Apple Inc.

Consumers in the UK spent a record £2. 4 billion on recorded music in 2024. Streaming subscriptions accounted for the largest share, and Taylor Swift's album became the best-selling album of the year.

Indonesia refused to issue a permit for the sale of the iPhone 16, despite Apple's promise to invest $1 billion in an AirTag factory. The reason is the failure to meet the requirement for 40% local components in smartphones.

A Polish driver tried to illegally transport lemurs and birds across the Ukrainian-Polish border. After the violation was detected, he offered border guards a bribe of $1,900 and 100 euros.

Tim Cook plans to personally donate $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural committee. The inaugural committee aims to raise more than $150 million from various companies and individuals.

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit over unauthorized recording of Siri conversations. Starting in 2014, iPhone owners will be able to receive up to $20 in compensation for each device.

In the EU, all portable electronic devices must now have a USB Type-C port. The new rules apply to smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets, and from 2026, laptops as well.

63 American companies are among the top 100 largest corporations in the world by market value. Nvidia showed the best growth in the Dow Jones for the year - 160%, and Apple reached a capitalization of 3.7 trillion euros.

Apple shares have risen by 16% since November, adding $500 billion to the company's market value. The growth is attributed to the enthusiasm for AI and expectations of a new iPhone “supercycle.

Apple plans to release new MacBook Airs with the M4 chip in early 2025. The update will include improved AI support and new iPad, iPhone SE, and iPad Air models.

Buckingham Palace has reported positive dynamics in King Charles' cancer treatment. In 2025, Charles plans to resume a full program of public duties, including foreign visits.

Apple stopped developing a monthly subscription service for iPhones due to economic inexpediency. The service was supposed to work on a rental model with the possibility of upgrading to a new model after its release.

The wearables market shrank by 1% in the first three quarters of 2024. Huawei and Xiaomi are strengthening their positions, while Apple is losing its dominance in the smartwatch market.

Elite fashion brands and retailers are considering accepting cryptocurrency as a means of payment. The French department store Printemps has already announced a partnership with Binance to implement crypto payments.

At the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, customs officers found 162 contraband Apple smartphones hidden in a Toyota Land Cruiser. The total value of the seized equipment exceeds UAH 7 million.

Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of Diia. Card, which will transfer all government benefit programs. The card will be used to receive salaries, scholarships, social benefits, and personal funds.

Apple will stop selling the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 due to EU requirements for USB-C ports starting in 2025. The company does not plan to re-release these models with a new port, instead focusing on future versions.

Apple has started integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into its devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The new feature will allow Siri to use chatbot capabilities to work with photos, documents, and create content.

Ukrainian officials are discussing possible restrictions on Telegram due to its potential threats. According to intelligence reports, the messenger is used for cyberattacks and to adjust missile strikes, although it is used by 70% of Ukrainians.

Realme plans to double its share of the European market to 10% within 3-5 years. Chinese manufacturers are actively investing in the promotion of premium smartphones in Europe, competing with Apple and Samsung.

Nvidia reports an increase in the production of Blackwell chips, despite problems with overheating servers. The company expects to exceed revenue forecasts, although demand for chips exceeds supply.

Apple Music has recognized Billie Eilish as a 2024 Artist of the Year following the success of her album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. The singer became the first artist to receive this title twice since 2019.

The US Department of Justice is demanding that Google sell the Chrome browser and limit its monopoly on the search engine. Regulators also want to ban the company from entering into agreements to install the search engine by default.

Apple has confirmed active cyberattacks on Mac users and released critical security updates. Intel-based Macs are at the highest risk, and iPhones and iPads running older versions of iOS 17 are also vulnerable.

The US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Meta for monopolizing the social media market. The judge rejected Meta's motion to dismiss the case, accusing the company of suppressing competition through the acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp.

NVIDIA is planning to release a new Blackwell GPU that could be a breakthrough in artificial intelligence. Analysts compare the potential impact of this chip to the release of Apple's first iPhone.

Apple has updated its professional audio editor Logic Pro for Mac and iPad with new features for mixing and recording. Mastering Assistant, new sound packs, and 32-bit recording capabilities have been added.

Social network Bluesky has recorded a significant increase in new users. This happened against the backdrop of an outflow of users from platform X (formerly Twitter) after the US presidential election. The platform has reached 14.5 million users.

Nvidia's market capitalization reached $3. 43 trillion, surpassing Apple's $3.38 trillion. The chipmaker's shares rose 2.9% to $139.93 amid the global development of artificial intelligence.

Berkshire Hathaway continues to sell off shares, including stakes in Apple and Bank of America. Warren Buffett's company has increased its cash reserves to a record $325 billion amid the upcoming US elections.

The Indonesian government has banned the sale of Google Pixel smartphones due to non-compliance with localization requirements. According to the rules, 40% of components for phones must be locally produced.