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☆ Apple's long-term positives outweigh rare earnings miss, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shorter-term macro issues don't detract from the long-term value at Apple , Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a Friday morning note that reiterated an overweight rating and a $175 price target. "Taking a step back, it's rare to see Apple miss and guide down in a quarter, but we believe the long-term positives from tonight's report outweigh the short-term negatives," Morgan Stanley's Erik Woodring wrote. It's that same discipline that helps Morgan Stanley analysts maintain a bullish outlook on Apple, which guided to a Mar. Apple's user spend levels are also keeping Morgan Stanley bullish, proof that "the underlying drivers of Apple's model remain robust." Investors have apparently embraced Morgan Stanley's appraisal of Apple's durability as a long-term investment.

☆ Apple is the only US tech giant to have avoided significant layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —In less than three months, four of the big five US tech companies have cut tens of thousands of employees combined, shattering myths about the industry’s seemingly unstoppable growth in the process. Tom Forte, a senior research analyst at DA Davison, agreed there will be staff reductions, but likely not as drastic as those at other large tech companies. How Apple avoided layoffs, so farFueled by a surge in demand for digital products earlier in the pandemic, Big Tech went on a massive hiring spree. Inflation pinched consumer and business spending, and rising interest rates evaporated the easy money tech companies had tapped into. Like other Big Tech companies, it has faced threats of antitrust action in the United States and EU.

The world's biggest public company is expected to report on Thursday that iPhone sales fell about 5% for the all-important holiday quarter, according to Refinitiv. The last time iPhone sales slipped was in the August-October period in 2020, months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater China, including Hong Kong, is key to Apple's fortunes, contributing roughly a fifth to annual revenue. FUNDAMENTALS** Revenue estimated to have fallen 2% in the last three months of 2022, Apple's first fiscal quarter. ** IPhone sales likely fell for first time since 2020, while services business rose 6%.

☆ Apple's expected to post its first revenue decline since 2019 on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at an Apple special event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California on September 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP) (Photo by BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL/AFP via Getty Images)Analysts expect Apple to post its first year-over-year revenue decline since 2019's March quarter when it reports earnings on Thursday. Apple gave a rare warning to investors that month explaining that production issues would result in lower shipments than "previously expected." The smartphone market saw an 18% decline in shipments in the fourth quarter, according to IDC, the worst decline ever recorded by the market research firm. The PC market fell 28% in the fourth quarter, according to the company.

☆ Apple targets raising India production share to up to 25% - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) wants India to account for up to 25% of its production from about 5%-7% now, the trade minister told a conference on Monday, as the iPhone maker continues to move its manufacturing away from China. "Apple, another success story," Piyush Goyal said, pitching India as a competitive manufacturing destination. Goyal did not say when Apple wants to meet the target. Foxconn plans to quadruple the workforce at its iPhone factory in India over two years, sources told Reuters late last year. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Indian's electronics and information technology minister, tweeted on Monday that Apple's exports from India had hit $1 billion in December.

☆ Apple wants to manufacture 25% of its iPhones in India, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple is looking to manufacture 25% of all of its iPhones in India, the country's commerce minister said Monday. Apple has been manufacturing iPhones in India since 2017, but these were usually older models. JPMorgan analysts said in a note from September that Apple could make 25% of all iPhones globally in India by 2025. Apple has been looking to diversify production away from China, where it currently makes the bulk of its iPhones. Apple has just a 5% market share in India's smartphone market, but CEO Tim Cook has long-seen India as a potential area for growth.

☆ Apple indefinitely postpones launch of AR glasses - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has postponed the launch of its lightweight augmented-reality glasses indefinitely due to technical challenges, but is still planning to unveil its first mixed-reality headset this year, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. The iPhone maker's mixed-reality headset - which combines both augmented and virtual reality - is set to launch in this year's spring event, Bloomberg said, adding that the device will cost around $3,000. Apple's mixed-reality device would compete with the likes of Meta Platforms' (META.O) Quest Pro virtual and mixed-reality headset, which it launched late last year for $1,500, half of the Apple device's reported price. The Cupertino, California-based company now plans to focus on lowering the price of the follow-up version of its mixed-reality device, expected as soon as 2024 or early 2025, instead of working on the AR glasses, according to the report. The Information website first reported Apple's plans to unveil a cheaper mixed-reality headset on Tuesday.

☆ Apple Rolls Out Latest MacBook Pro With New M2 Chips
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Denny Jacob | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Apple Inc. unveiled its latest iteration of the MacBook Pro, a move that will test its sway with consumers as demand for personal computers is expected to slump. The Cupertino, Calif., company on Tuesday said its new MacBook Pro features its next-generation pro silicon chip that enables a more power-efficient performance and battery life, among other enhancements.

