The Consumer Electronics Stock Blog
Apple, RIM May See Share Declines Over Supply Parts for New Tablets
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:02:56 -0400
Alacra Pulse Check Blog submits:
By Sheena Lee
Parts supply shortages are hitting tablet makers, and Research In Motion (RIMM) may be facing a delay of up to one month for its much talked about PlayBook device. According to DigiTimes, a Taiwan based trade publication, the delay could very likely be Apple’s (AAPL) doing. "Sources from touch screen panel makers also pointed out that PlayBook shipments were postponed due to a delay in software testing as well as shortage of touch panels because Apple already booked up most of the available capacity." Brian White of Ticonderoga Securities said that Apple has been "aggressively attacking" the component situation in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country. The iPhone maker reportedly sent executives to suppliers immediately to ensure adequate supply of components, and also began offering upfront cash payments. However, RIM has been busy defending claims that short battery life were responsible for the
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Mobile Computing Component Makers to Be Big Winners in Post-PC Era
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:37:08 -0400
Money Morning submits:
By David Zeiler
The accelerating transition to mobile computing devices - such as smartphones and tablets - will drive tech companies to adapt to shifting consumer preferences or risk getting left behind. Although they haven't yet tossed out their desktop or laptop PCs, more and more people are adopting mobile devices for such activities as checking e-mail, browsing the Web, playing games and interacting with social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Indeed, the recent success of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPad, for instance, is just the one example of an ongoing paradigm shift that has come to be known as the "Post-PC Era." Evidence of this transition abounds:
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Apple Still Has Upper Hand in Smartphone Battle
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:34:34 -0400
Trefis submits:
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been great at sparking consumer interest in new features to its iPhone operating system iOS. Such developments are critical in the smartphone OS space, as competition has intensified over the past few years with Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android making a big splash. Nokia’s (NYSE:NOK) Symbian, Research in Motion’s (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry OS, and Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone 7 and Palm webOS (now acquired by HP (NYSE:HPQ)) also add fuel to the competitive atmosphere.
Our price estimate for Apple stock stands at $420, roughly 25% ahead of market price.
Apple Remains Ahead Despite Push from Android
Android’s U.S. smartphone subscriber market share has come a long way from the 4% reported in November 2009. [1] Its market share crossed 23% in October 2010 and increased further to around 31% by January 2011. [2] Although Android has overtaken Apple in terms of smartphone OS market share, Apple benefits by selling premium
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Apple Is Cheap, But Stay Cautious
Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:14:23 -0400
NakedValue submits: APPLE'S TASTY VALUATIONS
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is a unique company. It has the market capitalization of a widely popular and established brand but the coolness of an up and coming trend. Its products are part design genius and marketing brilliance. Surprisingly, for all of Apple's success and potential, its valuation multiple are growing slower than the earnings. While the trailing price/earning ratio is 18.69, a healthy but expected multiple for a company of Apple's cache, the forward price/earning ratio is 12.56. Once you eliminate the approximately $50 billion of excess cash, the forward price/earnings is a surprisingly low 10.90! To be clear, we are not Apple bears. But despite the valuations, there are reasons for caution. READING BETWEEN THE HEADLINES
TechCrunch reported that Apple had blacklisted Best Buy (BBY) from further iPad 2 supplies because the company was unhappy with certain sales policies at the big box electronics retailer. This
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Nokia Sees Triple Value in Emerging Markets Compared to Developed Ones
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:08:56 -0400
Trefis submits:
Nokia (NOK) is the largest mobile phone player in the world with a market share of around 33%, [1] and competes with Samsung, LG, Apple (AAPL), Research in Motion (RIMM) and Motorola Mobility (MMI). By our analysis, Nokia derives 47% of its stock value from emerging markets (e.g. India, Brazil, and China) and a much smaller 14% from developed markets (U.S. and Europe).
