Tech giant Apple chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones, or as many as 1.5 million, to the United States from India, after it stepped up production there in an effort to beat President Donald Trump’s tariffs, sources told Reuters. The details of the push provide an insight into the U.S. smartphone company’s private strategy to navigate around the Trump tariffs and build up inventory of its popular iPhones in the United States, one of its biggest markets. Analysts have warned that U.S. prices of iPhones could surge, given Apple’s high reliance on imports from China, the main manufacturing hub of the devices, which is subject to Trump’s highest tariff rate of 125%. That figure is far in excess of the tariff of 26% on imports from India, but which is now on hold after Trump called a 90-day pause this week that excludes China. Apple “wanted to beat the tariff,” said one of the sources familiar with the planning. The company lobbied Indian airport authorities to cut to six hours the time needed to clear customs at the Chennai airport in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, down from 30 hours, the source added. The so-called “green corridor” arrangement at the airport in the Indian manufacturing hub emulated a model Apple uses at some airports in China, the source said. About six cargo jets with a capacity of 100 tons each have flown out since March, one of them this week just as new tariffs kicked in, the source and an Indian government official said. The packaged weight of an iPhone 14 and its charging cable come to about 350 grams (12.35 oz), Reuters measurements show, implying the total cargo of 600 tons comprised about 1.5 million iPhones, after accounting for some packaging weight. Apple and India’s aviation ministry did not respond to a request for comment. All the sources sought anonymity as the strategy and discussions were private. Apple sells more than 220 million iPhones a year worldwide, with Counterpoint Research estimating a fifth of total iPhone imports to the United States now come from India, and the rest from China. Trump consistently increased U.S. tariffs on China, to stand at 125% by Wednesday, from 54% earlier. At the 54% tariff rate, the $1,599 cost of the top-end iPhone 16 Pro Max in the United States would have surged to $2,300, calculations based on projections by Rosenblatt Securities show. SUNDAY SHIFTS In India, Apple stepped up air shipments to meet its goal of a 20% increase in usual production at iPhone plants, attained by adding workers, and temporarily extending operations at the biggest Foxconn India factory to Sundays, the source added. Two other direct sources confirmed the Foxconn plant in Chennai now runs on Sundays, which is typically a holiday. The plant turned out 20 million iPhones last year, including the latest iPhone 15 and 16 models. As Apple diversifies its manufacturing beyond China, it has positioned India for a critical role. Foxconn and Tata, its two main suppliers there, have three factories in all, with two more being built. Apple spent about eight months to plan and set up the expedited customs clearance in Chennai, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government asked officials to support Apple, one senior Indian official said. Foxconn shipments from India to the United States surged in value to $770 million in January and $643 million in February, compared to the range of $110 million to $331 million in the prior four months, commercially available customs data shows. More than 85% of the January and February air shipments of Foxconn were offloaded in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Foxconn did not respond to Reuters’ queries. —Aditya Kalra, Abhijith Ganapavaram and Munsif Vengattil, Reuters

Magnetic hooks are supremely handy, but not all of them are created alike. Minnesota-based manufacturer Gator Magnetics, whose hooks can hold up to 45 pounds, points out why:Traditional magnets have North and South poles on opposite sides of the magnet, creating a large looping magnetic field that loses energy and is inefficient.We design and program patterns of north and south poles called "MAXELS", (mash-up of "magnets" and "pixels"), on one surface of each neodymium magnet, creating short magnetic fields that interact, engage, and adhere with incredible load capacities to thin and thick steel surfaces.The company has also freed the user from the worst part of using super-strong magnets: Trying to prise them off when you need to reposition or remove them. Their Easy-Release Lever System mechanically disrupts the magnetic field when you flip it up, shifting the magnets away from the surface they're sticking to by just a millimeter or two. This is enough to make the magnet easy to remove.You can peruse the company's line of hooks and baskets here.

