Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: June 20, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Retail & Corporate Operations

Apple is permanently closing three U.S. retail locations today, a move that includes a previously unionized store. While the company confirmed these shutdowns earlier this month, the shift reflects a broader consolidation of its physical footprint across the country. In the enterprise sector, the company is also abandoning legacy mobile device management in favor of declarative management, a transition that shifts the standard for how IT departments handle large fleets of hardware.

Software & Market Strategy

CEO Tim Cook signaled that the company will begin raising hardware prices to offset the surging costs of memory and storage components, ending a period where Apple absorbed these expenses while competitors hiked consumer rates. This strategy coincides with a recent expansion of its software ecosystem, as Apple unveiled five new applications last week, four of which were introduced during WWDC 2026 to coincide with upcoming fall software updates.

Third-Party Ecosystem

The independent software market continues to iterate on the platform, with the developers behind Bear 2 releasing a new Markdown editor called Lettera, now available in public beta. This focus on specialized tools is mirrored in the podcasting space, where the launch of the Brink app provides users with a feature-rich alternative to native listening tools. Meanwhile, Meta is testing animated message bubbles within its WhatsApp Test Flight beta for iOS, introducing a toggle that allows users to disable the visual effects if they prefer a static interface.