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09:39 AAPL Apple Computer: Public beta of Adobe Creative Suite 3 may boost Mac sales - AppleInsider (88.28 +0.02) -Update-
AppleInsider reports sales of Apple Computer's professional Mac line could receive a shot in the arm later this month if Adobe Systems (ADBE) proceeds with plans to release an early public beta of its Creative Suite 3.0 software bundle.
Thus far, graphics professionals have been slow to adopt the Intel-based Mac Pro workstations introduced by Apple this summer -- a trend which both Apple and industry analysts have attributed to the lack of an Intel native version of Creative Suite for the Mac OS X operating system.
For its part, Adobe has gone on record in stating that native Intel Mac support of its most popular graphics applications, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, will have to wait until the Spring 2007 release of Creative Suite 3.
12:39 AAPL Apple Computer: iPhone runs into trademark problems - Inquirer.net (90.52 -0.75) -Update-
According to Inquirer.net, AAPL might have some serious problems with the iPhone. The problem can be summed up by saying there is a company in Canada called Comwave. It has been using the name iPhone in the US and Canada for a while now, about two years. Now, if you go to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and so a search under Trade-Marks for iPhone, you will see three documents, an opposition, a search and an abandonment by CSCO.
The US PTO also lists two of note, one by Ocean Telecom Services and the other by Teledex LLC. It is pretty certain that the Ocean application is from AAPL, but the Teledex one beat it by a year. What it comes down to is AAPL is jumping in to an obvious name with a good number of companies already using it.
Let's leave it at: there are many claims to the name, most predate AAPL by a lot. The real question though is what effect Comwave will have on all of this.
07:15 AAPL Apple Computer: Gripes over breakdowns grow as players become ubiquitous - WSJ Online (91.27 )
According to the WSJ Online, AAPL iPods have once again been the top seller in stores and the music player's white earphones remain a nearly ubiquitous sight on city streets and at gyms. But as it reaches deeper into the mainstream, more users are becoming familiar with a new sense of loss: the death of an iPod.
The iPod's durability could become a more important issue as consumers become less dazzled by cutting-edge technology and more concerned about longevity, especially for a device that can cost hundreds of dollars.
Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., says the rates at which iPods fail -- less than 5% -- are "extremely low" compared with other electronics devices. "IPods are designed to last for years, but as with any complex consumer-electronics product such as digital cameras, they can be broken if dropped or mishandled by users," says Mr. Dowling, who adds that the "overwhelming majority" of iPod users are happy with their devices. AAPL declined to comment on the specific number of iPods that have failed.
Lango - Jobs is a genius without parallel in his capacity to create and maintain a buzz. There is almost always something new, exciting, unexpected, fun, and productive. The telephone and the television are, to me, the areas with the most potential. That's as far as I can see.
15:44 AAPL Apple Computer: Toshiba's new 100GB models could foreshadow 100GB iPod - CNet (91.22 +0.10) -Update-
According to CNet, Toshiba announced new 100GB models of a small hard drive, a move that could lead to larger-capacity iPods next year. Apple uses Toshiba drives in its higher-end iPods and has historically snapped up the latest models. Most recently, it added an 80GB version of its video iPod in Sept. Moving from 80GB to 100GB would mean an iPod capacity increase from roughly 20,000 songs to 25,000 songs, going by Apple's standard measurements.
12:31 AAPL Apple Computer rumored to be eyeing video game market - AppleInsider (91.43 +0.31) -Update-
According to Apple Insider, a recent series of checks by Prudential analyst Jesse Tortora indicate that Apple Computer has hired video game designers and may have aspirations of entering the video game market in long-term.
We think the video game market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of video games for its iPod through its iTunes store," the analyst told clients in a research note on Monday. He said the company could approach the video game sector in one of two ways -- via a home game console or a handheld device.
Tortora says such a move "would introduce a complex set of market conditions" for Apple, which has traditionally made its real money through hardware sales. Given the challenges presented by the video game market, Tortora said the company's decision to enter the video game market could depend on its need to defend its position against the competition in the battle over the digital home.
09:20 AAPL Apple Computer: Data points back views of solid iPod sales - UBS (91.12 ) -Update-
UBS says that according to checks & NPD data, iPod sales seem to be picking up into year-end, backing their recently raised ests. Firm also says MSFT's Zune is providing little threat, and their checks also point toward continued momentum in Macs. Maintains Buy and $108 tgt.
