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  • Kinect Accelerator Participants Announced

    It’s pretty obvious now that Kinect is not just for games that have you flail your arms wildly about in hopes of beating your opponent senseless in Kinect Sports Boxing. The hardware has inspired countless innovations in how we interact with computers. The official release of Kinect for Windows earlier this year cemented Microsoft’s commitment to inspired new technologies. Microsoft is now taking that a step further with the announcement of the finalists in the Kinect Accelerator.

    The Kinect Accelerator is a contest of sorts. Microsoft tasked companies from all areas to come up with intriguing new uses for the Kinect hardware and apply it to applications. When the event was first announced in November of last year, Microsoft received over 500 applicants. They have since narrowed that down to 11 finalists. These finalists, along with the help of Microsoft and TechStars, will use the “mentor driven TechStars approach to foster a new generation of businesses.”

    Let’s take a look at the finalists and see what they came up with:

    Freak’n Genius is a company that is using the Kinect sensor to bring real-time animation to the masses. Their hiring video is quite the sell and pretty funny. Check it out:

    GestSure Technologies is one of the more interesting startups of the bunch. They are bringing the Kinect interface to operating rooms so doctors can use medical information interfaces without having to actually touch them. This allows doctors to access crucial information during surgery without having to touch anything that could potentially carry infection.

    Ikkos is looking to bring Kinect to athletic training. The creators say that it uses neuroplasticity, which is “the ability of the human braing to change as a result of one’s experience.” It’s currently being used for swimmers and other athletics.

    Another startup using Kinect in a helpful way is Jintronix. They are using motion sensing technology, like the Kinect, to help people during rehab who are suffering from “motor-control deficiencies.” They do this through interactive simulations that are comparable to games that make rehab fun and rewarding.

    Manctl is bringing 3D scanning to the Kinect. These are the kind of scanners professionals use for 3D printing to create a digital 3D model of an object. Those scanners can cost upwards of $600. Manctl uses Kinect to get the same result at a fraction of the price.

    One of the coolest applications of the bunch is NCONNEX. The Kinect technology is being used in two ways. The first is called KinPlace and it allows you to digitally place furniture in your home. This allows users to accurately judge if that new shelf is going to fit in the space you cleared for it. The other is the NCONNEX Labs which is exploring different ways of how Kinect can be used in education, elder-care, healthcare, etc.

    Almost in the same vein as NCONNEX, Styku lets you try it before you buy it. It’s software allows users to try on clothes without actually trying them on. The advantage in retail might not be apparent, it’s advantage is clear in online shopping. What if you could try on clothes online before you buy them? That’s pretty impressive, but what if you could design your own clothes and have it delivered it to you within four hours? Styku says they can do that and it’s pretty amazing. Check out the video below:

    Not to be confused with Ubisoft, Ubi-Interactive aims to use Kinect and other motion sensing technologies to turn any “existing display into a 3D touch-screen.” The implications are obvious with education and businesses benefitting immensely.

    One of the startups doesn’t have much information, but VoxieBox claims to be making the first consumer Volumetric 3D Display. For those who stopped keeping track of the ridiculous number of 3D displays there are, volumetric is by far the most exciting. The theory behind it is that it creates a 3D object in space through the use of light or other technologies. In layman terms, it essentially creates a hologram.

    There are two more startups listed on the Kinect Accelerator site – Kimetric and Zebcare – but they both don’t have sites available for them just yet. Once they have something more substantial to show like the other guys, I’m sure they’ll make more information available.

    All in all, it’s a pretty impressive bunch of demos and technologies right now. I think I’m most impressed with Styku, but NCONNEX is pretty cool as well. Regardless, all of the finalists have amazing technologies that I can’t wait to see mature under the Kinect Accelerator program.

    Which startup is your favorite? Are you excited about the potential Kinect brings to computer applications? Let us know in the comments.

  • Services Like Identified Use Game Elements to Encourage User Participation

    Fast-growing startup Identified, a Facebook-based professional networking platform, is reaching out to members of the “Facebook generation” through “gamification” — the process of applying game-like elements (badges, scores, level-ups, invincibility — well, maybe not that last one) to non-game platforms to encourage new-user signups, participation, and ongoing engagement with the platform. In a world where apps like OMGPOP’s “Draw Something” attract more than 14.5 million daily active users, it’s a technique with which more and more platforms are experimenting.

    Identified encourages users to link their existing Facebook profiles to the Identified platform and then supplement their personal information with more specifically-tailored professional info to create a short-form online résumé. The platform analyzes users’ professional backgrounds according to algorithms based on popular recruitment searches, and issues each users an “Identified score” (from 0 – 100) based on the user’s perceived employability. This is where the games begin. Identified then offers users feedback and suggestions on things they can add to and adjust in their profiles to improve their score. As people add information and progress in their careers, they gain points to increase their Identified Score.

    Far from the “vanity points” typical of other game-centered apps, Identified’s points are meant to represent the value of key information currently in demand by employers, helping young students and professionals plan their careers.The idea is to simultaneously help users stand out in the digital job market, to promote professional development among Millenials and other users, and also to encourage participation on the site by setting goals and tracking users’ progress. And, of course, for Identified to gain increased footing in daily and monthly active user share.

    Identified’s raison d’être is thus: members of the Millenial generation are hitting the job market with fresh degrees, new ideas, and the technical skill sets that employers want right now, but are having trouble getting noticed (or even found) by recruiters scanning the Web. (Sometimes they aren’t even aware of what job opportunities are out there.) Moreover, the Millenials are nearly invariably the target demographic of new social startups and other online services, and the din of new companies asking them to create yet another profile can be at best distracting and at worst annoying or invasive. Identified, following a trend that’s gaining momentum among online services and e-commerce sites, wants to make it easy on users to promote themselves professionally without having to manage a separate profile and rebuild friend- and professional networks from the ground up. In short, Identified makes professional networking easier by letting users import their Facebook data, and more engaging by adding elements of gaming.

    So far, the approach seems to be working. In less than seven months the company has gone from launch to 2.8 million monthly active users (MAU), and is number 11 on AppData’s weekly gainers leaderboard, up 800,000 MAU this week.

    The company also makes it easier for recruiters to filter through the “Facebook noise” of 850 million profiles and incomplete, outdated, or humorously misrepresented professional data. As Sherilynn Macale, Social Media Strategist at Identified, wrote on the company blog: “[A]llow me to point out the fact that your job title on Facebook reads ‘Jedi Master’ at the ‘Galactic Alliance Senate’ — not exactly recruitment or employer-appropriate, right?” This kind of thing really does happen all the time among the under-35 demographic. As a matter of fact, my personal profile is, at the moment, intentionally barren, and I bear a striking resemblance to Darth Vader in my profile pic. This troubles companies shopping the Web for younger employees. According to recruiters, 92 percent of Facebook profiles do not contain enough publicly available education and employment information (major, graduation year, job title) for recruiters to qualify potential candidates for jobs.

    “Critical information that recruiters need to hire literally does not exist in one place online for young people,” said co-founder and co-CEO Brendan Wallace. “Generation Y is nearly invisible to employers so this technique is key. We constantly hear that the pain point among employers is sourcing the education and job information of the 18-29 year-old demographic, but Facebook is a great starting point.”

    According to Identified, 72 percent of Facebook users who join its platform add new professional information not already found on their Facebook profile. The result, the company says, is that millions of younger candidates who wouldn’t be “recruitable” on Facebook alone can now be found by employers in a way never before possible.

    “We’ve learned that gaming can be used to solve the problem of the “invisible worker” for recruiters while it encourages and empowers millennials to be more strategic with their job and education information,” added Wallace.

    The company released this inforgraphic today, describing the evolution of gaming principles into its modern use as a vehicle driving a number of online service apps.

    We’ll see how the company fares in its next few quarters, but at the moment its viral growth among Facebook users makes Identified a service to watch whether you’re a job hunter, a corporate recruiter, or an investor.

  • Facebook: High Asking Price For Log-Out Ads

    Facebook: High Asking Price For Log-Out Ads

    Facebook has announced new log-out ads on their social platform that are sure to hit heavy with consumers as nearly 37 million users log-off the service daily in the US alone. No doubt these are highly sought-after advertising spaces, unfortunately the spaces sell for titanic amounts of cash. Apparently a day’s worth of ads will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $750,000.

    Wow! That hurts, who can afford this space? Well, so far Ford can, Titanic 3D can, and also Bing, who was the first to capitalize on the availability of the space. It sure seems like a great idea to me, but I don’t ever log-out of Facebook, so I guess I won’t get to see ’em.

    I’ll bet these things are going to be a big hit, but I wish we could ask what kind of traffic the ads generated on the advertisers sites after the spots showed. I don’t know if the advertisers would even have that data on hand yet, but lets see what people think of ’em so far:

    $700,000/day for Facebook log-out ads??? Who ever logs out of Facebook? http://t.co/eXcjsTRe 10 minutes ago via LinkedIn ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/7H6PEqku Ha, you’re funny Facebook. 10 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day. http://t.co/LfuGF4Gg. Who logs out of Facebook…ever? #competeretail @cwr12 5 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Pricey, but it’s a nice format to work with: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day
    http://t.co/j1tAFGKP via @adage 22 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Wonder how impressions that bad boy gets. ~ Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day
    http://t.co/ylPssGLM via @adage 43 minutes ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Pop ups when you close a window, how annoying.
    @adage: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/yPT9nuXI 43 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Big jump from the 300×250,and how many people log out often – Facebook sets asking price for log-out ads:$700K/day @AdAge 54 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    https://twitter.com/#!/lorenagomez/status/183246467186696192

    Just pocket change. RT @Techmeme: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day (@cottondelo / AdAge) http://t.co/iyt9CwWU 1 hour ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Sounds about right. $YHOO still gets ~$1M on takeovers? “Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day” http://t.co/FiIKli32 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Facebook reaches new level of greed #digitalmedia #SocialMedia Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/M7uz69Fo #Facebook 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Facebook users are learning to tune out ads, so advertising is getting more in-your-face… What do you think? http://t.co/yjskx8OF 6 days ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    What are these silly ads that I see when I log out of Facebook now? Myspace much? 6 days ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Have u been seeing a sweet Ford Mustang when u log out of #Facebook? New #brand ads; Ford had 7K shares in 13 hrs http://t.co/TlfNt2OD 1 day ago via Argyle Social ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Can get a week of cable TV for that. RT @adage: Facebook Sets High Asking Price for Log-Out Ads: $700K a Day http://t.co/sYLce5Mw 1 hour ago via Seesmic ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Apple Supports 514,000 Jobs In the USA

    Forget about the jobs at Foxconn in China, there’s plenty of people to abuse right here in the United States. Just kidding. Today, Apple released its tally on how many jobs that they created or are supporting in the United States. It’s actually quite impressive! Lets take a look at what they have.

    Here’s the facts right from their website:

    “A study by Analysis Group found that Apple has directly or indirectly created 304,000 U.S. jobs.* These jobs — spread across all 50 states — include thousands of jobs in numerous industries, from the people who create components for our products to the people who build the planes and trucks that carry them to our customers. For example, this figure also includes workers in Texas who manufacture processors for iOS products, Corning employees in Kentucky and New York who create the majority of the glass for iPhone, and FedEx and UPS employees. Together with the 210,000 iOS jobs generated by the app economy, these 304,000 jobs make a total of 514,000 U.S. jobs created or supported by Apple.”

    In the next section I’ll give you the highlights of the break down by sector or what Apple call, “The numbers at a glance”:

    U.S. Jobs Supported by Apple

    304,000 current U.S. jobs supported by Apple:
    * 47,000 jobs at Apple
    * 257,000 jobs at other companies, in fields that include:
    -the development and manufacturing of components, materials, and equipment
    -professional, scientific, and technical services
    -consumer sales
    -transportation
    -business sales
    -healthcare

    The App Economy:

    * 210,000 iOS app economy jobs in the U.S.
    * 248,000 registered iOS developers in the U.S.
    * 5000+ iOS developer jobs available now on job search aggregator Indeed.com
    * $4 billion paid to Apple developers from App Store sales

    Jobs at Apple:

    * 70,000 employees worldwide
    * 47,000 in the U.S., two-thirds of worldwide headcount
    * 7800 U.S. jobs created in 2011
    * 19,500 U.S. jobs added since 2008
    * 7000 construction jobs projected to build Apple’s new Cupertino campus
    * 50 states with full-time Apple employees

    Apple Retail Stores:

    * 27,350 U.S. retail employees
    * 246 U.S. stores in 44 states
    * 100+ locally hired employees per store on average
    * 4000 retail employees in the Greater New York area
    * 3500 U.S. retail employees who have worked at Apple stores for more than five years
    * 20,000 construction-related jobs created to build Apple stores in the U.S. since 2001

    U.S.-Based Customer Support:

    * 7700 U.S.-based AppleCare Advisors
    * 21 U.S. call centers in 15 states
    * 2000 home-based AppleCare Advisors
    * 600 advisors working for Apple while earning their college degrees

    So there it is, Apple supports 514,000 jobs in the USA. You’ll also be happy to know that there is a link you can click on to find currently available jobs at Apple. Get ready to work! Will it be retail or corporate?

  • Apple Q1 Earnings Released, Biggest Quarter Ever

    Apple Q1 Earnings Released, Biggest Quarter Ever

    Apple just posted its earnings for its fiscal year 2012 first quarter.

    Last quarter, Apple didn’t live up to analysts’ expectations, but the company still had a record September quarter. This quarter, they had the holidays, and this quarter, they blew estimates out of the water.

    The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $46.33 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.06 billion. Expectations were closer to $38 billion in the revenue category.

    37.04 million iPhones sold in the quarter (up 128% from last year).

    15.43 million iPads sold in the quarter (up 111%).

    5.2 million Macs (up 26%).

    iPod sales declined again, but they still sold 15.4 million iPods during the quarter (down 21%).

    “We’re thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.”

    “We are very happy to have generated over $17.5 billion in cash flow from operations during the December quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2012, which will span 13 weeks, we expect revenue of about $32.5 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $8.50.”

    Stay tuned for more from the conference call.

    Here’s the release in its entirety:

    Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2012 first quarter which spanned 14 weeks and ended December 31, 2011. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $46.33 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.06 billion, or $13.87 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $26.74 billion and net quarterly profit of $6 billion, or $6.43 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 44.7 percent compared to 38.5 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 58 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

    “Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.”

    The Company sold 37.04 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 128 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 15.43 million iPads during the quarter, a 111 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 5.2 million Macs during the quarter, a 26 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 15.4 million iPods, a 21 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

    “We’re thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.”

    “We are very happy to have generated over $17.5 billion in cash flow from operations during the December quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2012, which will span 13 weeks, we expect revenue of about $32.5 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $8.50.”

    Apple will provide live streaming of its Q1 2012 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PST on January 24, 2012 atwww.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq112. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue and earnings per share. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2011 and its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

    Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

    © 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Apple Inc.

