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Unintended Consequences of Apple Secrecy

The problem with most investors is that they think they "own" the company rather than just participate in the trends of pricing. In a founder based company Jobs maintains interest in the real juice of the enterprise. He doesn't flash or telegraph or issue press blurbs; he produces the outcomes he is after and measures his success in the terms of customer service, imagination and accomplishment of what can be done if you ignore the irrelevancies and stay with the main course.

His so called "secrecy" is simply to keep others from messing in what he wants to produce and he is successful in that. Investing in AAPL is about the willingness to trust in the Jobsian culture of excellence, imagination and execution. We are bystanders at best.

Here Comes the iPhone 3G S

Of course the trick of the month is for the folks who have waited to afford an Iphone. For $99.00 you get the best up till now platform plus the latest operating system!

New Microsoft Ad Targets High Cost of Macs

Wow such rehashing of the decade old dispute.

What metric should you use in judging product quality? Try this: What is the overall customer experience? How to measure: what % of those who have used both are likely to switch back to the other brand? Are Mac users switching (back) to PCs or are PC users switching to Macs and staying with them.

The price argument is bogus or at least so complex that it mostly serves as a come on for inexperienced buyers. My favorite restaurant is more expensive than many others I have tried. Why do I go back?

Ominous Drop in Sales Bodes Ill for More than Just Apple - Barron's

If retail Malls are emptying, and Apple stores are in the Malls is it a comment about Apple's product line or possibly a shift in the way people will be buying those things they do buy-especially on line.

The real news would/could be that Mall traffic is down xxx% but that the share of that traffic that Apple gets is up yyy%. It shows resiliency and continued popularity relative to other products. Half full or half empty.

Time to Sell Apple

If you are selling now you are betting against Jobs recovery by June. What's in the pipeline will sustain Apple a long time. If jobs pops back in June the stock will both celebrate and at the same time realize it has a winning formula with or without jobs.

Research in Motion's Storm: Why It Matters

All very interesting. the discussion can be boiled down tho. To this: The game will be won by comparisons of the user experience. People compare. Unless there are huge price differences the word of mouth ultimately determines the winner. this will emerge after a new phone has been in play for at least 6 months. To those who know it may be apparent in first 90 days.

Why Apple Stock Is Poised To Go Flat - At Best

Well, you probably got back what you expected from the Apple fans. Of course the comments are open to anyone, and we didn't see much substance coming back from other investors who don't believe in Apple.; I wonder what that means? Could it be that Apple has an emotional edge? Not a manufactured one but a real one that affects purchasing decisions and word of mouth. Could it be relevant that Apple was 10 points higher in customer satisfaction than the nearest competitors? Perhaps. Nothing lasts forever, and no one is making that argument, but a long run is what? Ask IBM, GE, Ford.

On market cap: An old measure that is not an inhibitor but a simple score. If Apple was broken down to four markets- each as a separate company: Computers, Music delivery, Communication devices and Visual, and each had its own cap would that make it easier to visualize or imagine? Perhaps. If you don't think that smart executives in Apple are planning for the long term - after Steve you aren't clear about the level of management. What bothers you and many is that Apple won't tell you in advance.

The key to Apple's success is the principle of lifetime customers- people who root for the company, its products and its success in a way that is unheard of. Can you think of many other firms who have such loyalty and trust? Is that a payoff for good publicity or hype? No, sorry, it is because of only one thing- they feel well served by the business and its products pure and simple.

Steve Jobs: Honesty Is the Best Policy

since the beginning of this story I have wondered how Nocera knew that it was Jobs calling and not an impostor. The opening conversation does not sound correct and why Nocera??

I'd like to know more

tom

Five Key Quotes from Apple's Conference Call

Do not under estimate the potential for a breakthrough and don't shy away from the fact that a slight reduction in margins coupled with a major market expansion is good news. When you get to the guts and tone of the discussions about upcomings you will find an interpretation possible that fits a major global leap in market penetration following closely on the global IPh leap. Think "best in category" best price value ratios, leveraging OSX and more. Now think about the potential of a world class, world market price. new CPU in $599 to 995 range that includes (option) A TV and all the rest. Snazzy cheap and irresistible. Just imagine it and how it will take biz from HP and Dell and others. hundreds of millions sold?

If big enough it would become all about execution and upgrades and customer service for at least 24 months. And would give Steve enough time to rest and think creatively about the next breakthrough.

Tom

Analysts Weigh in on Apple Earnings; 10-15 Points More Downside?

Given the significant clues at the conf call:
1. Something big on the horizon
2. Leveraging core competencies to keep others out (umbrella comment)
3. Emphasis on staying high value to consumer
4. The worldwide rollout is on track even with pipeline gaps
5. Keeping the focus on core competencies (software interface) and pushing it further. Consider this possibility:

A world class appropriately priced new line of computers that has the power to take on Dell and HP etc on price v perceived value world wide and integrate with everything else. Say cpus ranging from $599 to $999. Perhaps a global launch and impact high enough that SJ can move away from the day to day.

Tom

Apple/Mozilla Flap Is Really About Google Revenue

It is not "evil" to send you a piece of software that is part of a computer ecosystem that you have a piece of already. If it were not a top quality browser and hadn't just been upgraded and already installed on most Macs it would require a sales pitch to get you to go look for it and download it. It was a favor for me in that I forgot they were upgrading it. This is a business decision for the company and its customers. I certainly wish a lot of other companies would keep their products in update mode and give the upgrades to me. I like FrFx too and I do wonder why they require so many updates. Anyway tempest in the ether zone.

Apple's AT&T Deal Is Costly

And about those unlocked phones. 400.000 in China. These are not losses for Apple. These are phones that could only be purchased if unlocked so net positive and shows level of demand.

The real plus for apple is that it designs, promotes, executes almost flawlessly and doesn't tip its hand. Top strategic firm in the business.

Tom

Apple: On an Innovation Treadmill

Such unnecessary complexity.

What sustains Apple is the unknown and unexpected. it is called breakthrough. What is not in the equations or in this discussion is the power to invent products that create undeniable power and appeal, and the existence of a company/team that can do that. if there is even a small chance that Jobs and his partners can come up with breakthrough products, it is worth investing in.

To judge a company that is dedicated to innovation and breakthrough value to its customers by the life cycle of its current products is so narrow. The question to ask is: In the age of knowledge (use, accumulation, distribution,) as an engine of evolutionary import and wealth creation, what products and services could leap out and totally surprise and delight 500 million customers. Jobs, and others are out to explore and answer that question and perhaps they have the capability to do it. That's why I own aapl; not because their ipods are famous.

Tom Jackson

Are Tuesdays Good for Reversals?

I have been taken down by so called market flushes (manipulations) on AAPL three times now and not without some surprise- and damage- each time. This one really hurt coming after yesterday. Isn't this illegal? Deceptive and unethical for sure. Ouch! Who can blow the whistle on it? Tom