Apple Inc.

[Wildreamz]

"Half" of all subscription revenue may sound like a lot at first glance (and it is) but the caveat is "Publishers can provide their own ads within Apple News as a revenue stream, and Apple has its own ad program for Apple News which involves a revenue split between Apple and publishers." 

It's a new service, and they will make the necessary changes over time. I like the idea so far.

[dreamybear]

Interesting insights from a China Foxconn factory in the article below. In one of the videos accompanying the article, a Chinese interviewed felt that the reason for slowing Chinese iphone demand was due to Apple iphones being overpriced compared to local China brands.

For myself, I also think Apple iphones are overpriced compared to Android phones. I think buying Apple pdts is more of buying its brand, e.g. LV / Hermes handbags, BMW cars, etc. Ultimately, I guess the demand will always be there, and, furthermore, Apple doesn't only make $ from its pdts, it has an entire eco-system.

*Not yet vested coz must follow Super Guru WB* 

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Foxconn, a tale of slashed salaries, disappearing benefits and mass resignations as iPhone orders dry up

- Workers line up on a daily basis to leave the world’s largest iPhone assembly plant in China’s Henan province as overtime opportunities plunge
- Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in January a 5 per cent fall in fourth quarter revenue, attributed in large part to weaker demand for new iPhones in China

Updated: Saturday, 2 Mar, 2019 2:26am

......the sharp drop in iPhone sales since the middle of last year, much of it due to weaker Chinese demand, has cast a shadow over the manufacturing giant......Around two dozen workers told the South China Morning Post that their salaries had been cut at the end of last year, an unprecedented step in their experience....

“In 2017, we were churning out iPhone 8s. I was thrilled that I could work 11 hours every day and didn’t take any leave on weekends. Supervisors always demanded more from us, they even asked us to hurry up when we went for water,” she said......

According to Bloomberg, Foxconn plans to slash production costs by 20 billion yuan (US$3 billion) in 2019 with a “very difficult and competitive” year expected.....

More details on https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-econo...s-and-mass

[cyclone]

Apple’s next big things are not things – hardware giant shifts to services with TV streaming, news, credit card and games
* The strategic transformation of the tech giant into a content provider puts it in competition with Netflix and other streaming services
* The Apple News + service meanwhile offers access to hundreds of magazines and news sites for US$9.99 a month

Agence France-Presse  
Published: 3:41am, 26 Mar, 2019

Apple on Monday unveiled a star-packed original video service, a subscription plan for magazines and newspapers, and a credit card as part of a new strategic move for the iPhone maker.

The US tech giant, aiming to emphasise digital content and services to make up for a slump in smartphone sales, also announced Apple Arcade, a game subscription service for mobile and other devices.

Director Steven Spielberg, TV host Oprah Winfrey and Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell made appearances at the event, which puts Apple in competition with Netflix, Google, Amazon and others in various segments.

The Apple TV+ service – an on-demand, ad-free subscription service launching this year in 100 countries – will compete with services such as Netflix and Hulu with Apple investing heavily in its own content, while upgrading its TV application for third-party services.

“We believe deeply in the power of creativity,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at the event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, without revealing key details.

“Great stories can change the world. We feel we can contribute something important to our culture and to our society through great storytelling.”

Meanwhile a new Apple News+ service at a cost of US$9.99 per month will include the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal, digital news sites and more than 300 magazine titles including Rolling Stone, Time, Wired and The New Yorker.

“We think Apple News+ will be great for customers and great for publishers,” Cook said.

Apple News+ was launched Monday in the US and Canada in English and French and will be available later this year in Britain and Australia, the company said.

Separately the company said it was launching a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade later this year with at least 100 titles at launch.

More details in https://www.scmp.com/news/article/300323...ervices-tv

[Baldric]

https://schallfirm.com/join-action-form/...nc&id=1819

Does it works? Saw quite a few lawyers in US dollars this attempt.
And charge 33% recovered amount from investor.

[cyclone]

Apple's new, lower priced iPhone draws tepid response in Asia

Josh Horwitz, Heekyong Yang
Published SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 / 12:39 PM

HANGZHOU, China/SEOUL (Reuters) - Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) new, lower priced iPhone that comes with a faster processor but lacks 5G technology disappointed Asia, where cheaper and feature-packed handsets from rivals are already available.

The iPhone 11, launched on Tuesday for $50 less than last year’s base XR model, was met with a limp response from social media users in Asian markets that are dominated by Huawei Technologies and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS).

