let the game begun!!

It is amazing how quickly our friends on other side has caught up with Apple's coolest newest user-friendliest feature in their latest and greatest iPhone yet...

I think all these things are well known, and assuming that even password protection must be breakable by intelligent friends. No one can deny that any system can be hacked. However, there has to be balance between usability and security requirements. I think, iPhone 5S users will decide on their own. Off-course, all these news do make significant impact on user's choices, still, knowing Apple, I know for sure that most of the users will use this cool feature which will make life so much easier.. Especially any one using enterprise emails on iPhone, where they put stringent requirement on password and locking time.


Hackers beat iPhone fingerprint

German group finds way around biometric sensor

By Frank Jordans

Associated Press

BERLIN — The fingerprint- based security system used to unlock Apple’s latest iPhone can be bypassed using a household printer and some wood glue, a German hacking group has claimed. A spokesman for the Chaos Computer Club said the group managed to fool the biometric sensor in the iPhone 5s over the weekend by creating an artificial copy of a genuine fingerprint.

“It was surprisingly easy,” Dirk Engling told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday, a day after the group announced the exploit on its website. A member of the Chaos Computer Club going by the pseudonym Starbug took a high-resolution photograph of a fingerprint left on a glass surface, printed it onto a transparent sheet and smeared the pattern with liquid latex or wood glue. Once the glue set, it could be peeled off and placed on another finger to mimic the genuine print, Engling said. “We used this method 10 years ago and didn’t have to change much for the iPhone,” he said. “The hardest bit was getting hold of one of those new iPhones because they are chronically sold out.”

Engling said the Chaos Computer Club, which has a long history of finding security flaws in soft- and hardware, documented the procedure with several videos so independent experts could verify it.

David Emm, a senior security researcher at Kaspersky Labs, said the German group’s claims exposed the flip side of biometric security systems designed to replace passwords or PIN numbers commonly used nowadays.

“If my passcode becomes compromised, I can simply replace it with a new one — hopefully one that’s more secure. But I can’t change my fingerprint — it’s part of what I am and so I’m stuck with it,” Emm said.

Engling suggested that Apple could have made its fingerprint system more secure, but that this might have caused problems for users if they didn’t swipe their finger across the miniature scanner properly and thus got locked out of the device after repeated failed attempts.

“Apple had to strike a balance between security and user-friendliness,” he said.

Apple didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment.

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ANDY WONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The iPhone 5s lets a user configure the device for fingerprint recognition as a security check. A German group says it used wood glue to beat the technology.

and.. the iPhone 5S/C saga continues..

Whatever critics might say about new iPhone, public seems to love it.. Kudos to Apple to continue delivering such a great product which keeps on meeting expectation or I should say keeps on beating expectations of critics and every common sense..

It is amazing to see how quickly these phones evaporates or seems to evaporate.. I am sure this is also Apple's marketing strategy to make them evaporate.. but that is minor or small part of all the story..

Bigger piece of story is Apple's pricing strategy.. Everyone was hoping for cheaper iPhone as part in iPhone product line up.. but in my view, Apple has done exactly opposite.. they have increased price  (or at least margins) on so called older generation phone.. To understand this, you have to compare last year's launch.. Till last year, Apple used to reduce price of previous generation iPhone by $100. This year, they officially removed previous generation (iPhone5) and instead of launched iPhone5c. Which in-fact is iPhone5 from inside. Only thing different is that it has now even cheaper plastic back (though in beautiful bright colors) thus reducing cost of manufacturing of this so called iPhone5.

Essentially, Apple has launched same phone but increased price realization. So, Apple's strategy is very simple:

1. They are NOT going to launch cheaper iPhone. They will maintain their premium pricing position in market. 
2. They are NOT going after mass market or volume. They are trying to increase profitability. At the same time, they are solving supply chain issues.. 5c will use different back covers and hopefully, it will cost less to manufacture.. 
3. They are going after new segment - kids of affluent parents and young crowd with iPhone5c. Instead of iPod touch, these kids will get iPhone5c. Normally, in US these kids often used to get hands down iPhone from parents. Now, these kids will demand iPhone5c as it is more likely not to break with robust use.. 
4. They have in-fact created teaser price for Adults as well. All agree that there is no quantum difference between 5s and 5. To avoid iPhone5 cannibalizing their 5s market, they shut down new iPhone5s and created relatively speaking inferior 5c for same price they would have offered iPhone5. 
5. Regarding low cost alternative, Apple is simply going to rely on their exchange program. They will get lot of exchanged phones, probably change their battery and push it to emerging cost conscious market. I am guessing that duties on these returned/re-furbished phones will also be substantially lower helping them keep costs and prices low in those markets. 

In my view, it is brilliant pricing strategy and it will continue Apple as true leader in smartphone space.. They may not be leader by volume but I am sure they will continue their lead by other metrics such as actual usage and apps/music/videos etc..

Nevertheless, people are enjoying their new iPhones.. I am guessing this next quarter is going to be stellar quarter for Apple with significant jump in their profitability leading to significant jump in their share prices!!

PALO ALTO’S APPLE STORE

Shortage of iPhones mutes buying frenzy

CEOCook greets legions of Bay Area Apple fans; devices quickly run out

By Heather Somerville

hsomerville@bayareanewsgroup.com 

PALO ALTO — For the first time ever, Apple released two iPhones simultaneously, but fans did not get double the choice, as a widespread shortage kept supplies low in stores.

The dual iPhone release finished out a tumultuous couple of weeks for the tech giant, which took a hit on the stock market, rebuffed backlash over the pricing of its low-cost iPhone option and discovered a security glitch in its new operating system. The pressure was on for Apple to post big sales of the new iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, and assure consumers and investors that the Cupertino company still had something revolutionary up its sleeve.

Apple fans turned out in droves to stores across the Bay Area, many camping in line for days in hopes of getting one of the coveted iPhone 5S, the company’s new flagship device loaded with Apple’s latest and greatest. On Palo Alto’s University Avenue, fans got another surprise when the store opened Friday morning — an upbeat Apple CEO Tim Cook, who shook hands, posed for pictures and joined the crowd for a few celebratory cheers. 

Cook then paid a visit to the store at Stanford Shopping Center and later sent his first tweet: “Seeing so many happy customers reminds us of why we do what we do.” 

