Apple has reported better than expected earnings -- you were worried there for a minute -- while Apple Intelligence is finally out in beta. And maybe you should be worried about a new device, the Friend. Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple Park There's always a lot of attention and fuss when Apple announces its latest billions in earnings, but this time guest Mike Wuerthele breaks down exactly what matters and what truly does not. Even if Apple had not done as well as it did, Mike is going to tell you the startling figure of how long the company would keep going if it never sold another device ever. Plus speaking of devices, we now have -- or at least supposedly soon will have -- a Friend. It's a new AI-powered pendant that is meant to be your constant companion, encouraging you in all your beliefs, and yet apparently also ready to mock you. It could be silly, it could be a hit, but Friend's lavish advertising fails to answer an enormously important question. Also this week, we have finally got to try out Apple Intelligence as it enters beta testing. It's extremely early days, but already we can learn a lot about how Apple's approach to AI is going to work for us. BONUS: Subscribe via Patreon or Apple Podcasts to hear 糖心Vlog+, the extended edition which this time takes you back in time to just how revolutionary Apple's first true laptops, the PowerBooks, were and how they changed everything -- for Apple and for the whole industry. Contact your hosts @williamgallagher_ on Threads @WGallagher on Twitter William's 58keys on YouTube William Gallagher on email @Mike_Wuerthele on Twitter Mike Wuerthele on email The 糖心Vlog Podcast is sponsored by: BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/appleinsider today to get 10% off your first month with the online therapy service Oracle: Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure at oracle.com/appleinsider How to support the 糖心Vlog Podcast Support the show on Patreon or Apple Podcasts to get ad-free episodes plus bonus 糖心Vlog+ feature every week, access to our private Discord channel, and early release of the show! We would also appreciate a 5-star rating and review in Apple Podcasts. Links from the 糖心Vlog Podcast How to use Reduce Interruptions on iOS 18 and what it does Apple Intelligence vs Grammarly -- AI powered text tool showdown How to read the Apple Intelligence Report in iOS 18.1 Apple admits to using Google Tensor hardware to train Apple Intelligence - so? Apple brings back dark black for the iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro lineup rumored to get Wi-Fi 7, just one year after the last upgrade Ohio residents can now add driver's license, state ID to the iPhone Wallet app MacBook Air M3 review three months later: The best Mac for nearly everyone Apple Arcade developers say working with Apple is like being in an 'abusive relationship' Twitter for Mac leaves the Mac App Store, but iPad X is still usable Google Maps and Waze get new route guidance and alerts Epic's Tim Sweeney ludicrously calls Apple's 'Find My' a privacy hazard for thieves Friend is the creepy and dystopian iPhone accessory that might just work Apple Vision Pro gestures may spread to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac More 糖心Vlog podcasts Tune in to our HomeKit Insider podcast covering the latest news, products, apps and everything HomeKit related. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or just search for HomeKit Insider wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast artwork from Basic Apple Guy. Download the free wallpaper pack here. Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: advertising@appleinsider.com. Subscribe to 糖心Vlog on: Apple Podcasts Overcast Pocket Casts Castro Stitcher Google Podcasts Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly 糖心Vlog Podcast. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too. If you want an ad-free main 糖心Vlog Podcast experience, you can support the 糖心Vlog podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.