Category Archives: Google

Apple vs Google – Battle of the Tech Giants

Posted on by

photo

Google just recently held its annual developers’ conference, Google I/O, in San Francisco.  Just three weeks ago, Apple, too, held it’s annual developers’ conference in San Francisco. Both tech giants showed off their vision for the…future (the next year).

 

20140403-112957.jpgApple’s software lineup wasn’t as radical as iOS 7’s unveiling at WWDC 2013 (an unveiling which wowed the world), but the iPhone maker certainly unveiled much – especially for developers. The company promises to open up portions of its operating system, iOS, to developers with new features – a move it has been reluctant to do in the past.  Apple released a series of API updates and other developer-related content along with iOS 8.  It also pushed new feature such as HomeKit and HealthKit, which will allow pave the road for the rumored “iWatch”.  Apple, unlike Google, did not push wearables at its WWDC, however only hinted at what’s to come.

Google-IO-2014

Google, on the other hand, pushed wearables with it’s watch API and other wearable related software.  The search giant also showed off its competitor to Apple’s Carplay,  Android Auto.  Android Auto promises to ingrate with various cars before the end of 2014 and provide a seamless integration with exiting Android devices.   Google also directly targeted Apple’s comments at WWDC 2014, saying that is is patching security holes at a much faster rate (via Google Play Services).  However, the company still fails to release general software updates to the majority of its users.  Most importantly, Google showed off Android L, it’s next generation operating system, which promises to provide users with a beautiful new experience and systemwide redesign. It will publicly debut in the fall.

The question remains: who will be victorious in the never-ending battle for users and user growth?  Google and Apple both unveiled incredible updates to their existing products.  Collectively, the two conferences did not showcase hardware, but rather hinted at the future by laying the building blocks for wearables and other such technology to emerge.  We’ll just have to wait until the fall to see…

Advertisement

Announcement: Apple Rumors to Shut Down

Posted on by

I great saddness, I am announcing the closing of AppleRumors.NET. AppleRumors.NET has had an incredible history before our purhasing of the site. From 2001-2005 (exact date may vary), the service was owned by an different company which reported exclusively on Apple News. Click here to view more of the old Apple Rumors site.

With my acquisition of the site in September of 2013, I have dramatically revamped the site. Needless to say, I am officially closing AppleRumors.NET by next Sunday for undisclosed purposes. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

To Infinity!

20140401-113236.jpg

Notes from Apple Quarterly Earnings

Posted on by

Notes from Apple’s Quarterly Earnings

20131022-162209.jpg– 4.8 Million Macs Sold in Fiscal Quarter One
– 80% of all iOS users are now on iOS 7, making it the most popular mobile OS in the world.
– Apple remembered Mac’s 30 Year Anniversary last week
– $4.4 Billion made from iTunes
– iTunes hit new records
– App Sore passed 65 Billion Downloads
– 130,000 Chinese Apps
– $7 Billion from Apple Stores (Record)
– 4 New Stores Opened
– 166 Stores OutSide USA
– Average Revenue was $16.7 Million/store
– iBeacons Rolled Out in Quarter One
– Apple has $158.8 Billion in Cash

20131112-221645.jpg

Apple Reports Quarterly Earnings

Posted on by

Apple today announced its quarterly earnings.   The conference call officially begins at 5:00 EST/2:00 PST.  Listen live here.  We will bring you updated news as time progresses.  The company had a record breaking quarter.

AppleYearIn Review

Quarter 1 accounts for the holiday season, the most important quarter of the year.  Apple also reached a multi year deal with China Mobile in late 2013.

Apple’s Quarterly Earnings

iPhone and iPad Sales Drive Record Revenue and Operating Profit

CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 first quarter ended December 28, 2013. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $57.6 billion and quarterly net profit of $13.1 billion, or $14.50 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $54.5 billion and net profit of $13.1 billion, or $13.81 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 37.9 percent compared to 38.6 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 63 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

“We love having the most satisfied, loyal and engaged customers, and are continuing to invest heavily in our future to make their experiences with our products and services even better.”

The Company sold 51 million iPhones, an all-time quarterly record, compared to 47.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 26 million iPads during the quarter, also an all-time quarterly record, compared to 22.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.8 million Macs, compared to 4.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Apple’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $3.05 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on February 13, 2014, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2014.

“We are really happy with our record iPhone and iPad sales, the strong performance of our Mac products and the continued growth of iTunes, Software and Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We love having the most satisfied, loyal and engaged customers, and are continuing to invest heavily in our future to make their experiences with our products and services even better.”

“We generated $22.7 billion in cash flow from operations and returned an additional $7.7 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the December quarter, bringing cumulative payments under our capital return program to over $43 billion,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO.

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2014 second quarter:

• revenue between $42 billion and $44 billion

• gross margin between 37 percent and 38 percent

• operating expenses between $4.3 billion and $4.4 billion

• other income/(expense) of $200 million

• tax rate of 26.2 percent

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2014 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PST on January 27, 2014 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq114. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

Breaking: Apple Remembers Nelson Mandela

Posted on by

Screen Shot 2013-12-07 at 12.03.07 AM

Apple today changed it’s homepage to commemorate the life of former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.  Mandela died on Friday at the age of 95.  In the past, Apple has commemorated the death of  individuals such Rosa Parks, Steve Jobs, and Jerry York.

