AAPL
iPhone Lockup
I’ve found the fracas regarding Apple (AAPL) and the recent release of software for the iPhone rather ironic and worthy of comment.
The iPhone was introduced as a standalone consumer electronic device with little or no modification possible by third parties. In the months since launch, the iPhone attracted hackers by the dozens who bypassed the phones security functions to add many interesting applications, as well as unlock the device for use on any GSM/EDGE network.
Enough about Apple!
The mornings RSS News Feed reader is bursting with news and opinion about Apple (AAPL), the IPhone price cut, and who did what to whom and why. Continue reading
iPhone Pr0n
It was only hours after the Apple (AAPL) iPhone went on sale that the first device teardowns appeared. The shortest but most comprehensive can be found here.
Apple iPod Growth 2002-2007
Blackfriars shares a jaw-dropping graph of Apple’s (AAPL) iPod/iTunes growth. The only platform that draws comparison is Microsoft Windows, which is now the ubiquitous enterprise computing platform. Charts like the one below are strong evidence Apple is on it’s way to be the ubiquitous consumer media platform.
Apple iTV - Intel and NVIDIA Inside
Anandtech released the first Apple (AAPL) iTV hardware teardown accompanied by excellent analysis. Here are my takeaways, aided by their astute photos and observations.
Apple Lust
Microsoft Windows is the Tin Man of the computing world. It has no heart.
Intel Inside the Sun
Intel (INTC) has nearly completed a complete clawback of server market supremacy with today’s announcement that Sun Microsystems (SUNW) will closely collaborate with Intel. After substantially improving their devices and surpassing the benchmarks set by AMD (AMD), Intel is back in the drivers seat when it comes to high margin server CPUs. This was an outcome I felt was never in doubt.
iPhone v2.0 is the Real Weapon
Viewed in the context of last week’s CES, the iPhone’s greatest impact should be felt by incumbents. Why? The iPhone has enlightened consumers to the fact that existing mobile phone interfaces suck. But people are mistaken if they think a $599 iPhone is going to sell 10M units in 2008. It will take a $299 iPhone 2.0 to make this happen.
Nyquist Predictions For 2007
Prediction is an entertaining activity better suited for stimulating discussion than providing an absolute outlook on the future. Therefore, the bolder and more controversial, the better. Keep that in mind as you read and respond.
Level3 and Akamai - The Investment Paradox
Level3 (LVLT) tries very hard to appear hip with the Web 2.0 vibe, and today’s WSJ article cites content distribution (namely video) as the reason for a resurgence of investor interest in carriers. Simultaneously, investors continue to flood liquidity into content delivery networks (CDNs) like Akamai (AKAM), trumpeting them as key enablers of the Web 2.0 content rage. It is impossible for both to be right, as each business is designed to eliminate the need for the other.
Fun With Market Caps
Quick, rank the 10 following companies by market capitalization from large to small. If pressed for time, try picking the three biggest and three smallest.
What Matters About The Apple iPhone
The big deal isn’t the iPhone itself, which is what the mainstream investment, gadget and tech media is focusing on. It’s the way that it will fundamentally challenge how carriers have coupled services with connectivity with a hardware distribution monopoly.
Xbox Does IPTV - It’s Official
Microsoft (MSFT) just announced that on November 22nd the Xbox 360 will allow users to purchase and rent high definition television and movies. I made this call back in January of 2006, and repeatedly since then (search this site for Xbox IPTV).
Amazon Unbox Could Unbundle Too
An interesting piece of news speculates Amazon (AMZN) may be partnering with Tivo (TIVO) to use their DVR platform.
Apple Overload and Zune Confusion
I’m tired of reading about Apple’s ho-hum iTV announcement. And the Microsoft Zune strategy is incomprehensible. I don’t want the new PG-13 Microsoft that everyone likes. I want the old, evil, R-rated Microsoft you’re not sure you like.
Google CEO joins Apple Board
Dealbreakers take on Google CEO Schmidt joining Apple’s board of directors is too funny not to share, and conveys an attitude that should be applied to every announcement Google makes.
Apple Checks In On The Sweatshops
Apple (AAPL) has come under fire for using sweatshop labor to assemble your precious iPod.
Seeking to avoid the PR disaster faced when Nike’s manufacturing facilities were profiled in the early 90’s, Apple launched an investigation and issued a preliminary report. Some excerpts are worth sharing in order to understand the scale of outsourced Chinese manufacturing.
Steve Jobs is speaking today. The world breathlessly awaits. The photo illustrates that his goal of global domination draws closer.
I think the second wildest fantasy of any marketing guy is to wield the power that Steve Jobs holds.
Credit Suisse on PortalPlayer & Microsoft Relationship
Credit Suisse discusses Portalplayer (PLAY) today in their morning note.
Michael Masdea now sees Portalplayer as a potential supplier for the Microsoft Zune player, and specifically highlights the existing relationship Portalplayer has with Microsoft.
Current MSFT relationship is key. For many months now, PLAY has been working with Microsoft to develop the Preface technology for laptops. Microsoft is putting significant marketing dollars behind Preface through the “Windows SideShow” name and the Vista launch. As the hardware PLAY ships for the Preface platform is very similar to what PLAY ships into MP3 players, we believe Microsoft will be more inclined to use PLAY chips for its own MP3 player.
This is a concept that we have seen, followed, and talked about for the last six months. It is refreshing to see that this concept is finally more broadly recognized.
Finesse vs. Brute Force
Paul Kedrosky highlights one slide presented by Craig Mundie at Microsoft Analyst Day that compares the cumulative R&D investment of Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG), among others.
Two ways to look at this.
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