Here are some of my key takeaways from this quarter, from the eyes of a consumer with no real insight:
- 19 million iPads sold in this quarter alone, up from 11.8 million this time last year. I think at this point we are truly in a tablet market, in which desktop computers are sold—not the other way around. The majority is shifting.
- It would potentially seem that profits are down – even though revenue is up – due to the fact that the profit margins on the iPad mini are tighter (and they sold more of these than the full size). Imagine where this would be if Apple had felt forced to shrink their margins even further, to meet the price-point we all felt they should.
- Horace Dediu tweeted that “Revenues per Mac were $1378, highest since 2008.” I find this number insane and very smart. I feel like Apple would be aware that the work they are doing with their iOS products, could be cannibalizing potential Mac sales by making the most of the margins they are effectively combatting that.
- “Our teams are working on new hardware, software, and services that we can’t wait to introduce this Fall and throughout 2014.” Even though it’s obvious that Tim Cook would have said something like this, I cant help but feel better now that he has.
- Apple will also be entering a new product category this year. OMG iCAR!
It wasn’t a hit all-round this quarter, but I don’t believe Apple are doomed. Of course they’re not. I shall look forward to the next quarter — the same as I always do — with my eyes on the most exciting company in tech.
This is a guest post by Myke Hurley, as Stephen and his family are on a much-needed break.