Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 3:18:37 GMT -8
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 3:21:41 GMT -8
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 3:28:47 GMT -8
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 3:36:54 GMT -8
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 3:41:14 GMT -8
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 6:40:58 GMT -8
Wow, Mr. Market seems happy today. Let’s hope that it lasts. Up +$4.24 at the moment.
|
|
JDSoCal
Member
Aspiring oligarch
Posts: 4,182
|
Post by JDSoCal on Dec 15, 2020 8:28:56 GMT -8
LOL, companies ranked on how woke they are, but not on investor returns, the entire point of a corporation. I threw up in my mouth a little bit. This social justice nonsense truly is a cancer.
|
|
|
Post by archibaldtuttle on Dec 15, 2020 8:38:52 GMT -8
Does this deserve a Wheeeee? Or does that only happen at ATHs?
|
|
4aapl
Moderator
Posts: 3,632
|
Post by 4aapl on Dec 15, 2020 9:50:02 GMT -8
Does this deserve a Wheeeee? Or does that only happen at ATHs? JD had a fitting remark previously. I'm sure my attempt at retelling it wouldn't do it justice, but the cliff notes version is "enjoy the ride". For anyone interested, the DAF setup and funding went pretty easily and quickly. Setup was pretty instant, once all applicants put in their info and created their accounts. I think it took 30 minutes at most. Funding took a little longer, but wasn't outlandish. I put in the request to my brokerage on Tuesday just after close, they showed the shares "gone" as of Thursday, and Schwab sent a note on Saturday that the account was funded. So about 4 business days even during a busier time. They might have fast-tracked my small transfer a little on their end, but most of the time is regulation and transfer which I don't think would matter as far as to the account levels. Anyways, it went pretty quick. Going through a DAF lets us use the same money to make a donation about 25% larger (ie $500, instead of $400 post-capital gains taxes), while also making taxes a little easier by concentrating our donation and not having to keep track of each individual donation. For us the downside is moving it out of AAPL, and the transfer ended up happening at a lower price of the week. But I'm countering that by doing multiple smaller donations at slightly different times. Nice move today AAPL, and on good volume for a change. Sounds like people are still buying iPhones. Imagine that!
|
|
JDSoCal
Member
Aspiring oligarch
Posts: 4,182
|
Post by JDSoCal on Dec 15, 2020 10:22:39 GMT -8
Many think China is our biggest problem (I think the ChiComs are evil and are the US's most serious geopolitical foe). But from an Apple standpoint, I think it's the EU we have to worry about most. I'm really starting to wonder if Apple needs to create region-specific OS and cloud versions. Or maybe even stop selling products in the EU. This might sound weird or counter-intuitive, but remember that Apple is a corporation organized by regions, not product classes. Apple, Amazon, Other Tech 'Gatekeepers' Risk EU FinesA shakedown, pure and simple. This EU regulation and taxing is getting scary.
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 10:29:59 GMT -8
Many think China is our biggest problem (I think the ChiComs are evil and are the US's most serious geopolitical foe). But from an Apple standpoint, I think it's the EU we have to worry about most. I'm really starting to wonder if Apple needs to create region-specific OS and cloud versions. Or maybe even stop selling products in the EU. This might sound weird or counter-intuitive, but remember that Apple is a corporation organized by regions, not product classes. Apple, Amazon, Other Tech 'Gatekeepers' Risk EU FinesA shakedown, pure and simple. This EU regulation and taxing is getting scary. It’s all about the money, they want it and need it and will eventually get it.
|
|
Dave
Member
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." Yogi Berra
Posts: 4,099
|
Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 13:11:53 GMT -8
Does this deserve a Wheeeee? Or does that only happen at ATHs? Now would be a great time for a Wheeeee!Ya don’t make 5.01% everyday.
|
|
|
Post by Odd-Lot Richard on Dec 15, 2020 13:27:41 GMT -8
LOL, companies ranked on how woke they are, but not on investor returns, the entire point of a corporation. I threw up in my mouth a little bit. This social justice nonsense truly is a cancer. Who is the audience for these? If they want to invest with one hand tied behind their back by investing based on lists like these, let ’em. More money for those of us who invested optimally when the market reverts from a voting machine to a weighing machine. I'm really starting to wonder if Apple needs to create region-specific OS and cloud versions. Or maybe even stop selling products in the EU. Would that even work? As I understand it, the GDPR was structured so that if an EU citizen uses a service from outside the EU, the restrictions on data use still applies. If the DSA is structured similarly, then Apple would have to require people to prove that they are not citizens of the EU before selling them products or services to avoid dealing with the provisions, whatever they are.
|
|
JDSoCal
Member
Aspiring oligarch
Posts: 4,182
|
Post by JDSoCal on Dec 15, 2020 13:29:41 GMT -8
By our current trade-sideways-for-months standards, today's AAPL print is within acceptable whee margins. Cramer warning us of unverified rumors (about the purported iPhone production increase): He might have a point. See also,
|
|
JDSoCal
Member
Aspiring oligarch
Posts: 4,182
|
Post by JDSoCal on Dec 15, 2020 15:09:37 GMT -8
I'm really starting to wonder if Apple needs to create region-specific OS and cloud versions. Or maybe even stop selling products in the EU. Would that even work? As I understand it, the GDPR was structured so that if an EU citizen uses a service from outside the EU, the restrictions on data use still applies. If the DSA is structured similarly, then Apple would have to require people to prove that they are not citizens of the EU before selling them products or services to avoid dealing with the provisions, whatever they are.
