With Apple struggling to keep its stock price from dipping any lower (although it really doesn’t look like they care), analysts and tech watchers speculate that there will be an Apple HDTV offering and a less expensive (cheaper) iPhone, but who knows what the new product(s) will be?
I’m in the camp that sees the iWatch as the best next must have gadget, primarily because of the potential sales volume and higher profit margin potential on a percentage basis. Watches have also traditionally been brand conscious, trendy and are even accepted status items when it comes to wearable style … and I suspect that Apple shareholders would be pleased with sales of a high margin watch rather than a high priced and far more complex TV. Long term, I do think an improved television interface would give Apple a product for the decade. Back to the watch though, even if the watch was priced high at $300, Apple would sell a bunch … if at $200 it would even take market share away from the new KickstarterPebble watch(so as long as the iWatch doesn’t fail like Apple Maps!). See Bloomberg.
I’m hoping that Apple doesn’t disappoint and will get both products right … if so, the stock which is currently trading for $430/share could hand investors a double within a very short time.
The free world lost a great leader today — the Iron Lady; the 87 year old late 20th century UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died after suffering complications due to a stroke according to news sources early this morning. She was the necessary right hand and closely aligned friend to U.S. leaders assisting to bring an end to the Cold War during the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s. Women Leaders of this magnitude are few and far between … countries would be well served to seek and elect leaders like her.
Originally a research chemist before becoming a barrister, Thatcher was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Finchley in 1959. Edward Heath appointed her Secretary of State for Education and Science in his 1970 government. In 1975 Thatcher defeated Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election and became Leader of the Opposition, as well as the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She became Prime Minister after winning the 1979 general election.
It is a busy spring weekend around our house trying to get a few thing in order before the big day next Saturday … 4.13.13 – Katelyn and Drew’s wedding. Lots to get done before I put on the tux (picked it up already) and walk my daughter down the aisle; it is hard to believe my little girl is old enough to be getting married, even though she has graduated from medical school and will soon be in her final residency year. Time rushes on.
For me, I still see her as my “little” girl on the boat (Brenich in 1986 above, Tulla in the 90’s above right), smiling while playing on the beach (with a VW below), or hiking together on one of our many family vacations (Montana with Taylor below right).
We’re hardly sputtering along when it comes to getting Americans back to work. One wonders why we bother to spend so much money on government when our over compensated bureaucrats only add to the problem. If it were not so frustrating and painful, government’s adding “programs,” meddling with tax rates and monetary policy and out of control wasteful spending would be comical. When it comes to fixing the economy, we’d be better off letting the chips fall where they may. I’m starting to lean towards a Libertarian philosophy and letting capital markets and charity deal with our woes; it is pretty obvious that bureaucrats are making a mess of things.
U.S. employers added jobs at the slowest pace in nine months in March, suggesting weakening economic growth as higher taxes and government spending cuts weigh on the labor market.
Employers added 88,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate, obtained by a separate survey of U.S. households, fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.6%, largely because of people dropping out of the work force.
While setting up the iPad with my new (old 30 pin version) AV adapter and Kiosk Pro app, I decided to check out the new Slingbox on my workshop TV. Wow … it streamed from my HD cable box over WiFi just fine and improved the quality of the picture too.
As for programing the required HTML code for the Kiosk Pro slide presentation, well … let’s just say I need to spend a little more time figuring things out. It works, but lacks the tweaks, security and privacy features I was looking for. Still, for $4.99, it is a nice app … especially compared to buying a new version of Adobe Creative Suite or a Microsoft Office for the PC or iMac.
Apple shareholders have a lot to grumble about when it comes to stock price and a lack of immediacy in addressing investors. Some are questioning if “they still know what they are doing” and I can’t help but be a little bit disappointed with rumors that next quarter’s iPhone release will maintain the “smaller” form … although a “mini” iPhone might be interesting? Personally I’m fine with the current iPhone 5’s size … or even the previous generations, but it must be exceedingly clear to Apple executives that a lot of smartphone buyers want bigger screens?
“Apple plans to begin production of a refreshed iPhone similar in size and shape to its current one in the second quarter of the year, according to people familiar with the device’s production, teeing up a possible summer launch for the next version of its flagship device.” LINK
Here’s a tip posted by Lee Jennings titled “Rusty Nuts.” Excellent tips although mine is a repost of a repost.
I ran across this a while ago in a post from the (Twin City DX Association) The info could prove useful the next time you run across an “impossible to loosen” nut on a tower.
“Machinist’s Workshop” recently published information on various penetrating oils. The magazine reports they tested these products for “break out torque” on rusted nuts and bolts. A subjective test was made of popular penetrating oils, with the unit of merit being the torque required to remove the nut from a “scientifically rusted” bolt.
Average torque load to loosen nut:
No Oil used ……………………516 foot pounds
WD-40 ………………… ……..238 foot pounds
PB Blaster …………………….214 foot pounds
Liquid Wrench ………………….127 foot pounds
Kano Kroil …………………….106 foot pounds
ATF/Acetone mix…………………. 53 foot pounds
The ATF/Acetone mix is a “home brew” mix of 50/50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note this “home brew” released bolts better than any commercial product in this one particular test.
Our local machinist group mixed up a batch, and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that Liquid Wrench is almost as good as Kroil for 20% of the price. ATF/Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50/50 mix. ATF = Any type of Automatic Transmission Fluid. This was in one of the Military Vehicle Club newsletters.www.homeshopmachinist.net/home
With the weather improving and Katelyn and Drew’s wedding only two weeks away, expect fewer blog posts. Katelyn was home again for Easter weekend and we enjoyed our time together working on programs, etc. I’ve continued to plug away at my wagon project and am beginning to wonder what I was thinking waiting until the last few weeks … oh, that’s right, my workshop was flooded!
We also enjoyed meeting up with Taylor for an Easter dinner as well as checking in by phone with our parents. Brenda also gave Katelyn and Drew our wedding present a few days early.
