Apple Updates iPad Pro, Current State of iPad, Apple Updates MacBook Pro
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Updates iPad Pro
Current State of iPad
Apple Updates MacBook Pro
On Wednesday, Apple unveiled updates to products across three different categories (iPad, Mac, and Vision). The last update (available here) was focused on the M5 chip and the updated Apple Vision Pro. Today’s update is focused on the new iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro. With an updated iPad Pro in the mix, it’s also a good time to recap the broader iPad line.
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Apple Unveils M5 Chip, Apple’s Silicon Advantage, Apple Vision Pro Receives First Update
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Unveils M5 Chip
Apple’s Silicon Advantage
Apple Vision Pro Receives First Update
Happy Wednesday. It’s been a busy day with Apple unveiling updates to products across three different categories (iPad, Mac, and Vision). Today’s update will examine the M5 chip and how Apple is gaining an advantage in the marketplace by designing its own chips. The discussion will then turn to Apple unveiling the first update to its headset with the Apple Vision Pro (M5). Our discussion will likely roll into tomorrow's update when we will focus more specifically on the updated iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro.
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Select NBA Games to Be Streamed in Apple Immersive Video, Sports on Apple Vision Pro, Chicken or the Egg: Apple Immersive Video
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Select NBA Games to Be Streamed in Apple Immersive Video
Sports on Apple Vision Pro
Chicken or the Egg: Apple Immersive Video
Happy Tuesday. We will jump right into things with some big news on the Apple Vision Pro front regarding immersive content. The discussion then turns to how Apple has the opportunity to reconfigure the entire entertainment industry to give live sports a shot in the arm. We conclude the update by examining criticism that says Apple should have had more immersive content available for Apple Vision Pro before the headset was launched.
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OpenAI’s App Pitch, OpenAI’s HW Strategy, OpenAI Running Into Device Delays
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
OpenAI’s App Pitch
OpenAI’s HW Strategy
OpenAI Running Into Device Delays
Hello everyone. For today’s update, we continue the discussion that was found in Tuesday’s update regarding OpenAI. It’s been a while since we have seen genuine angst in the air regarding alternatives to the digital app paradigm. We discuss OpenAI’s vision behind “Apps in ChatGPT.” The update then turns to recapping where OpenAI’s hardware play is most likely headed. We conclude with a closer look at the Financial Times’ report regarding Jony Ive and the OpenAI team running into product development issues involving new devices.
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OpenAI’s DevDay Keynote, Where My Skepticism Is Found, Jony Ive’s Fireside Chat at DevDay
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
OpenAI’s DevDay Keynote
Where My Skepticism Is Found
Jony Ive’s Fireside Chat at DevDay
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to OpenAI which held its third annual developer conference yesterday in San Francisco.
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EA Sells to Private Equity, Gaming Industry Continues to Change, Anthropic’s NYC Pop-up Shop
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
EA Sells to Private Equity
Gaming Industry Continues to Change
Anthropic’s NYC Pop-up Shop
Hello everyone. We will jump into a new week of updates with gaming news. EA will be acquired for $55 billion in what is the largest PE-funded buyout in history. The discussion then turns to Anthropic’s interesting pop-up shop in NYC.
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Let’s Talk About Bloomberg’s Vision Pro Hit Piece, Revisiting Apple’s Spatial Computing Strategy
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Let’s Talk About Bloomberg’s Vision Pro Hit Piece
Revisiting Apple’s Spatial Computing Strategy
Hello everyone. For today’s update, we will take a closer look at a Bloomberg article regarding Apple that made quite a few waves the past two days. Simply put, there is a lot of noise found with the article. Let’s discuss.
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Amazon Unveils New Hardware, A Few Alexa+ Product Highlights, Search Party
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Amazon Unveils New Hardware
A Few Alexa+ Product Highlights
Search Party
Hello everyone. Let’s keep running ahead with an update focused on Amazon. The company held a hardware event this past Tuesday. Let’s jump in.
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Meta Launches Vibes, OpenAI Launches Sora 2, Sora as a Social App?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Meta Launches Vibes
OpenAI Launches Sora 2
Sora as a Social App?
Hello everyone. Based on the number of incoming comments related to Monday’s update, we will stay in AI land for today’s update. The discussion will be focused on AI-generated videos as Meta and OpenAI battle each other for attention with new product launches.
