This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Apple For Dummies

Tyler Durden's picture


Since last night's blockbuster earnings by Apple presented yet another "paradigm shift" in how the company is presented to potential new investors (how many are left one wonders); namely, no longer reliant on incremental US purchases - just to avoid the thorny issue of wireless company subsidization - and one now dependent on Chinese consumer demand for future growth, we thought, in conjunction with William Banzai, to present a graphic simplification of what the Apple business model is all about going forward. Two words: "value added"

Courtesy: William Banzai


- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:16 | 2374784 brewing
brewing's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:17 | 2374789 Bunga Bunga
Bunga Bunga's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:24 | 2374816 Unprepared
Unprepared's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:32 | 2374841 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:35 | 2374850 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

I'll never buy it...I've got one old computer in my house and one cell phone for the family..Fuck these stupid gadgets....

Mr Jackson..have you no shame sir!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:46 | 2374874 SilverTree
SilverTree's picture

iDon't care.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:51 | 2374886 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:08 | 2374923 Vampyroteuthis ...
Vampyroteuthis infernalis's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:47 | 2375013 flacon
flacon's picture

All Seeing "i"

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:07 | 2375057 i-dog
i-dog's picture

iYep. U2?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:30 | 2375116 Comay Mierda
Comay Mierda's picture

huge gap up today on relatively light volume.  no conviction.  and a huge gap to fill down.  the wise ones shorteth

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:58 | 2375273 FEDbuster
FEDbuster's picture

At least a business model based on selling to Chinese consumers saves Apple the shipping cost from Foxconn back to the USA.  Invented in the USA, made and sold in China.  Wonder when the Chinese eliminate the invented in the USA part?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:36 | 2375394 The Real Fake E...
The Real Fake Economy's picture

Maybe they save on shipping, but the company still pays import duty tax on all goods made here in China and sold here in China.  

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:27 | 2375525 luna_man
luna_man's picture



"Comay Mierda", you say, "the wise ones shorteth"...I say, pick your battles wisely!...

You see any support under that price?  Any how, @$610 per, YOU ONE TOUGH HOMBRE!

admire your tenacity

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 20:09 | 2375286 pan
pan's picture



Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:17 | 2375365 vast-dom
vast-dom's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 22:05 | 2375432 BeetleBailey
BeetleBailey's picture


Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:03 | 2375748 TheLooza
TheLooza's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:47 | 2374878 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

Hey who gave me that down arrow?..I got something to say to you..

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:29 | 2374974 BeetleBailey
BeetleBailey's picture

i rather like this memory of Sammy

Jackson's an out and out racist. Any asshole that comes right out and says so (I voted for Obama because he's black/people vote for who they look like) is a complete fucktard, and Pesci's bullets should have been real.

On top of it, he's a mediocre actor. Plus, he's bone ugly.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:47 | 2375576 Timmay
Timmay's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:33 | 2374978 HarryM
HarryM's picture

People are so starved for a sliver of good news that one companies success causes the worlds stock markets to surge -  


and this my friends, is the good news?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:31 | 2375548 palmereldritch
palmereldritch's picture


How many motherfucking snakes can I get on a motherfucking plane...and still make my tee-off time?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:40 | 2374860 Pool Shark
Pool Shark's picture

iLaughed, iCried, iKissed $300 goodbye...


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:44 | 2374869 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

For lonely people with no one to talk to, we now have the iPhone 4s. Enjoy.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:12 | 2375212 The Beam
The Beam's picture

With all of this talk, I may start calling myself: iBeam!

And they my symbol could be the eye from the pyramid on the dollar bill shooting a Beam like a laser.

Dude.... this was iBrilliant

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:57 | 2375183 Arnold Ziffel
Arnold Ziffel's picture



Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:22 | 2374809 Id fight Gandhi
Id fight Gandhi's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:27 | 2374827 NoClueSneaker
NoClueSneaker's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:34 | 2374849 WhyDoesItHurtWh...
WhyDoesItHurtWhen iPee's picture











Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:47 | 2374877 slaughterer
slaughterer's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:56 | 2374896 Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai's picture

iAAPLHaterz gonna iHate

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:32 | 2374980 BeetleBailey
BeetleBailey's picture

ieye....yiyie....ieye fuckin eieye!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:29 | 2375235 beachdude
beachdude's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 20:20 | 2375297 Mae Kadoodie
Mae Kadoodie's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 20:37 | 2375312 dannyboy
dannyboy's picture

With my little i?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:26 | 2375376 HAL 9000
HAL 9000's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 22:31 | 2375459 mrjig27
mrjig27's picture

ii had a mind too, i would not want to be like you... +5

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:30 | 2375382 tempo
tempo's picture

