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Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts

The Incredible Apple

Yesterday, Apple did the unthinkable, yet again! Apple blew away the revenue and earnings by a long shot. Apple announced record quarterly sales of over $28.57 billion, and profits of $7.31 billion ( Apple, what are you planning to do with all that cash? Perhaps you can buy out a country or two! )

Apple sold 20.34 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 142 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 9.25 million iPads during the quarter, a 183 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 3.95 million Macs during the quarter, a 14 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 7.54 million iPods, a 20 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

We’re thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Right now, we’re very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall.” (This means, iPhone 5 is coming this Fall as well!)

Apple Destroys Estimates AND the Stock Is Still Cheap! Here's what stood out:
* Apple's Cash on Hand grew by 16% to $76.2 billion. The number works out to roughly $81 per share. Were they so inclined, Apple could write checks for Netflix (NFLX) and Ebay (EBAY) combined and still remain liquid.
* Apple's revenue growth is actually accelerating.
* The company beat EPS estimates by over 30% and revenue forecasts by 15%. These numbers speak ill of the people analyzing Apple but are jaw-dropping nonetheless.
* The stock continues to perform yet somehow gets cheaper; trading at over 18x earnings yesterday and in the vicinity of a 15 P/E today.

Cramer on Wednesday raised his price target on Apple from $400 to $500 a share. Yet at the $500 level, the technology stock will be selling at just 11.5 times his estimates for next fiscal year's earnings, only three quarters of what the average company in the S&P 500 index sells for.
To Cramer, Apple is a great example of why capitalism is worth cheering for. Unfortunately, Apple also puts U.S. leaders to shame because all they can do is bicker. "The United States of Apple?" Cramer said, "Now that's a place Cramericans can call home."

Apple Earnings Call: "We are very excited to be launching Mac OS X Lion tomorrow. The Lion includes more than 250 new features such as a multi-touch gestures, system wide support for full screen apps, Mission Control, which is an innovative view of everything running on your Mac and much more."
"iPhone continues to be adopted as the standard across the enterprise with 91% of the Fortune 500 deployed or testing the device, up from 88% last quarter. We're also seeing great growth in scale worldwide. Today, 57% of Global 500 companies are testing or deploying iPhone, fueled by strong employee demand and opportunities for custom App development. Some examples of Global 500 companies supporting iPhones on their corporate networks, include AXA, Credit Agricole, Nestlé, Dow Chemical, GlaxoSmithKline, SUPERVALU and Comcast."
"We are also seeing strong adoption internationally with 47% of Global 500 companies testing or deploying iPad. In the 15 months since iPad has shipped, we've seen iPads used in the enterprise in ways we could have never imagined. Companies like Boston Scientific, Xerox and Salesforce.com are deploying thousands of iPads and revolutionize in how their sales teams engage their customers. iPad is being used inside the country's top hospitals like HCA and Cedars-Sinai and in retail at Nordstrom and at Esteé Lauder's Clinique counters. General Electric, SAP and Standard Charter have developed internal Apps for training, currency tracking and business process management to help make employees even more productive. And Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are using the iPad in cockpit to replace paper-based navigational and reference information pilots carry with him on every flight."
- Peter Oppenheimer, Apple CFO
"China was very key to our results. As a reminder, we define Greater China as Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Year-over-year, it was up over 6x and the revenue was approximately $3.8 billion during the quarter and that makes the year-to-date numbers through the 3 quarters that we've had thus far around $8.8 billion. And so this has been a substantial opportunity for Apple and I firmly believe that we're just scratching the surface right now. I think there is an incredible opportunity for Apple there." - Timothy Cook, Apple COO

Bottomline:
Apple dropped a huge sales bomb again! Apple's quarterly revenue and earnings explosion is just the beginning! Expect Apple to deliver successive quarters of record sales and earnings in the foreseeable future. About the only thing that can bring Apple down is supplier constraints. But Apple has planned well in this department as well; Apple's inventory is healthy, and current generation products are getting rolled out without any delays. As schools resume in Fall, and as we get closer to the holiday season, Apple revenue machine will accelerate faster! A $40 billion holiday quarter is indeed a possibility... Apple makes more money internationally than in the U.S.; 62% of sales came from international operations in the latest quarter. This means that Apple has become a true global company, and has even less dependency on local market going forward. It also means that the world has more buying power and buys more Apple products thatn U.S. does. This is both a challenge and opportunity for Apple going forward. Apple now has to design products that cater to international buyers. And assuming that the world is still warming up to Apple, the global demand for future Apple products will be very high. As the U.S. economy improves, Apple will derive even more sales locally, giving its quarterly revenue numbers bigger boost! Apple is a winner no matter what!
When a billion cell phones are sold every year worldwide, if Apple is able to increase its marketshare to 10%, this would translate to 100 million iPhone annual sales. Apple just sold over 20 million iPhones. Expect a 25 million iPhone quarter in the near future. As for the iPad, there are many choice tablets available. However, at $499, iPad 2 offers an amazing mix of features and functionality in one incredible machine. Can Apple sell 15 million iPads next quarter? Quite possibly. Apple just announced the latest MacBook Air at starting price of $999. It's faster, ships with Mac OS X Lion, has Flash storage, backlit keyboard, camera and most everything you need as your entry notebook. This will help accelerate the sales of MacBooks in the coming quarters. Finally, the all important iOS 5 and iCloud are coming this year... along with the launch of iPhone 5. Apple has the whole world in awe with its product wizardry! The Incredible Magic of Apple!

