Mortonk's Comments Mortonk's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/3791421/comments Apple (AAPL +0.4%) roundup: 1) Suppliers are shipping a "large number" of parts for a cheaper iPhone, says Taiwan's Commercial Times. A 28nm app processor made by TSMC (TSM) is said to be among them. 2) iBookstore chief Keith Moerer says Apple's e-book sales doubled last year, and thinks its e-book share is at ~20%. John Paczkowski notes Amazon (AMZN) and Barnes & Noble (BKS) have been assigned shares of 65% and 25% in the past. 3) The minimum purchase needed for an iAd campaign is now only $50. It once stood at $1M. 4) Reuters' report about Apple mulling a $99 price for its low-cost iPhone is raising eyebrows, given the cheapest iPhone now goes for $450 unsubsidized. Was a subsidized price being discussed? http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1083352?source=feed#comment-19953742 19953742 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:33:40 -0400 The ITC has delayed until Tuesday a verdict on whether Apple (AAPL) has breached Samsung (SSNLF.PK) patents in the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. The ITC, which was supposed to have ruled on Friday, didn't provide a reason for the postponement. In a preliminary decision in September, an ITC administrative law judge cleared Apple of violating the IP. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1058981?source=feed#comment-19517591 19517591 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 05:51:26 -0400 Apple's (AAPL) stringent policies with telecom carriers - including minimum sales requirements - and the iPhone's high price and its technical needs, are preventing the company from addressing a market of 2.8B customers, research firm Asymco.com estimates. Tellingly, Apple has signed fewer than a dozen new carriers since September 2011, helping to explain the device's slowing growth and Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) increasing dominance. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/999451?source=feed#comment-18485001 18485001 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:50:21 -0400 Shame On You, Apple http://seekingalpha.com/article/1389491/comments?source=feed#comment-18331891 18331891 Wed, 01 May 2013 16:48:42 -0400 Apple's Shareholder Program: The Day The Music Died http://seekingalpha.com/article/1379151/comments?source=feed#comment-18183841 18183841 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 06:21:30 -0400 Some Apple (AAPL) commentary: 1) Horace Dediu estimates the iPhone and iPad's component costs respectively rose 29% and 65% Y/Y in FQ2, well above rev. growth of 3% and 40%. This, along with a mix shift towards iPads, is mostly responsible for Apple's gross margin drop (rather than price pressure). 2) Tero Kuittinen sees similarities between 2013 Apple and 2007 Nokia. "The strongest parallel is in the weird way both companies started fighting the consumer preference for larger displays … and then dug in as margins began eroding rapidly." Tim Cook may have just hinted a bigger iPhone will eventually arrive. But how long will it take? (yesterday) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/976241?source=feed#comment-18177411 18177411 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:57:13 -0400 Samsung Electronics (SSNLF.PK) says its Q1 profit rose 42% to a record high on strong smartphone sales. Net profit rose to a record KRW7.15T ($6.4B), up from KRW5.05T a year earlier. Operating profit rose 54% to KRW8.8T from KRW5.7T. Sales rose 16.8% to KRW52.9T from KRW45.3T, coming in in line with the company's guidance of KRW51T to KRW53T. The results stand in stark contrast those of Apple (AAPL), which earlier this week reported its first profit drop in a decade and forecast margins to decline in the current quarter ending in June. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/972921?source=feed#comment-18117751 18117751 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:31:42 -0400 More on Apple: Quarterly dividend increased by 15% to $3.05/share (3% yield); Apple "plans to borrow" to return cash. FQ2 iPhone and iPad sales beat expectations, Macs a little light. Gross margin was 37.5%, at low end of guidance range of 37.5%-38.5% and -990 bps Y/Y. Apple expects to return $100B in cash via capital return program by end of 2015, up from prior $45B. Exc. retail, Americas revenue +7% Y/Y, Europe +11%, Greater China +8%, Japan +19%, rest of Asia-Pac +26%. Retail +19%. iPhone revenue only +3% Y/Y, iPad +40%, Mac +7%, iPod -20% on 5.6M units. AAPL halted, to resume trading at 4:50PM. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/961271?source=feed#comment-18100621 18100621 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:06:23 -0400 More on Apple: Quarterly dividend increased by 15% to $3.05/share (3% yield); Apple "plans to borrow" to return cash. FQ2 iPhone and iPad sales beat expectations, Macs a little light. Gross margin was 37.5%, at low end of guidance range of 37.5%-38.5% and -990 bps Y/Y. Apple expects to return $100B in cash via capital return program by end of 2015, up from prior $45B. Exc. retail, Americas revenue +7% Y/Y, Europe +11%, Greater China +8%, Japan +19%, rest of Asia-Pac +26%. Retail +19%. iPhone revenue only +3% Y/Y, iPad +40%, Mac +7%, iPod -20% on 5.6M units. AAPL halted, to resume trading at 4:50PM. