AAPL - Apple Inc.

[Guest valueInv]

Interesting data about the 5C:

 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101239015

 

 

[Guest valueInv]

Of course they did not have all of those elements. What I want you to grasp is that in a complex product like this, there are a ton of teams and individuals that are working to put together the final product. The original idea for the tablet was Steve's, the original prototype was Fadell's, the core software that is the critical layer is Forstall's work, the final form factor is Ive's creation. As the industrial design head, part of his job is to build out the prototype. That still doesn't make it Ive's invention any more than it is Forstall's.

Dude, there was no "invention", there was only design and development. And while many people played a role, they didn't play and equal role, especially when it comes to the critical elements that made the iPhone the stunning success it is.

 

What you don't grasp is that Jobs has left behind the team and the culture that created all those products. That no other company in the world has. Which is why you see idiotic products like Glass and Gear.

Case in point:

http://venturebeat.com/2013/12/02/epic-google-glass-douchebaggery-101/

 

[Guest valueInv]

Oooopppps:

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/the-iphone-quietly-goes-up-for-pre-order-on-china-mobile/

[Liberty]

Oooopppps:

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/the-iphone-quietly-goes-up-for-pre-order-on-china-mobile/

 

I'm guessing this is the reason why Apple is up so much on a day when everything's down (not the Twitter-related acquisiton). More and more signs of an imminent China Mobile deal.

[Guest valueInv]

And Android support?

 

http://gigaom.com/2013/12/03/honda-revamps-its-link-connected-car-system-making-it-very-iphone-friendly/

[Guest valueInv]

Remember that theory about the pace of innovation slowing in the smartphone market?

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/apple-primesense-and-perceptive-computing-or-why-your-phone-will-see-in-3d/

 

Yeah, right.

 

[RichardGibbons]

Remember that theory about the pace of innovation slowing in the smartphone market?

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/apple-primesense-and-perceptive-computing-or-why-your-phone-will-see-in-3d/

 

Yeah, right.

 

Yeah, I think the more interesting thing, though, is that Apple is struggling to keep up to Samsung's innovations (in this case, eye tracking) and needs to do so through acquisition.

[Liberty]

Remember that theory about the pace of innovation slowing in the smartphone market?

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/apple-primesense-and-perceptive-computing-or-why-your-phone-will-see-in-3d/

 

Yeah, right.

 

Yeah, I think the more interesting thing, though, is that Apple is struggling to keep up to Samsung's innovations (in this case, eye tracking) and needs to do so through acquisition.

 

What matters is implementation. Samsung has some very nice technologies, but they rarely implement them in a way that actually works to a high standard. They make a lot of demo features that are then turned off by users and never thought about again... Big difference between a good technology and a good product (unlike the Samsung Gear).

 

Apple has never been about being first. Wasn't first digital music player, not first smartphone, not first tablet. All about quality of experience.

[Guest valueInv]

Remember that theory about the pace of innovation slowing in the smartphone market?

 

http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/03/apple-primesense-and-perceptive-computing-or-why-your-phone-will-see-in-3d/

 

Yeah, right.

 

Yeah, I think the more interesting thing, though, is that Apple is struggling to keep up to Samsung's innovations (in this case, eye tracking) and needs to do so through acquisition.

Eye tracking is a gimmick that doesn't work:

 

http://allthingsd.com/20130423/galaxy-s-4-is-a-good-but-not-a-great-step-up/

[Liberty]

http://9to5mac.com/2013/12/04/imaginative-use-of-ibeacon-gives-bar-patrons-free-access-to-newsstand-magazines/

 

People already starting to invent new ways to use iBeacons. You go to a bar or waiting room with your iOS device and while there you have free access to content. Attracts customers for the business, and makes iOS devices more valuable. Seems like this could be popular in all kinds of places, including hotels, airports, bars & restaurants, art events, etc.

[Liberty]

http://www.localytics.com/blog/2013/ipad-air-wins-black-friday-cyber-monday-new-devices-increase-by-51/

 

Wow.

 

http://www.localytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Untitled.png

[txlaw]

Jony Ive and Marc Newsom on Charlie Rose:

http://charlierose.com/watch/60303885

[Guest wellmont]

http://www.localytics.com/blog/2013/ipad-air-wins-black-friday-cyber-monday-new-devices-increase-by-51/

 

Wow.