14:13 AAPL Apple Computer acquires asset management firm Proximity Corp - ThinkSecret (91.61 +0.29) -Update-
According to ThinkSecret, AAPL recently acquired Proximity Corp, according to a note posted on the co's web site. "We are pleased to announce that all Proximity technology and intellectual property, including artbox workgroup and artbox enterprise, was recently acquired by Apple," the note begins.
UK-based Proximity's artbox system debuted in 2004 and was billed at the time as the "first of its kind" delivering a "breakthrough video asset management system for broadcast televisions and post production creative departments." Apple was previously listed a "Technology Partner" of Proximity, with the company offering Xsan compatibility and support for artbox, in addition to Final Cut Studio support.
08:37 AAPL Apple Computer reiterates no interest in virtualization for Leopard - AppleInsider (91.32 )
According to AppleInsider, while speaking to an analyst this month, executives for Apple Computer maintained that the company has no plans to incorporate virtualization technology into the final version of its Boot Camp software that will ship as part of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard next spring. "Apple indicated that it is very pleased with Parallels software and didn't feel the need to compete with its own version of embedded virtualization," Bear Stearns analyst Andy Neff wrote in a research note to clients this week.
When asked by Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf whether the company planned to offer virtualization in Leopard, Schiller responded firmly by saying "absolutely not, the R&D would be prohibitive and we're not going to do it. Our solution is dual boot."
08:47 AAPL Apple Computer iPhone patents filed - Red Herring (91.32 ) -Update-
According to Red Herring, AAPL filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in August for the patent proposal covering a portable computing device, a cell phone, and a media player—a combination that could rock the industry. That's because AAPL has proven its attention to design and every aspect of hardware to software can create a multibillion-dollar consumer electronics hit. The move is the strongest evidence yet that AAPL is well into plans for its much-discussed iPhone music-playing cell phone.
The most recent hard evidence of an Apple-branded iPhone surfaced in reports that AAPL had contracted with a Taiwanese company to build 12 mln units. Prudential Equity Group analyst Jesse Tortora has said that two phones—a slimmer nano-like phone and a smart phone—should be expected by Jan's MacWorld conf. Another analyst has said that one of the phones would feature iChat mobile instant messaging instead of email.
09:59 AAPL Apple Computer: iPhone specs leak - Inquier.net (90.87 0.45)
According to the Inquirer.net, AAPL's iPhone will be carrier independent and very small. The phone will have 2 batteries, one for the phone, one for the MP3 side, a slide out keyboard and a partial touch screen. It will be coming in two variants 4 and 8 gig for $249 and $449.
12:29 AAPL Apple Computer applies for patent for cellphone, iPod combination; filed in Aug, made public today - Bloomberg (92.28 +0.48) -Update-
07:53 AAPL Apple Computer tgt raised to $115 from $90 at Needham (91.80 )
Needham raises their tgt on AAPL to $115 from $90 based on a more realistic reading of the switch rates among Windows users that should ensue from the Mac's forthcoming ability to run Windows.
10:42 AAPL Apple Computer to ship 300,000 MacBooks this month, according to paper - AppleInsider (92.41 +0.60) -Update-
AppleInsider reports according to the Chinese-language Commercial Times, Apple's build orders the 13-inch notebooks to Taiwanese manufacturing partner Asustek Computer are expected to rebound to 300,000 units this month. By shipping similar quantities of MacBooks in December, it's almost assured that Apple will handily eclipse the 1 mln milestone for notebook shipments during its current quarter after sales of its professional MacBook Pro systems are factored into the mix.
In August, AppleInsider cited insiders as saying the Mac maker was tracking for shipments of 1 mln notebooks systems during its December quarter. The latest MacBook tallies also suggest the Street's current forecast for total Mac unit shipments during the quarter could once again prove to be conservative. On average, analysts have been modeling Apple to sell between 1.6 mln and 1.8 mln during the three-month period ending December.
09:32 AAPL Apple Computer tgt increase details (92.80 +0.99) -Update-
As mentioned at 7:58, Bear Stearns raised their AAPL tgt to $100 from $94. The firm notes that after meeting with CFO Peter Oppenheimer and VP of iPod Product Marketing Greg Joswiak, they remain optimistic about AAPL's continued innovation (iTV could be more impressive that Sept. preview) and twin drivers (competitively priced, Intel Macs and compelling new iPods).
Though they're encouraged by expansion into new markets in '07, timing of introductions is hard to call and they think AAPL will need incremental products in early '07 to buck seasonality issues. While AAPL did not provide any financial update, the firm's checks indicate continued strong demand for Macs and iPod, implying further potential for rev/EPS upside.
