“The spotlight turns to notebooks.” So goes the just-released invite from Apple to an Oct. 14 media event. The e-mail to media appears to lend credence to a bevy of reports that Cupertino is set to launch a low-cost notebook computer.
Earlier this morning, a number of tech news sites, lead by the Inquisitir, reported an $800 laptop is among a price list that was released to Apple retailers.
The rumors were also backed up by a series of leaked photos published by a Taiwan website. Among the photos was a 13-inch aluminum Apple laptop.
Analysts have speculated Apple may “refresh” its hardware with a sub-$1,000 Mac. Long known for its pricey hardware, Apple has seen its sales impacted by the sluggish economy.
Written by Ed Sutherland on October 9th, 2008 with no comments.
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Apple products are so good-looking, they act as an integral as part of the interior design of your home.
That seems to be the idea, at least, behind a photo spread in October’s Casa Amica, monthly design supplement to Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
The Italians call it a “tecno minimal” look (click on photo for larger view), where your iPod Touch is the perfect complement to the gres coffee cups, you sip espresso while ogling your an aluminum and marble Doimo kitchen from the screen. Or browse for a new kitchen with your iMac, perhaps this one with a slightly institutional feel, probably distracted by the lovely Philippe Starck glasses for Driade on your counter top.
Not so sure I buy the concept, but love the white ceramic espresso maker.
Spotted any Apple products in magazines, ads or movies? Let me know.
Written by nicole_martinelli on October 9th, 2008 with no comments.
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Apple has once again won the “cool factor” with teen iPhone owners now nearly triple ( 8 percent versus 3 percent) compared to a year ago. The Piper Jaffray survey also revealed 22 percent of teens say they plan to buy the Apple handset - up from just 9 percent in 2007.
Other good news for Apple: 84 percent of MP3 players purchased by teens were iPods. Microsoft’s Zune came in a distant second, capturing just 3 percent of the teen marketshare.
Apple’s iTunes music download service now has 93 percent of the market. That’s up from 79 percent uncovered a year ago.
Although 60 percent of music still comes from file-sharing, that number is four percent less than a year ago, when 64 percent of teens said they turn to peer-to-peer services for music. Online music sales appear to have gained from that shift.
“This is essentially an untapped market for legal download services like Napster, Rhapsody, eMusic and Amazon,” Piper Jaffray analyst Andrew Murphy told Cult of Mac.
The buying decisions of teens are an important leading indicator for consumer electronics firms, Murphy said.
“It is clear that Apple’s got the ‘cool factor’ among teens. This gives them an advantage in the teen demographic, where brands are paramount,” Murphy said by e-mail.
Although growth in the MP3 market appears to be slowing, Murphy has upped his estimate for iPod sales to 56.3 million in fiscal 2009, an increased from the 54.8 million expected for this year.
The survey of 769 high school teenagers was conducted “over the last several weeks,” according to Piper Jaffray.
Written by Ed Sutherland on October 8th, 2008 with no comments.
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Apple’s fourth quarter results later this month may be one of the most widely-awaited events since the Vice Presidential debates.
After the stock whipsawed on analyst downgrades then health rumors surrounding CEO Steve Jobs, investment analysts now suggest Apple must either report strong sales or announce new products.
If Apple does not report healthy sales of Macs during the September quarter, “the importance of the new Mac increases substantially,” Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster told Cult of Mac Tuesday.
Munster, the investment research firm’s lead Apple watcher, held to his expectation Apple will announce redesigned MacBooks, including a sub-$1,000 Mac.
In a note to investor, Munster wrote the likelihood of such a product refresher increased after Apple provided guidance of a 31.5 percent gross margin due to upcoming “new, lower-margin products.”
“The product changes we have seen thus far do not warrant such a dramatic decrease in margins,” the analyst said. Piper Jaffray expects a 32 percent gross margin for September.
Although Apple announced new iPod nanos plus lower-cost iPod Touch for the back-to-school period, the cuts came amidst lower NAND memory prices. Munster called concern over Apple’s lower margins due to the products are “overestimated.”
Earlier this month, Barclay’s reduced its target price for Apple shares, citing an “obvious economic weakness.” Like Munster, Barclays’ analyst Ben Reitzes believes a “less-expensive” device could help Apple’s marketshare.
Written by Ed Sutherland on October 7th, 2008 with no comments.
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As you know, Apple issued a recall on their Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter due to safety concerns relating to the metal prongs breaking off in electrical sockets. We just received word from reader Shawn that he has received the replacement he ordered online, so those of you going the internet route should see yours soon. More information on the recall is available here.
Thanks, Shawn!
Written by Edward Kirk on October 7th, 2008 with no comments.
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