How to save $1500. Buy your smartphone & SIMS card on ebay and go to TMobile and get unlimited text and data for $50/month which compares to $130/month for the same service w an iphone. Over 24 months you are paying about $1500 premium for the AAPL product.Its not the initial $199 cost its the additional $70+ per month service charge. Of course it doesn't matter if you are borrowing the money and don't have to pay it back.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:33 | 2375389 Lednbrass
Lednbrass's picture

The i of Sauron.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:56 | 2375589 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

I'm going to use that one.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:45 | 2375403 TWSceptic
TWSceptic's picture

I bet you never used one single Apple device in your entire life.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:45 | 2375407 FearLess_FLY
FearLess_FLY's picture

All you nay sayers will be arguing  on your way to the financial gallows. I too am a cynic on our society. BUT, being cynical about a successful corporation will NOT cause their stock to wither. Wake up brethern.



Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:19 | 2375517 smb12321
smb12321's picture

I have not figured out why Tyler (well, this particular Tyler - not sure how many there are) has it in for Apple.  I love their products - pricy but absolutely excellent.   Making a movie, recording a song, etc - there is no comparison with the PC world.   After all, it's not Apple's fault their stock has such a huge ramification on the exchanges.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:06 | 2375599 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

It is a product.  It is not any thing that has value outside of your weird emotions for it.  It is inanimate; there will be no recourse to your judgement of it.  You may fall in love with it if you choose, like Nero to his horse.

How long will it last?  As far as an investment goes, what good is it?  You can day trade from it.  If you are a graphic designer you can use aaple products to make you monie.  But are you a cinematographor?  Will you actually make money from owning an apple product?

If so, by all means, buy them.  But for most consumers, they but them to take notes on while in college, or they buy them because their parents handed it to them and said look on Craigslist for a job on this product.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:17 | 2374786 ZakuKommander
ZakuKommander's picture

I for one am eagerly anticipating the Little Red iBook

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:18 | 2374798 streetcrawler
streetcrawler's picture

Apple's business model going forward is to hope people in China spend 1/10th of their net income each year on a new iPhone.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:22 | 2374813 unky
unky's picture

That is sure happening. Everyone in Beijing who I met and has a little money is spending it for an iPhone first.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:24 | 2374967 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

And if not, it will be sold at production costs in its producers market just for the numbers. Mercantilism makes sure parallel imports are treated as if they were counterfeit goods . No joke, the EU got this yoke on free trade transformed into law.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:29 | 2375628 matrix2012
matrix2012's picture



iDoubt  iT!!!...

read here about the bunch of knock-offs :D

a great bunch of the Fruit fanatics are willing to pay the exorbitant prices, yet the even much bigger number beyond those fanatics will buy more rationally and favor choices, thus they won't absorb such premium.

The Fruit can hope that its worshippers CAN AFFORD to keep on buying repeatedly...

it has eaten up the piece of cake, what left behind now is the THICK WALL (of resistances) that won't go the Fruit way :D


And iTrust THIS!!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:05 | 2374915 Waterfallsparkles
Waterfallsparkles's picture

Soon Chinese people will run out of kidneys to sell.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:13 | 2375079 i-dog
i-dog's picture

China's 'One iWorld Order' ... One child, one kidney, one iPhone!

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 05:23 | 2375873 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Ein Reich, ein volk, ein Furhrer

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:35 | 2375393 chrispycrunch
chrispycrunch's picture

Starbucks' business model is to hope people in China spend 2 hours of labour for a coffee.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 21:55 | 2375416 The Real Fake E...
The Real Fake Economy's picture

Its already happening!  People who make 3000RMB a month are somehow able to afford a 5000RMB phone.  Keep in mind, this isn't borrowed money either like in the US, as getting a credit card in China is harder than getting US citizenship.  

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:19 | 2374801 TradingJoe
TradingJoe's picture

Some "poor soul" said today that excluding China, AppleTini would have missed!!!!! Darn! :))

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:20 | 2374802 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

I wonder what to do with this $1,200 extra dollars here....HEY I know I'll buy 2 shares of Apple stock! 

lol whatever

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:27 | 2374828 pirea
pirea's picture

Can you imagine, 3 shares of apple = 1 ouce of pure gold.


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:36 | 2374845 Belarusian Bull
Belarusian Bull's picture

In Belarus, banks give 9-10% yield for USD deposits(it is risky, but if you choose a good fereign bank (i.e. russian sberbank) you are safe.

But check this out: the real game, though, is to convert USD in local currency, and lend it to a bank for 35-48% yield(usually, prime rate(currently 36%) + some %), then, converting it back to USD, since the exchange rate will be pretty much fixed by the central bank before it runs out of FX reserves and devalue again. The trick is to watch monthly FX reserves data and get out before it gets ugly.

