Seeking Alpha
Seeking Alpha Portfolio App for iPad
Finance
(1)
Market Currents

Apple (AAPL +1.7%) rallies as the Street takes the launch of Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) Galaxy S IV,...

  • Friday, March 15, 10:12 AM ET
    Apple (AAPL +1.7%) rallies as the Street takes the launch of Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) Galaxy S IV, which has an impressive spec sheet but has seen mixed early reviews, in stride. Apple's sell-side fans are circling the wagons, with Gene Munster comparing the S IV to an 'S' iPhone launch. Nomura is less sanguine: noting the popularity of bigger displays and stating its checks indicate a bigger iPhone won't arrive in 2013, it thinks Samsung could overtake Apple in high-end smartphone shipments this year on the back of 35M-40M S IV and Note sales per quarter.
Track new comments on this story

This news story has 34 comments:

  •  
    The Galaxy S IV is an excellent example of the total lack of creativity of Samsung.
    15 Mar, 10:33 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Remember when Apple peaked...it was the day the 5 was released. This could be the start of a good recovery.
    15 Mar, 10:52 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Totally!
    15 Mar, 10:52 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Nomura: If Samsung was going to take over Apple for the reasons you subscribe to, it would have happened. The bigger display is not that big of a selling point, obviously.
    15 Mar, 10:34 AM Reply Like
  •  
    It's what? A tenth of an inch or two "bigger" than the SIII?

    A size that was beaten by both the iPhone 5 and the 4s?
    15 Mar, 05:26 PM Reply Like
  •  
    ha ha ha another so called iPhone killer is down to dusts

    Bigger head does not mean bigger brains.
    Bigger screen does not mean more creative space.
    15 Mar, 10:40 AM Reply Like
  •  
    We're talking hand-held screens here. Does this tiny fraction of an inch really make that big of a difference?
    I can't understand why Americans want to cheer Samsung when we can support and celebrate Apple, one of the most successful and innovative companies in history. Am I nuts?
    15 Mar, 10:43 AM Reply Like
  •  
    tons of people have irrational hate against apple. they'd forcefully subject themselves to inferior products just to "stick it to them" ... and forgetting that AAPL generated $13B in *profits* in one quarter alone ... without their pettiness
    15 Mar, 11:03 AM Reply Like
  •  
    aardvark. no you are not nuts. It is the hype that people get into. A cheaper phone with great features is what most people want... all I can say is you get what you pay for, you don't pay, you don't get an innovative product, regardless of the change in value of a companies stock value..... Have watched Slamsung over the years, they are a hype monger, their TVs back in the early days of production never shook the Consumer Electronics Show attendees, they have NEVER been innovative even by Korean standards.
    15 Mar, 11:31 AM Reply Like
  •  
    America loves to hate the successful and the winners. Success and winning have become evil to most Americans.
    15 Mar, 05:56 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Ah, yes, it's the American way. Build 'em up and tear 'em down.
    I sense Maria Barffaromo and the CNBC buffoons crafting the AAPL comeback story soon. After they get the green light from above...
    17 Mar, 09:11 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Your approval is noted aardvark. You and the other three or four Androids on this post.
    17 Mar, 04:58 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Both companies are really struggling to do something new and unexpected. I'll go out on a limb and say that the next true "innovative" smartphone will come from the Google/Motorola camp. They clearly see the value of an ecosystem and standardization as evidenced by Apple over the last 6 years, yet Google is the only company that's left with any sort of vision and creativity (i.e. glass).

    Btw, Tim Cook needs to go. Only question is who's the best replacement. Apple lost so much momentum and played a very conservative hand when they should've been coming out guns blazing. They've been focusing too much on non-revenue generating activities in existing products (factoriy conditions, supply chain, publicity, government).

    Bottom line for AAPL: Ive for CEO. Introduce that "fourth" post-PC evolution device and make your competitors look bad like you used to.
    15 Mar, 11:23 AM Reply Like
  •  
    ....598,500 jobs created or supported by Apple in the US !! One would also have to take into account the property holdings, tax receipts etc. created by this company to the benefit of this country.
    Long APPL for a long time..............
    I'm not overly impressed with the new Samsung semi smart phone!
    15 Mar, 11:24 AM Reply Like
  •  
    U.S.A.
    15 Mar, 11:41 AM Reply Like
  •  
    People really thinks the Samsung phone is more cool than iPhone?

    The design is just ugly. HTC One is pettier.

    The Galaxy Phone just feels really cheap when you hold it.

    Samsung is outspending all others on marketing to bash Apple.

    But eventually, it is all about the product, stupid!

    Samsung is forever perceived as a copycat.
    15 Mar, 01:14 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I would be more worried if I was an Android phone than apple. Nothing revolutionary that will take away from apple. Either you want refinement like a Mercedes Benz or your want a Ford Expedition.
    15 Mar, 01:16 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Recent Apple stock purchaser, and slightly underwater at this price..
    I mention that so you'll understand that I'm a fan of Apple, and appreciate the quality and design of their products...

