Apple worth more than Microsoft

Did you hear that Apple just recently overtook Microsoft in market capitilization? It is hard to imagine that having a very successful portable music player and cell phone can rocket you ahead of Microsoft. Sure Apple still sells computers, but supposedly it only accounts for 1/3 of Apples income. Only Exxon has a bigger market cap than Apple. Sure market cap is not the same as having more profits, but it shows that investors are tending to think of Microsoft as a has been, and Apple as the future as far as growth is concern. And for good reason. Not many company's tend to have one home run after another. But still, what can come after the iPad? The iFridge? Not quite as marketable, but it would have a touch screen door to interface with. The iCar? Hey why not? There are so many computer chips in cars these days that it is the software which makes it all work more so now than the actually hardware. Similar to computers. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Apple make everything in our lives better. They are one of the few companies which can join style and function in the same device. I love it when the Apple haters diss Apple for making their products too pretty. I don't get it. Is it possible to have too cool of a product design? Just like it is not possible to be too young or too rich. Anyway, keep going Apple. Keep making our lives a little bit cooler. I am starting to feel like we are entering the age of the Jetson's thanks to Apple.

Android overtakes iPhone?

Stitch, the headlines have recently screamed that this is the first quarter that Android based phones sold more that iPhones. But consider the following article:

Android v. iPhone

The author suggests looking a little deeper into the statistics and the incredible deals the carriers have put out to spur sales. In a way, it may make the iPhone a more desirable phone. As the article also suggests, let's wait a little longer to see what happens when Apple releases the iPhone 4G.

One Million iPads!

Stitch, if there is a greater measure of success, then I don't know what that would be:

1 Million iPads

It's the dollars and cents that come in from massive sales that tells the story in this case. But how that can happen is the result of attention to detail and quality. More importantly, Apple takes the older Tablet idea and takes it into uncharted territory, as they often do. Sure, it's a tablet, but in a way that no previous tablets were!

1 Million!

The End of an Era

Well Stitch, Sony will cease production of the floppy disc:

Floppy Demise

I still remember inserting the good ol' floppy into the Macs of old. My G3 has the floppy drive. And I still remember what a leap it was when Zip drives came out! It just looked like a floppy on steroids.

But at this point, especially as online computing and storage takes hold, lots of portable media will be disappearing. I admit to a little nostalgia - I'll miss the era of excitement as we all realized what personal computing could do, and portable media was an essential part of that!

Would you like to share some of your thoughts and feelings?

Let the Ball roll no further!

I must say that Sunday night Robin and I did indeed go to the Apple store and handle the much coveted iPad, and I must say it is every bit as magnificent as they say! Leave it to Jobs to tell it like it is - you have to HOLD one to truly understand its magnificence. For the first time, I heard Robin say that this was definitely a product we should consider buying.

Stitch, it truly is a fast machine, and there is no other experience like surfing the web on it. Now I'll reserve judgement for the iWork applications, bit my limited exposure was very positive! I'm a huge fan of the new calendar implementation - it's just like a real classic desktop calendar where you flip the pages effortlessly. Apple really thought through the software!

I admit I am consistently annoyed by the deluge of copy cats out there who just can't seem to create original products. I know I am biased, but I truly believe that Apple leads the pack with innovations, an most everyone else comes into the market with their "me too" stuff.

Stitch, should I stop being annoyed, and just accept it as a part of our world?

Where are the iPad accolades?

I am amazed how MacNight has dropped the ball on the iPad hype. The release has come and went with not a peep from the following. I personally am also responsible too. I have yet to touch one in person yet, so a full review is not possible at this time. I hope we can revive the enthusiasm for MacNight, and the iPad might just do it. Even thought women don't really care for the name.

Multi Tasking on iPhone

Stitch, rumor has it that multi tasking will be a feature of iPhone OS4.0. It seems like a logical next step. Given the way cut and paste evolved, it seems like a reasonable assumption. I just wonder how they got around the drain on battery life? How necessary is it really? Sometimes I wonder. What do you think?

Our Sentiments Exactly!

Stitch, here is a great article on the iPad:

iPad

It mentions some of the complaints about the iPad. For example, wouldn't everyone love to have handwriting recognition! Unfortunately, nobody does it so it's really useful for most people! He says Apple didn't put it in because they want it to work extremely well, not just acceptable!

