Profits up 95%

Glenn · Apr 21, 2011, 21:22:16

Apple are doing something right

http://contrarianinvestoruk.squarespace.com/posts/2011/4/21/apple-profits-rise-nearly-100-with-sales-rising-to-25-billio.html

Lance · Apr 21, 2011, 23:01:52

It's amazing! Although they didn't sell as many iPads as expected.

Simon · Apr 21, 2011, 23:02:34

Wow!

pctech · Apr 22, 2011, 19:21:13

Style over substance?

I wonder if they'd be successful if they were still churning out This kind of gear

Steve · Apr 22, 2011, 20:18:25

Mind you 14 years on and it's still worth $800- $1000

Niall · Apr 22, 2011, 20:56:26

Hardly a surprise that they make so much money, the way the actively sue anyone that does anything remotely steps in their area. Force you to buy through itunes to use on their products and charge and absolute fortune for their hardware.

Simon · Apr 22, 2011, 21:32:08

Thing is, though, people aren't forced to buy anything Apple - but they still do.

Niall · Apr 22, 2011, 21:45:54

Well they do to the extent that they seem to be actively attempting to cripple other companies from moving in their area, and in that sense making people purchase their hardware. The ipad is the clear example. I don't understand why they don't drop the price a bit, they'd make so much more money selling more of them.

Simon · Apr 22, 2011, 22:13:57

I can't argue with a need for prices to drop, but I'm not sure what an iPad does that no other tablet can do, other than, of course, use Apple apps.

Lance · Apr 23, 2011, 00:01:35

How about hold an Apple logo?

pctech · Apr 23, 2011, 09:40:59

Have to say though, only RIM has been able to make the hardware + hosted services model work.

Apple tried it with MobileMe and it failed miserably.

Steve · Apr 23, 2011, 10:02:43

Can you qualify that last statement or is it one of your usual anti Apple throw away comments.

To be honest I don't have any issues with Mobile Me , it keeps all my devices in sync, keeps my mail & calendars in sync,distributes my photos,hosts my website (well it would if it was more than a template) and provides a cloud base for my frequently used data. So what am I missing? Oh I forgot I can find and delete the contents of my iPhone.

pctech · Apr 23, 2011, 10:17:17

I can qualify the statement.

Unless you use an Enterprise Server the Blackberry push service is hosted directly by RIM which take a cut of the sub charged for the service each month by the operator (on contract you won't notice this but on PAYG you do)

Apple tried to launch mobileme synchronisation, the software running on the infrastructure screwed up so Apple gave it away free.

Tried again and again it stuffed up so they've now made it free.

As for my being anti-Apple, I have a problem with a company that is so arrogant that it denies problems occur and has forums full of people with problems but does little to help them.

When I went to the Apple store for an introduction to the OS and I asked about possible install errors and was told 'we don't have errors' and then I asked about some command line tools such as being able to clear the local DNS cache the response was 'what do you want to know about that for?'

My answer is of course because I want to be able to assist customers with a problem no matter whether its Windows oir Mac.

I find it sad that a company charges its customers a premium price for products and then the response to problems is always 'return it to us'

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 11:01:59

For usability, Apple products are fine. For tinkerability, they're not. My biggest bugbear is the lack of ability to use custom message alert tones. I use email a lot, and I simply wouldn't hear the default email alert tone, hence the need to jailbreak. Now I have, I'm stuck on an outdated OS, as there isn't a simple jailbreak for the current versions. If users are not being given choices, then at least the default options should be usable. Much as I like the iPhone, I couldn't use it without a jailbreak.

pctech · Apr 23, 2011, 11:21:51

Exactly.

I have enormous respect for Steve Wozniak who was the engineer of the original Apple duo.

lozcart · Apr 23, 2011, 15:18:16

Quote from: pctech on Apr 23, 2011, 10:17:17

Apple tried to launch mobileme synchronisation, the software running on the infrastructure screwed up so Apple gave it away free.

I've have used the MobileMe service since the old .mac days and like Steve have always had a good experience from it.

It is not free you have to pay an annual subscription.

Tacitus · Apr 23, 2011, 15:43:26

Quote from: lozcart on Apr 23, 2011, 15:18:16
It is not free you have to pay an annual subscription.

Depends on your needs, but if you want free you could try DropBox (2Gb of storage free), or SugarSync (5Gb Free). SugarSync is more flexible in that you can sync any folder, whereas with DropBox it will only sync your DropBox folder unless you play around with SymLinks (an alias won't do it). AFAIK both are cross platform.

YMMV

Niall · Apr 23, 2011, 16:55:40

Quote from: Simon on Apr 23, 2011, 11:01:59
For usability, Apple products are fine. For tinkerability, they're not. My biggest bugbear is the lack of ability to use custom message alert tones. I use email a lot, and I simply wouldn't hear the default email alert tone, hence the need to jailbreak. Now I have, I'm stuck on an outdated OS, as there isn't a simple jailbreak for the current versions. If users are not being given choices, then at least the default options should be usable. Much as I like the iPhone, I couldn't use it without a jailbreak.

Me too. I actually bought ringtones on itunes when I first got the iphone, and for some reason you can't use them if you're in the UK so I had to get my money back. Why in gods name are they even on there to buy if you can't use them? I've been totally put off buying anything for the phone on there because of that. I'll now never know what will work and what won't, with the obvious exception of music.