This game has already made me about 53% yoy in USD from Novermber 2011 up to this day.

There are some good things in living in a third-world country and having some extra cash after all!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:54 | 2374891 pupton
pupton's picture

In Russia, the bank are paying YOU to takings the moneys!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:35 | 2374987 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

Played that game on Russia before with proper puts to convert back to. But the hedges (by foreign banks) got declared null and void because of sovereign default.

But this was back than, now we have CDS protection and you
can surely play this save. Mind any remaining foundation bricks though, because this fire insurance might not pay out too.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:54 | 2375027 Belarusian Bull
Belarusian Bull's picture

This is different, i am talking about arbitrage on local deposit and FX markets. Using this scheme, you can get high yield in USD. The only risk you take, is local currency devaluation.


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:20 | 2375219 ZeroPower
ZeroPower's picture

The only risk you take, is local currency devaluation.


Which is quite the risk to take my dear arbitrageur...

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:34 | 2375130 Helicon
Helicon's picture

how is belarus a third world country?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:39 | 2374810 Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs's picture

Is that even possible? A negative feedback loop?

"APPL is insanely cheap"

CNBC talking head

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:43 | 2374868 Pool Shark
Pool Shark's picture



They are insanely cheap; just look at the pittance they pay their slave labourers...

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:22 | 2374812 BigInJapan
BigInJapan's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:22 | 2374814 Belarusian Bull
Belarusian Bull's picture

Am i the only one seening inefficiency on this picture?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:30 | 2374838 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

Slavery is profitable until it isn't...The capital will move to some other country once these Chinese workers start demanding a work situation where they aren't constantly trying to kill themselves..

Once they've expoit all the cheap labor and once we (The USof FA) are broke enough, God willing, then we'll get those jobs right back here where they belong!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:23 | 2375096 i-dog
i-dog's picture

A multinational corporation is a country unto itself. It will only invest in your country (labour) if you can compete with the price of labour in other countries. Good luck with waiting for that to happen!

Under the NWO, the United Nations will be renamed the United Corporations....

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:24 | 2374817 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

Chinese Consumer: You mean it only costs one kidney? Wrap it up!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:31 | 2374842 resurger
resurger's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:41 | 2374862 nick howdy
nick howdy's picture

It took years to get this mentally ill my friend...In the psych ward it's what we call paying your dues...Three ECT treatments qualify.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:30 | 2375236 ljag
ljag's picture

What's with all the kidneys. I need a new liver!!!!!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:25 | 2374820 TheSilverJournal
TheSilverJournal's picture

Now that China is figuring out that it doesn't need the US to consume what it produces and can consume those things itself...does that China will stop throwing money down the drain trying to prop up the US debt market?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:32 | 2374846 Uber Vandal
Uber Vandal's picture

My thought is what would happen if China decided to take over all of these companies for themselves, sort of like Argentina taking Spains milk shake, er, umm, oil.


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:59 | 2374902 Dr. Richard Head
Dr. Richard Head's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:32 | 2374979 Marginal Call
Marginal Call's picture

Then how doe's china get the new iPhone 6 with the slightly improved camera and new color housing?  In just a few years we'd have iPhones in every color in the rainbow and they'd be stuck in black and white without any updates from Cupertino. 

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:47 | 2375014 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

Global vandalization gone to waste? No way, commies-turned-profiteers more stupid than progressives paying up ? ;-)

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:25 | 2374822 Stoploss
Stoploss's picture

They are starting out the Q with a 2.6M stuffed channel.

T said drop in non iphone sales, which was thought at first to be a drop in iphone sales.

Someone's lying, who cares anyway.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:27 | 2374829 resurger
resurger's picture

The fuckers knew that  gundlach was short AAPL, they squeezed him ... they had to cut him short

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:27 | 2374830 MiguelitoRaton
MiguelitoRaton's picture

iShorted ;-(   ...actually JAN2013 puts, and still green....just not as green.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:31 | 2374839 resurger
resurger's picture

so why are you sad, by 2013 you will be rich

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:42 | 2374865 Reptil
Reptil's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:27 | 2374832 walküre
walküre's picture

AAPL has great products. No doubt. I don't own any but have heard many great things from their customers. AAPL has mastered branding and exploitation on a massive scale. Lemmings are willing to pay 100x multiples for the product and drones are willing to produce for bread & water en masse. AAPL has entered the history books for sure.

SNE (Sony) was once a great corporation with a product line-up that everyone wanted and just needed to have. They could afford to be more expensive than their closest competitors because of the brand recognition. They build stores and opened expensive storefronts to feature the pinnacle of their own product evolutions.

