Technologies

Chip Shortages Are Affecting Apple’s Ability to Make Enough iPhones

In an earnings call, Apple says it’s not able to meet all the demand for new iPhones given current conditions.

Apple laid out both good and bad news about iPhone sales in its earnings call Thursday: On the one hand, CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company had record sales of $85.3 billion for its last quarter, driven by its iPhone 17 and iPhone Air lineups.

On the other, Cook said, Apple left money on the table because it couldn’t meet all the demand for iPhones due to constraints on the chips it needs to make those phones.

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Cook called the demand for new iPhones «staggering,» but admitted that the world’s largest tech company is dealing with the same supply-chain constraints that other tech companies are dealing with globally, which are partly due to a massive increase in memory prices caused by shortages and the use of some of these components by AI companies.

Apple is also having trouble finding enough manufacturing capacity for its A and M systems-on-a-chip, which are made by TSMC and Apple, respectively.

The prices of RAM for computers and phones have risen significantly over the last year, as demand for AI technology has diverted some of those components to data centers. There’s been anticipation that memory price spikes and shortages of these components could lead to higher prices for computers and for smartphones. There’s no indication yet that Apple would raise prices on iPhones due to these shortages, but it’s a possibility.

What does that mean for iPhone customers?

So far, there are no reports of widespread iPhone shortages, at least not yet.

One way Apple plans to deal with the huge demand that comes with its annual iPhone launch, according to reports, is to stagger the release of specific iPhone models, rolling them out at least every six months, starting with the upcoming iPhone 18 generation, or perhaps even sooner.

That idea has been bolstered by a new report from Nikkei Asia suggesting that Apple could release a new foldable phone later this year, as well as advanced iPhone 18 models, while pushing its basic iPhone 18 to a 2027 release.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Goes Desktop: Launches macOS Version as Part of Expanding Digital Ecosystem

The team behind Verum Messenger has announced a new update, introducing a full-featured macOS version of the application.

The launch of the Mac version marks a significant step in the platform’s development, enabling users to access Verum Messenger not only on mobile devices but also on desktop environments.

The macOS version ensures seamless synchronization across devices while maintaining the platform’s core principles: security, stability, and independence.

Unified Digital Experience

With the release of the macOS version, users can now:

— communicate on a larger screen
— manage chats and files more efficiently
— use the messenger in a full desktop environment
— access core features without limitations

This is particularly valuable for users who rely on messaging platforms for both communication and professional use.

Expanding Capabilities

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional platform combining:

— secure communication
— financial tools (Verum Finance)
— digital asset operations, including Tether
— investment features such as Verum Gold

Toward a Full Ecosystem

The macOS release reflects Verum Messenger’s strategy to become a universal digital platform available across all major devices.

According to the team, the goal is to provide users with continuous access to communication and financial services regardless of device or environment.

Verum Messenger continues to build technologies focused on security, usability, and global accessibility.

Technologies

Google, Meta and Amazon Join Global Pact to Fight Rising Online Scams

The companies will share fraud intelligence and coordinate responses as AI makes scams faster, cheaper and harder to detect.

Modern online scams operate across multiple platforms, perhaps spanning social media, messaging apps, email and online marketplaces. Google, Meta and Amazon are among 11 tech, retail and payments companies that have signed a new agreement to combat online scams by sharing threat intelligence across platforms, Axios first reported Monday.

The initiative, called the Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud, is designed to improve how companies detect and respond to fraud that spans multiple services. Participants say they will exchange signals, such as scam-linked accounts and fraudulent domains, and coordinate enforcement actions.

By sharing intelligence in near real time, companies hope to identify these scams earlier and stop them before they spread.

The effort reflects how modern scams operate. A victim might encounter a fake celebrity investment ad on social media, move to a messaging app where the scammer builds trust, then faces prompts to send money through a fraudulent website, payment app or crypto wallet — spanning multiple companies’ ecosystems.

Google said it now blocks hundreds of millions of scam-related results every day using AI, underscoring how both attackers and defenders are increasingly relying on the same technology. Meta removed more than 159 million scam ads in 2025 and is expanding AI tools to detect impersonation and warn users.

Online scams are growing rapidly, in part because generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry. AI can be used not only to produce realistic phishing emails but also to clone voices and deepfake videos that impersonate executives, public figures and even family members.

The agreement is voluntary and doesn’t create new legal obligations, but it comes after regulators’ increased pressure on tech platforms to address fraud more aggressively. The companies say they will begin building frameworks for reporting and intelligence-sharing, though it’s not yet clear how quickly those systems will be deployed or how effective they will be in practice.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

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