07:58 AAPL Apple Computer tgt raised to $100 from $94 at Bear Stearns (91.81 )
15:18 AAPL Apple Computer: Universal Music CEO says may seek IPod royalty deal with AAPL in early Y07 talks - Reuters (91.26 +1.72) -Update-
11:55 AAPL Apple Computer readying new keyboard with iPod dock? - Think Secret (91.48 +1.94) -Update-
Think Secret reports Apple may be preparing to release a new USB keyboard with a built-in iPod dock, sources report. The revelation comes through an unusual series of events that found samples of the unreleased keyboard in at least a few customer hands following a gaffe at an Apple repair parts depot.
Sources suspect that Apple had the recipients of the keyboard sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the replacement process. When the new keyboard may properly find its way into customer hands, if ever, is unknown but if the units are as production-ready as it seems, Macworld Expo San Francisco in January seems a likely venue for the release of the new keyboard.
07:59 AAPL Apple Computer: Checks with retail stores show little Zune awareness - Piper (89.54 ) -Update-
Piper Jaffray says that retail checks show that salespeople are not consistently recommending MSFT's Zune, and they note that Zune's rank has fallen on Amazon's Top-Selling MP3 Players list. Due to the less than favorable reception, firm believes that the Zune will not materially impact AAPL iPod sales in the Dec qtr.
While it is way too early to make a call on Dec iPod results, firm's analysis of the first month of NPD data (Oct) for the qtr suggests that iPod units of 14-15 mln. And since the data did not reflect the early Nov launch of the new iPod shuffle, firm says their current est could prove to be low.
08:59 AAPL Apple Computer: Tgt increase details (89.54 ) -Update-
...UBS raised their tgt on AAPL to $108 from $95. The firms checks point to solid iPod sales for new shuffles and certain Nanos along with momentum in Macs for higher accessories & software longer term. They continue to believe AAPL will launch new products in calendar '07, including cell phones, iTV & even ultraportable devices. Firm raises their 1Q07 EPS est to $0.80 (consensus $0.76) from $0.78, and raises their FY07 EPS est to $2.84 (consensus $2.71) from $2.75.
10:19 AAPL Apple Computer: Beatles, only on iPod? - Fortune Magazine (91.78 +0.15) -Update-
Fortune Magazine reports while details remain to be worked out, Fortune has learned that iTunes is close to a deal to bring the Beatles catalog online. Apple Computer is said to be angling to become the exclusive online music store for the Beatles for a limited window of time. If the deal goes through, it will mark a truce between Steve Jobs and Neil Aspinall, the onetime Beatles road manager who is now guardian of the band's business interests under the rubric Apple Corps.
At a recent industry conference, David Munns, head of EMI North America, said the Beatles would be available online "soon." According to a music industry exec apprised of the talks, the parties were discussing how lengthy a window of exclusivity iTunes might get and how many tens of millions of dollars Jobs - who is said to be personally involved in the discussions - will commit to an advance for the band and marketing costs.
Also being discussed is whether the band would be willing to take two steps at the same time and endorse the iPod by allowing its music to be used in a commercial. Another scenario making the rounds is the prospect of the Beatles following U2's example with a branded iPod.
07:11 AAPL Apple Computer target increase details (91.63 )
...ThinkEquity raised their tgt on AAPL to $110 from $100, saying their proprietary "Black Friday" survey of Apple Retail stores across the nation indicates likely upside to their Retail Store rev est of $1.45 bln for 1Q07.
Firm believes that AAPL's Retail Store is a clear differentiator and a significant catalyst for further CPU share gains and profit margin expansion.
07:37 AAPL Apple Computer Commentary: Apple would face many challenges with iPhone - Digitimes (86.47 )
Digitimes notes that with reports circulating that an iPhone from Apple Computer is likely to debut in the first half of 2007, the introduction of an iPhone could have an adverse impact on sales of music handsets by other vendors should Apple's first order for an iPhone total 12 mln units as reported earlier. But the launch of an iPhone would not be as simple as to just please Apple fans.
As a newcomer to the handset market, Apple would face many challenges, including integration of its platform, issues with patented technologies, verification from service providers and production cost issues. Various market sources indicate that the timing for Apple to launch an iPhone should be by the end of the first quarter of 2007, with the first-year global demand for an iPhone likely to reach 6.0-15 million units. This indicates that Apple may take delivery of 12 million handsets through the whole year of 2007 instead of taking delivery in one lot.
Although Apple is strong in a number of areas, including product design, integration of software and hardware systems, as well as loyalty from Apple fans, Apple may not be able to compete effectively with leading handset vendors, who have also stepped up their development of music handsets, such as the N-series and 5200/5300 handsets from Nokia, the ROKR-series from Motorola and the Walkman handsets from Sony Ericsson.
