rajsekar

Will the New iPhone Be Enough to Hold off the Competition?

I am waiting for a $49 iPhone for the holidays, or may be buy one iPhone for $99 and get one free offer from AT&T. What idiots! People were eager to get an iPhone because it was a rare gadget in July 2007. It slowly became a mainstream phone with release of 3G in June 2008 and price reduced to $199. Now it becomes a bulk commodity with $99 price range. Didn't everyone see this phenomenon with Moto Razr phone four years ago. Demand for iPhone will drop with this price cut because of psychological issue. What's the big deal if every Tom, Dick and Harry has an iPhone? People would rather use a Pre, RIM, Nokia thin phone or something else. Apple has managed to convert a Porche into a Toyota within two years and this is going to hurt them badly. In the same argument, why not reduce Macbook prices to match Dell, HP and Toshiba. Am I missing something here? Also speaking of 50,000 apps. that all analysts keep referring to, majority of them are completely useless and non-productive ones. I have downloaded nearly 200 games and apps. which are hopeless. What's the point in having a huge app store filled with junk stuff? Nothing but idiots.

Will iPhone's Latest Incarnation Accelerate Demand?

I am waiting for a $49 iPhone for the holidays, or may be buy one iPhone for $99 and get one free offer from AT&T. What idiots! People were eager to get an iPhone because it was a rare gadget in July 2007. It slowly became a mainstream phone with release of 3G in June 2008 and price reduced to $199. Now it becomes a bulk commodity with $99 price range. Didn't everyone see this phenomenon with Moto Razr phone four years ago. Demand for iPhone will drop with this price cut because of this psychological issue. What's the big deal if every Tom, Dick and Harry has an iPhone? People would rather use a Pre, RIM, Nokia thin phone or something else. Apple has made a Porche into a Toyota within two years and this is going to hurt them badly. In the same argument, why not reduce Macbook prices to match Dell, HP and Toshiba. Am I missing something here? Also speaking of 50,000 apps. that all analysts keep referring to, majority of them are completely useless and non-productive ones. I have downloaded nearly 200 games and apps. which are hopeless. What's the point in having a huge app store filled with junk stuff? Nothing but idiots.

The iPhone: Lessons on Industry Pricing Power

I am waiting for a $49 iPhone for the holidays, or may be buy one iPhone for $99 and get one free offer from AT&T. What idiots! People were eager to get an iPhone because it was a rare gadget in July 2007. It slowly became a mainstream phone with release of 3G in June 2008 and price reduced to $199. Now it becomes a bulk commodity with $99 price range. Didn't everyone see this phenomenon with Moto Razr phone four years ago. Demand for iPhone will drop with this price cut because of this psychological issue. What's the big deal if every Tom, Dick and Harry has an iPhone? People would rather use a Pre, RIM, Nokia thin phone or something else. Apple has made a Porche into a Toyota within two years and this is going to hurt them badly. In the same argument, why not reduce Macbook prices to match Dell, HP and Toshiba. Am I missing something here?

Apple WWDC: Analysis of the Analysts

I am waiting for a $49 iPhone for the holidays, or may be buy one iPhone for $99 and get one free offer from AT&T. What idiots! People were eager to get an iPhone because it was a rare gadget in July 2007. It slowly became a mainstream phone with release of 3G in June 2008 and price reduced to $199. Now it becomes a bulk commodity with $99 price range. Didn't everyone see this phenomenon with Moto Razr phone four years ago. Demand for iPhone will drop with this price cut because of this psychological issue. What's the big deal if every Tom, Dick and Harry has an iPhone? People would rather use a Pre, RIM, Nokia thin phone or something else. Apple has made a Porche into a Toyota within two years and this is going to hurt them badly. In the same argument, why not reduce Macbook prices to match Dell, HP and Toshiba. Am I missing something here?

Quick Thoughts on Toyota's Recent Profitability Issues

The opening of a new plant for making Tundra full-size pickup was a colossal mistake. Even before the first Tundra rolled out of San Antonio plant in 2008, the pickup truck sales numbers went south. Toyota is now saddled with this huge investment which was planned and opened in a hurry under Watanabe's rule. After this blunder, Toyota broke ground for two new plants in US and Canada each. I won't be surprised if all three plants will end up being closed or sold to other auto makers. San Antonio plant will be a nail in the coffin for Toyota's US operations. Toyota can make a slow come back in US, but their sales of mid-end models (Corolla, Camry and RAV4) are slowing in China, India and Europe. Can sales in US and Japan save Toyota? I doubt. Nissan and Honda are in a stronger position worldwide, as compared to Toyota. Their sales slide in Japan and US are compensated well in Europe, India and China. Nissan's Canton plant in Mississippi can make 5 models under one roof (Altima, Titan, Quest, Armada, X-Terra) and no other manufacturer has such great flexible plant in the world. The plant can be retooled very quickly to assemble a new line of SUV or Sedan.

