iPhones Three-Year Transformation Roadmap - DTNSB 5084

Spotify is set to receive regular rate increases along with feature upgrades to soften the blow, and the US government now owns a nearly 10% stake in Intel.

Starring Jason Howell and Robb Dunewood.

JASON: This is the Daily Tech News for Monday, August 25, 2025. We tell you what you need to know, follow up on the context of those stories and help each other understand.

ROBB: Today, we’ve got details on the iPhone’s three-year roadmap towards reinvention, and more price increases coming soon to Spotify.

I’m Jason Howell,

I’m Robb Dunewood

JASON: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.

BIG STORY

Apple to Kick Off Three-Year Plan to Reinvent Its Iconic iPhone

JASON: Apple's big hardware event is expected next month; no official announcement of the date of the event has been released yet. That never stops Bloomberg's Mark Gurman from shedding light on what to expect at the event, and over the course of the next three years, even. It sounds like big changes are afoot.

First, the notable highlight is the iPhone Air making its debut at the event next month, according to Gurman. It's a thinner, lighter model that is intended to replace the iPhone 16 Plus. It follows the strategy that Apple has employed with its MacBook Air lineup by compromising on certain aspects, like reduced battery life, a single rear camera, and no physical SIM port.

DISCUSS

ROBB: In 2026, Apple's long-awaited foldable is expected to drop, code-named V68. It is expected to resemble Samsung's book-style Z Fold line with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen, four cameras, Touch ID in place of Face ID, and Apple's in-house C2 modem chip. Apple is also working to reduce the interior display crease with in-cell touch technology that could eliminate it completely.

DISCUSS

JASON: Finally, in 2027, Apple plans to celebrate the iPhone's 20th birthday with the iPhone 20. It's expected to debut with a curved-glass design, a major departure from the company's traditional squared-off look that has been around for many years.

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JASON: There’s more we need to know today, let’s get to the briefs.

BRIEFS

Perplexity to Let Publishers Share in Revenue from AI Searches
Perplexity AI is launching a program to let publishers earn a share of revenue when their content is accessed through its AI assistant, including its Comet browser. The company has set aside $42.5 million for the program, with publishers set to receive 80% of the revenue of a $5 per month subscription plan called Comet Plus. This is in response to legal action from media outlets and criticism online that AI search tools like Comet are damaging publisher traffic and income.

US Takes Nearly 10% Intel Stake, Clinching Unorthodox Deal
The US government is taking a nearly 10% stake in Intel in exchange for $8.87 billion using funding from the Chips and Science Act. The government gains 433 million non-voting Intel shares as a result and does not get a seat on the board. The deal uses that grant money as payment for the stake, which many see as a major departure from policies of the past. Critics argue that this could bring with it broad regulatory issues and a distortion of market dynamics. The US administration has signaled its desire to strike similar deals with other companies in the future as it works to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the country.

Netflix Sets Opening Dates for Permanent Entertainment and Shopping Venues in Philadelphia, Dallas
Netflix will open a Netflix House in Philadelphia on November 12 and in Dallas on December 11 this year. Each 100,000 square foot location will feature immersive experiences, games, food, merchandise, and attractions themed after some of the company's most notable franchises. Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday are a few that have been named. Netflix plans to refresh the experiences frequently to keep visitors coming back for virtual reality, mini-golf, dining, and shopping. A third location in Las Vegas is expected to open in 2027.

Nvidia’s new ‘robot brain’ goes on sale for $3,499 as company targets robotics for growth
Nvidia's Jetson AGX Thor, a new robotics "robot brain" chip module, is now on sale as a developer kit for $3,499, shipping next month. The chip is powered by Nvidia's Blackwell GPU and has 128GB of memory, making it 7.5 times faster than the one before it. Developers can use the kit to prototype robots, a major growth area for the company outside of AI. The Jetson AGX Thor lets robots run advanced generative AI models, understand and interpret the world, and perform complex tasks from that input. Amazon, Meta, and Boston Dynamics are already using the Jetson tech.

Spotify signals further price rises as it rolls out new services
Spotify plans to raise subscription prices regularly as it adds new features on its way to 1 billion users. CEO Alex Norström calls the price hikes "part of our toolbox" after keeping prices relatively stable for a number of years. Premium fees are set to increase starting next month across several international markets, with individual plans jumping from $13 to $14 per month in some regions. Spotify is also rolling out new features to help with the increase, including more playlist tools, improved transitions between songs, and expanded podcast and audiobook features.

Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple and OpenAI over AI competition, App Store rankings
Elon Musk's xAI startup has sued Apple and OpenAI in Texas federal court on accusations that they illegally colluded to suppress competition in AI. The lawsuit claims Apple's exclusivity deal to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT into iPhones unfairly favors OpenAI and blocks rivals like xAI's Grok chatbot for broadened visibility and high rankings in the App Store. Musk has spoken out in the past about his belief that Apple unfairly pushes OpenAI to the top of app store rankings, a move that he believes creates an illegal monopoly that harms consumers by limiting their awareness and access to alternative AI options. OpenAI has responded, calling the lawsuit a continuation of Musk's "pattern of harassment." Apple has defended its App Store as fair and unbiased.

Bluesky blocks Mississippi under new age verification law
Bluesky has blocked access to its platform from users in Mississippi in response to the state's new law requiring all social media users to verify their age as well as obtain parental consent for minors. The law took effect after the Supreme Court declined to block it despite ongoing legal challenges. Bluesky worries that the law harms smaller platforms while favoring larger tech companies with deep pockets and stifles innovation throughout the industry. Bluesky plans to block access in the state until courts resolve the issues.

ROBB: What do YOU want to hear us talk about on the show? One way to let us know is in our subreddit. Submit stories and vote on them at www.reddit.com/r/DailyTechNewsShow/

HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND

JASON: We end every episode of DTNS with some shared wisdom. Today Andrew has a question following up on the special episode we did about Robb’s “Second Brain.”

ROBB: Andrew writes:
I heard you talk about the second Brain book on SMR previously, and I've really appreciated the in depth look at how you work on the two interviews with Tom.

Did you ever work out a good system for doing Second Brain things while you were still corporate? Managing multiple calendars/emails/knowledge repositories has always been a bear. I know you said you mostly got into this around the time you left the corporate world, but I'm curious if there was any overlap that gave you insight.

Thanks,
Andrew from Colorado

JASON: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com

JASON: Thanks to Andrew for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron, at Patreon.com/dtns