In this issue of Recap in Tech – Apple Reports Record First Quarter Results, Android Smartphone Shipments are Down, Marriot No Longer Seeking to Block Wi-Fi Hotspots, and Google Earth Pro Now Available for Free.
Apple Reports Record First Quarter Results
Popular technology company, Apple, Inc., announced record first quarter sales results this week in its traditional quarterly earnings call. The company posted quarterly revenue of $74.6 billion and a quarterly net profit of $18 billion. These results compare to $57.6 billion in revenue and $13.1 billion in net profit from one year ago. The results were fueled by all-time record revenue from iPhone and Mac sales as well as record performance of the App Store. iPhone unit sales of $74.5 million also set a new record. Apple CEO, Tim Cook said this of the record earnings –
“We’d like to thank our customers for an incredible quarter, which saw demand for Apple products soar to an all-time high. Our revenue grew 30 percent over last year to $74.6 billion, and the execution by our teams to achieve these results was simply phenomenal.”
Apple provides live streaming of its Q1 financial results conference call at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq115. The webcast will be available for approximately two weeks.
Android Smartphone Shipments are Down
For the first time ever Android shipments are down according to ABI Research’s latest data. The final three months of the year is usually the biggest time of year for certified smartphone shipments, but the last quarter of 2014 shows a drop of 5% over the previous year.
Marriott No Longer Seeking to Block Wi-Fi Hotspots
Hotel chain, Marriott, had an initiative in place set to block customers’ outside Wi-Fi networks, like hotspots. The initiative was meant to protect guests from being prone to hackers and cyber-attackers when they log into “rogue” Wi-Fi networks. The plan was focused on public conference areas and not guest rooms. Marriott dropped said initiative after the FCC issued an enforcement advisory stating that the plan was in violation of Section 222 of the Communications Act.
Google Earth Pro Now Available for Free
Upon its release Google Earth Pro retailed for $399 per year to customers to use its premium features. Google Earth Pro includes features like high-resolution images, the ability to print these images, smart geographic location, and the vaunted Super Image Overlays. The simple standard version is still available for those who don’t care for the premium version.
