Appletell

Apple is remaining confident that it will sell ten million iPhones this year, but is still keeping quiet about plans to introduce a new 3G model of the device. Apple’s CFO, Peter Oppenheimer refused to comment on anything to do with the rumors of a 3G iPhone. Oppenheimer however did say that the company is “excited” about new products it has on schedule. COO at Apple said that they had sold more iPhones than they expected to during this quarter of 2008, inventories fell and stores were rapidly losing stock due to the sales. He also admitted that a “significant number” of unlocked/hacked iPhones are being imported into countries which do not have the iPhone yet. iPod revenue has also climbed 8 per cent thanks to the international success of the iPod touch, which contributed to a higher average selling price on iPods.

The demand for the iPhone looks to be increasing, as more and more impatient customers are awaiting its arrival in their country. One of the main reasons for the iPod Touch’s success is that it is sold everywhere in the world, and can be used anywhere in the world.

Via [Macworld UK]

After a rather dismal first part of the calendar year, with AAPL shedding over $80 at its worst, things are looking very up for Apple, with many analysts reversing their downgrading of stock estimates for the company.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky raised his target price to $190 a share, Goldman Sachs analyst David Bailey raised his call on AAPL from $175 to $185. Citigroup set a $212 price target. Thomas Weisel Partners raised their call to $195, all in the past week. The consensus seems to be that while iPod/iPhone sales are slower, Mac sales haven’t been better and will boost the company to yet another successful quarter.

On Wednesday, Apple will broadcast it’s 2nd Quarter 2008 Result Conference Call on the web. Last time they had a conference call, they had a record breaking quarter but all anyone could focus on was the fact that iPod sales weren’t fantastic, but rather steady year over year. This sent the stock into a downturn. MacRumors compiled a little list of all that has happened this quarter:

On the Mac front, the early portion of this quarter saw the release of upgraded Mac Pros and Xserves just prior to Macworld San Francisco, with the new MacBook Air following suit at the expo. New Penryn-based MacBook Pros and MacBooks followed at the end of February.

This quarter also saw the release of Time Capsule, revitalized AppleTV and AirPort Express offerings, and higher-capacity models of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPod shuffle. Also of note, Apple released a limited beta version of the iPhone 2.0 software, including a Software Development Kit (SDK) to allow developers to create third-party applications for the iPhone.

Listen into the call this Wednesday [Apple.com]

2007 was a great year for Apple in the business world. The 2007 market share results for Mac OS X showed that in businesses, Mac OS X usage tripled to 4.2%, just over 2% lower than Vista, at 6.3%.

Windows XP declined during the same period, and it seems a shame that Apple doesn’t capitalize on the Windows Vista fiasco. Joe Wilcox at Apple Watch notes that Apple’s business advertising is totally non-existent. And Apple has a lot working against them. Windows PCs have long been the “Business Machine.” Most people assume that integrating Macs into the workplace will cause nightmares with compatibility, and there will have to be separate networks for Macs and PCs. The list goes on and on. It’s hard to imagine how Apple could extend it’s hip branding to business enterprise solutions, but they can think of something, and it’s a shame not to see them capitalizing.

Read [AppleWatch]

According to recent figures from NPD MusicWatch revealed by Ars Technica, Apple has become the leading music retailer in the US, overtaking Wal-Mart for the first time. Another interesting statistic from the report is that one-in-four music sales in the US are now in the form of paid downloads: 70.9 per cent of music sold is in physical formats while 29.1 per cent is digital - while that may seem quite low, it has increased from a much lower figure in the past. Many customers prefer physical formats for music because the quality is lossless and there is no DRM attached. However, with iTunes Plus DRM-free 256kbps songs, I am more tempted to go for digital - it’s just much easier and quicker to download a song than having to buy a physical disc, especially if you’re only going to listen to it on your iPod.

Via [Macworld UK]

Apple Computer took a turn into a new industry with the release of the MessagePad running the Newton OS, but many are just calling it ‘Newton’. The device boasts a 20mhz chip, 4mb ROM, and 640kb of RAM - not to mention a single PCMCIA-slot. When it comes to battery life, the device gets surprisingly good battery life off of 4 x AAA batteries, lasting you about 3/4 of a day.

The device is very revolutionary with its handwriting recognition and other features. The device is small enough to fit in an over-sized pocket or small carrying bag. It is also a great companion for your Powerbook. The device will go for around $1000 and is sure to make your life much easier with all of the included features.

This is not the first time Steve Jobs has been commented on his CEO position at Apple. Steve Jobs has made Barron’s fourth annual list of the 30 best corporate leaders worldwide. The magazine attributes him to being a “consummate innovator”, and ““arguably is the world’s most valuable CEO.”

”[His] whose unexpected departure could cut 30 or 40 points from the price of Apple shares, now around 130. That makes him a $25 billion man. From the iPod to the iPhone, Jobs continues to innovate and to defy doubters awaiting a major failure. And with Apple depending on the success of new products in the fiercely competitive market for consumer electronics, Jobs is the ultimate high-wire act in American business.”

Steve Jobs has done an incredible job of innovating technology and the way we use it at Apple. From the Mac, to the iPod, to the iPhone. Steve Jobs has an incredible ambition to change technology, and make the impossible possible. Since he returned to Apple 1996, the company has evolved from Apple Computer, Inc to Apple, Inc - emphasizing that they are no longer just pioneers in the computer industry, but technlogy in general.

Last week, BlueAir Inc. filed a 4-page complaint against Apple in the Illinois district court. BlueAir accuses Apple for bad sales last summer, and blames it on using their trademark term “airPOD”. BlueAir are charging that Apple is creating the controversy here between the parties - and causing harm by threats of trademark infringement and unfair competition. ”There is no reasonable likelihood of confusion, mistake or error in the marketplace for persons of even the lowest perceptive capabilities who are seeking an iPod music player considering or buying an airPOD desktop air cleaner instead” said BlueAir’s attorneys. They then continued to argue “’AirPOD’ and iPod are distinct in sound, appearance, and connotation as applied to their respective goods,” they add. “Although the ending --POD portions are identical, the initial portions AIR-- and i-- are distinct in appearance and connotation and distinguishable in sound as well to any ordinary observer.”

If you look at the photo of an airPOD on the right, it may resemble an iPod - slightly. Sure, there is a black circle that looks very much like a clickwheel. But there is absolutely no way that anyone can possibly get confused between an air conditioning unit and a personal music player. This is one of those stupid attempts to sue Apple. We all know that they always fail. Good luck, BlueAir - you’re gonna need it.

Via [AppleInsider]

Who ever said that Apple doesn’t love business users? According to some sources, AT&T is set to launch a new iPhone plan for business customers on January 21st. The “business” iPhone is technically the same as every other iPhone with one small difference - business customers get a $25 per month corporate discount. Not too shabby. Why, with that money, you can get unlimited text messages every month, and get all your twitter updates to your phone. The joys of working for corporate.

Via [Gizmodo]