Check out the article, tell me what you think!

iPad Comments

I have viewed the Keynote and the iPad design video and even without seeing the device, I think it will be a hit. The key is the personal interation. Apple tried to run this home by having Steve Jobs sit on an easy chair and use the iPad. It is amazing at all the bad reviews it has been getting. All the complaints of no camera, small storage space, no hard drive, yada yada yada. If you put everything in the device then you either have to use low quality parts or price it through the roof. The iPad is not meant to be used to take pictures, be used for heavy workload work, or do video editing. It is to use casually as a personal media viewer. Look at pictures, video, eBooks, eMail, and surf the web. Yes you can do games too, and it does have iWork too. But I think these are misplaced. Are you going to edit your presentation on an iPad, or write a paper on an iPad? It does have the capability to be developed into whatever developers can imagine. The interactive painting program is a perfect example of a good fit with the iPad. The creative process does not work well sitting at a desk. An iPad gives you freedom to move whereever inspiration can be found. Apple stock tanked after the iPad announcement but I think Apple always gets backlash whenever they try to define a new paradigm. By leaving things out of the design, Apple has allowed for the inclusion of better components and a polished device at a reasonable price. I am amazed how much tunnel vision so many of these tech writers have. Everything is compared to what currently exists. In this environment, Apple will always get the short end of the stick. Many people cannot handle devices on the cutting edge. It is too bad, but they eventually come around and later say that they knew this device was good from the start. Ha.

The iPad Revealed!

Well, Stitch, I think this is the most significant announcement from Apple since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. Like many people, what took me by surprise was the pricing of the device and the 3G pricing that comes with it. At these prices, it's enough to entice a tightwad like myself to buy!

I had mentioned before it's possible Apple was distinguishing itself on this product by including its proprietary chip (since it bought PA Semi) in the device. I would think this is one of the reasons they thought that this device wouldn't be as easy to copy as the iPhone. The performance and battery life appear to be outstanding on first glance, and that apparently is due to the chip!

A4 Chip

At these prices, and with the ability to run all these applications that are already written, it seems like a home run. What do you think?

The iPad!

Stitch, we will finally be introduced to Apple's new creation:

iPad

The word is it will possibly use ATandT or Verizon's network, which is really something! Should have e-reader capability as well, and if rumors are to be believed, has been in development for some time. Jobs wanted this to be right! I am very optimistic. How about you!

iPod Dominance

Stitch, you may have read the Macworld article by Christopher Breen about CES:

Consumer Electronics Show

He attended the CES and found that MP3 players were not much on display. A PR person said that they still sell Mp3 players, but really no one can compete with the iPod. He found almost no major competitors trying to display their MP3 players. When you think about it, and the more I read online, it seems future devices may be more geared toward accepting streams of music rather than downloaded tracks. I read another article which basically said the future will have music in the 'cloud' and all of us paying to have access to anything in the cloud. That may be true for many people, but I think I may be too old for living in a cloud!

When is the Tablet Coming?

Stitch, we have been hearing reports in cyberspace regarding the impending release of the mythical tablet or iSlate from Apple. I heard it would be an iPhone on steroids! Supposedly the multitouch gestures will be expanded to a new level. I also heard the processor originates from the chip company PA Semi Apple acquired a couple of years ago. Everyone wondered what Apple would use the technology for. I'm going out on a limb to speculate that Apple has mentioned that it will release something its competitors can't copy, and the capabilities resulting from a proprietary chip might be just that! What do you think of my conjecture, Stitch? Truth, or fluff?

Google Android developers dropping like flies

I read an article that said that many of the developers for the Google Android mobile phone are deciding it may not be worth the investment. It said that the market size for the Android makes it difficult to justify too much development time into making software applications for the Android system. Another concern was that there is no standard format for input since Android runs on a variety of different phones. Screen sizes can vary, input modes may vary. This adds cost to support the wide array of possible combinations. It's almost as if Apple is in the same situation with it's iPhone as Microsoft is with desktop computers. Once you dominate a market, it is hard to be displaced. But in this case Apple even makes the best product too so it is a one/two punch. I think Android will end up being a nitch market like Linux. Interesting but a little too open, so there is too much differences in the way they work. Look at all the different "flavors" of Linux. Hackers love a system like this but I don't think the general public will.

Titanium still Rocks!

I thought I would mention that I still use my Titanium Powerbook for mobile computing purposes. But for the first time, I find there is beginning to be a speed lag that I notice. I am now using the latest version of Numbers on the Powerbook, and I admit it is a little sluggish. The only reason I did it is that my current Numbers files won't work on the version that was on the Powerbook. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.

These Apples never die, Stitch!

New Airport Express

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since I bought and integrated an Airport Express into our home network. I must say, there is something liberating about streaming music from the computer to our new stereo system. I use my iPod Touch and the free Remote app to control and browse iTunes. It has worked magnificently, and it really allows a new and far more effective way of playing my iTunes music through a stereo. Since I ripped most of my music in Lossless format, the sound quality is outstanding.

