AllYouCanTech

**Pluribus: A New Achievement for Apple TV+**

In December, Apple revealed that its original series *Pluribus* had emerged as the most viewed TV show in the history of the Apple TV streaming platform. While specific viewership numbers were not revealed, the show’s acclaim was further supported by its inclusion in Nielsen’s US streaming report for the week starting December 8, where it secured the ninth position among the top 10 streaming originals.

Despite its recent achievements, *Pluribus* did not appear on the Nielsen chart during November, making its debut in the December report. The top 10 originals list for the week of December 8-14 featured popular titles like *Stranger Things* and *Percy Jackson & the Olympians*, with *Pluribus* accruing a total of 360 million minutes viewed.

In contrast, Apple TV+ was absent from the overall streaming chart, which encompasses both acquired and original content. The lowest entry in that chart was *IT: Welcome to Derry*, with 660 million minutes viewed. For reference, *Stranger Things* led the list with more than 3 billion minutes viewed during the same timeframe.

Several elements contribute to *Pluribus*’s ranking. Firstly, the streaming industry is known for being secretive regarding viewership metrics, making it challenging to verify the accuracy of claims made by streaming platforms. Apple has not disclosed the viewer count for *Pluribus* or the total number of paying subscribers for its platform.

Secondly, Nielsen’s chart focuses on US streaming data, whereas Apple likely bases its viewership assertions on global figures, considering that Apple TV+ is accessible in over 100 countries. Moreover, Apple TV+ remains a relatively minor player in the streaming landscape, with its most popular shows frequently eclipsed by Netflix’s offerings.

Interestingly, *Pluribus* is a new series with merely seven episodes available as of the week of December 8, which restricts its potential viewing minutes when compared to established titles like *Severance* or *Ted Lasso*, which boast larger back catalogs. For example, *Severance* had nine episodes available at the time it gained traction, allowing for greater cumulative viewing time.

Despite these obstacles, *Pluribus* has proven to be a success for Apple, with a second season already greenlit and expected to start production next year, aiming for a release in 2027. As Apple continues to grow its streaming service, the success of *Pluribus* may herald a bright future for original content on Apple TV+.

Apple typically incorporates new emojis into the iPhone with iOS updates during the spring season. Recently, the Unicode Consortium released the complete list of draft emojis that may make their debut next year, as highlighted by Emojipedia.

Among the suggested additions are:

– A grinning face with squinting eyes
– A left-facing thumb gesture
– A right-facing thumb gesture
– A monarch butterfly
– A gherkin
– A lighthouse
– A meteor
– An eraser
– A handled net

These emojis are currently in draft stage, and once they receive approval, companies such as Apple and Google will develop their own variations based on the Unicode Consortium’s descriptions and prototypes.

As the emoji catalog grows, the enthusiasm among iPhone users seems to diminish. Apple has unveiled a new Genmoji feature in iOS 18 that enables users to design custom emojis from text descriptions or by merging existing emojis.

Apple has yet to implement the Unicode 17 characters, which were disclosed in July 2025. These emojis are anticipated to be added in a forthcoming update to iOS 26, probably in March or April. Following this schedule, the new Unicode 18 emojis will likely be integrated into iOS 27.4 in March or April of 2027.

The most recent batch of new emojis added to the iPhone came with iOS 18.4 in March 2025, following the Unicode 16 release.

What are your thoughts on the new emojis? Are there any emojis you’re still anticipating the Unicode Consortium to endorse?

**Apple TV’s 2026 Lineup Begins with Tehran Season Three**

The Apple TV streaming platform is unveiling its 2026 programming schedule with the eagerly awaited return of the global thriller series *Tehran*. The much-anticipated third season debuts today, showcasing the first episode, with fresh installments scheduled to come out weekly every Friday until February 27.

In this season, renowned actor Hugh Laurie joins the ensemble as a South African nuclear inspector, introducing a new dimension of suspense to the narrative. *Tehran* has garnered considerable acclaim as one of Apple’s most prominent foreign language offerings, and it has already been confirmed for a fourth season, despite fans having awaited new material for over three years since the conclusion of season two.

