The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Apple CFO Hints at "Future Product," Mum on Details

Apple CFO Hints at "Future Product," Mum on Details

by , 6:55 PM EDT, July 21st, 2008

Apple Inc. obviously is perpetually soon to release a new product or upgrade to existing product lines, but Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer told analysts Monday that such an upgrade (or "transition") would take place during the September quarter. That represents a very rare look into Apple's own crystal ball, as the company is famous for not announcing new products until Apple CEO Steve Jobs is ready to do so in full.

The issue arose when an analyst asked about Apple's guidance for gross margins during the September quarter, which Apple guided down to 31.5%, down from 34.8% in the year-ago quarter, and down from 34.8% in the June quarter, as well. Ben Reitzes of Lehman Brothers asked Mr. Oppenheimer for more details on why the company was lowering its gross margin guidance.

Mr. Oppenheimer explained that Apple was expecting a gross margin hit from a back-to-school special the company would soon be unveiling, as well as a one-time issue with a contract manufacturer that was responsible for some 70 basis points (0.7%) in gross margins.

The unexpected bit was when he added, "We've got a future product transition that I can't discuss with you today," a transition would also reduce total gross margins as the company sees higher costs on any new product rollout.

That would mean that one product line or another will be upgraded during the September quarter, though no specific details about what that product is, or what the change may be, were forthcoming. Apple COO Tim Cook did stress, however, that he expected investments his company was making in future products to leave Apple "far ahead of its competition."

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:algr Posts: 296 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:54 pm Subject: They are going back to PowerPC!

They are going back to PowerPC!

Yup!


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:10 pm Subject: d

they have created a flux capacitor and built a time machine.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:iVoid Posts: 65 Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:26 pm Subject:

September quarter would be the quarter we're in, right?

So not the iPhone, but something else soon.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:37 pm Subject: Futurama

Updated MacBook w/ LED backlit screen in 'new' widescreen format.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:03 pm Subject: Future Product

I often think one of the best things Apple could do now is openly license Mac OS while Vista is bombing in the market and we have (at least) 3 options to run legacy apps on the Mac platform.

Could this be the reason for reduced margins?


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 792 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:26 pm Subject: Touchpad

iPhone like Touchpad for MacBooks, and keyboards for the Mac.

Quote
Guest wrote:
I often think one of the best things Apple could do now is openly license Mac OS while Vista is bombing in the market and we have (at least) 3 options to run legacy apps on the Mac platform.

Could this be the reason for reduced margins?


Big mistake. Open up that can of worms and you have Windows problems. Keep the hardware and OS in house. Anyone who wants to run OS can get a Mac or illegally kludge it to work on a PC


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:cranium Posts: 18 Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:37 pm Subject: the NEW Apple TV

My guess is...

It's going to be really really cheap (explains the gross margin drop)...Apple is going "all in" with a new version of Apple TV! This will be VERY VERY low margin, and all part of a grand strategy to expand the halo and sell more iPhones and Macs. It will be the cornerstone home media device with enhanced capabilities (e.g. stream to phone) available if you have an iPhone and/or a Mac. The grand strategy will be to get this Apple product in every home, and then drive sales of the higher margin iPhones and Macs to get the extended capabilities.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:19 am Subject: it's a transition

Two thoughts: iphone shuffle and mac mini air


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:53 am Subject: Headless iMac

Maybe it will be a desktop Mac with desktop (not server or laptop) chips.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:34 am Subject: Future Upgrade

Could this new upgrade possibly be a carrier unlocked version of the iPhone. So you don't need to get a contract?

Or is it just and upgrade for the mobile me services?


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:42 am Subject: nah

much bigger: apple goes green. solar powered batteries and chargers for several products.


 Reply | Quote
Comment on this Article


Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated November 21st

Fri, 7:07 PM
Games - Soccer Sim Championship Manager 2010 Released for Mac
6:47 PM
Games - EA Publishes Original Monopoly for iPhone
6:15 PM
News - Original Apple I on Ebay for $50K, w/Letter from Steve Jobs
6:11 PM
Games - New iPhone Games: Secret of the Lost Cavern Ep 1, New DJ Nights, More
5:47 PM
Games - Star Trek D-A-C Game Headed to the Mac Next Month
4:57 PM
Product News - TidBITS Releases “Take Control of Syncing Data in Snow Leopard”
4:26 PM
John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 11/20) Stationery Pads Go Poof
2:59 PM
Free on iTunes - Musée du Louvre, Art Lite, SketchBook Mobile X and More.
1:50 PM
Deal Brothers - Acer P215H bmid 21.5” Widescreen LCD Monitor:  $139.99
11:24 AM
TMO Appearances - Jeff Gamet Shares More Holiday Gift Ideas on MacJury
10:43 AM
Product News - Cocktail 4.5 for Leopard Adds QuickLook Cache Clearing
10:06 AM
News - Hack Enables Mac OS X 10.6.2 on Netbooks

The Mac Observer Reader Specials
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!