We maintain an $11.78 price estimate for Nokia stock, roughly 30% above market price. Below we examine why emerging markets carry more than 3x the value of developed markets for Nokia
(Chart created by using Trefis'
app
)
Large Addressable Market
We estimate that emerging markets constitute more than a billion mobile phone units, a number we expect to approach 1.6 billion units by the end of our forecast period. By comparison, developed markets include about 490 million mobile phone units, and we expect this number to grow
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The Battle for Dominance Among Mobile Operating Systems
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:57:09 -0400
David Pinsen submits: Last October, venture capitalist Fred Wilson predicted that Google's (GOOG) Android mobile operating system would become the dominant one, and that mobile app developers ought to focus on developing for it instead of for Apple's (AAPL) iOS operating system. Fred followed up on that post last week, and pointed to the table below, showing market shares of the different mobile platforms after Apple's iPhone became available on Verizon (VZ), as support for his original prediction.
Fred went further in his follow-up post and argued that,
the mobile OS market will play out very similarly to Windows and Macintosh, with Android in the role of Windows.
Tim Knight made a similar point on Slope of Hope earlier this week, speculating that Apple's shares were starting to weaken due to the surge in Android's market share relative to iOS. Tim posted the chart below with the following commentary:
Perhaps this is why
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Mobile Players Outperform Key Indexes
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:46:12 -0400
Mobile Guru submits:
Back in November 2010, I wrote an article here at Seeking Alpha titled "Top 4 Mobile Acquisition Picks for 2011." Three of these stocks - Augme Technologies (AUGT.OB), Glu Mobile (GLUU) and VirnetX (VHC) have all greatly outperformed the general indexes.
In it, I discussed how 2010 had been termed the “Year of Mobile." A year in which the proliferation and adoption of the smart phone has given rise to staggering industry growth projections.
Right in front of our eyes, a powerful technological revolution is taking place which will not only forever transform the way in which we communicate with others, but how major companies and their brands communicate with us. In fact, the rate at which new technology is emerging in the mobile phone field has even overtaken that of personal computers. Whether it’s me telling you this or Mary Meeker, the mobile revolution is upon us.
Mobile phones
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Why Ceva Can Even Survive an Apple Drop
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:10:41 -0400
 Shlomi Cohen submits: One of the hot rumors in the stock market these days is that when Apple (AAPL) unveils the fifth generation of its iPhone this summer, it will include NFC (near field communication) abilities. NFC is very short range (up to 4 centimeters) wireless communication which is used for payments made through a mobile phone. Barclays Capital analysts mention an example of one of the applications that will be launched as a result of collaboration between VeriFone (Nasdaq: PAY) and leading coupon site Groupon. During a ride in a taxi equipped with an advanced Verifone meter, communication between the rider's smartphone and the taxi meter can facilitate a coupon being printed from the meter for a movie or restaurant. The rise by Ceva Inc. (Nasdaq:CEVA), which I hold in my portfolio tracked at "Globes", is also connected to the mobile Internet world. The company is one of the leaders in supplying
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5 Reasons the iPhone 5 Delay Doesn't Matter
Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:45:39 -0400
Jason Schwarz submits: The defining characteristic of Apple (AAPL) stock during this stage of tech hyper-growth is that it always bounces. This is what makes Apple the best investment vehicle on Wall Street. As an investor there are times to demonstrate conviction and there are times to run for the hills; the current five day selloff that started because of the iPhone 5 delay rumors represents a time to demonstrate conviction. These moments of uncertainty have a way of compelling buyers to get back in the game which is exactly what we anticipate will happen in this case. Although we doubt the validity of the rumor, let’s assume it is true, and provide five reasons why an iPhone 5 delay doesn’t matter: 1. Apple has too many successful product lines. Since the release of the first iPad it’s been amusing to read analyst reports that attempt to explain the underlying variable that will
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Analysts Scale Back Price Targets on Research In Motion
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:03:33 -0400
Alacra Pulse Check Blog submits:
By Sheena Lee
Research In Motion (RIMM) gave a weaker than expected first quarter profit forecast and analysts flocked to cut their price targets on the Waterloo, Ontario-based company. Yet on average, they still expect some upside in the BlackBerry and PlayBook company’s stock price in the coming year, despite increasing competition from the likes of Apple (APPL) and Google’s (GOOG) Android.
