Monday, April 20, 2015

Apple Watch: An Overnight Multi-Billion Dollar Business

Apple Watch: An Overnight Multi-Billion Dollar Business -

Intriguing piece by analyst Carl Howe on Apple Watch:

I think I’ll save that analysis for another posting, but my belief is that the Apple Watch product line will become Apple’s most profitable product line ever, with gross margins exceeding 60 percent. Why? Because the core electronics modules in the expensive models are the same ones used in the Sport models, and they just don’t cost that much. And while adding Gold cases and designer bands add cost to the bill of materials, the costs are small compared to the price premiums paid for these products. Unlike in the consumer electronics business, I see no pressure for prices to fall and if anything manufacturing costs will, resulting in a very profitable business.

I think he’s made some smart guesses as to the product mix between Sport/Watch/Edition, but if I had to adjust his numbers at all, I’d move the number of Edition models Apple will sell slightly up. In Howe’s estimate, Sport is outselling Edition by about 45-to-1. But if it’s more like 30-to-1, the Edition line would account for as much or more total revenue, and certainly more profit. I’m guessing at an average selling price of around $400 for Sport (more 42 mm than 38 mm, plus lots of extra bands). But let’s say it’s as high as $425. At that ASP, 30 unit sales equals $12,750 in revenue. Given the prices of the Edition line (42 mm with Sport band costs $12,000; the ones with leather straps are $15-17,000), I’d imagine the ASP for Edition will be at least $12,750.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Google to discontinue YouTube support on older iOS devices, Apple TVs

Google to discontinue YouTube support on older iOS devices, Apple TVs - The YouTube app will no longer function on many older iOS devices and Apple TVs after today, a consequence of the YouTube Data API being updated to support newer features, according to an official Google document.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple starts charging Apple Watch orders, preparing units for shipping

Apple starts charging Apple Watch orders, preparing units for shipping - Ahead of an official launch later this week, Apple on Monday began charging full Apple Watch order amounts to customer credit and debit cards, while updating the official status of certain orders from processing to preparing for shipment.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Astronaut snaps epic 'Star Trek' selfie in space

Astronaut snaps epic 'Star Trek' selfie in space - Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti pays tribute to a "Star Trek" icon with a cosplay photo in zero gravity.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Coffee in space: A complete history (pictures)

Coffee in space: A complete history (pictures) - An espresso machine tailored specially for the International Space Station caps a long love affair between astronauts and caffeine.






(Via CNET News.com.)

GoPro Footage From the Edge of Space

GoPro Footage From the Edge of Space -

GoPro Footage From the Edge of Space

GoPro footage is the most recent tool for communication from the brink of exploration.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Monday, April 13, 2015

Pointers: Safe downloading on Macs

Pointers: Safe downloading on Macs - Look, we're not on Windows PCs here. Yet, even though we don't have the same overwhelming problems with viruses, that doesn't mean we should invite trouble. You can download apps that don't do what they claim, and instead do all sorts of things they shouldn't. Consequently, it is a very good thing that Apple has safeguards in place – yet those same safeguards are a problem for some of the very finest Mac software around ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Living With: Blue Snowball USB microphones

Living With: Blue Snowball USB microphones - We've been writing a lot lately about some of the aspects involved in podcasting -- see this Pointers column as an example -- as well as moving our own site example of the form, The MacNN Podcast, to Soundcloud and now (finally) iTunes for better distribution. For some of our staff that contribute to the broadcast, its meant getting a decent microphone for the first time. As a veteran podcaster, currently a regular on no less than three very different podcasts, I generally recommend the Blue Snowball USB ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Vinyl is back, and now it has its own UK top 40

Vinyl is back, and now it has its own UK top 40 - Vinyl is making a comeback. Album sales in the UK climbed to 1.29 million last year -- the first time the 1 million mark has been surpassed since 1996. The format is still just a fraction of the total UK albums market (1.5 percent, to be precise) but...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)