Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
robot, you have to read the review I linked. Trying to use one cross platform benchmark doesn't give you a good read. The iP5 wins on most graphics numbers, and most of the CPU numbers against the S3. The N4 does have good CPU scores, but it doesn't do too well on the GPU side. The CPU is very strong, but apparently Android cripples it. You can read this story for a possible explanation: http://bit.ly/VcGREL Also, the fact that the iP5 gets greater than 100% better minutes per watt-hour when you load the phones up makes it a one horse race--with the iPhone 5 all by itself in the lead. What that is telling you is that Apple gets as good or better performance with less than half the power used.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Jed, good reply, but I disagree on a number of points. Not a good analogy on Ma Bell. A good analogy there would be the carriers and their subsidies. Ma Bell was subsidizing the phone for the usage fees, like T and VZ do today. Google and AMZN are discounting their phones and tablets because nobody would buy them if they marked them up. Sorry on the Android stability, but I speak from extensive personal experience. Every version of Android I have used has had very bad stability issues, even worse than Windows 95! Apps are very unpredictable. The battery life and performance are both subpar compared to IOS, as you can see from the reviews. Google is desperate, and so is Amazon. They have both thrown billions of $$s in profits out the window to try to compete with Apple. Selling millions of $100 phones in emerging markets gives you bragging rights on market share, but I don't think it will lead to much profit. Could be wrong, though.
Apple (AAPL -0.8%) is ticking lower after Susquehanna's Chris Caso argues recent iPhone-related order cuts (confirmed by his own checks) are due to demand falling short of expectations. "Based on what we believe has been produced since 3Q12, we don’t see any way that AAPL can meet consensus sell-through numbers." On a brighter note, Digitimes claims Apple has ramped its iPad Mini orders after having cut them earlier due to component shortages. CRUS -3.4%. SWKS -2%. (previous: I, II, III, IV) [View news story]
You guys see the follow-up on Barron's? This same guy published the same story, pretty much, 12 months ago. Pointed out, according to the story, by Horace Deidu, I believe. Enjoy: (November 2011) >>“We conducted a round of proprietary supply chain checks to update our production forecasts. Checks at multiple suppliers indicated that AAPL has canceled some iPhone production in 4Q....we believe iPhone 4S production has been reduced by ~4 mln units in 4Q (we were expecting 26 mln-28 mln iPhone 4S units to be produced in 4Q).”<< Of course, we now know how wrong Mr. Caso was last year, as Apple sold 37+ million iPhones. Being an analyst obviously isn't easy! http://on.barrons.com/...
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Jed, worse on the following compared to IOS: battery life, performance, security, stability, app availability, app functionality(fragment... and general), installed base and accessories, and despite the talk--price in most cases is close. Admittedly, Goog and AMZN do subsidize, so when you look at those prices they are compelling. But, you have to ask yourself why they are having to give away their products? Because they know that they need a big installed base to interest developers? At any rate, the big numbers are on extremely cheap phones that nobody is making money on, including Google on ads. Google probably makes more off of IOS products than they do Android when you subtract the MOT losses, subsidies, and overhead. Just a guess.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Sure, read this review on Anandtech. http://bit.ly/T9WEqo You can see the specs (like battery size) on page 1 and the battery life testing is noted in the review. BTW, this is not just a Samsung problem. This is an Android problem, but I suspect W8 has the same issues. You can read my instablog article on the A6, too. The A6 and IOS aren't just better, they produce exclusive numbers, nobody can compete at present. Other phone makers are desperately trying to convince people they need a bigger screen, but I suspect the real reason they are selling big screens is that they can't make a competitive phone that small. They need an A6. Outside of that, they need a very large form factor to put the 50% larger battery in the phone. Even then, iPhone does much better.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
