“Apple Computer wowed investors by detailing its stunning holiday sales, but tech enthusiasts didn’t find much of a bite after the company came up empty by not offering any new iPods or a home entertainment PC,” Chris Kraeuter and Rachel Rosmarin report for Forbes. “Still, Apple shares surged above $80 to another all-time high, as a much-anticipated keynote address about new products by Chief Executive Steve Jobs was bolstered by unexpected revelations that Apple booked sales of $5.7 billion for the last quarter, selling 14 million iPods.”
“Analysts had expected sales of $5 billion and music player sales of around 11 million units at the high end. The company’s 135 retail stores also did big business, raking in $1 billion. And its iTunes online music store was facilitating 3 million downloads per day,” Kraeuter and Rachel Rosmarin report. These are all blowout numbers, but they are also backward-looking. The forward-looking numbers for Apple will revolve around its partnership with Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker. Apple engineers and programmers will have two new Intel-based computers for sale by February, four months ahead of Jobs’ original estimate.”
MacDailyNews Note: Sigh. Apple’s iMac 17-inch 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo and iMac 20-inch 2GHz Intel Core Duo are both available now and started shipping yesterday. It’s clearly stated on Apple’s online store and in the press release. It’s not hard to report that information correctly.
Kraeuter and Rachel Rosmarin continue, “The computers are fast–estimated at two to five times as fast as their Mac predecessors–and will be backed up by a stark ad campaign that pokes fun at how Intel chips have been limited up until now to ‘dull little boxes doing dull little tasks.’ …It didn’t help Intel’s stock price on Tuesday. But once the magnitude of this partnership becomes clearer, investors will wake up to the fact that Apple has the potential to carve out a large chunk of share with the manufacturing scale and performance boost that Intel’s chips can provide its boxes. Apple’s laptops have been going stale, but that situation should reverse itself once the company gets its MacBook Pro’s out there. The company has done well with its iMac line of desktops, but by appealing to a wider audience that is comfortable with Intel, Apple finally has the market muscle to move beyond the technocrats and digital media aficionados that have thus far provided only a 10% market share.”
Kraeuter and Rachel Rosmarin report, “But Apple was asleep at the wheel when it came to responding to pleas from consumers for new home theater hardware and new music players. An oft-rumored Mac Mini with digital video recording capabilities and software was nowhere to be seen during Jobs’ presentation… As for what else is ahead, it’s back to the rumor mill for all of Apple’s rabid watchers. One date to watch: April 1, the 30th anniversary of Apple’s founding.”
Full article here.
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10% market share.. at least he sees past simple sales, and at the user base.
On top of reports of erroneous shipping dates, I am getting sick of people saying that Dell and HP have comparably priced laptops for $800 less. For starters, it clearly states that Dell’s DuoCore laptops start at $2,000 and HP does not even offer them yet. These pundits are quick to rush to judgment plus they do not fact check. Bad combination.
“asleep at the wheel” like a fox.
HAHA this is hilarious. You really get a sense that these people have no clue when they open their big fat mouths. I guess that’s the advantage of knowing more than they do about a topic.
First of all when has Apple EVER made a significant product announcement on their anniversary? At the very least, they don’t use that date historically to make announcements and obviously the writer doesnt know this. Secondly, what else is next, what shows? NAB? Paris? If anything those shows would be more likely a place to reveal a new product. Thirdly, Apple has shown in recent years a propensity to invent special events out of thin air, not waiting for the next Macworld or trade show. They missed the boat on that one too.
As for the ‘missing’ new iPods, well, no one expected new iPods except the shuffle and that doesnt really count. Not ONE rumor site had any indication that new iPods were coming. As for the Mac Mini DVR. This is the problem with rumors and expectations. They don’t have a timetable and they cannot account for a product development cycle. Just because some rumor site dreams this info up doesn’t mean Apple can twinkle their nose and make it appear. It requires a lot of development time and probably some very lengthy discussions with partners like content providers. It probably will come, but everyone except the writer knows that Apple isn’t going to release a ‘me too’ product just to appease the rumor mongers. If it’s ready and it’s right, they will release it.
Besides if they were going to do a DVR, I think that would be considered for a spcial event of it’s own.
May I note that April 1, 2006 is a Saturday. Steve Jobs is no fool and will not hold a press event on a Saturday.
