Tuesday July 22, 2008

- Is the Secret Product Going to Be the New Macintosh? - Lionel - 10:11:08

Earlier today we were reporting about the “secret project” Steve was mentioning during the conference call yesterday, clearly stating that this/those device(s) will mark a difference with competitors. Something similar to what was experienced 25 years ago when Apple introduced the Macintosh?

Over the last decades, the graphical user interface is most likely the part that did not really evolve in its concept, based on a keyboard but most importantly on the mouse. If the esthetical rendering today in OS X Leopard has nothing to do with the first version of Mac OS, we still click on icons with a mouse, we drag and drop elements from one location to another. The interface man/machine did not change much in its concept.

We know that Apple has been working for years in developing technologies to improve the GUI. Several innovations have been dropped and temporarily postponed as too difficult or too expensive to manufacture. But things may evolve with time, some technology breakthrough might allow today what was impossible yesterday, such as a robust and scratchproof touch display. If we look at products that were not revised over the last few years we can immediately spot: Apple Cinema display and the Mighty Mouse, both being the key stones of the GUI.

If this might not happen tomorrow, it is quite clear that the GUI has to evolve and one has to find easier or more natural way to communicate with the computer, to become more efficient and synergistic. Releasing such technology directly to the mass market would of course shake the computer market world. Using the recognized superior Mac OS X system and its architecture, Apple could simply update the GUI to get the best experience for users. Competitors, stacked with the choice between Microsoft XP or Vista, would probably not have the required software or the hardware ready to challenge Apple. Apple seems to be ready with Leopard and Snow Leopard to rapidly evolve while Microsoft seems to be with Vista in a transition phase towards a maybe better version of its OS, which should appear before at least one year.

[translation by Linathael]

- Apple Reports Record Third Quarter Results, As Usual? - Eric - 09:47:33

It might look like as the usual game, and become expect by investors and analysts, but once again Apple posted record quarter results. If the figures look impressive, the way it is distributed over Mac, iPod, iPhone and software is interesting. First, Apple posted revenue of 7.46 billion USD and net quarterly profit of 1.07 billion USD, while the gross margin was 34.8 %, down from 36.9 % in the year-ago quarter.

However, Apple still heavily depends on the local US market, as International sales accounted only for 42 percent of the quarter’s revenue, but this might evolve in the future. Other figures:

- 2,496,000 Mac units shipped during the quarter, representing 41 % unit growth and 43 % revenue growth over the year-ago quarter.
- 11,011,000 (binary code?) iPods shipped during the quarter, representing 12 % unit growth and 7 % revenue growth over the year-ago quarter.
- 717,000 iPhone units old during the quarter, compared to 270,000 in the year-ago-quarter.

For us, more interested by the true hardware than iPod or iPhone, we can only be please to see every quarter more Mac being sold, meaning more Mac users, contributing to the steady-state increase of Mac market share, something that can definitely boost developers to bring new applications for OS X.

- Apple to Introduce a Revolutionary Device Next Quarter - Greg - 08:37:00

During the conference call following the presentation of Apple financial results, Steve jobs made some comments that will make the web boiling for the next 3 months. You can listen to it via the audio webcast, quickly jump till the 55th minute. He announced that Apple will release innovating products based on technologies and innovations that can not be rivaled.

This technology transition will most likely revive our imaginations, but one can already expect that all innovations developed for the iPhone could find their way in a computer (desktop and/or notebook). The reason for announcing this information during the Apple’s conference call discussing Q3 - 2008 financial results is linked to another part of Steve's comment. For the release of this secret product, Apple will have to reduce its margin to 30%, something that many investors might not like as it implies lower revenue. Apple is most likely expecting to rock the computer market and selling hundreds thousands of this secret product to take this financial risk (if there is any considering the cash currently own by Apple).

[translation by Linathael]

- NVidia Unveils its New Mobile GPUs - Lionel - 08:35:19

Source : NVidia

Most likely to bring some positive news about its product, and make current issues about defective GeForce 8xxxM GPUs history, NVidia announced its new offers for notebook-dedicated GPUs entitled GeForce 9xxxM. But customers will have to be well skilled to pick the right ones among the 14 different GeForce 9xxxM!
Hereafter are the "best" ones:

- 9800M GTX, the new flagship, GPU/memory clocked at 500 / 1250 MHz featuring 112 computing units
- 9800M GT same GPU/memory frequency, but only 92 computing units
- 9800M GTS GPU/memory clocked at 600 / 1500 MHz but only 64 computing units
- 9700M GTS clocked at 530 / 1325 MHz and 48 computing units
- 9700M GT clocked at 625/1550 MHz and 32 computing units

All cards will be using 256-bits memory bus, except the 9700M GT. Customers will clearly have to look being the branding name, to really understand the true power available from those different models. Those new mobile GPUs should drain less power.

[translation by Linathael]