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

    (In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2011 December 25, 2010
    Net sales $ 46,333 $ 26,741
    Cost of sales (1) 25,630 16,443
    Gross margin 20,703 10,298
    Operating expenses:
    Research and development (1) 758 575
    Selling, general and administrative (1) 2,605 1,896
    Total operating expenses 3,363 2,471
    Operating income 17,340 7,827
    Other income and expense 137 136
    Income before provision for income taxes 17,477 7,963
    Provision for income taxes 4,413 1,959
    Net income $ 13,064   $ 6,004
    Earnings per common share:
    Basic $ 14.03 $ 6.53
    Diluted $ 13.87 $ 6.43
    Shares used in computing earnings per share:
    Basic 931,041 919,294
    Diluted 941,572 933,154
    (1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:
    Cost of sales $ 63 $ 52
    Research and development $ 160 $ 113
    Selling, general and administrative $ 197 $ 134
    Apple Inc.

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    (In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands)

    December 31, 2011 September 24, 2011
    ASSETS:
    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,310 $ 9,815
    Short-term marketable securities 19,846 16,137
    Accounts receivable, less allowances of $78 and $53, respectively 8,930 5,369
    Inventories 1,236 776
    Deferred tax assets 1,937 2,014
    Vendor non-trade receivables 7,554 6,348
    Other current assets 4,958 4,529
    Total current assets 54,771 44,988
    Long-term marketable securities 67,445 55,618
    Property, plant and equipment, net 7,816 7,777
    Goodwill 896 896
    Acquired intangible assets, net 3,472 3,536
    Other assets 4,281 3,556
    Total assets $ 138,681 $ 116,371
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable $ 18,221 $ 14,632
    Accrued expenses 11,500 9,247
    Deferred revenue 4,886 4,091
    Total current liabilities 34,607 27,970
    Deferred revenue – non-current 2,187 1,686
    Other non-current liabilities 11,833 10,100
    Total liabilities 48,627 39,756
    Commitments and contingencies
    Shareholders’ equity:
    Common stock, no par value; 1,800,000 shares authorized; 932,214 and 929,277 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 13,961 13,331
    Retained earnings 75,709 62,841
    Accumulated other comprehensive income 384 443
    Total shareholders’ equity 90,054 76,615
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $ 138,681   $ 116,371
    Apple Inc.

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

    (In millions)

    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2011 December 25, 2010
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period $ 9,815 $ 11,261
    Operating activities:
    Net income 13,064 6,004
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion 721 356
    Share-based compensation expense 420 299
    Deferred income tax expense 1,456 823
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable, net (3,561 ) (517 )
    Inventories (460 ) 166
    Vendor non-trade receivables (1,206 ) (433 )
    Other current and non-current assets (962 ) (558 )
    Accounts payable 4,314 2,346
    Deferred revenue 1,296 634
    Other current and non-current liabilities 2,472 653
    Cash generated by operating activities 17,554 9,773
    Investing activities:
    Purchases of marketable securities (40,175 ) (19,575 )
    Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 3,038 3,279
    Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 21,472 6,853
    Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (1,321 ) (1,214 )
    Payments for acquisition of intangible assets (108 ) (49 )
    Other (34 ) (23 )
    Cash used in investing activities (17,128 ) (10,729 )
    Financing activities:
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock 91 208
    Excess tax benefits from equity awards 333 454
    Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (355 ) (233 )
    Cash generated by financing activities 69 429
    Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 495 (527 )
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 10,310 $ 10,734
    Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
    Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 1,474 $ 826
    Apple Inc.
    Q1 2012 Unaudited Summary Data
    (Units in thousands, Revenue in millions)
    Q4 2011 Q1 2011 Q1 2012
    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Operating Segments Mac

    Units

    Revenue Mac

    Units

    Revenue Mac

    Units

    Revenue Mac Units Revenue Mac Units Revenue
    Americas 1,716 $ 9,648 1,360 $ 9,218 1,612 $ 17,714 – 6 % 84 % 19 % 92 %
    Europe 1,176 7,397 1,245 7,256 1,482 11,256 26 % 52 % 19 % 55 %
    Japan 175 1,111 162 1,433 184 3,550 5 % 220 % 14 % 148 %
    Asia Pacific 731 6,530 516 4,987 814 7,697 11 % 18 % 58 % 54 %
    Retail 1,096 3,584 851 3,847 1,106 6,116 1 % 71 % 30 % 59 %
    Total Operating Segments 4,894 $ 28,270 4,134 $ 26,741 5,198 $ 46,333 6 % 64 % 26 % 73 %
    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Product Summary Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue Units Revenue
    Mac Desktops (1)(9) 1,278 $ 1,687 1,227 $ 1,731 1,479 $ 1,936 16 % 15 % 21 % 12 %
    Mac Portables (2)(9) 3,616 4,585 2,907 3,699 3,719 4,662 3 % 2 % 28 % 26 %
    Subtotal Mac 4,894 6,272 4,134 5,430 5,198 6,598 6 % 5 % 26 % 22 %
    iPod (3)(9) 6,622 1,103 19,446 3,425 15,397 2,528 133 % 129 % – 21 % – 26 %
    Other Music Related Products and Services (4) 1,678 1,431 2,027 21 % 42 %
    iPhone and Related Products and Services (5)(9) 17,073 10,980 16,235 10,468 37,044 24,417 117 % 122 % 128 % 133 %
    iPad and Related Products and Services (6)(9) 11,123 6,868 7,331 4,608 15,434 9,153 39 % 33 % 111 % 99 %
    Peripherals and Other Hardware (7) 640 593 766 20 % 29 %
    Software, Service and Other Sales (8) 729 786 844 16 % 7 %
    Total Apple $ 28,270 $ 26,741 $ 46,333 64 % 73 %
    (1) Includes revenue from iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro sales.
    (2) Includes revenue from MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro sales.
    (3) Includes revenue from iPod sales.
    (4) Includes revenue from sales from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore in addition to sales of iPod services and Apple-branded and third-party iPod accessories.
    (5) Includes revenue from sales of iPhone, iPhone services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories.
    (6) Includes revenue from sales of iPad, iPad services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPad accessories.
    (7) Includes revenue from sales of displays, networking products, and other hardware.
    (8) Includes revenue from sales of Apple-branded and third-party Mac software, and services.
    (9) Includes amortization of related revenue deferred for non-software services and embedded software upgrade rights.

     

  • Guinness World Record 2012 Gamer’s Edition Goes Mobile and Casual

    Guinness World Records don’t have the gravitas they once did; anyone reading this could theoretically go achieve a world record today and have it featured by Guinness. Nothing proves this more than the Guinness World Record 2012 Gamer’s Edition. The book contains records for “Largest Competitive Pokémon Videogame Family“, “Most People Exercising to a Videogame“, and “Most Valuable Kinect Sensor“.

    To coincide with the press release below, Guinness also created a video for their Pokemon family entry. While there are many obscure records, I still live in amazement of the hardcore Donkey Kong players, with the record holder amassing 1,090,000 points. If you’ve ever played the Donkey Kong arcade game, you know that’s no small feat.

    WORLD’S MOST PROLIFIC POKÉMON FAMILY LEADS THE PACK OF EXTRAORDINARY VIDEO GAME RECORDS, FACTS AND FIGURES IN NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® 2012 GAMER’S EDITION

    Latest “Video Game Bible” Scores Points With Features on Angry Birds, Top Fighting Games, Most Expensive Gaming Records, Fitness Games, Biggest Gaming Fails, and More

    NEW YORK – January 3rd, 2012 – The family that plays together definitely stays together… and probably catches them all! The newest edition of the “Video Game Bible” – Guinness World Records® 2012 Gamer’s Edition – hits stores today with the most comprehensive collection of video game records ever known including the most prolific Pokémon playing family in the world – the Arnolds. The ‘Frankfort Five’, hailing from the Illinois suburb outside of Chicago, are Pokémon prodigies who rank as some of the world’s greatest players each year during the official Pokémon Video Game Championships, earning them the title of “Largest Competitive Pokémon Videogame Family”.

    The Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer’s Edition contains something for players of all kinds. Notching the latest high-water mark in the seemingly never-ending battle for Donkey Kong supremacy, New York City’s Hank Chien earned the “Highest Score on Donkey Kong” with 1,090,000 points. Mobile mavens will love the spread on Angry Birds, the “Best-Selling Mobile Series” (more than 250 million downloads) and the app with the “Most Days Spent as the Best-Selling App in iTunes Store” (275 consecutive days).

    Gamers with a little extra cash can spend $1,242 of their hard-earned money on the “Most Valuable Kinect Sensor”, a special peripheral encrusted with 6,000 Swarovski crystals. Brassy brawlers will be knocked out by an entire section devoted to Fighting Games including Mortal Kombat, Marvel Vs. Capcom and Dead or Alive, while the growing genre of “Lifestyle & Fitness” games boasts achievements like “Most People Exercising to a Videogame” (783 people).

    Once again, this year features many women making their mark in the interactive realm. Iowa’s Elizabeth Bolinger preferred to dance her way into the record books, where she earned the title for “Most Prolific Dancing Game High Scorer” with top scores in 85 songs spanning across Dance Central, Just Dance and Just Dance 2 and she’ll be attempting a new high score on popular gaming network G4 in mid-January. Jennifer Hale grabbed the record for “Most Prolific Voice Actor” for lending her voice to 129 video games over the course of almost two decades.

    As always, Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer’s Edition is chock full of lists and quizzes that are sure to get gamers talking. One of the featured lists takes a look at the “Top 50 Video Game Endings” of all-time as voted by more than 13,000 Guinness World Records readers. Game historians can also test their knowledge with the “Video Game Tagline Quiz” questions found at the bottom of each page, and read features on professional video game players, the biggest “Gaming Fails”, a PS3 vs. XBOX 360 comparison and much more!

    “The 2012 book is the most comprehensive Gamer’s Edition we’ve ever released,” said Gaz Deaves, Guinness World Records Gaming Editor. “Chronicling the video game world’s grandest successes, most embarrassing failures and everything in between, this year’s edition will immerse casual fans with an encyclopedia of interactive info and impress the hardcore crowd with its detailed analysis.”

    Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer’s Edition is available now in the US for a suggested retail price of $14.99 and available in the UK on January 19th.

    For more information on gaming record breaking, please visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com/gamers.

  • Four Rules of Effective Video

    Four Rules of Effective Video

    Online video. It’s the biggest news in marketing since the web first arrived on the scene in the mid-90s. According to Cisco, video currently accounts for 51 percent of internet traffic—and it’s on its way to 90 percent by 2014.

    Sure, a video of a cat playing the piano or swatting at an imaginary fly might get a lot of views on YouTube, but producing something catchy and outrageous is not what’s needed to get you better brand visibility. In fact, it’s quite the opposite —often, the simple, direct approach works best when it comes to getting maximum performance of your videos.

    If you’re wondering what approach works best, below are some guidelines to consider when it comes to product videos, so you can get greater impact with minimal investment.

    Align with the Brand. For some brands that have a more “edgy” persona, unpolished or user-generated video might work great. For most websites, however, this isn’t the case.

    Your video production values should reflect the level of polish your brand and website represent. A few years ago, professional-grade video was time- and cost-prohibitive, putting it out of reach for many online businesses. But thanks to automated video platforms, that’s no longer true. Effective, sophisticated video can be easily created using your existing product data feed, including product descriptions and images, and can even incorporate background music and voiceover to give the videos more punch.

    As you develop video assets, make sure the overall look and feel incorporate aspects of your branding. Consider establishing a style standard, with uniform opening and closing sequences or a template that frames the imagery. Leveraging the look of your company’s website will increase viewer confidence, enhance brand awareness and ultimately encourage greater conversions.

    Tell Them to Press Play. Everyone knows what to do when they see a video player, right? Not necessarily. You’d be surprised at just how important including a Play button can be. You wouldn’t send out a direct mail package without a call to action, even though you could just as appropriately assume that a reader would know what to do with your phone number. Sometimes people need a nudge — a reminder of what to do next.

    If you still need convincing, consider the case of Tool King . Not only did the addition of video increase this online marketer’s conversion rates by 440%, but testing different video versions showed that the inclusion of a play icon on the first frame of video thumbnails doubled user views — and user views lead to higher conversions. A small change, certainly, but it had a significant impact on sales.

    Beat the Control. A/B testing is a simple way to identify what really motivates viewers to act. Just like Tool King tested videos with and without Play icons, you can test narration vs. no narration, male vs. female voiceover, types of music, illustration vs. photography, different promotional offers, variations in text color, and so on.

    Through A/B tests, you can measure the impact of isolated elements and continue to fine-tune your efforts. Just remember that only one variable should be tested at a time, or you won’t know what contributed to the lift. If you want to test more than one aspect, you’ll need multiple video versions and you’ll want to run the tests in succession. Fortunately, automated video solutions make this fast and easy, so it’s well worth it to hone your approach until you know exactly what works.

    EyeBuyDirect is a great example of A/B testing in action. The company created two versions of a video for its online glasses shop. The videos are identical, except that one uses a male voice and one uses female. Even the scripts are the same. The difference in performance, however, is substantial. It turns out that EyeBuyDirect’s audience responds much more positively to the male voice, generating a conversion rate more than three times higher than the female voice version.

    Keep Moving Assets Forward. When using an automated video platform, you provide a variety of content and images to a secure site, and the system does the rest. The quality of your finished videos depends upon the quality and breadth of the assets you upload into this data feed. As you add more images and information, it can be automatically pulled into videos.

    This is great news, because it means you can start with a simple set of data or inputs, and supplement it over time. Ultimately, your online assets should include:

    • A variety of high-resolution product images — including catalog and lifestyle shots
    • Any existing video footage you might have
    • Product descriptions, specifications and tips
    • Company branding elements, including taglines, logos and positioning statements
    • Current pricing, special offers and calls to action
    • Customer ratings and reviews

    Video offers tremendous benefits for marketers and site owners with the foresight and agility to take it on. And by following a few simple guidelines, determined through the trial-and-error of others who have gone before you, you can assure that you get the greatest return from your efforts.

  • Apple Releases Q4 Earnings

    Apple just posted its earnings for its fiscal year 2011 fourth quarter.

    The company missed on a lot of the estimates out there, but still posted a record September quarter, with all-time record Mac and iPad sales. It seems like even a bad quarter for Apple is a good quarter.

    Quarterly revenue was $28.27 billion compared to $20.34 billion a year ago. Quarterly net profit was $6.62 billion compared to $4.31 billion a year ago.

    Apple sold 17.07 million iPhones in the quarter – 21% growth year-over-year. They sold 11.12 million iPads (up 166% year-over-year). They sold 4.89 million Macs (up 26% year-over-year). They sold 6.62 million iPods (down 27% year-over-year).

    “We are thrilled with the very strong finish of an outstanding fiscal 2011, growing annual revenue to $108 billion and growing earnings to $26 billion,” said CEO Tim Cook in the report. “Customer response to iPhone 4S has been fantastic, we have strong momentum going into the holiday season, and we remain really enthusiastic about our product pipeline.”

    Indeed, this week the company reported that the iPhone 4S topped 4 million sales in its first 3 days.

    “We are extremely pleased with our record September quarter revenue and earnings and with cash generation of $5.4 billion during the quarter,” said CFO Peter Oppenheimer. “Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2012, which will span 14 weeks rather than 13, we expect revenue of about $37 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $9.30.”

