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Apple reports higher profits at Irish subsidiary in Cork

The Irish subsidiary of Apple has reported a 60% increase in profits to $62.3 billion in 2024, while net sales for the entire Apple group reached $222.3 billion.

Business • 31 Mar

Apple set to stave off EU fine into browser options

Apple is set to stave off a possible fine and an EU order over its browser options on iPhones after it made changes to comply with landmark EU rules aimed at reining in Big Tech, people with direct knowledge of the matter said today.

Business • 25 Mar

Apple has spent more than $5 billion a year on content since launching Apple TV+ in 2019

Apple losing over $1 billion a year on streaming service

Apple is losing more than $1 billion a year on its streaming service Apple TV+, the Information reported today, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Business • 20 Mar

Apple slammed the EU order, saying it would hurt users and help its rivals

Apple ordered by EU regulators to open up to rivals

Apple was ordered by EU antitrust regulators today to open up its closed ecosystem to rivals, with the latter spelling out details on how to go about it in line with the bloc's landmark rules and where non-compliance could lead to an investigation and fines.

Business • 19 Mar

Apple joins Google parent Alphabet and Facebook owner Meta on Germany's growing list of tech giants subject to possible measures curbing their dominance

Apple loses German antitrust fight

Apple has lost its challenge at Germany's top civil court against its classification as a significant market power, a label which gives antitrust regulators more scope and flexibility to scrutinise its business practices.

Business • 18 Mar

US District Judge Katherine Failla said that the book and the movie were not similar enough to support Ackerman's allegations.

Apple defeats copyright lawsuit over 'Tetris' movie

Apple convinced a New York federal court today to dismiss a copyright lawsuit brought by tech journalist Dan Ackerman, who accused the tech giant of ripping off his book about the landmark video game "Tetris" for a movie on the same subject.

Business • 06 Mar

The State's coffers benefitted from a €1.7 billion payment in February, which was part of the Apple settlement

Tax receipts in year to February up 12% on last year

Tax receipts in the first two months of this year are up 12% on the same time in 2024, indicating that the economy continues to power ahead.

Business • 05 Mar

The introduction of AI-enabled personal computers is expected to drive a recovery in the PC market this year after a post-pandemic slump.

Apple launches new MacBook Air models with M4 chip

Apple has unveiled new MacBook Air models with latest M4 chip and artificial-intelligence features at a price $100 lower than the previous generation, as the company looks to spur sales and persuade customers to upgrade their devices.

Business • 05 Mar

Apple has been equipping its devices with more powerful chips designed to handle AI tasks

Apple launches new iPad Air with AI features

Apple has launched new versions of its iPad Air, enhancing the mid-tier tablet with its M3 chip and artificial intelligence capabilities in a bid to spur upgrades among customers.

Business • 04 Mar

The lawsuit alleged Apple violated antitrust law by coercing customers to use the company's iCloud service

Apple defeats US consumer lawsuit over iCloud storage

Apple has won a ruling dismissing a lawsuit that accused the iPhone maker of illegally monopolising the market for digital storage, causing consumers to pay more for its iCloud service.

Business • 03 Mar

Apple's shareholders yesterday voted overwhelmingly to keep the company's diversity, equity and inclusion policies

Trump asks Apple to end diversity policies after vote

US President Donald Trump has urged Apple to scrap its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, a day after the iPhone maker's shareholders voted overwhelmingly to keep them in the face of growing pushback from conservative groups.

Business • 27 Feb

The vote was a test of shareholder views about the value of DEI programs, which many companies added or beefed up starting in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

Apple investors reject proposal against diversity policy

Apple shareholders rejected an outside investor proposal against its diversity, equity and inclusion policies at an annual meeting today, handing a major victory to the tech giant as opposition against such efforts gains traction in the US.

