Patently Apple

Apple's CEO is sharply focused on the iPad with Hints of Significant Innovation on the Way

While Apple's CEO Tim Cook fielded most of the analysts questions during their Q3 Financial Conference Call today on a wide variety of matters from the impact of iPhone trade-in programs through to Japan's new VAT (Value Added Taxes) that will play havoc on short-term iPhone sales (smartphone sales in general), it was the iPad that Cook wanted to spend more time on. Apple's iPad sales were incrementally down as noted in Apple's press release posted earlier today. Yet Cook was really pumped up about future iPad developments and so this report takes a look at a few of Cook's comments on this important market segment.

Apple Posted $37.4 Billion Revenue with Record iPhone Sales

Apple just announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 third quarter ended June 28, 2014. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $37.4 billion and quarterly net profit of $7.7 billion, or $1.28 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $35.3 billion and net profit of $6.9 billion, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 39.4 percent compared to 36.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 59 percent of the quarter's revenue. Apple's CEO stated that Apple's record June quarter revenue was fueled by strong sales of iPhone and Mac sales and the continued growth of revenue from the Apple ecosystem."

LG Wins a Design Patent for a Hybrid Phone-Watch

It's a smartwatch day apparently. Beyond Apple being granted an interesting smartwatch patent today, our other site Patently Mobile discovered a newly granted design patent for LG that has a huge twist associated with it. Although it looks like a smartwatch, LG has clearly categorized it as a "mobile phone." So obviously LG has something new up their sleeve relating to a future hybrid wearable device. With its rather large interface, it would appear that LG is aiming this mobile phone to accommodate Skype-like video conferencing – on your wrist. Could this hybrid device interest the mobile executive? Only time will tell.

The iPad's Web Traffic Stats at 78% crush all Android Tablets

A new web traffic report published today once again shows that Apple's iPad remains the King of web traffic in the US and Canada. It likewise reports that Samsung's user base exhibited the largest share loss over the same timeframe, dropping two full percentage points. This supports our report that indicated that Samsung tablet sales were sluggish for last quarter.

Apple Reportedly Placed orders for new Power Reducing Oxide LCD Displays for Next Year's iPad Air

A new report from Asia today tells us that Apple has opted for Oxide TFT LCD technology for its 9.7" iPad Air 3 that will be released in the second half of next year. The decision was made for design innovation to reduce the overall thickness of iPad to decrease power consumption by more than half while keeping the LCD. In addition to oxide, Apple is scheduled to make considerable changes to liquid crystal display for LCD upgrades. In addition, Samsung Display and LG Display, the key suppliers, are forecast to embark on an investment for shift to oxide TFT LCD. The report also points to yet more display shits coming to the iPad in 2015.

In-Cell Displays may be Causing Delays in Apple's 5.5" iPhone

A new report that has surfaced is claiming that Apple is preparing for its largest initial production run of iPhones, betting that larger-screen models will lure consumers now attracted to similar phones from their competitors. Yet according to new supply chain rumors, Apple is having some initial delays relating to the 5.5 inch model due to their choice of In-Cell displays.

Apple may introduce a new iPad called the iPad Mini Air this Fall

A new supply chain report from China may have spilled the beans on Apple introducing a new iPad mini Air design later this year. The report also notes that a new a 12.9 inch iPad, which has been rumored since May, may actually surface in 2015.

Apple Granted 40 Patents Today Covering a Flexible Display Invention for Future iDevices like a Wristwatch & Beyond

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 40 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover a key patent for future flexible displays. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Apple Wins a Patent for a Wristwatch Branded iTime

Out of nowhere comes the granted patent surprise of the year. Apple has been granted a patent for iTime, the name they provided for a wristwatch. It's very different from Apple's first wrist-computer or iWatch in every way. It's simpler and more watch-like. Apple notes that it will work with gestures and specialized push notifications and alerts. Whether this is a head-fake or the real thing is unknown at this time.

Is the iPhone's Success due to Apple's High Customer Loyalty Rate?

Katy Huberty, a Morgan Stanley analyst who estimates that Apple sold 39 million iPhone units in the period, which is above the consensus stated that "Strong iPhone demand at the end of the product cycle speaks to high loyalty rate of the Apple ecosystem." In contrast Piper Jaffray is a little more conservative by forecasting Apple's iPhone sales will mark 14% year over year growth with between 35-36 million iPhones being sold. In a quickly maturing smartphone market where the likes of Samsung have dropped 24% in a single quarter due to heavy competition, some wonder how Apple will continue to stand out as the number one smartphone maker in the world.

Apple Announces their iTunes Festival London Lineup for September

Apple has announced this year's iTunes Festival London line-up of artists for this September. This is Apple's eighth such festival and Apple's Senior VP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue stated that "These live shows capture the heart and soul of iTunes and we love bringing them to our customers in the Roundhouse, as well as to the millions of people watching all over the world for free." Music fans from across the world can win tickets to the iTunes Festival through competitions run by local media partners. In the UK, fans can win tickets by entering ballots on iTunes, as well as through select media partners including Global Radio and the London Evening Standard.

 

A Flashy Visual Rumors Infographic for the iPhone 6 is Published

While Patently Apple covers supply chain rumors, we try to avoid the daily barrage of rumors concerning the iPhone 6, especially those with fuzzy photos and alleged iPhone parts that could never be confirmed. Though a recent graphic caught our eye from the site nowhereelse.fr that we thought you might enjoy viewing. It's based on rumors rounded up from various Apple sources and placed onto one gigantic infographic with added scores of probability.

Apple's iPhone 5 Targeted in new Lawsuit over Speech Recognition

Late on Friday a Texas based company by the name of Cedatech Holdings, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple using a 2010 granted patent titled "Integration of Audio or Video Program with Application." The lawsuit focuses on Apple's use of speech recognition software in such products as the iPhone and iPad.

Business Insider Reporter Sees the Light and Dumps his iPhone for the Amazing Samsung S5

Samsung's profits plunged 24% on slumping smartphone sales and disappointing reception of their flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone. Reality bit Samsung as Apple's iPhone 5S crushed the Samsung's S5 globally. Samsung's smartphone sales in China specifically were absolutely terrible. The results for their smartphones were so bad that Samsung angrily took back billions in bonuses from over confident executive. After all that incredible bad news and press, a road to Damascus miracle happened to Business Insider writer Jim Edwards who saw the light, was blind but now could see that the Samsung S5 is his mobile media savior.

Apple's "Thunderbolt" Trademark Approved but not Registered

Earlier this month Apple was granted another Thunderbolt related patent. Wikipedia notes that Thunderbolt (code named light Peak) was co-developed by Apple and Intel and made public in 2011. Apple applied for the Thunderbolt trademark shortly thereafter and came close to getting it registered. In fact in 2012 they were 30 days away from approval before running into problems and since then Apple has been trying repeatedly to get it registered with no success. In fact the US Patent and Trademark granted Apple their fourth approval extension on April 29, 2014. As Apple continues their trademark efforts in the US, a new positive development is occurring with Thunderbolt in Canada.