Lowering the entry price point, a rare move from Apple, was likely an effort to attract buyers in China, where Apple has ceded ground to Huawei due to a surge in support from patriotic Chinese consumers after the Chinese brand was caught in the U.S.-China trade standoff, said analysts.

Despite the reduction, the iPhone 11, and even the higher-end models with more camera lenses, are set to come up short in Asia.

“Apple’s new phones were no surprise at all. Only tangible change is having an additional camera on their premium model,” said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at Seoul-based Cape Investment & Securities.

“However, it is noticeable that Apple has made a price cut for the newest iPhone for about $50, which is a very rare move for the company. The move might be aiming to manage and reduce potential risks drawn by the U.S.-China trade war.”

The iPhone 11 will have two back cameras and is priced starting at $699, down from $749 for the XR last year. On Tuesday, Apple also dropped the price of the XR by $150.

The more expensive iPhone 11 Pro will have three cameras on the back and starts at $999. The bigger screen iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099.



“Since we still have to wait a year for 5G, why not just buy Huawei on Monday,” said one user on China’s Twitter-like service Weibo. Huawei and smaller rival Vivo have already released 5G models in China, and Samsung in South Korea.

A meme doing the rounds on Chinese social media featured Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook bragging about the new features and Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, shutting him down by pointing out that Huawei has had those features for years.

“(Apple) just added one more camera lens and called it a new feature, meanwhile it is still too pricey,” said a user on South Korea’s Naver.com web portal.

One of the main draws of the new launch for U.S. buyers - a $5 per month Netflix-like streaming service - will not be available in China.

More details in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple...SKCN1VW0G6

[weijian]

I reckon it is probably going to be the start of "hardware company differentiated by software" to "service company differentiated by hardware" soon? There is a long monetization runway for sure on potential service revenue, although it is hard to give up those profit margins from the hardware portion.

The iPhone and Apple’s Services Strategy

https://stratechery.com/2019/the-iphone-...-strategy/

[dreamybear]

I know there are investment merits abt Apple which Berkshire sees that I do not see. I don't know why Apple is in demand till the extent of flying here just to get or queuing for so many hours. I have used both Apple & Android & I prefer the latter.

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Apple fever strikes Singapore with launch of new iPhone 11 series
Published 20 Sep 2019

SINGAPORE - Apple fever is upon Singapore once again, with hordes of customers descending upon stores islandwide for the launch of the tech giant's latest iPhone 11 series on Friday (Sept 20)......

Read more : https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/apple-...-11-series

[Bibi]

I have used both Apple & Android & I prefer the latter.

I suppose u r talking about Apple phones and Android phones instead of their OS cos Android is a operating system.
I believe part of those buyers bought it due to 1 year free subscription of Apple TV.

[cyclone]

Apple CEO Tim Cook says iPhone 11 sales are off to a ‘very strong start’
* Apple CEO Tim Cook told German newspaper Bild iPhone 11 sales are off to a “very strong start.”
* Cook’s comments helped boost shares of Apple’s European suppliers.
* J.P. Morgan raised its price target for Apple on Monday citing better-than-expected sales for the new iPhones.

Elizabeth Schulze
PUBLISHED TUE, OCT 1 20196:01 AM EDT

Sales of the new iPhone 11 series are off to a “very strong start,” according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In an interview with German daily Bild published late Monday, Cook said the company “could not be happier” with the iPhone 11 launch. He did not reveal any specific sales figures related to the new devices.

Cook’s comments helped boost shares of Apple’s European suppliers in trading Tuesday. Shares of German chipmaker Siltronic increased 3%, while semiconductor firms Infineon, ASML and STMicro gained around 1%.

Apple’s new lineup of smartphones, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, hit store shelves September 20. The phones feature upgraded cameras, batteries and processors, but, unlike some of Apple’s competitors, they are not 5G-enabled.

More details in https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/apple-ce...start.html

[cyclone]

Apple mobilizes suppliers to unveil first 5G iPhones: Nikkei

Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich
OCTOBER 30, 2019 / 4:30 PM

(Reuters) - Apple Inc is mobilizing suppliers to launch its first 5G iPhone range, the Nikkei Asian Review said on Wednesday.

"It will be the first time Apple introduces 5G iPhones ... There will be three of them and the company has set an aggressive sales target," Nikkei here quoted a source as saying.

The three new iPhones will carry a 5G modem chip designed by Qualcomm Inc, Nikkei added, citing four people familiar with the plan.

More details in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple...SKBN1X90Z5