Apple

Are analysts responsible for AAPL decline?

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

So... Exxon passed Apple to reclaim the title of the World's Most Valuable Corporation. But how much did Wall Street's prognosticators have to do with Apple's drop in value following its earnings report earlier this week?

While investors realize the company is facing stiff competition and potentially lower profits, a number of financial observers were way off in the predictions ahead of Wednesday results. Indeed, while Apple reported $54 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, analysts had forecast between $51.7 billion and $65.69 billion.

According to Fortune, some analysts were up to 17 percent wrong, while some well-known Wall Street Apple watchers came within 3 percent of the iPhone maker's final numbers. Partially as a result of such wildly-varying forecasts, Apple is changing the way to releases its revenue guidance...

Apple lists California-based Quanta Computer plant as Mac assembler

Cody Lee ∙ January 25, 2013

Back in November, some folks started seeing "Assembled in the USA" etched into the backs of their iMacs. This obviously led to the conclusion that Apple has been quietly moving some of its assembly operations from China to the United States.

Today we learn where, at least some of, those Macs are being put together. In a recent update to its Supplier Responsibility page, Apple has named Quanta Computer Inc., in its Fremont, California plant, as a final assembler for its Mac computers...

Exxon surpasses Apple’s market cap, becomes most valuable corporation

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Despite Apple's record holiday quarter earnings, investors continue to punish the Apple stock which has took quite a beating since Tuesday's earnings report. As the stock continues to slide, Apple on Friday hit a new 52-week low, becoming worth less than Exxon Mobil and ceding the top spot to the oil corporation.

As of this writing, Exxon Mobil was worth about $1 billion more than Apple. Though Apple was briefly ahead, Exxon has reclaimed the lead. The situation is changing by the second so we'll have to wait until the end of trading today to see who emerges victorious...

AT&T buying $1.9 billion worth of spectrum from Verizon

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 25, 2013

U.S. carrier AT&T announced Friday that it will acquire 700 MHz spectrum from rival Verizon Wireless in a cash transaction valued at $1.9 billion. The 700 MHz band was originally used to broadcast analog TV channels and in 2008 was put up for auction. AT&T says it will use the airwaves to improve its 4G LTE U.S. network presence...

Apple rumored to tap Qualcomm’s low-end Snapdragon chip for budget iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 25, 2013

The less-pricey iPhone rumor just wouldn't die. Today, Forbes reports that the Cupertino, California firm is likely to use Qualcomm's less powerful lower-end Snapdragon processor for the rumored budget iPhone thought to be targeted to price-sensitive shoppers in emerging markets like China, Brazil and elsewhere where carriers rarely subsidize handsets.

The story has it that such a device would not need the same kind of graphics, video and processing power as premium iPhones do and using Qualcomm's integrated solution could enable the company to integrate the CPU, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on a single chip rather than have three separate chips. As a result, Cook & Co. would be able to minimize costs, a necessity should Apple pursue the rumored $149 price point...

German court finds Apple to infringe Samsung’s 3G patent

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 25, 2013

A court in Germany has ruled that Apple's iPhone infringes upon Samsung's patents related to 3G wireless technology and has issued an order to stay a German Samsung v. Apple lawsuit. Patent blogger Florian Müeller who follows tech litigation explains that the case will be adjudicated only after the validity of this patent. Apple, of course, is challenging the validity of Samsung's patent, but that will likely take years to resolve...

Apple drops supplier after audit finds underage workers

Cody Lee ∙ January 25, 2013

Apple released its latest Supplier Responsibility report late last night, detailing 339 audits focused on the plants and suppliers that help make its hardware. These were internal audits, which are separate from those performed by the Fair Labor Association.

While Apple was quick to point out supplier compliance, an impressive 92%, it also mentioned that it has severed its relationship with a China-based third-party labor supplier after discovering a conspiracy to employ dozens of underage workers...

Google contemplating making own smartwatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 24, 2013

Yesterday, Pebble Technology started shipping the first round of watches to its Kickstarter backers (a companion iOS app went live this morning). We also spotted a number of promising smartwatches at CES, like the iOS-friendly Cookoo, Casio's G-Shock and lots more. Even Apple is rumored to be collaborating with Intel on an iWatch and now Google is apparently considering making one as well...

Google had 5 of 6 top mobile apps in 2012

Ed Sutherland ∙ January 24, 2013

Although Apple did not make it into the top six mobile apps in 2012, Apple Maps prevented Android-maker Google from capturing all six positions, according to Internet research firm comScore. As it is, the Mountain View, California search firm captured five of the six slots, it's Google Maps mobile app falling to No. 2 after briefly being dropped by Apple.

Social media giant Facebook claimed the number one spot in a list of top apps for 2012, pushing Google Maps into second place, Internet researchers announced Thursday. CEO Mark Zuckerberg might consider sending Apple a thank-you note, as the iOS Maps debacle is now seen as the reason for Facebook overcoming its rival...

Samsung talks ITC into reviewing its patent decision

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Galaxy maker, Samsung of South Korea, has cunningly persuaded judges to review their preliminary ruling that more than a dozen Samsung devices copied Apple's patented iPhone features, Bloomberg reports this morning.

Last October, a judge with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recommended that trade agency impose an import ban on the infringing Samsung device. ITC confirmed Thursday it will review the preliminary ruling.

As a result, Samsung has managed to push back a final decision, which was originally scheduled for March 27...

Indie biopic ‘jOBS’ hits theaters April 19 (video)

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 24, 2013

As previously reported, 'jOBS' biopic will debut tomorrow as the closing-night film of the Sundance Film Festival in Part City and now word has reached us that the flick, which depicts Steve in his early years (1971-2000), will be premiering in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 19. The indie project stars Ashton Kutcher, who portrays Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs, and his fellow actor Josh Gad, who plays another Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak. An exclusive clip from the movie can be seen right after the break...

Apple CEO praises employees for their ‘incredible hard work and focus’

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 24, 2013

Following up on yesterday's record fiscal 2013 first-quarter earnings release (which, unsurprisingly, has failed to impress Wall Street), Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an email to employees last night. The internal communiqué congratulates employees on their performance as Cook thanks everyone on their "incredible hard work and focus" that has resulted in 75 million iDevice sales during the holiday quarter.

He also announced Apple will be holding a Town Hall meeting today at 10am Pacific time and invited employees to submit questions via AppleWeb. Cook, like his predecessor Steve Jobs, holds Q&A sessions with employees following quarterly earnings to discuss business, strategy and the future. We'll be keeping a close eye on today's meeting to fill you in with interesting tidbits throughout the day...