Apple acquires Ascend․io, an agentic AI engineering startup

Apple recently struck a deal to acquire Ascend.io, a company focused on agentic data engineering technology. Under the Digital Markets Act, Apple must now publicly report acquisitions above a certain size. This has given us new insight into the company’s acquisition strategy, including glimpses at its future goals. The latest update to the EU’s “List of Acquisitions” website reveals a deal between Apple and Ascension Labs, Inc., perhaps [...]

Apple cuts App Store commission in Taiwan following regulatory discussions [U]

Apple today announced that it is lowering its standard App Store commission in Taiwan, following discussions with the country’s Fair Trade Commission. Here are the details. New rules take effect October 31 Over the past year or so, Apple has faced mounting regulatory pressure on several of its App Store practices and rules worldwide, particularly those related to app distribution, payment processing, commission fees, and alternative options for [...]

Russia now requires Apple to store user communications and hand them over if requested

As Bloomberg reported today, Apple and Microsoft are now subject to Russian regulations requiring companies to store users’ communications and provide them to security agencies if requested. Here are the details. Apple now part of Russia’s surveillance registry Apple and Microsoft are now in Russia’s state surveillance registry, joining companies and services such as Google Meet, WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Cloudflare, and Blizzard Entertainment, all of which are required [...]

Apple and OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit now has an official trial date

Judge Edward Davila today formally established the schedule for Apple’s trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit against two former employees, OpenAI, and io Products, including a trial date. Here are the details. Apple and OpenAI set for July 2027 trial A couple of weeks ago, during an October 14 case management conference, Judge Edward Davila instructed Apple and the defendants to agree on a proposed schedule for the lawsuit, working [...]

Apple and OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit now has an official trial date

Judge Edward Davila today formally established the schedule for Apple’s trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit against two former employees, OpenAI, and io Products, including a trial date. Here are the details. Apple and OpenAI set for July 2027 trial A couple of weeks ago, during an October 14 case management conference, Judge Edward Davila instructed Apple and the defendants to agree on a proposed schedule for the lawsuit, working [...]

iPhone Duo could capture nearly 30% of foldable market in 2027, per report

In a report released today, TrendForce says that with strong demand for the iPhone Duo out of the gate, Apple is poised to capture nearly 30% of the global foldable smartphone market by 2027. Here are the details. iPhone Duo projected to quickly gain market share One day after Apple announced the iPhone Duo last month, TrendForce published a report predicting that the company would ship 5 million [...]

Apple fined $15.5 million as South Korea orders changes to App Store rules

Apple and Google were fined today in South Korea over their app payment practices, with regulators also ordering both companies to change several policies. Here are the details. Apple’s App Store woes keep mounting South Korea’s Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) announced today a series of fines and corrective orders against Apple and Google over violations of the country’s Telecommunications Business Act. Specifically for Apple, the KMCC [...]

Apple memory supplier expects price increases through at least 2030

Key Apple memory supplier SK Hynix has warned that RAM and flash memory shortages are likely to last through at least 2030, keeping product prices high. Apple is believed to be one of 14 customers who have locked in priority orders, but the contract does not protect against price increases related to the balance of supply and demand … The company says that while AI continues to drive [...]

Apple wins expanded access to evidence in OpenAI trade secrets lawsuit

Apple has scored another win in its trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit against two former employees, OpenAI, and io Products. Here are the details. A bit of context Earlier this month, Judge Edward Davila granted some of Apple’s requests for expedited discovery in the lawsuit where the company accuses two former employees (Chang Liu and Tang Tan), as well as OpenAI and io Products, of trade secret misappropriation. As [...]

Apple’s European government affairs chief to speak at Web Summit 2026

Apple’s Director of European Government Affairs, Sébastien Gros, will speak at this year’s Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, taking place November 9–12. Here are the details. Apple to return to Web Summit Over the past few years, Apple has regularly sent executives to speak at Web Summit. From Craig Federighi, who argued against allowing sideloading on the iPhone in 2021, to Sumbul Desai discussing Apple’s healthcare initiatives in [...]