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Apple: The First Publicly Traded Trillion Dollar Company

August 7, 2018

“To put a trillion dollars in context, if you spend a million dollars every day since Jesus was born, you still wouldn’t have a spent a trillion”

-Mitch McConnell

(Source: Wikimedia)

On August 2nd, Apple became the first publicly traded company to hit $1 trillion in market cap. This came after Q3 earnings crushed expectations. Previously, the company only needed a share price of $203.45 to hit the historic milestone. However, after the company announced $100 billion worth of share buybacks, the price needed to hit was $207.05, which was met.

So why was Q3 so great? Well, there were many factors which contributed to Apple becoming a trillion dollar company. For starters, expected EPS was $2.18 and Apple achieved $2.34. The company was also expected to have revenue of $52.34 billion, which they truly had $53.3 billion. Finally, although iPhone sales didn’t grow as expected, many of their products did, including wearables, which grew more than 60%.

Apple stated that fourth quarter revenue will be between $60 billion to $62 billion. This is beating previous expectations of $59.47 billion. However, with more than $9.55 billion in revenue coming from China, upcoming tariffs could take a toll on stock price.

As noted, AAPL has been up this past week.

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Apple Receives Patent For AirPower

July 29, 2018

“Changes call for innovation, and innovation leads to progress”

-Li Keqiang

(Source: MacWorld)

One of the biggest gripes with owning any wireless device is having to charge it. Owning a couple of Apple devices could really be gruesome; having to carry around a separate charger for your Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone while only being able to charge one at a time is aggravating. However, the days of that are over with the upcoming AirPower.

Announced at WWDC, AirPower is a wireless charging pad that can charge several of your devices at once. However, iPhones before the iPhone 8 and iPhone X do not have the wireless charging capability. All you have to do is simply place your devices on the pad and they will charge simultaneously.

(Source: MacWorld)

This week, Apple has received a grant for the design patent for AirPower in Hong Kong, China. Since the pad was previously delayed, hopefully this means that the charging station will be released soon. This will be a huge seller for Apple and will allow them to continue to expand their wireless charging devices.

(Source: Yahoo Finance)

I Know First Currently has a bullish one year forecast for AAPL. With a predictability of 0.81 and a signal of 150.20, the company projects a hike in price.

This bullish forecast for AAPL was sent to the current I Know First subscribers on June 25, 2018.

To subscribe today click here.

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“Throttle Gate” Comes to Fruition Following New MacBook Pros

July 23, 2018

“We can’t blame the technology when we make mistakes”

-Tim Berners-Lee

(Source: Apple)

On July 17th, YouTuber Dave Lee noticed that the 15 inch MacBook Pro was throttling performance. Dave noticed that the computer could not handle the i9 processor as the MacBook got too hot to handle it. In fact, the 2017 15 inch MacBook pro was rendering faster than the 2018. Although Apple has advertised 2.9GHz, the laptop is truly getting around 2.2GHz. The only way Dave could get better numbers for the brand new model was by putting the laptop in the freezer to cool the processor.

To confirm Dave Lee tests, AppleInsider did their own research. Unfortunately, they confirmed the YouTuber’s results; they found that the CPU was very volatile, even running at 2.02 GHz at one point. The numbers were almost the same as the 2017 MacBook Pro i7 processor was hitting.

The problem seems to be that the i9 processor was placed into the same chassis as last year’s model. So, the chassis does not have the ability to properly cool itself, since i9 generates mass amounts of heat. In order to prevent overheating, the laptop throttles the speed to prevent overheating. The former CEO of AMD, Patrick Moorhead, stated, “Processors like the Intel Core i9 are all manufactured with maximum power and heat limitations to maintain a specific frequency. OEMs, like Apple, create thermal solutions for their systems, in this case the MacBook Pro, to remove enough heat so the processor can run at its intended frequency. BIOS settings determine when the cooling kicks on, its intensity, and for how long.”

For now, it seems the best option would be to not purchase the new MacBook Pros till the problem is fixed.

AAPL was unaffected by the MacBook Pro problems.

On June 25th, I Know First algorithm issued a bullish forecast on AAPL

AAPL gained 5.09% since this forecast

This bullish forecast for AAPL was sent to the current I Know First subscribers on June 25th 2018.

To subscribe today click here.

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Apple Quietly Rolls Out New MacBook Pros

July 15, 2018

“The digital revolution is far more significant than the invention of writing or even of printing”

– Douglas Engelbart

(Source: Apple)

With a new Apple device usually comes a big conference broadcasted to the world. However, that was not the case with Apple’s MacBook Pro, which got a revamp on July 12. The new laptops are, as Apple puts it, “the most advanced Mac notebook ever.”

This brand new reboot clocks in at 70% faster performance for the 15 inch mode and up to twice the performance for the smaller 13 inch model. The company states that device will be able to compile developers code faster than any machine. With SSD capacity doubling, Apple is hoping to bring in more developers to their platform. And yes, battery life has increased to last all day.

(Source: Apple)

The new computer also adds the T2 Chip, which adds extra security. The chip delivers enhanced system security through a new encryption storage system. The chip also allows users to say “Hey Siri” prompting Siri to pop up on the laptop.