---

JANE TYSKA/STAFF PHOTOS

CEO Tim Cook celebrates the release of the new iPhones as he leaves the Apple Store on University Avenue in Palo Alto.

---

Dorothy Arndt, left, and veteran Bob Younger, of San Jose, showed up in Palo Alto along with a group from Gift A Vet, an organization supporting veterans in need. Arndt left the store with an iPhone 5S to give to a 53-year-old disabled Santa Clara County veteran.
==========================================================================

Spectrum of colors 

First in line to meet Cook and get the new iPhone was a group from San Jose-based Gift A Vet, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans in need. Dorothy Arndt said she had been camped out since Monday, trading 12hour shifts with vets and colleagues. She left the store with a 16GB iPhone 5S in “space gray” to give to a 53-year-old disabled Santa Clara County veteran struggling to make ends meet on public assistance. 

The iPhone 5S rolled out in metallic colors and with super-speedy processing power and upgraded camera features, and the lower-cost, heavier iPhone 5C is offered in a spectrum of candy-coated colors. Along with the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the U.K. launched the iPhone 5S and 5C on Friday. But Apple released only a limited number of the coveted iPhone 5S for the worldwide launch and only a handful of those in gold — the color that most fans were lusting after. “Everyone wanted gold,” said Benjamin Smith of Sunnyvale, who settled for gray at the University Avenue store. The iPhone 5C was more plentiful, but few fans were willing to pull out their credit cards for what some have called a repackaged version of the older iPhone 5, dressed in colorful plastic. It starts at $99. 

Megan Davidson, 21, arrived at the Sprint store in Palo Alto at 3:45 a.m., where she avoided the crowd at the Apple store and was first in line for the 5S. “I think the 5C is more geared toward kids and cheaper,” she said. “I want the legit Apple phone.” 

Gold is first to go 

Shortages of the iPhone 5S were apparent in stores across the Peninsula, with websites showing shipments delayed until October. The location at Stanford Shopping Center ran out of unlocked units — phones sold without the software code that limits them to work only on one wireless carrier — before 9:30 a.m. An employee said the gold phones were first to go and the store had “a very limited number.” The Best Buy on Almaden Expressway in San Jose had 28 units of the 5S and sold out before 11:30 a.m., said store manager Mark Fragoza. The store had more than twice as many phones when the iPhone 5 launched last year. The picture wasn’t much better on the other side of the pond. Carriers in the U.K. told the BBC there was a severe shortage of the iPhone 5S, and customers in Asia and Australia were told they’ll have to wait until October. 

“Demand for the new iPhones has been incredible and we are currently sold out or have limited supply of certain iPhone 5S models in some stores,” Apple spokesman Bill Evans said Friday. 

Opening sales crucial 

Opening-weekend sales are crucial for Apple after about a year without releasing a new device while rivals have begun to chip away at Apple’s dominance in the smartphone market. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said in a note to investors he expected Apple would sell 5 million to 6 million iPhones, including pre-sale orders that started Sept. 13. BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk wrote that he was encouraged because “lines were the strongest we have seen at both Apple and carrier stores” but wouldn’t know until Monday if unit sales would meet his expectations of 6 million during launch weekend. Apple has reportedly asked its suppliers to increase production of the gold-colored iPhone 5S by an additional one-third after seeing strong demand, people familiar with the situation told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. What remains unclear is whether there are still manufacturing constraints that may keep supplies low. Apple did not respond to questions Friday about production. 

Contact Heather Somerville at 510-208-6413. Follow her at Twitter.com/heathersomervil. 
===================================================
 

JANE TYSKA/STAFF 

Hoa Tran, of San Jose, leaves with a new iPhone at the Apple Store on University Avenue in Palo Alto on Friday. Customers were lined up around the block. 

Anybody interested in this interesting job?

Seems really interesting job.. It will be really challenging and fun job!!! Once electric cars become commodity, Autonomous cars are going to be next battlefield for Car manufacturers.. Essentially, this could become great potential job creator in Silicon Valley. Google is already in lead in this area and with TESLA jumping this bandwagon, it will force all these traditional Car manufacturers to further augment there silicon valley labs with this autonomous driving system development..

What is Apple doing? It will be interesting to see them coming to this area.. They are king of User Experience.. moreover, if Google takes lead into these Autonomous Driving Systems they will embed Android into it.. Come on Apple.. you also need to do something in this next big thing.. They can atleast start with integrating their iPhone/iOS into rudimentary Vehicle control and display systems..

TESLA HIRING ENGINEER FOR AUTONOMOUS PUSH 

Tesla Motors has an interesting job description on its website: “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Controls Engineer.” The full-time job, based in Palo Alto, seeks an engineer responsible for “developing vehicle-level decision-making and lateral and longitudinal control strategies for Tesla’s effort to pioneer fully automated driving.” In May, CEO Elon Musk told Bloomberg that he was talking to Google about “autopilot” systems. Tesla also has the ability to constantly update Model S features. Tesla’s chief technical officer, J.B. Straubel, is working on a “sensor suite” of safety features for the driver, which could include pedestrian detection, collision avoidance technology and additional cameras to monitor blind spots or obstructions while driving. 

Not up your alley? There are 836 jobs listed on the Tesla website. — Dana Hull 

Chromebook - Pixel - Can it shake Apple?

I think it will definitely put pressure on Apple about medium / long term future and hopefully make them work harder for next set of innovations on their Mac Book Pro/Air line of laptops. At present personally I only see Google's pride in this release of Pixel. I am sure they will find some niche buyers for sure but it is not going to make any dent in market yet. It may inspire Samsung and other Korean/Japanese manufacturers who are investing their time in Chromebook. Hope to see more practical chromebooks from Samsung in near future..

Now coming back specifically to Chromebook reviews.. I agree that its price to performance ratio is yet to catch up with MBA/MBP. Personally, I would be inspired or let us say willing to entertain the idea of buying Pixel if it's price was in $700-800 range. Though, I have to admit that these do have clean look and great appeal.. kind of inspired by Mac Book Air and may be Legendary Thinkpad..

Regarding other limitations such as non availability of Skype and other applications... I am very hopeful that they will go away in matter of time. I am sure that most of applications will start running in browser (or Cloud) if they already don't. In worse case we have cloud based virtual desktops already there, which will take care of these emergencies and exceptions..