    The company will hold a conference call with further discussion starting at 5:00 PM EDT.

    Here’s the release in its entirety:

    Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

    All-Time Record Mac and iPad Sales

    Highest September Quarter Revenue and Earnings Ever

    CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2011 fourth quarter ended September 24, 2011. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $28.27 billion and quarterly net profit of $6.62 billion, or $7.05 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $20.34 billion and net quarterly profit of $4.31 billion, or $4.64 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 40.3 percent compared to 36.9 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 63 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

    “We are extremely pleased with our record September quarter revenue and earnings and with cash generation of $5.4 billion during the quarter”
    The Company sold 17.07 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 21 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 11.12 million iPads during the quarter, a 166 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.89 million Macs during the quarter, a 26 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 6.62 million iPods, a 27 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

    “We are thrilled with the very strong finish of an outstanding fiscal 2011, growing annual revenue to $108 billion and growing earnings to $26 billion,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Customer response to iPhone 4S has been fantastic, we have strong momentum going into the holiday season, and we remain really enthusiastic about our product pipeline.”

    “We are extremely pleased with our record September quarter revenue and earnings and with cash generation of $5.4 billion during the quarter,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2012, which will span 14 weeks rather than 13, we expect revenue of about $37 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $9.30.”

    Apple will provide live streaming of its Q4 2011 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on October 18, 2011 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq411. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue and earnings per share. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010, its Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended December 25, 2010; March 26, 2011; and June 25, 2011; and its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2011 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

    Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

    © 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Apple Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

    Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
    September 24,
    2011

    September 25,
    2010
    September 24,
    2011

    September 25,
    2010

    Net sales $ 28,270 $ 20,343 $ 108,249 $ 65,225
    Cost of sales (1) 16,890 12,831 64,431 39,541

    Gross margin 11,380 7,512 43,818 25,684

    Operating expenses:
    Research and development (1) 645 494 2,429 1,782
    Selling, general and administrative (1) 2,025 1,571 7,599 5,517

    Total operating expenses 2,670 2,065 10,028 7,299

    Operating income 8,710 5,447 33,790 18,385

    Other income and expense 81 14 415 155

    Income before provision for income taxes 8,791 5,461 34,205 18,540

    Provision for income taxes 2,168 1,153 8,283 4,527

    Net income $ 6,623 $ 4,308 $ 25,922 $ 14,013

    Earnings per common share:
    Basic $ 7.13 $ 4.71 $ 28.05 $ 15.41
    Diluted $ 7.05 $ 4.64 $ 27.68 $ 15.15

    Shares used in computing earnings per share:
    Basic 928,280 914,555 924,258 909,461
    Diluted 939,517 928,825 936,645 924,712

    (1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:
    Cost of sales $ 45 $ 39 $ 200 $ 151
    Research and development $ 114 $ 83 $ 450 $ 323
    Selling, general and administrative $ 139 $ 102 $ 518 $ 405

    Apple Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands)

    September 24, 2011

    September 25, 2010

    ASSETS:

    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents
    $ 9,815 $ 11,261
    Short-term marketable securities 16,137 14,359
    Accounts receivable, less allowances of $53 and $55, respectively 5,369 5,510
    Inventories 776 1,051
    Deferred tax assets 2,014 1,636
    Vendor non-trade receivables 6,348 4,414
    Other current assets 4,529 3,447
    Total current assets 44,988 41,678

    Long-term marketable securities 55,618 25,391
    Property, plant and equipment, net 7,777 4,768
    Goodwill 896 741
    Acquired intangible assets, net 3,536 342
    Other assets 3,556 2,263
    Total assets $ 116,371 $ 75,183

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable $ 14,632 $ 12,015
    Accrued expenses 9,247 5,723
    Deferred revenue 4,091 2,984
    Total current liabilities 27,970 20,722

    Deferred revenue – non-current 1,686 1,139
    Other non-current liabilities 10,100 5,531
    Total liabilities 39,756 27,392

    Commitments and contingencies

    Shareholders’ equity:
    Common stock, no par value; 1,800,000 shares authorized; 929,277 and 915,970 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 13,331 10,668
    Retained earnings 62,841 37,169
    Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 443 (46 )
    Total shareholders’ equity 76,615 47,791

    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

    $ 116,371 $ 75,183

    Apple Inc.
    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In millions)

    Twelve Months Ended
    September 24, 2011 September 25, 2010

    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year $ 11,261 $ 5,263

    Operating activities:
    Net income 25,922 14,013
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion 1,814 1,027
    Share-based compensation expense 1,168 879
    Deferred income tax expense 2,868 1,440
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable, net 143 (2,142 )
    Inventories 275 (596 )
    Vendor non-trade receivables (1,934 ) (2,718 )
    Other current and non-current assets (1,391 ) (1,610 )
    Accounts payable 2,515 6,307
    Deferred revenue 1,654 1,217
    Other current and non-current liabilities 4,495 778

    Cash generated by operating activities 37,529 18,595

    Investing activities:
    Purchases of marketable securities (102,317 ) (57,793 )
    Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 20,437 24,930
    Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 49,416 21,788
    Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (244 ) (638 )
    Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (4,260 ) (2,005 )
    Payments for acquisition of intangible assets (3,192 ) (116 )
    Other (259 ) (20 )

    Cash used in investing activities (40,419 ) (13,854 )

    Financing activities:
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock 831 912
    Excess tax benefits from equity awards 1,133 751
    Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (520 ) (406 )

    Cash generated by financing activities 1,444 1,257

    (Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (1,446 ) 5,998

    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year $ 9,815 $ 11,261

    Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
    Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 3,338 $ 2,697

    Apple Inc.
    Q4 2011 Unaudited Summary Data

    Q3 2011 Q4 2010 Q4 2011
    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Operating Segments CPU
    Units K
    Revenue
    $M
    CPU
    Units K
    Revenue
    $M
    CPU
    Units K
    Revenue
    $M
    CPU Units Revenue CPU Units Revenue
    Americas 1,487 $10,126 1,460 $7,186 1,716 $9,648 15 % – 5 % 18 % 34 %
    Europe 922 7,098 978 5,458 1,176 7,397 28 % 4 % 20 % 36 %
    Japan 150 1,510 118 1,401 175 1,111 17 % – 26 % 48 % – 21 %
    Asia Pacific 620 6,332 455 2,732 731 6,530 18 % 3 % 61 % 139 %
    Retail 768 3,505 874 3,566 1,096 3,584 43 % 2 % 25 % 1 %

    Total Operating Segments 3,947 $28,571 3,885 $20,343 4,894 $28,270 24 % – 1 % 26 % 39 %

    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Product Summary Units K Revenue
    $M
    Units K Revenue
    $M
    Units K Revenue
    $M
    Units Revenue Units Revenue
    Desktops (1) 1,155 $1,580 1,242 $1,676 1,278 $1,687 11 % 7 % 3 % 1 %
    Portables (2) 2,792 3,525 2,643 3,194 3,616 4,585 30 % 30 % 37 % 44 %

    Subtotal CPUs 3,947 5,105 3,885 4,870 4,894 6,272 24 % 23 % 26 % 29 %
    iPod 7,535 1,325 9,051 1,477 6,622 1,103 – 12 % – 17 % – 27 % – 25 %
    Other Music Related Products and Services (3) 1,571 1,243 1,678 7 % 35 %
    iPhone and Related Products and Services (4) 20,338 13,311 14,102 8,822 17,073 10,980 – 16 % – 18 % 21 % 24 %
    iPad and Related Products and Services (5) 9,246 6,046 4,188 2,792 11,123 6,868 20 % 14 % 166 % 146 %
    Peripherals and Other Hardware (6) 517 477 640 24 % 34 %
    Software, Service and Other Sales (7) 696 662 729 5 % 10 %
    Total Apple $28,571 $20,343 $28,270 – 1 % 39 %

    (1) Includes iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Xserve product lines.
    (2) Includes MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro product lines.
    (3) Includes sales from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore in addition to sales of iPod services and Apple-branded and third-party iPod accessories.
    (4) Includes revenue recognized from iPhone sales, carrier agreements, services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories.
    (5) Includes revenue recognized from iPad sales, services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPad accessories.
    (6) Includes sales of displays, wireless connectivity and networking solutions, and other hardware accessories.
    (7) Includes sales from the Mac App Store in addition to sales of other Apple-branded and third-party Mac software and Mac and Internet services.

    K = Units in thousands $M = Amounts in millions

  • What Would You Invest in if You Were Google?

    What Would You Invest in if You Were Google?

    Earlier this month, it was revealed that Google Ventures is investing in coupon startup Whaleshark Media. Then reports came out about Google Ventures investing in Rocket Lawyer.

    Google has so many of its own projects going on at any given time, but the company maintains that the majority of its resources are still being put into the company’s core businesses – search and advertising. “That’s our core focus,” CEO Larry Page recently told investors, saying that they’re not betting the farm on things like self-driving cars.

    But Google Ventures, Google’s investment arm, is putting its eggs in quite a few different baskets. “We look at companies in a wide variety of sectors and stages. Many of our investments are in the areas you might expect, such as consumer Internet, software, and mobile — but we’re also backing companies in areas that might surprise you — from human anti-body discovery to smart grid platforms,” Google Ventures says. “We aim to invest about $100 million a year, with deal sizes ranging from seed investments as small as a hundred thousand dollars to late-stage investments of tens of millions of dollars.”

    So just what is Google Ventures investing in?

    Antibody Discovery

    Google Ventures invests in Adimab, a platform for yeast-based antibody discovery.

    Social Learning Games for Kids

    The firm invests in Airy Labs, which creates learning games for kids between the ages of 5 and 13.

    Fuel

    Google Ventures invests in CoolPlanetBioFuels, which works to develop these kinds of fuels using plant photosynthesis.

    Language Learning

    Google Ventures invests in English Central, which uses web videos to create language learning experiences. “Google Ventures has opened many doors for us into the wider Google ecosystem,” says Founder/CEO Alan Schwartz. “From YouTube through Android connections, we have benefited from Google Ventures’ unique status as a financial investor, with deep strategic tentacles. This has been much more than mere intros to potential partners or potentially useful technology complements; it has also included intros to experts on areas like user experience and conversion.”

    Offline Information Discovery

    Google Ventures invests in Hipster, which is described as “a fun way to help uncover the vast amount of information about real world locations that isn’t yet available online.”

    Therapeutics

    Google Ventures invests in iPierian, which works in cellular repogramming in creating therapeutics.

    Legal Q&A

    Google invests in LawPivot, a legal Q&A site that connects companies with crowdsourced legal answers from legal professionals.

    Cars

    Google Ventures invests in American car company Next Autoworks, which it says will introduce a safe, high-quality fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market.

    Predicting the Future

    Google invests in Recorded Future. We looked at this before. It’s essentially a tool that predicts the future when you enter the what, the who/where and the when.

    Car Sharing

    Google invests in Relay Rides, which the company says, “enables car owners to make money while providing those in need of a car with affordable access to one.”

    Retail Price Tracking

    Google invests in Shopobot, which tracks price changes at popular stores.

    Weather Insurance

    The firm invests in WeatherBill, which provides weather insurance products that are described as “technologically advanced.”

    That’s not everything that Google Ventures invests in, but are some of the most outside the box companies and areas. You can see all of the companies Google Ventures invests in here.

    Fortune’s Dan Primack brings up an interesting question, following Google’s proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility: “Will Google and Motorola ‘venture’ together?”

  • Create and Maximize Videos for Improved SEO

    If you’re like many website managers, you’ve been dealt a hefty blow by Google recently, with its various algorithm updates that have taken place over the past few months. The purpose of Google’s updates, known as “Panda” or “Farmer,” was to separate quality content from content farms, scraper sites and other types of low-quality websites. Google estimates that the changes impact nearly 12% of all searches.

    While these updates were made to help users find high-quality information, they had unfortunate side effects for many credible websites. A poll by Search Engine Roundtable found that after the first update, 40% of respondents were seeing less Google traffic. Visits continued to fall off as subsequent updates continued.

    If you’ve been investing in SEO initiatives, these modifications to Google could be a tremendous setback. Fortunately, there is a fast, powerful way to boost organic search traffic—as quickly as this week. The answer is in video.

    Video is the most powerful force on the web today, and continues to occupy more of users’ time and attention. Interestingly, video sites such Metacafe and YouTube were virtually immune to the Google updates, which tells you something. Also, videos continue to rank high in search results. So for anyone needing to improve their SEO rankings, video represents a tremendous opportunity. When video is on your site it can help raise your visibility significantly. But how can you build a video presence online?

    If you don’t already have video on your site, below is a short guide for how you can add video to quickly see an SEO boost. If you do already have video but don’t know if it’s being indexed by Google, skip ahead to tip #4 for guidelines on how to get your video indexed – a critical step to seeing SEO benefits.

    1. Cover your Entire Product Catalog with Video

    First off, as all of us in the online world know, video is engaging. And for e-commerce sites in particular, product videos are an effective way to create trust, demonstrate pretty much any product, and connect with your shoppers. More importantly, they help increase conversion rates. So, if you haven’t already begun to convert your product catalog to video, it’s time to get started. This may sound daunting, but automated video platforms make this so easy, virtually anyone can create and publish compelling product videos fairly quickly.

    You can also hire a professional video production firm, but that gets very costly – and if you have hundreds of products to cover, it may also take months to go through your entire catalog. And what happens if pricing or availability changes?

    If covering your entire catalog sounds like biting off too much, then simply start with your top sellers. Continue to add video over time, rather than waiting until everything is available on video to launch.

    2. Ensure Videos are Relevant

    Like your product choices and all the content on your site, your videos need to be relevant to your audience and what they’re seeking. One way to ensure relevance is by including appropriate videos on each product page. If you’ve done your homework and labeled your videos correctly, you can easily serve up video that answers a consumer’s needs.

    What’s more, video is undoubtedly the best way to engage shoppers and keep them on your site longer. As an added bonus, time spent viewing is another measurement weighed by Google as it determines how to serve up search results.

    3. Test, Test and Test Again

    What works better for your product set and your audience? Text or voiceover? Classical music, popular music or none at all? Illustrations or photography? Testing doesn’t have to be expensive, but with the wealth of user information available, it can point you in the right direction for cost-efficient, effective efforts in the future.

    4. Ensure Your Video Content Is Indexed

    Even if you already have video on your site, you can’t assume it’s being indexed by Google. You need to help them index your videos in order to get the SEO benefits you’re working so hard to achieve.

    To find out if your videos are indexed:

    1. Go to Google
    2. Type “site:domainname” (using your own domain name) in the search box
    3. Click “Videos” in the left navigation

    The number you see above the search results is the number of videos indexed. If that number is lower than the number of videos on your site, you know you need to take steps to make sure Google finds your content. This example shows you that Heavenly Treasures has roughly 5,000 videos on its online retail site.

