O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: deal

  • Apple pins down September 11th for China media event, speculation surfaces

    A recent announcement that Apple will hold its first-ever iPhone media event in China has indicated some huge things, such as a sooner-than-expected launch of new models in that country, or perhaps a deal with China Mobile, the world’s largest carrier.

    Per AppleInsider and the Wall Street Journal, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has repeatedly identified China as a crucial market that will play a key role in his company’s future growth. But competitors such as Samsung and Lenovo have had more success in China recently.

    For that reason, it’s been speculated that the Chinese market is one of the key reasons Apple is planning to release a new, more affordable iPhone model with a plastic back. And this week, Apple sent out invitations to members of the press for a media event on Sept. 11, a day after Apple is set to debut its new iPhones in the U.S.

    While that event is expected to simply be a rebroadcast of the company’s keynote presentation, the fact that Apple is holding a media event in China for the first time has fueled speculation that the company may be planning something big for that market.

    Two theories making their rounds include a day-and-date launch of new iPhone models matching their debut in the U.S. and other large markets, as well as the possibility of an agreement with mega-carrier China Mobile. The latter has been an obstacle for Apple for some time, as China Mobile is the world’s largest carrier with more than 700 million active subscribers.

    Cook himself is said to have traveled to visit with the head of China Mobile on a number of occasions in an effort to forge a deal. But sticking points have remained, including the fact that the carrier would like to receive a cut of software sold on the iOS App Store.

    Some have suggested that Apple may even be willing to make concessions in order to make the iPhone available on China Mobile. In particular, China Mobile is interested in keeping the devices it offers affordable, as it serves hundreds of millions of poor rural subscribers.

    As for the launch date, Apple is expected to make its new iPhones available on Friday, Sept. 20, based on past release schedules. One rumor from last month claimed that government regulation could hold up the launch of new iPhones in China until late November, but now market watchers are hopeful that Apple could make those devices available in China much sooner.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Best Buy rolls in free Apple TV with purchase of 15-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro, offer good until Saturday

    best-buy-logo

    It’s a nifty offer and it’ll run until tomorrow.

    Per AppleInsider, retailer Best Buy on Thursday kicked off a promotion that has the company bundling a free third-generation Apple TV with a purchase of select 15-inch MacBook Pros with Retina display

    While not heavily advertised on Best Buy’s website, the free Apple TV deal is currently available for two MacBook Pro with Retina display models, both high-end 15-inch versions of Apple’s notebook.

    The least expensive option is the Retina MacBook Pro with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD for US$1,999. The second version has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for US$2,599. As reflected in the pricing, Best Buy is having a sale on the laptops, which extends takes another US$100 off select non-Retina MacBook Pro models.

    In addition to the normal sale pricing, college students can also sign up for a US$100 savings with their current school email address. The discount extends to desktops like the iMac as well as a number of other computers and accessories.

    The latest Best Buy promotion comes less than a week after the big box retailer slashed MacBook Pro with Retina display prices by US$200 as part of its “Hot July Black Friday Sale.”

    If you’ve taken advantage of this deal and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

  • Apple, Time Warner close in on Apple TV content deal

    time-warner

    It never fails to have good content available for your customers.

    Per Bloomberg, Apple and U.S. cable company Time Warner are closing in on a deal that will give subscribers access to cable channels via Apple TV, which also claims the Cupertino company has taken on Hulu media marketing chief Pete Distad to help secure content, according to one report.

    Citing sources close to the story, Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Apple and Time Warner plan to announce the agreement in the coming months once a deal has been solidified. It is unknown what channels will be offered if and when a deal is finally struck, but access will likely be for existing cable subscribers only.

    While a Time Warner Cable spokesperson said the company has “no agreement with [Apple],” it has similar content deals in place for Roku’s set-top box, as well as Microsoft’s Xbox game console. The company already allows subscribers to watch certain channels on iOS devices with its TWC TV app, which is also available for Android.

