Let’s Talk About This Apple AI Pin Rumor
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Let’s Talk About This Apple AI Pin Rumor
Today’s update is dedicated to talking about The Information’s article regarding Apple working on an AI wearable pin. There may be some funny business at play. Let’s discuss.
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Netflix 4Q25 Earnings, Netflix Is Misreading the Market, The Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Netflix 4Q25 Earnings
Netflix Is Misreading the Market
The Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
The 4Q25 earnings season has begun for us. We will kick things off by analyzing Netflix’s 4Q25 earnings and earnings interview. The discussion then turns to how Netflix is misreading the market. We conclude with Neil’s thoughts on where the Warner Bros. Discovery deal stands.
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Ads Coming to ChatGPT, OpenAI’s Strategy, Apple Implications
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Ads Coming to ChatGPT
OpenAI’s Strategy
Apple Implications
The update is dedicated to going over Neil’s thoughts on ads coming to ChatGPT. In particular, we analyze OpenAI’s strategy. Is OpenAI late or early with bringing ads to ChatGPT? Related implications that ads in ChatGPT raise for Apple are also discussed.
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Apple Returns to Publishing Services Recap, Estimating App Store Revenue, Breaking Down Apple’s Services Revenue Growth
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Returns to Publishing Services Recap
Estimating App Store Revenue
Breaking Down Apple’s Services Revenue Growth
In a welcome change, Apple used the first few weeks of a new calendar year to return to publishing a year-in-review for its Services business. We begin today’s update by going over Neil’s thoughts on Apple’s press release. The discussion then goes over Neil’s estimates for App Store revenue and the various revenue growth drivers responsible for Apple’s Services revenue growth.
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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
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Apple Unveils Apple Creator Studio, Apple’s Bet, Potential Risk Factors
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Unveils Apple Creator Studio
Apple’s Bet
Potential Risk Factors
Hello everyone. Apple unveiled a new paid service that plays in the creative app vertical. Today’s update will be dedicated to discussing the new service. The discussion goes over Apple’s broader bet that is being placed with Apple Creator Studio.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
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Apple and Google Make Gemini Models Deal Official, Apple’s Optionality, Revisiting Apple’s (AI) Long Game
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple and Google Make Gemini Models Deal Official
Apple’s Optionality
Revisiting Apple’s (AI) Long Game
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Apple and Google announcing a deal regarding Apple Foundation models being based on Gemini models. The discussion then turns to how the deal provides Apple optionality when thinking about longer-term implications. We conclude by going over Apple’s (AI) long game.
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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
Email Access to Neil Cybart. Receive timely responses from Neil to email inquiries.
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My Impressions Watching LA Lakers in Apple Immersive Video
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
My Impressions Watching LA Lakers in Apple Immersive Video
Last Friday, the first LA Lakers game in Apple Immersive Video aired. A full replay is available to most Apple Vision Pro owners for free (via the NBA app). Today’s update will go over my impressions watching the game. We will continue the discussion tomorrow.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
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Chase to Take Over Apple Card From Goldman, Possible Apple Card Changes, A Different Sales Proposition for Apple Vision Pro?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Chase to Take Over Apple Card From Goldman
Possible Apple Card Changes
A Different Sales Proposition for Apple Vision Pro?
We wrap up the first week of updates in 2026 with Apple Card. The update goes over Neil’s thoughts on news that Chase will officially be taking over Apple Card from Goldman Sachs. The discussion covers possible changes that will eventually come to Apple Card. We conclude the update with Apple Vision Pro. One comment that came in from a subscriber to yesterday’s LA Lakers in Apple Immersive Video discussion deserves our attention.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
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Getting Ready for LA Lakers in Apple Immersive Video, A Big Deal, What’s Next?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Getting Ready for LA Lakers in Apple Immersive Video
A Big Deal
What’s Next?
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on new details regarding the upcoming LA Lakers games that will be available in Apple Immersive Video. The discussion then turns to why these games are such a big deal for Apple and Apple Vision Pro. We conclude with Neil’s thoughts on how all of this may play out when thinking about the next steps and Apple’s broader ambition.
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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
Email Access to Neil Cybart. Receive timely responses from Neil to email inquiries.
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Apple Questions for 2026 (Part 2 – Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, AVP, Home, Services, SW, Siri, Other)
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Apple Questions for 2026 (Part 2 – Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, AVP, Home, Services, SW, Siri, Other)
Today’s update will conclude my questions for Apple in 2026. Approximately 25 questions are addressed. Instead of coming up with predictions for Apple at the start of 2026, there is value found in embracing the unknown and looking at questions facing the company in the new year. When combined with yesterday’s update, 35 Apple questions have been complied for 2026.