 

http://www.localytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Untitled.png

 

not surprising given they discounted it and people expected them to so they waited. this is very small data-set focused on one weekend in one market, USA. does not reflect what's going on globally.

 

According to Localytics’ data, a whopping 51% more new iPad Air devices were seen than the previous week. This is due to a combination of factors, including Apple’s promotion of giving gift cards with purchases of the iPad Air and iPad Mini (but not iPad Mini 2nd gen) devices. This, combined with a smaller base of iPad Air devices and the novelty of the iPad Air (released on November 1st) resulted in the iPad Air dominating on Black Friday weekend.

[Liberty]

Everybody discounts that day. The point is, these devices are a big success, shoppers are choosing them in a crowded field, and there's strong demand on one of the busiest shopping days of the year in Apple's biggest market. It certainly bodes well for xmas.

 

Also interesting to note that the discounts given by Apple were Apple Store gift cards, and not discounts on the devices themselves (you have to use the gift card on something else, can't use it immediately on the device afaik).

[CorpRaider]

You have to use it buy media and software which will become a sunk cost in the consumer's investment in the apple ecosystem.

[Liberty]

You have to use it buy media and software which will become a sunk cost in the consumer's investment in the apple ecosystem.

 

Actually, I think the gift cards are for the Apple Store and not the App Store/iTunes store, though I'm not 100% certain if the second counts as a subset of the first (but not the other way around if you have an itunes gift card, f.ex). Either way, it certainly doesn't hurt.

[DCG]

People are probably using if to buy cases more than anything else.

[Guest valueInv]

http://www.localytics.com/blog/2013/ipad-air-wins-black-friday-cyber-monday-new-devices-increase-by-51/

 

Wow.

 

http://www.localytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Untitled.png

 

not surprising given they discounted it and people expected them to so they waited. this is very small data-set focused on one weekend in one market, USA. does not reflect what's going on .

 

And yet you repeatedly quote Amazon's most popular devices as proof points . Pot calling the tea kettle black.

[fareastwarriors]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-04/icahn-plans-shareholder-vote-pushing-apple-to-boost-buyback.html

 

 

Icahn Plans Shareholder Vote Pushing Apple to Boost Buyback

 

 

...The precatory, or non-binding, proposal will be for less than the $150 billion he had been advocating, Icahn said in a post on Twitter. He will propose a $50 billion buyback, CNBC reported...

[LC]

Can anyone speak to Apple's history of capital allocation / acquisition history? In most cases it's a bit easier for me to gauge whether I feel the company in question should retain the cash or disperse it to shareholders...but with a company like Apple I am not so sure if they are better off holding onto it.

[fareastwarriors]

just breaking on WSJ

 

Apple, China Mobile Sign Deal to Offer iPhone

 

 

* China Mobile Expected to Offer iPhone Later in December

 

 

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304096104579238832743924434?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories

[hardincap]

good news. lets see how much of this was baked into the stock price.

[Liberty]

That's great. Having iPhones in all China Mobile outlets around China will, in an indirect way, massively increase Apple's retail presence in the country. They still need to build out their stores (that'll be work for Angela), but this is exciting, if not surprising, news.

[jturro]

Exciting news indeed! It'll be interesting to see the terms of the agreement and the commercial strategy (pricing, margins...) that Apple will use there but potentially it can have a very positive and lasting effect.

[Liberty]

Looks like the WSJ might have jumped the gun:

 

China Mobile Ltd, the country’s largest mobile operator, said it is still negotiating with Apple Inc to offer iPhones on its network, commenting on a media report saying that a long-awaited agreement had been reached.

 

Earlier in the day, the Wall Street Journal reported that the two giants had signed a deal, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter.

 

“We are still negotiating with Apple, but for now we have nothing new to announce,” China Mobile spokeswoman Rainie Lei said, declining to elaborate. Apple also declined comment.

 

http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/05/apple-inc-china-mobile-iphone/?__lsa=8c0c-048c

 

Seems like it'll be a nice xmas on the computer side of the business too:

 

According to new a survey done by market research firm Parks Associates (via CNET), Apple desktops have become the most sought after desktop computers this holiday season, beating out longtime holiday desktop leader Dell and other competitors such as HP and Acer. This marks the first time that Apple products have taken the top spot in the history of the survey, as the company was ranked 3rd in the category in 2011 and 2nd in 2012.