Apple: Sound Bytes For Success
Apple: Sound Bytes For Success
Apple has announced a new US patent spurring rumors that a smartwatch is on the hands for the company. This invention involves an electronic wristwatch according to the Apple patent paperwork filed with the US Patent and Trade Office. The patent involves a wristband with a touchscreen to configure wirelessly to mobile devices such as smartphones. Disclosure of the patent added to rumors that the Californian based firm intends to grab a chunk of the "blossoming wearable computing market" to quote one media report.
While Apple has remained secretive about its product plans, CEO Tim Cook has been repeatedly stressing that impressive new products are in the pipeline and wearable computing gadgets are on their way. The central portion also comprises a touchscreen display along with a control circuitry and a battery, according to the smartwatch patent papers. The display screen can be configured to provide visual information to the user and receive input from the user.
The features on the wristband also include sensors for keeping track of the motion and providing commands with gestures. This is as per the patent paperwork originally filed in January end in the year 2011. A diagram in this application is a device referred to as "iTime".
Analysts and Apple fans have been waiting for new bytes and this may be just what the doctor ordered. Of late, the IT giant's quarterly profits have climbed up with massive iPhone demand though a decline in iPad sales has been an unwelcome news. The California based firm posted a profit of $7. 7 billion on revenue of $ 37.4 billion in a period of 3 months leading up to June end which is an increase of 11.6% from a year back.
Apple has sold around 35.2 million iPhones in this quarter which is a rise of nearly 13% from the same period a year back. The record June quarter revenue was bolstered by strong sales of iPhone and Mac and CEO Tim Cook has shared in an earnings release that "the continued growth of revenue from the Apple ecosystem, driving our highest (earnings per share) growth rate in seven quarters”. A cash dividend of 47 cents per share of common stock had to be paid at the end of business on August 11.
The release of the earnings report has had some impact causing shares to slip less than 1% in after market trades. Apple has said that iPad sales fell to 12.27 million. Soft demand for iPads also dented revenues. Apple has to strike big through innovations and it may soon get a bigger piece of the pie. Cook is quoted in media reports as saying he was "incredibly excited" about new operating systems in the works "as well as other new products and services that we can't wait to introduce," but did not elaborate.
Apple has come up with a recent deal with China Mobile, the largest mobile carrier in the globe. This has lifted iPhone sales globally and given competition to rival Google Android. Apple is currently king in its home turf the United States according to research firms such as eMarketer. It remains the largest tablet vendor across the world.
