Nokia's (NOK) rumored 41MP sensor Lumia phone, codenamed EOS, will have a polycarbonate body and a display similar to that of the Lumia 920 (4.5," 1280x768 display), a source tells WMPoweruser. The source adds the phone will be lighter than the 920, that its thickness will be on par, and that its camera will sport a xenon flash and a lens cover "that opens when the camera app is started." A new camera app is also said to be on board. The Verge reported in January AT&T will sell the phone; considering T-Mobile is selling the 925, there's some logic to that. [View news story]
exactly. like anybody needs a 41mp camera for casual use
And as long as you're satisfied with a too small outdated phone that's great for you.
But tens of millions obviously are not. Too bad for Apple if they keep their head stuck in the sand and pretend the vast majority who want a bigger phone are wrong..
Microsoft (MSFT -0.7%) roundup: 1) Windows 8 was used on 3.82% of PCs in April, estimates Net Applications. That's up from March's 3.17% and Feb.'s 2.67%, butikely a slower adoption rate that Microsoft was hoping for. An estimated 38.7% still Win. XP, which Microsoft will end support for in a year - there might be a rush of business upgrades ahead of that. 2) An IT worker survey from Dell's KACE found 69% of those upgrading from XP are adopting Win. 7, and just 2% Win. 8. This meshes with past enterprise survey results. 3) Following Microsoft's Azure disclosure, Bernstein estimates the company's total cloud sales are around $2.3B-$2.6B/year. [View news story]
In addition to all of J.C. Penney's (JCP) other problems, the retailer is facing lawsuits worth millions of dollars from contractors over its failure to pay for store upgrades. While the sums involved are relatively small, the litigation appears to provide further insight into the operational state that JCP had fallen into under ousted boss Ron Johnson and the task that new CEO Myron Ullman has taken on. [View news story]
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) [View news story]
that's really hilarious. eye's are going bad and the mind's going too.
More from Apple's (AAPL) FQ2 call: Mix shift towards iPhone 4 responsible for iPhone ASP drop; iPhone channel inventory up 1M Q/Q. Greater China sell-thru growth was 18% Y/Y, above reported (sell-in) 8%. Revenue mix shift towards iPad hurt gross margin, expected to fall to 36%-37% in FQ3 due to lower revenue and mix, partly offset by lower costs. Tim Cook talks of "exciting new product categories" (an iWatch?). While Cook said competitors made tradeoffs to offer ~5" phones, he didn't mention one-handed use (Apple's traditional critique) - is he hinting one will eventually arrive? AAPL -0.3% AH, as investors focus on FQ3 guidance (implies rev. growth of -4% to +2% Y/Y). CRUS -1.9%. (transcript) (previous) [View news story]
Tim Cook (AAPL) on the five-inch smartphone: "Our competitors have made some significant trade-offs in many of these areas in order to ship a larger display. We would not ship a larger display iPhone while these trade-offs exist." He adds that if IDC's right, the smartphone market declined 30% since December, so Apple's decline of 15% beat the market. [View news story]
With demand for Windows 8 touch systems coming up short, it looks as if Intel (INTC) is betting big on Android: Digitimes reports Lenovo (LNVGY.PK) will launch an 11" Intel-based Android notebook/tablet convertible for its Yoga line in May, and that H-P, Toshiba, Acer, and Asus will follow with similar hardware in Q3. CNET follows up by reporting Intel has design wins for ~$200 Android tablets - Intel is also shooting for that price point for Win. 8 tablets. One major challenge for Android convertibles: most Android apps haven't been written with keyboard/mouse use in mind. [View news story]
most android apps work fine with a keyboard /mouse
Microsoft (MSFT) roundup: 1) ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports Microsoft is thinking of bringing back the Start button with Windows Blue, and of also allowing PCs to boot in desktop mode. The report follows major criticism of Win. 8's UI changes, and ugly Q1 PC data partly blamed on the OS. 2) In starting coverage at Overweight, Morgan Stanley asserts Microsoft "can still grow revenues with PCs declining 5% a year over the next five years." Also, an MS CIO survey found 20% of respondents using Windows Azure, compared with 13% using Amazon Web Services (AMZN). (earlier: I, II) [View news story]
great os? it still requires antivirus software running 24/7 and security updates at least once a month because ever after all these years...it's so full of holes it's virtually UN-fixable.