Nintendo Switch 2 is making all the news since its unveiling last week. After a lull of more than five years, Nintendo wanted to give the most popular gaming handheld a good dose of upgrades to entice existing Switch users, as well as new gamers. The highly anticipated console will be coming out on June 5 (unless US tariffs mess plans and the price too), and along comes an assortment of accessories for the gaming handheld. Already, a couple have been announced – the Genki’s Switch 2 cases and the Piranha Plant Camera that bring unique functionality and uses for the handheld. Now, Nintendo has officially announced the GameCube controller for Switch 2 that looks eerily similar to the original one released in 2001. The classic wireless controller will arrive alongside the Switch 2, so that’s exciting news for Nintendo fans. This controller will only be compatible with GameCube and Nintendo Classics, so don’t expect to play Hades 2 or Mario Kart World with this controller. The only thing we can expect is that the existing GameCube adapters should work with the new GameCube controller. Designer: Nintendo The nostalgic element of this game controller is real, but when it comes to functionality, it is limited to just a handful of titles accessible via the Switch Online + Expansion library. This would deter gamers who want to test the capabilities of the Switch 2 with the newer, more graphics and resource-intensive titles. That said, Nintendo will bring USB-C charging and Bluetooth connectivity to the GameCube controller. Added to the mix will be some extra buttons, including the newer C button that activates the GameChat features. There will be Home, Screenshot and ZL buttons for players who are content with the classic titles that this old school boy can play. The GameCube controller will be available only to Switch Online subscribers, exclusively through Nintendo online stores. This to prevent scalping and black marketing of the controller bought by scalpers who want to make easy profits by selling the accessory at inflated prices in markets where the controller will be less accessible. Nintendo is creating this retro-modern controller to keep their retro credentials strongly intact, and in the memories of gamers. For a game fan, this means the impulsive urge to go and buy this accessory will be a lingering compulsion, even though you might have the other Nintendo controllers in possession. The price of the GameCube controller is still unknown, and we hope it doesn’t get affected by President Trump’s tariff threats that are looming large on the world. On a positive note, the original wired GameCube controller Adapter, compatible with the Wii U and Switch, works with the Switch 2. That means you can play the newer Switch 2 games on your TV with the old controller. The post Nintendo announces Switch 2 GameCube controller that’ll play only classic titles, so why buy it? first appeared on Yanko Design.

The calm and grounding aesthetic in the Eucalyptus Apartment, designed by Bodes Studio, feels effortlessly elegant. This apartment in Paris is the type that invites you in and relaxes you. The use of creamy tones, soft pinks, natural woods, and subtle gold accents feel luxurious but in an understated way. From the cozy kids’ room to the sculptural lighting and tactile materials, every corner feels quite like a breath of fresh air. Just like its namesake, eucalyptus.  The living room and kitchen stick to an open floor plan. The sectional sofa takes center stage in the living room. It is upholstered in a warm beige fabric, and is layered with textured throws and moss-toned cushions. These echo the apartment’s organic essence. A woven jute rug and sculptural brass table, in a stunning gold finish, adds visual warmth. There are built-in wall panels and soft backlighting adding depth.  Across from the sofa, a minimalist TV wall features oak cladding and a low-profile olive-toned console. Thoughtfully placed lighting—both overhead and ambient—keeps the mood cozy from day to night. The same aesthetic flows naturally into the kitchen, especially with the marble-effect porcelain tiles and fluted cabinetry. A generous island with waterfall-edge stone serves as both prep space and casual dining zone. This is accented by sculptural brass pendant lights that bring just the right touch of glam. The cabinetry is sleek and handleless, while the mixed materials—wood grain, textured white tile, and brass fixtures—create a beautifully layered look. At the center of the bedroom is a plush and low-profile bed placed over a dark wooden platform. This is strategically lit with ambient lighting. The textured headboard is upholstered in neutral fabrics, with the corner offering a small spot to place decorative items. Above, sheer curtains filter the natural light, allowing the room to stay bright yet soothing throughout the day. A special mention for the mirror-front cabinetry, adding a spacious touch to the room. An olive green workspace is separated with a wooden partition. The kids’ room brings a gentle dose of playfulness while staying true to the home’s organic aesthetic. Blush pink walls and natural wood tones set a soothing backdrop, while soft furnishings—like a round rug and plush floor cushions—invite little ones to relax, read, or play. Simultaneously, a petite desk and chair offer a space for creativity to flow, while delicate wall art adds a whimsical touch. The bathroom in the Eucalyptus Apartment is a quiet study in modern simplicity. Clad in soft stone-look tiles and matte finishes, it exudes a spa-like calm. A floating vanity in warm wood adds an organic touch. The frameless mirror and underlit cabinet keep the look sleek and refined.

Black Butterfly is a thing of beauty.

A new HDMI spec is coming, but don’t worry about replacing your home theater.

