apple evolution

Take a look at this chart that details the evolution of Apple product design from 1976 to 2007. Follow the link to see a larger image.(link via Guy Kawazaki)

iphone ads

Just feeding the hype. The latest iPhone ads, on Apple's website.

jobs and gates share the stage

Only adulations and jokes between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, when they were interviewed at the "D5: All Things Digital Conference" in Carlsbad. Among some priceless stuff though: the awkwardness when they were asked about the Mac vs. PC ads, and Jobs saying that "...most things in life are either a Dylan or a Beatles song". Watch the video here.

apple: america's best retailer

There's a very interesting story about Apple in the latest edition of Fortune magazine. This time about how Apple has transformed itself into America's best retailer, beating the 'sales per square foot a year' of established retailers such as Saks, Best Buy and even Tiffany's (read article here, sub. req.).
According to the article, a research report by Sanford C. Bernstein, shows that the averages of Apple's 174 stores is US$ 4,032 psf/year, against Saks' $362, Best Buy's $ 930, and Tiffany's $ 2,666.
Not so surprising considering the stores' relative small size (compared to other, much bigger department stores) and the number of people who frequent them. See the line outside the Regent St Apple Store, in London, below (2005 Christmas season).

apple's stock

Apple's stock price rose more than 7% after the announcements made yesterday at MacWorld Conference, adding roughly US$ 5 billion to its market cap (closed at US$ 79.5 billion). Not bad for a two-hour presentation. See below the summary of yesterday's trading activities.
Macminute has an interesting report about the effect of Jobs' presentation on Apple's shares (from bottom up):
- Apple changes name to Apple Inc., dropping "Computer"
- Apple shares up 8% at $92.42
- iPhone to be available in June, 4GB version priced at US$499, 8GB $599
- Apple partners with Cingular Wireless for iPhone
- Apple shares up 5.5% at US$90.22
- iPhone features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capabilities
- iPhone will have a 3.5-inch diagonal screen and be 11.6 millimeters thick
- iPhone includes two-megapixel camera
- iPhone to connect with iTunes
- Apple expects to sell 100 millionth iPod in 2007
- Apple iPhone features "revolutionary" touch-screen -- to use new "Multi-Touch" technology, which Apple has patented
- Apple stock up 3.5% at US$88.48
- Apple calls new product "iPhone"
- Jobs: "Apple is going to reinvent the phone"
- Jobs unveils mobile phone
- Apple TV shipping in February for US$299. Pre-orders available today.
- Apple TV can stream content from up to five computers
- Apple TV device holds movies, TV shows, music, photos
- Apple shares up 40 cents at US$85.85
- Apple changes iTV name to Apple TV -- 40GB hard drive, stores 50 hrs vide

In the meantime, shares of Blackberry maker Research in Motion dropped 11%, losing about US$ 2 billion in market value.

heavy traffic

This is what I got when trying to access Steve Jobs' keynote address yesterday at the launch of the iPhone.