I think that Chromebook could be excellent choice for Enterprise customers. If Google can find some partners who can offer Virtual Desktop (VDI) kind of service on Chromebook and if they fix/add/enhance their VPN/Tunnel connectivity.. this device could be great choice for enterprise customers who don't want to keep any data on local disk but want to give seamless experience and connectivity to their employees. Since this device is built from scratch for this type of activity, it could be great option for such enterprise customers. If google can natively fix and divide personal and enterprise traffic and let personal traffic go to their google drive and enterprise traffic tunneled to enterprise Data Center they can potentially make killing in this segment.

It already comes with three years of 1 TB Google Drive which is ideal for enterprise leasing terms. In-fact Google itself can offer VDI type of service in their own Data Center or create hybrid cloud for enterprise customers they can make significant dent in this market... and this is huge market and generally with higher margin than direct consumer market. If they can do this.. then it can be a big threat to Apple who is making bigger inroads in Enterprise Laptop market right now.. as it is more or less fashion statement to carry Mac in office...

So Google just need to do minor tweaking in their offering and they will be ready for prime time with Pixel and it can become next fashion statement..

I am not really worried about connectivity or even LTE upgrade for Chromebook.. In fact I can't understand.. why anybody even buys 4G/LTE enabled Tablets  or even Chromebooks.. All the folks who will buy these things typically have smartphones and almost all smartphones including iPhone has this feature of hotspot. Essentially, this feature turns your smartphone as wi-fi access point and you can piggy back on Cellular data to provide connectivity to your other devices. Anyhow.. that is not main point.. main point is that we are almost ready for such cloud based devices..

Welcome to another round of upgrades or device refreshes!!!

Google’s Chromebook Pixel is pricey, limited

Intended as a flagship for its Chrome operating system, Google’s new Chromebook Pixel feels too much like overkill.

Chrome OS was conceived of as a simple and inexpensive computing platform.

The software is built around a Web browser and cloudbased applications; everything you do on a Chrome device is done through a browser window.

Previous Chromebooks were basic and inexpensive. They generally lacked the latest processors and didn’t come with any high-end features.

By contrast, offering premium features is the Pixel’s reason for being. It’s purpose is to show that Chrome doesn’t have to be relegated to low-end machines and to inspire Google’s partners to expand the range of their Chromebook offerings. Google representatives said the Pixel is their attempt to create a Chromebook that the boss would be proud to take home. 

In terms of design, the Google folks have achieved their goal. The Pixel is thinner and lighter than Apple’s comparable Mac-Book Pro, but feels just as sturdy. Like the Apple laptops, the Pixel’s case is made from aluminum, not from the plastic found on the less-expensive Chromebooks. The Pixel has sharper edges and is much more rectangular than the MacBook Pros, which gives it a sleek, modern look. 

The Pixel takes another page from Apple by including a high-resolution screen similar to Apple’s “Retina” display. 

In fact, the Pixel’s screen is even higher resolution than those in Apple’s new MacBook Pros. It’s beautiful and bright, making text and pictures super-sharp. 

But Google has also looked beyond Apple for inspiration. The Pixel features a touch screen like those found in many of the latest Windows laptops. 

And it includes a powerful Intel Core i5 processor, which is standard fare on Apple and Windows-based notebooks, but is unique for a Chromebook. 

The processor makes a difference. While the Samsung Chromebook I recently tested felt sluggish, the Pixel is snappy and responsive, instantly resuming from sleep and quickly switching among tabbed Web pages. The Pixel also offers some uncommon features. One model includes an LTE radio, which provides a fast Internet connection when you aren’t near a Wi-Fi hotspot. That model also includes a limited amount of monthly broadband access from Verizon for two years. All models of the Pixel come with 1 terabyte of space on the Google Drive cloud storage service for free for three years. That’s a bargain, because Google typically charges $50 a month for that much space. 

But despite all of its bells and whistles, the Pixel is still a Chromebook and suffers the same limitations as the others. 

Because Chrome is designed to run Web-based apps, the operating system lacks many popular PC applications. You won’t find Skype, for example, or Photoshop or many high-end video games. And if you need to use special software for work or to connect to a device in your house, you can almost be certain that software won’t be available for Chrome. 

That lack of applications means you simply can’t do as much with a Chromebook as you can with a Mac or Windows PC. If you’re spending only $250 for a basic Chromebook, that shortcoming is acceptable. 

But it’s not when you’re spending $1,300, which is the starting price of the Pixel. For that money, you can get a very nice Windows machine or Apple’s MacBook Air. 

And some of the Pixel’s embellishments that help to drive up its price seem unnecessary. The touch screen in particular seems to have little use. 

Google hasn’t redesigned Chrome’s interface to take advantage of the touch screen. And unlike some of the new Windows notebooks, the Pixel’s screen doesn’t detach or fold back on itself, so you can’t use the device like a tablet. 

While the screen is wonderful, it has one huge drawback: it drains the device’s battery. Google says users should see up to five hours of battery life from the Pixel. That’s already less than you’d get on many of the latest Mac or Windows laptops. But in my testing, the battery life wasn’t even as good as advertised; I got around 4  1 ⁄ 2 hours of use at best. So while I understand Google’s impulse and appreciate the Pixel’s design and display, I’m not convinced that anyone yet needs a premium Chromebook. 

Contact Troy Wolverton at 408-840-4285 or twolverton@mercurynews. 

com. Follow him at www.mercurynews.com/troywolverton or Twitter. com/troywolv. 

Is it really a Triumphant Return or Forced Return?

Before I begin on my main topic.. I am really happy that Google map is back. I hope Apple will update iOS so that we can use Google map as default map on iPhone. I was/am totally fine with Apple maps in US. However, during my India trip, I did felt pain. As most of you know, I still enjoy and love driving in India (it is just much more thrilling to drive in India..).. So during my last trip I borrowed my Sister-in-law's car and was on my own. As I was in Delhi / Noida after a while, I did needed navigation system. Asking "paan wala" was beneath my reputation.. I had my International roaming data plan and was confident with iPhone.. However, Apple maps royally screwed me over there.. It simply didn't worked. I could only get some overview out of it but no navigation or real good help.. Chrome/Google maps on safari were mostly non functional.. So bottom line.. I am really happy to have it back..

Having said that.. I still feel that it was Apple map which forced Google to update their mapping feature.. otherwise there was no way they were going to add turn-by-turn navigation. It was literally competing with their Android's base feature. Whatever we say about Apple maps.. it did forced them to update and helped us all by making Google Maps on iOS much better then what it used to be. Moreover, in US, I really like Apple maps.. it is totally fine with me while driving... I tested it and liked much better..