Sony is cutting 10,000 jobs and implementing a "turnaround" plan. I will bet that Apple Inc. is going to have the same problems in a few years time. Doesn't matter how much cash the company has today. Their products are not unique and their fanbase is not going to pay and upgrade diligently every year going forward.

Good story all around. Peak AAPL is now.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:37 | 2374851 PSEUDOLOGOI

Sony invented the Walkman.


APPL invented something similar to the Walkman and the  iPhone.  (note, I did not say phone... I said iPhone).


Will APPL follow the path of all prior giant corporations?


No I say.  This time is different </sarc>

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:03 | 2374881 Dr. Acula
Dr. Acula's picture

Sony invented putting rootkits (basically, viruses) on music CD's.

 "To cloak itself, the rootkit hid from the user any file starting with "$sys$"... malware appeared which took advantage of that vulnerability of affected systems.[1]...Sony BMG released patches to uninstall the rootkit, but it exposed users to an even more serious vulnerability" -

"software on his [music] CD also sends data back to Sony BMG headquarters" -

Instead of trying to take over customers' PC's, maybe these skinflints could make money by providing quality products. For example, they could try making Sony TV's that don't burn out within a few years.


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:54 | 2374892 walküre
walküre's picture

I totally forgot the Walkman. Now you got me going back to the 80's!

In the end these are all just toys. Sign of the times when the toy maker is the most profitable business.

CAT is signalling major problems in China and Brazil. Selling a few more toys won't keep the global economy afloat. The Sheiks sold their massive stake in Daimler recently. Wonder why and where they invested instead.

AAPL confirms one thing though. Market is exuberant.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:38 | 2374989 Agent P
Agent P's picture

I had the walkman sport...that's right, the yellow one...I also had a mullet...I was a total bad ass (for a 9 year old)!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:44 | 2374867 Belarusian Bull
Belarusian Bull's picture

As a user of android planform, i really see no reason to pay for apps. Even if i had the income of an average American, i wouldn't pay for apps.

Just like recently, i needed one particular function from a music player, and untill i found the player supporting it, i tried 4-5 of them.  Paid  versions  cost about 4$ each.

I would rather buy 15 grams of silver with saved money.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:17 | 2374952 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

You are showing exactly why Apple is beating Android for apps and thus revenue.  Developers don't like to create stuff for Android because Android has a low buy rate of apps a lot of people pirate them.  Apple fanboys just love to click shiny buttons on their phone so they spend a lot more money.  Apple to $1,000 on the backs of idiots

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:35 | 2374985 Belarusian Bull
Belarusian Bull's picture

Android has more apps sold, than iOS. Google only sells 23% of Apple's volume, but combined with Amazon, which sells 89% of it, they do better.

I don't know about developers, but as a user and a consumer, after trying iPhone 4 (for about 2 months) i switched to android (Samsung Galaxy S II) and will never touch any Apple product again.

The benefit is jus not worth the price(including the price of apps, ofcourse) for me.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 01:12 | 2375682 matrix2012
matrix2012's picture

The Fruit REQUIRES user to key in his/her credit card at the very first step in order to get access to its apps market, a requirement which the android market lacks of.

Then the fruit worshippers will delightfully charge his/her ccards for the many paid apps to contribute to the Fruit fat pocket, aside from the music purchases, which is abundant to find in youtube alone, not to say about the so many mp3 in the net and torrent.

I've hundred of apps from android market without paying a single penny.. and i can't buy any for i have no ccard there.

just to imagine, there are about 250,000 apps in android market.


Thu, 04/26/2012 - 01:27 | 2375707 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Android is a different model. They are trying to hijack eyeballs. Tnx but no tnx.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:58 | 2375037 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

So an ounce of silver would get one proper troll per month ?

No telling if they get those local chicks with pictures on stories. And they can surely lie well too.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:00 | 2375188 Arnold Ziffel
Arnold Ziffel's picture

Lucent was once the most owned stock by Congress...oh well.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:40 | 2374861 monopoly
monopoly's picture

And they are printing in the intelligent news that apple correction is over and this time the parabola will be different. I love Apple products and have been using them for over 20 years. But at some point the growth will slow or even stop. And at some point the stock will come back to earth. They all do.

And, off topic. Last night on one of my rare moments, turned on the TV to PBS and a 20 year old program about the first depression was broadcast. It was amazing. You could have just listened, not look at the great photos and pictures, sit back and say, yup, that was 2008-09. And it will be 201----again. Great refresher. The parallels were uncanny. Bankers, debt, margin, speculation. Different date, same story. 

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:04 | 2374914 walküre
walküre's picture

The crisis of 2008-09 was clearly signalled ahead in the financial sector. The fin. sector is stable. Not fixed, but stable. Banks are still on life support.

