“Earlier conjecture about the potential for Disney to eventually merge with Apple Computer in the wake of Disney’s buyout of the Pixar animation studio in January may or may not have been folly. But the deal has clearly put Pixar chief Steve Jobs in a position to leave a mark on the House of Mouse. And Disney is ready to play a leadership role in the convergence of content and technology,” Barrons reports.
“A recently published benign patent application filed by Disney is a small but tangible bit of evidence that a new era of cooperation is under way,” Barrons reports. “The Disney filing pertains to streaming-video technology for a proprietary Disney handset device; accompanying illustrations make it look like a flip phone. In the application, Disney says ‘the systems and methods of the present disclosure may be applied to other mobile electronic devices…such as e.g. the iPod digital music player available from Apple Computer’ — the company that, of course, is Jobs’ main gig.”
Barrons reports, “Reading the tea leaves of arcane intellectual-property filings is tricky business. But the filing does suggest that Apple and Disney are cooperating on the mobile-video front. Of course, Apple is expected to enter the mobile-phone fray next year. In fact, Apple’s shares got nicked last week because an analyst’s note predicted the product’s arrival to be later than expected.”
Barrons reports, “While Disney will pull the plug on its ESPN Mobile wireless service on Dec. 31 (you couldn’t watch live SportsCenter on it), the company hasn’t thrown in the towel on being a branded wireless provider. In fact, its Disney Mobile unit is still in business. Wouldn’t those connected kids like to receive their High School Musical videos on a sleek new Apple iPhone?”
Full article here.
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Disney patent application shows ESPN video content coming to wireless iPod – November 09, 2006
Disney CEO Iger: Apple’s ‘iTV’ has ‘small hard drive on it’ – September 19, 2006
Jobs’ stake in Disney valued at $3.9 billion – May 09, 2006
Apple’s ‘iPhone’ silence drives rumor mill crazy – December 08, 2006
BusinessWeek: Wish List for Apple ‘iPhone’ – December 08, 2006
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Prudential: Apple ‘iPhone’ to sport iPod click wheel; video iPod by Q2 – December 06, 2006
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Kevin Rose: Dual-battery Apple ‘iPhone’ coming in January; $249 for 4GB, $449 for 8GB – December 03, 2006
This filing implies NOTHING about Apple. It shows a picture of a flip phone. I think you’ll find that Apple has 0% of the mobile phone market. Someday that figure might increase. But that begs the question, what the hell are these guys smoking?
Move along, people; there’s nothing to see here.
hmmm…. an iPhone with ears!
I just don’t find Disney as creative as Apple. It always feels like Disney would be a drag on Apple rather than some synergistic creative force for moving forward. Disney’s reputation is still suffering as a remnant of its previous leadership and weak offerings over the past years. Apple’s work with Motorola and others has, in my view, negatively affected what was eventually done. I am not comfortable with the scenario here, whatever the scenario really is. Apple is on a roll now and I would hate for the machinations of some other corporate behemoth to slow them down.
Believe me, I can’t imagine any high school kid associating him/herself with a “Disney”
phone.
You can take that to the bank.
Hey, great logic. A few years ago, Apple had 0% of the mp3 player market. And before they existed, they had 0% of everything!
Disney might have their eyes set on an iPhone branded for them to use on their network, aimed at younger kids, and separate from the Apple crowd.
Or not.
Tower Tone
Younger crowd? Like, how old?
Well, I guess these days ther ARE a lot of 10 yr. olds with phones, now that I think of it.
But what’s TOO young?
8? 7? (each age bracket must represent a pretty big chunk$)
I’m thinking 10-14, and yeah, for good or bad, they have them.
But if it is a way to have music, school notes, and have Mom and Dad keep tabs on them, go for it.
Of coourse, they may offer it to a different crowd. My point was it didn’t neccesarily need Apple’s involvement, other than iTunes to sync with.
I’m 73 and loving every minute of it. I’ve been enjoying Disney longer than my Apple Mac.
Thing is I have had the same CD on my desktop for years. I called my son who installed my beloved iMac and he told me drag it to the trash. Fiddlesticks to that. I don’t want to throw the CD out. I might need it again. I just want to get it out of the computer.
