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AAPL Apple Computer to sell PowerSchool to Pearson - ThinkSecret (62.77 -0.38) 09:42
ThinkSecret reports the co will sell PowerSchool, its division that develops student information systems for K-12 school districts, to Pearson Assessments, sources have confirmed. The cos have yet to announce the sale, which will be effective June 1. The co informed PowerSchool employees of the sale yesterday morning. Terms of the deal are not known. Five years ago, the co purchased the Folsom, Calif.-based software developer for $62 mln in stock, a play intended to strengthen the Mac maker's hold on K-12 education. But the PowerSchool division had a turbulent life at the co after the acquisition. It saw major layoffs and a mgmt shakeup that included the departure of the company's founder in 2002. The group also discontinued PowerSchool Enterprise, a version of the S.I.S. intended to be scalable for larger school districts.
07:30 Credit Suisses discusses iPod market opportunity (63.38 )
Credit Suisse notes that despite the Apple iPod's overwhelming popularity, investors are becoming increasingly concerned with its growth opportunities, competitive pressures, slowing product introductions, and the law of large numbers. Firm believes that over time Apple's iPod can easily exceed Sony's 309 mln cumulative Walkman and Discman shipments.
Firm's analysis indicates that a sale of an iPod ($203 ASP) creates on average $253 in total Apple revenue, with a blended gross margin of 24%. They believe Apple is still in the early stages of its product expansion and that the company can grow its iPod units at least 20% for the foreseeable future, based on the iPod's low penetration rate, accelerating replacement cycle, overall market opportunity, and defensible competitive positioning.
Ambient Announces Availability of X2
Wednesday May 3, 8:30 am ET
Next-Generation BPL Access Device Provides Industry-Leading Performance and Features
Press Release Source: Ambient Corporation
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2006--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, unveiled today its next-generation BPL access device, known as X2. This follow-on product line to Ambient's X-Node, which has been successfully deployed in multiple locations throughout the United States, provides unparalleled capabilities to the BPL market.
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Ambient's X2 product line integrates 200-Mbit Generation 2 technology from DS2 in a unique, proprietary design which provides up to three BPL interfaces to supply unprecedented levels of BPL bandwidth, combined with optional gigabit Ethernet, direct fiber connections, and 802.11a/b/g wireless capabilities.
X2 nodes are available with an optional backup battery and integrated low-voltage capacitive coupler. The X2 includes an integrated NEMA-4 enclosure, providing both indoor and weather-resistant outdoor capabilities in a reduced form factor. X2 nodes can be installed in pad-mount, pole-top, and wall-mount locations.
Additional advanced sensor and utility applications will be available for X2.
John Joyce, CEO of Ambient Corporation, stated, "Ambient once again demonstrates its leadership in the BPL industry by providing the most capable Generation 2 equipment. Our new X2 supplies utilities and BPL service providers with all of the features they need to successfully and competitively deploy next-generation BPL networks with extended capabilities."
Ambient's X2 is fully supported by the Company's Network Management System, which is presently in trials at customer locations.
"Ambient continues to demonstrate their market leadership in the Americas by proving the effectiveness of our latest chipsets in their products. We at DS2 are pleased to have a strategic partner in Ambient who continues to demonstrate their belief and commitment to aggressively pursue the new PLC/BPL applications of our market-leading latest technology. The value Ambient adds to each of their products will be a key factor in the success of their X2 product," stated Jorge Blasco, CEO of DS2.
Ambient will commence shipments of X2 in the second quarter of 2006.
More fun with Bill and Steve...
Microsoft Patch Snafu Grows, Users Seek Workaround
By Gregg Keizer
TechWeb.com Tue Apr 18, 2:52 PM ET
The snafu involving one of Microsoft's recent security patches continued to grow as the developer acknowledged new incompatibility problems with some video drivers and users on the company's forums complained about having to uninstall the fix or resort to unsanctioned repairs.
Reports first surfaced Friday of problems caused by the MS06-015 security bulletin, which was rolled out to fix a critical flaw in Windows Explorer, the operating system's core file navigator. Troubles ranged from lockups of third-party software to Internet Explorer going dead.
Saturday, Microsoft posted a document that outlined the patch's problems and offered a temporary workaround that requires users to edit the Windows registry, a potentially dangerous chore, since a single error in the registry can cause the PC to refuse to boot into the OS.