It will be good lift for Google. still I feel that we will see its usage on iPhone much less than before. While you are browsing or searching in safari and you get some address.. if you click on that address it is going to open native Apple maps only.. unless you copy that address or go back to Google maps application and search it again there.. you are not going to get Google maps.. same is true with address book.. if you click on saved address it will still open Apple maps.. Unless.. Apple makes some setting updates and integrates with Google maps as it has integrated with Facebook and Twitter.. Let us see..

Bottom line.. if Google had played nicely.. we would still have them as native mapping service in iPhone. At least I think so..

TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Google Maps app back on iPhone

Service provides lift for Apple, big gain for search giant

By Brandon Bailey

bbailey@mercurynews.com 

Eager iPhone owners rushed to download Google’s new Maps app, driving it to the top of the most-popular list in the iTunes store Thursday and marking a triumphant return for one of Apple’s biggest rivals. The new app, which became available in the iTunes store Wednesday night, may be a short-term boon for Apple if its release helps soothe the many complaints that Apple has heard from iPhone users over the last six months — ever since Apple replaced an earlier Google Maps application with Apple’s own flawed mapping service on the most recent version of its signature smartphone.

But analysts said the upgraded Maps app is also a powerful tool for Google, as the Mountain View Internet giant seeks to cultivate a profitable relationship with millions of smartphone owners who have chosen Apple’s iPhone over competing devices that run on Google’s Android operating software. “Thank you, Google!” read the first of more than 12,000 mostly favorable reviews that iPhone users posted after downloading the new app Thursday. 

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

The new Google Maps app, which became available as a download Wednesday, is shown on an iPad.

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Even so, Cupertino-based Apple will undoubtedly keep working to improve its own mapping technology as it battles Google for supremacy in the mobile computing market. More than half of all smartphones used in the United States are Android devices, while slightly more than a third are iPhones, according to the research firm comScore. 

Analysts say location based services are increasingly important for both tech giants, as more people access the Internet on mobile devices. But Apple’s homegrown maps service was widely criticized for offering buggy responses and inaccurate information, in contrast with the mapping technology that Google has developed and refined over more than a decade. 

“If anything, this puts more pressure on Apple to sort out their own maps,” said Carolina Milanesi, a consumer technology analyst with Gartner. “Maps are a key part of the future of mobility. They can’t just throw in the towel now.” 

Google doesn’t charge consumers to use its Maps app. But Milanesi said data from the app provides Google with valuable insights into its users’ interests and travels. It also could help Google introduce them to other services and ultimately show them paid advertising. 

Unlike Google’s old Maps app for iPhones, the new version invites users to log in with their Google Gmail account, which would help Google exchange more information with them. While the login is optional, Milanesi said she expects many people will use it. 

Google also announced it will release a software development kit that independent app builders can use to incorporate Google’s mapping technology into other mobile services. 

Google’s old mapping service was extremely popular with independent developers who build apps for the iPhone and iPad, said Nolan Wright, co-founder of Appcelerator, a Mountain View firm that makes software used by app builders. The IDC research firm reported over the summer that 80 percent of all mobile software applications have features that are keyed to the user’s location. 

Wright cautioned that “it remains to be seen” whether developers will embrace the new Google app for Apple’s IS platform. Apple’s own maps are still the default service on iPhones and iPads, which means users must take the extra step of downloading Google Maps if they want to use it. Wright said some developers may be cautious about using Google’s maps until they see how many people use it. 

Apple also has an advantage over Google because Apple’s maps are embedded into Apple’s operating system, which means other Apple services such as Siri will use Apple maps by default, said Charles Golvin, a mobile-technology expert at Forrester. 

Golvin said that means Google’s new app still won’t provide “as fluid an experience” when compared with the Apple service, or even the old Google app, which was the default service on iPhones until it was replaced. On the other hand, Google’s new app includes popular features, such as turn-by-turn directions, that Google has long offered on Android phones but were not part of Google’s old app for iPhones. 

Apple has apologized for the flaws in its maps and replaced an executive who oversaw the project. But Golvin said “the maps problem continues to be a black eye for Apple. It remains to be seen whether Apple’s customers will return to using Apple’s maps once they address all the problems there.” 

Investors seemed to agree with Golvin’s assessment that the new iPhone app is “a win for Google.” Google’s stock rose $5.14, or 0.7 percent, to close at $702.70 Thursday. Apple’s stock fell $9.31, or 1.7 percent, to close at $529.69. 

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at Twitter.com/ BrandonBailey. 

Mini lines for Mini!!!

This headline caught my immediate attention.. and details are also funny.. at the same time, they affirm my faith in Apple's marketing hoopla about online waiting lists and other sold outs. I strongly believe that even Microsoft is applying same theory for their newly launched surface tablet. I think it has become mandatory requirement for any product launch to declare that you are sold out within few hours of your online launch... or start giving your waiting list as 3-4 weeks.

Coming back to iPad mini.. I think I have wrote a lot about it in my previous posts. In my view it is great product except for two things:

• High Price or I should say low value for money
• Non-Retina Display

Price.. is relative.. depending on your valet size. But in general, media has hyped it so much that value for money factor has come in and it dead sure that by thanks-giving Apple will heavily discount mini. and I am assuming that those discounts will become permanent till next release or may be forever. I am hoping that it will be definitely $299 or below.

Non-Retina display will go away by Jan/Feb/March upgrade refresh cycle. Current Mini release was scheduled in Oct/Nov mainly for investors. Otherwise there wasn't enough growth for wall street. It was more or less catch 22 situation for Apple. Most likely, they simply didn't had enough retina display capacity for mini. Or it could be engineering requirement.. with resolution same as iPad2, there was relatively very less engineering needed on software/iOS side.

This holiday season, I think, even iPad4 price will be under pressure as Google launches Nexus 10 with $399 price. Let us see, how it goes.. I hope two things coming out of mini's launch..

1. It has broken myth of Apple's product launch success. It is loud and clear message to Apple that customers are not going to buy garbage (sorry about this extreme term) for price of gold. 
2. Increased competition to an extent that we will really see some great products in coming months not only from Apple but many other competitors. 

