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    • Tue Aug 19th 13:37 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Apple: Fraying at the Edges?
      Arstechnica Aug 19, 2008

      "The most recent results of the American Customer Satisfaction Index puts Apple ahead of all other computer manufacturers with a rating of 85 percent, a new high for the industry. The Cupertino company saw an improvement of 8 percent since the last measurement, putting it 10 full percentage points ahead of its nearest competitor in an industry where the general satisfaction rating has gone down for the second straight time. "
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    • Tue Aug 19th 11:32 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Apple: Fraying at the Edges?
      In my 20 years of using Macs, my experience is Macs run great. I still have an old G4 going full out. I still see colored imacs being heavily used as library terminals in the local university. From what I see and experience Macs are tough, much tougher than PCs.

      As this is an 'investment' blog, from what I've read the Mac Book Air has also been a runaway success for Apple. Apple notebook sales are up 60+ % and the Macbook Air is playing a part in this and according to reports not cannibalizing macbook and Macbook Pro sales.

      Computerworld:

      ""And Apple got a nice bump from the MacBook Air," he (NPD analyst Stephen Baker) added. The MacBook Air, the ultrathin laptop that was unveiled in mid-January by Apple CEO Steve Jobs but which didn't start shipping until early February, accounted for about 20% of Apple's notebook sales last month. Better still for Apple, Baker said, it appears that the new model didn't cannibalize sales of existing Apple products.

      "It looks like the Air is giving Apple an incremental volume opportunity," Baker said."
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    • Fri Jun 27th 11:00 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Research In Motion's Dream Run Comes to an End
      Many of the advantages of Blackberry which people commented on last year has been addressed by iPhone 2.0 for example exchange support etc.

      Things which blackberry supporters are now harping on as Blackberry advantages are things like:

      - server control for things like push applications in enterprises
      - Greater encryption
      - a Keyboard

      All the above and other Blackberry advantages Apple can get and implement - IF they wanted to, it'll just take a bit of time like getting 3G and GPS.

      BUT blackberry will never be able to get an OS like OsX (a modified version which runs the iPhone). It took Steve and Gang something like 20 years to create (starting from Next OS) which makes the iPhone a much more powerful computer than the other smart phones. Microsoft can't match OsX so PHONE makers don't have a chance and when developers jump on board with the iPhone SDK the Os will be unassailable like Windows had been for many years (even IBM couldn't do it with Os2 after spending billions).
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    • Sun Jun 22nd 13:14 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Apple Will Flourish With or Without Steve Jobs
      Some good points in the article and posts here.

      I'll just ad one more thing on the OS thing. Microsoft's grip on the OS is a double edged sword for a Microsoft and an opportunity for Apple. It's a positive for Microsoft as it's tremendous market share (a near monopoly in same areas) gives it tremendous revenue but because it needs to support so many legacy applications, hardware configurations that it finds itself in bind in innovation. Many are still sticking with XP which is what 7 years old? This gives an opportunity for Apple which can innovate much quicker and increase it's OS lead. OsX because it is Unix based is a more modern (and stable and secure) OS than Windows and Apple innovates faster with it, from XP to Vista, Apple has put out Cheetah (Puma), Jaguar, Panther, Tiger and Leopard. Next year it has promised Snow Leopard.
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    • Fri Jun 6th 12:36 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Microsoft's iPhone Envy Is Starting To Show
      Reading the whole letter it seems that Msft. is saying that it will sell 20 million licenses this fiscal year. It also mentions 150 handsets run win mobile. 20 million from 150 different hand phones doesn't sound too good. (I read it as after 150 tries from different manufacturers over many years no one has yet to hit a Win Mobile phone home run. Says something about Win Mobile doesn't it?). Apple's target is 10 million from the iphone and has already sold a few million just selling in the original four countries.
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    • Thu Jun 5th 15:55 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      How to Get Apple to $200
      Calculations and data are all interesting they add to the knowledge base of the investor.

      That said I've always believed that Apple stock is close to that of a Pharmaceutical Company. To evaluate the future stock of a Pharmaceutical firm the most important thing is that do they have new drugs in the pipeline, how effective are they, what are the competitors and do they have FDA approval. For example if they've just invented a new cancer cure with no side effects how much would that be worth?

      Using this illustration the 'New Drugs' for Apple is the iPhone SDK and to lesser extent Apple's other products like Movie Rentals. Will these things take off? Will the SDK be like John Doerr says the birth of new platform 'bigger than the PC', will movie rentals become like music sales for iTunes etc. John Doerr the Amazon and Google financier believes in the iPhone SDK so much he's betting a 100 million to finance iPhone Application developers.

      At the start of Microsoft's rise evaluating Microsoft in a traditional manner e.g. looking at it's balance sheet etc wouldn't have been super helpful, understanding Microsoft's TECHNOLOGY and it's POTENTIAL would have been more important. When they first got hold of PC Dos, the important thing facing investors at that time was evaluating whether PC Dos would be 'the NEXT GREAT THING', the smart investor would have to imagine in 1981 what the PC revolution would be. It would have been nearly impossible to use traditional methods to calculate Msft's growth rate in 1981.