Tuesday, Mike Reavey, operations manager of the Microsoft Security Response Center, said that the patch not only conflicts with older versions of Hewlett-Packard "Share-to-Web" software, but added that it also is incompatible with older editions of NVIDIA graphics card drivers.
He recommended that users upgrade to the most current versions of HP's Share-to-Web and NVIDIA drivers, as those seem to not impact the patch.
Overall, however, Reavey downplayed the extent of the MS06-015 patch problem. "To give you some idea of the scope of the problem, so far out of over 120 million successful installations of the MS06-015 update, the number of calls related to this issue is currently well under a thousand."
That's no comfort to the scores of angry users on Microsoft's official newsgroups, including the Windows Update group, who continued Tuesday to tick off new troubles, including problems with the Windows version of iTunes, and symptoms such as system hangs whenever a file is saved.
Some are simply fed up with the run-around.
"I think the focus on HP is wrong as there are other programs out there also caused the problem. MS has to fix KB908531 otherwise we will have to tweak all other applications which is wrong !!!!" wrote a user identified as "Allen."
E-mail to TechWeb from users spelled out Windows freezes, vanished external drives, inoperable printers, and an inability to save or open files in various Microsoft Office applications.
Nor was Microsoft's registry-related workaround a workable fix.
"I was in the Registry (not a comfortable place to be) and the navigation string their instructions said would be at the location they had taken me was not there," said Julian Boone in an e-mail to TechWeb. He abandoned the attempt and was out his printer and browser.
"So here I am, a little Internet store guy, making a buck here and there in my spare time, without a printer to do regular business work and well in over my head on this 'patch' thing," added Boone.
Some users reported on the Windows Update newsgroup that they had resorted to uninstalling the MS06-015 patch and/or had turned off Windows' Automatic Update to prevent similar problems down the road.
"I have a new attitude about quickly installing patches with Windows Update," admitted a user identified as "Al Fikes."
Users unwilling to try their hand at editing the registry were directed by others to a pair of third-party fixes which automated the changes.
"If the manual fix seems daunting, MVP Kelly Theriot has once again worked her magic and written an automated fix for the HP problem," wrote another Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) named "Malke." The fix he referred to is available here (see line 383, at the bottom of the page, right-hand side).
Another automated registry edit can be downloaded from here; after extracting the .reg file from the archive, users should double-click to make the Microsoft-recommended changes to the registry.
For its part, Microsoft has neither committed to re-releasing MS06-015, nor if it does, to a timetable.
"We're still looking at the best way to assist customers who may have been impacted by this," said Reavey.
A Microsoft spokesman refused to elaborate, and said that all current information on the patch was in Reavey's recent blog.
intel imac motherboard
Does Rev A and Rev B still apply to the intil imac?
I looked at the specs on macconnection and amazon and could not see any indication.
09:37 AAPL Some Apple perspective (65.67 +0.96) -Update-
We are hearing Apple should see some strength given two incrementally positive datapoints: 1) The co announcing they are shipping imac's today and 2) An article noting "Music players are also turning over rapidly. Sony's Bean MP3 player was launched at the end of August. Yesterday, the company confirmed that it will be discontinued in April. It insists that repairs are still available long after production ends.", potentially leaving more room for Apple to gain more market share in the mp3 space.
California. Sorry. Misssed that.
Out of 153?? 153 what?
Where's the income stream?
All this activity in BPL is fine, but how is ABTG going to profit from it?
13:14 ABTG Unusual Volume -- ABTG.OB: Ambient Corp trades up 11% on 3.6x avg volume -- Broadband over Power Lines play (0.25 +0.03)
Note that after the close, ABTG announced the BPL Trial Agreement it has entered into with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a unit of Sempra Energy (SRE), that will evaluate BPL-enabled consumer and utility based applications. Ambient will work with SDG&E staff to develop an understanding of the required knowledge and skills to implement, design and install a fully operational BPL-enabled Ambient network on the SDG&E grid.
Ambient Enters California Market
Thursday July 21, 4:30 pm ET
SDG&E Selects Ambient to Assess BPL Technology
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 2005--Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG - News), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, today announced the BPL Trial Agreement it has entered into with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a unit of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE - News), that will evaluate BPL-enabled consumer and utility based applications.
