Thursday 23 January 2014

Apple Surprises Skeptics As IPhone Registers Record Sales
















Apple Inc. (AAPL) surprised skeptics by selling a record nine million units of its new iPhones (5s and 5c) following their much-anticipated launch in September 2013. Soon after the launch, the company had raised its guidance for FY13, revising its expectations for full-year revenues to the high end of its previously-announced range of $34-37 billion. It had also said gross margins would expand to the upper limit of the 36-37% range in the last quarter.
However, despite these bullish guidance numbers, the company appeared to be in trouble when Strategy Analytics – a research and consultancy firm –  released data, just before the latest earnings announcement, which indicated that Apple’s 15.6% share in the smartphone market in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 (3QFY12) had declined to 13.4% by 3QFY13.
But Apple had the perfect riposte when – in its earnings release for 4QFY13 – it beat its own, as well as consensus estimates by posting revenues and gross margins at the higher end of its target ranges.
Read More : APPLE

Has Apple Gone Sour With The 5c?
















September is fast becoming an exciting month for tech geeks around the world. This year, Samsung (SSNLF) introduced the latest additions to its Galaxy line of smartphones and phablets, and the world’s first-ever smartwatch in the first week of the month; but it was Apple Inc. (AAPL) that had everybody’s attention with the much-hyped launch of its iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s on September 10. The iPhone 5s was launched as a continuation of its premium priced iPhone line, while the iPhone 5c was introduced as a device for consumers in emerging markets.
Even though Apple failed to impress critics with its two new products, the launch was a major first step in the tech giant’s evolving business strategy. Having realized that it can no longer ignore emerging markets and the threat from cheaper competition, Apple introduced two products for the first time in its history.
Read More : AAPL - CHL 

Rumors Finally Confirmed as Apple Acquires 3D Sensor Company PrimeSense
















The Israel-based 3D sensor company PrimeSense has finally been acquired by Apple Inc. (AAPL), confirming the barrage of rumors floating on the internet about the acquisition. Some of the rumors stated that PrimeSense denied Apple’s initial offers for an acquisition, but it has now been revealed that the company has been officially bought for an unconfirmed price which lies between $340-365 million.
Apple is known for acquiring small companies which enable it to add innovative features to its new generations of smartphones and tablets. The Cupertino-based tech giant’s previous acquisitions were of companies called Cue, which provides a personal assistant app of the same name, and AlgoTrim, a company which specialized in compression technology to assist mobile devices to code images. And in order to incorporate the TouchID interface in the iPhone 5s, Apple purchased AuthenTec, the company responsible for the innovative feature on Apple’s new flagship smartphone.
Read More : AAPL

Apple (AAPL) Seeks Fresh Ban on Samsung Products
















Apple (AAPL) yesterday renewed its request for a ban on the sale of Samsung's (SSNLF) products in the US. The fresh bid claims that Samsung’s newer offerings are very similar to previous ones, which were previously found to be in violation of several technologies patented by Apple.
The Cupertino-based company asked US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose to ban the sale of more than 20 of Samsung’s smartphones and tablets, including the Galaxy S 4G and the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which it says continues to infringe on Apple's patents. Koh had rejected Apple's request for an outright ban on sales, but a federal appeals Court’s ruling on November 18 in favor of Apple allowed the company to pursue an injunction on some of its rival's products.
In its fresh bid Apple has alleged that it needs to protect itself from future infringements: “Because Samsung frequently brings new products to market, an injunction is important to providing Apple the relief it needs to combat any future infringement by Samsung through products not more than colorably different from those already found to infringe.”
Read More : AAPL - SSNLF

Apple Looking Ripe for Investment

















Apple Inc. (AAPL), one of the best-known companies of the modern era, has acquired a reputation for revolutionizing consumer technology in every area it steps into. Over the past few decades, it experienced several rises and falls before it released iTunes, a digital music store, in 2000. There was no turning back, and iTunes was followed by the iPod, a digital portable music player, which became a raging success with music junkies around the world.
The company has since expanded its offerings by introducing some of the world’s most popular mobile communication and computing devices, while personal computers, portable digital music players and related peripherals and software have remained a mainstay of its product portfolio. Apple’s product line-up now includes the iconic iPhone and iPads, which have proved its elixir of life, along with its traditional iPod and Mac devices.
Today, Apple generates most of its revenues from sales of the iPhone, its flagship smartphone which revolutionized the mobile devices industry. The iPad tablet is Apple’s second-highest revenue earner.
Read More : AAPL

Monday 20 January 2014

Apple – Low-hanging Fruit for Dividend Investors
















Apple (AAPL) is one of the most recognized names in consumer electronics. The company has acquired a formidable reputation as a manufacturer of cutting-edge consumer technology, and has recorded stellar growth with its revolutionary products.
The company banks heavily on sales of its popular handheld devices, the iPhone and the iPad; and while legacy products like personal computers, portable music players and related software remain in the company’s portfolio, they have taken a backseat in terms of their contribution to the company’s topline.
The company generates more than 50% of its revenues from sales of the iPhone – a coveted product ever since it revolutionized the mobile phone industry. In 2007, the year it was unveiled, the company sold 1.4 million units of the iPhone. As of 2013, more than 150 million have been sold.
Read More : AAPL - IBM 

Apple vs. Samsung – Battle Lines Have Been Drawn
















Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 5s locked horns with the Samsung’s (SSNLF) Android powerhouse, the Galaxy S4 when it launched on September 20. The former has a smooth user interface, slick looks and Touch ID, while the latter boasts a five-inch full HD touchscreen and more features than a tech geek could shake a NFC-enabled tablet at. The traditional Apple versus Samsung battle has begun again.
The Galaxy S4 sold just under 40 million units in the six months following its release, which is slightly higher than the 33.8 million units sold for the iPhone 5s and 5c combined. To Apple’s credit, though, its two new smartphones launched less than three months ago, on September 20. Moreover, iPhone 5s and 5c made up 76% of Japanese smart phone sales last month, and emerging markets such as China and India have started to show a gradual shift towards the iPhone 5c. With the Chinese smartphone market doubling from 42.3 million to 84.1 million year-over-year in the third quarter of 2013, Apple with its slicker interface is more likely to benefit from the upsurge.
Read More : AAPL - SSNLF 

Apple vs. Microsoft – A Rivalry Fought On Digital Grounds





















Read : AAPL - MSFT