      So now for Apple do you believe what John Doerr and others believe that the iPhone SDK (and other Apple mobile tech as seen in the Macbook Air) be the Next Big Revolution in Computing? If you do invest in Apple, if you don't look for something else. I think people shouldn't invest in tech companies if they don't understand at least something about technology just like they shouldn't invest in pharma companies without understanding drugs and medications.
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    • Fri Apr 25th 15:23 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      What It Would Take To Fix Microsoft For Me
      The iPhone SDK will be another big nail in the coffin of Windows. When 3rd party applications come to Apple "iDevices" the tight integration between these 'new platform' mobile computing devices and 'classic' computers (notebooks, desktops) will be an Apple advantage neither Msft. (or any other company) could match. They can't match it because they don't have OsX. Leopard on Mac is just the beginning, the iPhone SDK (or Cocoa Touch) is whole new and potentially much bigger ball game.
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    • Tue Apr 15th 00:26 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Will the iPhone Eat Blackberry's Business Lunch?
      OsX, OsX, OsX!

      OsX which runs the iPhone, iPod touch etc. took something like 20 years to create (from Next Os).

      OsX is a modern Unix operating system (unlike windows) and is extremely powerful with a phenomenal rendering engine etc. that's why it can run multi-touch, a full page web browser, games like the Spore (watch the iPhone SDK presentation) and complex programs that would bring a Windows mobile device to its knees.

      Because of OsX the iPhone is much more than a phone, it is a MOBILE COMPUTING platform - like a mobile mac. (John Doerr said it's a new platform "bigger than the PC").

      Eventually Apple can get whatever it needs like 3G etc. but it's competitors will NEVER MATCH OsX. If Microsoft with its billions can't do it, PHONE makers like Rim building a "iPhone killer" i.e superseding OSX in " a few months or a year " is ludicrous. That's why all the "iPhone killers" so far function badly, they might have the iPhone looks but not the OS.

      Also OsX allows iPhones and Apple mobile devices to seamlessly integrate in a computing environment, some other "smart-phones&quo... can't even be hooked up to a computer!

      With iPhone software 2.0 coming in June the iPhone will be a platform like no other.

      I own Google stock and I yet I don't think even Android will be much of an iPhone threat.

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    • Mon Apr 14th 04:04 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Smart Phone Wars: iPhone vs. Blackberry vs. ...Android?
      The iPhone is a MOBILE COMPUTER that can also make phone calls. Some other so called 'smart-phones' can't even be hooked up to a computer.

      It took something like 20 years to create OsX (staring as Next Os), a modified version runs the iPhone. Many don't get how sophisticated Unix based OsX is. Microsoft can't match it, doubtful if any PHONE maker can do so. That's why so far every "iphone" killer has fallen flat on its face. Apple will fix whatever iPhone shortcomings there is like 3G, GPS, no sweat just a matter of time but their competitors will never get OsX.

      With iPhone software 2.0 and SDK apps. coming in June the whole game is going to change. The iPhone and future Apple iDevices are going dominate this whole new 'mobile computing' category, nobody is going to come close. As John Doerr Google and Amazon financier said it's whole 'new platform' and he added 'bigger than the PC'. John Doerr biggest tech financier is so sure of this he's setting up a 100 m fund to finance iPhone application development.

      I won Google stock but my bets still with iPhone vs. Android.
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    • Tue Apr 8th 13:07 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Apple Facing Serious Downside Risk - Morgan Keegan
      During the Apple Sdk presentation John Doerr brilliant hard-nosed startup financier of Google and Amazon put up 100m to fund iPhone iPod Touch application development. He said "Today we're witnessing history, the launching of the SDK, the creation of the third great platform—the iPhone and iPod Touch" and added "A really big deal. It's bigger than the personal computer."

      If years ago before anyone used PCs at home and someone invented the PC platform would you buy the stock recession or not?

      MacOsX took something like 20 years to develop, the other handset players will never be able to match it, Apple "iDevices" are going to have a clear run, this is the stock buying opportunity of the decade. I bought more Aapl at 118, I'll buy more if it gets knocked down again by 'analysts'.
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    • Thu Mar 27th 18:53 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Apple Execs Sell Big Blocks of Stock, But Don't Read Too Much Into It
      Steve jobs has not sold any of his apple shares for profit since he returned to Apple in 1996. Blog stories saying that he sold 45% of his apple stock actually refers to stock withheld for taxes.

      From Apple Insider (march 24 2006): "Apple Computer chief executive Steve Jobs this month used over 4.5M of the 10M restricted shares owed to him by the company to pay income and other employment taxes applicable to those shares, AppleInsider has discovered.


      He did not sell any of his stake in the company.