Ambient will work with SDG&E staff to develop an understanding of the required knowledge and skills to implement, design and install a fully operational BPL-enabled Ambient network on the SDG&E grid. Ambient's Network Management System (NMS) will be licensed by SDG&E to monitor the BPL network. Ambient technology will be purchased and installed by SDG&E to provide high-speed data services so that SDG&E may evaluate several applications including BPL-enabled meter reading.
John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient, stated, "We believe this is a significant opportunity for Ambient to demonstrate how our solution may play a role in helping to fulfill the Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI) set forth by California's Energy Commission (CEC) and Public Utility Commission (CPUC). California's energy vision set forth by these two commissions is unique as it focuses on customer-oriented or demand-side solutions, seeking to establish a technology and pricing policy foundation that links customer rates with the market price for energy. Our goal is to establish a BPL network in the state where the Public Utility Commission has clearly expressed an interest in evaluating BPL technologies for better serving the utility's customers."
Linda - Thanks. Right now my judgement on CCs is to recognize when they are not suitable for me. I've assembled an excellent portfolio of high yield stocks that over the past two years and I'm not about to take the risk of having a high yield stock called.
Divies are about %2,500/month, which with Federal retirement more than suppports the way we choose to live. And there is great peace of mind in not HAVING to trade.
Only earnings or acquisition will increase price. EOM.
07:49 AAPL Apple Computer: Mgmt reiterates firm's basis for Overweight - Prudential (37.55 )
-Update- Prudential notes that AAPL mgmt stated that iPod success and increased brand awareness have begun to translate into a market share breakout story that could last for the foreseeable future, reiterating what has been the firm's basis for their Overweight rating. They say PCs are often upgraded on an as-needed basis and iPod success is still young as 63% of all iPods ever sold were in the last 2 quarters. They also believe retail and online sales continue to outpace overall company growth, and add yet another profit lever to the Apple story. Target remains at $55.
AAPL Apple's improving production efficiency is critical -- Piper (36.97 )
Piper Jaffray believes that AAPL is improving production efficiency as evidenced by the majority of its products being shipped on the same business day. This is critical to the AAPL story as its products continue to experience strong demand as supported by the solid overall performance on Amazon.com's Top Seller Lists. The number of iPods in the Top 10 Seller Lists returned to its high of 8 from 4. THe firm believes this exhibits the co's dominance in the portable MP3 market and shows that the initial exploratory phase of other MP3 players has lightened. Maintain Outperform.
COVD Covad Comms: Color on SBC deal- Kaufman (1.39 )
Kaufman is positive on Covad Comm (COVD) following agreement with SBC and AT&T to extend its relationship with these partners after the completion of their pending merger. According to the firm, this agreement alleviates concern as to the impact of the merger and has positioned Covad to not only sustain current business from these partners but to grow this business relationship. Thinks the out-of-region opportunity is particularly interesting as they expect SBC/AT&T to pursue a role as a national provider. Firm continues to view recent pressure on the stock as overdone. Reiterates Buy and $5 tgt.
dileet - You're a class act.
Loudeye for sale? BusinessWeek Online 2/4/05
THE NEXT LEVEL. Several years ago, Mike Brochu took software maker Primus Knowledge Solutions (PKSI ) public. He also led negotiations that resulted in the $1.1 billion sale of game maker Sierra On-Line. So, on Feb. 1, when he was appointed CEO of Loudeye (LOUD ), whose technology powers digital-music stores, the move raised eyebrows. Hmm. Could Loudeye be up for sale?