Intuit chairman/Apple board member Bill Campbell praises Google Glass (GOOG) ... and perhaps hints at a future iWatch (AAPL). Campbell calls Glass a "phenomenal breakthrough," and tells his audience to expect "a lot of things going on with the application of technology to really intimate things ... When you start to think about glasses or watches, they become as intimate as the cell phone." But while the tech world is embracing Glass, a privacy/security backlash is brewing. Vegas casinos have joined a growing list of businesses suggesting Glass will be banned on their premises, due to its built-in camera. [View news story]
It's good to see somebody has the sense to see the problems with these things.
"Windows 8’s usability is proving an obstacle to adoption for consumers, with a learning curve that appears to be retarding growth across the industry," writes CLSA's Ed Maguire in his "downgrade" of Microsoft (MSFT) to Outperform. But he also notes 35%-40% of businesses are still on Windows XP, which Microsoft will stop supporting in a year, and that their upgrade activity could boost Windows sales (probably 7 more than 8). Meanwhile, Merrill (Neutral) estimates consumer PC weakness presents $5B in revenue risk and $0.30 in EPS risk for Mister Softee. [View news story]
what people who don't like it hear from from Microsoft If you don't like Windows 8 you're just wrong and we don't care.
Global PC shipments fell 13.9% Y/Y in Q1 to 76.9M units, per IDC. That surpasses Q4's 6.4% drop and Q3's 8.6% decline, and is steep even in light of IDC's recent commentary. IDC: "It seems clear that the Windows 8 (MSFT) launch not only didn’t provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market." H-P (HPQ) was the market's leader, but its share fell 200 bps Y/Y to 15.7%. #2 Lenovo (LNVGY.PK) saw its share rise 210 bps to 15.3%, and #3 Dell's rose 40 bps to 11.8%. Apple's (AAPL) U.S. share rose 60 bps to 10%, though U.S. Mac shipments fell 7.5% to 1.4M. [View news story]
and remember... if you don't like Windows 8 it's because you just didn't try hard enough
Samsung (SSNLF.PK) sold 68M-70M smartphones in Q1, up from an estimated 63M in Q4, according to 5 analysts polled by Reuters. Though the Galaxy S III/IV and Note II receive far more ink, much of this growth is fueled by low-end/mid-range Android models such as the Galaxy Young and Galaxy Fame. These phones, along with Samsung's Rex feature phone line, are adding to the pressure placed on Nokia's (NOK) feature phone ops. Earlier this week, Bernstein reported the S IV's production rate is around 10M units/month. (Samsung Q1 results) [View news story]
nice of apple to cede the market for large screen phones
Add Brian White to the growing list of Apple (AAPL -1.3%) fans who think a bigger iPhone is needed. "We are being told that the minimum size needed by Apple is a 4.5-inch display on the iPhone; however, a 5-inch to 5.5-inch would be optimal," writes the Topeka analyst after talking with Chinese/Taiwanese suppliers. Also: Cowen sees more room for iPad growth in the U.S., citing encouraging survey data, and BTIG's Walter Piecyk, who recently upgraded Apple, thinks a new capital-allocation plan will be timed to coincide with a downbeat FQ2 report (results are due on April 23). [View news story]
Surface RT (MSFT) sales "have slowed considerably in the last month from an already anemic pace" and could be below 50K/month, according to Detwiler Fenton's checks. Surface Pro sales are a little better - Detwiler estimates a Q1 tally of 300K-500K - in part due to limited competition from PC OEMs. The firm is counting on the launch of Windows Blue (expected to support 7" tablets) and Office's touch-friendly Gemini updates to give Windows 8 Pro tablet sales a lift. (Bloomberg) [View news story]
Nokia's (NOK) rumored 41MP sensor Lumia phone, codenamed EOS, will have a polycarbonate body and a display similar to that of the Lumia 920 (4.5," 1280x768 display), a source tells WMPoweruser. The source adds the phone will be lighter than the 920, that its thickness will be on par, and that its camera will sport a xenon flash and a lens cover "that opens when the camera app is started." A new camera app is also said to be on board. The Verge reported in January AT&T will sell the phone; considering T-Mobile is selling the 925, there's some logic to that. [View news story]
Apple's Magic Is Broken [View article]
But tens of millions obviously are not. Too bad for Apple if they keep their head stuck in the sand and pretend the vast majority who want a bigger phone are wrong..