You may recall our previous article where we talked about the problem with Apple’s butterfly keyboard. It seems Apple has fixed many of the problems with it, making typing quieter, softer, and less clicky. More importantly, the new MacBook fixes the previous dust problem that caused the keyboard to break. Now there is a silicone membrane underneath each key to help protect the mechanism from debris.

To sum up perfectly the new MacBook Pros, Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president, stated, “Now with 8th-generation 6-core processors, up to 32GB of system memory, up to 4TB of super fast SSD storage, new True Tone technology in its Retina display and Touch Bar, the Apple T2 chip for enhanced security and a third-generation quieter keyboard packed into its thin and light aluminum design with all-day battery life, it’s the best notebook for pro users.”

The 2018 MacBook Pros are available for purchase right now.

AAPL hiked following the announcement of the new MacBook Pros

(Source: YCharts)

On April 3^rd I Know First algorithm issued a bullish forecast on AAPL

AAPL gained 22.5% since this forecast

This bullish forecast for AAPL was sent to the current I Know First subscribers on April 3, 2018.

To subscribe today click here.

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Apple Surpasses Streaming Giant Spotify

July 8, 2018

“The worlds most famous and popular language is music” – Psy

As of this week, Apple Music has surpassed Spotify’s paid subscriber count in the United States, making it the number one streaming service in the country. According to Digital Music News, Apple music, with a growth rate of 5% and over 20 million U.S. subscribers, is growing faster than Spotify. However, Spotify still holds the reign worldwide with over 70 million subscribers compared to Apples 45 million.

This is a big win for Apple, but it will be hard to get a global win on Spotify. The majority of iPhone users reside in the United States, so it is easier for them to use Apple Music since it is built into iOS. That being said, Spotify has an advantage on Apple due to it’s free streaming feature. Although they have to listen to ads, Spotify has 170 million users with the inclusion of those who stream for free.

(Source: Gear Patrol)

Apple does have an advantage over Spotify in a couple areas. For starters, Apple Music has 10 million more songs than Spotify. Also, being that Apple is such a giant company, it is easier for them to snatch exclusive albums. For example, Dr Dre’s highly anticipated album, Compton, was only available to be streamed on Apple Music upon release. As Apple releases more exclusive content, it will bring more Spotify users over. Also, with Apple’s upcoming video streaming service, there is rumored to be a package that combines both the music and video services, another source of new users.

To better compare the two, rap star Drake released an album on both streaming services. Spotify advertised the album like crazy, placing the rapper into virtually all their playlists. Unfortunately, their efforts did not pay off as Apple Music users streamed his album, Scorpion, 170 million times to Spotify’s 130 million in the first 24 hours of release. So, although Spotify has more subscribers, they seem to be less engaged with the content.

AAPL up past week, beating the DOW by 1%.

AAPL & DOW (Source: Yahoo Finance)

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Apple Aims To Better iPhone Performance and Price

July 4, 2018

“If there’s a way to do it better – find it”- Thomas Edison

(Source: Flickr)

As fall approaches, so do the rumors of the brand new iPhone. This year Apple is planning to do something that everyone can rally behind: cut iPhone prices. Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s most prominent insider, has stated that new iPhone prices could be fewer than $300 their current price.

There will be three phones revealed this year: a cheaper iPhone X at $600, iPhone X at $800, and iPhone X Plus at $900. The upcoming iPhone X is clocking in 10% faster than past single core performance and an increase of ram from 3gb to 4gb. Although not as big of a performance upgrade as any other iPhone release, Apple is putting most of the improvements in iOS 12 to increase speed and fluidity.

New iPhone Renders (Source: Macworld)

The upcoming iPhone is also rumored to be incorporating a USB-C to Lightning Cable with purchase. The company seeks to have compatibility within all Apple devices, since the new MacBooks don’t support the current USB-A charger. The new charger would give up to 18W, allowing fast charging, which charges an iPhone to 50% in under 30 minutes.

USB-C to Lightning (Source: Apple)

Apple’s stock has been volatile the past week.

AAPL (Source: Yahoo Finance)

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Apple’s Upcoming Product Updates Build On Predecessors

July 1, 2018

“We’re very simple people at Apple. We focus on making the world’s best products and enriching people’s lives” -Tim Cook

(Source: Wikimedia)

Apple Maps From The Ground Up

When Apple Maps was launched in 2012, it was met with nationwide controversy as the GPS service was imprecise and users were ending up at the wrong destination. Apple plans to change this as they have been rebuilding Apple Maps from the ground up for four years. The iOS map app currently uses third party data for mapping, which is unsatisfactory for Apple’s ability to make the best mapping platform possible. Thus, the new Apple Maps will rely on first person data collected from iPhone user data, providing more accurate and precise directions. The use of iPhone data allows Apple Maps to find the quickest routes possible, since it uses user data to locate traffic and how individuals get to their destination. Also, to provide accuracy, the company has deployed Apple vans across the country to take photos and map out roads.

