China Surpasses U.S. iOS and Android Activations For First Time

[jctevere]

Extremely biased article to publish... When you consider the fact that the iPhone finally became "official" in China (accounting for the massive increase the last two months), and combine it with the fact that iOS sales are extremely slow in U.S. right now (as most people are awaiting the new iPhone 5 release).

However, with all that said, I don't think that China is something to be overlooked, but I don't see what the point is in comparing them, like its some contest? When you look at the two scales of the population, can anyone say its really a surprise?

 

[nylonsteel]

re original article

the sleeping giant panda awaketh

 

[mijail]

China's big, but you are also probably due for a peasant revolt one of these days. There is a tremendous amount of corruption and party officials living opulent lifestyles, while peasants work for peanuts. They might not stand for this forever. Though to be frank, a shake up like that might actually make China stronger in the long run.

Funny how this seems to work too if you substitute "China" with "USA".

 

[locust76]

lol violently at you

A german has no right to say that

no right at all

He's not German. He's Bavarian.

 

[EmpyreanUK]

So how many colonies exactly does England still rule over?

Ah, but in the UK we're slowly coming to terms with the reality of our post-colonial insignificance, and have long grown accustomed to living within the shadow of our imperial successors.

I for one am looking forward to the dawning of a 'special relationship' with our Chinese brothers/overlords

 

[Augure]

Wrong.

1. The biggest cause of death in China is cancer. That means widespread environmental degradation which is horribly expensive to clean up.

2. The one child policy. It began in the early 80s so in 20 years, millions of only children will be caring for their elderly parents. The drag on the Chinese economy will be incalculable. Even Japan has better demographics.

3. The preference for male babies. This has led to hundreds of millions of young men who will never be able to find a spouse. Unless of course they can buy one from abroad. Unhappy young men inevitably lead to social unrest.

You are completely missing the point with non-relevant argument.

While the problems you mention are true it does nothing to the overall economy and demography because

1. China has already a population of 1.3 ****in billion people, they not only have a cash pool, they have a people pool and cancer wont change much

2. European and American demography are also in bad shape, so their government are counting immigration to counter-balance. The problem is that there are too many restrictive laws in US and racist people in Europe to allow that AND

3. Chinese are also greatly increasing their immigration rate, they are attracting far more that western countries and it's going to continue

----------

Don't get too far ahead of yourself there. China's "cash pool" of $4 trillion is insignificant in size compared to the cash pool of U.S. companies and its citizens. If China distributed its cash to China's 600 million impoverished peasants, each would have about $7,000. That is far less wealth than the average American or European has. It looks like a big number and it is but it is basically because the Chinese government takes a cut out of everything. The U.S. has that same money and much more, but it is in privately owned companies and its citizenry.

And don't get so excited about company debt. There is a reason that the U.S. can borrow at rates that might be below the rate of inflation. The U.S. could end its deficits in a few years by nothing more than reverting to the tax rates under Ronald Reagan. Paying off the $12 trillion debt would take a while, but the only real reason we have it is that the citizens don't really like being taxed much. It is a question of political will, not lack of actual ability. China's production ability and GDP is still much smaller than the U.S. as well. True, we waste a ton of our money on things like two wars. But China does as well on numerous bridges to nowhere and housing projects and office buildings for no one.

And don't forget your history. China's big, but you are also probably due for a peasant revolt one of these days. There is a tremendous amount of corruption and party officials living opulent lifestyles, while peasants work for peanuts. They might not stand for this forever. Though to be frank, a shake up like that might actually make China stronger in the long run.

I don't think you're economical point about the US debt has any validity, but you seem to miss what's really happening: do you know why there is an economical crisis in western countries, they tend to censor the Internet and are slowly forbidding demonstration or revolts?

Because China has already won as a model, and western countries are trying to compete anymore like they were 3 years ago: they are normalizing themselves with them to be competitive which will either take time or will bring civil war.

 

[acidfast7]

LOL

How about some error bars!

 

[Derpage]

Brushing up on my Mandarin and working on my soft color pallets.
THIS PRODUCT NEEDS MORE BABY BLUE AND LIME GREEN

 

[QwertyJuan]

Did you not read the supporting article?

I did read the supporting article.... what the article DOESN'T mention is how many of those are iOS and how many are Android. Considering the last stats I saw(saying Samsung was selling nearly 4x the amount of smartphones in China than Apple was, and that's not counting Huawei, HTC, ZTE, and others) it doesn't mean Apple is cleaning up on anything.

I bet the article was written by an American.

 

[808?]

