Thu. 05/01 – Judge Refers Apple For A Criminal Investigation

May 1, 2025 17m

AI Summary Available

Get the full experience! Sign up to access transcripts, personalized summaries, and more features.

Apple basically got held in contempt of court in the Epic case. Rumors about Elon staying at Tesla. Meta and Microsoft earnings. Xbox price increases. Would you wear a smart ring that proves you’re not cheating on your significant other?

Links:

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI-Generated Summary

Apple Held in Contempt of Court

In a landmark ruling, a U.S. judge imposed contempt of court against Apple for violating a 2021 injunction related to third-party app payment avenues, redirecting the case for a criminal investigation. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasized Apple's intentional anti-competitive practices that amounted to willful disobedience of the court's ruling, which could impact Apple's substantial app store revenues. Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney hailed the decision as a victory for developers, leading to potential alterations in Apple's app payment policies.

Tesla's CEO Succession Plans

Amid slumping stock prices and heightened investor concern regarding Elon Musk's focus on matters outside Tesla, the board initiated efforts to identify Musk’s successor. These discussions coincided with worries about declining sales and profit margins at Tesla. Although Musk reassured shareholders that he would increase his commitment to Tesla, the board's actions hinted at a broader concern for long-term leadership stability.

Meta and Microsoft Earnings Reports

Meta reported a strong increase in user engagement, with WhatsApp surpassing three billion monthly active users. Coinciding with this, Microsoft experienced a positive earnings forecast, backed by robust growth in its cloud services, notably Azure. Both companies reflected a cautious optimism about their respective futures, with Meta increasing its 2025 capital expenditure due to infrastructural demands.

Xbox Price Increases and Meta's Privacy Policy Update

Microsoft announced global price hikes for Xbox consoles and new game releases, reflecting ongoing market changes. This adjustment aims to sustain profitability in a competitive environment. Meanwhile, Meta updated the privacy policy for Ray-Ban smart glasses, enabling continuous AI training by storing voice recordings, raising concerns among users about privacy and data safety.

The Controversial Smart Ring Concept

A new concept for a smart ring designed to monitor emotional states and reinforce trust in relationships garnered attention. Although still a theoretical product, the RAW ring aims to help partners understand each other’s feelings and build trust, evoking debates about privacy and the ethical implications of such advanced tracking technologies.