Business • 25 Feb

Apple CEO Tim Cook is reported to have met US President Donald Trump last week

Apple plans Texas factory for AI servers, 20,000 jobs

Apple said today it plans to help bring online a quarter-million-square-foot factory in Texas by 2026 to build artificial intelligence servers and will add about 20,000 research and development jobs across the US.

Business • 24 Feb

Priced at $599, the iPhone 16e will have enough computing power to run Apple Intelligence, the set of features that includes integrated access to ChatGPT.

Apple launches low-cost iPhone 16e

Apple launched its latest low-cost model, dubbed the iPhone 16e today, as it looks to grab a bigger share of the mid-range smartphone market and fend off competition from rivals such as Samsung and China's Huawei.

Business • 20 Feb

Excluding the money from Apple, taxes collected last month were up 7.2% at €8.4bn.

Tax take rises in January, Apple tax money rolls in

There was a further payment of €1.7bn from Apple's tax money into the Government's coffers last month, according to the Department of Finance's Exchequer Returns.

Business • 06 Feb

Apple's gatekeeper status changed in the EU with the 2022 adoption of the Digital Markets Act, which required Apple to allow alternative app stores

Apple raises concern over first porn app on iPhone

Apple has criticised a pornography app newly available on iPhones in the European Union, saying the bloc's digital policy was undermining consumer confidence in Apple.

Business • 04 Feb

Apple's overall sales and profits were boosted by stronger-than-expected sales in its fiscal first quarter of iPads and Macs

Apple shares rise after positive sales outlook

Apple executives have forecast relatively strong sales growth, a sign the company will recover from a dip in iPhone sales as it rolls out artificial intelligence features.

Business • 31 Jan

Apple's slow roll-out of AI features and tough Chinese competition weighed on iPhone demand during the crucial Christmas shopping season

Apple sales likely hurt by AI delays, Chinese competition

Apple is expected to report tepid quarterly revenue growth tomorrow nigh as its slow roll-out of artificial intelligence features and tough Chinese competition weighed on iPhone demand during the crucial Christmas shopping season.

Business • 29 Jan

Audiobooks were once largely marketed towards visually impaired and older customers - now they're mass-market

AudioHooked: Why the audiobook market is booming

Audiobooks are an old idea but a coming together of different factors has seen them go from a niche business to a booming one, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 29 Jan

A report suggestst that the European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google

EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google, Meta - FT

The European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google, the Financial Times reports today.

Business • 14 Jan

Apple's global shipments fell by 4.1% to 76.9 million units in the fourth quarter, while Samsung's shipments dropped by 2.7% to 51.7 million units

Apple, Samsung smartphone shipments fall globally

Smartphone shipments for Apple and Samsung declined in the fourth quarter globally, as they grapple with intense competition from Chinese companies including Xiaomi, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Business • 13 Jan

Talk captured by 'unintended Siri activation' were obtained by Apple and perhaps even shared with third parties, according to the lawsuit

Apple to pay $95m to settle Siri eavesdropping lawsuit

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing its digital assistant Siri of listening in on users' private conversations.

US • 06 Jan

Apple launched a rare four-day promotion in China this week, cutting prices on its flagship models to boost sales

Apple's China challenge deepens as foreign sales slump

Shipments to China of foreign-branded smartphones, including Apple's iPhone, fell by 47.4% in November from a year earlier, according to data released today from a government-affiliated research firm.

Business • 03 Jan

John Moran, the new directly elected mayor of Limerick

New Limerick Mayor asked for €2 billion of Apple funds

The new directly elected mayor of Limerick asked Taoiseach Simon Harris that €2 billion of the Apple tax fund be given directly to the city and county.

Business • 30 Dec 24

It was also a year that saw more advances in artificial intelligence (AI) alongside efforts to introduce new rules to regulate the technology

Apple tax ruling among biggest tech stories of 2024

One of the biggest tech stories of the year was the Apple tax ruling which saw the company being ordered to pay Ireland €14 billion.

2024 in Review • 30 Dec 24