With tariffs threatening to drive up the costs of most things, the new entry-level phones from Apple and Google present a timely opportunity to save some bucks.

Macworld After a volatile week for Apple’s stock punctuated by a respite Wednesday following the announcement that President Trump was pausing tariffs on dozens of countries, there’s some potential good news for the iPhone maker. While punishing tariffs of 125 percent remain on imports from China, Apple could receive a much-needed exemption based on a vague but promising comment from President Trump in a press conference Wednesday. Apple has been hit harder than most by the situation because its supply chain is so dependent on Chinese manufacturing. We’ve written extensively about how Apple can handle the tariffs without raising prices too much, but the company’s options are less than ideal due to its size and scale. However, the ever-changing situation may ultimately work out in Apple’s favor after the president has indicated that extreme cases may be given special treatment. As spotted by AppleInsider, Trump responded to a question about tariff exemptions, which he had previously denied would happen, by hinting at a less hardline and more vibes-based approach. “Would you consider exempting some US companies,” asked a journalist, “maybe some larger companies who have been hit hard in the markets the last few days, during [the 90-day pause]?” “As time goes by, we’re going to take a look at it,” Trump replied. “There are some that have been hard… There are some that by the nature of the company get hit a little bit harder, and we’ll take a look at that.” “How will you determine [inaudible]?” “Just… instinctively, more than anything else. I mean, you almost can’t take a pencil to paper. It’s really more of an instinct I think, than anything else.” Apple has made efforts to conciliate the president since his second electoral victory, including a million-dollar personal donation by Tim Cook to the inauguration fund, so Apple should be in a good position to win concessions. Perhaps those million dollars were well spent after all.

Atlassian has decided that — like employees — apps work better together in teams than as standalone products. The company is creating “collections” of integrated apps designed to make business processes, collaboration, analysis and execution more efficient. Specifically, it unveiled two collections at this week’s Team 25 show in Anaheim, CA — and more collections are coming, Atlassian executives said. The first collection, called “Strategy,” allows leadership teams to get a bird’s-eye view of product portfolios, align strategy, track execution, and manage talent and assignments. The second — “Teamwork” — integrates a set of apps to improve employee productivity and communication. The company also plans to release a “Software” collection for software teams, and a “Services” collection for services teams. Atlassian’s generative AI-based search and discovery platform Rovo works across all the collections. Tech-driven organizations are under pressure to deliver value even faster, Sanchan Saxena, head of product for work management at Atlassian, said in a video briefing. About the company’s plans, “Teams need to collaborate within a shared system of work to move quickly in the same direction,” he said. That can be done by moving standalone products into a set of integrated apps, Saxena said. The “Strategy” collection includes the Focus, Talent, and Jira Align apps; the company refers to this grouping as Align in the collection. Generative AI (genAI) agents in the collection “help inform and assist knowledge workers and executives as they’re making decisions that impact their strategy and execution,” said Matt Schvimmer, head of product for agile and DevOps at Atlassian. The Align grouping focuses on planning and execution, and the Focus collection defines that strategy, ties it to objectives and key results, and “understands how the work is being delivered over time and is it supporting those goals,” Schvimmer said. The Talent app grouping assigns employees to the right work and makes sure they are performing as expected. Executives “make better, more informed strategic decisions that are based on real-time information as opposed to information that’s been aggregated and correlated across various systems,” Schvimmer said. The Teamwork collection includes Jira, Confluence, Loom, plug-ins such as Slack and Rovo Teamwork Agents. The interconnectedness of all the apps helps teams share ideas, communicate and get work done, Saxena said. Jira helps teams plan and track work. Confluence is a teamwork space for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Loom enables video communication for team members. Confluence, which focuses on creating and sharing knowledge with team members, has two new features. The “brainstorm facilitator” agent can take new or proposed data from the whiteboard and modify existing plans — such as marketing — based on the new data. It can also work with team members to refine plans. Without genAI tools, that needed to be done manually, Saxena said. And a new diagram creator tool can take brainstormed ideas and turn them into a process flow diagram. Confluence can also carry summaries of meetings via Loom. The company also announced the Rovo Studio App, which is “a single place where customers can create agents, automations, assets, hubs, and other building tools that are accelerated through AI,” said Jamil Valliani, head of product for AI at Atlassian.

