Apple Nears the US$3 Trillion Market Cap

Apple, the American tech giant, is inches away from reaching a market capitalization of US$3 trillion dollars just over a year after it surpassed the two-trillion mark. This incredible milestone is as big as the equity markets of the United Kingdom or Germany.

After a decades-long run as one of the world’s best performing stocks, shares of Apple were up at 1.6% at US$174. The company needs to trade at US$182.85 to hit the goal. Nonetheless, the stock risen to about 30% this year on top of an 80% jump in 2020.

Oanda’s Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam said: “There’s so much still to come from Apple, which makes you wonder what milestone they’ll pass next and how big they can become.”

Back in 2018, Apple reached the US$1 trillion in market capitalization and it took the company two years to double that valuation. Reaching the three-trillion mark will establish a strong rally that has been fueled by investors betting on its brand. Moreover, its peers in the trillion-dollar club include Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla.

“Apple does seem to be more immune to the ebb and flow of economic forces just because of this really strong brand. Its new product pipeline is pretty strong too,” according to Hargreaves Lansdown’s Senior Investment and Market Analyst Susannah Streeter.

QUICK TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Owing it to the steady stream of products that attracted a loyal following, Apple became the world’s most valuable business. In late 2000, the company had a market value of merely US$4.5 billion and the investors were fleeing the stock. Nowadays, investors cannot get enough of the stock. The stock has breached Wall Street’s median price target by US$4, with most experts and analysts covering the stock rating it buy or higher.

Despite the wobbling status of markets because of higher interest rates and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, investors view Apple as a relatively safe place to keep their money due to its consistent sales growth.

You see, Apple is “kind of in that sweet spot of not being too expensive, having a nice mix of products and services, and being a great innovator across its entire product line,” said Ingalls & Snyder’s Senior Portfolio Strategist Tim Ghriskey.

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Significant Improvements In The iPhone 13 Series

For the Apple enthusiasts, the long wait is over! Apple announced the new iPhone models in its annual conference, which is ahead of the holiday shopping season. This year’s virtual conference included the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, and two Pro models with premium features that you will not find in the regular iPhone 13.

The iPhone 13 will retail from S$1,299 and the iPhone 13 Pro starts from S$1,649. As always, the Pro models are more expensive. These phones will be available in Singapore from September 24.

1. LONGER BATTERY LIFE

In a 2019 poll by SurveyMonkey, 76% of iPhone owners said longer battery life would get them excited about a phone upgrade. Let us see how that pans out because the iPhone 13 series comes with major batter life improvements.

The longer battery life is made possible by A15 Bionic, larger battery, more efficient components, and power optimizations from a deep integration of both hardware and software. In fact, iPhone 13 offers up to two and a half more hours in a day than iPhone 12. iPhone 13 mini, on the other hand, provides up to an hour and a half more power in a day than the iPhone 12 mini.

2. ELEVATED PRO LINEUP

Mr. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, said:

“iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max make up our most Pro iPhone lineup ever with the biggest advancement for our camera system, the best battery life ever in an iPhone, and the fastest performance of any smartphone. (It is) setting a new standard for iPhone and enabling incredible experiences never before possible…”

The new Pro models were redesigned inside and out. Both models introduce an all-new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion featuring an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz. Your touch experience will be faster and more responsive. What’s more? The Pro camera systems has the new Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras to help you capture stunning photos and video. All these are powered by the A15 Bionic.

3. IMPRESSIVE CINEMATIC MODE

Apple followed an extensive study of cinematography to create the Cinematic mode for its newly introduced iPhone series. You will be able to capture cinema-style moments without the training of a professional filmmaker. The focus can be changed during and after capturing pictures for creative control. Users can also adjust the level of bokeh in the Photos app and iMovie for iOS.

Cinematic mode records in Dolby Vision HDR and is enabled by A15 Bionic.

4. DIFFERENT CAMERA ARRAY

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini represent a leap in camera design with its advancements in hardware and computational photography to deliver stunning photos and videos. The camera array is arranged in a diagonal manner. You would be happy to know that the new Wide camera comes with the biggest sensor in the history of iPhone’s dual-camera system. Moreover, its camera system can gather 47% more light for less noise and brighter results!

We officially welcome you to the iPhone 13 series! Do you consider their longer battery life and cinematic camera mode as minor or major improvements? Write your thoughts on the comment section below.

Sources: 1 & 2

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iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro will be available for pre-order in S’pore this Friday, 17 Sep 21

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini

Apple today introduced iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, the next generation of the world’s best smartphone, featuring a beautiful design with sleek flat edges in five gorgeous new colours. Both models feature major innovations, including the most advanced dual-camera system ever on iPhone — with a new Wide camera with bigger pixels and sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (OIS) offering improvements in low light photos and videos, a new way to personalise the camera with Photographic Styles, and Cinematic mode, which brings a new dimension to video storytelling. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini also boast super-fast performance and power efficiency with A15 Bionic, longer battery life, a brighter Super Retina XDR display that brings content to life, incredible durability with the Ceramic Shield front cover, double the entry-level storage at 128GB, an industry-leading IP68 rating for water resistance, and an advanced 5G experience.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will be available in pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED1 with pre-orders beginning Friday, September 17, and availability beginning Friday, September 24.

