2026-02-11 23:48:27
Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, which is a solid second-best price on this model.
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Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $599.00 ($50 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around February 16 for most of these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.
2026-02-11 23:39:33
On an earnings call on Tuesday, Japanese company Sharp announced that the planned sale of one of its LCD display factories to its majority owner Foxconn has fell through, according to Nikkei Asia. As a result, the report said Sharp plans to halt production at the facility in August, and this decision may temporarily impact Apple.
If production ceases at Sharp's so-called "K2" factory in Kameyama, Japan, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce said that short-term supply of oxide LCD display panels for some MacBook and iPad models "could face disruption."
Apple is known for having excellent supply chain management, so any potential impact on MacBook and iPad shipping estimates might be limited. TrendForce estimated that Apple's current orders only make up about 16% to 17% of the factory's overall utilization, and Apple still has around six months to prepare.
Sharp has decided to wind down the factory amid increased competition.
"The plant's competitive edge once stemmed from its industry-leading oxide backplane technology, serving as a benchmark for Apple's MacBook and iPad panels," said TrendForce. "However, increasing investments from Korean and Chinese panel makers in oxide capacity steadily eroded Sharp's technological advantage."
Foxconn had initially planned to continue LCD panel production at the factory, and add new production lines to build AI servers, according to Nikkei Asia. However, the report said Foxconn backed away due to "weak LCD prices."
Regardless, Apple is in the process of upgrading its products with OLED displays. All of the latest iPhone models are equipped with OLED displays, and the past two generations of iPad Pro models are too. Over the next one to two years, the iPad mini, iPad Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iMac are expected to receive OLED displays too.
2026-02-11 22:44:42
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged.
The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions.
Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of use." It offered Kuzu Explorer, a browser-based database that displayed datapoints as linked nodes. Apple had to inform the European Union of the acquisition owing to its significance, but there are few other details around it.
Apple already owns FileMaker, a cross-platform relational database app, via a subsidiary. It is unclear what Apple plans to use Kuzu's technology for.
2026-02-11 21:46:24
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and support for the old architecture has now ended.
As expected, the app is no longer working for some users.
Users who did not update the app by the February 10 deadline now see this message: "You're running an older version of Apple Home that is no longer supported. Update now to continue using the Home app with your Apple devices and other accessories."
"The members of your home will also need to update on their devices," the message adds.
Apple said users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart home in the app entirely. In addition, users who do not upgrade will miss out on newer features like robot vacuum cleaner support, and they will not receive important security fixes and performance improvements.
It is still possible to upgrade the app to restore functionality.
Apple explains how to upgrade the Home app on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac:
2026-02-11 21:31:38
OpenAI has updated its deep research feature in ChatGPT with a fullscreen document viewer that can be used to browse its AI-generated reports separately from the chat window.
The built-in tool includes a table of contents in a left-hand column that can be used to jump to specific parts of the document, while a right-hand column can still be expanded to show a list of citations.
The deep research mode has also picked up a couple of new options to help users focus research. From OpenAI's release notes:
We're introducing improvements to deep research in ChatGPT to help produce more accurate, credible reports with greater control. You can now focus research on specific websites and a larger collection of connected apps as trusted sources.Released last year, the deep research feature takes extra time to break a question into parts, then gathers and compares relevant information from the web, cross-checks claims, and synthesizes the findings into a better-supported, coherent answer.
A redesigned sidebar entry point and fullscreen report view make it easier to start, review, and manage research in one place. Create and edit a research plan before it begins, and track progress with the ability to adjust direction mid-run.
2026-02-11 21:07:09
Nearly one in four active smartphones worldwide are now iPhones, according to new data from Counterpoint Research.
The findings from Counterpoint's Smartphone Installed Base Tracker show that the global installed base of active smartphones grew 2% in 2025, driven primarily by lengthening replacement cycles and the continued circulation of second-life devices. Unlike shipment figures, which measure yearly sales, installed base data reflects the total number of devices currently in use, making it a key indicator of long-term platform choices.
Apple now leads the global active smartphone installed base with roughly one in four devices in use being an iPhone. The firm attributes this position to a combination of strong user loyalty, integrated services, and the broader Apple ecosystem.
The report also claims that Apple added more net new active smartphone devices in 2025 than the next seven leading smartphone manufacturers combined, reflecting the company's ability to attract and retain users even as global smartphone growth slows and hardware innovation becomes more incremental.
Samsung ranked second with approximately one-fifth of the global active smartphone installed base. Together, Apple and Samsung accounted for 44% of the global installed base in 2025.
The gap between Apple and Samsung as the two market leaders and the rest of the industry is widening. The two companies are the only smartphone manufacturers to surpass one billion active devices globally.
Other brands, including Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo, form a second tier with large but smaller installed bases built largely through midrange and upper-midrange devices. Notably, Transsion Group has grown its installed base through affordable devices targeted at price-sensitive markets in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. HONOR is the most recent brand to surpass 200 million active devices, while Motorola and realme are approaching that milestone.
Apple's vast base of installed devices is attributed to a number of additional trends that favor premium smartphones. For example, device replacement cycles have extended to nearly four years as hardware improvements become more incremental and device durability improves. Premium devices typically receive longer software support, maintain higher resale value, and remain in active use longer, often through to second owners. Repeat purchases are also likely.
The report added that differentiation is increasingly shifting toward software and ecosystem integration as hardware innovation slows. Features such as on-device artificial intelligence, camera software, productivity tools, and cross-device integration are said to be key value drivers that help build long-term loyalty and increase usage. See Counterpoint Research's full report for more information.
