AAPL - Apple Inc.

[KCLarkin]

I ordered my iPhone 6 64GB on Sept. 19th via a Telus dealer. It still hasn't arrived. Seems like supply is tight for both models.

[Viking]

Here are come notes from Apple's conference call:

1.) Apple spent $17 billion in the quarter on share repurchases; likely removed about 3% of their float.

2.) Regarding China, last year in Q4 Apple launched 5s and increased channel inventory by 1 million units; this year they did not launch in Q4 and channel inventory actually fell. Cook said in Q4 unit SALES in China were actually up +30%. Cook also said a year ago 50% of IPhone buyers in China were new to Apple; currently 80% of IPhone buyers are new to Apple. This suggests very strong sales moving forward. Cook also said only about 20% of IPhones sold in China have subsidy; government limiting subsidy sales at carriers may impact Apple a little moving forward.

3.) currency is a big headwind. Makes strong reported Q4 results and Q1 guidance even more impressive.

4.) iPhone: Apple ended the quarter well below normal inventory levels. They anticipate also finishing the Dec quarter also below normal inventory levels. This means they will be selling every phone they can produce for the next 3 months. This suggests analysts are way, way underestimating how many iPhones Apple will be selling in fiscal 2015. This means analysts are way off on their earnings and earnings per share estimates. Add in that Apple unexpectedly just removed about 3% of shares outstanding and will continue buying in the current quarter.

[Liberty]

Very happy overall. iPhone is such a monster. Love those buybacks.

[Kiltacular]

I ordered my iPhone 6 64GB on Sept. 19th via a Telus dealer. It still hasn't arrived. Seems like supply is tight for both models.

 

If you call 800.pick.ups...and ask for a "representative", after you jump through the hoops, the automated system asks you to press "1" if your call is regarding an I-phone shipment and to press "2" for everything else.

 

It can't last but still...

[DCG]

I want the 6, but am in the middle of a 2-year contract. Looks like I should be able to sell by 5S for over $300 on eBay. So the out of pocket cost for a 64GB 6 would be around $400. Worth it? I'd kind of like to get on the 'main' release cycle instead of the S release cycle.

[abitofvalue]

I want the 6, but am in the middle of a 2-year contract. Looks like I should be able to sell by 5S for over $300 on eBay. So the out of pocket cost for a 64GB 6 would be around $400. Worth it? I'd kind of like to get on the 'main' release cycle instead of the S release cycle.

 

Isn't t-mobile offering $350 as trade-in value?  if t-mobile has good enough coverage in your area that might be worth doing since they'll probably buy out your contract for you too and let you get on the apple upgrade cycle.

[DCG]

T-Mobile's coverage near me sucks. The problem with switching carriers is that I'm in a family plan with my wife with Verizon (and we get a small discount through my wife's work).

[Liberty]

Rumors of an Apple Pay loyalty program:

 

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/21/apple-loyalty-program-holiday-launch/

 

That would make a lot of sense. One more way to make the ecosystem a bit stickier and to encourage more stores/apps/banks to support Apple Pay.

 

Update: Thought about it a bit more, and I know how they can kill on more bird with that stone. The rewards will be App Store/iTunes gift cards (well, digital gift cards - no need for actual cards). People who have Apple devices will actually find these useful, so it's a great reward, and the more apps and content people buy, the more likely they are to stick to that ecosystem. Also, it wouldn't cost Apple that much because they have such high margins on these digital goods and the infrastructure is already all there.

[DCG]

So why is an IPhone 6 more expensive (if you buy it without a contract) than the IPad Air 2 with cellular data?

 

 

[Palantir]

Because they can sell it for more. :D That's the only reason. These phones are meant to be sold on plans, which allows Apple to inflate the price, whereas with iPad...you pay full price up front.

[plato1976]

Is Apple Pay gaining any momentum? Seems CVS quitted

 

Rumors of an Apple Pay loyalty program:

 

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/21/apple-loyalty-program-holiday-launch/

 

That would make a lot of sense. One more way to make the ecosystem a bit stickier and to encourage more stores/apps/banks to support Apple Pay.

 

Update: Thought about it a bit more, and I know how they can kill on more bird with that stone. The rewards will be App Store/iTunes gift cards (well, digital gift cards - no need for actual cards). People who have Apple devices will actually find these useful, so it's a great reward, and the more apps and content people buy, the more likely they are to stick to that ecosystem. Also, it wouldn't cost Apple that much because they have such high margins on these digital goods and the infrastructure is already all there.