fya, that is pretty funny. The Galaxy S3 has a 50% larger battery in it! That is why the Androids are selling slabs so hard--they *can't* make a competitive phone in a small form factor. BTW, the iP5 crushes the Maxx and soundly whips the S3 in performance. So, with that 50% bigger battery, and weaker performance, how much longer does the S3 battery last on internet surfing? 3RD party testing shows the iPhone 5 outlasts the S3 by ~63%! So, the normalized minutes per watt is over 100% better for the iPhone 5! You prove my point beautifully. People are completely ignorant and unaware of how *terrible* Android battery life is compared to the iPhone.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Provocative and interesting! I'm not sure Andy is on the ropes, but Android does have some terrible problems that few even mention! One of the issues for Android is something I experienced personally--terrible battery life. I have seen articles that blame the terrible performance on ads, on a less efficient compiler, on fragmentation issues, and on weaker design/cheaper battery chemistry. As an example, I looked at Google's latest offering, the Nexus 4 versus the iPhone 5. The Nexus 4 has about a 50% larger battery, yet the iP5 outlasts it on internet surfing by around 100%. Oh, and did I mention that the iPhone 5 outperforms it. One reviewer commented that he had to charge the N4 several times a day. Why the tame Android press won't cover the terrible battery life issues is a mystery to me. Maybe the phone makers are flying the reviewers around the world in first class? This is a huge issue, and much, much worse than Apple Maps imo, but nobody discusses it.
Look Out, Apple: Samsung Is Eating Your Smartphone Lunch [View article]
Not only are your points correct RFH, but Apple outsold Samsung in the US *last* qtr in a big way. People keep mentioning the worldwide Android share, and ignorantly implying that Samsung is eating Apple's pie, but they are using millions of ultra-cheap, emerging market phones for those stats. Apple utterly crushed Samsung *last* qtr here. We know that because ATT and VZ release smartphone sales and iPhone activations. Iphones outsold all other phones combined by almost 2 to 1! That is Windows, Rimm, all of the Android makers--Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola, etc.
Look Out, Apple: Samsung Is Eating Your Smartphone Lunch [View article]
A bit deceptive. Here is the problem: Apple has an annual release cycle that is different from Samsung's, and your snapshot is at the peak of Samsung's and the nadir of Apple's. Apple should sell close to 50 million phones this qtr. Also, Samsung sells Nexus give-aways and a lot of very low budget phones. Apple can, and might, make an emerging market phone. The real telling stat is here in America. Even at the end of Apple's cycle, they still outsold Samsung at the three major carriers by a huge amount on smartphones! Apple was eating Samsung's lunch in the highest margin market last qtr, and this qtr will be much worse for Samsung.
The 10 Most Important Questions - And Predictions - For 2013 (Part 1) [View article]
Guys, how about some sanity? Apple has $120 net cash and they should make about $50 a share this year. They are supply constrained on several new products, including iP5 and the IPad mini. These numbers are ridiculous compared to the 12-13X Mr. Market has placed on the S&P 500, a valuation which is historically low. Even if you pretend the cash isn't there, $650 is 13 X this year's conservative estimate! Phones are pretty important to most consumers, and iPads are far and away the number one gift in recent surveys. If Apple warns, or the budget implodes, maybe we stay flat, but most of the pressure on Apple is CG tax avoidance, which will end very soon.
Nvidia's Tegra 4: Analyzing The Leaked Information [View article]
I'm excited to see what this chip can do, but remember NVDA has had a problem with overhyping and not delivering anything close to expectations in the past. The problem here is physics. You really think they can produce a QC A-15 with 610/620 type cores and get the TDP in a phone or tablet? Believe that when I see it. I could believe a netbook or ultrabook type TDP. Looking at the first dual core A15 chips from Samsung, they appear to perform very well, but they use way too much power for a phone, and even tablet battery life is terrible when you really load the chip up.
Key Apple Suppliers Enter Oversold Territory [View article]
Possible, but remember sellers don't always make perfect decisions, and buyers don't always jump right back. Just look at the insider roster. They may expect the stock to go down, and they may be hoping for a better deal later. Tax selling is an overhang in perception and reality, but it is gone in a few days. I suspect it will melt up unless we get some bad news. If we get good news, I think it climbs back quickly.
