Apple today posted their Q4 financial results and – as usual – they’re stupendous. In fact, they break the record for the same quarter last year. However, because Wall Street is one of the great mysteries of this universe, these results have been met with a negative response from investors.
The report states that Apple has made $8.2 billion in profit on $36 billion in revenue. (more…)
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, believes that larger screen devices (yes, even larger than the 4-inch iPhone 5) do offer some interesting advantages, at least on the surface:
Here’s where it bothers me. I walk into my phone stores: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and I see all these modern smartphones. Big, big, big, big, and there’s the iPhone.
If you compare the screen size right there in front of you, whether it means much or not, it may be fewer pixels, less information on the screen, but you get a feeling you’re getting more with a larger screen.
Wozniak typically has never been constrained to following the Apple PR line, and has always voiced his own opinions in regard to the technology industry. Wozniak carries multiple devices – just as any geek would, he keeps himself familiar with both iOS, Android, and has even dabbled in Windows Phone. (more…)
Apple’s 5th generation iPod touch is beginning to trickle out to stores and homes across the world. The iFans iPod touch forums are currently buzzing with activity, as more and more people report that their devices have begun to ship to their homes. There’s also reports flying around the internet that Apple’s own retail stores have begun putting the device up for sale, alongside the new Nano.
Beyond the expected unboxing videos which accompanies the launch of such a high-profile device, we’ve also seen benchmarks begin to trickle out. Specifically, the results of a Geekbench test have been well-publicized, with the 5th generation iPod touch hitting iPhone 4S-level numbers. That is a phenomenal increase over the power of the iPod touch 4G, and should also make 4S owners happy: the A5 chip will likely continue to receive mass support in apps because the iPod touch ships with it today.
Reviews have yet to be released, though it seems likely that major news sources will be posting theirs within the next few days, with tonight being the earliest time. Regardless, it seems as if the 5th generation iPod touch is a very worthy upgrade from the 4th generation. Will you be getting one? Or, better yet, do you already have one? Sound off in the comments!
Apple has confirmed on its investor relations page that it will reveal fourth quarter financial results during a conference call on Thursday, October 25 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific / 5:00 p.m. Eastern. If interested, users can listen to live streaming audio of the conference call as it unfolds.
In the third quarter, Apple sold 26 million iPhones, 17 million iPads, 6.8 million iPods and 4 million Macs. Overall, the Cupertino-based company posted an $8.8 billion profit on $36 billion in revenue. Apple also provided sales estimates for the fourth quarter back in July, listed below.
“We’re continuing to invest in the growth of our business and are pleased to be declaring a dividend of $2.65 per share today,” said Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer. “Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter, we expect revenue of about $34 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $7.65.”
[Apple via TechCrunch]
In less than two years, I have singlehandedly reported about the price of Apple shares passing the $400 mark, then crossing the $500 plateau and finally breaking the $600 mark; today, I have yet another milestone to add to that list. In after hours trading on Monday, the price of Apple shares surpassed the $700 mark for the first time in company history. This recent surge in the price of Apple shares can be attributed to the imminent release of the iPhone 5, new iPod touch, new iPod nano and possibly even an iPad mini.
Apple has quickly emerged as the world’s most valuable company, soaring past Exxon Mobil last year and never looking back. As the one-year anniversary of the passing of Steve Jobs approaches, Apple has proven that it can still be as successful — if not more — without the charismatic leader at the forefront of the company. Tim Cook just recently celebrated his own one year anniversary at the helm of Apple and appears poised to lead the Cupertino-based company along a path of success as the twenty-first century progresses.
Apple shareholders must certainly be pleased with the price of the Cupertino-based company’s stock, which has skyrocketed to just under $680 per share in trading this morning in the aftermath of Apple’s favorable jury verdict in its patent trial with Samsung. A few weeks ago, Apple broke a previous all-time high and passed the $600 billion mark in market capitalization, while the One Infinite Loop corporation smashed Microsoft’s record, set over one decade ago, for most valuable publicly-traded stock ever the following Monday.
While its successful patent trial with Samsung is likely driving up the price of shares, Apple is also likely experiencing a surge in stock price because of rumors suggesting that the company will release its next-generation iPhone, new iPod touch and so-called “iPad mini” in the near future. Apple might also introduce a new iPod nano as part of refreshing its wider iPod lineup that has been neglected since late 2010 as Apple has focused on its iPhone, iPad and Mac lineups.
The court case reiterates how powerful many of Apple’s patents are, and it is now obvious that Apple isn’t afraid to use them in order to right what they feel is a wrong. Regardless, Apple’s position in the smartphone world has just received a major boost – for better or for worse.
Hit the read link to see the results.
Who Cares if Samsung Copied Apple?
James Allworth of Harvard Business Review, raising some fantastic points in his rather boldly-titled article about the Samsung-Apple trials:
Too often, it seems that companies fall back on the broken patent system when they can’t compete in the marketplace.
If Apple ends up winning this case against Samsung — and either stops Samsung from releasing their phones and tablets to the market, or charges them a hefty license fee to do so — does anyone really believe that the market will suddenly become more innovative, or that devices will suddenly become more affordable? Similarly, if Samsung wins, do you really believe that Apple will suddenly slow its aggressive development of the iPhone and iPad? It’s certainly not what happened last time they lost one of these cases.
I disagree that Apple wasn’t harmed in this at all – looking at some of the devices Samsung released, it’s fairly obvious that they were copying the iPhone. Of course, that isn’t entirely bad: (more…)
Today marks another significant milestone for Apple, as its stock has once again skyrocketed to a price of nearly $662 at the time of writing and has officially smashed Microsoft’s record, set over one decade ago, for most valuable publicly-traded stock ever. Microsoft’s market capitalization peaked at $618.89 billion on December 30, 1999, while Apple has officially passed that mark today with a market capitalization of $621.15 billion and rising. The surge in Apple stock price is likely attributed to the imminent releases of the next-generation iPhone and so-called “iPad mini,” or so it is rumored.
Apple has now reached a new all-time high stock price for the third consecutive weekday, first breaking its own record on Thursday and then passing the $600 billion mark in market capitalization on Friday. Apple has become nearly two-and-a-half times as valuable as it was in January 2011, despite the passing of co-founder and visionary Steve Jobs last October and skepticism surrounding how successful the Cupertino-based company could be without his leadership. It has been said in the past that Apple could become the first trillion dollar company, something that becomes more realistic each day as its stock price continues to rise.
For the past several years, Apple stock has been on the rise at a phenomenal and unprecedented pace; today, shares of Apple stock are currently sitting at roughly $647 per unit, beating the Cupertino-based company’s previous all-time high of $644.00 and absolutely smashing the $356 mark that Apple shares were trading for just hours after Steve Jobs stepped down from his chief executive position for the final time last August.
Apple achieved another milestone today by passing the $600 billion plateau in market cap, a mark it also reached in April for a brief period of time. Just early last year, the iPhone maker had just crossed $300 billion in market cap; yes, the One Infinite Loop corporation is now twice as valuable in just a 20 month period.
The imminent releases of the next-generation iPhone and so-called “iPad mini,” or so it is rumored, are most likely contributing to the surge in Apple stock price. The price of Apple shares has always soared leading up to a major iPhone release and in the weeks to follow, such as last October after the iPhone 4S launched. By the way, today is the second consecutive record-breaking day for Apple stock.