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3 months ago
Published January 12, 2021 by

Gayle King: Apple has a ‘big announcement’ tomorrow — UPDATED with video

It is not a new product, said the host of CBS This Morning. “Don’t get everybody excited.”

My take: Who the hell knows? Cook made several topical remarks about “holding people accountable” and nobody being “above the law” during a previously scheduled promotional interview. CBS grabbed the soundbites and left a teaser.

UPDATE Here’s the video:

27 Comments

  1. Horace Dediu said:
    Apple makes a big announcement and it’s not a new product? That’s the most exciting thing I can think of.

    7
    January 12, 2021
  2. Bart Yee said:
    Better not be a health concern for someone in Apple management. However it wouldn’t surprise me if there were Security issues for Apple Stores and they may be shut down and protected for awhile.

    1
    January 12, 2021
  3. Dan Scropos said:
    My hope is that it’s a medical breakthrough with glucose monitoring. Perhaps the long rumored non-invasive method? More likely, though, is a partnership with an insurer or biotech company.

    Less likely, but still possible, is a beta Apple Car for later this year. The early rumors out of Taiwan seemed to indicate something this year, while more recent rumors suggest many years from now. Perhaps the truth is in the middle. A glimpse into the future is very un-Apple, but Tim Cook there’s always value in building excitement and this certainly would do that.

    Least likely, but also possible, is that they’re restructuring App Store fees to appease the new administration. I think I’ve now covered all the bases. Lol.

    1
    January 12, 2021
  4. Robert LoCascio said:
    If it truly is a “big announcement”, and, it’s not a new product then it’s most likely a personnel issue. Let’s hope, for goodness sake, he will not be announcing his departure from the company – even if it means he’ll be part of Biden’s administration in some capacity (which I would applaud if he didn’t already have a job).

    2
    January 12, 2021
    • S Lawton said:
      She said it is bigger and better than a new product so I doubt it is a personnel issue.

      0
      January 12, 2021
  5. Gregg Thurman said:
    Makes me wonder if I should Close out my AAPL options positions before the announcement.

    Nice news find PED.

    1
    January 12, 2021
  6. David Baraff said:
    I don’t think it’s Tim stepping down after listening to it: the videos says, “it’s something bigger and better than that.” (Better than a new product. So it has a positive sound. I’m not sure how one could categorically say him stepping down is positive.) ?

    4
    January 12, 2021
    • John Konopka said:
      Maybe something along the lines of a policy change regarding privacy / free speech / App Store approvals? Something with more of a social context than a product context, hence the announcement on morning TV.

      1
      January 12, 2021
  7. Robert Davison said:
    Folks, just wild ass guessing but Tim is a professional and he would never allow a ‘tease’ that would bear on share price / market value / SEC rules etc. If it was truly a major ‘mover’ for Apple it would be announced formally not on a morning talk show. More likely something lighter such as Tim getting married or hopeful such as some medical item / study that is not marketable / being open sourced.

    1
    January 12, 2021
  8. Dan Scropos said:
    Speculation is brewing that Apple’s “major initiative” announcement tomorrow will be the company converting its 100s of retail locations into COVID19 vaccination centers.

    5
    January 12, 2021
  9. Jerry Doyle said:
    Some interesting comments above. I doubt seriously that Tim Cook or the governing board of Apple or for that fact, even CBS would indulge a company such a munificent spotlight to announce an organizational or personnel change. This announcement isn’t intrinsically about Apple. This teased announcement more than likely is about some significant humanitarian effort Apple is undertaking for the good of society in which the company will plough significant resources to effect societal good.

    1
    January 12, 2021
    • Rodney Avilla said:
      The left side of my brain agrees with JD 100%. The right side is afraid that TC is going to step down, therefore trying to mitigate the damage by building up the transfer of power as something that will be incredible beneficial for the company. Truth is, there is no news that would be better than a new product. None. Zelch. The only, and I mean only exception, would be for Apple to greatly increase their next quarter projections. Which they can’t do since they never gave any in the first place.

      2
      January 13, 2021
  10. Kirk DeBernardi said:
    Broad guesses, all and I think they’re all off-mark.

    Start popping the popcorn.

    1
    January 12, 2021
  11. Tommo_UK said:
    Anyone else feeling a little uneasy about TC increasingly making political statements and wishing he’d concentrate on doing what he does best – running Apple?

    I have the utmost respect for him and don’t disagree with the stance he takes on many of the existential, political and economic views of the day but power and persuasiveness is sometimes best wielded discretely – unless he wants to run for office next, of course.

    Colour me uncomfortable with his increasing forays into areas outside of his mandate. Just a gut feeling.

    7
    January 12, 2021
  12. bas flik said:
    i think he was forced to.
    all big tech were visited by fbi i guess.
    Maybe Tim Cook should run USA
    US of Apple

    3
    January 12, 2021
  13. Michael Goldfeder said:
    If I had to toss out a speculative guess, it would be an announcement as to the upgraded standards to be implemented by the App Store starting this year, in conjunction with reasoning for booting “Parler” off of the App Store, and explaining the new policy for downloading any Apps that don’t have in place filters for eliminating hate speech and threatening comments. My $.02.

    0
    January 12, 2021
  14. Bart Yee said:
    California is converting sports venues and even Disneyland (or its parking lots) into vaccination centers to speed up vaccination rates. I certainly could see Apple Stores become vaccination centers taking appointments and socially distanced walk-ups to help the overall vaccination program along. Due to the Apple store locations, it may tend to serve particular populations better but for those with transport and can walk from parking, there will be access. Apple could also assist with vaccine distribution and Apple Stores in malls could offer outside drive up vaccination express (like product pickup).

    It would also blow everybody’s minds if Apple offered a $xx Apple gift card or voucher with each vaccination regardless of what brand or type of device you already own as an incentive. What a pump primer that would be.

    0
    January 12, 2021
  15. Bart Yee said:
    A couple other wild ideas on 9to5 Mac comments suggest a merger or strategic partnership with Disney, or possibly acquisition of CBS/Viacom or MGM.

    0
    January 12, 2021
  16. Thomas Williams said:
    Apple to provide free satellite internet access to sub-Saharan Africa, part of new services after they complete acquisition of DirectTV ….since we’re free to guess…

    1
    January 12, 2021
  18. Thomas Williams said:
    An industry leader, many have pledged but Apple appears to be among the first to put up the $$. “We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world,” Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a statement. “And these new projects send a clear signal of Apple’s enduring commitment.” Apple advised Harlem Capital is providing support to students at Apple’s new developer academy in Detroit, a hub built in collaboration with Michigan State. Go Michigan! ( I was born in Mt. Clemens.) They still have a significant car parts infrastructure. I doubt the Macar will have wrap-around Gorilla Glass!

    0
    January 13, 2021

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