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Here at Cult of Mac, we use Slack for internal messaging, and a handy feature I like is the ability to schedule messages for later.

Sometimes I have an idea or a request late at night, and it’s tempting to fire off a message to another team member immediately.

However, I don’t like bothering people during off hours, especially when they’re in another time zone.

Sending delayed Slack messages also proves handy for delivering info when it’s most appropriate — like a reminder to do something just before it’s due.

Apple recently added the ability to schedule texts to the Messages app, and it’s great for a bunch of stuff, like queuing up a happy birthday greeting in advance so you don’t forget on the actual day. Or maybe messaging co-workers in Europe, where it’s now illegal to send work-based communications outside of office hours.

There are myriad uses for scheduled messages — here’s how to use the new feature.

Also in today’s newsletter:

• It’s time to short Apple stock! Apple will report Q1 quarterly earnings results this afternoon. Wall Street is expecting solid results for the holiday quarter based on sales of iPhone 16. For years, I’ve dreamed of shorting Apple stock ahead of these earnings announcements. More often than not, AAPL shares decline in their aftermath, even when the results are good. I’ve never done it, for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s journalistically unethical. Plus, I have no idea how to do it. And finally, I’d probably lose my shirt. I still don’t think it’s a bad idea, though. (Disclaimer: This is emphatically not financial advice. Pursue at your own risk.) If you’re interested in matters financial, you can brush up on Apple earnings lingo ahead of this afternoon’s call.

• A new study of environmental sound levels finds that noise increases significantly (and potentially dangerously) during the Super Bowl, even if you’re watching at home. The results aren’t interesting for the conclusion, which is blindingly obvious, but for the methodology. Researchers used data from scores of Apple Watches out in the wild to gather and aggregate results. It’s fascinating how Apple Watch is being used for widespread data gathering.

• I wonder if Tim Cook ever tires of winning? For the 18th straight year, Apple is the world’s most admired company.

• I wish I had even a tiny interest in soccer or Lionel Messi, because as a T-Mobile customer, this free season pass to MLS is a fab deal. Alas, I have none.

• This is a clever idea: A Find My item tracker hidden inside a bike bell, where thieves would never think to look.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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