Microsoft (MSFT -0.7%) roundup: 1) Windows 8 was used on 3.82% of PCs in April, estimates Net Applications. That's up from March's 3.17% and Feb.'s 2.67%, butikely a slower adoption rate that Microsoft was hoping for. An estimated 38.7% still Win. XP, which Microsoft will end support for in a year - there might be a rush of business upgrades ahead of that. 2) An IT worker survey from Dell's KACE found 69% of those upgrading from XP are adopting Win. 7, and just 2% Win. 8. This meshes with past enterprise survey results. 3) Following Microsoft's Azure disclosure, Bernstein estimates the company's total cloud sales are around $2.3B-$2.6B/year. [View news story]
In addition to all of J.C. Penney's (JCP) other problems, the retailer is facing lawsuits worth millions of dollars from contractors over its failure to pay for store upgrades. While the sums involved are relatively small, the litigation appears to provide further insight into the operational state that JCP had fallen into under ousted boss Ron Johnson and the task that new CEO Myron Ullman has taken on. [View news story]
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) [View news story]
More from Apple's (AAPL) FQ2 call: Mix shift towards iPhone 4 responsible for iPhone ASP drop; iPhone channel inventory up 1M Q/Q. Greater China sell-thru growth was 18% Y/Y, above reported (sell-in) 8%. Revenue mix shift towards iPad hurt gross margin, expected to fall to 36%-37% in FQ3 due to lower revenue and mix, partly offset by lower costs. Tim Cook talks of "exciting new product categories" (an iWatch?). While Cook said competitors made tradeoffs to offer ~5" phones, he didn't mention one-handed use (Apple's traditional critique) - is he hinting one will eventually arrive? AAPL -0.3% AH, as investors focus on FQ3 guidance (implies rev. growth of -4% to +2% Y/Y). CRUS -1.9%. (transcript) (previous) [View news story]
Tim Cook (AAPL) on the five-inch smartphone: "Our competitors have made some significant trade-offs in many of these areas in order to ship a larger display. We would not ship a larger display iPhone while these trade-offs exist." He adds that if IDC's right, the smartphone market declined 30% since December, so Apple's decline of 15% beat the market. [View news story]
With demand for Windows 8 touch systems coming up short, it looks as if Intel (INTC) is betting big on Android: Digitimes reports Lenovo (LNVGY.PK) will launch an 11" Intel-based Android notebook/tablet convertible for its Yoga line in May, and that H-P, Toshiba, Acer, and Asus will follow with similar hardware in Q3. CNET follows up by reporting Intel has design wins for ~$200 Android tablets - Intel is also shooting for that price point for Win. 8 tablets. One major challenge for Android convertibles: most Android apps haven't been written with keyboard/mouse use in mind. [View news story]
Microsoft (MSFT) roundup: 1) ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports Microsoft is thinking of bringing back the Start button with Windows Blue, and of also allowing PCs to boot in desktop mode. The report follows major criticism of Win. 8's UI changes, and ugly Q1 PC data partly blamed on the OS. 2) In starting coverage at Overweight, Morgan Stanley asserts Microsoft "can still grow revenues with PCs declining 5% a year over the next five years." Also, an MS CIO survey found 20% of respondents using Windows Azure, compared with 13% using Amazon Web Services (AMZN). (earlier: I, II) [View news story]
it still requires antivirus software running 24/7 and security updates at least once a month because ever after all these years...it's so full of holes it's virtually UN-fixable.