Other sources also indicated that Apple may use handset chips from Broadcom (BRCM), Infineon (IFX) and NXP Semiconductors and that such cooperation would be less strong than the close cooperation that exists between Nokia and Texas Instruments, Motorola and Freescale, and Sony Ericsson and Ericsson.
I wonder if Ballmer was wearing his monkey suit?
08:36 MSFT Microsoft: iPod slayer Zune hits the ground running - NY Post (29.23 ) -Update-
NY Post reports Microsoft's Zune media player was flying off shelves in New York on its first day in stores yesterday. "It's been crazy," said Eddie Feliciano, a sales manager at Best Buy at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue. "Our Zune area has been mobbed."
The strong initial performance was a boost for Microsoft and its CEO Steve Ballmer, who told Bloomberg this week, "We can beat them" - meaning Apple (AAPL) - while acknowledging that "it's not going to be easy." Apple controls 80% of the $4 bln MP3 player mkt. Last month, CEO Steve Jobs dismissed the Zune and mocked its wireless music-transfer feature, saying that by the time the transfer had finished, "the girl's got up and left."
Time will tell whether demand for the Zune stays robust, but at least for one day, the Zune, not the iPod, appeared to be the must-have digital-music player. A Microsoft spokesperson said it was too early to provide sales data.
11:44 AAPL Apple Computer: Retailers see strong Mac demand, little excitement over Zune - AppleInsider (84.58 +0.23) -Update-
AppleInsider reports checks with retailers in the Northeast indicate there is strong demand for Apple Computer's Intel Mac line leading into the holiday shopping season, with sales of the its iPod digital music players also gaining traction, analysts for UBS Investment Research said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the firm's inquiries turned up "little excitement" over Microsoft's (MSFT) Zune digital music player, which makes its mkt debut today.
"Our checks for Apple continue to be positive for MacBooks, which could lend upside potential to our estimates for fiscal 1Q07 (ends December) and bodes well for continued share gains," analyst Ben Reitzes wrote in his report to clients, first distributed on Monday. "While Apple continues to dominate the MP3 player market in terms of share, our checks indicate that the MP3 market is a bit more subdued than last year due to general market maturation."
The analysts believes retailers are not expecting much in terms of initial demand for Zune, as is evident from their lack of promotional material around the player and their hidden displays. "We are not expecting Zune to have a meaningful impact on iPod sales," he said.
09:31 AAPL Apple Computer delays shipments of new 17-inch MacBook Pros - AppleInsider (82.99 +0.52) -Update-
AppleInsider reports shipments of Apple Computer's new 17-inch MacBook Pro notebooks are off to a rocky start this month, with customers reporting that the co has been unable to make good on delivery times initially quoted with their orders.
In an email to its Apple store online customers this week, Apple said it would be unable to meet the the delivery dates specified alongside orders for the 17-inch models. Apple did not offer customers an explanation for the delay, but informed speculation would point to a component specific to the 17-inch models, such as casing element or the notebook's 17-inch LCD display.
OT - On Topic
17:24 NWS News Corp has 'positive talks' with Apple on film business, in talks with Apple about selling films on Itunes- Bloomberg (21.86 +0.29)
Rumsfeld Resigns as Defense Secretary After Big Election Gains for Democrats By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 20 minutes ago
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, agrees to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, President Bush announced today. Robert Gates, former head of the C.I.A., will be nominated as his replacement.
12:49 Secy Rumsfeld to step down, say Republican officials - DJ
The underlying problem was the willful determination not to explore options and really listen to dissenting views, from respected Republicans, including his own father, for God's sake.
The good news is that we will have oversight for at least two years. The bad news is that we don't know whether the oversight will be conducted and perceived as constructive or just more partisan bickering.
Lango - The people of Michigan send Dingell, but it is the Democratic Caucus that for years gave him the chairmanship of the Commerce Committee, which was the source of his stranglehold over a national energy policy.
This election is actually less than half the story. The larger story will be the internal organization of the House and the Senate, which will determine whether there will be real change that effects real people, or just two years of serial sound bites.
08:35 AAPL Apple Computer announces it unveils new MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo processors (80.51 )
Co today unveiled its new line of MacBook consumer notebooks that now include Intel Core 2 Duo processors. With prices starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup includes three models. With Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processors, the new MacBook is up to 25 percent faster than the previous MacBook and up to six times faster than the iBook.
