Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC)
Insight – Trigger Finger: Apple fires biometrics into the mainstream (EuroNews)
By adding a fingerprint scanner to its newest mobile phone, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is offering a tantalising glimpse of a future where your favourite gadget might become a biometric pass to the workplace, mobile commerce or real-world shopping and events. Although Apple’s executives said at Tuesday’s launch that its Touch ID technology embedded into the iPhone 5S’ home button would only provide fingerprint access to the phone and its own online stores, analysts said Apple’s embrace of such technology, called biometrics, would be key to wider adoption.
Apple Takes Key Merrill Lynch Analyst Downgrade: The iPhone Dud! (247WallSt)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) did not quite get the reception it would have liked from Main Street and from Wall Street for its two new iPhone models. Frankly, the company should not be surprised. Now we have one key analyst report showing a downgrade from Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC)’s Merrill Lynch. The firm has downgraded Apple shares to Neutral from Buy, as Tim Cook’s presentation just did not make the score that investors needed for a passing grade. It turns out that filling the shoes of Steve Jobs is a nearly impossible task.
Cheaper IPhone May Help Crack Subsidy-Shy Europe (BusinessWeek)
While the cheaper of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s new iPhones has disappointed critics who say it’s not priced low enough, in Europe it may still help carriers achieve what’s become rare in a region where wireless devices outnumber people: finding new customers. The iPhones introduced this week are also finally compatible with more of Europe’s high-speed, fourth-generation networks, addressing one of the big let-downs of the last model, whose 4G capability was only supported by a few carriers.
Icahn Boosts his Stake in Apple on Wednesday (TopNews)
American Billionaire, boosted his stake in Apple on Wednesday, as the share of company decreased by more than 5%. Icahn said that investing in Apple is a “no-brainer”. Apple’s stake sagged 5.4% with the launch of its new high-priced iPhone5c. Carl Icahn has bought more shares of Apple Inc. as the company’s stock market price declined. Icahn added that his investment firm “bought quite a bit today” with the downturn in price of Apple share market stock. His investment firm had collected a “large position” in Apple; Icahn tweeted on 13 August.
Chinese Phones Challenge ‘Cheap’ iPhone (WSJ)
While Samsung Electronics Co.005930.SE +0.57% and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) -5.76% own the majority of profits in the smartphone industry, their market shares are falling globally. The reason? Cheaper alternatives in markets such as China where there are a slew of startups that are launching high-spec phones at nearly half the price. In Hong Kong’s bustling electronics market in Sham Shui Po, it’s easy to find cheaper smartphones that are giving Apple and Samsung a run for their money.
Icahn: ‘Apple is just a no brainer’ (CNBC)
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