smart rings. The update then looks at how Apple Watch has impacted Swiss Watch sales (from 2014 to 2025). This sets the scene to then discuss Swatch and Audemars Piguet collaborating on a pocket watch. We go over why Audemars Piguet (AP) is involved with selling a $400 Swatch pocket watch.

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The Ferrari Luce, Project Titan vs. Ferrari Luce, Rivian Talks Down CarPlay (Again)

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• The Ferrari Luce

• Project Titan vs. Ferrari Luce

• Rivian Talks Down CarPlay (Again)

The update will have an automobile theme as we discuss various design paths being taken in personal transport. We begin with the Ferrari Luce. After discussing Luce’s various design attributes, we compare the Luce to what Apple was working on with Project Titan. More than a few people took to social media to say that Ferrari Luce was the vehicle that Apple couldn’t get across the finish line with Project Titan. That’s not an accurate assessment. We conclude with Rivian’s software chief’s odd interview with The Verge. There is a flaw in Rivian’s thinking regarding voice assistants and agentic integrations in the car.

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Alphabet Earnings, Netflix Earnings, Spotify Earnings

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Alphabet Earnings

• Netflix Earnings

• Spotify Earnings

Last week, we went over Meta’s CY1Q26 earnings. We will continue our 1Q26 tech earnings reviews with Alphabet, Netflix, and Spotify. While all three companies compete with Apple in some fashion, Spotify and Netflix are more direct in their Apple attacks.

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Apple Closes Education Discount Loophole, Kansas City Schools to Become “All-Apple,” Real Madrid on Apple Vision Pro

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Apple Closes Education Discount Loophole

• Kansas City Schools to Become “All-Apple”

• Real Madrid on Apple Vision Pro

The update begins with Neil’s thoughts on Apple once again utilizing verification for customers utilizing education pricing in the U.S. The discussion then turns to Apple securing a nice win from Kansas City public schools deciding to become an “all-Apple” district. We conclude with Apple’s latest Apple Immersive Video - “Real Madrid: The Weight of Greatness.”

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Google I/O 2026, Google Search Is AI Search, Too Overwhelming

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Google I/O 2026

• Google Search Is AI Search

• Too Overwhelming

The update will be dedicated to going over Neil’s thoughts regarding Google’s I/O developer conference keynote (available here via YouTube). Discussion topics include how Google’s keynote could have been split into two parts, the head fake involving Google Search, and how Google’s AI embrace is so overwhelming.

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Meta Revenue Continues to Impress, Zuckerberg on Agents, HW as a Meta Distraction

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Meta Revenue Continues to Impress

• Zuckerberg on Agents

• HW as a Meta Distraction

We will begin circling back to some of the more interesting CY1Q26 earnings releases. Today’s update will be focused on Meta. The update covers Meta’s impressive revenue growth. We then turn to Meta’s spending, where angst is found along two vectors. The discussion then turns to Mark Zuckerberg’s ironic comments regarding AI and agents. We conclude with why Neil thinks hardware is a distraction for Meta.

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Android Show 2026, Google Gives Googlebook Sneak Peek, A Neo Competitor?

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Android Show 2026

• Google Gives Googlebook Sneak Peek

• A Neo Competitor?

We will continue the Google discussion as the company made quite a few announcements this week ahead of its I/O developer conference. The update kicks off with Neil’s takeaways from Google’s Android Show 2026 presentation. Attention then turns to Googlebook. Is Googlebook a Chromebook successor? Neil shares his perspective on the answer.

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Google Unveils Rebranded Health App, Google Unveils Fitbit Air, Google Health Coach

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Google Unveils Rebranded Health App

• Google Unveils Fitbit Air

• Google Health Coach

We kick off today’s update with Google looking to reinvigorate its consumer-oriented health strategy by rebranding the Fitbit app to the Google Health app. The discussion then turns to Neil’s thoughts on the all-new Fitbit Air. We conclude the update with Google Health Coach.

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Apple Raises Entry-Level Mac Mini Price, DRAM and NAND Impact on iPhone, Apple Device SKU Management

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Apple Raises Entry-Level Mac Mini Price

• DRAM and NAND Impact on iPhone

• Apple Device SKU Management

We begin today’s update with a change to the Mac mini line. The discussion then shifts to memory (DRAM) and storage (NAND). Consensus may be overestimating the degree to which higher DRAM) and NAND pricing will impact Apple’s gross margins. We conclude with a closer look at how potentially prioritizing SKUs with higher margins represents one strategy for how Apple plans to navigate massive price increases in DRAM and NAND.

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Apple and Intel to Partner on Chips, How Apple Benefits, TSMC Isn’t Going Anywhere

Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories: 

• Apple and Intel to Partner on Chips

• How Apple Benefits

• TSMC Isn’t Going Anywhere

We kick off today’s update with Neil’s thoughts on Apple and Intel reportedly reaching a deal regarding chips. The discussion includes four main ways that Apple stands to benefit from the deal. We conclude with why TSMC, Apple’s current chip supplier, isn’t going anywhere.

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An audio version of this update is available to subscribers who have the Podcasts Package (+$10/month or +$100/year) attached to their Above Avalon Daily subscription.