Apple always does test runs of new parts without publicly disclosing it. As you noted, there is clearly still the interior headphone part on the website for the Beats Headphones. I think they accidentally put up the Beats Headphones because they thought it was okay to do so. But it wasn't. I have said all along that Apple will be the company to announce this material to the world. There is a reason the LQMT Trademark is being protected.
Obviously the new CEO would not have an incentive clause (which is the bulk of his pay) in his employment contract of requiring the company to be listed on the NYSE or Nasdaq or have the stock worth over $1 per share within the next two years if it wasn't a reasonable expectation. No CEO would sign this if there wasn't a 90% chance of this happening.
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