Thinking Through Potential Apple Price Hikes, Apple’s HW Gross Profit Trajectory, Is There an Apple HW Gross Profit Cliff?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Thinking Through Potential Apple Price Hikes
Apple’s HW Gross Profit Trajectory
Is There an Apple HW Gross Profit Cliff?
The update begins with Neil’s thoughts on potential Apple product price hikes tied to the memory crisis. We then look at Apple’s HW gross profit trajectory as measured by gross margin dollars on an absolute basis. This brings us Apple potentially running out of time to offset higher memory pricing.
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Tim Cook Talks Memory Crisis, The Memory Crisis’s Uniqueness, Cook’s Goal Talking With the WSJ
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Tim Cook Talks Memory Crisis
The Memory Crisis’s Uniqueness
Cook’s Goal Talking With the WSJ
The update is dedicated to discussing the big news from last week involving Tim Cook’s comments to the WSJ. Instead of having the discussion be focused narrowly on potential Apple product price increases, there seemed to be a few larger dynamics underpinning Cook’s comments. We begin with Cook’s comments as they pertain to the memory crisis. The discussion then goes three variables impacting or contributing to the current memory crisis have been on Neil’s radar. We conclude with Cook’s broader goal, besides setting expectations, found with going public with product price hikes (still undefined).
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Thoughts on Image Playground in iOS 27, The Intrigue Found With Spatial Reframing, Where Is Apple’s Generative AI Line in the Sand?
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Thoughts on Image Playground in iOS 27
The Intrigue Found With Spatial Reframing
Where Is Apple’s Generative AI Line in the Sand?
In today’s update, we will change gears a bit and focus on new generative AI features that will be available with Apple’s latest OS releases. The discussion will begin with Image Playground and then shift to editing features found in Apple's Photos app. We conclude by discussing where the line in the sand is regarding acceptable generative AI within Apple’s ecosystem.
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Siri AI as an Intelligence Interface, Developer Implications, Device Implications
Today's Above Avalon article includes the following stories:
Siri AI as an Intelligence Interface
Developer Implications
Device Implications
We begin with Neil’s perspective regarding Siri AI as an intelligence interface. The update goes over a few examples of what an intelligence interface would look like. We then discuss developer-related implications corresponding to Siri AI becoming an intelligent interface. The update concludes with Apple device implications associated with Siri AI availability.
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Day 1 With Siri AI
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
My Notes From the WWDC Keynote
We will kick off this week's updates with product talk as we discuss Neil’s impressions of Siri AI.
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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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