I think a Disney phone would be marvelous. My grandkids can’t get enough of that Pete’s Dragon. That big green dragon is a delight. Helen Reddy is terrific too.
Nadine C.
Now the pieces are coming together.
The delay of the iPhone . . .
Steve’s saying nothing about iTV and its still secret MW2007 products . . .
The trend of Disney’s latest movie stories . . .
The rumors about a OS X light in a new Apple gaming machine . . .
It’s all starting to come together now. . .
all together now. . .
Apple is buying Disney . . .
It’s obvious.
I am glad I subscribe to Barron’s because
only those Wall St. (Journal) guys have the
brilliant minds to see through all the rumors
and put all the pieces togoether.
Thank you uber-Analysys.
Thank you Dow Jones’ Barron’s magazine.
Nadine, let me introduce you to someone. Peterson…
Anybody now says Macs are Micky Mouse computers, they’ll be right.
Yes Sir. Toy computers and proud of it.
I want to see more toys with the Apple logo.
Micky Mouse iTV and iPhone and Macs.
Good Bye Steve Jobs.
Hello Micky Mouse.
Anybody now says Macs are Micky Mouse computers, they’ll be right.
Yes Sir. Toy computers and proud of it.
I want to see more toys with the Apple logo.
Micky Mouse iTV and iPhone and Macs.
Good Bye Steve Jobs.
Hello Micky Mouse.
Anybody now says Macs are Micky Mouse computers, they’ll be right.
Yes Sir. Toy computers and proud of it.
I want to see more toys with the Apple logo.
Micky Mouse iTV and iPhone and Macs.
Good Bye Steve Jobs.
Hello Micky Mouse.
Thank you Uber Analysts –
“Trend in Disney movies?” What trend?
Enlighten us further for those who don’t read Barron’s magazine.
I think there’s something else to be taken from this speculation– Apple and Pixar have begun to rub off on Disney. Now, analysts are curious about Disney again. Instead of being a completely stale company, Disney has a new shot in the arm and some vigor and is seen to have the potential to zig when people expect zag. There is obviously much more to come, but this is a sign that attitudes are shifting toward Disney. Instead of being so completely predictable and milk toast, Disney/Apple/Pixar could be on the verge of something big (even if they aren’t). For the stock market, this is a big deal. Buy on the rumor, sell on the fact. Disney has needed some better attention and here they begin with a few rumors, so here we go… stock growth.
Hey Mickey and Steve, did you ever fart so hard you ended up in another zip code?
ITS A VERITABLE MEDIA FREAKOUT FEST!!!!! IPHONE IPHONE IPHONE!!!!!!! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
The current management at Disney appears to be much more forward thinking than the previous management. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Disney embracing new ideas in a way which would previously have been unthinkable.
It will be fascinating to see what other studios do. Most have been rather lukewarm about new technology and if they see Disney benefiting financially from adopting new ideas, they won’t want to sit on the sidelines for long.
I would guess that Steve Jobs will be doing all he possibly can to make sure that Disney does very well out of any innovative new idea. Apart from his personal involvement with the company, he will be able to use Disney as a poster child for what he can do for other studios if they do the same thing as Disney with Apple.
Telling the studios that you have a great idea means that they can argue that it doesn’t sound so great to them and they can easily dismiss that idea. But demonstrating that a major studio is already making millions of dollars from that idea is a much more compelling argument and one that’s harder to argue against. Nothing concentrates minds better than the thought of a lucrative revenue stream.
MWSF 2007:
The Mac Minnie.
Ahh, Disney, the Microsoft of entertainment. Steve get ready to join the ranks of Carlo Collodi, Hans Christian Anderson and the brothers Grimm. Ha ha, gee folks, Pluto and I invented the computer on the way to Goofy’s house. Maybe fast food is next- a Macintosh Hot Apple Turnover with that order? No, strike that, how about a McIntosh Hot Apple Turnover. Enjoy one while you shop at Wally World.
It wasn’t long ago when Apple when Apple was lost, much like some are saying Disney is, or was.
You see, it’s all about the leadership. The Disney brand is just as iconic as Apple (or pretty close). With the right leadership, that’s a huge brand.