I thought the 2nd act was Europe. But Europe did alot to stabilize its banks and fin. sector last year. Far from being fixed but stable. Economies are sliding into recession. Fundamentals will matter going forward.

Unless the FED raises rates, I can't see how stock markets would enter a deep correction. Right now we're seeing exuberance which is typically the tail end of a growth phase and a market peak. Sideways action could last alot longer than I'm willing to pay attention.

A stock selloff would give the FED cover to sell their paper into a strengthening bond market. The FED is sitting on too much UST paper and needs to find buyers, quickly.

What would trigger the selloff is the question?


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:54 | 2375172 jomama
jomama's picture

i had an apple IIe once.  and i have a nano, because it's the best, smallest mp3 player for running and making music.  that said, they are pieces of shit, i'm on my third, after repairing the first two a couple times each.  really cheaply made garbage, TBQH. and their warranty only covers normal wear and tear.  

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:45 | 2374872 I am a Man I am...
I am a Man I am Forty's picture

Let me help everyone once again.

The iPhone5 will beat all stateside records in the 4th quarter of this year.  ZH is leading you to believe that iPhone sales are going down permanently in the US as opposed to the natural cycle and timeline of the launch.

Selling iStuff to China is what most investors call breaking into international markets.  And the biggest one with a whole bunch of money is China.  For some reason, analysts on CNBC, ZH, and the market couldn't figure this out.

At least Banzai, out of Hong Kong I think, likes Apple.  

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:14 | 2374946 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

Everyone knows that you can't make money selling anything outside of the US.  Breaking into international markets?  What do they think they are going to get revenue from international markets?  Do they realize that international countries use different currencies? How do they plan on using this other currency when they get it for their product? Obviously they haven't thought any of this through.  iFail...

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:19 | 2375090 The Swedish Chef
The Swedish Chef's picture

Idouble post.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:19 | 2375091 The Swedish Chef
The Swedish Chef's picture

This must be the stupidest thing I´ve ever read. Do you know that not that long ago, perhaps even when you were a kid, USA was the number one exporter of the world? This wasn´t due to the kindness of the hearts of CEOs...


If ironic I appologize but you need to point that out.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:31 | 2375114 falak pema
falak pema's picture

How come the arabs are so rich selling to China. And Japan, and Eurozone. ? Learn to count. 75% of world economy is ex-US market, and its moving to 80% in one year and to 50 % in 10. 


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:23 | 2374966 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I was an early adopter of the iPhone and I still continue to like it. Having said that there will be a day when Apple is looked at like Microsoft. Microsoft was once an exciting company. People waited in line for the next version of windows and office. Their stock roared like Apple's is now. But eventually Microsoft became an old hat and people got tired of the forced upgrades with little to no improvement to the product. Apple will eventually follow that road as the beaucracy grows and Apple focuses on protecting market share instead of providing an exciting innovative product. History is littered with similar stories.

Back to me and my family .. I am interested at looking towards alternatives but we feel " trapped" because of all the money we have tied up in aps. Apple did a good job of commoditizing their customer base, but I'll bet there are a lot of other people who are in the same boat. If I were a phone maker I would look at how we can draw people like that away.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:50 | 2375159 jomama
jomama's picture

androids are way more versatile (if you're savvy enough), and less expensive.  

plus you don't look like a teeny bopper when you break it out.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 22:02 | 2375417 TWSceptic
TWSceptic's picture

I doubt that will happen. Apple as a company has a very strong philosophy that is working. Only when they screw up there, they will lose. Innovation, simplicity, good customer service will always work, and there is no reason why the company would stop following that road.

Having said that, Apple will get more competition, and so it will drive innovation and quality for the whole market. But I believe it will keep doing that for a very long time.

Also Apple stock is still cheap all things considered ...

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:05 | 2375750 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

I had a love hate relationship with windows from the very start. I was very happy using the DOS version of Word Perfect until I was forced to join the Word parade. Microsoft Word was tolerable in the beginning bt then quickly became a top heavy edifice of counterproductive complexity.

Top heavy edifice of counterproductive complexity is how I would describe the Microsoft saga.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:33 | 2375238 poor fella
poor fella's picture

Not to be an AAPL hater, but they are just like Intel when they were flying high - You'd have to pay upwards of 50% more for a chip that was barely faster than the previous/current iteration. I honestly don't see why ANYONE would be an early adopter for anything they sell, when, a couple of months later (ok, they make you WAIT, so that might be exaggerated) - you realize you've bought the latest brick... 