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple today introduced iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a smartphone. Redesigned inside and out, both models introduce an all-new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion featuring an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, making the touch experience faster and more responsive. The pro camera system gets its biggest advancement ever with new Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras, that capture stunning photos and video, powered by the unmatched performance of A15 Bionic, more powerful than the leading competition. These technologies enable impressive new photo capabilities never before possible on iPhone, like macro photography on the new Ultra Wide camera and up to 2.2x improved low-light performance on the new Wide camera. New computational photography features like Photographic Styles personalise the look of images in the Camera app, and both models now include Night mode on all cameras. Video takes a huge leap forward with Cinematic mode for beautiful depth-of-field transitions, macro video, Time-lapse and Slo-mo, and even better low-light performance. Both models also offer end-to-end pro workflows in Dolby Vision, and for the first time, ProRes, only available on iPhone. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also include 5G with more bands for better coverage, big improvements to battery life for the best battery life ever on iPhone with iPhone 13 Pro Max, new storage capacity of 1TB, and the Ceramic Shield front cover, tougher than any smartphone glass.

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will be available in four stunning finishes, including graphite, gold, silver, and the all-new sierra blue. Pre-orders begin Friday, September 17, with availability beginning Friday, September 24.

COMPARISON & PRICING

iPhone 13 Comparison

 

 

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Apple’s floating store at Marina Bay Sands to open on Sep 10

Apple’s most ambitious retail project sits on the waters of Marina Bay

Singapore — Apple today previewed Apple Marina Bay Sands, the first Apple Store to sit directly on the water. Appearing as a sphere floating on the iridescent Marina Bay, the store introduces a new and captivating retail experience at one of the most iconic locations in Singapore.

Entirely surrounded by water, Apple Marina Bay Sands offers uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic views of the city and its spectacular skyline. The sphere is a first-of-its-kind, all-glass dome structure that is fully self-supported, comprised of 114 pieces of glass with only 10 narrow vertical mullions for structural connection. As Apple’s third retail location in Singapore, the new store creates an unforgettable space for customers.

An oculus at the apex of the dome provides a flooding ray of light, with custom sunshade rings lining the interior glass.

Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, an oculus located at the apex of the dome provides a flooding ray of light that travels through the space. The interior of the glass is lined with custom baffles, each uniquely shaped to counter sun angles and provide a nighttime lighting effect. With trees lining the interior of the dome, the green garden city of Singapore flows into the store, providing additional shading and soft shadows through the foliage.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open the breathtaking Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, building on our commitment to this special place that began more than 40 years ago,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People. “Our passionate and talented team is ready to welcome this community to our new store and deliver the care and support that our customers around the world love.”

Customers can explore curated Apple products and accessories or receive personal technical support from Geniuses.

Visitors entering the store encounter a dramatic reveal into the massive volume of the dome, where they can explore curated Apple products and accessories, receive personal technical support from Geniuses, or simply take in the stunning view of Marina Bay. The Forum is centered around a Video Wall, which will serve as the stage for Today at Apple sessions featuring Singapore’s artists, musicians, and creators. Entrepreneurs and developers interested in receiving training and advice can meet with Apple team members in Apple’s first underwater Boardroom, located on the lower level of the store.

The Forum will soon serve as the stage for Singapore’s artists, musicians, and creatives for Today at Apple sessions.

Nearly 150 employees speaking over 23 languages are ready to welcome visitors to Apple Marina Bay Sands.

Apple’s rich history in Singapore spans more than 40 years, beginning with the first corporate office in Ang Mo Kio. In 1981, the team was responsible for producing the majority of printed circuit boards for Apple II computers worldwide. Since then, Apple has expanded its corporate and retail presence, and now supports over 55,000 jobs across the entire Apple ecosystem.

The 148-person team at Apple Marina Bay Sands, who collectively speak over 23 languages, will welcome visitors for the first time on Thursday, September 10 at 10 a.m. SGT. The store will implement the same rigorous health measures for both employees and visitors seen across all Apple Store locations, including a mask requirement, temperature checks, and social distancing.

To ensure the health and well-being of guests, visits to Apple Marina Bay Sands on Thursday will be by appointment only. Customers can visit apple.com/sg/marinabaysands to choose from available times, and each non-transferable reservation admits one person. Capacity will be limited, so guests may experience wait times before entering the store.

Apple Marina Bay Sands opens on Thursday, September 10 at 10 a.m. SGT.

Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, B2-06, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 018972
Opening hours: Noon – 8pm daily (* 10am – 8pm on 10 Sep 2020)

This is a press release by Apple.

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