Apple used Mandela as an example in its legendary Think Different campaign of 1997.  Mandela was depicted as a rebel and leader – the type Apple culture has forever idolized.  Mandela fought for his beliefs and changed the world – philosophy deeply ingrained in Apple culture and the late Steve Jobs.

In typical Apple fashion, the homepage only depicts a black and white photo of Mandela and the years of his life.

Google, too, honored Mandela by noting his death on it’s homepage (see below).

AppleRumors.NET remembers the life of a man who forever changed the world.  RIP, Nelson Mandela.

Google's Tribute to Mandela

Google Releases Nexus 5

Posted on by

Google today released it’s latest flagship phone, the Nexus 5. Google touts it as a new 5″ phone powered by Android 4.4 Kitkat. 20131031-201824.jpg
Image Credit: Google

Google’s latest flagship phone will be sold via T-Mobile and Sprint, but the smartphone will be compatible with AT&T. Verizon, the USA’s largest cell phone carrier, will not carry the phone.

The company touts the Nexus 5’s new processor: “With 4G/LTE and ultra-fast Wi-Fi, Nexus 5 keeps you connected at blazing speeds. Add in the cutting-edge 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800 processor and you’ll race through games, zip around the web and switch between apps at the flick of a finger.”

We’ll have more information on how the new Nexus compares to the 5s in the coming weeks.

Google’a latest flagship ships with Kitkat, Google’s latest OS.

Customers who purchase as of now will have to wait approximately 3-4 weeks for their phone to leave the warehouse.

20131031-201855.jpg
Image Credit: Google

Google+ Reaches 300 Million Users

Posted on by

20131029-183718.jpgGoogle’s social media network, Google+ reached 300 Millions users said vic Gundortra, Google’a SVP. Google also has users upload images at an “amazing rate.”

With 300 Million users, Google+ now is larger than Twitter, with its 230 Million users. Facebook, however, remains the most popular at over 1 Billion active users.

Apple, in comparison, has had little success building a social network and its Ping service was discontinued in 2012. Google, too, had little success with Google Buzz, a precursor to Google+.

Editorial: Is the iPad Enough?

Posted on by

Apple on Tuesday released the latest iteration of its popular iPads, dubbed the iPad ‘Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display’.  While the iPad Air sports a super slim and lightweight design, new processors, and more, some have asked if that’s enough for the iPad to stay afloat as the top tablet.  The iPad Mini with Retina Display brings a new Retina display, A7 chip, and advanced wireless to the table (among other features).

Credit: AppleApple’s iPad, nicknamed the “Jesus Tablet” by early adopters, was a radically innovative product when it debuted in 2010.  No other company had anything close to it; it ushered countless of Android copycats and what Steve Jobs declared “the Post-PC Era.”  But are those copycats more innovative than Apple and do they have the ability to usurp Apple’s dominance?

A recent study found that within the next year, Apple’s iPad will hold a mere 49% of all tablet marketshare in comparison with Android, anther dominant competitor.  But why and isn’t that a large number?  Well, Apple’s iPad at one point dominated nearly 100% of all tablets and that number has been decreasing substantially over the last few years.  Additionally, Android is a free software, so any manufacturer can essentially “borrow” Android from Google, use it as their OS, and then ship a tablet, phone, or even an Android PC (gosh!).  We’ve seen some super cheap Android tablets – ones you could buy for $39, but they’re never really caught on.  However, Google’s new Nexus 7 is certainly a hit – an a hit right at Apple.

Image Credit: Google

The Nexus 7 features a super sharp display, slim and lightweight design, a fast Snapdragon processor, the latest Android OS, etc.  In fact, CNN rated it the best Android Tablet one can buy – that says something, especially for a tablet so affordable  With all these are incredible features, the most remarkable is the price.  The new Nexus 7 comes in at $229, one hundred dollars cheaper than Apple priced the iPad Mini when it was released last year.  Shocking?  Well, yes it is.  Consumers know that when they purchase an Apple product, they’re given an incredible device, amazing support, and a world full of hundred of thousands of apps. Google doesn’t offer amazing support – believe me, I’ve tried reaching out to them – and they don’t have a world of hundreds of thousands of tablet-designed apps.  However, these factors are developing.  Google’s support does indeed get better, while developers are designing tablet optimized apps. So what does this mean for Apple?  It needs to lower the price of its iPads to stay king among some intense competition.

Image Credit: AppleApple’s first generation iPad Mini (which is still around, fyi), is now being sold for $299 – only $30 cheaper than when it was released.  The current iPad Mini with Retina Display is being sold for $399 –  $170 more than the Nexus 7.  This brings a new question to mind, “Is the iPad Mini with Retina Display better than the Nexus 7?”  Well, that’s a decision you have to make, but it’s an important one.

I still feel that Apple has the dominance over Android and that iOS 7 is a robust mobile OS – much more than Adnroid.  But one never knows what could happen, and with Android developing at a steady pace, the future is uncertain…