How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?


Download Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn how Apple became the #1 innovator through:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs Visionary Leadership
Revised in 2011! Steve Jobs interview

Learn more...



Apple launches new cloud - iCloud


In a keynote speech during its Worldwide Developers Conference event, leading tech company Apple announced new features for “Lion,” the next version of its desktop operating system OS X; the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 5; and a new service, iCloud, which stores content in the cloud and automatically syncs it across multiple devices. Read more.

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, said the new, free service, iCloud, would replace the personal computer as the central hub of people’s digital lives — storing photos, music and documents. Relying on the PC, he said, no longer works now that millions of people have multiple devices, each with photos, documents, songs, phone applications and other files.

“Keeping these devices in sync is driving us crazy,” Mr. Jobs said, speaking at the opening day of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. “We have a great solution for this problem. We are going to demote the PC to just be a device. We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud.” Read more

The biggest player in digital music has finally vaporized its content. Starting this fall, you'll be able to stream your digital music library over the Internet, rather than having to download it to your devices and store it on them. We've already seen Amazon and Google's attempts at a Web-based streaming music service, with the former's Cloud Player and the latter's Google Music Beta, but with iTunes' dominance in digital music, Apple's iCloud could eclipse both of them. Apple's offering differs from those of Amazon and Google in some big ways, though. Here's a rundown of the three services' differences and similarities. Read more

Apple announced 200 new features and 1,500 new APIs in the next release of its mobile operating system, iOS 5. The biggest changes cut the cable to Macs and PCs, tie it more closely to Apple's new cloud services, and update the UI with real-time interactivity in the form of revamped notifications system. Read more


Bottomline:

I use Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod... and hardly ever use my PC nowadays (shhh...). The Apple iCloud is exactly what the doctor ordered! I can now instantly share and download my photos, documents and music across all three devices, and on my future MacBook (yup, this year!). I have had instances where I shot a video on my iPhone, and want to download it straight to my iPad... I believe, now I can with the latest iCloud. I download photos or docs from the web on my iPad, and want to view them later on my iPhone, Now I can. I want to have one place for all my music that I have purchased from iTunes, be it iPod, iPhone or iPad. Now I can. I have different apps on my iPad and iPhone from the App Store, and always wondered if I had to buy or download apps separately for each device... Now I can share my apps across all Apple products. Finally, the all important calendar. I only use iPhone for my calendar, and was frustrated that I cannot automatically synch this with my iPad calendar. Now I can. For all the Apple users out there, iCloud is a huge step forward wherein we can now enjoy our music, photos and videos everywhere, work with our apps and documents anywhere...and never miss another meeting. The best part - iCloud is FREE for all the normal things we do. Diehard fans will use Apple products round the clock, 24/7, for everything, thanks to the iCloud. Apple, please make sure our information stays secured, and doesn't get hacked. Apple iCloud - loving it!

How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?


Download Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn how Apple became the #1 innovator through:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs Visionary Leadership
Revised in 2011! Steve Jobs interview

Learn more...





References:
Apple.com
Watch the Video of all the announcements

Apple hits Home Run with latest quarterly earnings

Apple hit major milestones today in the latest quarterly earnings:

1. Highest Quarterly Sales of $20.3 billion, rising 67% from previous year
2. Highest Quarterly Profits of $4.3 billion, rising 70% from previous year
3. Highest Unit Sales of Mac, iPhone and iPad

“We are blown away to report over $20 billion in revenue and over $4 billion in after-tax earnings—both all-time records for Apple,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone sales of 14.1 million were up 91 percent year-over-year, handily beating the 12.1 million phones RIM sold in their most recent quarter. We still have a few surprises left for the remainder of this calendar year.”

Apple raised the outlook for the holiday quarter, and as Steve Jobs indicated, is planning to launch something exciting this year... Apple TV sold 250,000 units for the quarter.

In the conference call, Steve Jobs was elated, talked about winning, catching "tiger by the tail", and even joked about loving "Flash" ( memory). Mr. Jobs talked about creating the best products for the markets and customers Apple serves, and maintaining higher margins by providing the better Apple experience out of the box. Mr. Jobs quipped that he would like to learn from Nokia on how to create Smart phones for less than $50. Apple had a phenomenal quarter for the new iPad, and importantly, the businesses and education are finding new applications for the iPad.

“7-inch tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone and too small to compete with the iPad,” said Jobs, adding that competing manufacturers were struggling to meet the price point of the iPad, which starts at $500. Both Samsung and RIM have not announced pricing on their tablets.

“These are among the reasons that the current crop of 7-inch tablets are going to be DOA — dead on arrival,” Jobs said during the earnings call!

After hitting another record daily high, Apple stock was down more than 6% in after hours, perhaps reacting to lower gross margins and pent up expectations.

Learn to innovate like Apple and Steve Jobs.
How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?