Let’s jump in.
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Exclusive Analysis. Receive the Above Avalon Daily newsletter, widely-recognized as the leading daily newsletter dedicated to Apple. Now in its tenth year.
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Apple Questions for 2026 (Part 1 – Big Picture and iPhone)
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Apple Questions for 2026 (Part 1 – Big Picture and iPhone)
Similar to how we tried something new to wrap up 2025, the first update of the new year will be a bit different from what was published in prior years.
Above Avalon launched in 2014. For the first six years, I began each new calendar year by publishing a list of questions facing Apple. This was my answer to New Year’s prediction posts, links, and tweets. Predictions are nothing more than attempts at manufacturing clarity for what is inherently a sea of unknown. New Year’s predictions are even more problematic as the person issuing the prediction needs to come up with what may happen, and the predicted event must occur within an arbitrary time.
Instead of coming up with predictions for Apple at the start of 2026, there is value found in embracing the unknown and looking at questions facing the company in the new year. The irony is that embracing the unknown found with asking questions will aid navigating the sea of unknown.
For today’s update, we will focus on questions related to several big picture topics along with the iPhone. The discussion will continue in tomorrow’s update (available here).
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An audio version of this update is available to members who have the podcast add-on attached to their membership.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
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Above Avalon Daily Year in Review 2025 – The Top 20 Apple Stories of 2025 (#10 to #1)
In 2025, 168 Above Avalon Daily updates consisting of approximately 450 stories were published. As we prepare to close out 2025, an idea that came to me a few weeks ago was to recap the 20 most interesting stories published in 2025.
Approximately 40 stories made the first cut with four additional cuts needed to bring the total down to 20 stories. With those 20 stories in hand, they were then ranked in terms of their overall impact / intrigue level / importance. The result is the first edition of the Above Avalon Daily Year in Review.
For today’s update, we will conclude the review by going over the #10 to #1 stories (with #1 being the top story covered in Above Avalon Daily in 2025). For each story, clicking the headline will bring you to the daily update that contained the story.
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.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
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Above Avalon Daily Year in Review 2025 – The Top 20 Apple Stories of 2025 (#20 to #11)
In 2025, 168 Above Avalon Daily updates consisting of approximately 450 stories were published. As we prepare to close out 2025, an idea that came to me a few weeks ago was to recap the 20 most interesting stories published in 2025.
Approximately 40 stories made the first cut with four additional cuts needed to bring the total down to 20 stories. With those 20 stories in hand, they were then ranked in terms of their overall impact / intrigue level / importance. The result is the first edition of the Above Avalon Daily Year in Review.
For today’s update, we will begin going over these 20 stories in reverse order starting with #20. Monday’s update will include #10 to #1 (with #1 being the top story covered in Above Avalon Daily in 2025). For each story, clicking the headline will bring you to the daily update that contained the story.
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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
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Ford Scraps F-150 Lightning EV, EV Adoption Struggles, Rivian Chasing Autonomy
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Ford Scraps F-150 Lightning EV
EV Adoption Struggles
Rivian Chasing Autonomy
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Ford scaling back its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions. The discussion then turns to why U.S. EV adoption continues to undershoot industry expectations. We conclude things with Rivian’s autonomy goals. Neil explains why we both autonomy and EV, we still seem to be missing key ingredients for changing what it means to use a car.
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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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
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Disney Expands Board for Jeff Williams, Disney Partners With OpenAI, Why Disney and OpenAI?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Disney Expands Board for Jeff Williams
Disney Partners With OpenAI
Why Disney and OpenAI?
We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on Disney expanding its board of directors to accommodate former Apple COO Jeff Williams. The discussion then turns to Disney and OpenAI signing a three-year partnership that will bring ~200 Disney characters to Sora. We look at why Neil isn’t terribly excited about the partnership from a storytelling perspective and the drivers behind Disney entering the partnership.
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 updates sent to members in an easy-to-navigate archive built in Ghost.
Full Access to Above Avalon Forum. Access exclusive channels in the Above Avalon forum in Discord.
Email Access to Neil Cybart. Receive timely responses from Neil to email inquiries.
Access Bundle Discounts. Customize a subscription with additional Above Avalon products and save: AVALON, Podcasts Packages, Inside Orchard, and Financial Models.
Above Avalon Support. Play an active role in supporting Above Avalon as an independent voice and resource. Above Avalon is 100% funded by subscribers.