C'mon Apple - if you HAVE the goods, let's see it. And supposedly everyone is going to dump their current phone for an LTE version? This isn't dial-up vs. a cable modem. I don't know what else it has, but that alone doesn't seem to be a game changer.

Their upgrade path seriously PISSES ME OFF, which is why I've never owned an Apple product. It started when they didn't put a freakin radio in the iPod (can't have anything that's free). Their t.v. foray will most likely be 'soft'.

Overall, they're not priced like Chipotle, but definitely priced to PERFECTION and the law of big numbers is riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight THERE.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:08 | 2375752 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Sorry, products that remain operable and functional more than five years are not bricks. You have to distinguish the product from consumer perception. The hunger for the latest model is not a symptom of negative functionality, it is consumer driven.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 22:55 | 2375483 chump666
chump666's picture

Operational costs increase, will kill their competitive pricing i,e cheaper istuff.  Also, how do you ship iphones/pads around the world?  Ships, planes and automobiles  = oil economics.

Apple is a bubble.  The fact that the iphone updates its self every 6mths is ludicrous, they will either have to allow competition to come in a take some production leads, or increase prices. 

There is oil inflation denial on all fronts, but should show up in prices. 

Unless China can create their own hardware and export, otherwise they are doomed for a major economic restructure.  Should take us out when that occurs.  Meantime a market held together by a mad central banker/s and a bubble priced AAPL is frightening.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 23:56 | 2375582 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

I was a PC man until I bought by first Mac in 2004. Around that time I started using an iPod. I resisted buying an Apple product for 15 years before that.

My first computer was an Atari. Then Toshiba lap tops. Then Dells and IBMs. Then HPs. Then desktops built on spec. My first mobile phone was the Motorola with the big external battery pack.

I'm a heavy user of computers and APPL changed my life in this respect.

People say Android does everything the iPhone does. I'm still using my iPhone 1 because it does all I need from a phone and get this...its five years old and still works fine. How many phone products work after five years of use? Not any of my Nokias, Samsungs, Motos, Sony Ericksons etc.

I have an iPad and it has changed my user habits with the computers. I only use them for heavy lifting like doing the images or writing long documents. This comment is done on my iPad.

Are Apples products expensive? Yes but not prohibitively so and the expense is justified by the performance, design and product life.

Is the market hysterical? Yes. This has nothing to do with APPL management.

Are there faddists and trend followers running up sales? Yes, but isn't that the case with every great product that gains traction?

I am amazed that Wall Street is just realizing that Apple is an international business. There certainly are more bankers and traders running around HK than Banzai7s. I have been saying for over a year on Reggie's posts and elsewhere that China is a Hugh driver for Apple.

The reason? Like most Asians, the Chinese are very sensitive to brand status. They can't buy huge homes and most do not own cars. So whatever disposable income they have the spend very carefully. There are tons of Chinese web sites where consumers network. This is not deemed political activity. Apple is at the top of the product food chain. They have been very astute in nurturing this and are reaping the dividends of it.

Now this is the kicker. APPL is a latecomer in Mainland China because until very recently they did not think they could manage the retail experience adequately. But now they are training an army of sales staff and customer service people so the stores can operate like any other Apple Store. They are only in a few of the biggest cities and they are going to drill down.

Finally, they still don't have a contract with the biggest Chinese mobile carrier, China Mobile. When this happens, phone sales will skyrocket.

Am I trying to convince people to buy the stock? Absolutely not.

I am reporting to you what I know from on the ground observation and conversations with people in the IT business, none of whom incidently, work for Apple.

As far as I am concerned, being a chronic Apple basher is the flip side to being an Apple moonie. I am neither. What matters most is my experience as a product user and in that respect I have only positive feedback.

One final note. I prepared that graphic at Tyler's request. I have no interest in constantly respinning APPL or bashing Google etc. I have no 'book' to sell in this respect. However, I am somewhat knowledgeable about what is happening here and I am happy to share what I am seeing.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:02 | 2375746 chump666
chump666's picture

Just picked up a HTC...smooth, killer camera, nice sync's.  I dig that it's Tawian based. 

I hate hystria.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 02:09 | 2375753 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture


Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:16 | 2376727 poor fella
poor fella's picture

good post - now a *dream sequence*

Haha! My first computer was an Atari 400. I remember typing numbers ALL DAY with a friend to program 'games' (i.e. a bouncing ball) from a book - and when it didn't work - We'd go to the beginning and re-check it! Pages of 'f83cCco15O'. A neighbor was making circles (for trees) and I couldn't figure out how he did it - he said I needed to brush up on my trig, IN SIXTH GRADE!! Awesome.

