WSJ

WSJ: Apple gearing up for record production of 70 to 80 million iPhone 6 units

Cody Lee ∙ July 21, 2014

Apple is gearing up for its largest initial production run of iPhones ever, according to a new report this afternoon from The Wall Street Journal. The Cupertino company is betting big on its larger-screened handsets, which it believes will garner record sales.

Citing sources "familiar with the matter," the outlet says that Apple has asked suppliers to manufacture somewhere between 70 million and 80 million units combined of two larger display iPhones, one 4.7-inch model and one 5.5-inch, by the end of December...

WSJ: TSMC starts shipping 20nm A8 chips to Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 10, 2014

It's been long rumored that Apple for years has been working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent chip foundry, on building its in-house designed processors that power the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices.

Thus far, several conflicting reports have indicated that TSMC has been running test production of the upcoming A8 processor for months now, with other sources insisting that the Taiwanese chip foundry was unsuccessful kickstarting mass-production over ongoing yield issues.

A report Thursday by The Wall Street Journal has it on good authority that TSMC finally began shipping its first batch of microprocessors to Apple in the second quarter...

WSJ: iWatch due in Fall, Tim Cook actively looking to add fresh faces to Apple’s board

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Tim Cook's recasting of Apple is in full bloom as the CEO pushes executives to be more collaborative while broadening the firm's legendary laser focus, as per a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The story also mentions that Cook is very much looking to add new directors to Apple's eight-person board.

That's hardly a surprise given that six board members are aged 63 or older. It's also worth mentioning that Cook has inherited the board from Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs so these people may not be necessarily 100 percent loyal to Cook in the long run.

Moreover, people familiar with the Apple's plans told WSJ that the firm will introduce its rumored iWatch with "advanced sensors to track a user’s fitness and health" alongside new iPhones in the Fall, matching up with previous reports...

iWatch to come in multiple designs with more than 10 sensors

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Hot on the heels of a report from Reuters yesterday regarding the iWatch, The Wall Street Journal has published a scoop of its own on Apple's oft-rumored smartwatch. The outlet agrees with some previous speculation, and offers up some new details on the device.

Citing sources familiar with the project, the site says Apple is planning multiple versions of its smartwatch. It's working on different designs, and sizes, in an effort to appeal to various tastes in fashion. It also adds that the watch will feature more than 10 built-in sensors...

WSJ profile describes Dr. Dre as a perfectionist, compares him to Steve Jobs

Cody Lee ∙ June 7, 2014

The Wall Street Journal has written a profile on Beats co-founder Dr. Dre titled "Apple's New Beat: What Steve Jobs and Dr. Dre have in Common." That headline may sound blasphemous to die-hard Apple fans, but the comparisons they draw are interesting.

Though Jimmy Iovine has done most of the talking since Apple acquired his Beats Electronics last month, Dr. Dre played an equally important role in the company's success. He's a workaholic and a perfectionist, with a disdain for deadlines and marketing research...

Apple paid $500M for Beats Music, $2.5B for Beats hardware (and other tidbits)

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 29, 2014

According to a breakdown of Apple's $3 billion Beats buy published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, the company basically paid less than $500 million for the Beats Music subscription service and about $2.5 billion for Beats Electronics LCC, which makes the popular Beats headphones, speakers and audio software (which some dismiss as a software equalizer that boosts the bass).

The report alleges that the acquisition - the most expensive in Apple's history - gives the Cupertino firm Beats' brand power and star leadership. The story downplays the importance of the generic Beats Music streaming service to the overall deal...

WSJ: Apple playing ‘catch up’ with Beats acquisition

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

The disruptor has become the disrupted. Apple, the company that turned the music industry upside down with the launch of the iTunes Store in 2003, saw digital download sales drop for the first time ever last year. Why? Streaming music services.

The folks out in Cupertino failed to see the rise of the Rdios and the Spotifys, and thus have been forced to play catch-up. And according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, that's exactly what this rumored Apple-Beats acquisition is all about...

Cook on why Apple isn’t rushing out new products

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 24, 2014

Following Apple's earnings release yesterday, Tim Cook expectedly teased new products on a conference call with Wall Street analysts and investors. Hints of new gadgets were also dropped in Apple's media release announcing the earnings.

“We’re eagerly looking forward to introducing more new products and services that only Apple could bring to market,” Cook was quoted as saying in Apple's press release.

And now responding to pressure from analysts who demand new-category devices, Cook sat down with The Wall Street Journal on Thursday to reflect on Apple's development process, touch on such subjects as mobile payments and explain why Apple isn't rushing out new stuff to market just to please investors...

Apple, Google offering game developers special incentives for exclusivity

Jake Smith ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Competition between Apple and Google not only covers smartphones and mobile operating systems, but the App Store and Google Play app marketplaces, as well. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday the two companies have been working to sway game developers over to their own platforms exclusively with special incentives.

Having an exclusive game title on an app marketplace could help smartphone users feel as if they're on the best platform, a task Apple and Google have been working hard at since 2008. Both companies have reportedly offered game developers premium placement on the App Store and Google Play, for exclusivity in return.

Square reportedly in talks to sell after growing losses, held ‘informal talks’ with Apple

Jake Smith ∙ Updated March 20, 2018

Mobile payments startup Square is looking to sell its business, following growing losses and shrinking cash reserves, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Square, founded by Twitter's Jack Dorsey in 2009, makes software, hardware products, and services, including Square Register and Square Wallet, for customers to pay merchants in an easier way.

Square has discussed an acquisition with Google in 2014, according to the report, with prior talks dating back to 2012. Additionally, Apple is said to have held informal talks with Square about a deal, interesting given the mobile payment rumors that have been circulating the Cupertino-based company.

Analysts make case for why Apple will launch mobile payment system

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

The Morgan Stanley Research group in Europe believes Apple has all the ingredients to cook up a proprietary mobile payment system, and makes a case for why the Cupertino-based company may launch it soon.

Primarily, Apple in a way is already the "de facto, in the mobile payment space," given it has 400 million credit cards on file through its iTunes Store.

One Morgan Stanley executive makes a strong case, based on public information and not insider Apple information, on why it sounds likely:

Facebook reportedly aims to get ahead of Apple with new payments service

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Get ready to pay for items using Facebook, as the social network is said to be planning a payments service that could launch before the rumored iWallet from Apple.

Facebook hasn't officially confirmed the service, but it's working to receive regulatory approval for it in Ireland, according to a report from the Financial Times. The service is said to allow users to store money and make electronic payments through the social network. Essentially, it will put Facebook in competition with Google Wallet, PayPal, Isis, Square, and soon Apple, if the rumors are true...