Apple held its annual shareholders meeting today at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. While Tim Cook expressed excitement as he walked on stage, the meeting quickly saw some controversial topics brought up by a couple of shareholders. The meeting also included a vote on whether Apple’s board should be required to disclose ideological information about nominees. And we also got tease about a new iPad Pro functionality coming at some point from Craig Federighi.
CNET’s Ian Sherr noted that Tim Cook walked out on stage with the energy of a product launch: “I love this meeting because I get to see some of my old friends here that I only see maybe once a year.”
Apple’s general counsel, Kate Adams, then took over the business portion of the meeting. Some debate started over the idea of Apple needing “more conservatives on the board.”
Interesting debate going on among shareholders about ideological diversity on the board. Some argue that there needs to effectively be more conservatives on the board.
— Ian Sherr (@iansherr) March 1, 2019
Another shareholder said they didn’t approve of Apple donating $1 million to the Southern Poverty Law Center whose mission is “fighting hate, teaching tolerance, and seeking justice.”
Serious note. A shareholder just voiced disapproval of Apple’s $1 million donation to the @splcenter after Charlottesville saying “many people call them a hate group.”
There were hisses in the room. #AppleShareholderMeeting— Sean Montgomery (@gomery) March 1, 2019
Someone else made another controversial statement by alleging that Apple’s diversity policy is “sexist and racist.”
https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1101532120483213314
As things turned more positive and Apple focused, we got a tease from Craig Federighi about transferring video on the iPad Pro over USB-C.
Craig Federighi answers question about "video" output through USB-C from the new iPad Pro. Says new functionality in that realm coming (jokingly asking Cook if he can "pre-announce" it, Cook says sure then gets a laugh when he asks no one in the room to share it broadly)
— Ian Sherr (@iansherr) March 1, 2019
But rather than talking about video output to external devices, it sounds like the question was asking about transferring video files over the iPad Pro’s USB-C port.
https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1101543951138344961
As for the vote to require Apple’s board to release ideological information on nominees, it was voted down by the vast majority of shareholders.
https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1101535611888971777
Cook noted how the company will continue “pulling the string between wellness and health.” Previously, Apple’s CEO said that the company’s “greatest contribution to mankind” will be health-focused.
On Apple Watch, Cook says expect the company to continue "pulling the string between wellness and health." Points out ECG, but also more workout types in the Apple Watch.
AirPods, he says, have been "a cultural phenomenon." He feels like similar to the white iPod earbuds
— Ian Sherr (@iansherr) March 1, 2019
Cook also used the meeting to reiterate Apple’s values of privacy, capitalism, diversity, immigration, and the environment.
https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1101545478116716544
With a comical note about Apple and privacy, Sean Montgomery shared how luxurious and “private” the stalls in the men’s bathroom are at the Steve Jobs Theater.
Apple is clearly all in on privacy. Just went to the men’s room at the Steve Jobs Theater. Man. The stalls are like private suites! #AppleShareholderMeeting
— Sean Montgomery (@gomery) March 1, 2019
Other highlights from the meeting include the board being reelected, Apple acquiring 18 companies last year, 50% of new Apple hires were from underrepresented groups, and research and development spending grew to over $14 billion.
Apple’s General Shareholder Meeting in a Tweet: Board was reelected; 18 cos acquired in ‘18; half of new hires were in underrepresented groups (women, African-American, Hispanics); R&D spending up to $14B plus.
— Tripp Mickle (@trippmickle) March 1, 2019
Top image via Sean Montgomery
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