I went to college on the other side of campus; but I am sure it has at least been considered for some time up in Cupertino, in light of China's demands for censorship. Maybe Apple will have to sell a EU-only hardware version of mobile devices. And make a good faith effort to do iOS updates based on location and IP addresses. But Apple can't just allow this shakedown. Lyft and Uber have pulled out of cities and states that have tried to regulate their very business models.
I've been trying to think of a way to bring this up without starting a political war, but now more than ever, we could use someone willing to go to the mat on trade and fight for America first. I can only hope that Tim forms a relationship with the new admin and lays it out for them. It's bad enough our government is going after our own companies on silly antitrust nonsense (I'm no fan of Facebook, but why attack American success stories?). At least threaten retaliation if the EU pushes this shakedown.
One thing Facebook's experience has shown: Appeasement never works. It's just perceived as weakness.
|
|
4aapl
Moderator
Posts: 3,632
|
Post by 4aapl on Dec 15, 2020 16:47:43 GMT -8
Would that even work? As I understand it, the GDPR was structured so that if an EU citizen uses a service from outside the EU, the restrictions on data use still applies. If the DSA is structured similarly, then Apple would have to require people to prove that they are not citizens of the EU before selling them products or services to avoid dealing with the provisions, whatever they are. I went to college on the other side of campus; but I am sure it has at least been considered for some time up in Cupertino, in light of China's demands for censorship. Maybe Apple will have to sell a EU-only hardware version of mobile devices. And make a good faith effort to do iOS updates based on location and IP addresses. But Apple can't just allow this shakedown. Lyft and Uber have pulled out of cities and states that have tried to regulate their very business models.
If the market is big enough, and there is enough of a way to differentiate it, it's possible. And that's where so much of the world has wanted to head for the past 6+ years. Nationalism. We know of it in the US. But while I don't directly hear about it as much recently for other countries, it was a big thing with all of the refugees, and countries trying to limit or refuse them. Sometimes it's easier to scapegoat all of your problems onto one group, than to do the right thing while understanding that not all problems are due to one thing or group of people. The same thing happens in the US, even within its boarders. Thing Katrina, and the refugees moving to other places. Back to Apple and the broad picture, everyone does want a piece of the action. Sure, ideally everything could be produced locally, possibly with a cost differential, even if designed elsewhere. They can't be "stealing our jobs" is the jobs are local. That does away with some of the economy of scale items, and does add on other costs. But it's possible. At Apple we added certain features that were requested by big customers, even if they were hidden features. I can't remember the exact specifics, but this was with the likes of University of Michigan (or Minnesota) dealing with 40,000 users. At some point the numbers make it worth it. But Apple has done this since, with the likes of China and the app store. If they need compliance, your choice is to work with them or cancel them. I don't know the numbers or percentages in Europe. But like anything, at some point it makes it worth it, while others aren't. There may be some good-will middle ground, especially if banking on the future. But more than not, it just comes down to profitability, especially long term. I'm sure Apple is on this. Apple realizes that they are of the size that they can play ball, and even have some leeway on setting terms. Likewise, they haven't so far been one the fold early. I could even see them working together with the governments to help set the terms for everyone, while reminding that they are willing to walk. But maybe that is just a pie in the sky theory. Still, it seems plausible, just as Apple has worked with US Presidents even when they are not fully in agreement. There are advantages of being one of the big players, while also having been around long enough to understand how the game gets played.
|
|
|
Post by Lstream on Dec 15, 2020 20:13:38 GMT -8
I have been reading Fitness+ and AirPod Pro Max reviews today. Generally very positive. Everyone bitches a bit the Max price, but a fair bit of acknowledgment that a very premium product, can get away with that price. The likes of Bose must wonder what hit them, with Apple’s overall AirPod family.
|
|
4aapl
Moderator
Posts: 3,632
|
Post by 4aapl on Dec 15, 2020 21:45:56 GMT -8
I have been reading Fitness+ and AirPod Pro Max reviews today. Generally very positive. Everyone bitches a bit the Max price, but a fair bit of acknowledgment that a very premium product, can get away with that price. The likes of Bose must wonder what hit them, with Apple’s overall AirPod family. It's been 6+ months now, at least, since Apple's "reference monitor", or whatever it was. It's not a market I'm in, and not a market most are in, so I don't remember the exacts. It was expensive. But it was for a specific target market, and my understanding is that it was a deal in that specific target market. It seems like the AirPod Pro Max is similar. It's expensive, compared to a lot of things, but not really meant for the average joe. OTOH, for that target market that it's aimed at, it's a good value. Theres times that I wish Apple went for the lower end of the spectrum. Paying $350 each for a couple PC laptops just makes sense for young kids that might drop them, instead of Macs starting at $1k each. But once you appreciate the market that Apple is completing in with each product, you can start to appreciate the differences, beyond what OS it runs. Those PC laptops feel cheap, because they are. I'm not after a pair of AirPod Pro Max's, but I also didn't shell out for the AirPods. I just don't really have the need, no matter the price. But, I also remember the shock of the pricing on the first iPod, with friends making fun of it a bit, before buying one a couple years later once it became more mainstream and slightly more affordable. Set the market, and then go from there.
|
|