[1/3] The sun sets on the U.S. Supreme Court building after a stormy day in Washington, U.S., November 11, 2022. Solicitor General's input on a lower court decision that prevented Apple and Broadcom from arguing the patents were invalid at trial. Apple and Broadcom also told the Federal Circuit that they should have been allowed to challenge the patents' validity at trial. The companies appealed that decision to the Supreme Court last September. The case is Apple Inc v. California Institute of Technology, U.S. Supreme Court, No.

☆ Apple reportedly considering touchscreen Mac laptop for 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Apple could release a MacBook Pro laptop with a touchscreen as soon as 2025, according to a report from Bloomberg. More recently, he was asked at a conference whether Apple would release a touchscreen laptop, and he said, "who's to say?" Apple's Mac business doesn't need a shot in the arm, though. Apple's Mac business generated $40.1 billion in revenue during the company's fiscal 2022, up 14% from 2021. A touchscreen Mac would require significant software changes to accept finger taps, which require larger buttons, instead of mouse clicks.

☆ Apple to start using in-house screens from 2024 - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 10 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is planning to start using its own custom displays in its mobile devices from 2024 onwards in an attempt to bring more components in-house, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The company intends to begin by swapping out the display in the highest-end Apple Watches by the end of next year. Apple plans to eventually bring these displays to other devices as well, including the iPhone, according to the report. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment, while Samsung Display, a unit of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), and LG Display (034220.KS) declined to comment. Bloomberg News had reported on Monday that Apple plans to replace Broadcom Inc (AVGO.O) chips from its devices with an in-house design in 2025.

☆ Apple to replace key Broadcom chip with in-house design - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) plans to replace a Broadcom Inc (AVGO.O) chip from its devices with an in-house design in 2025, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple plans to replace Broadcom's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to the Bloomberg News report, which added that Apple is the U.S. chipmaker's largest customer. The Cupertino, California-based company accounts for about 20% of Broadcom's revenue. Apple's decision is likely to hit Broadcom revenue by about $1 billion to $1.5 billion, said Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with financial services firm AB Bernstein. Apple and Broadcom did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comments.

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) stock market value fell sharply on Tuesday following its steep drop last year, putting it on track to end below $2 trillion for the first time since June 2021. The sell-off comes a year after the iPhone maker became the first company to reach the $3 trillion market capitalization milestone. At Apple's current stock price, the company is worth $1.98 trillion, just ahead of Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), currently valued at $1.78 trillion. The combined stock market value of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O) now accounts for about 18% of the S&P 500, down from as much as 24% in 2020. Apple vs the S&P 500 since the iPhone's introductionEven after its 27% drop last year, Apple has provided stellar returns to long-term shareholders.

☆ Apple vs. Microsoft? One outperforming fund manager picks his favorite — and explains why
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apple The Switzerland-based fund manager says Apple's shares have performed relatively better than Microsoft's because it has spent $90 billion buying back shares in the last financial year, compared to Microsoft's $30 billion of buybacks. Dodds believes this masks underlying weaknesses in Cupertino-headquartered Apple's business. Microsoft On the other hand, Dodds highlighted steps that Microsoft is taking that make it a better investment. Whereas Dodds said Apple relies on a handful of highly profitable revenue streams to keep up growth. "They rely a lot on the consumer continuing to convince themselves that an Apple 14 is a must have over an Apple 13."

☆ The Tech Censors Return
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Andy Kessler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Last week Elon Musk released the “Twitter Files,” revealing that the company blocked anything it wanted related to the Hunter Biden laptop story—wrongly it turned out. I wrote a column in October 2020 on social-media bias that Twitter restricted for many users simply because I mentioned the ban and Ukrainian payoffs. In addition, Mr. Musk previously accused Apple of threatening to remove Twitter from its App Store after his company uncanceled Donald Trump and others. Apple CEO Tim Cook then walked Mr. Musk around the company’s spaceship headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., and assured him that “Apple never considered doing so.” Sunshine can be a pre-emptive disinfectant. Its App Store, the only one on the iPhone, with fees that would make Tony Soprano blush, demands that apps “not include content that is offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, in exceptionally poor taste, or just plain creepy.” OK, that sounds creepy.

☆ Apple announces plans to encrypt iCloud backups
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Apple announced on Wednesday that it plans to allow users to encrypt additional kinds of iCloud data on its servers, including full backups, photos and notes. Encrypted backups will be opt-in, according to Apple, and will be available in the U.S. before the end of the year. While Apple has previously encrypted a lot of data it stores on servers, entire device backups that included text messages, contacts, and other important data were not end-to-end encrypted, and Apple previously had access to the contents of the backups. It also means that user data content would not be exposed if Apple's servers were ever breached. At the time, Apple said that an unencrypted iCloud backup on its servers was an option to get the same data.