Apple's 10 Million iPhone Target

It has been very clear to everyone that Steve Jobs was either drunk or missed a decimal in forecasting sales for iPhone, especially 10 million phones in a single year. Steve Jobs took cell phone users for granted and of course his great fan(atics) base who will shell out anything for a product if Apple logo is embossed. Steve Jobs knew his blunder after just two weeks of iPhone sales and rushed to reduce the price. Now Apple has to meet their promised target and we can expect another round of price cuts for iPhone before next quarterly results. In conclusion, will 10 million iPhones make any difference to Apple's growth - less likely? It's a recession year and consumers will hesitate to spend money on luxury items which Apple churns out. How many Macs and Air Notebooks can Apple sell in next two quarters? Will iPhone SDK have any impact on sales? - will have to wait and see.

10M iPhone Target Is a Non Issue

Great analysis. To begin with, how did Steve Jobs arrive at 10 million iPhone sales forecast in one year? I would say that he was either drunk or missed a decimal in forecasting sales. Steve Jobs took cell phone users for granted and of course his great fan(atics) base who will shell out anything for a product if Apple logo is embossed. Steve Jobs knew his blunder after just two weeks of iPhone sales and rushed to reduce the price. Now Apple has to meet their promised target and we can expect another round of price cuts for iPhone before next quarterly results. In conclusion, will 10 million iPhones make any difference to Apple's growth - less likely? It's a recession year and consumers will hesitate to spend money on luxury items which Apple churns out. How many Macs and Air Notebooks can Apple sell in next two quarters? Apple fans will have to keep in mind that all Apple products are premium segment and growth potential is limited in coming years for this segment.

Apple Hits Lowest Level Since June; New iPhone Worries

My dear friends (tom1234 and User 155370) - Wake up from your deep slumber. Wait until Apple stock bottoms at $90 before Olympics. If you guys are so desperate to sell 10 million iPhones, then try to open an AT&T franchise in your home town and sell few iPhones. Or go to Olympics and sell the Chinese some iPhones. Don't come to these forums and throw crap at what analysts have spent time to research. People are sick of Apple fanatics and their arm twisting tactics in all forums. If you guys are so smart, then Steve Jobs should hire you immediately.

Apple Hits Lowest Level Since June; New iPhone Worries

There you go - one more opportunity for Apple fans to bash the reality. Are Apple fans living in NeverLand or are they paid by Steve Jobs? The days of iPod hitting the sales numbers are over. Wake up, Apple fans. It's time for reality check and the stock is going nowwhere for next 18 months. There is no growth in Apple's product lines, unless their fans want to keep buying these iPods and iPhones. Where is the 10 millionth iPhone? Wait until summer 2008 for another $100 price cut for iPhone.

Report Apple Has 'Slashed' Its 2008 NAND Flash Order Forecast

There you go - one more opportunity for Apple fans to bash the reality. Are Apple fans living in NeverLand or are they paid by Steve Jobs? The days of iPod hitting the sales numbers are over. Wake up, Apple fans. It's time for reality check and the stock is going nowwhere for next 18 months. There is no growth in Apple's product lines, unless their fans want to keep buying these iPods and iPhones. Where is the 10 millionth iPhone? Wait until summer 2008 for another $100 price cut for iPhone.

Half Of All Display Ad Clicks Are Worthless

Great story Erick. This is the biggest hoax that Google has unleashed on advertisers and small business units. Majority of search users click on ads to just get information and they have no intention to buy the product or link that they clicked. This is a known fact to Google and advertisers. I have seen many instances wherein my product link was clicked and there was no sale. Small business units should be tracking the ad clicks carefully every month and then terminate Google's ad contract if the sales figures do not match the number of clicks. People are so foolish to keep paying money to Google for this biggest business hoax ever played. I hope analytics companies tear this mystery shrouding Google's revenue growth from ad clicks. Small business units are better off placing ads in local city websites and print materials - the returns are justified.

You have to think that the biggest bulls on Google are just plain idiots - the time has come to unearth the truth on why Google's stock is going to have a hard landing in 2008. It's funny to read analysis from Google bulls saying that the stock will hit $900 very soon. How long can these idiots spin such stories? We need more Ericks to give a rational look at this ad click hoax. I am sorry for Yahoo for being drawn into this comparison with Google. Yahoo as a company is doing fine with their excellent web portal business model and analysts kept comparing Google's stock price and results with Yahoo. Quarter after quarter these idiots drove Yahoo's price down based on Google's hoax and now they want to partner with Yahoo. What a gross injustice Wall Street has committed on Yahoo. Google knows that their heady days are coming to an end and the founders are creating another round of hype using Android, Open Office and YouTube. Can YouTube deliver any financial incentive to Google? I doubt if any single user will pay Google any penny if they start charging for uploading videos. YouTube can attract millions of eyeballs with zero revenue - Wall Street should wake up to this reality. If Google starts cluttering YouTube with ads., then users will look elsewhere. What a great hoax...