    In addition to the Time Warner arrangement, the publication claims Apple has hired Hulu’s now former vice president of marketing and distribution Pete Distad to help executives with upcoming negotiations with media and cable companies.

    No further details were divulged regarding the executive’s hire, but Distad’s bio on Hulu’s website says he is in charge of “subscriber acquisition and retention, paid, on-channel, and brand marketing, distribution and promotional partnerships, and content marketing.”

    Apple has become more aggressive in acquiring content for its Apple TV “hobby,” most recently adding channels HBO GO, WatchESPN, and more to the small streaming device.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • Apple, Google reportedly partnering on $500 million bid for Kodak’s patents

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    Apple and Google may not always see eye to eye on matters, but both of them know a deal when they see one.

    Per Bloomberg, Apple has reportedly teamed up with Google to offer a bid for Kodak patents worth over US$500 million.

    On Friday, the news site cited two sources familiar with Kodak’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings who claim Apple and Google have become partners in a grab for 1,100 patents owned by the erstwhile photography monolith. Sources say the Apple-Google consortium was behind a bid placed a bid earlier this week.

    When bidding first started, the companies led two separate teams, with Apple’s consortium including Microsoft and patent holdings firm Intellectual Ventures, while Google joined up with RPX Corp. and a number of Asian handset manufacturers. At the time, it was thought that HTC and Samsung were part of Google’s team.

    Before the imaging patent auction began in August, Kodak estimated the value of its portfolio to fall between US$2.2 and US$2.6 billion, though the first round of bids were reportedly in the range of US$150 million to US$250 million. Under the terms of Kodak’s US$793 million loan agreement, the winning bid for the portfolio must not be lower than US$500 million.

    Interestingly, Kodak previously leveraged patents in a suit against Apple and HTC, as well as an ITC case against Apple and RIM, as a last-ditch effort to stay afloat. Apple subsequently took action and sued Kodak after claiming ownership of ten patents related to the QuickTake camera, which was a cooperative project between the two companies. A judge ultimately ordered the Cupertino, Calif., company to halt current and future litigation so the bankruptcy proceedings could continue.

    In November, sources claimed both Apple and Google remained interested in the patent cache, and Kodak said it was “confident” that the minimum woud be reached.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

  • eBay begins Cyber Monday sale, offers $989 deal for mid-2012 13-inch MacBook Pro, other offers

    Hey, a deal’s a deal.

    Per AppleInsider, eBay, which is currently undergoing a rebranding itself to be in more direct competition with Amazon via a push towards more direct sales, is hosting a Cyber Monday sale offering 5% off iPads with Retina display and 18% off the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro (US$989), as well as significant discounts on other consumer electronics like cameras, game systems and more.

    The US$989 price (US$210 savings) on the 2.5GHz 13″ MacBook Pro (MD101LL/A) is the lowest price that’s currently been published, and presents an exceptional value proposition for consumers in the market for a sub-US$1000 Apple notebook that still retains a CD/DVD optical drive.

    Other notable deals include 5% off 16GB iPads with Retina display (US$474.99, 56% off, 42% off a new Canon T3i Digital SLR Camera with 2 Canon IS lenses 747.25 (US$551.75 savings), and 74% off a 32GB SanDisk SDHC TM Memory Card for US$17.99 (US$52 savings).

    Meanwhile, retailers including Amazon, MacMall, B&H Photo, MacConnection and Best Buy have launched their own Cyber Monday sales with pricing on Macs and iPads similar to pricing seen on Black Friday. Additionally, MacMall continues to advocate inventory of the vast majority of Apple’s iPad mini product line (see chart), while Wal-Mart recently received all flavors of the AT&T iPad mini which its shipping out today.

    For users looking for a new Mac with 3-years of AppleCare extended protection, B&H Photo’s Buy Together & Save (bundle prices, instructions) offer savings of up to US$450 with its Cyber Monday pricing.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.