Notably, filming for season three wrapped up more than four years ago, with an original release targeted for 2023. Nonetheless, Apple opted to postpone the premiere due to the delicate subject matter of the series amid prevailing real-world situations in Israel and Palestine. With the Gaza conflict remaining pertinent, Apple has ultimately decided to proceed with the season’s release on its platform, although it has previously aired in its entirety on the Israeli channel KAN 11, which is a co-production collaborator with Apple.

Returning to the cast is star Niv Sultan, reprising her role as Tamar, the Mossad hacker agent. After her rebellious actions in the dramatic season two finale, Tamar must navigate the challenges of re-establishing her connections within the Mossad in the new season.

Viewers can catch up on the first two seasons of *Tehran* on Apple TV, with the third season airing weekly. For those without an Apple TV subscription, a complimentary seven-day trial is offered.

### Future Apple TV Releases

The debut of *Tehran* season three signifies the start of Apple’s original content slate for 2026. In the upcoming months, Apple intends to unveil new seasons of several beloved shows.

Next week, Idris Elba will star in the second season of the popular thriller *Hijack*, followed by the second season of *Drops of God* the following week. Furthermore, the highly regarded comedy series *Shrinking* will return for its third season at the end of January.

February will bring back *The Last Thing He Told Me* and the Godzilla universe series *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters*. A new theatrical A24 romantic comedy, *Eternity*, will also debut on February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

March will see the launch of a new original TV show, *Imperfect Women*, set to premiere on March 18, featuring Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington.

Apple is anticipated to reveal more original premieres in the upcoming weeks, with executives suggesting that new releases will be accessible almost every week throughout 2026. For a detailed overview of everything coming to Apple TV, visit their official website.

In the annual proxy filing released today, Apple revealed detailed information concerning executive compensation for the year 2025, emphasizing the income of CEO Tim Cook and other senior executives, including Kevan Parekh, Kate Adams, Sabih Khan, Luca Maestri, and Deirdre O’Brien.

Tim Cook’s overall compensation for 2025 totaled $74,294,811, showing a minor decline compared to the last year. The specifics of Cook’s earnings are listed below:

– Salary: $3,000,000
– Stock awards: $57,535,293
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $12,000,000, determined by Apple’s performance against specified financial targets.
– All other compensation: $1,759,518, encompassing a range of benefits, such as retirement plans, vacation days, and costs related to private jet travel.

The “all other compensation” section specifically entails:

1. Apple’s contributions to Cook’s 401(k) plan: $21,000
2. Premiums for term life insurance: $2,964
3. Cash-out of vacation days: $57,692
4. Expenditures for security: $887,870, which includes personal security services.
5. Costs for personal air travel: $789,991, pertaining to Cook’s private aircraft use.

For reasons of security and efficiency, the Board requires Cook to use private aircraft for all business and personal travels.

Cook has indicated his plan to allocate his wealth to charitable efforts during his lifetime, adhering to a structured philanthropic strategy.

The compensation figures for the remaining members of Apple’s executive team in 2025 are as follows:

**CFO Kevan Parekh**
– Salary: $891,519
– Stock awards: $18,433,135
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $3,120,317
– All other compensation: $22,338
– **Total: $22,467,309**

**General Counsel Kate Adams**
– Salary: $1,000,000
– Stock awards: $22,009,766
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $4,000,000
– All other compensation: $22,482
– **Total: $27,032,248**

**COO Sabih Khan**
– Salary: $1,000,000
– Stock awards: $22,009,766
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $4,000,000
– All other compensation: $21,905
– **Total: $27,031,671**

**Former CFO Luca Maestri**
– Salary: $819,231
– Stock awards: $13,003,031
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $1,638,462
– All other compensation: $22,204
– **Total: $15,482,928**

**Retail + People SVP Deirdre O’Brien**
– Salary: $1,000,000
– Stock awards: $22,009,766
– Non-equity incentive plan compensation: $4,000,000
– All other compensation: $37,867
– **Total: $27,047,633**

Apple’s complete “Notice of 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement” can be accessed, and the annual meeting for shareholders is set to occur virtually on February 24, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. PT. Shareholders registered as of January 2, 2026, will be able to attend, vote, and pose questions during the meeting.