Analyst claims Apple’s upcoming video service can give Netflix a run for its money

Apple is set to launch its own video service in the coming year and according to Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, this would help grow the company’s services revenue in the coming years and make them pose a big threat against Netflix. She believes this service can generate over US$4 billion for Apple by 2025. In the coming year, she estimates that the company will generate $500 million from the service alone. While Apple’s catalog won’t be as expansive as Netflix, it still has a few advantages. Huberty says, “While not a first mover, Apple’s attractive and sticky customer set combined with low friction sign-up and payment system could drive users to its video platform, even with a less complete content portfolio vs. Netflix.”

And it seems Apple is even willing to take down its well-kept walls a bit by opening up its Apple TV app from its own hardware to Android devices and smart TVs—at least according The Information’s profile on Eddy Cue.

Source: 9to5Mac

Report claims Apple won’t be refreshing the iPhone SE early next year

If you’ve gotten your hands on an Apple iPhone SE and are looking to get an upgrade of the device next year, that might not happen. At least according to a new research report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The reason is Apple might want to keep its margins high by subtly encouraging users to upgrade to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which are considered more margin-friendly devices.

Kuo predicts that total shipment volume of iPhones will decline in the first half of 2017 due to “tepid demand in China, slow shipment volume of 4.7-inch iPhones, and lack of an iPhone SE refresh in the second quarter of the year.” This year’s first half shipment is higher because of an “upbeat demand for the iPhone SE.”  According to Kuo, Apple might exert pressure on its component makers to drop prices to help maintain its margins and price reductions on the components could happen November or December of this year.

Source: BGR

Apple might be shifting gears on its autonomous vehicle initiative

Google's own self-driving initiative has been hitting the roads for a while already,

Reports have started to surface that Apple’s secret car project might be getting put on hold and undergoing a strategy shift. The self-driving car initiative is going through what the New York Times calls a “reboot” with dozens of employees working on Project Titan getting laid off and Apple veteran Bob Mansfield coming back onboard to lead the project. Apple has been working on this secret project for about two years and seems to have struggled to make progress. They haven’t been able to differentiate themselves from the other tech and car companies working on their own self-driving technology.

As mentioned, the project is supposedly undergoing a strategy change, with Apple focusing more on developing the underlying technology for autonomous vehicles. That could mean they would partner with other car companies that are developing their own self-driving cars. But, of course, we don’t know yet if this project will happen. And if Apple would actually be okay with developing technology for others. Only time will tell.

Source: Recode

Samsung will reportedly sell refurbished versions of its high-end phones

A new report from Reuters claims Samsung is looking to keep the momentum of posting its best profits for two years with a new program. Samsung is being rumoured to be starting a re-sale program for refurbished, used version of its higher-end devices. The smartphones will supposedly be handsets returned from upgrade programs in the markets like the US and South Korea. These will then be sold at a lower price. It wasn’t specified in the report how much of a discount will be given and which countries the program will be available in.

If there is any truth to this, consumers will probably find the deal tempting, especially with the good reviews the new Samsung devices have been getting. For those who can’t afford the extremely high price tags of the likes of the Galaxy S7and Note7.

Source: The Verge