Rebuilding Apple Maps is the only way the company believes it could create the best mapping software possible. Apple SVP, Eddie Cue, stated, “We have been working on trying to create what we hope is going to be the best map app in the world, taking it to the next step. That is building all of our own map data from the ground up.” The new Apple Maps will first be available to San Francisco on iOS 12, followed by a U.S. roll-out.

Apple Maps Car (Source: Flickr)

AirPods Get Luxurious

Apple’s ludicrously successful wireless headphones, AirPods, are rumored to be getting a high end version in 2019. Reports coming out are stating that the new AirPods will have noise cancellation, water resistance, biometrics, and an increased range. One of the biggest issues surrounding Apple’s Beats and AirPod line is that they aren’t antiperspirant, preventing users from working out with them on. So these higher end headphone will solve the problem and widen Apple’s headphone market to the fitness sector. In recent years, the company has been promoting positive health and one way they are advancing this is through biometric sensors. Biometrics will allow runners to see their heart rate and view their workout progress through the Health app.

AirPods (Source: Flickr)

Apple’s stock has been volatile this past week, dipping slightly late Friday afternoon.

AAPL Price (Source: YCharts)

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In a Rare Move, Apple Admits to Faulty MacBook Keyboard

June 24, 2018

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs

(Source: Pixabay)

In 2015, Apple ditched their classic keyboard design for a new, sleeker keyboard with a “butterfly” mechanism for their MacBook and MacBook Pro line. Apple claimed this new keyboard was 40% thinner, making it much easier and fluid to type.

Consumers started reporting that the keyboard was faulty and that just a tiny bit of dust caused the keyboard to repeat letters or not respond properly. Being that these devices started at $1,299, users were mad that Apple was not making an effort to address such a fault. Three years and three lawsuits later, Apple has finally stated that they will fix the faulty butterfly keyboard, free of charge.

In other news, analyst Eric Ross of Cascend Securities stated that, iPhone’s supply chain was “healthy and growing again”. This may be due to the restocking of the iPhone X, which is selling better than expected, causing suppliers to revamp selected parts for the device. Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty stated that the upcoming iPhone will be at cheaper cost as Apple looks to drop prices by 2%. So, this increase in supply may be for the new iPhone, releasing this September, which the company expects to sell greater quantities than last year.

Apple’s stock was down .64% on Friday as an escalated fear of a trade war mounted a dip in the market.

(Source: Yahoo Finance)

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Apple May Take a Hit From Escalating Trade War

June 21, 2018

“You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change”- Tim Cook

(Source: Wikipedia)

The Building Trade War

On Monday morning, President Trump ordered the United States Trade Representatives to find $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to tariff. China responded by putting a tariff on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods. Trump has since threatened to enact yet another tariff on the country. Such escalation is sparking fear of a “trade war”.

A trade war spells trouble for Apple, a company headquartered in California and who manufactures mostly in China. The United State’s biggest import from China is smartphones, totaling $70.4 billion in 2017. JP Morgan has stated that “A substantial portion of China’s exports are western products manufactured locally — [such as] Apple (AAPL) iPhones.” Almost 20% of Apple’s revenue comes from China, as the company shipped over 41 million phones there. Although Apple has received reassurance from President Trump that they would not be on the list of items subjected for the tariff, the tech company still may be affected.

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

Will Tariffs Take a Bite out of Apple?

Apple has been increasing its inventory by 3.3 billion in preparation for possible repercussions. The company has many rightful worries on when and how they may be affected. Tariffs may affect Apple’s suppliers, causing major delays or a rise in costs. Fear also spawns over the possibility of a repeat of 2016: Apple services being banned by China. In doing so, China could make a huge push for citizens to use Chinese smartphones over American ones. Also, if China were to tax iPhones, prices would rise and Apple would be driven out of the market.

How the Market Reacted

Apple’s stock has slumped since the announcement of the additional tariffs.

(Source: YCharts)

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Apple Snags Media Giant Oprah Winfrey For Their Streaming Service

June 18, 2018

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”- Oprah Winfrey

(Source: Flickr)

On June 15th, Apple formed a multi-year production partnership with Oprah Winfrey, the media tycoon. The two are joining forces to collaborate on content for Apple’s upcoming subscription based streaming service. It is currently unknown what Oprah will be producing, but Apple stated that, “Together, Winfrey and Apple will create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world.”

This partnership is a huge win for Apple because Oprah brings to the table her dedicated fan base. This phenomenon goes by the name of the “Oprah Effect”. The Oprah Effect is when any product associated or endorsed by Oprah Winfrey see a huge boost in sales. For instance, after Oprah Winfrey bought 10% of Weight Watcher stock, more than 600,000 members joined the program. Apple looks to carry over this trend to their new service with hopes that Oprah’s huge audience will start watching the new streaming service.

Oprah’s partnership is a drop in the bucket compared to Apple’s approximately one billion dollar investment into its streaming service. With decreasing iPhone sales, Apple hopes that this streaming service will be a home run for them. However, it is going to be competing against companies putting in more than triple the amount of investment into their streaming services, such as Netflix who just acquired former President Obama.

Following the announcement, Apple’s stock gained.

(Source: YCharts)