A Broken Company

[kennyc]

Must be broken for sure.

If only Steve had not built that custom yacht.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Must be broken for sure.

If only Steve had not built that custom yacht.

Did they finally pay for the thing? I heard it got repo'ed.

[kennyc]

Yeah, the estate bailed it outta hock...

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

But Apple would need to acquire content and that is where the whole deal gets tricky. If they get a narrow slice of content they won't gain traction.

That is what's hampering Sony and Microsoft; they have access to all the new streaming networks (from Hulu, Netflix, and Prime to Crackle and Crunchyroll) but the broadcast networks are too scared of the Cablecos to let them *pay* to run their content.

The primary exceptions are the sports leagues. MLB.com, for one, lets me watch every single MLB baseball game broadcast anywhere, at any time, (ad-free!), live or at my convenience, for an annual fee of $125. Despite that, the cablecos are *still* bidding up local TV rights into the billions.

You'd think the likes of HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc would take note.
There actually is a bit of a parallel with authors and publishers in that the cablecos are gatekeepers who have the content producers thinking they are indispensable.

Sooner or later, disintermediation will come to broadcast but until it does we're all stuck with the dated hidden subsidies of cable packages, that take earned revenue away the popular channels and uses it to keep unpopular niche channels afloat.

[fjtorres]

Hey! Apple isn't the only "broken" company.
Guess who else is getting hammered?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-575...ed-down-a-peg/

Samsung and Apple still dominate the mobile industry, and no one really expects that to change. Reports from several tech research firms over the past couple of days pegged their combined smartphone market share in the fourth quarter at about 50 percent, and both are expected to see a boost from new products coming later this year.

However, with seemingly everyone in developed markets such as the U.S. and Europe already using a smartphone, much of the growth will come from emerging countries. But those regions require lower cost -- and less profitable -- products and a different strategy. Samsung's take is creating many different phones at different price points, while Apple pushes the older models of its devices.

Both are seeing strong demand from places like China. Samsung said that emerging-market demand for mid- and low-end smartphones should be solid this year, while Apple has said that China is its fastest-growing region. But Samsung, Apple, and other established vendors are now going up against cheap device makers like Huawei and ZTE that are quickly gaining ground.

IDC noted during its quarterly mobile market share report that Huawei is now the world's third-largest smartphone maker, a first for the Chinese company. While its market share is still fairly low compared to Samsung and Apple, it's making steady progress, as are other Chinese vendors. These companies are expected to move up the stack instead of only providing inexpensive phones.

"For set businesses, especially in handsets and TV, we expect competition to intensify further due to slowing down of demand growth, new product launches, as well as expansion of mid- to low-end markets," Robert M. Yi, Samsung senior vice president of investor relations, said yesterday during a conference call.

One difference, a voice of reason:

Of course, Samsung's business isn't just mobile devices. The company has a broad portfolio of products, including processors and displays, and those operations are expected to keep its overall growth rate high this year.

And even if the mobile market slows, it's still growing. Samsung plans to maintain its smartphone market share as it continues its strategy of supporting all major operating systems and offering a broad portfolio of products.

"There's a difference between the market slowing down and the market going down," IDC analyst Ramon Llamos said. "Clearly it's not going down. The sky's not falling."

[Contortionist]

"A Broken Company" is taking it too far. There computers are still superior to all other PCs and more and more people are slowly realizing that. Not to mention, the iPhone is still going to take over market share. Not saying I'd buy their stock right now though.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Contortionist

"A Broken Company" is taking it too far. There computers are still superior to all other PCs and more and more people are slowly realizing that. Not to mention, the iPhone is still going to take over market share. Not saying I'd buy their stock right now though.

As long as you keep buying their products they'll be fine.
Profits come from loyal customers, not the stock market.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by Contortionist

"A Broken Company" is taking it too far. There computers are still superior to all other PCs and more and more people are slowly realizing that. Not to mention, the iPhone is still going to take over market share. Not saying I'd buy their stock right now though.

None of that is really true and it doesn't matter anyway. A company beholden to shareholders has different priorities than one that is privately held. My long held belief is that publicly traded companies are at a disadvantage. I think that wildly successful companies should use their success to buy up outstanding shares and go private.

I'm very interested in what is going on at Dell. I hope it works out and becomes a model.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by wizwor

None of that is really true and it doesn't matter anyway. A company beholden to shareholders has different priorities than one that is privately held. My long held belief is that publicly traded companies are at a disadvantage. I think that wildly successful companies should use their success to buy up outstanding shares and go private.

I'm very interested in what is going on at Dell. I hope it works out and becomes a model.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yeah, the estate bailed it outta hock...

They can turn the yacht into a floating Apple shrine with a "bust' of Steve on the prow.

I am sure there would be some that would pay to take cruises in it. And it being Apple, I am talking big bucks.

[william z]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

No doubt. Only us old fogies are still attached to our desktops. More and more its about portable social media.

I don't know. It will probably take awhile to sink in, but maybe someday people will realize that a portable device can't do nearly as much as a desktop (or do it as fast and as good).

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by william z

I don't know. It will probably take awhile to sink in, but maybe someday people will realize that a portable device can't do nearly as much as a desktop (or do it as fast and as good).

Most people don't need something more powerful than a mobile device.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Most people don't need something more powerful than a mobile device.

Exactly right. A semi-truck can do a lot more than a sedan, or even a pickup truck. But most people don't need a semi.

And more to the point, a portable device means that you can do your less-powerful chores (almost) anyplace you happen to be. This is a huge improvement in utility.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Exactly right. A semi-truck can do a lot more than a sedan, or even a pickup truck. But most people don't need a semi.

And more to the point, a portable device means that you can do your less-powerful chores (almost) anyplace you happen to be. This is a huge improvement in utility.

There is also the fact that portable devices are getting more powerful. Even if today's devices aren't powerful enough for your needs, in a couple of years...

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by william z

I don't know. It will probably take awhile to sink in, but maybe someday people will realize that a portable device can't do nearly as much as a desktop (or do it as fast and as good).

Someday soon, you will put your abundantly powerful phablet (OK, I said it) down near your desk, press a button on your Bluetooth keyboard, and link the device to your immersive monitors, soul shaping speakers, and other peripherals. Moore's law.