Download Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn how Apple became the #1 innovator through:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs Visionary Leadership
Revised in 2011! Steve Jobs interview

Learn more...





Read more:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/10/tablets-steve-jobs/#ixzz12ou3xuLP

Apple's Innovation Strategy - Innovation eBook & Process

Apple Innovation Strategy - Apple Innovation eBookHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple. The eBooks has been revised in 2011, and contains Steve Jobs interview.

"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" -Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $170 billion and
counting…

Apple Innovation Strategy
How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn how Apple became the #1 innovator:




If you are having download issues, send us an email at: info at innovationmain dot com

About the author:
Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 650 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, TATA, and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science. Dalal is the CEO & Founder of OGoing Inc., small business social networking community.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address:
111 Academy Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92617
Main Phone #:
1-949-288-6880 (call-in only)

Apple’s Big Event: Buzz Reaches Fever Pitch

After a couple of uncharacteristic missteps and mishaps, will Apple be getting the magic back with its next big announcement?

Its last product unveiling, for the iPhone 4, proved to be anticlimactic after tech blog Gizmodo released photos of a prototype phone. Then came the infamous Antennagate press conference, in which CEO Steve Jobs moved to quiet criticism of reception on the iPhone 4 by announcing that Apple would give free cases to owners of the phone.


Associated Press

But now Apple seems to be back in the swing of things, at least as far as creating that patented Apple buzz around product announcements. The speculation about its latest event is at normal Apple levels — by which we mean that it’s completely insane.

Read more on Wall Street Journal
Bottomline:

It doesn't really matter what big announcement Apple makes tomorrow... What matters is how Apple will WOW the consumer, yet again with new innovations!! Could it be the new iPad with multi-processing (oh, how I wish I can listen to Pandora while browsing, and writing some notes), or a new iPod touch (with everything someone can ask for including videoconferencing & a larger form factor than the current iPod touch, but smaller than the iPad, including an eBook reader - watch out Amazon), or a new iTunes business model with partnerships with TV & Movie studios (Offering 99 cents TV show rentals and even 99 cents movie downloads! It's about time Apple does video right...), or a new Apple device altogether... (how about a new iRadio or something?).

Be enthralled...

Apple Innovation and Creativity in Business Case Studies

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index.

Apple Innovation eBook - Apple's Innovation Strategy, Innovation Process & Innovation Model

Apple Innovation StrategyHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple. The eBook has been revised in 2011, now contains 125 slides, and has Steve Jobs interview.

― "There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" —Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $200 billion and
counting…

Buy Apple's Innovation Strategy and learn to innovate, like Apple, today!!

Learn more




Apple Earnings Blowout - It's Going To Be Huge!

Congratulations to Apple & Steve Jobs for providing a good solution yesterday to the iPhone 4 antenna problem... Every iPhone 4 user will get a free case! This is a good response from Apple, and will hopefully allow users to fully appreciate their new iPhone 4, and be very happy about their purchase!!

Did you catch the iPhone 4 Antenna song that Apple played in their news conference yesterday... very funny!


Expect Apple to deliver another blowout quarter when it announces earnings this week...

According to Yahoo Finance, the average earnings estimate by 40 analysts is for Apple to earn $3.10 a share this quarter, with a low estimate of $2.65 and a high estimate of $3.47. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple breaks free and announces earnings well over $3.47 a share...

The average revenue estimate by the same 40 analysts is for Apple to make $14.74 billion this quarter, with a low estimate of $13.82 billion and a high estimate of $15.74 billion... Again, it's very likely that Apple will report revenue on the very high end of the estimate, perhaps even surpass the $15.74 billion mark!

What's going for Apple to have a huge earnings blowout?

1. iPad - more than 3 million iPads were sold in the quarter, accounting for at least $1.5 billion in new business.
2. iPhone 4 - at least 1.5 million new iPhone 4 sales happened in June. This one is tricky though... Did the launch of iPhone 4 stall the sales of iPhone 3GS? Let's hope that it did not; total sales of iPhones for the quarter could end up above the 9 million mark...
3. MACs - Intel just announced that they had the best quarter in history on the sales of the microprocessors that power the majority of computers worldwide! Apple is becoming a leading player in contributing to the sales of Intel processors, and it's plausible that Apple had a huge quarter for MAC sales...

All eyes will be on Apple as it announces perhaps the biggest & baddest earnings quarter in Apple history!!

How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple.

"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" -Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs Visionary Leadership


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $200 billion and
counting…

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy and learn to innovate, like Apple, today!!

Apple Innovation Strategy

References:
Yahoo Finance
Apple.com

Apple Innovation Leadership - Innovation Quadrant

Apple Innovation Leadership

Apple Innovation Leadership - Innovation Quadrant

Apple Innovation Strategy - Apple Innovation eBookHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?


What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple.


"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" -Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $170 billion and
counting…

The Apple Innovation eBook has been revised in 2011, and includes new insights, iPad innovation, Steve Jobs interview and more!

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy and learn to innovate, like Apple, today!!





