Daniel Jalkut offers some tips on how Apple can improve WWDC so it benefits all developers. While I don’t disagree with the premise, I still think holding the conference is important for developers and Apple.
Apple
WWDC tickets sold out in minutes
I refreshed the page and they were already sold out. It couldn’t have any more than two or three minutes.
Apple’s margins
Horace Dediu takes a look at Apple’s gross margins back to 2005.
Apple’s revised campus plans
Why would they be worried about construction costs?
Bid to win a coffee with Tim Cook
According to a Charitybuzz release today, Apple CEO Tim Cook is holding a charity auction (the listing says ‘donated by Tim Cook’) for ‘coffee’ with him at the company’s headquarters. The auction benefits the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights and just went live this morning.
WWDC tickets go on sale Thursday
Apple said today that tickets for its Worldwide Developers Conference will go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at at 10 a.m. PDT. The conference will take place June 10 through June 14 at San Francisco’s Moscone West.
At the five-day conference, developers from around the world will learn about the future of iOS and OS X, enabling them to create incredible new apps with innovative features. WWDC will also feature more than 100 technical sessions presented by over 1,000 Apple engineers, hands-on labs to help developers integrate new technologies, as well as the popular Apple Design Awards, a showcase of the most outstanding apps available through the App Store℠ and Mac® App Store.
Get your credit cards ready.
Apple more than doubles Capital Return Program
Apple today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a significant increase to the Company’s program to return capital to shareholders. The Company expects to utilize a total of $100 billion of cash under the expanded program by the end of calendar 2015. This represents a $55 billion increase to the program announced last year and translates to an average rate of $30 billion per year from the time of the first dividend payment in August 2012 through December 2015.
As part of this program, the Board has increased its share repurchase authorization to $60 billion from the $10 billion level announced last year. This is the largest single share repurchase authorization in history and is expected to be executed by the end of calendar 2015. Apple also expects to utilize about $1 billion annually to net-share-settle vesting restricted stock units.
Additionally, the Board has approved a 15% increase in the Company’s quarterly dividend and today has declared a dividend of $3.05 per common share, payable on May 16, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 13, 2013. Apple is among the largest dividend payers in the world, with annual payments of about $11 billion.
Apple reports $9.5 billion second quarter profit
Apple on Tuesday reported a quarterly profit of $9.5 billion on revenue of $43.6 billion for its fiscal second quarter.
According to Apple, it sold 37.4 million iPhones in the quarter, compared to 35.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 19.5 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 11.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The company sold just under 4 million Macs, compared to 4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Apple stock history
I really enjoyed this piece by Abdel Ibrahim looking at the history of Apple’s stock movement.
Never mind March, analysts are already lowering AAPL June estimates
Philip Elmer Dewitt takes a sample of analyst comments to figure out how Apple stock is going to do next quarter.
How Siri keeps your data
Apple keeps data collected by Siri queries for up to two years, Wired has confirmed.
Apple had to wait two decades “for their true market to emerge”
Ben Bajarin explains the key to Apple’s success: the market finally came to it, not the other way around.
‘Penguin offers to scrap Apple e-book deals to end EU antitrust case’
Penguin’s the fifth publisher to settle with EU investigators over antitrust allegations regarding iBooks.
Apple’s stock valuation may be dependent on gross margin
Gross margin may be the key to predicting how well Apple’s stock valuation does following its earnings report next week, say analysts.
‘Apple stock tanks on bad news from audio chip supplier’
Apple’s stock price took another beating today, thanks to a report from a chip maker and analysts’ usual magical-thinking bullshit.
‘Apple named in China porn app investigation’
Apple’s in the crosshairs of Chinese media, this time for “obscene pornographic” content.
Asymco: Apple makes more profit from Macs than top 5 PC makers combined
Apple makes more selling Macs than the top five PC makers combined, according to Horace Dediu.
Apple replaces some third-gen Apple TVs for Wi-Fi issues
Some third-generation Apple TVs are having trouble with Wi-Fi connections, and Apple is directing service technicians to replace them.
Apple’s challenges in China and Brazil
Apple faces big challenges in emerging markets like China and Brazil – two very different countries with very different markets.
‘Spaceship’
Analyst Horace Dediu offers an interesting perspective on why Apple’s new “Spaceship” campus is round.
Apple, Motorola Mobility dispute ‘not a proper use of this court’
The U.S. judge presiding over Apple and Motorola Mobility’s disputes over patented technology is sick and tired of both company’s shenanigans.
Translation of Tim Cook’s apology letter to customers in China
Forbes contributor Laura He translated Cook’s apology.
Tough going at J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney shares have plunged nearly 60% over the past year as Johnson — a former Apple executive who spearheaded the tech giant’s retail strategy — has struggled to lead a turnaround effort. He took over at J.C. Penney in November of 2011 and has since announced a series of new initiatives including overhauled prices, redesigned store layouts, and even free haircuts for kids.
So far, the results have been dismal.
Selling iPhones wasn’t so bad after all.
Chinese state media reverse course after Apple apology
Tim Cook’s apology to Chinese consumers and pledge to change Apple’s warranty program is winning the company kudos from state-run media.
Apple changes Chinese warranties
Apple announced sweeping changes to warranty and service coverage for Chinese customers following a coordinated assault by state-run media.
Why is the Chinese press so critical of Apple?
Apple’s in the crosshairs of the Chinese media. Why?
The rumored Apple-branded gaming joypad
PocketGamer wrote this today: Long rumoured – and hoped for – GDC 2013 has finally provided confirmation that Apple will release its own dedicated game controller. Nope.
The night Steve Jobs returned to Apple
Tim Holmes has some photos on Flickr. I remember that day well — I wrote a story about his return that night.
‘How Apple invites facile analysis’
What’s behind Apple’s stock slide? Michael Hiltzick believes pundits and fund managers just don’t understand how Apple does business.
Please stop fighting about your smartphone
Wired:
Do you like Android? You should, it’s amazing. iOS? Wow, what a great platform, no wonder it started a revolution. Windows Phone? Seriously, it’s got a remarkable and beautiful interface. BlackBerry? There are plenty of great reasons people love it. And no matter which platform you adore, it’s shockingly possible to both have a preference and respect that other people may prefer an entirely different device. I know. Totally weird. But true.Nobody cares what kind of smartphone you believe in. It’s not a religion. It’s not your local sports team even. Stop being a soldier. You are not a soldier. You are just wrong. Shut up.
The “Smartphone Wars” reminds us “old timers” of the Mac vs PC wars. And it’s just as pointless.