In news out of Korea, we learn that Samsung Display is planning to build the world’s largest OLED manufacturing facility in a bid to hold off Chinese competition in the increasingly popular technology. Samsung’s board of directors are expected to meet this month to approve the plans and the investment.
Apple
Samsung Receives Order for 70M OLED Panels from Apple
In reports out of Taiwan, sources say that Apple, Inc. has ordered 70 million bendable OLED panels from Samsung Electronics. An order of this size can only be for the upcoming iPhone 8, expected to be launched in late 2017. The order also suggests that Apple is expecting the iPhone 8 to be a big success.
See more on what sources in Asia are saying about the iPhone 8… [Read more…] about Samsung Receives Order for 70M OLED Panels from Apple
Top Smartphones in 2016? Apple Takes 4 of Top 5
Although many analysts criticize slowing innovation at industry powerhouse Apple, Inc., final results for global smartphone shipments shows Apple with four of the top five models. Not bad for a technology slacker!
See the results for 2016 global smartphone shipments, dominated by Apple models… [Read more…] about Top Smartphones in 2016? Apple Takes 4 of Top 5
Apple Wins Holiday Smartphone Wars
In new research from Flurry Analytics, Apple clearly won the battle for holiday shoppers smartphone dollars. Based on activations of smartphones and tablets during the period of 12/19-12/25, Apple took a healthy 44% bite out of the market…well ahead of second place finisher Samsung (21%), who has struggled in the wake of a battery-blowup scandal. But when compared to last year…some surprises emerge.
See more on this research, released just days after the holiday season… [Read more…] about Apple Wins Holiday Smartphone Wars
iPhone 7: The Best iPhone Ever?
Company Touts Incremental Upgrades of Mainstay Product
Apple, Inc. announced today the eagerly awaited iPhone 7, the next iteration of their biggest selling product. Already, the press leading up to the announcement – along with the blogs of several prominent Apple watchers – were suggesting this might be the year to skip. For those who were anticipating an incremental upgrade, well, ironically, you weren’t disappointed.
Still, Apple CEO Tim Cook declared to the crowd assembled at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium that it is the best iPhone they have ever made. He even sounded moderately enthusiastic saying so.
See more on this updated product, that is critical to Apple’s success… [Read more…] about iPhone 7: The Best iPhone Ever?
Sharp Considering Cutting Another 1,000 Jobs
Company Says Idea is Their Own, Not A Foxconn Requirement
Sharp Corp., the embattled Japanese manufacturer best known for LCD flat-panel televisions and soon to be division of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., (a Taiwanese company better known as Foxconn) is said to be strongly considering cutting another 1,000 jobs at the company as a result of continuing poor performance. This would be the third round of significant employment cuts in the last four years.
See more on Sharp’s continuing problems… [Read more…] about Sharp Considering Cutting Another 1,000 Jobs
Chaos in Cupertino: Apple’s First Quarterly Sales & Profit Decline in 13 Years
iPhone Sales Fall for the First Time in Its History
Cupertino, CA-based Apple, Inc. announced its fiscal first quarter results yesterday and it wasn’t a pretty picture. And although Wall Street acted with shock, no one should have been surprised as Apple had warned this would be a tough quarter back in January. Apple remains a huge and cash-rich company, but the deeper you dig into this latest report, the more obvious it becomes that there is a legitimate cause for concern.
See more on this tough quarter by the Tech’s largest company… [Read more…] about Chaos in Cupertino: Apple’s First Quarterly Sales & Profit Decline in 13 Years
New Survey: Apple Watch is a Flop
In a recently released survey by advertising technology company Fluent, more than half of U.S. adults say that the Apple Watch is a failed product…a flop. The study, which surveyed 2,578 adults here in the U.S., clearly suggests that Americans agree with many in the tech industry who have given largely negative reviews of the product. Ironically, at one time, the Watch was thought to be the next big thing from Apple. It may still be…
What does this study suggest about the “wearables” market?… [Read more…] about New Survey: Apple Watch is a Flop
Tidal Targets Netflix – Adding Movies to Service
Company Reports Stunning Growth Numbers
Tidal, the high quality music streaming service purchased by rapper Jay Z one year ago, is said to be adding movie streaming to their service, Page Six (part of the New York Post) reported yesterday. According to the report, Tidal has already notified Apple that it intends to add movie streaming to its app, formally starting the required approval process.
Tidal has had an exceptionally challenging year, with three CEOs in nine months. Will opening up to competition on a movie service make things better?
See more on this surprising development… [Read more…] about Tidal Targets Netflix – Adding Movies to Service
Apple Bruised by Worst iPhone Sales Growth Ever
Apple, Inc. is starting to look brown, bruised, and past its prime in wake of the surprising quarterly results that showed growth in sales of their bellwether iPhone product to be the slowest since the company launched the product category in 2007. Not only that, but the company forecast an overall sales decline for the first quarter of 2016 – their first sales decline since 2003. Reaction from Wall Street was swift with the price of Apple stock down more than 6% in mid-afternoon trading.
