Actually Apple is acquiring a lot. They acquired several hardware companies, such as the one which produced the Kinect sensors in XBox. That means they are seriously looking into motion control. They are simply more careful with their money than Google apparently.
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Google Acquiring Tony Fadell-Founded Nest for $3.2 Billion
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Actually Apple is acquiring a lot. They acquired several hardware companies, such as the one which produced the Kinect sensors in XBox. That means they are seriously looking into motion control. They are simply more careful with their money than Google apparently.
Google fcks up everything 
Id neither want a Google ,,personal data extractor and rip my life¨ in my home either.
RIP Nest
Id neither want a Google ,,personal data extractor and rip my life¨ in my home either.RIP Nest
Correct, Apple's huge supply of cash is basically a myth. They do have an endless amount of assets, but they are not liquid. A huge portion of them are tied up overseas and will never set foot on American soil because Uncle Sam will send them a hefty tax bill. This is why Apple borrowed money for their buy-back program.
With all due respect: If Apple had purchased Nest It wouldnt use it to bomb me with Ads or Marketing or simply just sell out my Data . Period. Apple is very different from Google/Facebook whatever Personal Life & User Data Rippers
But again its just my opinion...Call me shallow if You wish but no thanks for Google or Facebook or any of those in my Private home & life
Regards
I know they acquire a lot, but placing them in the home automation category is a stretch. Waving your hand to change the program on your AppleTV is hardly home automation. Besides, the acquisition you speak of is something even Microsoft passed on, a number of years ago. Apple would be in better shape if they gave up on chasing Jobs's TV dreams.
I never said they are interested in home automation.
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They have over 50 billion in cash. They have another 100 billion in short or long term investments. 70% of the whole thing is outside of the US, which is ok since Apple makes a lot of investments outside of US. The money doesn't have to set foot on American soil for Apple to spend it.
So it's not a myth. It's very real.
Not to mention Google has 65% of their cash overseas as well. So it's pretty standard really.
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You aren't reading the financial report quite right. You missed the $106 billion in long term marketable securities. These are basically A or better rated corporate debt and sovereign debt (i.e., U.S. treasuries). While they will fluctuate in value, since these securities have a ready market they can be sold for cash on any business day. So these investments are basically as good as cash. The negative is, that by investing in such conservative securities, Apple tends to make a return below the rate of inflation on this money.
The retained earnings is revenue minus expenses, in other words profit. But the expense side of the calculation is so subject to GAAP allowed games (mainly depreciation or delayed income recognition) that I don't think the retained earnings is really meaningful. I'm far from being a professional investor, but I don't think investors look at that number for much guidance.
Anyway, Apple reported $146B in cash and marketable securities at the end of last quarter. Apple has some short and long term liability. But the $146B is NOT invested in Apple or its projects. Since we have just come off of both the Holiday quarter and another successful iPhone launch, I suspect the cash pile has grown significantly since last quarter. We will know at the end of the month when Apple reports.
BIG difference is.
Google tends to buy things / invent things / develop things and every single person, even apple users can benefit. (Google Earth anyone?)
Apple buys things / develops things, and closes and locks them down so only people who buy Apple products can benefit.
Can you EVER Imagine Apple developing Apple Earth and letting everyone use it?
Not in a million years. Would be an Apple App only.
Google tends to buy things / invent things / develop things and every single person, even apple users can benefit. (Google Earth anyone?)
Apple buys things / develops things, and closes and locks them down so only people who buy Apple products can benefit.
Can you EVER Imagine Apple developing Apple Earth and letting everyone use it?
Not in a million years. Would be an Apple App only.
Cool product. Ridiculously overpriced buy. But that's Google. They can, and will, buy anything that catches their eye. Doesn't matter the price. As for some complaining about compatibility... No, Google is not gonna ban iOS devices. That's probably 90% of Nest's service.
Advertising companies make money by getting as many users as possible. Product companies make money by selling as much as their own products as possible.
I think the products and ideas behind Nest (improving the mundane thermostat and smoke alarms to be more efficient and elegant) are wonderful. However, it's pretty obvious that Google did not buy them for $3.2B for the thermostat. Think how many thermostats are sold a year, and how many you'd have to sell just to get revenue of $3.2B.
No, the reasons for the acquisition are much more clear once you realize the data Nest collects - when you are home, what your work habits are, how much time you spend in various areas of your home. Combine that with the search and other analytical data Google has, and you become extremely valuable to advertisers. Yes, there is the standard boilerplate from Nest that customer data won't be sold, etc. However, this can be changed at any time. In addition - what I see happening is Google doing the Amazon Kindle model - where the product becomes much cheaper if they are allowed to advertise to you and/or collect your data. So, you get a much cheaper automated home in exchange for your data. And web ads (and perhaps even TV ads) are directed towards who is home at the time and what their spending habits are.
