Tag Archives: Apple

Apple Acquires SnappyCam in Latest Company Buyout

Tech News, , ,

In one more buyout in which Apple keeps the competition down, the mega computer company purchased the company that created the popular photography application SnappyCam. The purchase of SnappyLabs is one more in a series of acquisitions and buyouts by Apple which keeps them current with the latest technology without requiring Apple itself to introduce anything new.

Apple Buys Popular App SnappyCam
Apple Buys Popular App SnappyCam

Users can purchase SnappyCam as a $1 app which upgrades their mobile phone’s camera functions. SnappyCam adds several useful functions, but it’s most well-known and popular is allowing a smartphone to take pictures in quick succession by holding down the on-screen shutter-button.

The tech blog TechCrunch first reported the Apple’s most recent purchase, but the amount of the buyout is still unknown. The buyout is further proof that Apple has diverged from the company’s traditional custom of avoiding acquisitions while Steve Jobs was the CEO. It appears that the company buyouts are taking the place of innovation as competition in the app marketplace only increases.

Apple has been teasing the marketplace with a soon-to-be-but-yet-to materialize smartwatch and TV product. The iWatch is due for release in late 2014, buy a Samsung iWatch has already hit the market. The response to the buyout of SnappyLabs was a 22 percent downturn in Apple’s share price, closing at $540.98.

In 2013 Apple purchased 11 companies. In 2011, the last year Jobs ran Apple the company only purchased two tech firms. In 2009 they bought one company, a music service known as Lala.com because it was in completion with Apple’s own platform iTunes. Apple predictably closed down Lala.com and maintained its tight hold on music delivery. In 2010 Apple bought-out four companies.

Apple Buy Back Plan Keeping Customers Loyal

iPhone, ,
Trade-in Your iPhone at an Apple Store Near You
Trade-in Your iPhone at an Apple Store Near You

Ready to upgrade your iPhone? Why not save yourself some time and trouble and let Apple buy it back from you? This month Apple is planning on launching an in-store buy-back program with the express goal of helping people to upgrade to iPhone 5, and maybe even buy some cool accessories they might not have thought of buying before.

How does this program benefit Apple? Let us count the ways:

•    An almost bottomless source of not-too-used phones which can help fill a growing overseas market. As Western markets become loaded with iPhones the Asian and other markets become a more important source of revenue for Apple.

•    There is already a recycling option for Apple customers through their web site, but offering customers a trade-in option for immediate credit towards a new phone gets them into the stores, where the goodies therein are almost irresistible. This makes already quite loyal Apple customers even more loyal.

•    Apple also believes the program will benefit their customers in terms of convenience if not financial. It is simpler to just march into an Apple outlet and get a good price than to go through the trouble of selling in one of the thriving second hand markets for electronic devices, such as BuyMyTronics, Gazelle and Glyde, although there is small chance Apple will outbid the open market.

This clever program should get Apple a lot of gently used phones to sell in the East, while at the same time keeping their customers close at heel with a trade-in program that only offers credit in their stores. Apple certainly has no intention of giving today’s Apple owners a chance to become tomorrow’s Galaxy groupies.

New iPhone Coming this Summer

iPhone, News, Tech News, ,
New iPhone Coming this Summer
New iPhone Coming this Summer

In order to win back some market share from the less expensive smartphones running Android software, Apple will be introducing yet another iPhone this coming summer.

The launching season for iPhone, at least the last two models, has been in the fall, but consumers can expect a newer and less expensive iPhone appearing relatively soon.

According to the Wall Street Journal the target market for this new Apple product is developing countries where the high price of iPhone has directed people to the less expensive Android-running smartphones.

It is Apple’s company policy not to discuss future products before their launch events. Apple execs emphasize consistently that it is Apple’s goal to make the best products and not necessarily the cheapest.

The WSJ added that Apple is ready to begin production of their latest addition to the iPhone line within the next three months.

Citi Cuts Apple’s Rating in Light of Low Expectations for iPhone 5

Investments, iPhone, , , , ,
Sales of iPhone 5 Not Gangbusters

Financial services company Citi has downgraded Apple’s rating from ‘buy’ to ‘neutral’ and lowered their price target to $575 due to their expectation that iPhone 5 sales will not be strong enough to prop up the stock.

Citi’s Apple analysts, Glen Yeung, Walter Pritchard and Jim Suva originally rated Apple ‘buy’ when they thought iPhone 5 sales would be impressive. UBS and Jefferies financial analysts also cut their price targets for Apple last week, but maintained the rating of ‘buy’ for the popular technology company.

Reports from Asian supply chains say that Apple has reduced their orders for the iPhone for 2013’s first quarter. It is logical that supply should be reduced after the holiday season somewhat, but Apple is cutting their production more than expected.

According to Citi, “Our checks suggest Apple has seen a 45-50% increase in monthly iPhone 5 production output October to December.” Since this improvement exceeded expectations it is not surprising that Apple is cutting orders for the beginning of the year.

It comes down to analysts at Citi believing that if iPhone 5 demand was high then Apple would continue to manufacture them at full-speed ahead. Since that is not the case and Apple is cutting production this signals to Citi that demand is only ‘good,’ and not ‘great,’ which is what Apple would need to get a ranking of ‘buy’ from Citi.

Apple iPad Mini Set to Hit Stores

Uncategorized, , ,
iPhone, iPad Mini and iPad

In an effort to protect its market share from such challengers as Amazon and Google, Apple Inc is releasing its own version of a smaller sized tablet device, the iPad Mini.

The iPad Mini is the rampart defending Apple’s control of the market on extra-portable personal computing devices just as Amazon’s Kindle and Google’s Nexus 7 are beginning to make inroads into that market.

The smaller device is considerably less expensive then Apple’s popular best-seller, the iPad 10-inch full-sized model, and is the first device added to Apple’s compact portfolio since the reins of leadership of Apple was handed over to Tim Cook, who took over from Steve Jobs just before his death.

"Apple sensed early that they had a real winner with the iPad and that has proven to be correct," said Lars Albright, co-founder of mobile advertising startup SessionM and a former Apple ad executive.

"They have a large market share, and to protect that market share they have got to be innovative," he added.

The Apple iPad Mini will be unveiled today, Tuesday, October 23,  at a “by invitation only” event scheduled to begin at 10am in San Jose, California.