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/961271?source=feed#comment-18000651 18000651 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:30:49 -0400 Apple (AAPL +1.6%) roundup: 1) Take this one with a big spoonful of salt: "Some Wall Street sources close to some Apple executives" tell Forbes contributor Gene Marcial some at the company are looking for a replacement for Tim Cook. 2) CIRP estimates the iPhone 5 made up 53% of Q1 U.S. iPhone sales, up slightly from Q4's 50%. Meanwhile, citing Verizon's Q1 iPhone mix, BMO (Outperform) now sees Apple's latest iPhone accounting for 55% of Sep. quarter iPhone sales, down from a prior 70%.  3) A Foxconn worker speaking to China Business claims Apple returned 5M-8M iPhones "due to appearance of substandard or dysfunctional problems." (Citi) (BGC/Avondale) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/957191?source=feed#comment-17945591 17945591 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:44:59 -0400 The mobile patent wars rage on: an ITC administrative law judge rules Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) phones infringe on two more claims of an Apple (AAPL) text-selection patent, while clearing Samsung of infringing a patent related to detecting whether a device is plugged into a microphone jack. In October, the judge ruled Samsung infringed on several Apple patents. A final commission ruling is expected in August. Meanwhile, a German court has invalidated Apple's slide-to-unlock patent, which is being asserted against both Motorola and Samsung. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/928841?source=feed#comment-17364931 17364931 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:05:30 -0400 The mobile patent wars rage on: an ITC administrative law judge rules Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) phones infringe on two more claims of an Apple (AAPL) text-selection patent, while clearing Samsung of infringing a patent related to detecting whether a device is plugged into a microphone jack. In October, the judge ruled Samsung infringed on several Apple patents. A final commission ruling is expected in August. Meanwhile, a German court has invalidated Apple's slide-to-unlock patent, which is being asserted against both Motorola and Samsung. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/928841?source=feed#comment-17317411 17317411 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:05:04 -0400 Should Tim Cook Ask WWJD (What Would Jobs Do)? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1252811/comments?source=feed#comment-15946911 15946911 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:52:48 -0500 With international smartphone buyers clamoring for large displays and cheap Android phones spreading like wildfire in fast-growing emerging markets, "Apple’s (AAPL) competitors are finally doing a better job of making the kinds of phones that customers want," writes The New Yorker's James Surowiecki, summing up the biggest fear on investors' minds. But Apple has shown a knack for innovating its way out of tough spots, and can do so again. "Failing to build a phablet or a cheap phone may well have been mistakes, but they’re fixable mistakes." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/863501?source=feed#comment-15724141 15724141 Sat, 02 Mar 2013 06:55:28 -0500 Apple's (AAPL -2.3%) award in the Samsung (SSNLF.PK) patent infringement case has been reduced to $598.9M from $1.05B, reports the WSJ. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/863061?source=feed#comment-15709641 15709641 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:17:47 -0500 Apple (AAPL -1.8%) and its suppliers slump after iPhone/iPad image sensor provider OmniVision (OVTI -10.9%) issues light guidance to go with its FQ3 beat. CRUS -4.2%. SWKS -1.9%. TQNT -1.7%. AVGO -2%. RFMD -3.2%. BRCM -1.6%. On its FQ3 call, OmniVision would only attribute the guidance to "a seasonal trend of business," while adding smartphone market share trends are "highly, highly volatile right now." Like virtually all other Apple suppliers, OmniVision never mentions Apple by name. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/862481?source=feed#comment-15709551 15709551 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:14:00 -0500 Apple: Mr. Cook, Can We Please Have Some More Cash? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1230321/comments?source=feed#comment-15596321 15596321 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:19:31 -0500 "High above the Alps my Gnome is hearing a rumor that Apple will announce a stock split at tomorrow's shareholder meeting," tweets Doug Kass. The rumor has led Apple (AAPL +1%) shares to spike higher. Update (2:24 PM): Kass is using the post-rumor spike to sell part of his trading position in Apple. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/852491?source=feed#comment-15539241 15539241 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:12:57 -0500 Apple (AAPL -0.9%) roundup: 1) David Einhorn has scheduled a 2PM ET call to discuss his preferred stock proposal (webcast). Ahead of the call, he asserts the proposal is "a lot better" than a standard dividend or buyback hike. 2) As iWatch rumors grow, AppleInsider uncovers an Apple patent for a watch with a flexible touchscreen and a spring that allows it to conform to a user's wrist. 3) AU Optronics (AUO) has reportedly resolved its iPad Mini panel yield issues, and is working on the next-gen version. It might not be a coincidence the Mini is now listed as "in stock" on Apple's site. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/843491?source=feed#comment-15336261 15336261 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:13:51 -0500 The judge presiding over Greenlight Capital's suit against Apple (AAPL) over the bundling of proposals within its proxy says Greenlight has shown a "likelihood of success," suggesting a ruling in Greenlight's favor is on the way. Apple's shareholder meeting arrives on Feb. 27. (previous) Update (5:19PM ET): Full quote from Reuters. "Candidly I do think the likelihood of success is in favor for Greenlight," says district judge Richard Sullivan. Should the case go forward, he'll focus on whether Greenlight would be irreparably harmed by a bundled vote. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/836311?source=feed#comment-15224931 15224931 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:16:29 -0500 The Cost Of Product Cannibalization Dooms Apple's Growth http://seekingalpha.com/article/1189201/comments?source=feed#comment-15095071 15095071 Apple will design a new product because they innovate, but in their own time....not when the shareholders or markets tell them that they should "magic" up something new. If they were led by the financial markets or shareholders, who's main concern is making money off the back of them then they surely would be endangered. Give them time and space to do what they do, and if a quick buck is all you're after, go bet on a horse......!]]> Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:36:15 -0500 Apple will design a new product because they innovate, but in their own time....not when the shareholders or markets tell them that they should "magic" up something new. If they were led by the financial markets or shareholders, who's main concern is making money off the back of them then they surely would be endangered. Give them time and space to do what they do, and if a quick buck is all you're after, go bet on a horse......!]]> Why Steve Jobs' Big Blunder Is Starting To Cost Apple http://seekingalpha.com/article/1182221/comments?source=feed#comment-14994461 14994461 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:52:34 -0500 Justifying Apple's Valuation: Is It Too Late To Get Back In? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1174591/comments?source=feed#comment-14900611 14900611 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:36:38 -0500 Samsung (SSNLF.PK) has won the latest round in its global IP battle with Apple (AAPL) after Judge Lucy Koh ruled that the Korean company didn't willfully breach some  Apple patents and therefore left last summer's $1.05B jury verdict intact. Koh could have tripled the amount Samsung would have had to pay if she had found Samsung's actions to be willful, as the jury actually did. Koh also denied Apple and Samsung requests for a new trial. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/790291?source=feed#comment-14816281 14816281 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:30:08 -0500 Apple's Board Is All Grown Up http://seekingalpha.com/article/1166551/comments?source=feed#comment-14732301 14732301 This rationale is for short term gain only............!]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:45:07 -0500 This rationale is for short term gain only............!]]> Cirrus Logic (CRUS -2.4%) slumps after fellow Apple (AAPL +0.6%) suppliers TriQuint and Multi-Fineline issue light guidance. Multi-Fineline (MFLX +0.9%), which apparently received 84% of its FQ1 (calendar Q4) sales from Apple, expects FQ2 revenue of $180M-$200M, below a $218.2M consensus. Moreover, gross margin is expected to be "slightly negative," as the circuit board maker works to pare inventory - shares have already priced in a lot of bad news. Apple continues to outperform with some help from David Einhorn. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/813201?source=feed#comment-14732221 14732221 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:39:02 -0500 Will Apple Get Its Mojo Back? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1160531/comments?source=feed#comment-14666841 14666841 If Apple get their design and patents as airtight as possible, they may have a better time convincing the courts of rip off competition products.
Maybe it's time to take on Google via a Yahoo tie up....!]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:36:28 -0500 If Apple get their design and patents as airtight as possible, they may have a better time convincing the courts of rip off competition products.
Maybe it's time to take on Google via a Yahoo tie up....!]]> Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) anticipated Galaxy S IV will be announced on March 15, SamMobile reports - the site has been an accurate source of Samsung rumors in the past. The device will reportedly go on sale in Europe and Asia in April, and hit North America in May or June. Rumored specs include a 5" 1080p OLED display, Exynos 5 Octa processor (for some models, at least), and 13MP camera. Possible/likely suppliers (I, II) include BRCM, QCOM, PANL, SWKS, ADNC, and MXIM. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/808691?source=feed#comment-14660961 14660961 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:21:10 -0500 Can The Apple Tree Continue To Grow? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1154431/comments?source=feed#comment-14554011 14554011 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:13:19 -0500 Apple (AAPL -2.3%) roundup: 1) Ahead of its Feb. 27 shareholder meeting, Apple has enlisted giant U.S. pension fund Calpers to help push through voting reforms: among the proposed changes are a requirement that a majority of shareholder votes are needed to approve a director. 2) U.S. iPad Mini shipping times are down to 1-3 business days, while the new iMac remains back-ordered in Europe. 3) Morgan Stanley expects gross margin to rebound in 2H13 thanks to lower iPhone-related equipment purchases and stabilizing NAND flash prices. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/802011?source=feed#comment-14553571 14553571 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:08:20 -0500