Product red™

 

[Ugg]

You are completely missing the point with non-relevant argument.

While the problems you mention are true it does nothing to the overall economy and demography because

1. China has already a population of 1.3 ****in billion people, they not only have a cash pool, they have a people pool and cancer wont change much

2. European and American demography are also in bad shape, so their government are counting immigration to counter-balance. The problem is that there are too many restrictive laws in US and racist people in Europe to allow that AND

3. Chinese are also greatly increasing their immigration rate, they are attracting far more that western countries and it's going to continue

----------

Cancer is more of an urban problem in China than a rural one. Urban dwellers produce more and earn more therefore their loss will be felt greater. Also, my main point is that it is extremely expensive to clean up environmental toxins. I don't know the main cancer causing agents involved, but coal is probably at the top of the list. Weaning China's economy off of coal will be massively expensive and as a result, China will lose its competitive edge.


Birth rates are a concern around the world. At least the US and Europe have social welfare systems in place to deal with the rapidly aging population. China doesn't. They also have enough well paying jobs to attract high quality immigrants. China doesn't.

I would love to see figures on the number of immigrants that China is attracting.

 

[smithrh]

I did read the supporting article.... what the article DOESN'T mention is how many of those are iOS and how many are Android. Considering the last stats I saw(saying Samsung was selling nearly 4x the amount of smartphones in China than Apple was, and that's not counting Huawei, HTC, ZTE, and others) it doesn't mean Apple is cleaning up on anything.

1) Units - look at _profits_. Even if Apple are only a fraction of the units sold, with their ability to hold on price (which speaks to demand) is impressive, fueling their profitability. That is the endgame.

2) I happen to know more than a few Chinese - they've been picking up iPhones for personal use over the last 6-8 months.

I bet the article was written by an American.

Apropos of nothing...

 

[Ironduke]

I am ever so eager to have you explain why. And do so without coming across as a racist.

1938-45

----------

He's not German. He's Bavarian.

yeah and I'm not british I'm English

 

[Ciclismo]

1938-45

----------



yeah and I'm not british I'm English

I am guilty of the horrific acts committed here more than 30 years before I was born?

 

[QwertyJuan]

1) Units - look at _profits_. Even if Apple are only a fraction of the units sold, with their ability to hold on price (which speaks to demand) is impressive, fueling their profitability. That is the endgame.

2) I happen to know more than a few Chinese - they've been picking up iPhones for personal use over the last 6-8 months.


Apropos of nothing...

The reason I said it was probably written by an American is how they lumped Android and iOS together, when iOS is only a tiny FRACTION of the market. Everyone knows that Americans are VERY pro-Apple(which boggles me since MS and Google are ALSO American companies). It's all your news' sites talk/write about.

 

[Ironduke]

I am guilty of the horrific acts committed here more than 30 years before I was born?

Did my generation lose the empire?

if you can't take it don't give it lad

 

[TallManNY]

[/COLOR]

I don't think you're economical point about the US debt has any validity, but you seem to miss what's really happening: do you know why there is an economical crisis in western countries, they tend to censor the Internet and are slowly forbidding demonstration or revolts?

Because China has already won as a model, and western countries are trying to compete anymore like they were 3 years ago: they are normalizing themselves with them to be competitive which will either take time or will bring civil war.

I'm also old enough to remember how the Japanese model had "won" and how they were going to buy America. That didn't exactly work out, now did it? People thought at one point that Soviet Russia's model was winning as well. Then all of a sudden it was apparent that they had nothing.

Also, if you look back at history, the "China is the next big thing" has been discussed since the days of Marco Polo and fairly extensively by sophisticated parties for well over 100 years. Certainly they seem to be doing great now though. And this time it might be different. But there are more problems in China than folks realize and the economic problems of the U.S. are often drastically overblown.

Interesting idea though that you think the western countries are going to become more autocratic in order to compete with China model. A little paranoid, but still an interesting idea. I wonder if general citizens will give up more and more rights to their governments thinking that it will help their economic safety. U.S. citizens seemed to be willing to give up rights to help their physical safety (see the PATRIOT Act).

 

[Augure]

I'm also old enough to remember how the Japanese model had "won" and how they were going to buy America. That didn't exactly work out, now did it? People thought at one point that Soviet Russia's model was winning as well. Then all of a sudden it was apparent that they had nothing.

Also, if you look back at history, the "China is the next big thing" has been discussed since the days of Marco Polo and fairly extensively by sophisticated parties for well over 100 years. Certainly they seem to be doing great now though. And this time it might be different. But there are more problems in China than folks realize and the economic problems of the U.S. are often drastically overblown.