    5. Submit a Video Sitemap

    To get your videos indexed, you need to submit a video sitemap to Google—manually via their webmaster tools page or through a third-party service. Once the sitemap is properly submitted, video content gets indexed almost immediately, unlike other types of content which can take weeks. In order to get the maximum benefit, make sure that you follow Google’s steps and include all the information required, and resubmit your sitemap any time you make a change to your video catalog.

    Once indexed, you’ll be pleased to see that your product videos quickly begin to rise in search rankings. Even better, because thumbnail images appear with video listings, your results are likely to enjoy significantly higher click-through rates.

    Many online retailers have found that the use of video has dramatically improved their SEO efforts. Online wholesaler DollarDays, for example, created videos and submitted a sitemap shortly after the new algorithm went live. Within 24 hours, all of their product videos were fully indexed and many were appearing on page one of Google search results. Naturally, this also had an instant impact on views and conversions.

    Video may seem a bit daunting, but there was a time when doing business online seemed out of reach, too. There’s no better time for you to make the move to video—especially with the holidays on the horizon. From visitor engagement to SEO advantages, there are many good reasons to become a part of the video world.

     

  • Microsoft Posts Record Revenue Thanks to Xbox

    Microsoft reported record fourth-quarter revenue for its Fiscal Year Q4 at $17.37 billion for the quarter, up 8% from the same quarter last year.

    “Throughout fiscal 2011, we delivered to market a strong lineup of products and services which translated into double-digit revenue growth, and operating margin expansion,” said Microsoft CFO Peter Klein. “Our platform and cloud investments position us for long-term growth.”

    “A strong year of double-digit increases in revenue and earnings is a real credit to all of our Microsoft employees and partners around the world. We continue to see strong business demand across all of our products, from small businesses all the way up to the largest global enterprises,” said COO Kevin Turner. “Our move to cloud services continues with the release and momentum of Office 365 and growth in Windows Azure. We’re providing our customers seamless and powerful ways to move to the cloud, and we are well positioned for the coming year.”

    Microsoft’s business division revenue grew 7% for the quarter and 16% for the full year, but the Entertainment & Devices Division (Xbox, Kinect) grew 30% for the quarter and 45% for the year, showing once again where the real money lies for Microsoft.

    The Online Services Division, which includes Bing, was up 17% for the fourth quarter and 15% for the year.

    Here’s the release in its entirety:

    REDMOND, Wash. — Jul. 21, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced record fourth-quarter revenue of $17.37 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, an 8% increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $6.17 billion, $5.87 billion, and $0.69 per share, which represented increases of 4%, 30%, and 35%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period.

    For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, Microsoft reported record revenue of $69.94 billion, a 12% increase from the prior year. Operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the year were $27.16 billion, $23.15 billion, and $2.69, which represented increases of 13%, 23%, and 28%, respectively, when compared with the prior year.

    “Throughout fiscal 2011, we delivered to market a strong lineup of products and services which translated into double-digit revenue growth, and operating margin expansion,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Our platform and cloud investments position us for long-term growth.”

    Microsoft Business Division revenue for the fourth quarter grew 7% and 16% for the full year. Office 2010 continues to be the fastest-selling version of Microsoft Office in history with over 100 million licenses sold. In June, Microsoft released Office 365 with familiar Microsoft Office collaboration and productivity tools delivered through the cloud.

    Server & Tools revenue grew 12% for the fourth quarter, the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, and grew 11% for the full year. Windows Server, System Center, and SQL Server continued to drive revenue growth in the segment.

    Windows and Windows Live Division revenue declined 1% for the fourth quarter and revenue for the full year decreased 2%. Excluding the impact of the prior year Windows 7 launch and revenue deferral, we estimate full-year revenue growth was in line with PC market growth of 2% to 4%. Windows 7 has sold over 400 million licenses and business deployments continue to accelerate. During the quarter, Microsoft unveiled a preview of the next version of Windows, codenamed Windows 8, featuring a new user interface and application experience.

    Online Services Division revenue grew 17% for the fourth quarter and 15% for the full year, primarily driven by increases in search revenue. Bing’s U.S. search share increased 340 basis points year-over-year to 14.4% this quarter. Microsoft also released new features that incorporate the Facebook social graph to help users make better decisions based on their social connections.

    Entertainment & Devices Division revenue grew 30% for the fourth quarter and 45% for the full year, due to the ongoing momentum of the console, Kinect, and Xbox Live. Xbox 360 has been the top-selling game console in the U.S. over the past twelve months. At E3 in June, Microsoft highlighted its upcoming game lineup, Xbox Live content partnerships, and enhanced content discovery using Bing and Kinect.

    “A strong year of double-digit increases in revenue and earnings is a real credit to all of our Microsoft employees and partners around the world. We continue to see strong business demand across all of our products, from small businesses all the way up to the largest global enterprises,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “Our move to cloud services continues with the release and momentum of Office 365 and growth in Windows Azure. We’re providing our customers seamless and powerful ways to move to the cloud, and we are well positioned for the coming year.”

    Business Outlook

    Microsoft reaffirms fiscal 2012 operating expense guidance of 3% to 5% growth from 2011, or $28.0 billion to $28.6 billion.

    Webcast Details

    Peter Klein, chief financial officer, Frank Brod, chief accounting officer, and Bill Koefoed, general manager of Investor Relations, will host a conference call and webcast at 2:30 p.m. PDT (5:30 p.m. EDT) today to discuss details of the company’s performance for the quarter and certain forward-looking information. The session may be accessed athttp://www.microsoft.com/investor. The webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on Jul. 21, 2012.

    About Microsoft

    Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this release that are “forward-looking statements” are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as:

    • execution and competitive risks in transitioning to cloud-based computing;
    • challenges to Microsoft’s business model;
    • intense competition in all of Microsoft’s markets;
    • Microsoft’s continued ability to protect its intellectual property rights;
    • claims that Microsoft has infringed the intellectual property rights of others;
    • the possibility of unauthorized disclosure of significant portions of Microsoft’s source code;
    • actual or perceived security vulnerabilities in Microsoft products that could reduce revenue or lead to liability;
    • improper disclosure of personal data that could result in liability and harm to Microsoft’s reputation;
    • outages and disruptions of services provided to customers directly or through third parties if Microsoft fails to maintain an adequate operations infrastructure;
    • government litigation and regulation affecting how Microsoft designs and markets its products;
    • Microsoft’s ability to attract and retain talented employees;
    • delays in product development and related product release schedules;
    • significant business investments that may not gain customer acceptance and produce offsetting increases in revenue;
    • unfavorable changes in general economic conditions, disruption of our partner networks or sales channels, or the availability of credit that affect demand for Microsoft’s products and services or the value of our investment portfolio;
    • adverse results in legal disputes;
    • unanticipated tax liabilities;
    • quality or supply problems in Microsoft’s consumer hardware or other vertically integrated hardware and software products;
    • impairment of goodwill or amortizable intangible assets causing a charge to earnings;
    • exposure to increased economic and regulatory uncertainties from operating a global business;
    • geopolitical conditions, natural disaster, cyberattack or other catastrophic events disrupting Microsoft’s business; and
    • acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances that adversely affect the business.

     

    For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Microsoft’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of Microsoft’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Microsoft’s Investor Relations department at (800) 285-7772 or at Microsoft’s Investor Relations website at http://www.microsoft.com/investor.

    All information in this release is as of July 21, 2011. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company’s expectations.

    For more information, press only:

    Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070,rrt@waggeneredstrom.com

    For more information, financial analysts and investors only:

    Bill Koefoed, general manager, Investor Relations, (425) 706-3703

     

    Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. Shareholder and financial information, as well as today’s 2:30 p.m. PDT conference call with investors and analysts, is available at http://www.microsoft.com/investor.

    MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    INCOME STATEMENTS
    (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended June 30, Twelve Months Ended June 30,
    2011 2010 2011 2010
    Revenue $  17,367 $16,039 $  69,943 $62,484
    Operating expenses:
    Cost of revenue 3,708 3,170 15,577 12,395
    Research and development 2,393 2,350 9,043 8,714
    Sales and marketing 3,916 3,602 13,940 13,214
    General and administrative 1,179 987 4,222 4,063
    Total operating expenses 11,196 10,109 42,782 38,386
    Operating income 6,171 5,930 27,161 24,098
    Other income 148 94 910 915
    Income before income taxes 6,319 6,024 28,071 25,013
    Provision for income taxes 445 1,506 4,921 6,253
    Net income $    5,874 $  4,518 $  23,150 $18,760
    Earnings per share:
    Basic $      0.70 $    0.52 $      2.73 $    2.13
    Diluted $      0.69 $    0.51 $      2.69 $    2.10
    Weighted average shares outstanding:
    Basic 8,429 8,712 8,490 8,813
    Diluted 8,521 8,821 8,593 8,927
    Cash dividends declared per common
    share
    $      0.16 $    0.13   $      0.64 $    0.52

     

    MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    BALANCE SHEETS
    (In millions) (Unaudited)
    June 30,
    2011
    June 30,
    2010
    Assets
    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents $        9,610 $     5,505
    Short-term investments (including securities loaned
    of $1,181 and $62)
    43,162 31,283
    Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term
    investments
    52,772 36,788
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
    accounts of $333 and $375
    14,987 13,014
    Inventories 1,372 740
    Deferred income taxes 2,467 2,184
    Other 3,320 2,950
    Total current assets 74,918 55,676
    Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
    of $9,829 and $8,629
    8,162 7,630
    Equity and other investments 10,865 7,754
    Goodwill 12,581 12,394
    Intangible assets, net 744 1,158
    Other long-term assets 1,434 1,501
    Total assets $    108,704 $    86,113
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable $        4,197 $     4,025
    Short-term debt 0 1,000
    Accrued compensation 3,575 3,283
    Income taxes 580 1,074
    Short-term unearned revenue 15,722 13,652
    Securities lending payable 1,208 182
    Other 3,492 2,931
    Total current liabilities 28,774 26,147
    Long-term debt 11,921 4,939
    Long-term unearned revenue 1,398 1,178
    Deferred income taxes 1,456 229
    Other long-term liabilities 8,072 7,445
    Total liabilities 51,621 39,938
    Commitments and contingencies
    Stockholders’ equity:
    Common stock and paid-in capital – shares authorized
    24,000; outstanding 8,376 and 8,668
    63,415 62,856
    Retained deficit, including accumulated other
    comprehensive income of $1,863 and $1,055
    (6,332) (16,681)
    Total stockholders’ equity 57,083 46,175
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $    108,704 $    86,113
           

     

    MICROSOFT CORPORATION              
                 
    CASH FLOW STATEMENTS
    (In millions) (Unaudited)
                   
      Three Months Ended June 30,   Twelve Months Ended June 30,
    2011 2010 2011 2010
    Operations              
    Net income $    5,874 $  4,518   $  23,150 $18,760
    Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash from operations:
         
    Depreciation, amortization, and
    other
    689 718   2,766 2,673
    Stock-based compensation
    expense
    544 482   2,166 1,891
    Net recognized losses (gains) on
    investments and derivatives
    15 114   (362) (208)
    Excess tax benefits from
    stock-based compensation
    (3) (7)   (17) (45)
    Deferred income taxes 326 (483)   2 (220)
    Deferral of unearned revenue 11,896 9,682   31,227 29,374
    Recognition of unearned revenue (7,746) (7,055)   (28,935) (28,813)
    Changes in operating assets and
    liabilities:
         
    Accounts receivable (4,886) (4,144)   (1,451) (2,238)
    Inventories (303) (260)   (561) (44)
    Other current assets (772) 374   (1,259) 464
    Other long-term assets (110) (80)   62 (223)
    Accounts payable 293 755   58 844
    Other current liabilities 28 597   (1,146) 451
    Other long-term liabilities 97 393   1,294 1,407
    Net cash from operations 5,942 5,604   26,994 24,073
    Financing      
    Short-term debt repayments,
    maturities of 90 days or less, net
    0 (545)   (186) (991)
    Proceeds from issuance of debt,
    maturities longer than 90 days
    0 1,575   6,960 4,167
    Repayments of debt, maturities
    longer than 90 days
    0 (1,088)   (814) (2,986)
    Common stock issued 180 912   2,422 2,311
    Common stock repurchased (1,256) (3,839)   (11,555) (11,269)
    Common stock cash dividends paid (1,350) (1,130)   (5,180) (4,578)
    Excess tax benefits from
    stock-based compensation
    3 7   17 45
    Other 0 10   (40) 10
    Net cash used in financing (2,423) (4,098)   (8,376) (13,291)
    Investing      
    Additions to property and equipment (642) (758)   (2,355) (1,977)
    Acquisition of companies, net of
    cash acquired
    (2) 0   (71) (245)
    Purchases of investments (8,286) (4,174)   (35,993) (30,168)
    Maturities of investments 1,905 1,005   6,897 7,453
    Sales of investments 6,112 2,420   15,880 15,125
    Securities lending payable (37) (2,612)   1,026 (1,502)
    Net cash used in investing (950) (4,119)   (14,616) (11,314)
    Effect of exchange rates on cash
    and cash equivalents
    20 (37)   103 (39)
    Net change in cash and cash
    equivalents
    2,589 (2,650)   4,105 (571)
    Cash and cash equivalents,
    beginning of period
    7,021 8,155   5,505 6,076
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of
    period
    $    9,610 $  5,505   $    9,610 $  5,505

     

     

    MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Segment Revenue and Operating Income (Loss)
    (In millions) (Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended June 30, Twelve Months Ended June 30,
    2011 2010 2011 2010
    Revenue
    Windows & Windows Live Division $    4,740 $  4,781 $  19,024 $19,494
    Server and Tools 4,643 4,149 17,096 15,378
    Online Services Division 662 568 2,528 2,201
    Microsoft Business Division 5,777 5,375 22,186 19,076
    Entertainment and Devices Division 1,485 1,144 8,913 6,168
    Unallocated and other 60 22 196 167
    Consolidated $  17,367 $16,039 $  69,943 $62,484
    Operating income (loss)
    Windows & Windows Live Division $    2,943 $  3,066 $  12,281 $13,034
    Server and Tools 1,774 1,560 6,608 5,539
    Online Services Division (728) (688) (2,557) (2,337)
    Microsoft Business Division 3,618 3,219 14,124 11,504
    Entertainment and Devices Division 32 (172) 1,324 618
    Corporate-level activity (1,468) (1,055) (4,619) (4,260)
    Consolidated $    6,171 $  5,930 $  27,161 $24,098

     

    MICROSOFT CORPORATION

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    (Unaudited)

    Summary

    (In millions, except per share amounts and percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
        Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010           2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 17,367     $ 16,039     8%     $ 69,943     $ 62,484     12%
    Operating income   $ 6,171     $ 5,930     4%     $ 27,161   $ 24,098     13%
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.69     $ 0.51     35%     $ 2.69     $ 2.10     28%

     

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Revenue increased primarily due to strong sales of Server and Tools products, the 2010 Microsoft Office system, and the Xbox 360 entertainment platform. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an insignificant impact on revenue.

    Operating income increased reflecting an increase in revenue, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Key changes in operating expenses were:

    •     Cost of revenue increased $538 million or 17%, primarily due to higher costs associated with our online offerings, including traffic acquisition costs and royalty costs relating to Xbox LIVE digital content, higher expenses from providing Enterprise Services, and increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles sold.