[ni-co]

Is Apple Pay gaining any momentum? Seems CVS quitted

Rumors of an Apple Pay loyalty program:

 

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/21/apple-loyalty-program-holiday-launch/

 

That would make a lot of sense. One more way to make the ecosystem a bit stickier and to encourage more stores/apps/banks to support Apple Pay.

 

Update: Thought about it a bit more, and I know how they can kill on more bird with that stone. The rewards will be App Store/iTunes gift cards (well, digital gift cards - no need for actual cards). People who have Apple devices will actually find these useful, so it's a great reward, and the more apps and content people buy, the more likely they are to stick to that ecosystem. Also, it wouldn't cost Apple that much because they have such high margins on these digital goods and the infrastructure is already all there.

 

They aren't quitting. They weren't part of it but their systems happened to work with it. I think by now retailers have zero chance to establish their own system:

 

QR codes. Good luck with that. Plus, CurrentC doesn’t even work with credit cards — it only works with prepaid store cards and debit cards tied directly to your bank account. Apple Pay is built atop the credit card system; CurrentC is an attempt — futile, I say — to eliminate credit cards.

 

[…]

 

Think about what they’re doing. They’re turning off NFC payment systems — the whole thing — only because people were actually using them with Apple Pay. Apple Pay works so well that it even works with non-partner systems. These things have been installed for years and so few people used them, apparently, that these retailers would rather block everyone than allow Apple Pay to continue working. I can’t imagine a better validation of Apple Pay’s appeal.

 

http://daringfireball.net/2014/10/nfc_apple_pay

 

[Liberty]

Looks like maybe Apple Pay is just the beginning of the replacement of cards & wallets:

 

http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/27/iphone-6-nfc-hotel-keycard-more/

 

The Information is reporting that Apple is actively scouting out partnerships to increase the utility of the NFC chip inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Right now, the chip can only be used for payments through Apple Pay as the API is not available to third-party developers.

 

The Information says that the company is talking to potential partners about using the technology for things like building security, public transit tickets and more. The report names that Apple has already been in talks with HID Global and Cubic, who make electronic ‘keycard’ secure building access and transit fare systems.

[GregS]

Is Apple Pay gaining any momentum? Seems CVS quitted

Rumors of an Apple Pay loyalty program:

 

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/21/apple-loyalty-program-holiday-launch/

 

That would make a lot of sense. One more way to make the ecosystem a bit stickier and to encourage more stores/apps/banks to support Apple Pay.

 

Check out this from Gruber:

 

And the reason they don’t want to allow Apple Pay is because Apple Pay doesn’t give them any personal information about the customer. It’s not about security — Apple Pay is far more secure than any credit/debit card system in the U.S. It’s not about money — Apple’s tiny slice of the transaction comes from the banks, not the merchants. It’s about data.

 

They’re doing this so they can pursue a system that is less secure (third-party apps don’t have access to the secure element where Apple Pay stores your credit card data, for one thing), less convenient (QR codes?), and not private.

Update: Thought about it a bit more, and I know how they can kill on more bird with that stone. The rewards will be App Store/iTunes gift cards (well, digital gift cards - no need for actual cards). People who have Apple devices will actually find these useful, so it's a great reward, and the more apps and content people buy, the more likely they are to stick to that ecosystem. Also, it wouldn't cost Apple that much because they have such high margins on these digital goods and the infrastructure is already all there.

 

They aren't quitting. They weren't part of it but their systems happened to work with it. I think by now retailers have zero chance to establish their own system:

 

QR codes. Good luck with that. Plus, CurrentC doesn’t even work with credit cards — it only works with prepaid store cards and debit cards tied directly to your bank account. Apple Pay is built atop the credit card system; CurrentC is an attempt — futile, I say — to eliminate credit cards.

 

[…]

 

Think about what they’re doing. They’re turning off NFC payment systems — the whole thing — only because people were actually using them with Apple Pay. Apple Pay works so well that it even works with non-partner systems. These things have been installed for years and so few people used them, apparently, that these retailers would rather block everyone than allow Apple Pay to continue working. I can’t imagine a better validation of Apple Pay’s appeal.

 

http://daringfireball.net/2014/10/nfc_apple_pay

 

This doesn't sound like putting customers first to me.  I don't think this is going to work out for the retailers.

 

Check out this from Gruber:

 

And the reason they don’t want to allow Apple Pay is because Apple Pay doesn’t give them any personal information about the customer. It’s not about security — Apple Pay is far more secure than any credit/debit card system in the U.S. It’s not about money — Apple’s tiny slice of the transaction comes from the banks, not the merchants. It’s about data.