    That said, I use an HTC phone, and two of the reasons are that a) it was cheaper at the time, and b) my eyes aren't so good any longer... (big sigh)

    The bigger screen is simply easier to read for old eyes....
    Not saying that just putting a larger screen on a phone makes it a "better" phone, just saying that it makes it easier to read for those of us of the "reading glasses" age....
    So I have to say I think Apple is missing the boat from ~that~ angle, and I believe they could really open up their phone sales if they offered a larger-screen phone....
    Not that they're hurting now, but still, it might be a thought for you Apple R&D and Marketing folks...
    Thanks...
    15 Mar, 01:17 PM Reply Like
  •  
    @smokey maybe you should get some google glasses.......just kidding....I think aapl will probably make an incremental size change to the iphone or make a larger model size....even though game sales are down 24% this year a lot of young adults play , text and web browse, plus making less phone calls, making the larger screen optimal for viewing....
    15 Mar, 01:40 PM Reply Like
  •  
    @smokey111. You are the only person giving the right answer to the need of a larger screen.
    15 Mar, 01:40 PM Reply Like
  •  
    iPad mini?
    15 Mar, 05:28 PM Reply Like
  •  
    samsung can only kind of innovate, they wait for apple to make the moves, innovate and then copy

    i have a samsung TV, it's good BUT, they have no idea about user friendliness. the controls volume, etc.. are on a transparent surface so you can't even see it unless you're at a certain angle and in the dar it's hopeless. unfortunately we haven't had someone shake up the TV market yet and show us the light; what is should be
    15 Mar, 01:19 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I've gotta have a keyboard, and I would love a larger screen, but the keyboard is more important to me. Since neither the S4 or the iPhone have keyboards, I likely won't be buying either. I'll probably be buying an iPhone for my girl soon, though.
    15 Mar, 01:34 PM Reply Like
  •  
    The current TV market is f-ing CRAP!!! Somebody needs to create an all-in-one TV that has a great, friendly, intuitive interface without hiccups, bugs, and slow loading. If somebody does this, then they will make INSANE money. The companies are all so busy competing with each other that they can't create meaningful partnerships in order to accomplish this.
    15 Mar, 02:18 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Vegas have you seen that latest from Sony? It's an arm and a leg, but talk about resolution.... zowie!
    15 Mar, 05:25 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I guess the market is starting to return to sanity, based on the fact that the Galaxy S4 is just another evolutionary Samsung product, and not an iPhone killer.
    15 Mar, 02:18 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Galaxy SIIIs
    15 Mar, 05:29 PM Reply Like
  •  
    There are a lot of potential problems here and the press is giving Samsung a free pass imo. The same Exynos family dual core in the Nexus 10 tablet (same A 15 cores) uses too much power for a tablet, and it would be crazy to put it in a phone. It is a better laptop chip, really. They are using a better process and they have the little cores, but a quad core could use a ton of power. So, can a full HD display! I'm betting it does well on standby and talking simply because of the gargantuan battery, but I bet games will eat the battery in record time. Also, a lot of these features sound cool, but I have already seen reviewers say some are very quirky--they give a free pass because the phone doesn't even start shipping for close to two months, and Samsung can do a lot of debugging. It isn't a slam dunk, though, by any means. All of those sensors and features can mean a lot of frustration and angry customers if they don't work very well.
    15 Mar, 02:22 PM Reply Like
  •  
    One other point: the GSIV is absolutely huge. I know this because I have seen the S3 up close, and the SIV is bigger. So, Samsung puts all of the fitness stuff on it, but who would take something almost as big as an iPad mini to the gym or on a run? If you did it once, I bet you wouldn't do it again. Great ideas by Samsung, but likely unworkable from a user's standpoint.
    15 Mar, 02:44 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I'd have to look it up but IIRC the case dimensions (L and W) are the same for the III and 4, the screen is just slightly bigger within the same case size, thickness wise I'm not sure. With the bigger battery it might be thicker? Here's a table:
    http://huff.to/XGxx4E

    Also 16% heavier than an iPhone 5, that's less than the III but not by much. Also when did Android 4 come out?
    15 Mar, 05:31 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Well all you Android lovers that should just about close the book on which format manufacturer is innovative. So much for the hoopla, there is a good reason why this phone is cheaper than the 5s. Are you folks done now with all your marketing hoopla. Now it's a battle for second place that's way back of AAPL!
    15 Mar, 05:29 PM Reply Like
  •  
    The Samsung products remind me of the schlocky Japanese HiFi equiptment on the '80s with lots of widgets, sliders, buttons, and flashing lights, that added nothing of value. Remember, Steve Jobs said that what you leave out of a product is as important as what you put in. A simple and elegant product containing what you use on a regular basis, is far better than creating a product with a hodgepodge of confusing software and hardware options, that give the illusion of innovation, but will rarely be used by the average consumer.
    16 Mar, 01:39 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Well-said rbinder
    16 Mar, 10:39 PM Reply Like
  •  
    2% jump is called rallies these days
    18 Mar, 10:46 AM Reply Like
LATEST|
TODAY SO FAR|
YESTERDAY
Other date
DJIA (DIA) S&P 500 (SPY)

TECH ETFs IN FOCUS

Latest Tech Articles
More Latest Articles »