The median price based on 13 analysts tracked by Alacra Pulse who have updated their targets since the earnings announcement is $63.00, down from $78.50 in our February prognosis. The mean target has declined to $66.20 from $78.79. RIM closed today at $57.03. Six of these analysts have Sell or equivalent ratings on RIM, while two are neutral and five are positive.
"With Apple and Android both on a roll in the U.S., we believe RIM will be facing long odds to win back lost customers," said William
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Dolby Laboratories and the Sound of Silence
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:40:58 -0400
Ted Stamas submits: Dolby Laboratories (DLB) has suffered a reversal of fortune since the beginning of the year. On January 3rd, the stock sold for $67/share and has since gone south closing at $48 at the end of trading on April 1st. That's roughly a 30% haircut for the quarter. The primary reason for the demise is that management guided earnings lower for fiscal 2011 because of a slowdown in PC sales which is a large market of theirs. In fact, 10% of their business comes from Microsoft (MSFT). Before you make a snap judgement and dismiss them as snakebitten, I'd like to take a look at the company because I believe that savvy investors with presence of mind may want to include Dolby Labs in a portfolio or watch list. I'm old enough to remember when Dolby technology was introduced to the mass market back in the 1970s. It removed the hiss
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Research In Motion's Smaller Slice of a Bigger Pie: A Suggested Options Play
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:23:51 -0400
Sean Bellamy McNulty submits: I attended a lecture on the 29th conducted by a pioneer in the Equity Capital Markets business in Canada, Bruce Hilland, in which he discussed uncertainty and the devastating effects it has on the price of shares. This is abundantly evident in the case of Research In Motion (NYSE:RIMM), with its shares seeing a comparable sell off to Japan's Nikkei index:
This insinuates that the uncertainty around a nuclear meltdown is on par with the uncertainty around the success of the PlayBook. Is this warranted? Time to delve into the numbers. On paper, RIM is surprisingly solid. It has $0 in debt, close to $2 billion in cash and quarterly earnings growth of 45% (YOY), all of which you can own at slightly under a 9 P/E. Click to enlarge
Standing out on both charts is the pink "price line", demonstrating that price has been negatively correlated with this rise
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Android Now Dominant Mobile Phone Operating System
Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:37:32 -0400
Fred Wilson submits:
Roughly six months ago, I put up a blog post suggesting Android was going to be the dominant mobile phone operating system and that developers interested in the largest user bases ought to start developing for it in preference to iOS. As you might expect, I got a lot of heat from Apple fanboys for that post and one of the strongest points they made was that we had not yet seen the effect of the Verizon (VZ) iPhone (AAPL) on market share numbers. Well now we have. iPhone had a fantastic February on the back of a strong launch of the Verizon iPhone. comScore's February mobile numbers are out and here's where things stand in terms of OS market share in the US. Click to enlarge:
It looks like the Verizon iPhone launch is helping iOS hold its own with 25% of the market. I expect (and hope) that
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Google Increases Lead in the Smartphone Market
Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:15:41 -0400
TechCrunch submits:
By Rip Empson
comScore’s February mobile report was released today, and it looks like good news for Google (GOOG). Android increased its lead as the top mobile platform, growing 7 percentage points since November, and strengthening its top position with 33 percent market share. Following behind Android is RIM (RIMM), ranked second with 28.9 percent market share, and Apple (AAPL) with 25.2 percent. Microsoft (MSFT) and Palm rounded out the top five, with 7.7 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. In the big picture, the mobile numbers continue to impress. Over the last three months, an average of 234 million Americans (13 and older) used mobile devices. That’s 75 percent
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8 Tech Stocks That Will Take India by Storm
Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:00:31 -0400
Investment Underground submits:
By Ethan Messenger
Which tech companies will dominate India in the 21st century? Below are eight stocks we think will be the big winners. Can you think of any other names to add to the list below? For Dell (DELL), annual revenue in India is nearing $2 billion and the world's No. 2 maker of personal computers plans to add more staff in the country. "We are continuing to invest here and continuing to grow the business ... India for us is a critical part of our infrastructure globally," Michael Dell said at an event in the Indian capital on March 22nd, 2011. Overall sales of personal computers in India rose 30 percent on a unit basis in 2010. The company is transforming itself to a services and storage company. It has ramped up service offerings and snapped up 12 companies to prepare for the cloud computing revolution. According to