 

They’re doing this so they can pursue a system that is less secure (third-party apps don’t have access to the secure element where Apple Pay stores your credit card data, for one thing), less convenient (QR codes?), and not private.

[fareastwarriors]

Apple’s Second-Best Seller: Mac

 

After Almost 30 Years, the Brand Is Giving Tech Giant Solid Footing With Strong Sales

 

 

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apples-second-best-seller-mac-1414428004?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsFifth

[DCG]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

[Liberty]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

I came here to write those exact words...

 

So +1 then :)

 

Here's his full essay:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

[rkbabang]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

I came here to write those exact words...

 

So +1 then :)

 

Here's his full essay:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

 

 

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

[KCLarkin]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

I came here to write those exact words...

 

So +1 then :)

 

Here's his full essay:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

 

 

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

I don't want to get involved in a political discussion so I will just steal from quora:

 

Just surviving homophobia and maintaining personal equanimity is a significant accomplishment, and it is valid to be proud of it. Many gay people, perhaps most, face ostracism and personal judgment. Even those who have accepting families see messages that they are worth less in the media every day.

[Liberty]

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

I agree. It's why I hold the unpopular opinion that immigrants have a lot more legitimate reasons to be proud of where they live than people who just happened to randomly be born there.

 

But over time I've learned to not take the "I'm proud to be X" so literally. I think it's mostly a shorthand for "I don't feel I have anything to be ashamed of". For a long time various groups have been made to feel like there was something wrong with them, and 'pride' has just become the default opposite for lack of a better catchall term.

[DCG]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

I came here to write those exact words...

 

So +1 then :)

 

Here's his full essay:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

 

 

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

 

I get where you're coming from, but the issue that that a lot of people unfortunately make minorities (whether it's gay, black, etc) seem/feel inferior to them, so I do think there is validity to people acknowledging that they're proud to be in that minority). In a perfect world where there is no racism or bigotry, I'd agree with you, but that's unfortunately not reality.

[Uccmal]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

That had to be the worst kept secret under the sun. 

 

Damn good CEO, and finally out from under Steve's shadow. 

 

Stock still too pricey for my tastes. 

[cubsfan]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

That had to be the worst kept secret under the sun. 

 

 

 

 

I did not realize he was gay until moron Simon Hobbs "outed" him on live CNBC on June 28th.

Check out the video clip:

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cnbc-host-unwittingly-outs-apple-715553

 

[rkbabang]

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

I agree. It's why I hold the unpopular opinion that immigrants have a lot more legitimate reasons to be proud of where they live than people who just happened to randomly be born there.

 

But over time I've learned to not take the "I'm proud to be X" so literally. I think it's mostly a shorthand for "I don't feel I have anything to be ashamed of". For a long time various groups have been made to feel like there was something wrong with them, and 'pride' has just become the default opposite for lack of a better catchall term.

 

I agree with you about immigrants.  Being born somewhere isn't something to be proud of, but making sacrifices or working hard to get somewhere certainly is.  You are probably right that they are using the phrase "I'm proud to be X" to mean "I'm proud to have dealt with and overcome the obstacles bigots have tried to put in my way because I'm X".  If that is the case, why the code words, why not just say so?

[rkbabang]

Tim Cook publicly acknowledges he is gay.

 

 

Good for him.

 

I came here to write those exact words...

 

So +1 then :)

 

Here's his full essay:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-im-proud-to-be-gay

 

 

Good essay and I'm sure that took guts to do publicly.  For that courageousness he should be proud.  One minor quibble though. He says he's "proud to be gay".  It is a pet peeve of mine when people go around proclaiming their pride in things they where born with and for things they had no hand in doing.  Some examples are people who claim to be proud to be :  white, black, American, Chinese, (any other race/nationality) , gay, straight, female, male, etc.  Being proud of any of these things makes as much sense as being proud of your shoe size or the color of your eyes.  You can take pride in things you've done or accomplished but taking pride in your sexual orientation is just silly.

 

I don't want to get involved in a political discussion so I will just steal from quora:

 

Just surviving homophobia and maintaining personal equanimity is a significant accomplishment, and it is valid to be proud of it. Many gay people, perhaps most, face ostracism and personal judgment. Even those who have accepting families see messages that they are worth less in the media every day.

 

I should hope that discussing what makes someone proud and the meaning of words in the English language wouldn't be a political discussion.  As for your quote, see my last post above this one, if it is your accomplishments and what you have overcome that you are proud of, why not say it?  Why the code words? Saying "I'm proud to be X" means so much less than the accomplishments that you are actually proud of.