Key Apple Suppliers Enter Oversold Territory [View article]
It amazes me how wrong the press can be on Apple, and subsequently about their suppliers. I remember Bloomberg doing a story a couple of years ago on how the iPad 2 would come out months down the road, quoting reliable Asian sources. They wrote that story the day before Apple sent the media invite out! Apple is tightly coiled and could explode upward on any solid news. Tax selling is killing rally momentum, but that is gone next week. Also, I suspect we will bottom before the expectation--a 12/31 settlement. In fact, that is worth a story unto itself. I think you would have to sell it by the day after Christmas to write it off. Apple's incredible 2 million iP5 sales number should have caused a $50 rally. It is very good news for how the phone will sell there, and it is even better news for encouraging CHL to join the team. A TV media invite could go out anytime next year; CHL would want to announce as early as possible to keep customers...any of these would produce a scary rally imho. The suppliers will rally in sympathy.
Intel's Big Buyback Will Roast The Bears [View article]
The biggest point to make about this is the confidence mgmt is exuding by doing it. What they are saying is that based on what we see looking forward, the stock is so undervalued that this incredibly bold move is warranted. Analysts can talk all they want, but Intel knows exactly how good Haswell performs compared to the competition. They know exactly how well the competition performs in mobile and elsewhere. It is an insider indication if ever there was one. And it is also very bullish for fundamentals. Dividend can go up at little cost, and EPS goes up without bigger earnings.
Intel And Qualcomm: The Moment Of Truth Is Near [View article]
Most investors have forgotten about Intel's Infineon purchase, but Intel hasn't. Time and process will help Intel, so they will get stronger as time goes by.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Apple (AAPL -0.8%) is ticking lower after Susquehanna's Chris Caso argues recent iPhone-related order cuts (confirmed by his own checks) are due to demand falling short of expectations. "Based on what we believe has been produced since 3Q12, we don’t see any way that AAPL can meet consensus sell-through numbers." On a brighter note, Digitimes claims Apple has ramped its iPad Mini orders after having cut them earlier due to component shortages. CRUS -3.4%. SWKS -2%. (previous: I, II, III, IV) [View news story]
>>“We conducted a round of proprietary supply chain checks to update our production forecasts. Checks at multiple suppliers indicated that AAPL has canceled some iPhone production in 4Q....we believe iPhone 4S production has been reduced by ~4 mln units in 4Q (we were expecting 26 mln-28 mln iPhone 4S units to be produced in 4Q).”<<
Of course, we now know how wrong Mr. Caso was last year, as Apple sold 37+ million iPhones. Being an analyst obviously isn't easy!
http://on.barrons.com/...
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
You can see the specs (like battery size) on page 1 and the battery life testing is noted in the review. BTW, this is not just a Samsung problem. This is an Android problem, but I suspect W8 has the same issues. You can read my instablog article on the A6, too. The A6 and IOS aren't just better, they produce exclusive numbers, nobody can compete at present. Other phone makers are desperately trying to convince people they need a bigger screen, but I suspect the real reason they are selling big screens is that they can't make a competitive phone that small. They need an A6. Outside of that, they need a very large form factor to put the 50% larger battery in the phone. Even then, iPhone does much better.
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Android Is Dead, Part 3: The Numbers [View article]
Look Out, Apple: Samsung Is Eating Your Smartphone Lunch [View article]
Look Out, Apple: Samsung Is Eating Your Smartphone Lunch [View article]
The 10 Most Important Questions - And Predictions - For 2013 (Part 1) [View article]
Nvidia's Tegra 4: Analyzing The Leaked Information [View article]
Key Apple Suppliers Enter Oversold Territory [View article]
Key Apple Suppliers Enter Oversold Territory [View article]
Intel's Big Buyback Will Roast The Bears [View article]
Intel And Qualcomm: The Moment Of Truth Is Near [View article]