Google Nexus and Amazon needs to work harder and invest more resources in tablets and more importantly in OS (Android) and refine them to give better user experience and integration with different display form factors. I was literally disappointed with Amazon's Kindle Fire HD.

Enjoy this article...

DOWNSIZED IPAD CROWD 

The lines are Mini, too

Excitement is a bit more subdued than usual as Apple’s small-tablet entry carries big price


By Heather Somerville

hsomerville@mercurynews.com 

PALO ALTO — The turnout for Apple’s release of the iPad Mini on Friday morning was — just like the new 7.9-inch tablet — noticeably downsized.

The early-morning lines outside stores in Silicon Valley and across the world were uncharacteristically short for an Apple launch, leading some to speculate that Apple fanboys and fangirls are growing weary of frequent and hyped product upgrades. Since the first iPad hit stores more than two years ago, competitors have emerged with 7inch tablets priced $100 cheaper.

Analysts project modest sales for the Mini this weekend, and for the fourth-generation iPad also released Friday. By 7:30 a.m. Pacific time, a half-hour before the Palo Alto store opened its doors, about 35 customers had lined up — a fraction of the number who scooped up the third-generation iPad on its launch day.

Brad Peterson, of Los Altos, was first in line at 2 a.m. When he saw the empty sidewalk outside the Apple Store on University Avenue, he thought he had the wrong day.

“I go to these things all the time, and (2 a.m.) usually gets me somewhere in the middle of the line,” he said. 

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GARY REYES/STAFF PHOTOS

Christian Lindholm, of Helsinki, Finland, exits the Apple Store in Palo Alto carrying the pair of iPad Minis he just bought.

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Brad Peterson, of Los Altos, holds a stack of iPad Minis and regular iPads he just purchased.

Peterson said he was surprised to be first in line when he arrived for the iPad Mini launch at 2 a.m.

Friday.

---

So he pulled out his third-generation iPad — one of about eight tablets he owns — to confirm the date, and with a quick Google search discovered that turnout was low at stores across the world. Reuters reported that crowds waiting for the newest iPad were smaller than for previous launches from Sydney to Amsterdam, with staff at the Hong Kong Apple Store appearing to outnumber customers waiting in line. 

Jeff Wang turned around and went home after he found the Palo Alto store deserted at 10 p.m. Thursday night. Wang, of Saratoga, came back at 2:30 a.m. to secure the second spot in line, bewildered that there weren’t already hundreds waiting by that hour. 

“The last couple of times I came around 11 p.m. the night before and the lines were long,” Wang said. 

Mike Smithwick, a San Jose app developer who waited toward the end of the line, suspected that some Apple fans had their fill with the first three releases. 

“I think everyone is lined out,” he said. 

The iPad Mini is Apple’s answer to popular 7-inch tablets like Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7. But Apple priced its smaller tablet entry much higher than those competitors — the device starts at $329, while other 7-inch tablets can cost as little as $199. 

For some customers, the bigger turnoff is that the Mini is available only on Wi-Fi; the company will release a version that connects to cellular networks in a couple of weeks, when some expect to see an uptick in sales. 

Analysts doubt Apple will perform as well with this launch as it has previously, with Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster — an Apple bull who typically offers the highest projections for Apple sales — forecasting opening-weekend sales of about 1 million to 1.5 million for the Mini. 

BTIG research analyst Walter Piecyk said the sales total Munster predicted would be a disappointment. 

“We believe Apple’s first weekend sales of the iPad Mini needs, at a minimum, to top the 3 million first weekend sales of the iPad 3 in order to demonstrate that the management team can execute on ramping supply of new products and to provide some evidence that there is adequate demand for a smaller iPad at these price points,” he wrote in a note Friday morning. However, lower opening-weekend sales could help Apple avoid disappointing consumers. When the iPhone 5 debuted in September, Apple sold a record 5 million of the devices in the first weekend, but still couldn’t meet demand because of production delays. 

IDC analyst Ryan Reith cautioned Friday not to dismiss the Mini’s popularity because of short store lines. Many customers will probably order online, he said, and others will wait until closer to the holidays. 

Short lines didn’t mean Apple fans were short on excitement. The modest crowd in Palo Alto joined Apple staff with loud cheers when the store opened its doors two hours early for the event. Many walked out minutes later with a grin and two Minis — the limit for each customer. Peterson said the Minis were an early Christmas gift for his two teenage daughters — although he had a few hours to play with the tablets while the girls were in school. 

“December 25 is pretty arbitrary,” he said. “Apple decides when Christmas comes in our house.” 

More than a few New Yorkers can expect a Mini under the tree this year. About 600 fans braved the power outages, gas shortages and hobbled transit systems left by Superstorm Sandy to line up early outside the Fifth Avenue store, according to a Bloomberg News report. The New York flagship sold out of the Mini just hours after opening, and blogs and tweets indicated that a smattering of stores across the globe had sold out by the afternoon. However, it’s unclear how much stock the stores had to begin with. 

Friday was the first Apple launch event for Christian Lindholm, of Finland — the startup developer couldn’t resist picking up a couple Minis while in California on business. 

“I have to do it in Silicon Valley,” he said. “This is the store to do it. It’s the grandfather store; sort of in Steve’s hood.” 

Like others at the store, he owns a third-generation iPad — released just seven months ago — and won’t be buying the fourth anytime soon. Several customers said they were unimpressed with the upgrades and unwilling to pay another $499 to $699 just months after the previous version was released. 

Said Lindholm: “It doesn’t feel like a fourth generation. It feels like a 3.2. Staff writer Jeremy C. Owens contributed to this report. Contact Heather Somerville at 925-977-8418. Follow her at Twitter.com/ heathersomervil. 




GARY REYES/STAFF 

Apple employees greet customers Friday inside the company’s Palo Alto store. Far fewer people were in line this time than the hordes who queued up for the release of the third-generation iPad. 

iPad Mini.. mixed reviews..

There are so many reviews of iPad mini. Mostly it seems great product, other than some dissatisfaction about display. I was happy with even original iPad and iPad so no personal complains. However, once you make your customers addicted to something better, it is difficult to reposition something older. There is/was bound to be that reaction.. Off-course.. Apple's product managers have to have jobs.. without roadmap of retina display in next release they will be out of job..