The Inconvenient Truth About Current TV's $100 Million IPO

Brewer, I am sorry for your friend-Al Gore. He should have minimum won his home state of Tennessee and Bill Clinton's home state of Arkansas. In that case Republicans would not have bothered about Florida votes. Bill Clinton literally left Gore high and dry in 2000 and just compare the Republican machinery which worked during the same period. Al Gore paid a high price for his association with the Democratic party which remained silent during the recounting days of Dec. 2000. Well, Gore could have again run in 2004 and the numbers were again not in his favor. A Presidential candidate should reach across most of the segments - liberals, conservatives, women, blue-collar, labor class, immigrants, etc. Can Gore atleast run for governorship in his own state of Tennessee and win? I doubt he can do it.

Apple: On an Innovation Treadmill

Brewer, Tom Jackson, Mark2005 - Great comments; You guys are right on the point regarding innovation and breakthrough by Apple; the fundamental argument is how far will innovation push Apple to grow in coming years. Jobs should open the Mac ecosystem like Microsoft and make the OS battleground even. In a period of recession, majority of home PC users and middle income wage earners will try to pinch whatever savings they have. How many of these users can Apple entice in next few years with existing Mac products? My guess is very few. As Tom mentioned, the undeniable power and appeal of Apple products is an asset, but can Jobs translate that appeal to spectacular growth as Wall Street desires? I don't have an answer. The faster you rise the louder will be the crash. Apple's stock did meteoric rise in 2007 on iPhone's hype and all kinds of numbers were thrown by analysts last year. What's the ultimate result? The hype has been uncovered and Jobs knows that he has an uphill battle to sell 10 million iPhones by 2008. I am sure there will be another price cut for iPhone in summer '08 to simply achieve the 10 million target. 2008 is going to be a tough year for all IT/ Internet stocks, especially Apple, Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Sun.

Brewer, I am sorry for your friend-Al Gore. He should have minimum won his home state of Tennessee and Bill Clinton's home state of Arkansas. In that case Republicans would not have bothered about Florida votes. Bill Clinton literally left Gore high and dry in 2000 and just compare the Republican machinery which worked during the same period. Al Gore paid a high price for his association with the Democratic party which remained silent during the recounting days of Dec. 2000.

Apple: On an Innovation Treadmill

Seriously- What a punch! Please read Daniel's analysis on Apple's growth. We are not discussing Bill Gates (or) Google (or) Al Gore. I have my comments for Mr. Loser at (seekingalpha.com/artic...). Facts and numbers speak louder than words.

Coming to your point, Apple and Google are both scrambling for growth in coming years. Google's core IP is Search technology and they are better off doing that and making money. Google will not power the universe with super-duper computer, lest developing an Operating System. Yahoo's core strength is web portal and they do it well. But the analysts always compare Yahoo and Google and managed to drive down Yahoo's stock price. There are areas where Yahoo excels and Google has faltered and vice-versa. Coming back to Daniel's analysis - can Apple grow? My target price for Apple is below $90 by end of 2008 - Seriously.

Apple: On an Innovation Treadmill

Excellent analysis by Daniel. I wish analysts really poke deeper into overhyped stocks and companies like Apple. Of course Apple fanatics cannot digest such analysis. Most of the commentators forget a fundamental fact about Apple. Apple is a carefully crafted and built company piloted by Jobs. Similar fate awaited Dell and Sony recently. Jobs decides the strategy and how to execute everything. Hence the entire foundation of a company is hinging on a single individual who has an aversion towards building an ecosystem around Apple products. You have to compare this strategy against Microsoft which has built a strong channel partnership and ecosystem around Windows software. Apple fans can hate Microsoft, but the fact of the matter is that the entire IT infrastructure in the world predominantly runs on Windows ecosystem and there is no way that Apple can capture even 50% of this market. Apple is digging deeper to innovate the mobile phone and home video segments, which has good growth potential in developing countries like India and China. But Steve Jobs' aversion to channel partners will slow the growth momentm. Instead Jobs wants to price his products at premium and maintain Apple's margins. Which is a better strategy? - having an open ecosystem with unlimited growth potential coming from community developers and channel partners or selling Rolls Royce to few Kings? A classic flaw of Steve Jobs is to tie up with AT&T for five years - he could have sold iPhones to atleast three carriers in US. Where is the 10 millionth iPhone?