• Thursday, May 24, 3:37 PM Apple (AAPL) EMEA chief Pascal Cagni has resigned, according Le Figaro. It's claimed Cagni, who was hired in 2000 by Steve Jobs, tendered his resignation yesterday. Apple's European sales totaled $11.3B in FQ2, or 24% of global revenue. 3 Comments [Tech]
• Thursday, May 24, 2:49 PM Google's (GOOG) rumored Nexus tablet will ship next month, Digitimes reports. It's added the 7" device, which a past report suggested will sell for $199, is expected to have 2012 shipments of just 2M-2.5M - IDC has estimated the 2012 tablet market will total 106M units. Between competition from the 9.7" iPad, the Kindle Fire, the Nook Tablet, and perhaps also an "iPad Mini," as well as Apple's (AAPL) huge lead in available tablet apps, Google has its work cut out for it. (also) Comment! [Tech]
• Thursday, May 24, 12:36 PM Millennial Media's (MM) Q1 Mobile Mix Report drives home the disproportionate and growing share of mobile web traffic and ad viewing claimed by tablets. Ad impressions served by Millennial to non-phone devices (primarily tablets) rose 33% Q/Q, and now make up 20% of all impressions. With the iPad dominating tablet web traffic, that's a bit of a problem for Millennial, due to iAd competition, and a bigger problem for Google (GOOG), due to its search revenue-sharing deal with Apple (AAPL). 3 Comments [Tech]
• Thursday, May 24, 10:50 AM Adam Lashinksky, author of a recent book on Apple's (AAPL) business culture, provides an inside look at how the Tim Cook era is unfolding. For better and/or worse, Apple is becoming "a more normal company" under Cook, Lashinsky suggests. Some of the changes: Cook engages with investors in a way Jobs didn't; engineers have to share more decision-making authority with managers; and the company now has a dedicated M&A team. 6 Comments [Tech]
• Wednesday, May 23, 1:30 PM Though many tech names are selling off following Dell's (DELL -17.8%) FQ1 miss, Apple (AAPL +0.5%) is outperforming again. The iPad is undoubtedly the biggest culprit behind the tablet cannibalization partly blamed for Dell's weak notebook sales, and the fact Dell suggests this trend is also affecting enterprise sales a bit has to be spooking investors. Meanwhile, it's reported a court-suggested meeting between Apple and Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) CEOs "yielded no compromise." 14 Comments [Tech, On the Move]
• Wednesday, May 23, 11:29 AM Apple (AAPL) single-handedly bought $23B worth of chips last year, estimates IHS' Dale Ford, and he sees its purchases growing to $27B in 2012 and $29B in 2013 (ed: those figures might be conservative, given revenue growth forecasts). That helps put into numbers the huge impact Apple's earnings reports have on chip stocks. Rival/top component supplier Samsung (SSNLF.PK) bought $15B in chips last year, and H-P (HPQ) bought slightly less. Comment! [Tech]
• Wednesday, May 23, 10:12 AM "What we’re working on now feels like the most important and the best work we’ve done," newly knighted Apple (AAPL) design chief Jony Ive cryptically tells The Telegraph. Rumors abound regarding a bigger iPhone, smaller iPad, and Apple TV set. Ive also evangelizes about Apple's philosophy: "What preoccupies us is that sense of care ... what our products will not speak to is trying to respond to some corporate or competitive agenda." (previous) 20 Comments [Tech]
• Tuesday, May 22, 12:28 PM Apple (AAPL) still has the world's most valuable brand, according to BrandZ's annual study, which estimates its value has risen 19% Y/Y to $182.9B. IBM is believed to have passed Google (GOOG) for the #2 spot thanks to a 15% increase, while McDonald's (MCD) is seen holding steady at #4 in spite of a 17% gain. Also in the top 10: Microsoft (MSFT), Coca-Cola (KO), Marlboro (PM), AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), and China Mobile (CHL). Comment! [Tech, Consumer]
• Tuesday, May 22, 9:26 AM 9to5 Mac provides the latest rumor about the next iPhone sporting a larger display. According to its source, Apple (AAPL) has two iPhone prototypes in testing that sport a 3.95" display with an 1136x640 resolution (the 4S' display has a 960x640 resolution), which indicates a wider aspect ratio. It's added Apple is testing versions of iOS 6 that are custom-built for the larger display. If the rumor is true, some developers might not be thrilled about the change in dimensions. (previous) 5 Comments [Tech]
• Monday, May 21, 6:07 PM Sony (SNE) recently began mass production of "in-cell" touch panels that will be used in Apple's (AAPL) next iPhone, the Taipei Times reports. It's added Sharp (SHCAY.PK), Toshiba (TOSBF.PK), and LG Display (LPL) will also supply Apple with in-cell panels, which can reduce a device's thickness and weight relative to conventional touch panel tech. 1 Comment [Tech]
• Monday, May 21, 5:57 PM Leveraging the patents the companies acquired last year from Nortel, AAPL, MSFT, RIMM, SNE, and ERIC have officially entered the patent-trolling business via the Rockstar Consortium. Funded by the aforementioned companies and owning 4,000 ex-Nortel patents, Rockstar examines tech products for evidence of infringement, and demands licensing fees when it's found. Since Rockstar, unlike its owners, doesn't make anything, it can't be countersued. 2 Comments [Tech]
• Monday, May 21, 4:26 PM An ITC administrative law judge rules against Eastman Kodak (EKDKQ.PK) in its patent infringement suit against Apple (AAPL) and Research in Motion (RIMM). The ruling (.pdf), subject to review by the commission, declares Apple and RIM to be infringing only one claim within Kodak's image-preview patent, and calls that claim invalid due to "obviousness." (previous) 3 Comments [Tech]
• Monday, May 21, 1:52 PM Morgan Stanley's Adam Parker provides some Chuck Norris-like facts about Apple's (AAPL +4.4%) stock, up sharply as investors declare it a value relative to Facebook. Among Parker's facts: Apple will soon likely have the S&P's largest market weight since 1986; it accounts for 9% of the S&P's trading volume (highest of any company since '82); and it accounts for over 1% of the portfolios of 26% of large hedge funds, as well as over 10% or more of the portfolios of 4% of hedge funds. (earlier) 5 Comments [Tech]
• Monday, May 21, 10:45 AM Piper's Gene Munster declares there's an 80% chance Apple (AAPL +3.4%) will hit his sales forecasts for the next-gen iPhone, in spite of Qualcomm's (QCOM) 28nm chip supply issues. In typical form, Munster adds the next iPhone will trigger the biggest "upgrade cycle in smartphone history." Meanwhile, Jefferies' Peter Misek predicts Apple will lower the unsubsidized price of the iPhone 3GS to $250-$300, to help it better compete with Android in emerging markets. (previous) 2 Comments [Tech, On the Move]
• Monday, May 21, 9:17 AM Don't expect Apple's (AAPL) patent negotiations with Samsung (SSNLF.PK) to result in a complete settlement, says Phillip Elmer-Dewitt. While Apple has indicated a willingness to cross-license some IP, both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook have suggested Apple will maintain a hard-line stance on patents deemed critical to its inventions. The comments come as some HTC phones held up by customs due to its ITC dispute with Apple are released. Comment! [Tech]
• Sunday, May 20, 6:59 AM Samsung (SSNLF.PK) says that while "there is still a big gap" in its patent war with Apple (AAPL), it still has "several negotiation options including cross-licensing." CEO Choi Gee-sung is due to meet Tim Cook in a U.S. court tomorrow to resolve the IP disputes. Comment! [Tech, Consumer]