The one issue I have is that for some reason I have not successfully moved the Express to another room and hooked up to it. I am not sure if I'm doing something wrong or not. Right now I have the Express hooked up via ethernet cable to our cable modem, and I was hoping to de-tether it if I wanted to listen to music from our other stereo. I will keep you informed.

The latest in Apple land is Apple's acquisition of LaLa, prompting everyone to think Apple is going towards the "stream any music you want from the cloud" paradigm. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too old to go to that. How do you feel about it, Stitch?

Imitation the Sincerest form of flattery?

Stitch, this is a Window 7 partner saying basically they copied OSX's graphical look and feel. My brother in law mentioned that Windows is now just like OSX. My God, can Microsoft do anything original? I know, I know - they have done original things. But this just annoys me. What's your take?

Copy Kat

iTunes with subscription TV?

Did you hear the rumor that Apple is trying to get networks to have their content sent via iTunes for a $30/month subscription fee. I have wondered why this has taken so long to develop. I am thinking it was the networks who didn't want to jump in to this model since it might disrupt the whole TV universe of distribution. With cable and advertisers screaming foul. Hopefully this time Apple can make the deal.

Link to article

This article talks about the whole thing coming together by the beginning of next year. Another article I read even went a step further saying that they would integrate the whole thing into the rumored tablet computer. But I don't really get why this would be a breakthrough. Who wants to hold the screen to watch TV? Anyway it would obviously be linked to play on your computer, and iPod/iTouch/iPhone, and AppleTV. Depending on how much they can swing with the networks. Up to this point no one has been able to convince the networks to go this route. Trying to develop Hulu on their own. But I don't think that Hulu is that big of a success. They are rumored to be developing a paid service too. But it would still lock you to viewing from your computer. Which I think is a small market, most people want a seemless way to view on their TV. Will AppleTV need to be beefed up for this? Given how well movies flow, I don't think it would necessarily. This will help to keep the cost down too. It does sound like an exciting posibillity. Especially if you would be able to pick "a la cart" style which networks you wanted. Time will tell.

Apple is the Target

With all of the recent sucess of the iPhone, once again Apple is the target of the competition namecalling. Nokia is suing Apple for copyright infringements with the iPhone. Verizon is attacking the iPhone with "we got a map for that" for the larger coverage over AT&T. And now Verizon has teamed up with Motorola and disses all of the "negative" features that the iPhone doesn't have or do with their latest Dune ads. When I first saw these ads, I didn't even know what it was for. The ending was like an ad for a horror flick.
Apple will survive all this. Just like the iPod attacks. The Nokia copyright suit I am sure is a minor one. Maybe Apple will need to pay some minor royalties to Nokia for some menu system etc. Seems a bit late for that kind of lawsuit. The iPhone has been out for quite some time. Maybe it was because of Nokia's poor earnings report.
One surprising thing is that the exlusive AT&T agreement may end mid 2010. Verizon keeps posturing to sell the iPhone, but they don't want to give up everything like AT&T did. With the Apple Apps store instead of their own, Vcast store. It's a big chess game about who makes how much profit in the big deal. Who has more to gain from each other. I am sure Apple will be able to work out a deal, unless Verizon becomes too stuborn again and wants all the chips for themselves. Personally, I would like to see Apple start their own network, or buy one. Seems like Sprint and T-mobile are the only ones left. AllTel got bought by Verizon. They probably have the cash. They could start a new paradime about cell phones are sold. I don't know if the numbers add up, but with Apple profits going like gangbusters, and Verizon's profits slipping I think Apple has the upper hand.

Mad Money loves Apple

I recently watched an episode of Mad Money. Its that investing show with Jim Cramer, who acts like a crazy radio disc jockey playing all sorts of sound effects and lots of crazy sight gags. He is actually a former high end investment broker. Well on this last show he was wearing a large Apple make of cardboard, and taking bites out of apples from a large bushel basket of them. His point, was that many investors think that with Apple's latest great earnings report this past quarter that they should jump ship because Apple is as high as they can go. He says wrong, "Apple is the only company who has said what he has dying to hear, Apple cannot keep up with demand". In a recession, and consumer spending way down, Apple can't keep up with demand. And it is not just the iPhone either, according to Cramer it is there whole product line. He said "This may be the biggest technology company of all time, including Google, and Microsoft". Pretty amazing words. He points out that they only have 3% of the cell phone market and about 4% of the computer market, so there is huge growth potential. And he makes the comment, "Have you ever heard of someone who has switch to an Apple product regret it?, No, once an Apple customer always an Apple customer." I know he always throws in a bunch of showmanship but I think he believes his picks and then spins a wild presentation around it. You can see the episode on iTunes as a podcast. I think it was 10/20 and it is the first topic he covers. Go Apple the technology marvel.