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Research In Motion: Why I Disagree With the Analysts
Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:53:14 -0400
Shlomi Cohen submits: A simple and correct economic explanation for why the stock market is so strong, and will strengthen even more in the future, was presented last week on CNBC by Omega Advisors CEO Leon Cooperman. Cooperman is a hedge fund manager with 45 years of experience in financial investing, including as a senior manager at Goldman Sachs. He was also among those who said to buy stocks aggressively when the market was at a bottom in March 2009, for exactly the same reasons that he points to now, when advising investors to buy stocks. He explains that then, the P/E (price to earnings) ratio for S&P 500 companies was 14. Today, though share prices (P) have doubled, the average multiple remains 14 because the profits (E) have also doubled, on average. “In a good market or in a bad market, it's better today to be in equities than in bonds, in
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Hedge Funds, Bloggers and the Origin of Apple Rumors
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:11:53 -0400
Jason Schwarz submits: Today we have a perfect example of why Steve Jobs hates bloggers. Do you really believe that the iPhone 5 release will be delayed until the fall, at which time it will be released alongside an iPad 3? Seriously? You think Apple ( AAPL) is ready to freeze the iPhone market for three months and cannibalize sales of the iPad 2? When it comes to Apple news, there is no gatekeeper, no filter and no editor-in-chief demanding reliable sources. It’s a bunch of conjecture supported by vague sources supposedly coming from Apple (yeah, right!) or some unconfirmed (and uncomfirmable!) Chinese supplier. We’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again. Unfortunately, this wild west of a blogosphere leaves stocks like Apple vulnerable to irrational price swings based on false reports. We all know that Apple trades according to the calendar just as much as it trades according to fundamentals, so any
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The Valuation Gap Between RIM and Motorola Mobility Is Too Ridiculous to Ignore
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:28:13 -0400
 Chad Brand submits: It continues to amaze me how much investors hate Research in Motion (RIMM) stock. Maybe no company that competes with a highly successful Apple product will be able to win over Wall Street's heart, but the recent share price action of RIMM really boggles the mind.
This is not the first time I have written about RIMM. Back in September 2010 I really loved the stock around $47 (in a piece called "RIMM: 76% Earnings Growth for Under 10x Trailing EPS"). My bullish investment case previously had been that with the stock trading at 10x earnings, the company did not have to overtake Apple (AAPL) (or anything near it) in order for the stock's risk-reward to be favorable. That first call proved a good one, as the stock reached $70 in February, for a gain of 49% in 5 months.
When you have an entire globe making the switch from
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Don't Count Out Research In Motion Just Yet
Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:08:28 -0400
StreetAuthority submits:
By David Sterman
Whenever a stock takes a major hit, I like to wait a few days before assessing the wreckage. It gives time to let the issues clarify and provides a chance to see where shares end up once investors have finished selling. After plunging from $64 to $57 -- more than 10% -- on March 25, shares of Research in Motion (RIMM) stabilized as the new week began, and the issues driving the sell-off can be more clearly assessed. My takeaway: the company faces real challenges, but has laid out a clear rebound strategy. And the stock's valuations are stunningly low. The path to a rebound will be bumpy, but significant upside can be had for patient investors. [Click to enlarge]
No Growth in the Spring
Investors were reacting to a dismal first-quarter outlook as RIM is caught in the midst of major product transitions. Fresh products are
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As Consumers Dictate Content Access, Will Old Media Get Out of the Way?
Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:32:27 -0400
Rocco Pendola submits: Melinda Witmer, Chief Programming Officer, Time Warner Cable:
"I don't know what a TV is anymore. It's kind of an anachronistic term."
I have been thinking about that quote since I read it in The Wall Street Journal last Friday. And it's probably because I
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AUO and Idemitsu Form Alliance For OLED
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:24:13 GMT
Taiwan's AU Optronics said on Thursday it would form a strategic alliance with Japan's Idemitsu Kosan to develop next-generation OLED flat screen technology.