Been curious about a Macbook, but am still a PC guy, the main reason being (and things may be different now) the SOFTWARE. Their hardware kicks butt for sure (although hate that ONE button mouse thing). But for somebody that loves to install something, play with it awhile, and remove it, it was impossible with Apple. Besides the 'widgets', there never seemed to be anything worth having. You could pay up for graphics programs that ran well, but for Mathematica, AutoCAD, music software, loads of games, etc. it was a desert. Everything had to be vetted (or written) by Apple programmers, and then they locked you into some proprietary program (iTunes anyone?)

Like I said, that may have changed, especially running multiple OSs - but it's hard to justify the price to play around with building a machine that may or may not run the programs... my three cents.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:23 | 2374876 falak pema
falak pema's picture

value added : 25 USD for i-rape and 1USD for i-get-raped. And you build an empire world-wide on i-ecosystem-double-penetrate-you-at-home in such a way that what's mine stays mine and what's yours become negotiable in the i-spy-you-buy-what-I-sell world. 

And...we all like Apple! so lie back and get i-baked-like-a-cake.


Projections for middle class in China : 300 million today, 600 million in 2020! That's the size of two USAs.

RMA-BAyern into second phase of prolongation...Bayern in final 3/2 penalty kicks!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:48 | 2374880 asteroids
asteroids's picture

I DON'T believe the China numbers. I don't see how the average Chinese can afford any Apple product.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:08 | 2374921 walküre
walküre's picture

At what prices are they selling in China? The markets in China are saturated with knock-offs as well. I find the reporting suspect.

i-Sino Apple?

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:12 | 2374938 ffart
ffart's picture

I hear from Chinese that come stateside that the life over there is easier. E.g. less taxes, easier to find a job and make money, easier to find a place to live. And the U.S. just keeps getting poorer and less attractive to immigrate to every year. Even the poor farmers living in the country have a pretty easy life compared to poor in the U.S.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:10 | 2375207 Bear
Bear's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:32 | 2374977 Captchured
Captchured's picture

There are only 5 official Apple stores in China. I was just at the one in Shanghai last month. It is essentially just like any other Apple store I've been to in the USA, including the prices. This particular store is located in the new financial district of Shanghai (which looks everybit as impressive as any modern western megacity). My take-home message was that only the very, very rich Chinese can afford these products. I also have a difficult time believing that the Chinese culture is open to online ordering of expensive products. They are a show-me culture, not a click-my-basket-to-check-out culture. That will eventually change, but it hasn't yet. So, those must be 5 really busy stores. 

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:24 | 2375103 walküre
walküre's picture

There are reg. cell phone stores in China just like here. That's where the bulk of i-phones are being sold or rented.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:38 | 2375248 maximin thrax
maximin thrax's picture

Haggling - is there an app for that?

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:00 | 2375596 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

Sales are heavily driven by mainlanders visiting Hong Kong, as is the case with all luxury goods and Chinese consumers.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:50 | 2374882 WhyDoesItHurtWh...
WhyDoesItHurtWhen iPee's picture










Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:09 | 2374925 WhyDoesItHurtWh...
WhyDoesItHurtWhen iPee's picture



Who ever gave me the down arrow can go themselves.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 16:56 | 2374897 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Oh. Kay.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:00 | 2374906 Dr. Richard Head
Dr. Richard Head's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:01 | 2374908 GrinandBearit
GrinandBearit's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:01 | 2374909 WhyDoesItHurtWh...
WhyDoesItHurtWhen iPee's picture



oops ......... iFarted, sorry.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:09 | 2374922 earleflorida
earleflorida's picture

iJob[s] has taken up residence in china

iCould not be more iLighten`d by the iSpirit

whilst, iBuddha lounges within his iPad

all is iQuiet now in iHarmony, as the dynamic iDual exchange iTunes

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:11 | 2374931 bobola
bobola's picture


Every other thread here is now Apple related.

Does their success violate Zero Hedge's agenda in some way, or are the rants derived from the rapid rise in the stock price..??

Just asking...




Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:19 | 2374959 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Maybe AAPL really is most of the economy now. Really for realz. All AAPL all the time.

If Argentina decides to nationalize the Apple stores in their country then you'll know we've crossed the Rubicon.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:25 | 2375107 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

Spoiled apple versus gold.

Gold is cheap , i-things gay.

Make a choice.

Publisher of truth can navigate, not compromise.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:49 | 2375154 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

bobola - But Steve Jobs was a Bhuddist right? A very cool guy and indeed an icon for the brainless 20 and 30 somethings flocking to his product.

Bush = bad because "he supports Big Oil", Jobs = great because he CEO of APPL and a Bhuddist.

Everything is consistent here....right? 