Intuit chairman/Apple board member Bill Campbell praises Google Glass (GOOG) ... and perhaps hints at a future iWatch (AAPL). Campbell calls Glass a "phenomenal breakthrough," and tells his audience to expect "a lot of things going on with the application of technology to really intimate things ... When you start to think about glasses or watches, they become as intimate as the cell phone." But while the tech world is embracing Glass, a privacy/security backlash is brewing. Vegas casinos have joined a growing list of businesses suggesting Glass will be banned on their premises, due to its built-in camera. [View news story]
"Windows 8’s usability is proving an obstacle to adoption for consumers, with a learning curve that appears to be retarding growth across the industry," writes CLSA's Ed Maguire in his "downgrade" of Microsoft (MSFT) to Outperform. But he also notes 35%-40% of businesses are still on Windows XP, which Microsoft will stop supporting in a year, and that their upgrade activity could boost Windows sales (probably 7 more than 8). Meanwhile, Merrill (Neutral) estimates consumer PC weakness presents $5B in revenue risk and $0.30 in EPS risk for Mister Softee. [View news story]
If you don't like Windows 8 you're just wrong and we don't care.
Global PC shipments fell 13.9% Y/Y in Q1 to 76.9M units, per IDC. That surpasses Q4's 6.4% drop and Q3's 8.6% decline, and is steep even in light of IDC's recent commentary. IDC: "It seems clear that the Windows 8 (MSFT) launch not only didn’t provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market." H-P (HPQ) was the market's leader, but its share fell 200 bps Y/Y to 15.7%. #2 Lenovo (LNVGY.PK) saw its share rise 210 bps to 15.3%, and #3 Dell's rose 40 bps to 11.8%. Apple's (AAPL) U.S. share rose 60 bps to 10%, though U.S. Mac shipments fell 7.5% to 1.4M. [View news story]
if you don't like Windows 8 it's because you just didn't try hard enough
Samsung (SSNLF.PK) sold 68M-70M smartphones in Q1, up from an estimated 63M in Q4, according to 5 analysts polled by Reuters. Though the Galaxy S III/IV and Note II receive far more ink, much of this growth is fueled by low-end/mid-range Android models such as the Galaxy Young and Galaxy Fame. These phones, along with Samsung's Rex feature phone line, are adding to the pressure placed on Nokia's (NOK) feature phone ops. Earlier this week, Bernstein reported the S IV's production rate is around 10M units/month. (Samsung Q1 results) [View news story]
Add Brian White to the growing list of Apple (AAPL -1.3%) fans who think a bigger iPhone is needed. "We are being told that the minimum size needed by Apple is a 4.5-inch display on the iPhone; however, a 5-inch to 5.5-inch would be optimal," writes the Topeka analyst after talking with Chinese/Taiwanese suppliers. Also: Cowen sees more room for iPad growth in the U.S., citing encouraging survey data, and BTIG's Walter Piecyk, who recently upgraded Apple, thinks a new capital-allocation plan will be timed to coincide with a downbeat FQ2 report (results are due on April 23). [View news story]
Surface RT (MSFT) sales "have slowed considerably in the last month from an already anemic pace" and could be below 50K/month, according to Detwiler Fenton's checks. Surface Pro sales are a little better - Detwiler estimates a Q1 tally of 300K-500K - in part due to limited competition from PC OEMs. The firm is counting on the launch of Windows Blue (expected to support 7" tablets) and Office's touch-friendly Gemini updates to give Windows 8 Pro tablet sales a lift. (Bloomberg) [View news story]