    •     Sales and marketing expenses increased $314 million or 9%, primarily as a result of higher headcount-related expenses and increased fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors.

    •     General and administrative expenses increased $192 million or 19%, due primarily to new Puerto Rican excise taxes and higher headcount-related expenses.

    Diluted earnings per share increased reflecting higher revenue, lower income tax expense, and repurchases of common stock, offset in part by higher operating expenses.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Revenue increased primarily due to strong sales of the Xbox 360 entertainment platform, the 2010 Microsoft Office system, and Server and Tools products, offset in part by lower Windows revenue. Revenue also increased due to the fiscal year 2010 deferral of $254 million of revenue from earlier versions of the Microsoft Office system sold with a guarantee to be upgraded to the newest version of the Microsoft Office system at minimal or no cost (“Office Deferral”) and the subsequent recognition of the Office Deferral during fiscal year 2011. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an insignificant impact on revenue.

    Operating income increased reflecting the change in revenue, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Key changes in operating expenses were:

    •     Cost of revenue increased $3.2 billion or 26%, due to higher costs associated with our online offerings, including traffic acquisition costs, and increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles and Kinect sensors sold.

    •     Sales and marketing expenses increased $726 million or 5%, primarily reflecting increased advertising and marketing of the Xbox 360 platform, Windows Phone, and Windows and Windows Live, higher headcount-related expenses and increased fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors.

    •     Research and development expenses increased $329 million or 4%, due mainly to higher headcount-related expenses.

    •    General and administrative expenses increased $159 million or 4%, due mainly to higher headcount-related expenses and new Puerto Rican excise taxes, partially offset by prior year transition expenses associated with the inception of the Yahoo! Commercial Agreement.

    Diluted earnings per share increased reflecting higher revenue, repurchases of common stock, and lower income tax expense, offset in part by higher operating expenses.

    SEGMENT PRODUCT REVENUE/OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

    The revenue and operating income (loss) amounts in this section are presented on a basis consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. and include certain reconciling items attributable to each of the segments. Certain corporate-level activity has been excluded from our segment operating results and is presented separately. Prior period amounts have been recast to conform to the way we internally managed and monitored performance at the segment level during the current period, including moving Microsoft’s PC hardware business from Entertainment and Devices Division to Windows & Windows Live Division, Windows Embedded from Entertainment and Devices Division to Server and Tools, and Office for Mac from Entertainment and Devices Division to Microsoft Business Division, as well as implementing intersegment cost allocations between all segments related to the collaborative investment in mobile platform development.

     

    Windows & Windows Live Division

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
      Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010         2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 4,740   $ 4,781     (1)%   $ 19,024   $ 19,494     (2)%
    Operating income   $ 2,943   $ 3,066     (4)%   $ 12,281   $ 13,034     (6)%

     

    Windows & Windows Live Division (“Windows Division”) develops and markets PC operating systems, related software and online services, and PC hardware products. This collection of software, hardware, and services is designed to simplify everyday tasks through efficient browsing capabilities and seamless operations across the user’s hardware and software. Windows Division offerings consist of multiple editions of the Windows operating system, software and services through Windows Live, and Microsoft PC hardware products.

    Windows Division revenue is largely correlated to the PC market worldwide, as approximately 75% of total Windows Division revenue comes from Windows operating system software purchased by original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) which they pre-install on equipment they sell. The remaining approximately 25% of Windows Division revenue (“other revenue”) is generated by commercial and retail sales of Windows and PC hardware products and online advertising from Windows Live.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Windows Division revenue reflected relative performance in PC market segments. We estimate that sales of PCs to businesses grew approximately 8% this quarter and sales of PCs to consumers declined approximately 2%. The decline in consumer PC sales included an approximately 41% decline in the sales of netbooks. Taken together, the total PC market increased an estimated 1% to 3%. Revenue was negatively impacted by the effect of higher growth in emerging markets, where average selling prices are lower, relative to developed markets, and by lower recognition of previously deferred Windows XP revenue. This quarter, we experienced increased attachment of Windows to PCs shipped, particularly in emerging markets.

    Windows Division operating income decreased as a result of decreased revenue and higher sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $52 million or 7% reflecting increased advertising of Windows and Windows Live.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Windows Division revenue reflected relative performance in PC market segments. We estimate that sales of PCs to businesses grew approximately 11% this year and sales of PCs to consumers declined approximately 1%. The decline in consumer PC sales included an approximately 32% decline in the sales of netbooks. Taken together, the total PC market increased an estimated 2% to 4%. Revenue was negatively impacted by the effect of higher growth in emerging markets, where average selling prices are lower, relative to developed markets, and by lower recognition of previously deferred Windows XP revenue. Considering the impact of Windows 7 launch in the prior year, including $273 million of revenue recognized related to the Windows 7 Deferral, we estimate that Windows Division revenue was in line with the PC market.

    Windows Division operating income decreased as a result of decreased revenue and higher sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $224 million or 8% reflecting increased advertising of Windows and Windows Live.

    Server and Tools

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
      Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

                 
        2011     2010         2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 4,643   $ 4,149     12%   $ 17,096   $ 15,378     11%
    Operating income   $ 1,774   $ 1,560     14%   $ 6,608   $ 5,539     19%

     

    Server and Tools develops and markets technology and related services that enable information technology professionals and their systems to be more productive and efficient. Server and Tools product and service offerings include Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Azure, Visual Studio, System Center products, Windows Embedded device platforms, and Enterprise Services. Enterprise Services comprise Premier product support services and Microsoft Consulting Services. We also offer developer tools, training and certification. Approximately 50% of Server and Tools revenue comes primarily from multi-year volume licensing agreements, approximately 30% is purchased through transactional volume licensing programs, retail packaged product and licenses sold to OEMs, and the remainder comes from Enterprise Services.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Server and Tools revenue increased reflecting growth in both product sales and Enterprise Services. Product revenue increased $382 million or 11%, driven primarily by growth in Windows Server, SQL Server, and Enterprise Client Access License (“CAL”) Suites, reflecting continued adoption of Windows platform applications. Enterprise Services revenue grew $112 million or 14%, due to growth in both Premier product support and consulting services.

    Server and Tools operating income increased due to revenue growth, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $149 million or 13% reflecting increased corporate marketing activities and fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors. Cost of revenue increased $133 million or 18%, primarily reflecting a $114 million increase in expenses from providing Enterprise Services.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Server and Tools revenue increased reflecting growth in both product sales and Enterprise Services. Product revenue increased $1.4 billion or 11%, driven primarily by growth in Windows Server, SQL Server, Enterprise CAL Suites, and Windows Embedded, reflecting continued adoption of Windows platform applications. Enterprise Services revenue grew $337 million or 11%, due to growth in both Premier product support and consulting services.

    Server and Tools operating income increased due to revenue growth, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Cost of revenue increased $366 million or 13%, primarily reflecting a $323 million increase in expenses from providing Enterprise Services. Sales and marketing expenses increased $264 million or 6% reflecting increased fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors and increased corporate marketing activities.

    Online Services Division

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
      Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010         2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 662   $ 568     17%   $ 2,528   $ 2,201     15%
    Operating loss   $ (728 )   $ (688 )   (6)%   $ (2,557 )   $ (2,337 )   (9)%

     

    Online Services Division (“OSD”) develops and markets information and content designed to help people simplify tasks and make more informed decisions online, and that help advertisers connect with audiences. OSD offerings include Bing, MSN, adCenter, and advertiser tools. Bing and MSN generate revenue through the sale of search and display advertising. Search and display advertising generally accounts for over 85% of OSD’s annual revenue.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    OSD revenue increased primarily as a result of growth in online advertising revenue. Online advertising revenue grew $100 million or 20% to $597 million, reflecting continued growth in search and display advertising revenue, offset in part by decreased third party advertising revenue. Search revenue grew due to increased volumes reflecting general market growth, relative share gains in the U.S, and our Yahoo! alliance, offset in part by decreased revenue per search primarily related to challenges associated with optimizing the adCenter platform for the new mix and volume of traffic from the combined Yahoo! and Bing properties. As of June 30, 2011, according to third-party sources, Bing organic U.S. market share grew over 31% to approximately 14%, while Bing-powered U.S. market share, including Yahoo! properties, was approximately 27%.

    OSD operating loss increased due to higher cost of revenue, offset in part by increased revenue. Cost of revenue grew $165 million, driven by costs associated with the Yahoo! search agreement and increased traffic acquisition costs.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    OSD revenue increased primarily as a result of growth in online advertising revenue. Online advertising revenue grew $358 million or 19% to $2.3 billion, reflecting continued growth in search and display advertising revenue, offset in part by decreased third party advertising revenue. Search revenue grew due to increased volumes reflecting general market growth, relative share gains in the U.S., and our Yahoo! alliance, offset in part by decreased revenue per search primarily related to challenges associated with optimizing the adCenter platform for the new mix and volume of traffic from the combined Yahoo! and Bing properties. As of June 30, 2011, according to third-party sources, Bing organic U.S. market share grew over 31% to approximately 14%, while Bing-powered U.S. market share, including Yahoo! properties, was approximately 27%.

    OSD operating loss increased due to higher operating expenses, offset in part by increased revenue. Cost of revenue grew $641 million driven by costs associated with the Yahoo! search agreement and increased traffic acquisition costs. General and administrative expenses decreased $157 million or 60% due mainly to transition expenses in the prior year associated with the inception of the Yahoo! Commercial Agreement. Research and development increased $117 million or 11% due to increased headcount-related costs.

    Microsoft Business Division

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
      Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010         2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 5,777   $ 5,375     7%   $ 22,186   $ 19,076     16%
    Operating income   $ 3,618   $ 3,219     12%   $ 14,124   $ 11,504     23%

     

    Microsoft Business Division (“MBD”) develops and markets software and services designed to increase personal, team, and organization productivity. MBD offerings include the Microsoft Office system (comprising mainly Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync), which generates over 90% of MBD revenue, and Microsoft Dynamics business solutions. We evaluate MBD results based upon the nature of the end user in two primary parts: business revenue, which includes Microsoft Office system revenue generated through volume licensing agreements and Microsoft Dynamics revenue; and consumer revenue, which includes revenue from retail packaged product sales and OEM revenue.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    MBD revenue increased reflecting sales of the 2010 Microsoft Office system, which was released primarily during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. Consumer revenue decreased $93 million or 8%, primarily driven by a decline in consumer PC sales in developed markets. Business revenue increased $494 million or 12%, primarily reflecting licensing of the 2010 Microsoft Office system to transactional business customers, growth in multi-year volume licensing revenue, and a 19% increase in Microsoft Dynamics revenue.

    MBD operating income increased due mainly to revenue growth as well as decreased sales and marketing expenses, offset in part by higher cost of revenue. Sales and marketing expenses decreased $74 million or 6%, due mainly to decreased advertising and marketing activities. Cost of revenue increased $83 million or 22%, primarily driven by higher online costs and services.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    MBD revenue increased primarily reflecting sales of the 2010 Microsoft Office system, the $254 million Office Deferral during fiscal year 2010, and the subsequent recognition of the Office Deferral during fiscal year 2011. Business revenue increased $2.0 billion or 13%, reflecting licensing of the 2010 Microsoft Office system to transactional business customers, growth in multi-year volume licensing revenue, and a 10% increase in Microsoft Dynamics revenue. Consumer revenue increased $1.1 billion or 33%, approximately half of which was attributable to the launch of Office 2010 and half of which was attributable to the Office Deferral during fiscal year 2010 and subsequent recognition of the Office Deferral during fiscal year 2011. Excluding the impact associated with the Office Deferral, consumer revenue increased $620 million or 17% due to sales of the 2010 Microsoft Office system.

    MBD operating income increased due mainly to revenue growth, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Cost of revenue increased $335 million or 26%, primarily driven by higher online costs and services. Sales and marketing expenses increased $97 million or 2%, primarily driven by an increase in corporate and cross-platform marketing activities. Research and development costs increased $79 million or 4%, primarily as a result of capitalization of certain Microsoft Office system software development costs in the prior year.

     

    Entertainment and Devices Division

     

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
      Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010         2011     2010      
    Revenue   $ 1,485   $ 1,144     30%   $ 8,913   $ 6,168     45%
    Operating income (loss)   $ 32   $ (172 )   *   $ 1,324   $ 618     114%

     

    *       Not meaningful

    Entertainment and Devices Division (“EDD”) develops and markets products and services designed to entertain and connect people. EDD offerings include the Xbox 360 entertainment platform (which includes the Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console, Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 video games, Xbox LIVE, and Xbox 360 accessories), Mediaroom (our Internet protocol television software), and Windows Phone. In November 2010, we released Kinect for Xbox 360 and the latest version of Windows Phone.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    EDD revenue increased primarily reflecting higher Xbox 360 platform revenue. Xbox 360 platform revenue grew $293 million or 29%, led by higher Xbox LIVE revenue and increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles sold. We shipped 1.7 million Xbox 360 consoles during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, compared with 1.5 million Xbox 360 consoles during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010.

    EDD operating income increased primarily reflecting revenue growth, offset in part by higher cost of revenue. Cost of revenue increased $118 million or 15% primarily reflecting higher volumes of Xbox 360 consoles, and increased royalty costs resulting from increased sales of Xbox LIVE digital content.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    EDD revenue increased primarily reflecting higher Xbox 360 platform revenue. Xbox 360 platform revenue grew $2.7 billion or 48%, led by increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles, sales of Kinect sensors, and higher Xbox LIVE revenue. We shipped 13.7 million Xbox 360 consoles during fiscal year 2011, compared with 10.3 million Xbox 360 consoles during fiscal year 2010.

    EDD operating income increased primarily reflecting revenue growth, offset in part by higher cost of revenue. Cost of revenue increased $1.8 billion or 49% primarily reflecting higher volumes of Xbox 360 consoles and Kinect sensors sold, and increased royalty costs resulting from increased sales of Xbox LIVE digital content. Research and development expenses increased $119 million or 12%, primarily reflecting higher headcount-related costs. Sales and marketing expenses grew $90 million or 12% primarily reflecting increased Xbox 360 platform marketing activities.

    Corporate-Level Activity

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
          Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    Corporate-level activity   $ (1,468 )   $ (1,055 )   (39)%       $ (4,619 )   $ (4,260 )   (8)%

     

    Certain corporate-level activity is not allocated to our segments, including costs of: broad-based sales and marketing; product support services; human resources; legal; finance; information technology; corporate development and procurement activities; research and development; and legal settlements and contingencies.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Corporate-level expenses increased due mainly to new Puerto Rican excise taxes, certain revenue related sales and marketing expenses, and increased headcount-related expenses.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Corporate-level expenses increased due mainly to new Puerto Rican excise taxes, certain revenue related sales and marketing expenses, and increased headcount-related expenses. These increases were offset in part by lower legal charges, which were $332 million in fiscal year 2011 compared to $533 million in fiscal year 2010.