It will be interesting to see if they can continue to keep this price point. Especially, now Google Nexus 10 is almost in same price range.. Knowing Google, it has to be great product and it has potential to take away market share from both iPad and mini as well. $399 is really great price point for 10 inch tablet and within next one or two iterations it can easily be iPad killer.. We need it do well.. without that Apple is not going to reduce mini's price.. Though I have very strong feeling that Apple will do another refresh of iPad lineup sometime early next year. There is so much action in tablet area that they will have to abandon their yearly refresh cycle and move half yearly cycle..

As we can see with iPhone5 that Apple's quantum leap era is over. They have very few new and really innovative and disruptive ideas left. Apple is left with minor enhancements in processing power, speed and size/form-factor. Honestly, only difference between, iPhone 4S and 5 is screen size. Which, to be honest, I liked from 4S better. That doesn't mean that I am going back to 4S. I think it is just nostalgia.. I will get over soon. There were big differences between iPhone 4 and 4S.. but in my view nothing major between 4S and 5.

I think, iPad mini is going to be super hit any how.. or it is already.. but Apple really needs to work with major disruptive improvement in their current line ups. That includes everything.. Form factor is one aspect.. but they need another iPhone or iPad type of product. It could be software or hardware.. doesn't matter.. At the same time continue to focus on quality of their products and details of each aspect. They simply can't let that aspect go away.. I have been hearing and noticing a lot about quality degradation.. In short term it will not impact them, but if they continue this trend, they will soon become another microsoft..

Here is the best link from WSJ which summarizes most of the decent iPad mini review.. enjoy!!


This link summarizes iPad Mini's review:
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/31/ipad-mini-review-roundup/

iPad Mini Review Roundup

By Matthew Lynley

AFP/Getty Images

Does the iPad Mini outmatch the other smaller tablets?

The decision is in on the iPad Mini.

So far, reviewers across the Web have praised the size of the device, saying it is more comfortable to use and has an excellent build quality.

However, it comes at a price — a low-resolution screen that is more on par with the iPhone 3GS than the newer iPads, which pack a “retina” display.

“Ew, the screen is terrible,” Apple blogger John Gruber wrote, citing his wife — and saying his initial reaction matched hers.

Here’s the general consensus of reviewers around the Web:

Display

This is the chief complaint, but it’s to be expected given the downgrade from the current larger iPads. The iPad Mini has a 1,024 by 768-pixel display, compared to 2048-by-1536 pixel resolution in the larger iPads. “It feels like an iPhone 3GS display cut to iPad size, including the fact that the pixels seem deeper from the surface of the glass,” Gruber writes.

“Since Apple AAPL -1.44% is the company that’s gotten our eyes used to the hey-look-no-pixels trick of the Retina display, it’s hard to take a step back and not notice,”The Verge’s Josh Topolsky writes. “I don’t think the lower resolution is a deal-breaker in this product, but it is a compromise you have to be aware of. It simply doesn’t look as clear as other products on the market.”

“If you’re an obsessive over crisp text, you’ll notice the fuzziness,” CNET’s Scott Stein writes. “Yes, the non-Retina Display means text that’s less sharp. It feels like a disconnect on a device so clearly targeted at reading. Yet, hold the iPad Mini back a foot and increase the font size, and you probably won’t notice.”

Size

In contrast, the size — a few inches shorter than the traditional iPad — is cited as a massive strong point, making it feel more comfortable than the traditional iPad. “The Mini with the Smart Cover1 on is almost exactly as thick (or as thin, if you prefer) as an iPad 3 or 4 without a cover,” Gruber writes. “Combine that with the weight and it’s just plain fun to hold.”

In terms of app usage, ” 99 out of 100 times while using it, this wasn’t an issue, but it did take some getting used to in places,” Topolsky writes.

Still, the iPad Mini might be a bit too big to hold one-handed, writes Engadget’s Tim Stevens. “This editor, who wears XL gloves, had no problem palming the littler iPad, but when we handed it to other, dainty-fingered people they sometimes struggled to hold it securely. The scrawny bezels on either side actually exacerbate this issue to some degree, as those who must loop a thumb around the front of the device when holding it are forced to put that thumb right on the display.”

Build

“But the iPad Mini is a far classier, more attractive, thinner machine. It has two cameras instead of one,” writes The New York Times’ David Pogue. “Its fit and finish are far more refined. And above all, it offers that colossal app catalog, which Android tablet owners can only dream about.”

Still, the build of the device might be a little unwieldy with the Smart Cover built in, says Topolsky. “I actually had a little trouble holding onto the device when I wasn’t using the Smart Cover due to the back being as smooth as it is, and the frame being so thin.”

“Regardless of your feelings of the Mini’s price, or its A5 processor and non-Retina 7.9-inch display, here’s what you’ll notice when you pick it up: it’s really shockingly nice to hold,” Stein writes.

For reading

Given that it’s around the size of a Kindle, there will be some similarities drawn — especially when it comes to reading. “For reading, all of these apps work great on the iPad Mini. Font sizes on some websites can be a little small (tiny type that is legible on retina displays is just smudgy on non-retina ones), but most sites look just fine,” Gruber writes. “The Mini feels optimized for reading.”

Apps

While the price is a little steep, “The App Store is Apple’s great gold mine, and the iPad Mini’s price seems to be banking on you knowing that. And, in that sense, the iPad Mini may be worth its price,” Stein writes. This is pretty much what users should expect from Apple, since it’s a favorite among app developers.

Performance

The iPad Mini uses a chip that’s a couple generations old, and its specs are about on par with the iPad 2. Nevertheless, it still packs a punch, according to reviewers. “I’d say iPad 3-caliber performance in a $329 radically smaller device is pretty good,” Gruber writes. “I was not expecting iPad 3 performance in the Mini. But it’s there, and that makes the iPad Mini great for games.”

The trade-off is that it has a better battery life, though. “Apps do load more slowly but most are still up and running within a second or two and when it comes to general web surfing tasks the iPad mini easily kept up with our taps and swipes,” Stevens writes. “So, perhaps not the greatest performance in the Apple lineup, but there is one place where it bests the rest: battery life.”

The final verdict

Dan Gruber, Daring Fireball: For anyone else — those who own an older iPad 1 or 2, and those who have yet to buy their first iPad — the iPad Mini’s display will garner no complaints. I prefer the Mini over the full-size iPad in every single regard other than display resolution, and though I (and many of you) obsess over display resolution, it’s not an issue in the mass market.

Josh Topolsky, The Verge: The iPad mini hasn’t wrapped up the “cheapest tablet” market by any stretch of the imagination. But the “best small tablet” market? Consider it captured.