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OpenAI’s First Ad Campaign for ChatGPT, Anthropic's First Ad Campaign for Claude, Chatbot Rivalry
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
OpenAI’s First Ad Campaign for ChatGPT
Anthropic's First Ad Campaign for Claude
Chatbot Rivalry
Hello everyone. We will kick off a new week of updates with something a little bit different - a deep dive into the inaugural ad campaigns for some of the largest AI startups (OpenAI, Anthropic) and Perplexity. Let's jump in.
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iPhone Air as a Bridge to AI Devices?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
iPhone Air as a Bridge to AI Devices?
We will continue this week’s Apple product strategy focus. One of the more intriguing discussion topics arising from Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event has been found with how Apple will leverage the iPhone Air in terms of other products. We take a closer look at the assertion that the iPhone Air is a bridge to future (AI) devices from Apple. There is reason to approach the assertion from a different direction.
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Smart Rings vs. Smartwatches, Smart Bands vs. Smartwatches, Smart Glasses vs. Smartwatches
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Smart Rings vs. Smartwatches
Smart Bands vs. Smartwatches
Smart Glasses vs. Smartwatches
The update that came out earlier today (accessible here) got me thinking more about smart rings. We will kick this update off with a more thorough examination of the smart ring vs. smartwatch comparison. The discussion will then naturally evolve to cover another health tracker that has been gaining a bit of buzz. We conclude our smartwatch design topic by circling back to Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses.
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Apple Unveils First Third-Party Films In Apple Immersive, Oura Surpasses $10B Valuation, Oura vs. Apple Watch
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Unveils First Third-Party Films In Apple Immersive
Oura Surpasses $10B Valuation
Oura vs. Apple Watch
Hello everyone. We are going to keep running forward with some Apple Vision Pro news. While the goal was to get this update out late on Tuesday, it was held back until morning to look at some new Apple Immersive Video with fresh eyes. Our attention will then turn to Oura, the smart ring maker. The company is raising $875M at a $10.9B valuation. We take a closer look at how Oura compares to Apple Watch.
Let’s go.
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Thoughts on iPhone Demand, Apple Is Being Underestimated, What Meta’s Connect Keynote Demo Fails Revealed
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Thoughts on iPhone Demand
Apple Is Being Underestimated
What Meta’s Connect Keynote Demo Fails Revealed
The update kicks off with my thoughts on iPhone demand over iPhone launch weekend and heading into Apple’s FY26. We then discuss how the iPhone is the latest example of Apple being underestimated. The update concludes with an observation regarding how Meta’s keynote demo fails at Connect were perceived on social media.
An Above Avalon Daily subscription is required to read this daily update. Subscribers can read the update here.
An audio version of this update is available to members who have the podcast add-on attached to their membership.
Choose either a monthly or annual subscription. Payment is hosted by MoonClerk and secured by Stripe. Apple Pay and other mobile payment options are accepted. After signup, use this link to update your payment information and subscription status at any time.
Subscriber Privileges and Benefits
Exclusive Analysis. Receive the Above Avalon Daily newsletter, widely-recognized as the leading daily newsletter dedicated to Apple. Now in its tenth year.
Archive Access. Access previous newsletters sent to members.
Member Forum Access. Access all channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
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Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent voice and resource.
Meta Connect 2025, The Problem(s) With Meta Ray-Ban Display, Mark Zuckerberg’s “Youth” Strategy
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to discussing Meta and their new smart glasses with a display.
Meta Connect 2025
Continuing the string of brutal live keynotes in the consumer tech space, making it through Meta’s Connect 2025 keynote was a tough 58-minute slog. Connect is Meta’s annual developers conference dedicated to AR/VR/MR.
Before going any further, let’s address the elephant in the room. Deciding to unveil consumer gadgets 36 hours prior to the largest iPhone launch in years is quite the choice. Last year, Meta held its Connect conference the week after new iPhones launched. A few years back, Connect was held in October. Pushing things up to basically be timed to coincide with the iPhone launch is a sign of hubris on Mark Zuckerberg’s part. Meta may have been trying to interrupt Apple’s product launches more than being concerned of having their product(s) be drowned out by Apple’s launch press coverage.
Meta stuck with its usual live presentation and demo format, except it took place at 8 pm ET – another hubris-led decision as Meta basically lost half of the U.S. viewing audience. The company ran into extensive demo trouble throughout the keynote.
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Member Privileges and Benefits
Become an Above Avalon member and receive the following privileges and benefits:
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