Apple announces MASSIVE profits

[RobDickinson]

gregf40 said:

The working conditions in the factories in China (which aren't even owned by Apple) are probably a million miles better than they were under communism which you appear to be advocating.

I'm pretty much a capitalist/conservatist but whatever.

Treating your employees and the workers who make your top dollar baubels the same way your home country would require is such a push? Would it hurt apple so much to pay these guys more than a dollar an hour?

To one extent its apples job to make as much profit for its shareholders as possible - this is pretty much its only real requirement after all. But there should be legislation forcing them to declare correct profit and not run sweatshops like they do.

I'm not pointing a finger just at apple here but they are the poster child for this issue.

[Troubleatmill]

RobDickinson said:

what has samsung got to do with this thread?

Apple innovated their UI.
Samsung stole theirs.

There are many reasons why Apple have been as successful as they have been.

[Eric Mc]

twinturboz said:

As an Apple share holder, the returns on investment have been outstanding depending on when you bought in, but for argument sake 73% increase in the last 12 months alone.

Yes you can argue the capital the share holders are getting back is limited by repatriation of the overseas funds but again $130billion returned to shareholders through the end of 2015 isn't exactly a small amount.

Am I concerned about debt not in the slightest. Apple's debt is currently around $30 billion to put that into perspective net profit from the last quarter was $18billion so the only time as a shareholder I would even start to be concerned is if Apples business slows down extremely and they can no longer generate cash.

The US want 35% of that cash one of the highest corporation tax rates in the world. Lets not make this an Apple issue there is roughly $1.7 trillion held in overseas accounts by US companies. Apple pays its fair share of US taxes most likely the largest corporate tax payer in the US, any profit made in the US they pay tax, they aren't funnelling that overseas to avoid tax.

Also they haven't said they don't want to bring that cash back to the US, if they can negotiate a lower tax rate I'm sure they would bring it back and as the cash pile grows maybe they'll have a better negotiating position.

Well, you've verified the reason I was giving as to why they aren't repatriating a large element of their profits.

They are obviously hanging on until Jeb Bush becomes Pres and then they can negotiate a backhander - sorry, deal.

[Eric Mc]

RobDickinson said:

To one extent its apples job to make as much profit for its shareholders as possible - this is pretty much its only real requirement after all.

Although it's even being rather parsimonius with them too.

[JensenA]

briang9 said:

JensenA said:

Another person who doesn't know what he's talking about, and simply spouts Ill informed insults at those who choose to buy Apple products.

Not at all, based on many years experience working at a senior level in I.T. with Apple and other brands.

Well I still think you're wrong, and ignorant about what Apple products do, and how they do it. I would suspect that you simply hate Apple products for some illogical reason.

[TheInternet]

TheD said:

you have written nothing but a load of dribble.

Irony supplement.

[speedy_thrills]

RobDickinson said:

To one extent its apples job to make as much profit for its shareholders as possible - this is pretty much its only real requirement after all.

In a way you'd have to imagine apple would eventually damage its brand if it keeps using suppliers relying on sweat shops.

More interestingly is peoples moral justification for buying products they know to have likely been made by people working under these conditions. Apple of course is not unique in the way it makes phones but has got the most publicity into workplace practises by contractors. I was reading a book recently and it struck me how closely many justifications paralleled the proponents of slavery fighting abolition like competitiveness in a global marketplace, not having influence over other realms etc.

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

Rolls Royce or Kia - they both get you from A to B
Bose or Bush - they both play music
Rolex or Seconda - they both tell the time
Waitrose or ASDA - they both sell food
The Ritz or Pontins - they both have beds
Savil Row or Primark - you can buy a suit in both
Apple or Android - they both play Candy Crush Saga

In all these examples - if you were offered the choice of one ot the other for free...you'd take the first one, right?
In every example, the first one IS more (a lot more) expensive, but you know why, right? They are 'just better' than the alternative cheaper option.

[twinturboz]

Eric Mc said:

Well, you've verified the reason I was giving as to why they aren't repatriating a large element of their profits.

They are obviously hanging on until Jeb Bush becomes Pres and then they can negotiate a backhander - sorry, deal.

Yup not arguing with you there. Funnily enough didn't the U.S. have a tax amanesty back in 2004, don't think the money brought back into the Usa actually had an effect on the economy at all.