If you are having download issues, send us an email at: info at innovationmain dot com

About the author:
Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 650 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, TATA, J&J, Pepsi and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address:
111 Academy Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92617
Main Phone #:
1-949-288-6880 (call-in only)

Apple is poised to become the most valuable company

S&P 500 Largest Companies
SymbolCompany NameClose on 5/26% Chg. YTDMkt. Cap Value B$
XOMExxon Mobil59.31-13278.6
AAPLApple244.10915.8222.1
MSFTMicrosoft25.01-17.9219.2
WMTWal-Mart Stores50.02-6.4187.6
PGProcter & Gamble60.44-0.3174.1
GEGeneral Electric16.015.8170.9
JNJJohnson and Johnson59.66-7.4164.5
IBMIBM123.23-5.9158
BACBank of America15.472.7155.2
JPMJPMorgan Chase38.78-6.9154.3
GOOGGoogle475.47-23.3151.4
WFCWells Fargo28.043.9146
CVXChevron71.55-7.1143.7
TAT&T24.13-13.9142.6
CSCOCisco Systems22.89-4.4131.1

source: CNBC

Bottomline:
Apple surpassed Microsoft as the most valuable technology company. Apple is on a high growth drive. Apple's forward P/E is only 16.58, whereas the current P/E is 21.78. Analysts are estimating Apple's stock to rise to $303.11, with a high end estimate of $350. If Apple stock indeed breaks $350, Apple's marketcap will expand to $318.5B, higher than Exxon Mobile's marketcap of $284B, making it the most valuable company in USA (source: Yahoo Finance). With successful new innovations such as the iPad that will generate at least $5 billion in new business this year, and the impending launch of the new iPhone which will bring in more sales, Apple will accelerate the torrid growth throughout 2010. The stars are aligning for a perfect marketcap storm that Apple is going to cause, as analysts will ponder on whether to raise Apple's stock target price further to $400 come December. It's a matter of when, not a matter of if, that Apple will surpass Exxon Mobile. Bravo Apple!!

Apple Innovation Strategy - Apple Innovation eBookHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple.

"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" -Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $170 billion and
counting…

The Apple Innovation eBook has been revised in 2011, and includes new insights, iPad innovation, Steve Jobs interview and more!

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy and learn to innovate, like Apple, today!!





If you are having download issues, send us an email at: info at innovationmain dot com

About the author:
Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 650 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, TATA, J&J and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address:
111 Academy Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92617
Main Phone #:
1-949-288-6880 (call-in only)

Disclosure: Long Apple.

Apple Innovation Strategy - Innovation eBook, Innovation Process

Apple Innovation Strategy - Apple Innovation eBookHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple.

"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
that I love. 'I skate to where the puck
is going to be, not where it has been.'
And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
" -Steve Jobs

Apple innovates through:
• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs


This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

How did Apple do it?
• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
• Increase net profit more than 650% in 8 years…
• Increase market cap more than twenty times to over $170 billion and counting…

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy and learn to innovate, like Apple, today!! The Apple Innovation eBook has been revised in 2011, and includes new insights, iPad innovation, Steve Jobs interview and more!





If you are having download issues, send us an email at: info at innovationmain dot com

About the author:
Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 650 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, J&J, TATA and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address:
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Apple Innovation eBook - Innovation Strategy, Innovation Process

Apple Innovation Strategy - Apple Innovation eBookHow does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

What is Apple's Innovation Strategy? Download these Apple Innovation eBook insights and learn to be like Apple... like Steve Jobs, the innovator and CEO of Apple.

"There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote
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And we've always tried to do that at
Apple. Since the very very beginning.
And we always will.
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Apple innovates through:
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This Apple Innovation Strategy ebook provides insights, strategy, best practices, facts and much more...

Apple has built an Innovation Factory – one that harnesses creativity in its people, stimulating new ideas, and launching successful, profitable new innovations... Apple leverages its diverse culture, innovation processes, partners and networks to seize the new opportunities in the marketplace and grow its business...exponentially…

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• Increase revenue more than 400% in 8 years…
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The Apple Innovation eBook has been revised in 2011, and includes new insights, iPad innovation, Steve Jobs interview and more!





If you are having download issues, send us an email at: info at innovationmain dot com

About the author:
Sanjay Dalal is an innovator and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of leadership experience in Silicon Valley and High Tech companies. Dalal authored and launched the Innovation Faculty eBook and Definitive Guide on Creativity and Innovation in business in 2008, used by over 550 leading organizations and professionals all over the world including HP, Hallmark, Cleveland Clinic, Pepsi, EDS, and major universities. Dalal published over 200 articles in the last two years on the real-time state of innovation in business at this blog on Creativity and Innovation Driving Business, and introduced the Innovation Index in December 2006 that correlates business, innovation and stock performance. Dalal filed joint U.S. Patent on "Hands-On Labs" for delivering live, hands-on training over Web Meetings by simulating a training lab environment. Dalal has launched innovative products such as WebEx Training Center and WebEx Sales Center to market, and grown product line revenue to tens of million dollars in annual revenue. Dalal holds executive certification on Leading Management Teams from Cornell University, and is an engineering scholar graduate in Computer Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dalal attended Arizona State University for graduate education in Computer Science.

Innovation eBook is brought to you by Creativity And Innovation Driving Business based in Irvine, CA.

