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During today’s Apple investor conference call, C.E.O. Tim Cook was quoted as saying that Apple set: “a new single-day record” for iPad sales/activations but no specific numbers were released. Hours later, GSM carrier AT&T released this statment:

On Friday, March 16, AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales and activations, demonstrating robust demand for the new iPad on the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people.

Again, no specifics but if they beat iPad 1 or iPad 2 single day records, we’re looking at numbers between 500,000 to 1.3 million units (small window, I know). Additionally, from what we’ve heard, the New iPad is still available for in-store pickup and from third party vendors like Walmart – so no long lines for people still wanting one, even though online order shipments have slipped to 2-3 weeks.  No word from Verizon on the issue but it’s still early in the day.

Source: Marketwatch

Not so many people know but a small company called Proview (China) owns the trademark to “iPad” in China, something they registered in 2000 and boy do they want their cut! In what can only be called “an attempt to force an expensive out of court settlement” Proview is pushing for a country wide ban on the import/export of Apple’s tablet and since the iPad is made in Shenzen/China, such a ban would disturb global shipments. While Chinese Intermediate People’s Court has rule that Proview is the rightful owner of the name “iPad” in China, Customs officials are worried that a ban would be harder to implement that Proview would like, mostly because the iPad is so loved in China.

“The customs have told us that it will be difficult to implement a ban because many Chinese consumers love Apple products. The sheer size of the market is very big,” Yang Long-san, chief of Proview Technology (Shenzhen), told Reuters in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

To make things even more interesting, Proview is extremely close to bankruptcy and could be pushing hard against Apple – for dear life. It has been rumored that Proview wants $1.5 Billion from Apple, just for the use of the name “iPad” in China. Good luck with that.

Source: 9To5Mac - Source: Reuters

I believe that the once amusing and somewhat wonderful day of Black Friday, where one could do all his/her Christmas shopping in one day and save big, has turned into a rabid animal. It seems that the previous 5 years or so have seen an increase in violent and disturbing acts being committed, all in the name of big savings. Walmarts and BestBuys turn into battle grounds, where elbows are thrown, hair is pulled, babies cry, faces are punched and then….someone gets shot.

Is it the down economy? Is it people trying to spend less and get more? Is it mob mentality? Whatever the reason or reasons, what is the solution to this growing problem of gluttony/violence? Has an amazing deal at Walmart turned into the equivalent to shouting fire in a movie theater? For me, the solution is to shop online and last year was the first year that I did all my shopping online – Amazon Prime is a great thing. Yet, not all things can be bought online, especially articles of clothing, which need to be tried and fitted. Additionally, there are many people that like to shop locally, even if it’s to large box stores – so what is the solution for them?

Is the solution more Black Fridays, so the mob is spread out – more thin? Would having a Black Friday type fire sale at the end of every season (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) be more helpful?  This might help but it wouldn’t be addressing the larger issue, which is this ravenous appetite Americans have for these types of events. If you take them away, millions of people would stand up and shout, “You’re stepping on my liberties!” If you place limits on companies, as to how they should conduct their Black Friday sales, they’ll respond by saying, “You’re stifling our profits and hurting the economy!” How did we get to this point, where Tickle Me Elmo is so lusted after, you need to punch the middle aged soccer mom next to you? The video below is from this years Black Friday Sales – very disturbing.

Word from Verizon is that it has broken all previous device sale records with the iPhone 4 and it’s also completely sold out. Well, the first part I tend to believe, as there was strong demand for the iPhone 4 on a better network but as for the “Sold Out” – what device doesn’t sell out know? This is all manufactured by the carriers and OEMs – limited stock = sold out every time! This is especially true if no actual numbers have been released – wait for Monday. Click Here for the Verizon press release.

On a side note, early Verizon iPhone 4 orders have already shipped but may be delayed thanks to the monster snow storm hitting most of the country. Does mother nature work for AT&T? NEXT!!

Source: BGR.com

Strategic is an understatement! As everyone knows by now, on monday (MLK Day – Stock Market was closed) Steve Job’s announced that he will be taking a medical leave from Apple (Remains C.E.O.) for an undisclosed amount of time – tuesday, after the closing bell, Apple releases their best quarterly results ever. This was classic Apple smoke and mirrors and actually for the regular stock holder, a dream come true because the overall health of the stock price stayed the same. Click here to see the quarterly results or see the breakdown below:

1) $6 Billion in Profit on $26.7 Billion in Revenue

2) Iphone 4 sales: 16.4 Million Sold – Up 86%

3) Mac Sales: 4.13 Million Units Sold – Up 23%

4) IPod Sales: 19.4 Million Units Sold – Down 7%

5) IPad Sales: 7.33 Million Units Sold

One specific note of interest is the IPad sales numbers – essentially 3 million more units that regular Mac sales – sneak peak into the future folks. NEXT!!