Sorta. "Should someone come along and appreciate the [company's] value, I've always retained an open mind," Brochu tells BusinessWeek Online, adding that "there are always interested parties." So, Brochu, who took over after the previous CEO, Jeffrey Cavins, resigned, is in no hurry. Brochu says he's the guy to take Loudeye to the next level. "That's my forte." Cavins will stick around in -- what else -- an advisory role.
http://yahoo.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/feb2005/nf2005024_0940.htm
AAPL Apple Computer: Bullish datapoints from recent channel checks - Amtech (77.69 -1.94) -- Update -- 10:23
Amtech notes that their checks with industry and channel sources, including Taiwan ODMs, indicate very strong demand for iPod shuffle and Mac mini. Their checks indicate that the initial 200,000 iPod shuffle units built have sold out and that lead-times appear to be lengthening to 2-4 weeks versus 1-2 weeks. Consistent with their previous checks, they believe production of iPod shuffle could materially increase starting in the month of March, therefore improving lead-times. Their contacts indicate a production ramp to as many as 500,000 units per month, with AAPL having an option to expand capacity in future months. Firm maintains a Buy and tgt of $84, as they believe that the move to digital music is a multi-year trend that AAPL is well-positioned to capitalize on, having arguably the industry's most powerful and complete stack of hardware, software, and service.
Yes. I am simply amazed that this has not received more attention. But then I've been in amazed disbelief during this entire runup. And happy to see the good fortune to those who believed. "Red Sox Nation" see also "Apple Nation."
Speaking of displays, has anyone added a 2nd display to a 17' AlBook? The long winters here in Maine allow plenty of time for day trading <G> but I am running out of screen real estate for alerts and real time quotes.
AAPL Apple Computer: Momentum should continue to drive stock - Goldman Sachs (77.53 ) 08:31
Goldman Sachs says their recent channel checks have confirmed backlog for the co's recently-announced iPod shuffle and Mac mini. More importantly however, and less well telegraphed, checks also provided information about Apple's quick and successful rollout of a much wider retail network and the co's increasing ability to upsell. In short, instead of the Mac mini cannibalizing sales of Apple's iMac consumer desktop, firm says Apple Stores and resellers are having success converting potential Mac mini buyers into iMac customers, providing a potential source of upside to firm's March qtr ests, with spillover into the June qtr. Firm believes momentum should to continue to drive AAPL, and they also expect positive news flow and upward earnings revisions to continue.
Linda. Still poking along with income stocks. Watching tankers (FRO NAT VLCCF SFL) for good entry points. Very good divies but volatile.
Have huge cap gains in canroys, CHT, LYG, UU, BHP, but won't sell until I find an equivalent after-tax ROIC with good entry point. Good to have such problems. Only new buy has been USU, uranium enrichment, 4.4% ATROIC. Good entry at 9.50. Now 10.54. Waited for two months for the right price. Very different world than this board.
Peace.
From briefing
16:37 AAPL to resume trading at 16:50 ET
16:37 AAPL Apple Computer beats by $0.22, guides Q1 EPS, revs above consensus (65.46 +0.90)
Reports Q1 (Dec) earnings of $0.70 per share, $0.22 better than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.48; revenues rose 74.0% year/year to $3.49 bln vs the $3.15 bln consensus. AAPL reports gross margins of 28.5% vs street expectation of 27%, reports 1.046 mln Mac units shipped during Q1, vs street expectation of 984k. Company issues upside guidance for Q2 (Mar), sees EPS of $0.40 vs. Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.33 on revs of $2.9 bln, consensus $2.749 bln.
16:33 APPL reaction: AAPL is halted; SGTL +1.10, SYNA +1.40, PLAY +1.00, ADBL +1.65
16:31 AAPL reports 1.046 mln Mac units shipped during Q1, vs street expectation of 984k
16:31 AAPL sees MarQ $0.40 vs $0.33 consensus; sees revs $2.90 bln vs $2.75 bln consensus
16:30 AAPL reports Q1 gross margins of 28.5% vs street expectation of 27%
16:30 AAPL prelim $0.70 vs $0.48 consensus; revs $3.49 bln vs $3.15 bln consensus
Reasonable? Did you actually use the term reasonable? <G>
I'm not in AAPL, and am very happy with my old folks portfolio, but this brings back some very happy memories of 1999, buying 5K of AAPL for cash, then using that to buy 200 contracts on margin, and then... "Those were the days..."
Congrats to all longs.
07:44 AAPL Apple Computer target raised to $65 at Fulcrum (55.17 ) -- Update --
Fulcrum raises their tgt on AAPL to $65 from $53 and raises their Dec qtr est. While still just midway through the Dec qtr, signals from the co's component supply chain, together with shortened delivery lead times, make them believe the co may not be as severely constrained meeting very strong demand for both its iPods (traditional and mini) and new flat panel iMac G5s. Firm raises their Dec qtr rev/EPS ests to $3.23 bln/$0.51 from $2.86 bln/$0.41 (well above initial guidance $0.39-$0.42). (Briefing.com note: Note that Piper Jaffray raised their tgt on AAPL to $100 this morning... see 7:08 comment.)