    OPERATING EXPENSES

    Cost of Revenue

    (In millions, except percentages) Three Months Ended
    June 30,
    Percentage
    Change
    Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
    Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    Cost of revenue   $ 3,708   $ 3,170     17%       $ 15,577   $ 12,395     26%
    As a percent of revenue   21 %     20 %   1ppt       22 %     20 %   2ppt

     

    Cost of revenue includes: manufacturing and distribution costs for products sold and programs licensed; operating costs related to product support service centers and product distribution centers; costs incurred to include software on PCs sold by OEMs, to drive traffic to our Web sites, and to acquire online advertising space (“traffic acquisition costs”); costs incurred to support and maintain Internet-based products and services, including royalties; warranty costs; inventory valuation adjustments; costs associated with the delivery of consulting services; and the amortization of capitalized research and development costs.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Cost of revenue increased primarily due to higher costs associated with our online offerings, including traffic acquisition costs, and higher expenses from providing Enterprise Services, as well as increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles sold and royalty costs relating to Xbox LIVE digital content sold.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Cost of revenue increased primarily due to increased volumes of Xbox 360 consoles and Kinect sensors sold, higher costs associated with our online offerings, including traffic acquisition costs, and higher expenses from providing Enterprise Services, as well as royalty costs relating to Xbox LIVE digital content sold.

     

    Research and Development

     

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
          Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    Research and development   $ 2,393   $ 2,350     2%       $ 9,043   $ 8,714     4%
    As a percent of revenue   14 %     15 %   (1)ppt       13 %     14 %   (1)ppt

     

    Research and development expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other headcount-related expenses associated with product development. Research and development expenses also include third-party development and programming costs, localization costs incurred to translate software for international markets, and the amortization of purchased software code and services content.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Research and development expenses increased primarily due to an 8% increase in headcount-related expenses and the capitalization of certain software development costs in the prior year.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Research and development expenses increased primarily due to a 5% increase in headcount-related expenses and the capitalization of certain software development costs in the prior year.

    Sales and Marketing

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
          Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    Sales and marketing   $ 3,916     $ 3,602     9%       $ 13,940     $ 13,214     5%
    As a percent of revenue   23 %     22 %   1ppt       20 %     21 %   (1)ppt

     

    Sales and marketing expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other headcount-related expenses associated with sales and marketing personnel and the costs of advertising, promotions, trade shows, seminars, and other programs.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Sales and marketing expenses increased primarily as a result of a 12% increase in headcount-related expenses and increased fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Sales and marketing expenses increased primarily as a result of increased advertising and marketing of the Xbox 360 platform, Windows Phone, and Windows and Windows Live, a 5% increase in headcount-related expenses, and increased fees paid to third party enterprise software advisors.

    General and Administrative

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
          Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    General and administrative   $ 1,179     $ 987     19%       $ 4,222     $ 4,063     4%
    As a percent of revenue   7 %     6 %   1ppt       6 %     7 %   (1)ppt

     

    General and administrative expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, severance expense, and other headcount-related expenses associated with finance, legal, facilities, certain human resources and other administrative personnel, certain taxes, and legal and other administrative fees.

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    General and administrative expenses increased primarily due to new Puerto Rican excise taxes and a 17% increase in headcount-related expenses.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    General and administrative expenses increased primarily due to a 12% increase in headcount-related expenses and new Puerto Rican excise taxes, partially offset by prior year transition expenses associated with the inception of the Yahoo! Commercial Agreement.

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) AND INCOME TAXES

    Other Income (Expense)

    The components of other income (expense) were as follows:

    (In millions, except percentages)   Three Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change
          Twelve Months Ended
    June 30,
        Percentage
    Change

     

        2011     2010             2011     2010      
    Dividends and interest income   $ 269   $ 239     13 %       $ 900   $ 843     7 %
    Interest expense   (94 )     (37 )   (154)%       (295 )     (151 )   (95)%
    Net recognized gains on investments   100     49     104%       439     348     26%
    Net losses on derivatives   (115 )     (163 )   29%       (77 )     (140 )   45%
    Net gains (losses) on foreign currency
    remeasurements
      (12 )     25     *       (26 )   1     *
    Other   0       (19 )   *       (31 )     14     *

     

       

     

     

               

     

     

       

     

     

         
    Total   $ 148     $ 94     57%       $ 910   $ 915     (1)%
       

     

     

       

     

     

               

     

     

       

     

     

         

    *  Not meaningful

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Dividends and interest income increased due to higher average portfolio investment balances, offset in part by lower yields on our fixed income investments. Interest expense increased due to our increased issuance of debt. Net recognized gains on investments increased due primarily to higher gains on sales of fixed-income and equity securities. Derivative losses decreased due primarily to lower losses on currency contracts used to hedge foreign currency revenues and interest-rate and equity derivatives, offset in part by higher losses on commodity derivatives.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Dividends and interest income increased due to higher average portfolio investment balances, offset in part by lower yields on our fixed income investments. Interest expense increased due to our increased issuance of debt. Net recognized gains on investments increased due primarily to higher gains on sales of equity securities, offset in part by fewer gains on sales of fixed-income securities. Derivative losses decreased due primarily to higher gains on commodity derivatives offset in part by higher losses on currency contracts used to hedge foreign currency revenue.

    Income Taxes

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Our effective tax rates for the fourth quarters of fiscal years 2011 and 2010 were approximately 7% and 25%, respectively. Our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a higher mix of earnings taxed at lower rates in foreign jurisdictions resulting from producing and distributing our products and services through our foreign regional operations centers in Ireland, Singapore and Puerto Rico, which are subject to lower income tax rates.

    Our effective tax rate was lower than in the prior year due mainly to the adjustment of our previously estimated effective tax rate for the year to reflect the actual full year mix of foreign and U.S. taxable income. In addition, upon completion of our annual domestic and foreign tax returns, we adjusted the estimated tax provision to reflect the tax returns filed and recorded an income tax benefit which lowered our effective tax rate.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Our effective tax rates for fiscal years 2011 and 2010 were approximately 18% and 25%, respectively. Our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate and our prior year effective rate primarily due to a higher mix of earnings taxed at lower rates in foreign jurisdictions resulting from producing and distributing our products and services through our foreign regional operations centers in Ireland, Singapore, and Puerto Rico, which are subject to lower income tax rates. In fiscal years 2011 and 2010, our U.S. income before income taxes was $8.9 billion and $9.6 billion, respectively, and comprised 32% and 38%, respectively, of our income before income taxes. In fiscal years 2011 and 2010, the foreign income before income taxes was $19.2 billion and $15.4 billion, respectively, and comprised 68% and 62%, respectively, of our income before income taxes. In fiscal years 2011 and 2010, the reduction of the U.S. federal statutory rate as a result of foreign earnings taxed at lower rates was 16% and 12%, respectively.

    In addition, our effective tax rate was lower than in the prior year due to a partial settlement with the I.R.S. in the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 relating to the audit of tax years 2004 to 2006. This partial settlement reduced our income tax expense for fiscal year 2011 by $461 million.

    UNEARNED REVENUE

    Unearned revenue at June 30, 2011 comprised mainly unearned revenue from volume licensing programs. Unearned revenue from volume licensing programs represents customer billings for multi-year licensing arrangements paid for either at inception of the agreement or annually at the beginning of each billing coverage period and accounted for as subscriptions with revenue recognized ratably over the billing coverage period. Unearned revenue at June 30, 2011 also included payments for: post-delivery support and consulting services to be performed in the future; Xbox LIVE subscriptions and prepaid points; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions products; OEM minimum commitments; unspecified upgrades/enhancements of Windows Phone and Microsoft Internet Explorer on a when-and-if-available basis for Windows XP; and other offerings for which we have been paid in advance and earn the revenue when we provide the service or software, or otherwise meet the revenue recognition criteria.

     

    The following table outlines the expected future recognition of unearned revenue as of June 30, 2011:

    (In millions)      

     

     
    Three Months Ending,      
       
    September 30, 2011   $ 5,979  
    December 31, 2011     4,914  
    March 31, 2012     3,207  
    June 30, 2012     1,622  
    Thereafter     1,398  

     

     
    Total   $ 17,120  
       

     

     

     

    CASH FLOWS

    Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared with three months ended June 30, 2010

    Fourth quarter cash flows from operations increased $338 million over the prior year to $5.9 billion due mainly to increased revenue and cash collections from customers, offset in part by other changes in working capital. Cash used in financing decreased $1.7 billion to $2.4 billion due mainly to a $2.6 billion decrease in common stock repurchases, offset in part by reduced proceeds from issuances of common stock of $732 million. Cash used in investing decreased $3.2 billion to $1.0 billion due mainly to a $2.6 billion increase in cash from securities lending.

    Twelve months ended June 30, 2011 compared with twelve months ended June 30, 2010

    Cash flows from operations increased $2.9 billion during the current fiscal year to $27.0 billion due mainly to increased revenue and cash collections from customers. Cash used in financing decreased $4.9 billion to $8.4 billion due mainly to a $5.8 billion increase in proceeds from issuances of debt, net of repayments, offset in part by a $602 million increase in cash paid for dividends. Cash used in investing increased $3.3 billion to $14.6 billion due to a $5.8 billion increase in purchases of investments, offset in part by a $2.5 billion increase in cash from securities lending.

     

  • Apple Earnings Released

    Apple Earnings Released

    Apple has just released its earnings report for its fiscal year third quarter, beating most estimates.

    Apple posted revenue of $28.57 billion for the quarter with a net profit of $7.31 billion. For perspective, for the same quarter last year, they had $15.70 billion revenue with $3.25 billion in net profit, so yeah, they’re doing alright.

    Apple sold 20.34 million iPhones, 9.25 million iPads, 3.95 million Macs, and 7.54 million iPods during the quarter.

    iPhone sales are up 142% for the quarter (YoY). iPad sales are up 183% and Mac sales are up 14%. iPod sales are down 20%. I would guess this is due to a combination of music being available on these other devices, the fact that so many people already have iPods, and the growing popularity of online streaming music services. Mac sales were particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region. Mac sales were driven by Macbook Pro and Macbook Air.

    Mac OS X Lion will be released tomorrow.

    The ITunes store generated revenue of 1.4 billion – up year over year. Customers have downloaded over 15 billion songs to date.

    It was the highest quarterly revenue and earnings in Apple’s history. Also record for iPhone and iPad sales. 86% of Fortune 500 are deploying or testing iPad, CFO Peter Oppenheimer said.

    Apple plans to open 30 new stores in the September quarter.

    Steve Jobs didn’t get on the conference call.

    Here is the release in its entirety.

    Release begins:

    CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended June 25, 2011. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $28.57 billion and record quarterly net profit of $7.31 billion, or $7.79 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $15.70 billion and net quarterly profit of $3.25 billion, or $3.51 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 41.7 percent compared to 39.1 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 62 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

    “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”

    The Company sold 20.34 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 142 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 9.25 million iPads during the quarter, a 183 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 3.95 million Macs during the quarter, a 14 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 7.54 million iPods, a 20 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

    “We’re thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Right now, we’re very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall.”

    “We are extremely pleased with our performance which drove quarterly cash flow from operations of $11.1 billion, an increase of 131 percent year-over-year,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, we expect revenue of about $25 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $5.50.”

    Apple will provide live streaming of its Q3 2011 financial results conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT on July 19, 2011 at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/earningsq311. This webcast will also be available for replay for approximately two weeks thereafter.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements including without limitation those about the Company’s estimated revenue and earnings per share. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and the Company’s reaction to those factors, on consumer and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of the Company to deliver to the marketplace and stimulate customer demand for new programs, products, and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on the Company’s gross margin; the inventory risk associated with the Company’s need to order or commit to order product components in advance of customer orders; the continued availability on acceptable terms, or at all, of certain components and services essential to the Company’s business currently obtained by the Company from sole or limited sources; the effect that the Company’s dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s reliance on third-party intellectual property and digital content; the potential impact of a finding that the Company has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the Company’s dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers of the Company’s products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on the Company’s sales and operating profits; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010, its Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended December 25, 2010 and March 26, 2011, and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 25, 2011 to be filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

    Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

    © 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Apple Inc. 

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

    (In millions, except share amounts which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
    June 25,
    2011
    June 26, 

    2010

    June 25,
    2011
    June 26, 

    2010

    Net sales $ 28,571 $ 15,700 $ 79,979 $ 44,882
    Cost of sales (1) 16,649 9,564 47,541 26,710
    Gross margin 11,922 6,136 32,438 18,172
    Operating expenses:
    Research and development (1) 628 464 1,784 1,288
    Selling, general and administrative (1) 1,915 1,438 5,574 3,946
    Total operating expenses 2,543 1,902 7,358 5,234
    Operating income 9,379 4,234 25,080 12,938
    Other income and expense 172 58 334 141
    Income before provision for income taxes 9,551 4,292 25,414 13,079
    Provision for income taxes 2,243 1,039 6,115 3,374
    Net income $ 7,308 $ 3,253 $ 19,299 $ 9,705
    Earnings per common share:
    Basic $ 7.89 $ 3.57 $ 20.91 $ 10.69
    Diluted $ 7.79 $ 3.51 $ 20.63 $ 10.51
    Shares used in computing earnings per share:
    Basic 926,108 912,197 922,917 907,762
    Diluted 937,810 927,361 935,688 923,341
    (1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
    Cost of sales $ 52 $ 38 $ 155 $ 112
    Research and development $ 119 $ 80 $ 336 $ 240
    Selling, general and administrative $ 113 $ 101 $ 379 $ 303
    Apple Inc. 

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    (In millions, except share amounts)

    June 25, 2011 September 25, 2010
    ASSETS:
    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 12,091 $ 11,261
    Short-term marketable securities 16,304 14,359
    Accounts receivable, less allowances of $55 in each period 6,102 5,510
    Inventories 889 1,051
    Deferred tax assets 1,892 1,636
    Vendor non-trade receivables 5,369 4,414
    Other current assets 4,251 3,447
    Total current assets 46,898 41,678
    Long-term marketable securities 47,761 25,391
    Property, plant and equipment, net 6,749 4,768
    Goodwill 741 741
    Acquired intangible assets, net 1,169 342
    Other assets 3,440 2,263
    Total assets $ 106,758 $ 75,183
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable $ 15,270 $ 12,015
    Accrued expenses 7,597 5,723
    Deferred revenue 3,992 2,984
    Total current liabilities 26,859 20,722
    Deferred revenue – non-current 1,407 1,139
    Other non-current liabilities 9,149 5,531
    Total liabilities 37,415 27,392
    Commitments and contingencies
    Shareholders’ equity:
    Common stock, no par value; 1,800,000,000 shares authorized;
    926,903,779 and 915,970,050 shares issued and outstanding,
    respectively
    12,715 10,668
    Retained earnings 56,239 37,169
    Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 389 (46 )
    Total shareholders’ equity 69,343 47,791
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 106,758 $ 75,183
    Apple Inc. 