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 17:02:26

Can't say I've had that problem, Niall. You know you can use your own ringtones though, yes?

Niall · Apr 23, 2011, 17:08:49

I didn't know that, no. Last time I tried you had to use 3rd party software to convert it, but then an update stopped you doing it. Feel free to enlighten me, I want to use nice songs for ringtones, etc

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 17:22:03

Put a clip into iTunes, max 30 secs. Convert to AAC. Copy AAC file to desktop. Change file extension from m4a to m4r, and it should change to a ringtone file. Double click it, and it should appear in iTunes under Ringtones. Sync, and then you should be able to select the ringtone on your iPhone. I may have missed something, so if it doesn't work, Google 'iPhone custom ringtones', and you'll find help.

Niall · Apr 23, 2011, 17:24:26

That's the way it used to do it, but an update stopped that working. Unless a new update allows you to do it again?

Simon · Apr 23, 2011, 17:27:21

I think it still works, but I could be mistaken. Actually, you might need to create an AIFF file first, but Google is your friend. It works on mine, anyway.

pctech · Apr 23, 2011, 23:07:22

Quote from: lozcart on Apr 23, 2011, 15:18:16
I've have used the MobileMe service since the old .mac days and like Steve have always had a good experience from it.

It is not free you have to pay an annual subscription.

Well then I stand corrected and apologise for that erroneous information

john · Apr 24, 2011, 07:33:37

Quote from: Niall on Apr 22, 2011, 20:56:26
Hardly a surprise that they make so much money, the way the actively sue anyone that does anything remotely steps in their area. Force you to buy through itunes to use on their products and charge and absolute fortune for their hardware.

Very true Niall but then it seems everybody is trying to sue anybody to maximise profits.

I believe Apple products are good but I'm put off buying them because I've heard from several sources that for Apple's own financial interests they lock them down too much.

Niall · Apr 24, 2011, 11:24:12

Yeah, I'll be switching back to another phone when my contract ends on my iphone. The way itunes sorts your music is just idiotic.

pctech · Apr 25, 2011, 11:19:43

Quote from: john on Apr 24, 2011, 07:33:37
Very true Niall but then it seems everybody is trying to sue anybody to maximise profits.

I believe Apple products are good but I'm put off buying them because I've heard from several sources that for Apple's own financial interests they lock them down too much.

And several iPhone owners have told me (their words not mine) that it works better as a computer than it does as a phone.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 12:41:04

Mine certainly does, as I use Vodafone.

pctech · Apr 25, 2011, 13:04:27

Voda aren't my favourite company but then again I had to ban several of their reps for hijacking threads relating to other operators.

I'd say Voda are the second most complained about.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 13:10:36

It doesn't surprise me. I've noticed the date they take payment from me, moving backwards, nearer the beginning of the month recently. It's gone from the 6th, slowly back to the 1st. I'll be interested to see when they try to take payment this month as there are bank holidays. They seem to take payment before a date with a bank holiday, rather than after it. Although, we get paid early because of the bank holiday too, so it shouldn't matter this time, now I think about it. If it does, I may kill them all.

pctech · Apr 25, 2011, 13:18:35

As I've said before, while most companies I deal with are ok and stick to a date there is at least a credit card firm that moves back and forth a bit so thats why I set up a separate account for my fixed DDs.

That way, the money goes out on pay day and I consider it spent or 'dead money' so that I can then work out how much I have to do stuff with.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 13:27:24

Yeah, it's not the spending that's the issue. It's when they take it before an agreed date, so there's nothing there to take, resulting in a charge by the bank, which in turn results in having to contact Vodafone, getting them to admit their error, which is a task in itself, then you only get credit to your account, not to your bank account. Gits. There's a real chance it will happen this month actually, as I spent a load on guitar stuff this month, which I hadn't planned

That's another thing too, stupid finance company sent me a letter on the 19th telling me they will be taking a payment on the 18th, and a second letter telling me I've missed a payment on the 15th and will be charged £10 for that. I can't wait to hear their excuses tomorrow. Any rubbish and I'll be going straight to trading standards, and passing it to a family friend that's in the Welsh assembly

pctech · Apr 25, 2011, 13:30:53

but other reason I did was so they can take when they want as trying to get some companies to play ball is a waste of time.

Niall · Apr 25, 2011, 13:32:43

Yeah, but my point is that there is no money to put into any other account. I'm not likely to put two months of bills money into an account incase they mess up the debit date. I'll never know if or when they would take it. The whole point in setting the date is so that can't happen.

Technical Ben · Apr 25, 2011, 17:26:50

Quote from: Simon on Apr 22, 2011, 21:32:08
Thing is, though, people aren't forced to buy anything Apple - but they still do.

Strange but true. Unlike the sales teams in some places, Apple apparently just walks away, and lets you buy it. Perhaps it's like an addictive drug for the eyes and ears?

Technical Ben · Apr 25, 2011, 17:31:45

Quote from: pctech on Apr 25, 2011, 13:18:35
As I've said before, while most companies I deal with are ok and stick to a date there is at least a credit card firm that moves back and forth a bit so thats why I set up a separate account for my fixed DDs.

That way, the money goes out on pay day and I consider it spent or 'dead money' so that I can then work out how much I have to do stuff with.

Yep. I think mine is 30 days. to match the 30 days free credit/payment window. Annoying, but I guess "same day every month" would miss the payments, and you'd get charges. :/