07:08 AAPL Apple Computer target raised to $100 at Piper Jaffray (55.17 )
Piper Jaffray raises their tgt on AAPL to $100 from $52 and raises their FY05-06 (Sept) EPS ests above consensus. Over the last six weeks the firm has surveyed 200 iPod users in various geographies throughout the United States. The bottom line from the survey is that 13% of iPod users in the sample were formerly PC users that, following the purchase of their iPod, have either already bought a Mac (6.0%) or are planning to buy a Mac within 12 months (7.0%). Also, the firm spent the last few days speaking with 15 Apple Specialist VARs, and approx 30% believe the qtr is tracking above expectations, nearly 70% believe the qtr is tracking in-line, and only one feels the qtr is below plan thus far (related to supply issues - demand remains strong). Firm believes that iPod carryover will impact numbers in FY05-06, and they have increased their Mac ests under the assumption that 6.5% (half of the 13% suggested by the survey) of iPod buyers are PC owners that will move to the Mac platform. Firm raises their FY05 est to $1.52 from $1.29 (consensus $1.28) and raises their FY06 est to $2.17 from $1.50 (consensus $1.56).
07:49 AAPL Apple Computer: Estimates raised due to potential profitability of music biz -- JP Morgan (55.24 )
JP Morgan out on Apple Computer saying they believe the potential profitability of Apple's music business is highly dependent on whether or not the company can maintain its dominance in the portable music player market and avoid profit compression from commoditization. In firm's opinion, Apple can do this by maintaining its current "closed system" approach for the iPod and iTMS. As a result of firm's increasing confidence in Apple's digital music business, they are raising estimates. For the DecQ, they now expect revenues of $3.09B and EPS of $0.44 from $2.89B and $0.41 (consensus $2.9 bln/$0.42). For fiscal 2006 the firm forecasts revenues of $13.11B and EPS of $1.91 up from prior $11.58B and $1.53 (consensus $11.85 bln/$1.54). Maintains Overweight rating.
10:51 SGTL SigmaTel spikes on Appleinsider report that AAPL will begin manufacturing flash-based iPod next month using chips from SGTL (30.60 +1.19)
Yes. Delicious irony. Absolutely delicious. And obvious at the time to those not blinded by hatred of Bush. Rove has probably already budgeted the money to fund Moore again in 2008.
LOUD looks more and more like SPAZ.
taxes? "Ninety percent of the American people are for tax reform. Unfortunately, the other ten percent are lined up outside my office." Dan Rostenkowski
Nothing has changed. If Bush tries tax reform, it will be taken over by the K Street lobbyists and the resulting tax code will be more complex and less fair than ever.
Duplicate.
Oh, yes. In fact he's already retracted it. And revised the retraction.
OT: lango, you might also mention Herb Score.
More raw power than Koufax IMO. Also overcame wildness to win 16 and 20 in his first two years. Career ended tragically in 1957 when he was hit in the face by a line drive by Gil McDougald. One of the great matchups of the time was Score and Ted Williams, power against power, lefty against lefty. Williams never gave an inch and hit score well, a memory that came to mind as I watched some of the lefthanded hitters in the series wave their bats at lefthanded pitching.
WLD - From one oldtimer, thank you. Since 1946, in fact. I remember the first game I ever heard. Dave Ferris was the WP and Ted Williams hit a HR.
09:24 Gapping Dow QCOM -3% (Morgan Stanley downgrade), ....
Reard on SI that MS had a target of 30 but can't find the post. May be nice buying op.
07:57 ...Apple (AAPL) Mac supercomputer at Virginia Tech gets upgrade...
lango-early voting here in maine for at least two weeks. it's great for ending those annoying phone calls. "thank you but i've voted." silence.
blue - Right on. EOM
lango - that depends on the margin in the Senate, doesn't it? It could easily be close enough that Spectre and other liberal republicans could hold the balance of power and have Frist right by the b---s. However skilled he may be as a surgeon... well, you get the picture. :<)