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has been sued by two women who said its AirTag devices have made it easier for their former partners and other stalkers to track down victims. The plaintiffs called AirTag "the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers," and said it has been linked to murders this year of women from Akron, Ohio and Indianapolis. One plaintiff in Monday's lawsuit, Lauren Hughes, said her former boyfriend learned where she had moved to avoid him after placing an AirTag in her car's wheel well. The other plaintiff, Jane Doe, said her estranged husband tracked her after putting an AirTag in their child's backpack. The case is Hughes et al v. Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

☆ Apple is accelerating plans to move production out of China as protests and riots intensify in response to zero-Covid policies, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple is increasing its efforts to shift production outside of China, according to the Wall Street Journal. Production at factories like Foxconn has taken a massive hit amid riots over zero-Covid policies. Shifting production will likely be difficult in the current global economic climate, sources told WSJ. In November, the area known as "iPhone City" erupted into violent protests among employees over withheld pay and strict zero-Covid policies that prompted a lockdown in Zhengzhou. The protests, which coincided with the start of the holiday shopping season in the US, have led to significant supply chain issues and shortages of Apple iPhone products.

HONG KONG, Dec 1 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Covid-19 lockdowns and protests across China have highlighted the risks of the mutual dependence between Taiwan's Foxconn and its top customer Apple (AAPL.O). It makes 70% of the world’s iPhones, according to Fubon Research. Meanwhile Apple’s huge investments into Foxconn have paid off: the U.S. company is the most profitable smartphone maker by far. Foxconn has been scrambling to contain the fallout, offering bonuses to temporary workers and shifting production to other facilities. At the time, Foxconn said it was bringing the situation under control and was coordinating with other plants to increase production.

☆ China’s Zhengzhou, home to world’s largest iPhone factory, ends Covid lockdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —The central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, home to the world’s largest iPhone factory, has lifted a five-day Covid lockdown, in a move that analysts have called a much-needed relief for Apple and its main supplier Foxconn. Zhengzhou is the site of “iPhone City,” a sprawling manufacturing campus owned by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn that normally houses about 200,000 workers churning out products for Apple (AAPL), including the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. The troubles started in October when workers left the campus in Zhengzhou, the capital of the central province of Henan, due to Covid-related fears. Total iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max shipments in the current quarter would be 15 million to 20 million units less than previously anticipated, according to Kuo. Due to the high price of the iPhone 14 Pro series, Apple’s overall iPhone revenue in the current holiday quarter could be 20% to 30% lower than investors’ expectations, he added.

☆ Elon Musk claims to have met with Tim Cook at Apple's HQ after putting the company on blast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk posted a video on Wednesday, claiming Tim Cook showed him around Apple's campus. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment; Musk's tweet comes after he slammed the company on Twitter. New York Times reporter Kate Conger said on Twitter that Apple employees saw Musk and Cook together on campus on Wednesday. Musk, who calls himself Twitter's "Chief Twit," on Monday accused Apple of exercising monopoly powers through its App Store. Musk later added that Apple had "threatened" to take Twitter off its App Store and "won't tell us why."

☆ Elon Musk meets Tim Cook, says Apple never considered removing Twitter app
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Twitter owner Elon Musk said he went to Apple's headquarters and met with Apple CEO Tim Cook in tweets on Wednesday. Among other things, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter potentially being removed from the App Store," Musk tweeted. In another tweet, Musk posted a short video of a reflecting pool at the center of Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Apple stands to make money from Twitter if Musk succeeds in his plan to significantly expand Twitter subscription revenue, and those features are sold through the Twitter iPhone app. He also tagged Cook's Twitter account on Monday and asked what was going on with a potential suspension of the Twitter app.

S&P 500 stocksAll 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led by real estate (.SPLRCR), down 2.81%, and a 2.74% loss in energy (.SPNY). The S&P 500 declined 1.54% to end the session at 3,963.95 points. With two trading days left in November, the S&P 500 is on track for a gain of 2.4% for the month. Trading was mixed in other heavyweight growth stocks, including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O). The S&P 500 posted 12 new highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 93 new highs and 174 new lows.

S&P 500 stocksAll 11 S&P 500 sector indexes declined, led by real estate (.SPLRCR), down 2%, followed by a 1.91% loss in energy (.SPNY). In afternoon trading, the S&P 500 (.SPX) was down 1.20% at 3,977.86 points. Trading was mixed in other heavyweight growth stocks, including Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O). Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 (.AD.SPX) by a 7.7-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 11 new highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 75 new highs and 120 new lows.

☆ Apple's App store has become an ad-infested imitation of its former self, which is not good for iPhone users or developers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Michael Gartenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Apple used to carefully curate its App store, helping developers gain visibility and customers find what they needed. These days, it seems to be more about maximizing Apple's revenue than serving customers or helping developers flourish. Thus, the App store was born to give iPhone's beautiful hardware and elegant operating system thousands of apps, created by programmers running their own app businesses. Now, after 15 years of iPhones, I find the App store to be an imitation of its former self. The developer had gone to great lengths to try to show how copycat apps slipped through Apple's app review system.

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