Scott Stein, CNET: If you want the full, polished Apple tablet experience in a smaller package, the iPad Mini is worth the premium price. Otherwise, good alternatives are available for less money… If the iPad Mini had a Retina Display, a newer A6 processor, and a slightly lower price, it would be the must-have Apple gadget of the year. Even without that, it’s still incredibly appealing. Its $329 price still makes it one of the least-expensive iOS gadgets Apple makes.

David Pogue, New York Times: Over all, the Mini gives you all the iPad goodness in a more manageable size, and it’s awesome. You could argue that the iPad Mini is what the iPad always wanted to be.

Walt Mossberg, WSJ: Every app that ran on my larger iPad ran perfectly on the Mini. I was able to use it one-handed and hold it for long periods of time without tiring. My only complaints were that it’s a tad too wide to fit in most of my pockets, and the screen resolution is a big step backwards from the Retina display on the current large iPad.

Tim Stevens, Engadget: This isn’t just an Apple tablet made to a budget. This isn’t just a shrunken-down iPad. This is, in many ways, Apple’s best tablet yet, an incredibly thin, remarkably light, obviously well-constructed device that offers phenomenal battery life.

formulae to list your name in legends

Create the Crisis..
Take BOLD Blame for the Crisis..
Solve the Crisis..

Register your name as legendary CEO or executive in the history of Management..

I am sure Mr. Cook is really sincere in his apology.. everyone is saying same thing about him.. and they way Apple has handled these crisis it will be a great case studies for B Schools.

However, couple of cents from my side on all this..

Initially, listening to all this crisis.. I was hesitant to upgrade to iOS 6.0 on my iPhone 4S. I didn't wanted to loose my Google Maps app.. then I tested Google maps on Chrome browser.. found it good enough.. for me.. Google map was mainly used to check traffic and search local things any how.. it didn't have that turn by turn voice navigation... I was using Mapquest for that and despite very poor reviews about mapquest application, I was really satisfied and happy.. mostly..
I liked my status quo..

But, my inner Geek finally won over this map issue and I took a plunge.. I upgraded my iPhone 4S to iOS 6.0 and first thing I did was to create Google maps in my Google Chrome application.. and then also download You-Tube application..

While coming back from office.. I thought of testing Apple's Map.. I fed my home address and it provided me map using freeways etc.. with decent indication of traffic hot spots.. I took my standard route which avoided the freeways which are always recommended by all the maps..

Honestly, I was really surprised at nimbleness of Apple's map to provide me updated route with updated traffic information.. at least on the road.. it was amazingly fast and correct in adjusting to my new route and showing updated route every time I digressed from my route.. I also searched for some places like my favorite Costco etc. and it was all together great experience.. At least ten times better than Mapquest and zillion times better than Google Maps (it should be infinitely as Google maps on iPhone didn't even have this true navigation system..)..

I was literally blown away by Apple Maps..

What could be the reason..  I think short answer is simply:

"Expectations"..

my expectations were so low with Apple Maps.. as my frame of reference was Mapquest.. which I feel like deleting from my iPhone.. and then all this bad mouthing about Apple Maps.. it really made me a super fan of apple maps.. Despite all this negative publicity about Apple Maps.. Apple Maps is The Maps I am using for all the purpose..

Now.. the my conspiracy theory version.. I really feel that all this negative publicity is kind of self inflicted or at least driven by Apple itself.. I very strongly feel that they have tendency to create controversy after launch.. and use this controversy to get free advertisement from media and social networks.. BTW, I am also doing same thing.. isn't it..

Now, coming back to my title of this topic.. I have no doubt about Mr. Cook's sincerity and boldness of asking own users to use competing products.. but.. but.. but..... In my view Apple Map is much better than most of their competitor.. except may be from Google's app on Android phones itself.. So in a way what Mr. Cook is asking their users.. please try out our competitor's applications.. do some comparison.. and decide for yourself.. most likely you would like our Apple Maps much better despite (may be) one percent errors in maps in some locations.. This is sure shot way of making your customers your die hard fans.. just like I am.. for now till I hit major snag which makes me loose 15-20 minites on the road.. I hope by that time Google will come up with native iOS app for their maps..

Overall.. really nice strategy.. Great Job Mr. Cook..

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION

Apple finds itself apologizing for Maps app flap

By Patrick May

pmay@mercurynews.com 

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea Mapplegate culpa.

Apple, CEO Tim Cook said in a statement released Friday, is sorry. Sorry its new Maps app for the iPhone and iPad sucks at times. Sorry that scores of users have been led on wild goose chases using the thing. Sorry Apple did not quite live up to its “incredibly high standard” this time around.

And while Cook did not say Apple was sorry for booting Google Maps off its iPhone’s home screen and replacing it with its own directionally challenged version, he may as well have. In his statement, the CEO encouraged users to download other apps and mapping tools to find their way around town, at least until Apple works out the kinks.  The Maps app’s flaws haven’t been lost on customers, eliciting online backlash. 

From Tim Cook: “At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers.
With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment.” 

“I’m used to more functionality from Apple, not less,” said Jeremy Kemp, a lecturer at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State, adding that he got so frustrated using Maps the other day to find a transit route home that he “ended up putting the iPhone in my pocket and asking someone at the train station for directions. It’s good that Cook has apologized; it’s actually noble. But I’d rather have functionality than nobility.” 

While the blogosphere worked itself into a fine lather all week agonizing over Maps’ shortcomings, analysts cautioned that the map flap will have little effect on the company’s solidgold bottom line. They said Apple makes most of its money selling gadgets, not software. Some pointed out that most new apps, including Google Maps when it was introduced in 2005, had bugs. But over time, as more users essentially trained the software to navigate even smarter, the apps improved. 

Pointing out that Twitter sentiment in the week since the iPhone 5’s debut was 71percent positive versus 49percent for the iPhone 4S, analyst Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray said in a note to investors that “the bottom line is that consumers do not seem to be overly concerned about the shortcomings of Maps.” 

Users who dislike Apple Maps can download other map apps, or access sites such as Google Maps through the browser. But because non-Apple apps aren’t native to the device, clicking an address in an email on an iPhone 5 would still call up the Apple mapping tool, not the alternative. 

