Tag Archives: oud

Apple Has Reportedly Started Production On iPhone 7

Apple ( AAPL ) may have started production of its next-generation smartphone, according to media reports. The 10th-generation handset, due out in September, is expected to come in three variants: the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 7 Plus Premium (also called the iPhone 7 Pro), gadget news website MobiPicker reported Monday . The first two versions will be similar to the current iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, but the new premium model will have a dual-lens rear camera, tech news website BGR said Monday . As usual, contract manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron are building the devices, BGR said. The iPhone 7 is rumored to be thinner than its predecessors and have an upgraded antenna design, speedier processor and no audio jack for plugging in headphones. Apple wants users to move to Bluetooth wireless headsets or wired headsets that use its multifunction Lightning port. Apple stock fell a fraction, to 93.49, on the stock market today . Consumers Delaying iPhone Purchases Consumers are postponing iPhone purchases ahead of the iPhone 7 launch, Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said in a research report Monday. “While we anticipate a decreasing replacement rate through September as consumers delay upgrading their iPhones ahead of the anticipated iPhone 7 launch, we do anticipate recovering sales with the iPhone 7,” Walkley said. Walkley reiterated his buy rating on Apple stock, with a price target of 130. “Consistent with late-stage cycles of iPhones ahead of a new number launch, we also anticipate weaker iPhone average selling prices during the June and September quarters,” he said. The lower-cost iPhone SE, which launched on March 31, also is likely to pressure average selling prices, he said. RELATED: As Growth Investors Flee Apple, Warren Buffett Sees Value Soros, Greenlight Join Berkshire With Apple Buys; Facebook Slashed .

Amazon Fire TV Gets Its Voice On Through Alexa

Amazon.com ( AMZN ) is adding voice-control features to its Fire TV system through Alexa, Amazon’s personal assistant app and rival to Apple’s Siri. The new Alexa features coming to Fire TV include the ability to control playback of Amazon Video, launch apps, access local movie showtimes, and search local businesses and restaurants, Amazon said. Users can also find local movie showtimes and where they are playing. The new Alexa features will be automatically delivered via free, over-the-air software updates in the coming weeks, Amazon said. Many of the new features are similar to what’s available on the Apple ( AAPL ) TV system through its Siri technology. Amazon’s Fire TV has a library of about 4,000 channels, apps and games, and supports 4K Ultra HD playback. Amazon stock fell 2.2% in the stock market today , to 695.27, where 700 had been a point of resistance.

Apple Chip Suppliers Touted; Intel Seen As A Laggard

CLSA started coverage on a host of chip stocks, including some Apple ( AAPL ) suppliers, trying to separate the wheat from the chaff among Microchip Technology ( MCHP ), NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ), Broadcom ( AVGO ), Intel ( INTC ) and others. CLSA gave a buy rating to NXP, a supplier to Apple and the automotive market, with a 105 target. NXP rose intraday but closed down 0.3% at 84.75 on the stock market today . Broadcom, another Apple supplier, gets an outperform rating from CLSA, with a 165 target. Broadcom fell 1% to 141.17. CLSA gave a buy rating to Microchip with a 58 target. Microchip fell 0.35%. Intel is seen underperforming the market with a 30 target. Intel shares fell 1.35% to 29.98 after closing Monday at 30.39. One analyst thinks Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) is looking tasty, while another is curbing enthusiasm for F5 Networks ( FFIV ). Piper Jaffray raised Darden to an outperform with a 78 target. Darden rose 1% to 63.90. F5 Networks got a downgrade to sector weight from overweight at Pacific Crest as shares neared its prior 109 price target. Shares fell 3.3% to 103.83 FBR Capital thinks now is a good time to wade back into the oil patch, upgrading Halliburton ( HAL ) to outperform from market perform and raising its target to 49 from 44. Halliburton rose 2.5% to 41.17, also helped by rising oil prices.