Tim Cook's 2014 Promise of Lots of New Products And 69 Days In

We're sixty-nine days into the new year, 2014.  I can still call it a "new year", right?

I ask that because that new year smell is wearing off if it not not already for some folks and we are still waiting to see what exciting new products Apple has in-stored for us going forward.  After all, Tim Cook promised us that.  And that promise had been going on for a better part of a year stretching back into 2013. 

All I'm saying is this, it's unlikely that Apple will back load the second half of 2014 with a bunch of new stuff because that would just to too much even for Apple to handle.  On top of that, new iOS gears like the iPhone 6, even if it has a 5" or 6" screen or refreshed iPads, or new Mac updates are not really new products in my book.

Some Apple fans will argue that point.  For me, new products means a spanking new Apple TV that isn't just a hardware improvement but allows me to watch a plethora of new video services or play games either with my iPhone or controller. 

A new product would be a new take on wearable devices that will obliterate the iPods. 

I'm sure many people out there will agree with what I've written so far.  Apple should not be held to innovate on a regular product schedule but the assertion Tim made about the new products, it stands to believe that we are going to get blown away once again.  No just evolutionarily improved products but a new disruption of some sort.

Personally, I'm happy to take just about anything from Apple.  Their track record is good with me.  But I cannot speak for others in the media or blog world.  They'll twist and turn things to make Apple look less than what it or its products are.  It's the nature of the business but, at some  point, they could well have a point.

Take Samsung's newly introduced Galaxy S5.  A very good phone by any measure even against the iPhone 5S.  But its improvement is pretty benign compared to the jump from the S3 to the S4.  And certainly far less than the iPhone 5 to the 5S.  Still, the new Galaxy will make billions for Samsung.

From Apple, however, we're all expecting more.  I'm looking not only for updated 2014 iOS devices and Macs to make tens of billions for Apple but a new source of revenue that will not only enrich its stockholders but provide mobile warriors, health nuts, or couch potatoes with new innovative tools. 

Social: Apple May Go Counter to Original iTunes Singles Mandate

Source:  Appleinsider.

What made iTunes great in the early years and still is that you can buy single songs.  However, that could change some what.  Not by much but you can be sure there are going to be those who will be very critical about what Apple may be pushing with the music labels.  Apple is looking for exclusive content to prop up sagging album sales.  One culprit seems to be the growing streaming services.  

Asking for exclusive content is one thing but Apple is also looking at windowing - a period of time between the release of a new album and individual singles for sale.  This would allow for more album sales.  Furthermore, if this deal is accepted by the studios, we can also see less free content on Youtube and streaming services during this window of time for which Apple wants to promote album sales.

The thing is that Apple may actually get what it wants.  In what was probably a trial run, Beyonce released a surprised album exclusively on iTunes and went to sale generate 800,000 album sales in three days with iTunes.  Furthermore, there were additional content as well as keeping single sales and free video content off the market until the second week.  

Will it work?  It depends on how far Apple and the labels take this.  If it is only for a few major releases, it could work but it will certainly upset a lot of folks.  As someone who isn't into the latest and coolest musical hip-pop sensations, it does not bother me the least.  For some, it could be the principle of it all.

I'm not big on windowing singles but I do understand why they are considering it.  Furthermore, it is only a week.  Meanwhile, I understand file-sharing…ahem…networks are still up and running should people choose to go that route to get their singles fill.

No New Apple TV Model Coming Despite Today's $25 iTunes Giftcard Deal With Current Model Apple TV Purchase?

I got all excited this morning when I saw in my RSS reader that Apple was giving everyone who buys a current model Apple TV, which was introduced almost two years ago, an iTunes credit of $25.  At the time, the first thought jumped into mind:  Apple is looking to clear out inventory so they can make way to release a newer model with more bells and whistles.

Well, it appears that is not the case.  With his famous one word "nope"  Jim Dalrymple of The Loop Insight dispelled that line of wishful thinking.  I mean "c'mon!", right?

Well, the dude has not been wrong as far as I know.  And while I'm not sure if he calls into Apple or someone from Apple calls him about it, Mr. Dalrymple seems pretty tied into some of what's going on in Cupertino.  

However, can you blame a guy for thinking this?  It's not unheard of for companies to discount products or to add incentives to move sales to make way for an upgrade product.  

Essentially, you're getting the Apple TV for $75 and you've got $25 spend on iTunes.  One other likely scenario here is that Apple is feeling some competitive pressure from Google's $35 Chromecast which probably is selling well and gaining new features and apps by the week.  

Regardless, it's an awesome if you don't already have one.  