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

    (In millions)

    Nine Months Ended
    June 25, 2011 June 26, 2010
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period $ 11,261 $ 5,263
    Operating activities:
    Net income 19,299 9,705
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion 1,271 698
    Stock-based compensation expense 870 655
    Deferred income tax expense 2,232 1,298
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable, net (592 ) (79 )
    Inventories 162 (487 )
    Vendor non-trade receivables (955 ) (1,256 )
    Other current and non-current assets (1,551 ) (1,001 )
    Accounts payable 2,480 2,812
    Deferred revenue 1,276 806
    Other current and non-current liabilities 2,608 (239 )
    Cash generated by operating activities 27,100 12,912
    Investing activities:
    Purchases of marketable securities (75,133 ) (41,318 )
    Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 16,396 19,758
    Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 34,301 14,048
    Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net of cash acquired 0 (615 )
    Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,615 ) (1,245 )
    Payments for acquisition of intangible assets (266 ) (63 )
    Other 34 (36 )
    Cash used in investing activities (27,283 ) (9,471 )
    Financing activities:
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock 577 733
    Excess tax benefits from equity awards 915 652
    Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (479 ) (384 )
    Cash generated by financing activities 1,013 1,001
    Increase in cash and cash equivalents 830 4,442
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 12,091 $ 9,705
    Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
    Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 2,563 $ 2,657
    Apple Inc.
    Q3 2011 Unaudited Summary Data
    Q2 2011 Q3 2010 Q3 2011
    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Operating Segments CPUUnits K Revenue$M CPUUnits K Revenue$M CPUUnits K Revenue$M CPU Units Revenue CPU Units Revenue
    Americas 1,217 $9,323 1,358 $6,227 1,487 $10,126 22% 9% 9% 63%
    Europe 995 6,027 914 4,160 922 7,098 – 7% 18% 1% 71%
    Japan 155 1,383 129 910 150 1,510 – 3% 9% 16% 66%
    Asia Pacific 596 4,743 394 1,825 620 6,332 4% 34% 57% 247%
    Retail 797 3,191 677 2,578 768 3,505 – 4% 10% 13% 36%
    Total Operating Segments 3,760 $24,667 3,472 $15,700 3,947 $28,571 5% 16% 14% 82%
    Sequential Change Year/Year Change
    Product Summary Units K Revenue$M Units K Revenue$M Units K Revenue$M Units Revenue Units Revenue
    Desktops (1) 1,009 $1,441 1,004 $1,301 1,155 $1,580 14% 10% 15% 21%
    Portables (2) 2,751 3,535 2,468 3,098 2,792 3,525 1% 0% 13% 14%
    Subtotal CPUs 3,760 4,976 3,472 4,399 3,947 5,105 5% 3% 14% 16%
    iPod 9,017 1,600 9,406 1,545 7,535 1,325 – 16% – 17% – 20% – 14%
    Other Music Related Products and Services (3) 1,634 1,214 1,571 – 4% 29%
    iPhone and Related Products and Services (4) 18,647 12,298 8,398 5,334 20,338 13,311 9% 8% 142% 150%
    iPad and Related Products and Services (5) 4,694 2,836 3,270 2,166 9,246 6,046 97% 113% 183% 179%
    Peripherals and Other Hardware (6) 580 396 517 – 11% 31%
    Software, Service and Other Sales (7) 743 646 696 – 6% 8%
    Total Apple $24,667 $15,700 $28,571 16% 82%
    (1) Includes iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Xserve product lines.
    (2) Includes MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro product lines.
    (3) Includes sales from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore in addition to sales of iPod services and Apple-branded and third-party iPod accessories.
    (4) Includes revenue recognized from iPhone sales, carrier agreements, services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories.
    (5) Includes revenue recognized from iPad sales, services, and Apple-branded and third-party iPad accessories.
    (6) Includes sales of displays, wireless connectivity and networking solutions, and other hardware accessories.
    (7) Includes sales from the Mac App Store in addition to sales of other Apple-branded and third-party Mac software and Mac and Internet services.
    K = Units in thousands $M = Amounts in millions

     

  • Amazon Tablet On The Way, According to Sources

    Today, there are more rumors about Amazon’s leap into the tablet market.

    The Wall Street Journal has cited “people familiar with the matter” in predicting that the online retailer will release its iPad rival sometime before October.

    This new information seems to corroborate rumors reported last month by DigiTimes. Their sources were Taiwan-based component makers who said that Amazon planned to launch their tablet in the fall in order to capitalize on the upcoming holiday season.

    They reported that Amazon had a sales goal of 4 million units by the end of the year.

    According to the WSJ’s sources, the new Amazon tablet will have a roughly 9-inch screen and will run on Android OS. As you would expect, the tablet will provide easy access to Amazon’s ebooks, music and app store. The sources also said that the Amazon tablet will not be sporting a camera.

    According to the sources, Amazon will also release two new members of the Kindle family around the same time. The first will be a touchscreen model that will be poised to go up against Barnes & Noble’s New Nook “Simple Touch” e-reader.

    The second new Kindle will be a cheaper version of the current basic Kindle. If the rumors prove true, both will try to compete in a crowded field of e-readers during this holiday shopping season.

    Can an Amazon tablet compete with the dominance of the iPad? It’s hard to say. Nothing has really been able to challenge the iPad’s place atop the throne. According to other rumors, the newest iPad will debut this fall under the name “iPad HD.” It will sport an incredibly high-res screen (2048 x 1536) and would be primarily for professionals who wish to do serious work on their tablets.

    [Image Courtesy]

  • LinkedIn #1 Social Network, Says Report

    A recent study from marketing agency Performics revealed that 59 percent of social networkers found LinkedIn to be their most important social network. The survey was conducted by ROI Research and looked at nearly 3,000 people that actively use social networks.

    What is your most important social networking account? Let us know.

    “The Impact of Social Media,” or “S-Net” as the report is being called, is part of a series of studies that Performics is doing to understand the importance and influence of social media. Daina Middleton, the CEO of the company, told us that the economic challenges added to this spike of activity on LinkedIn.

    “Obviously, we have a lot of individuals out there looking for jobs, or they’re looking to change jobs; and they’re understanding that they need to embrace social networks like LinkedIn in order to help facilitate that search,” she said.

    While Facebook and Twitter are extremely popular for both personal and professional reasons, the line between these purposes is becoming more and more blurred. Middleton pointed out that LinkedIn, on the other hand, is clearly professional, which has helped to make it vital during the tough economic times.

    The study further proved the shift in power from brands to consumers. Previously, brands could send out a print or TV ad and, primarily, be in control of the message. Middleton said that there was a “hierarchy implied in terms of this message development.”

    Today, however, this cycle has changed, largely due to social media. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn allow users to be equal. As a result, consumers have the ability to influence fellow consumers and brands in a way that is likely greater than a brand’s own influence.

    The study found that 59 percent of active Twitter users are more apt to recommend a company they follow, and 58 percent would be more likely to buy a product from a company they follow. In addition, 53 percent use social networks to offer feedback about a brand or retailer. The study also found that 52 percent of those surveyed agreed that consumer opinions voiced on social networking sites influence business decisions.

    Middleton believes the report demonstrates the power of social media and encourages brands to embrace this shift in power and communication. She said, “Brands need to understand that the goal here is to get others to participate with them on that equal status.”

    Do you think brands are effectively encouraging equal participation?

  • Why SEO Disgusts Me

    Why SEO Disgusts Me

    Before my SEO friends get their panties in a wad over today’s headline, let me emphasize that I understand the practical value and wisdom of basic Search Engine Optimization practices. There are many prinicipled people in the field doing good and useful work.

    What tactics frustrate you the most? Comment here.

    But the competition to out-fox the search engines is getting ugly. Beyond ugly.

    I recently had a discussion with the CEO of a leading Midwest search firm who described their common practice of creating fake accounts to pump client links into the comment section of blog posts and forums.

    The process goes something like this:

    1. The company hires home-bound individuals or low-wage people in developing countries to freelance as professional blog commenters.
    2. The blog commenters are trained on how to pose as fake people and comment in a way that does not alert the suspicion of Google or the author of the blog.
    3. The freelance commenters are then given assignments, fake personas and email accounts to provide an appearance of legitimacy.  A 50-year-old man in Indianapolis might be posing as a 30-year-old housewife in Pittsburgh, for example.
    4. The commenters are compensated by the number of client links they can successfully work into a comment or forum — as many as five in one post.

    Reality check.  Isn’t this fraud?

    I really don’t pay attention to the SEO shenanigans like this on a day to day basis but now these practices are starting to impact me and my precious time. Here is an example of this practice in a comment that was salted into the {grow} comment section by “John” –

    This is good post. This is some good important facts about the corporate blogs. Do you have any information on how to manage comments on the blog.  I think http://www. (web link to consumer electronics retail outlet) might have an idea.  Chech it out.

    And of course this linked website did not even have a blog.  So now I am spending my time weeding out fake comments that elude the spam filter … and it happens every day.

    I spoke to one of the freelancers hired by this SEO company to provide this faux commenting service. He’s otherwise unemployed and is doing it because he’s desperate for money. He’s good at what he does and rarely gets “outed.”

    However as he described his work, he told me he feels guilty when people on the blogs actually want to engage with his fake persona. “I feel terrible about this,” he said. “I have to find some other work.   I’m deceiving people as part of my job. I’m not in a position to engage with them because I’m a fake, which seems wrong.”

    While Google fights against this kind of practice, it is very difficult to detect, and the “penalties” are so minor the risk is ignored by the SEO’s. And the volume of fake comments is likely to get worse.  This firm alone has hired 300 fake commenters in the past 12 months and sees rapid expansion as a key competitive advantage.

    The CEO of this SEO company does not consider this a “black hat” SEO practice — “it’s gray,” he said, “and we have many companies willing to pay us a lot of money to do it.” He bragged that one client has a monthly SEO bill of $200,000.

    I recognize that there are many important business insights and strategies that can come from legitimate SEO professionals like:

    • Keyword research + targeting
    • Testing + optimizing content for users
    • Content strategy direction
    • Making sites search-engine friendly
    • Leadership for analytics
    • Opportunities for alternative search listings
    • User experience improvement

    … and more.  But I’m concerned when it gets difficult to compete in the industry without engaging in fraudulent behavior.  This is a slippery slope that will lead to regulation.  All it will take is one high-profile case that blows the lid off these practices.  And we will all lose if we have to endure new rules and the cost of compliance.

    I want to do business with people who view ethics as black and white, not gray.  I want to work in an industry where we can compete fairly without resorting to SEO fraud to cover up ineffective products, services and marketing plans. How about you?

    Let us know in the comments.

    Check out BusinessGrow.com for more articles by Mark Schaefer.

  • Is Email Killing the Post Office?

    Is Email Killing the Post Office?

    Is email killing the post office? It’s not a new question. In fact, it’s been around nearly as long as the mainstream use of email itself, but it’s also not gone away, and the USPS has seen better days. I’m not normally one to buy too much into the typical x is killing y kind of hype, but the Postal Service is clearly severely injured.

    Do you think email is killing the post office, or at least contributing to its demise? Share your thoughts here.

    Bloomberg BusinessWeek has put out a lengthy report looking at the decline of the USPS and its contributing factors. While the seven-page pice just briefly touches upon the subject of email, comparing the performance of the USPS to that of FedEx, UPS, and DHL, as well as counterparts in other countries, there’s no question that email and online communication in general have done their fair share of damage.

    People have been using email for years now, and despite some predicting the death of email (at the hands of social media), it’s clear that it’s hear to stay for quite some time. Even if email were to die, it wouldn’t do much to help the postal service.

    As we’ve seen just in the past week alone, email is an incredibly important part of business for companies like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Twitter. Even Facebook has its own email now, and social networks all still rely on email to keep users engaged – that goes for the professionals too (ie: the newly public LinkedIn).

    In a recent study, 45% said that their use of email at work will most likely increase in the next five years. 51% said that it would likely stay the same. Only 4% thought it would decrease. At home, 36% of those surveyed thought their email use will increase, 55% said it will stand pat and 6% said it will likely decrease.

    The majority of important online communication still takes place through email, whether that be B2B or B2C. C2C online communication may be trending more toward social media, but again, email still plays a role here, in terms of notifications, and there is still plenty of C2C communication through email. Even from heavy users of social media. Not everyone is on the same social network. That even goes for Facebook. Email is universal. You pretty much need an email address to have any kind of account online.

    The rise of mobile, and smartphones in particular, must also play a role, as it caters to increased use in email and social media, not to mention text messaging, and even….the phone call! The point is, communication is always as close as your pocket. It’s a lot easier and cheaper (at least on an individual interaction basis) than writing letters. And it’s in real time.

    “With the rise of e-mail and the decline of letters, mail volume is falling at a staggering rate, and the postal service’s survival plan isn’t reassuring,” Devin Leonard says in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek report, noting that the USPS is the country’s second-largest civilian employer after Walmart (with more post offices than the retail outlets of Walmart, Starbucks and McDonald’s combined). Last year its revenues were $67 billion, with even greater expenses, he says.

    According to the report, first-class mail, which the USPS gets the majority of its money from, has been steadily declining, and in 2005 fell below junk mail for the first time. Total mail volume has decreased 20% just from 2006 to 2010. The USPS hasn’t been able to cover its annual budget in three years.

    Well, there’s still packages right? Sure, but there’s also stiff competition from companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL, along with an increase in digital goods replacing physical goods. Think movies, music, and books. Amazon, the largest retailer on the web, announced last week that Kindle books are outselling print books. Never mind that there are a bunch of free ones too.

    Plus, everybody’s going paperless these days. The Director of Physical Infrastructure at the U.S. Government Accountability Office is quoted as saying, “What happens when Bank of America or Citigroup says you are going to have to pay to get your statement on paper? That’s going to change a lot of behavior. It’s going to affect the postal service. That’s how they make most of their money.”

    The Bloomberg BusinessWeek report includes some interesting ideas on how the Postal Service could get back on track, at least to some extent, but the outlook is looking pretty bleak. You have to wonder what this will mean for the future of digital communication like email.

    Are email taxes on the horizon? Tell us what you think.

  • Are Some Sites Recovering From The Google Panda Update?

    Are Some Sites Recovering From The Google Panda Update?

    It would appear that some of the victims of Google’s Panda algorithm update are starting to see at least slight recoveries after using some elbow grease. A couple examples of sites that have gained some attention for upswings in traffic post-Panda, after getting hit hard by the update, are DaniWeb and One Way Furniture.

    Have you seen any recovery in search traffic since Panda hit? Let us know.

    DaniWeb Sees an Uptick in Traffic Post-Panda

    DaniWeb is an IT discussion community site. It’s a place where people can go to discuss issues related to hardware, software, software development, web development, Internet marketing, etc. This is exactly the kind of site that can actually provide great value to a searcher. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had some kind of frustrating software issue only to find the solution after a Google search pointing me to a discussion forum with people openly discussing the pros, cons, and merits of a given solution or idea. The very fact that it is a discussion forum means it is a potentially great place for different angles and ideas to any given topic, with the ongoing possibility of added value. More information means you can make better informed decisions.

    Sure, there is no guarantee that all of the information is good information, but that’s the beauty of discussion. There is often someone there to shoot down the bad. The point is, many searchers or search enthusiasts might take issue with a site like Daniweb being demoted in search because of an algorithm change that was designed to crack down on shallow and lesser-quality content.