Address: 8105 Irvine Center Dr., Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92618
Main Phone #: 1-949-288-6880

Steve Jobs launches new iPhone at Apple Developers Conference?

"The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) provides developers and IT professionals with in-depth technical information and hands-on learning about the powerful technologies in iPhone OS and Mac OS X from the Apple engineers who created them"

Is Apple announcing the all new iPhone at the sold out conference with over 1,000 Apple engineers and over 5,000 Apple hardcore developers and aficionados? What will this new iPhone have: full motion video, video recording and editing, faster iPhone, slimmer body, business apps and more...

Is Steve Jobs making the announcement of the new iPhone in a cameo?

Who will win the top awards and bragging rights for the best iPhone application and Mac OS X applications?

After all the stakes are high... "Winners will receive two 15-inch MacBook Pros (best configuration), two 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays, two 16GB iPhone 3Gs, two 16GB iPod touch, an ADC 2009 Premier Membership, and reimbursement of their WWDC 2009 E-ticket."

All eyes will be on Apple as it kicks off the Apple Developer's Conference on June 8, 2009. If Steve Jobs makes an entrance, watch out! There will be a frenzy...

Countdown to iPhone 2.0 aka iPhone 3G - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)

To buy iPhone 2.5G now or wait until iPhone 2.0 3G arrives? That will be the question facing most iPhone buyers between now through Summer 2008.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world.

In a story released by Fortune, Apple is getting ready for the launch of the all new iPhone in June 2008 in a similar vein when Apple introduced the iPhone in June 2007. If history is any guide, Apple will have another huge launch of the iPhone 3G.

"The new phone will operate on AT&T's (NYSE: T) faster network giving a big speed boost to mobile Internet users. The new phone will also be packed with more features including GPS navigation." - Fortune

Who are the biggest competitors to the all new iPhone? Sony with it's new Xperia, Garmin with the new Nuvifone, and Research In Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) new Blackberry 9000 will give iPhone a run for the money.

Innovation Index Group, Inc. projects sales of 12 million iPhones in 2008.

Complete story here...

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Apple Creativity and Innovation in Business Case Studies

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 2.0 software scores a trifecta with leading developers, enterprise customers and partners

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) announced today the beta release of iPhone 2.0 software, and hit a trifecta with leading developers, enterprise customers and partners. Apple is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one Innovator in the world. The final release of the iPhone 2.0 software is scheduled for launch in June 2008. What does the iPhone 2.0 software release include?
According to Apple press release, the iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks.

The free iPhone SDK along with the iPhone Developer Program provides developers with a rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod(R) touch; a bonus is an iPhone Simulator for the Mac(R). The new App Store completes the picture providing a seamless way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod touch users.

The iPhone SDK provides programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies through the available APIs. Further, the iPhone SDK will allow developers to create applications that leverage the iPhone's Multi-Touch(TM) user interface, animation technology, large storage, built-in three-axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications.
Leading developers, enterprise customers and partners are already using the new iPhone in trials, and are getting ready to launch it within their companies. Apple identified the following corporations in the press release:
AOL
"No question the powerful tools and APIs in the iPhone SDK made it easy to develop a feature-rich mobile application for the iPhone," said Kevin Conroy, executive vice president, AOL. "The rapid development cycle for this application was very intuitive, and when you add the App Store, it's an unbeatable combination for development and distribution of mobile applications."
Cisco
"As a result of this collaboration between Cisco and Apple, iPhone users will have seamless and highly secure access to mission critical information as it is needed from anywhere in the world," said Richard Palmer, senior vice president of the Security Technology Group, Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO). "The connected world is becoming more mobile and collaborative where employees need access to private business information no matter where they are."
Disney
"Apple has really done their homework, addressing issues of security, manageability and integration," said Randy Brooks, senior vice president, IT Strategy and Architecture, The Walt Disney Company. "We currently have hundreds of iPhone users and expect the demand to grow significantly with this release."
Electronic Arts
"The animation technology in the iPhone OS enables us to build awesome games," said John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts. "I think iPhone consumers are going to be blown away by the games we create for this platform."
Epocrates
"By putting so much computing power into such an elegant mobile device, Apple has opened up tremendous opportunities for application developers," said Kirk Loevner, chairman and CEO, Epocrates, Inc. "The technology and software in the iPhone OS will allow us to create new and innovative applications that help improve patient safety and provide healthcare professionals with an unsurpassed user experience."
Genentech
"I believe the iPhone is a watershed event in mobile computing for corporations," said Todd Pierce, vice president, Corporate Information Technology, Genentech, Inc. "Genentech's pilot with iPhone has shown its potential to be the most useful business mobility tool we've ever used. We now have 3,000 planned for deployment based on how easy and simple it was to integrate iPhone with our corporate email system."
Microsoft
"Licensing Exchange ActiveSync to Apple enables them to build support right into the iPhone for simple, out-of-the-box connectivity with Exchange Server," said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Unified Communications Group, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), another Top 20 Innovator of The Innovation Index. "Microsoft believes in building open and interoperable products, and Microsoft Exchange Server is no exception."
Nike
"With support for Exchange ActiveSync, this new iPhone release really delivers a true plug-and-play enterprise solution," said Roland Paanakker, vice president and CIO, Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE), another Top 20 Innovator of The Innovation Index. "We already had Nike employees using iPhones, and now look forward to deploying more iPhones to more business users."
Salesforce.com
"The opportunity to use the innovative iPhone OS platform to deliver compelling Software-as-a-Service applications to mobile users is empowering to us, and ultimately, our customers," said Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com. "They are asking us for new ways to harness the power of Force.com to access their business information on any device regardless of location."
Sega
"The iPhone OS is a robust development platform that will allow Sega to deliver mobile gaming experiences that are truly compelling," said Simon Jeffery, president and COO, Sega of America. "Using the iPhone's accelerometer to power a tilt control feature adds a whole new dimension to Super Monkey Ball, and we can't wait for gamers to try it."
In the 2007 launch of iPhone, Apple had touted Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), another Top 20 Innovator of The Innovation Index, as one of the key partner. It was interesting to note that Google's support for the new iPhone 2.0 software was missing in today's announcement. A coincidence? Perhaps Google has its own plans for the iPhone and will make a separate announcement.

Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, was jubilant about this new release, and said: "We're excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch. iPhone's enterprise features combined with its revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and advanced software architecture provide the best user experience and the most advanced software platform ever for a mobile device."

Bottomline:

1. Whereas iPhone = "best consumer smartphone" has become a reality within one year, iPhone = "best corporate smartphone" could happen - is it only a matter of time? Or will Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), another Top 20 Innovator of The Innovation Index, have its say with its fast growing Blackberry smartphones.
2. Would corporations embrace the new SDK, push email, calendar, contacts, remote wipe, security, integration and remote management functionality of iPhone 2.0? How many corporations will convert? What would this do to Blackberry loyalists? Would Apple provide a migration path from Blackberry to iPhone? According to CNBC poll announced today, 84% of the corporate users polled indicated that they would buy an iPhone (how many of the polled already own an iPhone or own an iPod) . One of the CNBC analysts said that this could be a sampling error. Either way, we could be witnessing a a huge nascent demand for the iPhone by the corporations.
3. How many more games will Sega and Electronic Arts create for the iPhone 2.0 platform? Would iPhone displace the handheld gaming market as we know it? Would it really challenge the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP? Can iPhone become the iGamePhone? Only time will tell.

The new iPhone 2.0 innovations have created an abundance of opportunities and possibilities for Apple. How many of these opportunities will Apple convert? Can iPhone really become the defining computing device that everyone wants to have (remember iPod, Apple's best innovation)? Apple definitely challenges RIM, and even the handheld gamers with this innovation. Apple has reiterated the 10 million iPhone target in 2008. However, we believe this is conservative. Apple will sell upwards of 12 million iPhones in 2008. The proof will be in the pudding.

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Why Apple will hit $250 by December 2008?
Apple Creativity and Innovation in Business Case Studies

Creativity And Innovation in Business eBook

Creativity And Innovation in Business eBook is a 100-page collection of my handpicked 27 Creativity and Innovation best practices, case studies, articles, interviews, and insights on the current state of innovation in business as published on my award-winning Creativity And Innovation Driving Business Blog. The eBook provides real-world examples on how the Top Innovators including Apple, Google, GE, Proctor and Gamble, Yahoo, Toyota, Netflix, BMW, Deloitte, Timex, Frito Lays, Johnson & Johnson and more innovate and grow their business successfully time and again, especially during trying times. Use this eBook as a guide to find and create game-changing innovations, unblock creativity, and make innovation successful at your business.

Your contribution of only $9.99 towards buying the eBook will help support the no-nonsense mission of this blog: to provide "collective experiences, best practices and insights on Creativity and Innovation driving Business, ask questions and obtain answers on generating, managing & growing Creativity and Innovation through proven processes, and report case studies, ideas & stories on Top Innovators of The Innovation Index creating Disruptive Innovations and growing Market Leadership."

Download the Creativity And Innovation in Business eBook Now

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Innovation Index Fund tracks The Innovation Index
Introducing The Innovation Index - Detailed information about The Innovation Index
The Innovation Index closes 2007 at 66%
- 2007 Annual Report on the Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world
- 2007 Report on Top 50 Innovative Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance

Disclaimer: Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in Apple and Top Innovators of The Innovation Index.

References:
Apple Press Release

Why Apple will hit $250 by December 2008?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index, and the number one innovator.

Here are five reasons on why we believe Apple stock will be worth $250 by December 2008:

1. Apple is grossly undervalued. Apple stock has declined much faster relative to the overall market. Once the market rebounds, Apple stock will also appreciate, albeit exponentially. We believe such a rise in Apple stock will begin in Summer 2008.

2. Apple is on track to sell at least 10 million iPhones in 2008. This we believe is on the low end of the estimate. Once Apple reduces iPhone pricing further (we believe this will happen in Summer 2008), Apple will sell closer to 12 million iPhones in 2008. Apple will also innovate the tap keyboard tool on the iPhone and provide an automatic landscape view to type in emails and text messages. This would create a bigger following for iPhone. Finally, Apple iPhone software will get better for corporate emails.