Interesting idea though that you think the western countries are going to become more autocratic in order to compete with China model. A little paranoid, but still an interesting idea. I wonder if general citizens will give up more and more rights to their governments thinking that it will help their economic safety. U.S. citizens seemed to be willing to give up rights to help their physical safety (see the PATRIOT Act).

Again, you are completely mistaken about the situation, which is mainly economical: numbers don't lie.

I would even say that most westerner still live in a blurry statement that "yeah, China is somewhat rich and they have lots of people, they might be powerful in the future...". Wrong: the situation today and the forecast always tell that China is winner with the biggest consumer market to grow, everybody working in serious global finance or consumer market knows that.

Friends in some big multinational compagnies told me the same thing at the same time: their board of directors decided to move their headquarter in Shanghai in the upcoming 2 or 3 years which was historically never done before for these companies implanted in Europe or America...

Also I'm not even talking about geopolitical influence that makes things even more clear: in the UN when China says no it's no, regarding Syria or Iran for exemple. I wont talk about neocolonialism which makes it obvious, but in this new millenium, it's only justice.

The only thing that could turn things back is a War, because on the militari side, China alone is far to equal the US or the Nato.

 

[mijail]

Everyone knows that Americans are VERY pro-Apple(which boggles me since MS and Google are ALSO American companies). It's all your news' sites talk/write about.

Huh, I didn't know that. And yes, it boggles the mind..., which suggests that something is not right with that "explanation".

 

[TallManNY]

Again, you are completely mistaken about the situation, which is mainly economical: numbers don't lie.

I would even say that most westerner still live in a blurry statement that "yeah, China is somewhat rich and they have lots of people, they might be powerful in the future...". Wrong: the situation today and the forecast always tell that China is winner with the biggest consumer market to grow, everybody working in serious global finance or consumer market knows that.

Friends in some big multinational compagnies told me the same thing at the same time: their board of directors decided to move their headquarter in Shanghai in the upcoming 2 or 3 years which was historically never done before for these companies implanted in Europe or America...

Also I'm not even talking about geopolitical influence that makes things even more clear: in the UN when China says no it's no, regarding Syria or Iran for exemple. I wont talk about neocolonialism which makes it obvious, but in this new millenium, it's only justice.

The only thing that could turn things back is a War, because on the militari side, China alone is far to equal the US or the Nato.

Well I'm not discounting that China has become a super power, it just isn't as powerful as people think and it isn't as strong economically as people like yourself think. Funny that you say "numbers don't lie". Actually, Chinese financial numbers are filled with lies, both the numbers produced by the government and by their private companies. Any article about the growing Chinese consumer power that you find, you could find something similar published 100 years ago. China had a huge population then, just like it has now. And 100 years ago man power was even more important than it is now. This story has been out there forever. Maybe this time is different, China will come into its own in a big way.

I will keep a look out for a major company really moving their headquarters to China. Opening an office there is one thing, but yes going kind of all in as a Chinese headquartered company would be different. It would be noteworthy as you say. However, I don't know why any group of executives would do that to their company or themselves. There is not a clear rule of law in Shanghai as communist party members can still dictate terms to judges or to bureaucrats. A successful company that moves to Shanghai might quickly find itself under the thumb of the Chinese government.

As for the UN, Chine is part of the security counsel, so it has a veto power. Just like Russia and France. Being able to block stuff getting done by the UN really isn't that special.

Just so you know, I've got some friends in China and have visited it a few times. I like it and find it a very exciting place. My friends like living there. But the place has problems. I don't think its model is the future.

 

[mijail]

I will keep a look out for a major company really moving their headquarters to China. Opening an office there is one thing, but yes going kind of all in as a Chinese headquartered company would be different. It would be noteworthy as you say.

Maybe you'll find this link interesting:
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-...n-Altium-s-bold-and-exciting-move-to-Shanghai
(just an example of a relatively well known company moving from Australia to China. Interestingly, clients from the USA in the user forums got all butthurt when the move got announced 1 year ago)

There is not a clear rule of law in Shanghai as communist party members can still dictate terms to judges or to bureaucrats. A successful company that moves to Shanghai might quickly find itself under the thumb of the Chinese government.

Interesting that lately I hear the same rumblings about USA. What, with the PATRIOT act, the DMCA, and their international pushing of SOPA, PIPA...
Did you know that cloud operators from outside USA are using those USA laws as a counter-advertisement? As in, "if you use a cloud with servers in the USA and your data ends there, who knows what can happen to it if the government fancied it"...

