With Apple's annual SEC statement due Friday and the pending restatement of historical financial statements, Law.com reports that Apple may be under increased scrutiny by the SEC due to apparently deliberately falsified documents by company officials to maximize the profitability of option grants to executives.
In June, Apple began an internal probe of stock option grant "irregularities", the results of which saw the departure of former CFO Fred Anderson from Apple's board amid findings of "serious concern" regarding two former officers. Law.com labels Anderson and former general counsel Nancy Heinen as those former officers.
Over 100 companies including Microsoft, CNet Networks, and Computer Associates are in similar situations, and the falsification of documents appears to be a key element under scrutiny in SEC investigations which may lead to criminal charges.
"When there are falsified documents, the government views them as an intent to defraud, because people generally don't falsify documents unless they're trying to make things different from reality," said Keith Krakaur, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York working on backdating cases. [...]
Krakaur and other defense lawyers -- including several in San Francisco who asked to remain anonymous for fear of affecting local probes -- said government lawyers are focusing on falsified records as a means of proving that executives knew their actions were wrong. "They view that as intent," he said. (Ed Note: Krakaur is not personally involved in the Apple case)
Current officers including CEO Steve Jobs were largely cleared from involvement by the independent investigation. Still, it appears as though Jobs has sought independent counsel beyond Apple's lawyers in dealing with the matter.
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works.
We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by Joe Rossignol
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more.
Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, ...