Dumbass.
apple stopped blowing its wad at macworld a couple of years ago. it realized that timing announcements closer to their availability was better for the bottomline. also keeps the hoopla at a higher level throughout the year. those who were disappointed at this macworld’s announcements need to have a little more confidence in apple. every threee monthgs or so in 06 you will see announcements.
Yeh-heh-hehesssss . . . I’ve seen Jeanne Dixon make better predictions.
Came up empty regarding new iPods?
The iPod 30GB and 60GB were only announced on October 12 last year a whole 91 days ago.
As for the nano, it’s positively middle-aged at 126 days old (7th September).
So what were people expecting? Some brave new iPod shuffle? How many ways can you (re)package a 512MB or 1GB stick of RAM? And then ask the question, how many sensible ways are there to package a a 512MB or 1GB stick of RAM?
I can’t remember when it was (sometime last Fall), but there was an article quoted on MDN where some publication or another was theorising that Apple were releasing too many products. Now – because they only announced three new hardware products and two new software revisions – they get slated for not releasing enough.
Seriously, is there a single journalist who wouldn’t be improved by swapping cerebral cortices with a three-month old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. The dog wouldn’t be changed that much – it would still pee on the carpet and be obsessed with licking itself, and the journalist might learn a few new tricks…
I’m with Hammer. One addition–the psychological effect of limiting new offerings allows people to process and understand what’s there, minimizing confusion (which can lead to frowing apathy or annoyance).
“What’s a Macbook? Is that Intel? Is that the little white one? Oh screw it, I’m getting a Dell.”
This year is part of a process of transition. No one moment signals ALL the change.
I like Hammer’s reminder– Apple announcesd special events that end up being pretty special. They will do this as they see fit, spread out through the year, to maximize sales in each quarter.
um… frowing is growing.
And sharing is caring.
So there.
I agree to some point that this wasn’t that big of an announcement to anyone other than current Mac users. Most people don’t care that new Macs are going to have Intel chips in them. It will allow for better direct comparison with other PCs, but most don’t care.
Something like a Mac Mini with PVR functions is something that anyone could get excited about, especially with Front Row. It would allow you to hold all your media on a tiny, silent computer, record TV, and watch it and control it through you TV monitor. A product like this would have instant mass market appeal, in my opinion. The road for Intel Macs will be slow. Gaining market share bit by bit.
“This year is part of a process of transition. No one moment signals ALL the change.”
Yeah, and note R’s comment as it applies to the new Apple-Intel commercial. They aren’t going to run out and do a commercial for Spotlight or Expose (although I think Expose would really get people’s attention) when they are trying to ween people off misconceptions. All Mac users bitch about the misconceptions of the general public about Apple and this commercial is a great step toward changing people’s attitudes.
Once this transition is more fully complete (iBooks and PowerMacs) I think then we see more aggressive ads with OSX and I think it happens later this year.
Today’s market caps:
Apple: $70.2 Billion
Dell: $73.2 Billion
I think it’s definitely time for Mike to close up the place and return the money to his shareholders.
I was underwhelmed myself. Steve just looked like he was trying to kill time up there. I’m still shocked that the iMac got an Intel processor before a Mac mini. Doesn’t make sense.
And I hate how Apple is still trying to push .mac on its customers. Sell iLife for $99 and include a .mac account and you’ll have a winner.
And where is the dual layer drive on the MacBook Pro? Is this not a “professional” model?
First of all, most analysts obviously haven’t yet noted one significant fact; unlike certain other companies, they never announce products which aren’t ready to ship or as ready that it is possible to determine a shipping date, like in the case with the MacBook Pro – which I find is a good name:) Especially since I have an iBook and never liked that name and am looking forward to replace it with a MacBook sans Pro…
Some analysts seem to finally have understood that Apple only has begun its barrage since the shares haven’t made a steep dip this year but on the contrary, leaped upwards. (83.29 as I write and why, why, why did I listen to my wife and didn’t buy in spring ’04? Hahaha!) Anyway, they fired from all cannons in 2005 but I am convinced that will continue throughout 2006. And they have added some sharper ammunitions – Intel chips.
What we will see coming is the smaller and the larger MacBook Pro, the MacBooks (wonder what they will be priced at?), all with FrontRow and IR for the remote. Then we will of course see the new Mini with the wet dream for the home centre-fanatics and I suspect that those Mac-TVs are in the making, too, or something like that. It would be too obvious for Apple to miss, that target. We all know how difficult and complicated it is to put together a home theatre-solution. Imagine what Apple can do there by showing how it should be done. Connect, click and go.