Cook’s public apology stood in stark contrast to how his predecessor, the late Steve Jobs, might have handled the brouhaha. After problems arose with the iPhone 4’s antenna and its impact on signal strength — a saga dubbed “Antennagate” — Jobs was ridiculed for suggesting users simply alter the way they hold the devise. Although Jobs admitted at a news conference that “we’re not perfect and phones aren’t perfect, either,” some interpreted his response to Antennagate as defensive, even a bit sarcastic. 

Cook’s approach was far more conciliatory. 

“At Apple,” the CEO said, “we strive to make worldclass products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.” 

Some analysts speculate that Apple dumped Google Maps because of the growing rivalry between the two tech giants. But in his statement, Cook said Apple’s primary aim is to “provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps.” 

Ever since the Cupertino company released an update to its iPhone and iPad operating system that replaced Google Maps with its own app, the Internet has been deluged with complaints that the new software offers fewer details, lacks public transit directions and puts landmarks in the wrong places. One reviewer pointed out that when he fired up Maps, the Washington Monument was misplaced, and a search for Cleveland, Ga., took him to Cleveland, Tenn. 

The grousing has not let up, filling repositories like the one at the http:// theamazingios6maps. tumblr. com with embarrassing examples of Apple Maps run amok. Motorola even piled on, creating an ad with the caption “#iLost” placed beneath the ill-fated iPhone app. 

But Analyst Shaw Wu with Sterne Agee praised Cook, saying “at the end of the day, Apple’s goal is to deliver the best user experience possible, and that’s exactly what they’re doing, even if it means sending users to other vendors for the time being. 

“What they care about is: Are you happy with the hardware? If you are, fine,” Wu said. “But if you want to use other software, go ahead. Apple’s in the business of selling phones and tablets. And this won’t hurt that.” 

Contact Patrick May at 408-920-5689. Follow him at Twitter.com/patmaymerc. 

Is iPhone's Quantum Leap Era Over?

Honestly.. I really liked iPhone5.. I am yet to get my hands on it completely.. but.. but... buttttt....

I think, it is great phone and really nice to have it.. however, other than slightly bigger screen and slightly smaller footprint.. mostly.. I don't feel that it is providing me something really great value add as compared to iPhone4S. Honestly.. I am and I can say about many folks.. are upgrading mainly because they are due for upgrade and it is almost foolishness, not to upgrade your iphone 4 or 4S when you can still sell them and recover your down payment for iPhone5 for ATT.

Off course, like any new product from Apple, it also feels really good.. that satisfaction of holding latest and greatest from Apple is another thing..

Bottom line.. expectation was more.. there is no feature in there which will really excite you as compared to iPhone4S. Good to have super fast LTE network card in it. but.. only if it works (for now).. I will be more than happy if I can get even full 3G speed on ATT network..

for next release of iPhone.. whether apple calls it 5S or 6.. they definitely need some quantum leap.. at least one solid feature which works flawless and makes me really exciting.. iPhone5 is more of aesthetic leap.. though that doesn't mean iPhone4S looks ugly or bad.. I still love my iPhone4S. Traditionally, I am bigger fan of their "S" series of phones as they tend to be much better in terms of core phone performance and their new release is more focussed on non-core-phone features but usually they do mess up with core-phone features.. for example on core phone features basis.. 3GS was or is still better than iPhone4..

However, I hope that iPhone 5 is better or at least same as iPhone4S for core phone features.. So far reviews about its core phone features are better and that make me think that it is more of iPhone 4GS phone with bigger screen..

Now that, 5 is out.. let us see what do we get for 5S or 6!!! hope to have some quantum leap over there..

5 MILLION SOLD

Apple’s sales record doesn’t sway investors

Stock falls 1.3 percent as company wrestles with iPhone 5 supply issues

By Patrick May

pmay@mercurynews.com 

Poor Apple.

Instead of selling as many as 10 million iPhone 5s over the opening weekend, as some analysts had predicted, it wrestled with supply shortages and unloaded a measly 5 million. And even though that beat its previous record of 4 million iPhone 4S handsets sold during that device’s launch weekend last year, investors still gave the Cupertino tech giant a swift kick in the rear, pulling down its stock price by 1.3 percent in trading Monday.

Meanwhile, users and reviewers kept griping about quirks in the new phone’s Apple Maps that replaced the Google Maps, while rumors floated online saying Apple has been trying to poach Google’s map experts to help them out. Oh yeah, and a Foxconn factory that supplies Apple parts was shut down Monday by cops in China after workers rioted for an un­disclosed reason. Still, Apple remained upbeat, even as investors worried that supply shortfalls might hurt the company’s efforts to outpace rivals making handsets that use Google’s Android software. Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a news release, asked everyone for patience and said the company is “working hard to build enough iPhone 5s for everyone.” But clearly Apple is struggling to meet the crushing demand for its new phone. After pushing back an initial September delivery date for those who pre-ordered the iPhone 5 online, Apple said Monday it had run out of its initial supply, and many pre-orders were now scheduled to go out instead in October. And some retail chains that sell the phone said they’d not received nearly enough to meet either the pre-order or in-store demand. In a note to investors, analyst William Power with Baird Equity Research said, “We believe that sales could have potentially been much higher if not for supply constraints.” Other analysts, however, said Apple would be just fine, despite a particularly nasty case of supplychain indigestion. Even though Brian Marshall with ISI Group had anticipated initial sales of 6 million to 8 million iPhone 5s, he said Monday that the 5 million number did not give an accurate picture of what was really happening because Apple doesn’t count preorder sales until customers have actually received their phones. 

“There are potentially millions of iPhones in transit as we speak,” he said. “Demand still exceeds supply, and supply will ultimately catch up.” 

Apple could still be proud of its performance, having broken its comparable record of 4 million iPhone 4Ss sold last year during its first weekend on sale. And once customers get their hands on their pre-ordered units in the coming weeks, that sales number, of course, could skyrocket. 

Shortages have hit Apple partners in the past, but the disparity seems more pronounced this time. 

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Miller declined to comment beyond the company’s news release Monday and referred calls about the plant closing in China to Foxconn, which did not immediately reply to an interview request. News reports about the disturbance and the plant’s shutdown were sketchy. Wire service reports said that early Monday morning, some 5,000 Chinese police responded to one of Foxconn’s largest plants after a brawl involving more than 2,000 workers broke out. 

Contact Patrick May at 408-920-5689 or follow him at Twitter.com/ patmaymerc.