Dave
No, the reasons for the acquisition are much more clear once you realize the data Nest collects - when you are home, what your work habits are, how much time you spend in various areas of your home. Combine that with the search and other analytical data Google has, and you become extremely valuable to advertisers. Yes, there is the standard boilerplate from Nest that customer data won't be sold, etc. However, this can be changed at any time. In addition - what I see happening is Google doing the Amazon Kindle model - where the product becomes much cheaper if they are allowed to advertise to you and/or collect your data. So, you get a much cheaper automated home in exchange for your data. And web ads (and perhaps even TV ads) are directed towards who is home at the time and what their spending habits are.
Dave
How do we know Apple isn't serious about it? Nest isn't the only game in town when it comes to home automation. Unless Nest has a ton of valuable IP Apple probably didn't think they were worth $3B. What is Nest doing that Apple couldn't do if it wanted to?
Apple does both.
They tack on a large profit margin for their hardware, and sell apps and media.
They also use iTunes as a source of information about us to sell iAd space.
Um because Apple and Google have different business models? One is an advertising company the other a hardware company. Google makes its money by getting as many eyeballs as possible. Apple makes its money by selling as many devices as possible. Doesn't make one business model better than the other.
Wow can anyone explain how this smoke alarm and thermostat company is a BILLION DOLLAR business?
I fail to see where anyone will make that investment back?
More fool google for shelling out the cash considering there were no other bidders. I find it difficult to see any ROI.
I fail to see where anyone will make that investment back?
More fool google for shelling out the cash considering there were no other bidders. I find it difficult to see any ROI.
Well Google was just upgraded today and their stock is up over 1% pre market. Earlier this year John Fortt on CNBC predicted that either Google or Amazon's bubble would burst this year. I'll believe it if/when I see it.
It's the same blind hatred many Android fans have toward Apple. Apple just wants your money upfront. At least for your money, Apple in exchange gives you quality-built devices and hundreds of retail locations for service should you need it. Google gives you a cheaper device and services. In exchange it wants to know every detail of your life like a jealous ex. Should service be required for your Google device, email them and ship it in and be without your device for days. Google hides their intentions behind little green robots and sweet sounding Android versions. Apple, just their price tags on their gadgets.
Yeah Google will probably lower the price of the Nest, just as soon as they figure out how to monetize that data collected from your thermostat.
Yeah Google will probably lower the price of the Nest, just as soon as they figure out how to monetize that data collected from your thermostat.
So far we only know Apple didn't want to pay 3.2 billion for Nest. There are many other companies and patents to choose from, the networked home market (or more general "Internet of Things" market) is still in its infancy - Apple also has lots of internal R&D options if it wants to enter the market in the future.
Since Apple succeeded in the mobile phone market without acquiring an existing phone maker I don't doubt they can do it again for automated/networked home products (if they want to).
I still don't see how Nest's products are that unique. For example, there was similar home security HW on Kickstarter or Indiegogo recently ("Canary", middle of 2013, don't recall the details) that does similar things like the smoke protector from Nest and even more.
PS: Also, I just saw that Honeywell filed legal suits against Nest in the past. Nest's IP isn't uncontested.
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Agree to an extent BUT you vastly oversimplify because Apple's business model and Google's are vastly different. Apple is primarily a consumer electronics company whereas Google is primarily an advertising/data collection company. That is a BIG difference when it comes to how they use their products to generate revenue.
The way you describe it one would think Google is altruistic and Apple is Mr. Scrooge. Both just seek to increase quarterly and annual income anyway feasible. One uses a cookie, the other a tasty Apple pie.
Agree. Not a fan. Bought a Nest last year and love it. I cringed when I saw that Google bought them. Won't buy anymore of their products.
Clearly on Planet Larry Page. Nest Labs w/o it's staff isn't worth $3B either. And what Nest is doing isn't all that different from what other tech companies are doing, so hard to say exactly why Google paid $3B, but the only unique part of the deal is Tony Fadell, like it or not. The biggest thing Google lacks is product design finesse. Hard to argue Fadell doesn't add that to the Google's game plan. Or maybe Google is just trying to thumb its nose at Apple by picking up the Podfather -- not that Apple cares, I'm sure.
I would still rather live in a world where google earth was available for free for anyone on the planet, any human, any age, any income can explore the world using this amazing creation, and have google record a few click on the places I look at on it.
Than live in a world where apple made apple earth and restricted it to only those fortunate enough or willing to buy an apple product that could run the software.
And cut the vast majority of the world out, simply so they could try and sell more pcs.
Give me a google world anyway over an apple world.
And actually I'm sure many would actually agree
Than live in a world where apple made apple earth and restricted it to only those fortunate enough or willing to buy an apple product that could run the software.
And cut the vast majority of the world out, simply so they could try and sell more pcs.
Give me a google world anyway over an apple world.
And actually I'm sure many would actually agree
You mean like iTunes, Safari (in the past), and quicktime were Apple only? Safari used to be available on Windows and iTunes still is. They do let other platforms use their software when it benefits them. So I think it is incorrect to say they only lock to their platform. They do open it when it makes sense to do so.