Apple – Rumour is not reality

          Apple’s rivals will be resting bit easier tonight. The launch of the iPhone 5s and 5c show that Apple is still uninterested in the low end and remains unwilling to address the demand for larger screens. Apple launched two new phones to replace the iPhone 5 at an event at its headquarters but showed very...

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Dell – As good as it gets

          Icahn’s surrender still leaves an uphill battle. Carl Icahn has given up his fight to take control and turn around Dell leaving the field clear for Michael Dell and Silver Lake. The proposal now stands at $13.88 per share including the $0.13 dividend that was offered to keep Icahn on the back foot. At this...

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Nokia / Microsoft – Course change

          Smartphone margins are likely to imminently collapse. Rationale, the deal structure and recent actions all suggest that a substantial increase in investment in the Windows Phone ecosystem has begun. It seems like action is already being taken with the lowering of the price of the flagship Nokia Lumia 1020 by $100 to $199 with a...

Smart Watch II – Qualcomm?

          Qualcomm’s Toq is a reference design that was fun to build.    It would seem that Qualcomm is moving into the world of consumer devices with the launch of a smartwatch but closer inspection reveals that this is really a reference design to showcase a number of technologies that the company has developed. Hence there...

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Samsung – Slippery Mud.

          The Galaxy Gear is unlikely to stick.    Samsung is looking for other avenues of growth and in that vein I suspect that the Galaxy Gear is merely an experiment. Samsung launched three products at its event at the IFA trade show: Galaxy Gear smart watch, Galaxy Tab 10.1 2014 and the Galaxy Note 3....

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IFA 2013 – A big event once again

          IFA owes its new found importance to its timing.    The IFA trade show kicks off tomorrow in Berlin and its timing right before Apple’s event on September 10th has made it the place to launch new products. Consequently, Samsung is holding another unboxed event where it is widely expected that the company will launch...

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Nokia and Microsoft – End of days?

          Nokia shareholders are the big winners.   Nokia and Microsoft have announced that Nokia will sell its Device and Services to Microsoft for E5.44bn. Key Points are: Microsoft will pay E3.79bn (0.2x EV/Sales) for the smartphone and featurephone businesses and E1.65bn for a 10-year patent license. Critically the patent portfolio will remain with Nokia but...

Gone to the desert – Back Sept 2nd

            Gone to the desert – Back Sept 2nd

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HPQ Q3 – Home to roost

          The fundamental flaw in HPQ is laid bare. Things have been looking better at HPQ in terms of corporate governance and cost control but Q3 results show that it is time to address the real problem: The PC business. Q3 revenues / EPS were in line at $27.2bn / $0.86 compared to forecasts of $27.3bn...

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Firefox OS – Cheap is cheerful

          It’s a sell-out but for the wrong reason. The first version of the Firefox OS device, “The Open” by ZTE, appears to have sold out in both the UK and the US. The budget smartphone was selling for £60 in the UK and $80 in the US will now not be available until the next...

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