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How AI can help supercharge creativity Existing generative tools can automate a striking range of creative tasks and offer near-instant gratification—but at what cost? Some artists and researchers fear that such technology could turn us into passive consumers of yet more AI slop.And so they are looking for ways to inject human creativity back into the process: working on what’s known as co-­creativity or more-than-human creativity. The idea is that AI can be used to inspire or critique creative projects, helping people make things that they would not have made by themselves.The aim is to develop AI tools that augment our creativity rather than strip it from us—pushing us to be better at composing music, developing games, designing toys, and much more—and lay the groundwork for a future in which humans and machines create things together.Ultimately, generative models could offer artists and designers a whole new medium, pushing them to make things that couldn’t have been made before, and give everyone creative superpowers. Read the full story. —Will Douglas Heaven This story is from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about creativity. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands! Tariffs are bad news for batteries Since Donald Trump announced his plans for sweeping tariffs last week, the vibes have been, in a word, chaotic. Markets have seen one of the quickest drops in the last century, and it’s widely anticipated that the global economic order may be forever changed.   These tariffs could be particularly rough on the battery industry. China dominates the entire supply chain and is subject to monster tariff rates, and even US battery makers won’t escape the effects. Read the full story. —Casey Crownhart This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump has announced a 90-day tariff pause for some countries He’s decided that all the countries that didn’t retaliate against the severe tariffs would receive a reprieve. (The Guardian)+ China, however, is now subject to a whopping 125% tariff. (CNBC)+ Chinese sellers on Amazon are preparing to hike their prices in response. (Reuters)+ Trump’s advisors have claimed the pivot was always part of the plan. (Vox)2 DOGE has fired driverless car safety assessorsMany of whom were in charge of regulating Tesla, among other companies. (FT $)+ The department is being audited by the Government Accountability Office. (Wired $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It’s complex. (MIT Technology Review) 3 The cost of a US-made iPhone could rise by 90%Bank of America has crunched the numbers. (Bloomberg $)+ Even so, an American-made iPhone could be inferior quality. (WSJ $)+ Apple has chartered 600 tons of iPhones to India. (Reuters) 4 The EU wants to build its own AI gigafactoriesIn a bid to catch up with the US and China. (WSJ $) 5 Amazon was forced to cancel its satellite internet launchA rocket carrying a few thousands satellites was unable to take off due to bad weather. (NYT $) 6 America’s air quality is likely to get worseThe Trump administration is rolling back the environmental rules that helped lower air pollution. (The Atlantic $)+ The world’s next big environmental problem could come from space. (MIT Technology Review) 7 Spammers exploited OpenAI’s tech to blast customized spamThe unwanted messages were distributed over four months. (Ars Technica) 8 Chinese social media is filled with memes mocking Trump’s tariffsFeaturing finance bros and JD Vance unhappily laboring in factories. (Insider $) 9 Do you have a Fortnite accent?Players of the popular game tend to speak in a highly specific way. (Wired $) 10 An em dash is not a giveaway something has been written by AIHumans use it too—and love it. (WP $)+ Not all AI-generated writing is bad. (New Yorker $)+ AI-text detection tools are really easy to fool. (MIT Technology Review) Quote of the day “Entering a group chat is like leaving your front door unlocked and letting strangers wander in.” —Author LM Chilton reflects on the innate dangers of trusting that what you say in a group chat stays in the group chat to Wired. The big story Digital twins of human organs are here. They’re set to transform medical treatment. Steven Niederer, a biomedical engineer at the Alan Turing Institute and Imperial College London, has a cardboard box filled with 3D-printed hearts. Each of them is modeled on the real heart of a person with heart failure, but Niederer is more interested in creating detailed replicas of people’s hearts using computers.These “digital twins” are the same size and shape as the real thing. They work in the same way. But they exist only virtually. Scientists can do virtual surgery on these virtual hearts, figuring out the best course of action for a patient’s condition.After decades of research, models like these are now entering clinical trials and starting to be used for patient care. The eventual goal is to create digital versions of our bodies—computer copies that could help researchers and doctors figure out our risk of developing various diseases and determine which treatments might work best.But the budding technology will need to be developed very carefully. Read the full story to learn why. —Jessica Hamzelou We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet ’em at me.) + Good news pop fans: Madonna and Elton John have ended their decades-long feud.+ It’s time to take a trip to all 15 of these top restaurants across the world.+ These tales of cross-generational friendships are truly heartwarming.+ I’d love to know the secret behind America’s mystery mounds.