Just so you know, I've got some friends in China and have visited it a few times. I like it and find it a very exciting place. My friends like living there. But the place has problems. I don't think its model is the future.

You might be right. But I'd like to know which place is a model for you.

Just so you know, I have a friend from the USA. Lately I asked him about opportunities there. He said to forget it and better try China (among others). I expected to arrive to that, but I was surprised that he thought the same from the beginning.

 

[Augure]

Well I'm not discounting that China has become a super power, it just isn't as powerful as people think and it isn't as strong economically as people like yourself think. Funny that you say "numbers don't lie". Actually, Chinese financial numbers are filled with lies, both the numbers produced by the government and by their private companies. Any article about the growing Chinese consumer power that you find, you could find something similar published 100 years ago. China had a huge population then, just like it has now. And 100 years ago man power was even more important than it is now. This story has been out there forever. Maybe this time is different, China will come into its own in a big way.

I will keep a look out for a major company really moving their headquarters to China. Opening an office there is one thing, but yes going kind of all in as a Chinese headquartered company would be different. It would be noteworthy as you say. However, I don't know why any group of executives would do that to their company or themselves. There is not a clear rule of law in Shanghai as communist party members can still dictate terms to judges or to bureaucrats. A successful company that moves to Shanghai might quickly find itself under the thumb of the Chinese government.

As for the UN, Chine is part of the security counsel, so it has a veto power. Just like Russia and France. Being able to block stuff getting done by the UN really isn't that special.

Just so you know, I've got some friends in China and have visited it a few times. I like it and find it a very exciting place. My friends like living there. But the place has problems. I don't think its model is the future.

You are looking too much at the present, which in business or political term is not really smart...

I don't know about the rigged number, but you can only cheat to a certain point. And the count is really simple: the money there is on the actual chinese market and in it's treasurery outnumbers the whole western debt minus their own GDP. That's an easy fact because western countries simply can't pay back their debts no matter how much they try.

And other numbers that are more important and less prone to being rigged: the consumer market of China. There is an estimated 250 millions of people earning more than 3000$/mo in the new middle-class and it's set to reach 700 millions by 2018. It means that there is the equivalent of the whole western world (EU + North America) who are earning what only a diminishing fraction (because of the growing crisis) of people in western countries earn.

And again it goes way beyond through History: this is just Universal justice and balance.

 

[tjxism]

Wirelessly posted

Oh my god. It's only the Chinese activated some mobile phones, not nuclear continental missiles. How come this suddenly become a political.

What I want to say is that it will be so stupid for Apple or any other big companies not to consider China as the most important market in the next few years. Will you bring the KIRF topic again? You have to live with it and find a way to get along. If not, you will certainly lose.

 

[robertjones]

If AAPL wants to continue its record growth, China is the next big frontier...

i think not only in China, Brazil, India, and Russia are all big markets.

 

[TallManNY]

You are looking too much at the present, which in business or political term is not really smart...

I don't know about the rigged number, but you can only cheat to a certain point. And the count is really simple: the money there is on the actual chinese market and in it's treasurery outnumbers the whole western debt minus their own GDP. That's an easy fact because western countries simply can't pay back their debts no matter how much they try.

And other numbers that are more important and less prone to being rigged: the consumer market of China. There is an estimated 250 millions of people earning more than 3000$/mo in the new middle-class and it's set to reach 700 millions by 2018. It means that there is the equivalent of the whole western world (EU + North America) who are earning what only a diminishing fraction (because of the growing crisis) of people in western countries earn.

And again it goes way beyond through History: this is just Universal justice and balance.

Tell the victims of Bernie Madoff that you can only cheat the numbers so much. You have no idea how accurate China's numbers are. Even the Chinese central government realized that they were getting fishy numbers from the local provinces a few years ago (every year, every province would report good steady growth) and that it was out of control. They had to tell them to start telling the truth even if it was bad news. It is unclear to what extent that has happened.

So I don't know if your $3,000 per month number is accurate or even close to true. The average U.S. salary if closer to $4,000 per month, by the way (though the average is brought up by the rich and very rich who earn much more than $4,000 per month).

As for U.S. debt, China owns about 8% of it. Do you know who owns more? The U.S. government which owns 32% (it is mainly supposed to be in the social security account). So, with the stroke of a pen, the U.S. government could forgive the debt that it owes to itself. U.S. citizens own about 6% of U.S. debt, so to say that the U.S. government will never have enough money to pay back itself and its own citizens is crazy. (Though perhaps we will never have the political will to do this.)