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:10 | 2375606 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

I don't see how a blog like this can ignore such a huge factor in the markets, just like politics which not so long ago were a factor but not the main driver as is the case in our centrally planned world.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:40 | 2375658 e2thex
e2thex's picture


You're the educated Easterner riding the train with diary in hand to the nineteenth century West.  The second gold-rush makes it even more eerie.

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 00:49 | 2375664 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

I'm on a quest looking for that bar in the first Star Wars movie ;-)

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:11 | 2374934 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:12 | 2374936 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture

For the Iberian market: the AyPhone

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:13 | 2374941 azzhatter
azzhatter's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:13 | 2374942 johnnymustardseed
johnnymustardseed's picture

iCrap made by iSlaves in iChina moves ponzi markets....exciting!!

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:13 | 2374943 azzhatter
azzhatter's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:14 | 2374944 azzhatter
azzhatter's picture


Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:21 | 2374950 AlaricBalth
AlaricBalth's picture

Foxconn currently has approximately 1.2 million employees. There customer list includes some of the largest tech companies in the world, including Apple, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft and Sony. The vast majority of employees of Foxcomm were provided to the company through "labor brokers" who ship poor, destitute people with families in from the countryside to work in the factories. These "labor brokers" get a fee for each employee brought in. The labor brokerage industry in China is controlled by a group called Sanhehui (Three Harmonies Society). Sanhehui is the main branch of the Chinese Triad, a Chinese criminal organization that is so violent and widespread it makes the Mafia look like grade school amateurs in comparison.

The employees of Foxconn are under tremendous pressure to perform or be replaced. They are able to send money home to the countryside to support their families but they are practically slaves. The reason you see so many suicides at Foxconn factories is because if an employee washes out, he or she is not necessarily sent home but put to work in another Sanhehui entity.

Many women who are fired from Foxconn are sent to work at Chinese karaoke parlors in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, where many foreigners visit. These karaoke parlors are brothels and the girls must prostitute themselves in order to continue to support their families back home.

The fate of a male Foxconn worker who can't cut it is possibly much worse. He can be sent to Mongolia to work the mines or he can face a greater cruelty.

I remember one day a few years ago I was crossing a road in Guangzhou with my Chinese lawyer. We came upon a man begging for money. He was grotesquely disfigured. One arm missing, one foot chopped off and his face had been badly scarred from burns. I went to give him money but my attorney stopped me and said I shouldn't. He told me this man belonged to the Triad and the money would only go to them. I asked the beggar what had happened to him and he said he had been a worker at a Foxconn factory but was fired for not working fast enough, so now he must beg to support his family. That is all he would say. As we walked on, my attorney explained to me that the Triad purposefully disfigures these former workers so that the tourists will feel sorry for them and give them money.

These are just a few examples of how an employee could be driven to suicide in China. Foxconn deals with these "labor brokers" and knows what happens if they are released from the factory. The tech companies also turn a blind eye to Foxconn's dealings with the Triad.

Sorry so long winded, but just needed to bring to light some of the labor practices in China. There are so many people there that life is not sacred but commoditized. I have spent a lot of time there and this is a realistic depiction of what is occurring.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 17:58 | 2375036 Vince Clortho
Vince Clortho's picture

The Central Bankers vision of what needs to be done on a Global Scale.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:04 | 2375053 BORT
BORT's picture

I visited a plant in Guangzhou where our material was being used.  Three Buildings.  Plant, dorm, offices.  We visited two of the three.  Guess which was not on the tour.  Very large security fence.  Nothing in there worth stealing.  Circ 1999.  Just saying.  It's not new, but it is profitable. 

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:31 | 2375118 walküre
walküre's picture

And customers here are lining up hours in advance to be the first idiot to buy the latest gadget.

We're so fucked and that's exactly how I'm raising my kids. Telling them that everyone out there is probably a useful idiot.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 18:35 | 2375132 TheGardener
TheGardener's picture

Government sponsored labor brokers in Europe don`t cut off your limbs, but you do have to give up your soul to qualify for enslavement or you get your benefits cut. Zombified.

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 19:59 | 2375276 poor fella
poor fella's picture

It reminds me of the Lululemon hype! All these supposedly worldly-conscious rich bitches buying stupid ass yoga pants for the price that their mothers would have bought a sewing machine for and would have been able to MAKE as many damn pants as they wanted - while the Dalai Lama tries to avoid Chinese crosshairs and the Panchen Lama is kidnapped to be replaced by a puppet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's like kidnapping the Pope!!! Not to mention the lack of environmental controls which will bring us all down. Fuck Foxconn, fuck the Chinese government, and FUCK APPLE (and Lululemon).. AND GE, and all our cot-damn corporations that need to be 'put down' like sick animals! 

Man, maybe I had one too many  =O   Doesn't change my views on globalization though.