      In order to meet his tax obligations on the 10M restricted shares, which vested this month, Jobs elected to net-share settle -- essentially allowing Apple to withhold and pay to authorities the portion of the 10M shares that would meet his tax payment requirements."

      www.appleinsider.com/a...
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    • Fri Mar 14th 11:10 AM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      AppleTV Has a Lot of Catching Up to Do
      From the companies view: Msft has lost huge amounts of money on the Xbox. It has lost money every quarter except the last due to Halo induced sales (but bungie has since jumped ship). Whether that single quarter's profits have helped Msft is in doubt as due to the thousands of faulty Xboxes (overheated and burnt out) Msft has put out over a billion dollars in warranty claims. Msft has lost money on practically all other initiatives as well including the Zune subsiding losers with software sales. In half a year the iPhone has overtaken Windows Mobile. Apple makes money practically on everything it does. That's why Apple (with a fraction of the PC market) last year made 24 billion while Msft made 51 billion, i.e Apple's revenue is half Msfts. (most people think Apple is a dwarf compared to Msft but not revenue wise) , that's why Apple stock has grown over 1500% the last five years while Msft has grown 30%. In short Apple knows what it is doing with all its products.
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    • Mon Mar 10th 16:04 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Will the iPhone Become the First True Mobile Internet Device?
      I like Google, they are run by smart dudes. Interesting to see where Android will go. Google CEO and chairman Schmidt is on Apple's board. Some good technology like the maps on iPhones (using cell tower triangulation to mimic GPS) is Google's (People don't flame me on this, note I did NOT say iPhones are BETTER than true GPS!)

      But Google and other mobile devices are going to have a hard slog. The iPhone runs modified OsX which is took something like 20 years to develop (growing out from Next Os) so for them to get an OS working as well as iPhones and future iDevices, it's going to be tough. The Os foundation (like the rendering optimization) is already hard enough to match, Apple's ease of use poses an even a bigger challenge. Already the iPhone's marketshare (smartphones) has overtaken Palm, Windows Mobile and second only to Rim. Google says 50 times more searches come from iPhones than any other hand held mobile device so the iPhone has something there. Will iPhones dominate the cellphone market? probably not anytime soon as simple phones are the vast majority, Apple is only aiming at 10 million in 2008 out of 1 billion market, but the potential is there and Apple's iPhone and future devices will grow market share. It took years for RIM selling in many countries to reach 12 million users, Apple in about half a year in four countries has already 4 million.

      Applications on the iPhone (iPod Touch and future iDevices) will be huge, whether corporate, scholastic, scientific or entertainment. When the SDK was released Apple servers couldn't keep up with the traffic. Gameloft (makers of Rainbow Six) for example has announced 15 games coming to the iPhone. Games using the iPhones accelerometer is already creating buzz.
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    • Mon Mar 10th 14:54 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Will the iPhone Become the First True Mobile Internet Device?
      User 162347, you said that iPhones won't be used for medicine, I debunked you and showed your ignorance now you're saying:"It's not going to make the iPhone into an XRay machine like you envision, ". And where exactly did I say the iPhone will become an Xray machine? Can you quote me saying that? My single original post on medicine just stated "a college student's iPhone interface will be different from say a doctors (who will be using his as a diagnostic aid)" Which is exactly correct. READ dude, don't just imagine.

      The simple fact is now you can EASILY configure and carry all kinds of data with you on an OFF THE SHELF tool (versus expensive specialist device), try taking a laptop as you go from patient bed to patient bed or be carried by paramedics for example. My point is the iPhone and future Apple mobile devices can have their interfaces configured for all kinds of tasks (unlike other 'smart' phones), the tech and os is way ahead of others. Already colleges are configuring them and ipod Touches to be used in a school setting.

      I didn't say it'll take over the laptop but it is a paradigm shift in mobile devices.

      You say "Tell me, as a developer, what features of the SDK makes you believe that the applications developed for the iPhone will bring about the changes you envision". Look at my post (instead of just imagining what I wrote) and tell me if anything I envision like the real estate stuff with google maps is impossible.

      When people like you have NO facts to back you up you go back to old "mac fanboy" stuff. Are you calling a hard nosed investor like John Doerr who is putting up 100m for iPhone developers a fanboy as well? I have no doubt that Doerr (Amazon, google financier) is hell of a lot smarter than you.
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    • Mon Mar 10th 13:10 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      Will the iPhone Become the First True Mobile Internet Device?
      Hey user User 162347, this is what Information Week says:" E-Health Provider Epocrates Hails 'Business Friendly' iPhone. CEO Kirk Loevner says more than one in four U.S. physicians use his company's services, which could thrive under the smartphone." www.informationweek.co....

      User 162347 they ALREADY demoed the program for the iPhone and will release it soon (iPhone software 2 out in June needed for native apps.). This is just a start, no doubt many other specialist firms will be writing apps. like this for the iPhone. You said these were all "poor made-up examples of your own imagination. Come back to planet Earth, will you?" what do you say now -- just shows your profound ignorance. Do some research before you spout off next time, ok.
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