Social: Facebook's $16 Billion Bill for Whatsapp Made the $3 Billion It Offered Snapchat Look Low-Balled

As you may well know by now, Facebook bought Whatsapp for $16 billion in cash, stock, and retention.  A few months ago, some quarters of the Internet was abuzz with Snapchat's rejection of the $3 billion overture from Facebook.

I'd would have sold.  Take my billion and move onto something else.  Given the Whatsapp deal, Snapchat was right in not dealing.  It could have asked for two to five times more from Facebook.

Still, it's hard to fathom if all of this will pay off or are we in the midst of a social network bubble not unlike when Internet companies in the late 90s and early 2000s were throwing money away left and right.

The question now is what's next for Facebook, what it'll do with Whatsapp (supposedly, nothing will change...right), and how will other social networks or competitors like Google arm themselves.  There are plenty of other messaging "giants" out there that could be for sale given the right price.

Like Snapchat or Line.

Science: Man Nearly Mugged By Giant Octopus

You think the ocean is big enough where humans and sea creatures, both large and small, mammal or otherwise, can co-exist.  Maybe never even bump into one another.  Maybe even safer than say walking on the streets of NY at night with your iPhone hanging out for all to steal.

Not so as this diver soon realized.  An giant octopus lashed out and tried to grab his camera away.  Who would have though that you'd get mugged by a sea creature just for going for a swim.

And as you'll see, the dude would not none of that and made sure the octopus didn't make off with his gear.  Me?  I'd drop the thing and swim back up to surface.  I'd be like "giant octopus! Screw that!  You can have my camera!"

Reinvent Before It's Too Late And I've Got Sony In Mind

I like that Sony has bowed out of certain markets and continues down that trend.  More recently, they're shedding the TV and PC businesses.  Bravo!  But it was done because they finally saw the writings on the wall.  See, in reading this Bloomberg post about former Apple excutives.  It really has nothing to do with the subject matter of this post except that I came across a section in it that we already know from Apple's history and its brush with dead before Steve Jobs 2.0 came in and reignited the innovative flame at Apple, enriched our lives with great new technologies, and positively disrupted market after market.

Apple had to shed a lot of dead weight before that happened. That was going on before Jobs' return and continued further when he got rid of the Newton, simplified the Mac line, and dropped other less or money losing ventures.

Once that was one, all the clutter and noise was gone, Apple got back to work and on track.

I believe Sony should use this moment in its history to do the same. And with the right visionary leader, I think the iconic brand, which Jobs once admired, could become relevant again.  But more than that, it would need to also shed some old ideas and notions that that the company once held.

Obviously, as markets chance, companies that repond quicker tends to reap the benefits.  Or as in Apple's case, come into the market later with a disruptive product or service.  I believe in Sony and I think it can do that.

Mobile: It's about Time To Call It - Windows Phone Is Microsoft's Alone

I love the world that Nokia has done to prop up Windows Phone.  And it certainly has given Android a run for its money on the low-end but that's about it.  And now, with Microsoft buying out Nokia's mobile biz, which pretty much consisted of Lumia devices running WP and only because Microsoft paid them to, even HTC is looking to move away from investing any more time and money on it (PC World).

Without the sheer will of the money generated by profits from Windows and Office, it's doubtful anyone, including Samsung, would want to make Windows Phone devices at this point.  And without special deals, it's also doubtful anyone is interested in making Windows RT devices or tablets running the full Windows versions.

Most PC guys are interested in doing convertibles because, let's face it, people still will buy Windows laptops that double as tablets but not tablets that double as laptops.

As for Windows Phone's future, Microsoft seems content in being a distant third to Android and the iPhone for the moment.

The question is what is next from Microsoft and its new CEO?  It's unlikely that Microsoft will abandon the consumer market and try to live off the PC market until it can find a course that does not include fighting a losing battle.

It's not to say that Microsoft can't still win the mobile war.  We need Microsoft to be in the game, if anything, to continue to put innovative and competitive pressure on everyone else.

But right now, things do not look good.  And the possibility that Windows Phone could turn out to be a Zune is not out of the realm of possibility.

I have a Windows Phone. It's a Lumia (of course, right?).   Microsoft's unique UI definitely sets itself apart from competing devices on the market.  However, I'm not sure I want to invest much more time into the device beyond what apps I've bought given the uncertainty of the future for the platform.  Maybe after Microsoft has finished digesting Nokia, I might change my mind.  

Regardless, third party hardware running Windows Phone has ran its course.  It's over.  Now, it's only Microsoft's Lumia left.