Onkyo In Strategic Alliance with TEAC
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:59:59 GMT
As part of its corporate goal to meet the demands of a changing marketplace, Onkyo today announced a strategic alliance with TEAC.
Apple Patent Application Hints At TV Plans
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:13:39 GMT
Apple could be working on a new touchscreen universal remote control that works with your TV. The company has filed a patent for such a device last year, according to AppleInsider.
Toshiba Introduces New Android e-Book Reader
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:19:46 GMT
Toshiba is aiming at making e-readers popular in Japan with the release of the Android-based BookPlace DB50.
AMOLED TV Market Slowed by High Prices, Manufacturing Challenges
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:34:51 GMT
Despite the excitement surrounding the introduction of active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) TVs at this month's CES, global shipments of the sets will be limited during the next few years because of high prices caused by manufacturing challenges and expensive materials.
Toshiba Partially Resumes Manufacturing Operation in Thailand
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:37:32 GMT
Toshiba today announced the latest status of the resumption of manufacturing at Toshiba Group facilities in Thailand, in the aftermath of the flooding that inundated the country last year.
B&O PLAY Launches Portable HiFi System
Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:47:49 GMT
B&O PLAY, Bang & Olufsen?s new brand, has announced its first product offering, the Beolit 12 portable music system.
Hitachi To Stop Making TVs In Japan
Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:48:22 GMT
Hitachi Ltd. said Monday it will end production of flat-screen TVs by September in its Japan-based facilities, due to intensifying price competition.
Pioneer DDJ-ERGO Controller Supports DJAY 4 for MAC Software
Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:18:46 GMT
Pioneer today announced that its DDJ-ERGO DJ controller for home DJs can now control algoriddim?s djay 4 software (version 4.0.3) for Mac OS, bringing professional-style control of iTunes music libraries to the platform.
Funai Acquires TV-related Patents From IPG
Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:29:54 GMT
Funai Electric Co., Ltd. has purchased a portfolio of 360 patents applicable to its television and related businesses from IPG Electronics.
68 Percent of Online Consumers Interact with Video, Audio Content in the Home
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:43:34 GMT
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today released a new study which found that more than half (53 percent) of online U.S. adults watch some form of streaming or downloaded video content in the home.
B&O Unveils B&O PLAY Brand
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:43:02 GMT
Bang & Olufsen announced a new brand, B&O PLAY, a new brand for the company's more affordable portable audio-video products.
Numark Announces 4Trak, A Four-Channel Traktor Controller
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:18:28 GMT
Numark has introduced 4TRAK, a four-deck digital DJ controller with built-in four-channel mixer and effects console, giving DJs greater command over NI's Traktor software.
iPad 3 To Have A Faster Processor, 4G LTE And HD Screen
Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:26:14 GMT
On the tail of the Consumer Electronics Show, an Apple rumor is making the rounds.
Sony Introduces 4k2k Blu-ray Disc Player
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:02:35 GMT
Sony seems to be ready for the 4K2K era and the company has developed a Blu-ray player that supports 4k2k video.
Verizon FiOS Coming Out Of The Set-top Box
Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:42:29 GMT
Verizon is trying to move its "FiOS" TV service beyond the set-top box and onto the latest gadgets in an effort to compete online video services such as Netflix and Amazon.
Corning Unveils New Gorilla Glass 2
Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:56:09 GMT
Corning introduced Corning Gorilla Glass 2, the next generation of the company?s damage-resistant cover glass for consumer electronic devices, at the International Consumer Electronics Show.
OnLive Gaming to be Integrated Into Google TV Devices
Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:55:22 GMT
Google will integrate the OnLive cloud gaming service as a standard feature of the Google TV platform on all devices from all manufacturers.
First Handheld 4K Camcorder by JVC
Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:58:58 GMT
JVC today announced the GY-HMQ10, the world?s first handheld 4K camcorder, which captures, records, and plays video images at four times the resolution of high definition television.
Samsung Embraces Ultraviolet With "Disc to Digital" Feature In Smart Blu-ray Players
Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:47:56 GMT
Today, at the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) UltraViolet press event, Samsung announced plans for a "Disc to Digital" feature on Samsung Smart Blu-ray players, developed by Flixster and Rovi.
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