[RobDickinson]

Apple vs Android is more like BMW vs VAG though.

Pick the right VAG car and you have very comperable or even better results than the other option.

Cue years of our 3 inch phones are all you need, oh wait here is the iPhone6 , wow look at all those sales..

I did indeed choose android over apple. as do a lot more people.

Almost perfect example of an apple fanboy .. that there is no other sensible choice and that the only choice is Rolls royce or kia.

[KarlMac]

I just keep thinking about Nokia. They were unstoppable at the turn of the millenium, it was borderline impossible to sell anything else.

The world moved on, now Nokia haven't got two pennies to run together.

Same thing will happen to Apple on a long enough timeline.

[J4CKO]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

Rolls Royce or Kia - they both get you from A to B
Bose or Bush - they both play music
Rolex or Seconda - they both tell the time
Waitrose or ASDA - they both sell food
The Ritz or Pontins - they both have beds
Savil Row or Primark - you can buy a suit in both
Apple or Android - they both play Candy Crush Saga

In all these examples - if you were offered the choice of one ot the other for free...you'd take the first one, right?
In every example, the first one IS more (a lot more) expensive, but you know why, right? They are 'just better' than the alternative cheaper option.

Invalid comparison really, Android covers £59 cheapies to Galaxy S5's.

My Wife and I have Ipads, I have a 3 and she has an Air, she has an Iphone 5 but is dying to go back to Android, she had a Galaxy 4S before and preferred it by some margin.

They aren't anywhere near as Aspirational now as they were, so that is enabling people to make more rational decisions, still, they must be doing somethign right, they are good products, I love my Ipad its been utterly perfect in nearly three years.

I think we need to judge things on their own merits, remove the fanboyism/Slavishness either way and just decide on whether the product is any good, I believe the Apple stuff stands up well.

[chrispmartha]

Bose V Bush? I'd probably take the Bush

Anyway, I don't get this apple hatred that has become very popular in the last few years. I've used macs throughout my career for the last 20 as a graphic designer they are the industry standard, that probably won't change while apple continue to make macs. Whatever people think of their technology and or OS systems, they are absolute best in class for product and industrial design and that commands a premium and one I am personally am prepared to pay ( I am talking more about the macs rather than iPhones.)

[Claudia Skies]

chrispmartha said:

Anyway, I don't get this apple hatred that has become very popular in the last few years.

Agreed. It's the same phenomenon as Tesco-bashing.

Meanwhile, thank goodness there's at least some completion from Samsung and the Androids.

[StevieBee]

KarlMac said:

I just keep thinking about Nokia. They were unstoppable at the turn of the millenium, it was borderline impossible to sell anything else.

The world moved on, now Nokia haven't got two pennies to run together.

Same thing will happen to Apple on a long enough timeline.

I think that Nokia didn't really innovate, rather just develop what they had.

Plus, Nokia just did phones. Apple make phones, computers, laptops, servers and also sell music, films, apps

[otolith]

Are Apple's procurement policies any less ethical than anyone else's?

[KarlMac]

StevieBee said:

I think that Nokia didn't really innovate, rather just develop what they had.

Plus, Nokia just did phones. Apple make phones, computers, laptops, servers and also sell music, films, apps

What are apples lastest innovations, beyond ripping off other peoples ideas?

'We'll make it bigger!"

(Btw this post is from an iPhone 5!)

[chrispmartha]

KarlMac said:

What are apples lastest innovations, beyond ripping off other peoples ideas?

'We'll make it bigger!"

(Btw this post is from an iPhone 5!)

Apple IMO has never been about innovation (apart from in industrial/product design) . What they have always been good at is taking existing ideas and technology and making them work properly for the end user. Look at the iPod, it wasn't the first portable digital music player but it was the best looking and the easiest to use, same with the iphone, it wasn't the first touch screen mobile phone/internet browser but they Mae it look good and simple to use.

[jmorgan]

I find that they are a breath of fresh air from the usual suspects and always have from my day one of using. There is a big fashion item mentality attached to the product as well I fear, far more than when I first started to use their products. Never used an iPhone. But people are buying Apple for what ever reason and many people will see that as a big target to have a go at them. Before the iPods and iPhones, they were probably a quaint target for a micky take of windows users despite still doing a good job and weapon of choice in some industries.

Oh well.

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

[redacted]