3. Apple iPod sales will build momentum in Summer 2008 and second half of 2008. With the base iPod shuffle now available for only $49, Apple iPod sales will jettison. The bold drop of $30 in price of the base iPod will create a jump of at least 15% to 20% in iPod sales in 2008 - higher than what the analysts are expecting.

4. Apple MacBook Air will be a runaway winner in laptops in 2008. Apple is poised to increase its growing marketshare in the PC business with the new MacBook Air, and the new MacBook and MacBook Pro models will also help. Before Summer 2008, Apple will reduce the entry prices on all their laptops to create hyper growth in laptop sales. On the other hand, the Mac business will come onto its own in 2008.

5. Apple iTunes Movie Rental business combined with the American Idol music are your dark horses for 2008. Apple will show sustained growth in the movie rental business, and we believe this will begin to show top line difference towards late 2008. Next generation Apple TV and iPod Touch should also help drive more sales iTunes Movie Rental.

Apple stock will be worth at least $150 by Summer 2008, will pick up steam and rise to $200 by Fall 2008, and close out the year over $250. The only caveat is the overall health of the retail economy worldwide.

Disclaimer: Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in Apple and Top Innovators of The Innovation Index.

Apple iPod - Apple's Best Innovation

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the World's Number One Innovative Company, three years in a row according to BusinessWeek's 2007 list of the world's 50 most innovative companies. BusinessWeek proclaims "their creativity goes beyond products to rewiring themselves." BusinessWeek ranks the innovative companies based on the responses received from over 1,000 global executives of the largest global corporations; survey questions include innovation metrics on process, product and business model innovations.

Apple is one of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index.

According to BusinessWeek, innovation today is “much more than new products.” Innovation is also “reinventing business processes and building entirely new markets that meet untapped customer needs.” The ubiquity of the Internet and globalization of the business expand generation of new ideas. Innovation is then “selecting and executing the right ideas and bringing them to market in record time.”

iPod driving Apple to Number One Innovative Company

iPod, powered by Apple, introduced in 2001 and masterminded by Steve Jobs, combines outstanding design, easy-to-use interface, superb performance, and an experience like no other. Apple assumed the world’s number one innovative company position and held it again in 2006 in large part due to the exponential growth of iPod – aptly called the iPod phenomenon. Just ask the tens of millions of fans walking, driving, jogging, exercising, chatting, playing, humming, relaxing, singing, rocking, screaming, and above all enjoying their daily iPod experience. Imagine if they were to miss their iPod for a day, or even for a few hours. iPod is oxygen – pure and simple – the source of life for these millions of fans. Not to mention iPod has become associated with personal status and symbol that speaks of cool, hip, polished, and different. What began as a new product quickly became a revolution. iPod is by far the best commercial innovation the world has seen in the last few years, and perhaps is the best innovation from Apple dating back through its storied history of innovation firsts. Apple one-upped the iPod design innovation by creating new innovations in business model with the launch of iTunes online service enabled by strategic partnerships with the Music, TV and Movie industry.

A Glorious History of Innovations

Apple has created great innovations beginning with the first Apple computer in 1976, Graphical User Interface (GUI) along with the popular Macintosh introduced in 1984, the reliable PowerBook introduced in 1991, the PDA named Newton that created a new industry of handhelds in 1993, the new millennium revolution beginning with the iMac in 1998, the new iBook hot on the heels of the iMac in 1999, the iPod that put an oomph in the MP3 players and essentially changed music as we know it in 2001, iTunes software and Music store service that changed the Music industry business model and made it easy for fans to listen and buy music piecemealed in 2003, iPod mini, iPod (U2 Special Edition) and iPod photo in 2004, iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod with Video and Mac Mini in 2005, the new iMac with Intel core Duo processors and the new MacBook with Intel processors in 2006.

Five years of iPod Innovations

2006 marks five years of iPod innovations. Apple's Hardware engineering chief Jon Rubinstein assembled a team of engineers to design and build the first iPod in less than a year, and it was unveiled by CEO Steve Jobs on October 23, 2001 as a Mac-compatible product with a 5GB hard drive that put "1,000 songs in your pocket." Since then, Apple has introduced fourteen different models of iPods in various colors, displaying photos, downloading and playing videos, branded and signed by U2, with numerous forms and shapes, different capacities for holding songs, pictures and videos, with connectors, next generation models with better wheels, and more. For instance, the new iPod video introduced in 2005 was the first iPod that could download and playback full-motion video with a larger color screen and better display resolution – an innovative package under $300 for the base model. Or the innovation in the wheel that is akin to the driving wheel on a car – from an original mechanical scroll wheel to the current touch-sensitive click wheel. According to PC Magazine, “In the years since (2001), the iPod's market share has grown tremendously, iPods have shrunk in size, Apple's iTunes Music Store has taken the lion's share of legal digital music downloads, and the iPod accessory market has exploded and taken on a life of its own. All this has made the iPod as synonymous with "MP3 player" as Kleenex is with facial tissues.”