And then, considering the rave reviews of the G5 Quad, just imagine what we will have on that line!
What more? Well, Leopard is in the making, too, but I bet that they won’t rush it out like they did with Tiger. And I am sure they will have time enough, if Vista is the deadline!
Well, that is only the obvious. Then one can only speculate what they ahve up the iPod-sleeve, but that they have a few cards up there is certain.
So that is more or less what will come throughout the year. Aside from that, it might be one more thing or two, of course:)
Good job by the faithful here eviscerating the writers but there is one thing I believe that was disappointing about the keynote…only one new content deal for iTunes (SNL). While new content partners will likely be announced with the upcoming Mini/PVR upgrade, a deal to add CBS, FOX, HBO, etc. shows to the ITMS now would be welcome to help keep the lead in the content rat race…and would be differentiated by the addition of movie studios for the great .Mac/Mini/PVR media center.
what these analysts need to learn about apple is that Apple as a company, is a serious machine. It is built to crank out innovation after innovation year after year. This MacWorld wasnt supposed to be an onslaught of new products. Just wait and watch and learn. Every two months this year Apple will wow the “analysts” with what is released.
They think they want it all right now, but what they really want is steady, constant, innovative and useful products.
obviously people don’t have a clue what it takes to deliver a product. Products are probably in testing at this point that is why they were not introduced.
expect an introduction soon. You heard it here first. March 2006. Special Apple event.
People who were underwhelmed, probably read too many rumour sites:)
I think what came, was very much to be expected. The iMac as the first one to come with Intel was a bit puzzling, but not that muc. As one spokesman for Apple said, after all the iMac is their success story. The mini is that, too, of course, but I guess the clean numbers tell the true story and give the naked facts.
There are too of the negative aspects I can agree with. Dot mac simply costs too much and if it was included with the iLife-package, that would certainly give them a winner! One million subscribers (I am one, I admit) so far, isn’t that much compared to other successes they have. But I think people underestimate the value of iWeb, photosharing, the podcasting studio integrated in Garageband etc. That will take off, sooner or later.
The other negative aspect is one MDN took up in another article; the ad. It is strange that Apple doesn’t get it – what they need is to inform, not to brag. Just show Mac OS X to people. As simple as that.
How could they “come up empty” with something they never even talked about, let alone promised. Regarding the Mac mini DVR, Apple has never once mentioned anything about doing a DVR. People have just assumed they will because of the mini’s size and the digital hub scenario. I personally hope they do, but, frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they never do. It certainly doesn’t fit in with their strategy of selling TV on iTMS.
As for the new computers, I’m pretty happy. The PowerBook was so long overdue for a makeover (although I wish they had completely redesigned the form factor), and the fact that the iMac is so much faster, yet otherwise identical to the old one is great. The Mac Book Pro name hasn’t caught me yet but eventually it will be OK. I’ve seen a lot of posts on various sites about the fact that it wasn’t necessary to drop the word “power” because of the switch away from PowerPC because the name preceded PowerPC, but from SJs keynote, my perception of what he said was that they wanted to get away from power as in “power consumption”. My two cents anyway.
Chris Kraeuter and Rachel Rosmarin: STFU
MW: mother
Well, I didn’t wanna go that far!
Write this analysts name on the WALL of shame.
Apple was sleep at the wheel? Apple is driving this train and yeah, they didn’t make an announcement at Mac World, but it is short sighted and irresponsible to think that Apple is not readying the very devices this analyst suggests they have missed.
I for one am glad to see Mac World return to a focus on the _Mac_ after a two year hiatus of focusing on iPod and the Mac coming in second fiddle.
Had Apple made more and more announcements It would have been premature.
Will, you’re right about the ads. I think they look terrible, but Microsoft’s current ads for XP are exactly what Apple should be doing. They need a series of ads, perhaps each focusing on a different iLife app, showing the amazing things you can do with a Mac, right out of the box! The funny thing about those XP ads is, they make it sound like you can make cartoons, or books, etc. with XP, but they never mention that you need to buy extra software to do it.
For the casual user, a Mac comes with, quite possibly, all the software they’ll ever need.
Does anyone know how many iMacs Apple sells? How many minis?
From visiting my local Apple store I get the impression they sell more iMacs (they push them harder). An all-in-one unit makes more sense for Mom & Pop. Consider too that the mini needs a monitor, and Apple monitors are not cheap, but that is all the stores have.
So it makes sense for Apple to upgrade their bestsellers first.