A Financial Slant

Logical Progression or Irrational Exuberance?

9/25/2016

Apple Inc. and McLaren

There were some juicy morsels leaked this week that hinted at Apple being interested in a buyout of McLaren. Wow. I don’t think Apple getting into automotive is a very attractive proposition and even I was excited at the thought of Apple owning McLaren. TechCrunch had an interesting take that Apple is probably after a specific division within McLaren that specializes in real world applications for all their technological break throughs. MAT, or McLaren Applied Technologies.

Form Follows Function?

9/24/2016

When Should Apple Change the iPhone’s Form?

While I was working with NASA I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with a lot of bone fide rocket scientists. These engineers at Stennis Space Center were researching next generation engines for the space shuttle and the design was limited by the technology of the day. In a nutshell, we were limited by what we could do because of heat. As we experimented with various fuels and component metal alloys one inevitable thing always happened as we pushed the envelope. The engine at some point would start to burn up it’s own internal components as fuel. But as technology advancements were made in creating alloys or fuel that line got moved back and the design could change.

The Gift of Criticism: Apple’s Bad Press

9/22/2016

Being an iPhone owner comes with a lot of advantages over owning an Android phone. But one of the biggest advantages comes as a surprise to most Apple fans. A critical press.

Unhappy Medium

9/18/2016

The AirPods Are Nice But Apple Also Needs EarPods 2

Apple should have included wireless headphones with the sale of every iPhone 7. That part I’m convinced of. If wireless is the future I find it odd that every one received wired headphones and an adapter to continue using their old wired headphones. The question is at what cost could they have went wireless or how could they have done it?

Apple Watch: Series 0 vs Series 2 Speed Test

9/17/2016

The TechWithMatthew YouTube channel just uploaded their Apple Watch Series 0 vs Series 2 speed test and the results were kind of surprising. For the most part, there doesn’t appear to be a dramatic speed boost from gaining the faster S2 chip. This speed test was conducted right after a cold reboot so the memory caching shouldn’t be impacting the results too much. This test should be reflecting how quickly the chips are able to process actions.

Apple’s Stainless Steel Watch: A Gift to the Cursed Ones

9/15/2016

There are two kinds of tech consumers. Those who appreciate the cumulative "patina" of daily life and those who prefer the brand new look. I definitely fall into the latter group who desires perfection. Like the dazzling white of newly fallen snow, I love unblemished examples like new cars with their perfect paint or an iPhone screen without any scratches.

I Gave Up on Samsung a Long Time Ago

9/13/2016

So within a month of my writing that Apple would welcome a head-to-head battle with Samsung fought on the grounds of product design and material quality, Samsung phones literally start spontaneously exploding. I didn’t expect to have confirmation so soon. And for Samsung's recall to happen during the iPhone 7’s launch week sounds like one of those unbelievable plot twists in a TV show.

Taking Wireless Mainstream: Apple’s Missed Opportunity

9/10/2016

AirPods Should Have Been Bundled with iPhones

I’m a financial analyst. I’m the guy who typically counsels companies to take the more profitable road. But even I think Apple should have included a pair of AirPods with the sale of every iPhone 7.

Why Would Apple Update the MacBook Air?

9/4/2016

Rumors are starting to circulate that Apple may actually be about to update the MacBook Air line of laptops. On the surface, this is surprising, because with the introduction of the new Retina-screen MacBook you’d be forgiven for asking, “Why update the Air?”

Apple's Green Initiatives

9/3/2016

Does Tim Cook Deserve Bravery Points?

Does Tim Cook deserve bravery credits for his “green” initiatives? Apple isn’t shy about advertising their commitment to renewable energy and recycling. Without a doubt, you probably can’t attach a specific ROI on these initiatives, and they are going to have some kind of measurable impact on the income statement. And yet, I don’t give Apple any points for bravery, because I’d make the case that these green initiatives are actually helping Apple sell more iPhones. It’s a net positive and not a cash drain.