The love for iPod

Why do people love iPod perhaps more than their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or children? It has to do with the simple yet elegant design that makes it extremely easy-to-use (Toyota’s Innovation Factory), exceptional sound, video and imagery, and the amazing experience. The flexibility provided by the iTunes software and service that allows you to try and download any music and video with the click of a button from any computer or the Internet to your iPod. And all the available accessories from wireless headsets, remote controls, beautiful skins, acoustic speakers, to connectors that can literally take your iPod music and videos anywhere – inside the room, in the car, in the office, on the plane, even while taking shower. iPod fans can’t live without their iPods literally. And the search is still on for a music fan that has switched from an iPod to another MP3 player. And there is that small sharing thing: hard-core iPod fans don’t like to share their iPods with others. BYOiPod. Bring your own iPod.

iPod’s Topline

In the quarter ending September 2006, Apple sold 8.7 million new iPods, generating $1.5 Billion in sales, a third of Apple’s total quarterly sales. By the end of 2006, there will be over 67 million iPods in the world; Apple is poised to eclipse the 100 million iPods mark in 2007. iPod has revived Apple from the depths in 2001 when annual sales had plummeted to $5.36 Billion and Apple was losing money. Apple’s shares were under $10. Compare this to 2005, when Apple had sales of $13.9 Billion, and profits of over $1 Billion. Apple’s shares have climbed sixteen folds. The Apple machine is kicking into high gear, in large part due to iPod Innovation Revolution. iPod’s halo effect is even evident in the latest quarter when Apple sold more Macs than it has ever sold before: 1.61 million.

In 2007, Apple sold 52.7 million iPods, an increase of over 15% from the 45 million iPods sold in 2006. In the latest quarter ending December 2007, Apple sold 22.1 million iPods representing five percent unit growth and 17 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter. Can Apple grow iPods sales to over 20% in 2008? What strategy would Apple employ to lure more iPods buyers in 2008?

The next generation iPods

What innovations can be expected from iPod? Can Apple create jazzier, easier, feature-rich iPods?

How about iPods that beam songs and videos to each other, to a computer or even to a TV? Or iPods that deliver Presentations and Live Videos in team meetings. iPods with GPS Navigation system. iPods that combine as cell phones. iPods that can receive satellite radios. What innovations will Apple bring out next? Steve Jobs indicated in the latest quarterly earnings press release that 2007 will be an exciting year full of great new products. The world will be watching.

2008 Fast Forward

Apple Inc. added new models of iPod(R) touch after the success of iPod touch launched in 2007. The new models have "double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go."

iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.

iPod touch features Apple's revolutionary Multi-Touch(TM) user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. iPod touch models include the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application*; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes(R) Movie Rentals. iPod touch features the world's most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari(TM) and great mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

Apple had an outstanding 2007 - the stock price and market cap more than doubled and finished upwards of 130% owing to such game changing innovations including the new iPhone, the new iPod Touch, and the all new Mac OS – Leopard, and on the strengths of the growing iPod and Mac business.

Retail research firm NPD Group says Apple's iPods still maintain a lock on the top spot in U.S. sales of digital music and media players, with as much as 75% of the market.

Nike + iPod

One innovation that Apple created with another Top 20 Innovator of The Innovation Index, NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) is Nike Plus. Apple calls it the "ultimate synthesis of sport and music: a pair of Nike+ shoes, an iPod nano, and the Nike + iPod Sport Kit."

Nike+ shoes feature a built-in pocket under the insole specially engineered for the Nike + iPod sensor. iPod nano syncs a runner's complete workout data with both iTunes and nikeplus.com. The Nike + iPod Sport Kit allows an athlete's Nike+ shoe to talk to the iPod nano. The sensor uses a sensitive accelerometer to measure the activity, then wirelessly transfers this data to the receiver on your iPod nano.

Nike + iPod receiver fits securely into the Dock connector on the bottom of the iPod nano. Wirelessly connected to the sensor in your Nike+ shoe, it receives up-to-the-second information as you run.

As one runs, iPod nano tells you your time, distance, pace, and calories burned via voice feedback that adjusts music volume as it plays. In addition to progress reports, voice feedback congratulates you when you’ve reached a personal best — your fastest pace, longest distance and time, or most calories burned. Besides the voice feedback, iPod nano plays the workout songs you choose, or have the iPod nano choose it for you based on your workout. You can also choose to play PowerSong.

Nike+ has created a growing new business for Nike, and Nike even touts this in their earnings reports and press. Is Apple planning to make more deals with more athletic companies besides Nike for the iPod? We will find out in 2008.

Apple iPod - Apple's Best Innovation.

References:

BusinessWeek
PC Magazine
Apple-history.com
Apple.com
Wikipedia

Originally published October 23, 2006.
Updated February 09, 2008

Invest in the Innovation Index Fund

We launched the new Innovation Index Fund in December, 2007 that invests in the Innovation Index and returned 66% in 2007, and 174% in the previous five years. If you want to learn more about the Innovation Index Fund, fill out your contact information at the bottom of this form: http://www.innovationindexgroup.com/invest.html

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Invest in the brand new Innovation Index Fund
Introducing The Innovation Index Fund - Invest into The Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance
The Innovation Index gallops to 56% - Quarterly Report - Q3, 2007

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007, and returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006). This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NYSE: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.