08:55 AAPL Apple Computer: Adobe CS3 will be a driver for Mac sales in '07 - Piper (79.71 )
Piper Jaffray says based on their conversations with Adobe creative professionals, they believe the upcoming release of CS3, which will be the first version of Adobe's Creative Suite that is optimized for Intel-based Macs, will be a catalyst for new Mac sales.
They say the bottom line is that there is significant pent-up demand for Intel-based Macs among the Adobe creative pro community.
They note Adobe creative pro customers cannot run their Adobe apps at full efficiency on an Intel-based Mac until CS3 is released, so many are waiting until that time to upgrade their machines. They expect 138k more Macs per quarter than they had been anticipating, and say this would add 7% ($0.04) to their EPS estimate in both the Jun-07 and Sep-07 quarters.
09:08 AAPL Apple Computer: December quarter on track with strong Mac and iPod momentum - Amtech (79.16 ) -Update-
Amtech says while AAPL shares have appreciated significantly in recent months, they continue to believe shares still have sizable upside ahead of MacWorld Expo in January 2007. The firm sees several catalysts over the next few quarters including: Mac OS X Leopard in 1H07 that will help maintain strong Mac momentum, iTV launch in 1Q07, movie content partners beyond Disney, new iPod features including widescreen and wireless Bluetooth capability, and cell phones sometime in 2007.
Dick Wakefield of the Red Sox.
G 23 W 7 L ll ERA 4.63
Speaking for myself, you might have started a firestorm three years ago. Not now.
That's the most I'll say on a public board.
08:38 DRAM prices hit by Apple cutbacks - Inquirer.net
Inquirer.net reports that according to DRAMeXchange, DDR2 prices are continuing to slip even though DRAM makers can't ship enough as they change their production processes. However this shortage has been balanced by weaker demand as punters wait for the better technology. The industry has also been hit by Apple (AAPL) slashing the amount of DRAM it wants to buy, which many are seeing as a weakening of demand for its super soaraway iPod.
Theoretically the prices should be below the floor right now, but DRAMeXchange believes the worsening supply is propping up the prices and thinks that they should stay the same until November. According to DRAMeXchange's monthly report, after the holidays there was a sudden burst in demand which pushed the price up. But that has slowed again because buyers are now demanding lower prices. DRAMeXchange said that the overall price drop of DDR2 averaged at 1.5% last week with branded DDR2 667MHz falling to $6.40.
13:53 AAPL Apple Computer seen sustaining 30% yearly iPod growth - AppleInsider (80.91 -0.55) -Update-
AppleInsider reports despite increasing talk of mkt saturation, analysts for PiperJaffray said Tuesday they believe Apple Computer's iPod growth will continue at around 30% yr/yr. "Since the iPod was introduced in Oct. 2001 it has been the primary driver of the company's growth engine," analyst Gene Munster wrote in a note to clients. "We are modeling for the year-over-year growth to stabilize at [approximately] 20%, but believe 30% growth is achievable and will provide upside to our estimates."
While noting that Apple has sold 68 mln iPods in the past five years (of which 39 mln were sold in the last year), the analyst maintained his belief that a "significant addressable market" remains. Over the next 6 months, Munster expects Apple's forthcoming iPhone and iTV set-top media device to account for two more significant drivers to the co's growth engine.
10:24 MSFT Microsoft seeks premium to allow virtualization of Vista - AppleInsider (28.55 +0.12) -Update-
AppleInsider reports Microsoft plans to charge and arm and a leg to allow users of Apple Computer's (AAPL) Intel (INTC) Macs to run its next-generation Windows Vista operating system under virtualization. In its licensing terms for Vista published this month, the software giant said users of Vista Home Premium and Vista Home Basic "may not use the software installed on the licensed device within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system."
Instead, Microsoft will require that users purchase a Vista Business or Vista Ultimate license, which will retail for $299 and $399, respectively, in order to emulate the Windows environment. Apple, which plans to allow Windows operability as part of its own next-generation "Leopard" operating system, has so far stated that it will do so through its Boot Camp software -- a dual-booting solution that runs Windows operating systems natively and without the need for emulation.
I have always been conscious of the extreme bias in the New York media. They always seem compelled to either promote or destroy, regardless of what happens on the field.
My favortie example of this was the runup to the 1955 world series (you do remember that don't you?), when a columnist for one of the tabloids opined "Campanella loves fastballs, but he won't see Turley's." Right. First inning, Campy "rolled his wrists" and hit a fastball into the leftfield seats. Bums won the game and the series.
Because of this kind of self indulgence hyperbole I will regard a defeat for the Mets as a defeat for the New York media.