Follow the link and read the Google translated German-to-English version of the article, conclusion draw your own do.
Business
Why the L-shaped headphone connector is disappearing
Interesting insight into how Apple design decisions throughout the industry.
Nintendo’s first smartphone app, Miitomo, bringing in $280K a week
Roughly 80% of that money comes from the iPhone version of the app. Fascinating numbers.
Led Zeppelin members face trial in ‘Stairway to Heaven’ copyright infringement lawsuit
Did Jimmy Page lift this opening and change it? Possibly. But does the Spirit guitarist deserve the money that Stairway brought in? Up to a jury to decide.
The Guardian’s jarring iPhone SE review
Taking issue with the Guardian’s review of the iPhone SE.
One bad command, boom goes his business
In a nutshell, one bad command erased all his customers data as well as all his backups.
Wow.
The pending collapse of iHeartMedia
Wow. I had no idea. iHeartMedia is a massive company. Internet radio platform iHeartRadio is just one piece of the puzzle. It’d be sad to see this fall apart.
“That’s a real nice song you got there. Be a shame if anything happened to it.”
Great quote from Recording Industry Association of America CEO Cary Sherman about the music industry’s ongoing feud with YouTube.
Apple’s copycats are turning into true iPhone competitors
Vlad Savov, writing for The Verge:
The copying of Apple has evolved. It’s less literal now, as companies strive to recreate the essence of Apple’s success, whether it be through vertical integration (as with Huawei and its in-house processor design), positive brand associations, or simple aesthetic and tactile appeal. Apple is still the Michael Jordan that every Chinese smartphone manufacturer looks up to, but instead of trying to dunk with their tongues sticking out or shoot fadeaway jumpers, these rising stars are developing their own ways of scoring points with consumers. Instead of imitating, they are emulating.
Should Apple be concerned?
Twitter wins NFL rights to stream Thursday Night Football
Lots to process in this NFL announcement. But at the core is the fact that a worldwide audience will come to Twitter and to the NFL on Thursday nights. At least that’s the plan.
Tesla, Apple, and disruption
Great article from Ben Thompson on Tesla, their game plan, and what it means to be disruptive. There are some nice Apple parallels in there too.
Reddit post from claimed Nest engineer says company on a deathwatch
A post on Reddit, claimed to be from a Nest engineer, talks about a deathwatch at the company, people crying in the bathrooms. Wow.
On AR/VR marketing
Interesting post on the virtual reality marketing problem. How do you market a device that the potential buyer can’t touch? This is something to which Apple is very well suited.
Barclays Bank adds Apple Pay, 9 months after UK launch
A double-win for Apple Pay. Big UK bank, and overcoming their attempts at setting their own contactless payment standard.
Planning an Apple product purchase? Check a buyer’s guide first.
In the market for a new retina MacBook Pro? An iPad mini? An iPod Touch? You might consider checking out a buyer’s guide before you buy, to get a sense of where your particular product is in its release cycle.
Apple’s push to bring used iPhones to India ignites backlash (mostly from competitors)
Interesting piece from Bloomberg. In a nutshell, Apple is finding that the price of a new iPhone is too high for the Indian economy, so they are seeking permission to sell used iPhones. Apple’s Indian competitors are doing everything they can to derail that prospect.
Jean-Louis Gassée: Apple’s first victory over Big Retail
Jean-Louis Gassée, writing for Monday Note, talks about the road to success for Apple’s biggest (back in the early days) business outside the US, Apple France.
Did Apple help Foxconn buy Sharp?
Interesting bit of speculation by Mark Hibben. Rings true to me. The story goes: Apple needs Sharp in the short term, makes the deal work for Foxconn with some guarantees, plans to modernize sharp to serve their needs in the long term. Interesting.
Tesla introduces the Model 3, two trunks and a real market maker
Steve LeVine, writing for Quartz:
Though it was short, the drama was palpable in a glitzy nighttime ceremony in Hawthorne, California, as Musk summoned three of the Model 3s onto the stage, accompanied by sweeping music and roving lights. The car will cost $35,000, and go 215 miles on a single charge, he said, 15 miles further than generally expected.
Tesla is making the market, Apple is waiting to enter, waiting for the market to mature.
Apple’s new iPhone SE bringing Android users to the fold
Looks like the iPhone SE is doing its job, filling in a hole in the product line and bringing outside customers into the ecosystem.
Nintendo launches Miitomo app in the US (and a few other countries) on Thursday
Not a useful app, in and of itself, more of a preparatory step in moving Nintendo’s Mii character profiles into the smartphone ecosystem.
“Next generation” Apple Store features a 37-foot display
Check out the picture of that 37 foot display. I can only imagine that it looks even more impressive in person.
Apple fiscal results conference call scheduled for April 25th
Apple has scheduled the call to discuss their second quarter results (2Q2016) on April 25th at 2p PT (5p ET).
Publisher Five Simple Steps announces they are closing up shop
Publishing, especially print publishing, is a tough, tough business. Sad to see them go.
Jean-Louis Gassée: Apple at 40
Jean-Louis Gassée, writing for Monday Note, takes a long look at the company he once helped run, as Apple approaches their 40th birthday later this week.
Apple vs the FBI: Follow the money
Charlie Stross homes in on the core problem with an FBI backdoor into iOS . It involves the world’s payment/credit card infrastructure. Fascinating take.
How Nike fumbled away Stephen Curry, a $14 billion mistake
The behind-the-scenes of an incredible missed opportunity for Nike.
Apple’s greenlights original TV series about Apps
Can’t wait to see what they come up with.
Counterfeit Macbook charger teardown: convincing outside but dangerous inside
Astonishing how realistic a counterfeit Apple product can be. Great teardown, complete with detailed pictures.
A “multi-multi-bagger”: Apple’s astonishing roller coaster share price since its original IPO
A fantastic walk through Apple’s stock price ups and downs since its original 1980 IPO.