Apple

Mac at 25: What's next for Apple's Mac?

Twenty-five years after the debut of the Macintosh, the product that is the soul of Apple is not necessarily its vehicle to the future.

It was a quarter-century ago that Super Bowl XVIII viewers saw the now-famous introductory ad for Apple's Macintosh, formally released two days later. Apple had announced back in 1983 that the Macintosh was coming, but for many, that Sunday was their first look at the product that would drive Apple to new heights in the personal computer industry and usher in the graphical user interface as the standard way for regular people to interact with … Read more

Apple proves recession-resistant, for now

With all the economic doom and gloom in the world these days, Apple executives must be wondering what all the fuss is about.

Apple's Tim Cook and Peter Oppenheimer acknowledged Wednesday that these are uncertain times to be in the retail consumer electronics business. But put aside any doubts about Apple's ability to sustain the first wave of recession. Posting record revenue and profit during its fiscal first quarter, the company shattered analyst predictions on the strength of solid Mac sales and stronger-than-expected iPod sales.

Can it last? Tough to say, given that few can predict how quickly … Read more

Apple serves notice: Don't rip off the iPhone

Like most people who paid attention to Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, Apple noticed the Palm Pre.

In response to a question from a financial analyst about Palm's new smartphone and its multitouch interface, Apple COO Tim Cook, without addressing the Pre directly, made sure that everyone on Apple's quarterly earnings call Wednesday knew how Apple feels about intellectual property.

"We will not stand for having our IP ripped off," Cook declared, perhaps firing a shot across the bow of Palm and executive chairman Jon Rubinstein, a former Apple employee. To be clear, Cook did … Read more

Apple soars past first-quarter earnings expectations

Updated throughout at 3:30 p.m. PST with details from conference call.

Apple reported on Wednesday first-quarter earnings significantly higher than analysts had expected coming off a disappointing holiday season for most tech companies, but provided its usual conservative guidance.

For the three-month period ended December 27, Apple recorded $10.2 billion in revenue, as compared with $9.6 billion a year ago, and net income of $1.6 billion, as compared with $1.58 billion a year ago. That translates into earnings per share of $1.78, far more than the $1.39 in earnings per share that … Read more

Apple bumps specs of $999 MacBook

Sometime earlier this week, Apple updated its least expensive notebook.

Engadget noticed Wednesday that the white $999 MacBook was slightly--and quietly--upgraded. It now has a newer Intel processor (2.0GHz Core 2 Duo), 2GB of memory, integrated graphics (Nvidia GeForce 9400M), and a faster frontside bus, now 1,066 MHz.

Besides that, almost everything else remains the same. But at $999, it's now much closer to its more expensive, unibody-constructed MacBook cousins.

Report: SEC reviewing Apple's disclosures over Jobs' health

Securities and Exchange Commission investigators are reviewing the way Apple handled the disclosures surrounding the health of CEO Steve Jobs, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the matter. Earlier this month, Jobs announced he would take a six-month medical leave.

Apple, whose CEO's health has been a concern to investors over the past six months following his gaunt appearance at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, announced in mid-December that Jobs would not be speaking at the January Macworld and that Apple would not participate in the event going forward.

At the time, Apple said … Read more

With earnings call, Apple heads back to business

After a week spent worrying about the health of CEO Steve Jobs, Apple will look forward to getting back to business Wednesday when it reports its fiscal first-quarter earnings.

The last three months were not kind to computer and consumer electronics companies, but Apple is expected to have weathered the storm better than others. Analysts are predicting the company will report revenue and earnings per share at the high end of the guidance it provided in October, with expectations of $9.76 billion in revenue and earnings per share of $1.38.

The three-month period between October and December is … Read more

Apple now selling used products online in China

Apple announced Tuesday it has opened an online store selling used products in China in an effort to expand its business there, according to a Reuters report.

The new store is offering discounts of up to 22 percent on various refurbished products. Apple said on its Web site that the products had been previously sold, then returned, and had undergone quality tests, Reuters reported.

An Apple representative in China would not say how many products are available on the site. But the store was featuring such items as an iPod shuffle for 308 yuan ($45) and an iMac for 14,… Read more

Wozniak on Steve Jobs' health, Apple culture

Offering a unique perspective on Steve Jobs' health, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is speaking out in the media on his old friend's leave of absence and its likely effect on the company.

In an interview with NBC11 in San Jose, Calif., Wozniak said investors and the media should be respectful of his privacy.

"What he says, we ought to accept," Wozniak said in response to a question about Jobs' health.

Wozniak also said Jobs' six-month absence shouldn't have a negative effect on Apple's product line:

"The products coming out of Apple, out of tech … Read more