    The good news for DaniWeb, and anybody that finds it to be a helpful resource, is that since being hit by the update it is starting to bounce back. To what extent remains to be seen. Time will tell, but Dani Horowtiz, who runs the site, recently revealed a Google analytics graph showing an upswing:

    Daniweb traffic Panda and Post-panda

    “The graph indicates a slight dip towards the end of February when just the US was affected by Panda, and then a huge dip when Panda went global,” she says. “However, you can see that over the past couple of weeks, traffic has been on the upswing, increasing day after day. We’re not yet near where we were before Panda, but there definitely is hope that we will get back there soon.”

    DaniWeb has recovered from Google Panda … Sorta http://bit.ly/liGYiT 3 days ago via twitterfeed · powered by @socialditto

    She is careful to note, “Many algorithm changes have already gone into effect between when Panda first was rolled out and today. Therefore, I can’t say without a doubt that our upswing is directly related to us being un-Pandalized in Google’s eyes and not due to another algorithm change that was released. In fact, in all honestly, that’s probably what it is.”

    Still, it should serve as a reminder that Panda isn’t everything. Google has over 200 ranking signals don’t forget.

    One Way Furniture Slowly Climbs Back Up

    If you’re a regular reader of WebProNews or have been following the Panda news, you may recall earlier this month when NPR ran a story about a furniture store called One Way Furniture that had been feeling the wrath of the Panda, mainly due to its use of un-original product descriptions, which the e-commerce site was drawing from manufacturer listings.

    Internet Retailer Senior Editor Allison Enright spoke with One Way Furniture CEO Mitch Lieberman this week (hat tip to SEW), and he said that the site is slowly climbing back up in the search rankings. “It’s been extremely challenging, but exciting, too,” he is quoted as saying. “Even in a downturn like this, it is exciting to see the effects of what you are doing to get you back to where you were.”

    How They Are Doing It

    So great, these sites are evidently working their way back into Google’s good graces. How does that help you? Luckily, they’ve shared some information about the things they’ve been doing, which appear to have led to the new rise in traffic.

    “In a nutshell, I’ve worked on removing duplicate content, making use of the canonical tag and better use of 301 redirects, and adding the noindex meta tag to SERP-like pages and tag clouds,” says Horowtiz. “I’ve also done a lot of work on page load times. Interestingly enough, I’ve discovered that the number of pages crawled per day has NOT decreased in tandem with Panda (surprisingly), but it HAS been directly affected by our page load times.”

    Look at the correlation between DaniWeb’s pages crawled per day and time spent downloading a page:

    Pages Crawled vs load time from daniweb

    “I guess it also goes without saying that it’s also important to constantly build backlinks,” says Horowitz. “Like many other content sites out there, we are constantly scraped on a regular basis. A lot of other sites out there syndicate our RSS feeds. It is entirely possible/plausible that Google’s Panda algorithm [appropriately] hit all of the low quality sites that were just syndicating and linking back to us (with no unique content of their own), ultimately discrediting half of the sites in our backlink portfolio, killing our traffic indirectly. Therefore, it isn’t that we got flagged by Panda’s algorithm, but rather that we just need to work on building up more backlinks.”

    According to Internet Retailer, Lieberman fired the the firm he was using to get inbound links before and hired a new one. He also hired some new copywriters to write original product descriptions aimed at being “friendly to search engines.” Enright writes:

    “For example, a bar stool that previously used a manufacturer-supplied bullet list of details as its product description now has a five-sentence description that details how it can complement a bar set-up, links to bar accessories and sets the tone by mentioning alcoholic beverages, all of which makes it more SEO-friendly, Lieberman says. “We decided to change it all up,” he says. “What we’re seeing now is what is good for customers and what they see on the site is also good for Google.”

    OneWayFurniture.com is also slimming down content that causes pages to load more slowly because this also affects how Google interprets the quality of a web page. “We’re focused on the basics, the structure of the site and on doing things that are not going to affect us negatively,” Lieberman says.

    More Things You Can Do to Recover from Panda

    In addition to the things dicussed by Horotwitz and Lieberman, there are plenty of other things to consider in your own SEO strategy that migjht just help you bounce back if you were negatively impacted by the Panda update.

    First off, simply check up on your basic SEO practices. Just because you got hit by the Panda update doens’t mean there aren’t other totally unrelated things you could be doing much better. Remember – over 200 signals. They’re not all Panda related.

    You should also keep up to date on future changes. Read Google’s webmaster blog and it’s new search blog. Follow Google’s search team on Twitter. Read the search blogs. Frequent the forums. Google makes changes every day. Stay in the loop. Something that has worked for years might suddenly stop working one day, and it might not get the kind of attention a major update like Panda gets.

    Panda doesn’t like thin content, so bulk it up. Dr. Peter J. Meyers, President of User Effect, lays out seven types of “thin” content and discusses how to fatten them up here.

    Some have simply been relying more heavily on professional SEO tools and services. SEOMoz Founder Rand Fishkin said in a recent interview with GeekWire, ““I can’t be sure about correlation-causation, but it seems like that’s [Panda] actually been a positive thing for us. The more Google talks about their ranking algorithm, how it changes how people have to keep up, the more people go and look for SEO information, and lots of times find us, which is a good thing.”

    You may need to increase your SEO budget. Like search strategist Jason Acidre says on Blogging Google at Technorati, “This just shows how imperative it is to treat SEO as a long-term and ongoing business investment, seeing that Google’s search algorithm is constantly improving its capability to return high-quality websites to be displayed as results to their users worldwide. As the biggest search engine in the world is requiring more quality content and natural web popularity from each website who desires to be on the top of their search results, it would certainly require quality-driven campaigns and massive fixes on their websites, which of course will necessitate them to upsize their budgets to acquire help from topnotch SEO professionals.”

    “Authority websites that were affected by this recent Google update are losing money by the day,” he adds. “They are in need of high quality service providers who can actually meet their needs, and in order to get the kind of quality that can be seen genuinely useful by both users and search engines, they’ll probably need to make a much expensive investment on content management and link development, as this campaign would require massive work and hours to really materialize.”

    Set up alerts for SEO elements of your site, so you’re constantly up to speed on just what’s going on. Arpana Tiwari, the Sr. SEO Manager of Become Inc. has some interesting ideas about this.

    We all know that Google loves local these days. Local content even appeared to benefit from the Panda update to some extent. If you have anything of value to offer in terms of local-based content, it might not be a bad idea to consider it. Obviously quality is still a major factor. The content must have value.

    Then of course there’s Google’s own “guidance”. Don’t forget the 23 questions Google laid out as “questions that one could use to assess the ‘quality’ of a page or an article”.

    The silver lining here for Panda victims is that there is hope of recovering search visibility from Google. Nobody said it is going to be easy, and for a lot of the victims, it’s going to be harder than others. Let’s not discount the fact that many of the victims were victimized for a reason. Google’s goal is to improve quality, and much of what was negatively impacted was indeed very lackluster in that department.

    Serious businesses will continue to play by Google’s rules, because today, Google is still the top traffic source on the web. It’s simply a vital part of Internet marketing, and the Internet itself is a much more significant part of the marketing landscape than it has ever been before.

    Impacted by Panda? What are some things you’ve done to aid your recovery? Share in the comments.

  • Google: I Want To Love You, But…

    Google: I Want To Love You, But…

    I feel like every Friday I am spending time griping about Google in some way as it relates to the local search market. Well, it seems that way because I am actually doing that. The only reason I rant is because Google supplies fresh reasons all the time.

    I mean what I said in the headline. I want to love Google. They do so many things well and they help me with many of their services. I appreciate that. Where they are falling down though is in the SMB / local Internet marketing category because they still don’t get that small businesses are run by real people who don’t give a rip about algorithms and hate being treated like second class citizens.

    Just this week, Google put up a pretty new landing page for their Places service. The whole thing ticked me off, so over at Marketing Pilgrim I equated the move to putting lipstick on a pig. A day after I posted that, I thought maybe that was a little harsh. Why? Because Google Places is one of the best options currently for local businesses to be found, despite its many flaws.

    Then I got the March 2011 Places newsletter in my inbox. Oh goody! Woohoo! New news about Google Places. I was excited because I felt like I was going to learn something.

    Needless to say, this newsletter was so disappointing that I will just have to break it down for you to fully understand just how out of touch Google is. I have numbered the issues and explained them below. It’s somewhat lengthy but you’ll see why I get perturbed at the great Goog.

     

    Google Places Newsletter March 2011.jpg 

    1. This is the real reason that the newsletter went out. Google Places analytics stopped reporting back on February 18th and it wasn’t until enough people started to get upset that a Googler actually said in the Places help forum on March 3rd that they were aware of the problem and working on it. A full 2 weeks went by and the only thing that was being done was complaining by SMBs trying to get the sub-par analytics that are part of the Place Page experience.

    2. Google is in selling mode. They have two products to push to the five million or so claimed Place page owners, and this is the warning shot over the bow that they will be pushing the sales button harder than ever.

    3. Google Boost has great potential and when you use a line like, “Google Boost, now in more cities,” you expect new news. The old news is that Google Boost is in limited areas and the last update on those cities was in November of 2010. Well, when you hit the “Read more” link guess where you go? To the post from November of 2010! In Internet years that’s like five year old news. Don’t pitch it as if you have something new when you don’t Google! Geesh.

    4. Hotpot is also old news if you are paying attention to what is going on with Google’s recommendation engine, and its process to become more “social.” The link for that “news” takes you to a post from December of 2010. A little more recent but there have been updates in that service just in the past few days. At least mention them.

    5-7. These are all good solid tips but the first one is how to set up your Place page if Google doesn’t already have one for your business. Not for nothing, but the reason I am receiving this newsletter from Google is because I actually already HAVE my page set up! Oh and the way that the SERP is depicted in the post went the way of the condor back in October of 2010. The other two are good but why not address the issues that are occurring with current Place pages?

    Here’s the bottom line. If anyone (Stefan Weitz of Bing are you listening?) could simply get their products and messaging together and fill in the myriad blanks that Google has in this necessary yet greatly flawed offering they could clean Google’s clock in local marketing. That would lead to Google probably loosening its current death grip on mobile search and who knows what else more.

    SMBs and the professionals serving them (in this case mostly SEOs) deserve to have more real progress. Right now, with Google Places, you have something that many feel (myself included) could be incredibly important to the small businesses of the world—and the bigger ones too (those like large retailers with local stores in the four corners of the world).

    The trouble is that Google apparently has no concept of how the SMB mind works. Why would they since they only hire PhDs and engineers who probably wouldn’t know what it’s like to be a retail shop in Anytown, USA. That’s no excuse, though. Maybe they need to loosen the hiring restrictions a bit and get genuine people to work for them who can then interact with the SMB market and see that they need assistance. Maybe they need to stop thinking that algorithms solve people problems because, in the SMB world, people solve problems.

    At any rate I am wondering where Google will finally land on this. Hey, they have said it’s important because local is the future. They put Marissa Mayer on the job. What they haven’t done is their research. They need to come down from the ivory tower that is the Googleplex and mix with the commoners. Sure, they may get a little dirty or have to “buck up” to deal with the people who buy their products and click on their ads and make their enormous profits. If that’s the case, then so be it.

    In the meantime, I’m actually rooting for Bing. Someone needs to compete to get Google off its arrogant butt.

    How about it folks? Start the chant and uprising. Break out the virtual pitchforks and torches and scream “Bing & Compete!” “Bing & Compete!” “Bing & Compete”. I know I’m in. What about you?

    Originally published on Biznology

  • Google Adjusts AdWords Alcohol Policy

    Google Adjusts AdWords Alcohol Policy

    Google has made changes to its advertising policy on alcohol for AdWords. The company now allows ads to promote the sale of hard alcohol and liquor. 

    Over two years ago, Google revised its alcohol policy from not allowing alcohol ads to begin permitting beer, champagne, and wine ads. A couple months later the company revised its policy again to allow the promotion of hard liquors and liqueurs. Now Google has revised it once again. 

    Google Changes Alcohol policy"Since then, hard alcohol advertisers have been able to promote websites that offer information about their brand, their products, or drinks that can be made with their products," explains Dan Friedman of Google’s Inside AdWords crew. "Now, they can also promote websites that sell hard alcohol online, direct users to retailers where their products are sold, or feature sales promotions."

    "To comply with the policy, the ad and website must abide by certain advertising restrictions, including (but not limited to) not targeting minors, not implying that drinking alcohol provides certain advantages, and not showing inappropriate content," adds Friedman. "They are also subject to any further restrictions in the countries that they target."

    The exact criteria are:

    – do not target minors

    – do not include endorsements from athletes, cartoon characters, or any other icons/people appealing to minors

    – landing page must have an age gate and include statements about drinking responsibly

    – do not imply that drinking alcohol can improve sexual, social, or professional standings

    – do not imply that drinking alcohol is relaxing or therapeutic

    – do not indicate that drinking alcohol in excess is good

    – do not show people consuming alcohol while doing anything illegal, violent, or dangerous; or being inappropriate in other ways, such as acting in a degrading manner

    – do not contain sexual content

    Google says it made the changes simply to "help more advertisers use AdWords for the promotion of their products."

  • Google Announces 10,000-Unit Google TV Giveaway

    Google Announces 10,000-Unit Google TV Giveaway

    Developers with an interest in Google TV might want to start clearing space in their dens for a set-top unit.  Google’s announced that it intends to give away a whopping 10,000 Logitech Revue devices in order to spur interest in the Google TV ecosystem.

    We should note that Google’s not just trying to get apps built; this promotion is designed more to encourage the optimization (or creation) of websites for Google TV users.

    Otherwise, if you’re interested in getting your hands on a unit, here are a couple important details: a post on the Google Code Blog stated, "[W]e’ll be reaching out to thousands of web developers in the Google Code community to offer them a free device."

    Plus, "[I]f you are a professional web developer who wants to help make the Google TV experience even better . . . please submit an entry to our Google TV Web Developer Promotion . . . .  We’re planning to select 2,500 winners from those entries to receive a free Google TV device."

    This is an interesting and generous move on Google’s part.  Considering that Logitech Revue units sell for $300, the retail value of the promotion is $3 million (not counting sales tax and whatever it costs Google to get the devices to developers).

    The timing of the giveaway just leaves a little to be desired, since it might have been smarter to have a bunch of happy developers and optimized sites in place before Google TV was offered to the public.

  • Are You Wrong About What it Takes to Get Conversions?

    Are You Wrong About What it Takes to Get Conversions?

    SeeWhy has released an eBook with an interesting premise for online retailers. It looks at how the top 10 converting e-commerce sites drive their website conversions. The main takeaway, a representative for SeeWhy tells WebProNews is that "the top 10 converting e-commerce sites, on average, convert roughly 10 times as many visitors into customers as the typical site — 23 percent vs. 2-3 percent."

    The strategies employed by these top-converting sites don’t necessarily reflect conventional wisdom of how to increase conversions according to the eBook’s author SeeWhy Founder Charles Nicholls. "When we set out to study the top ten converting websites, we expected to find short shopping cart processes, guest checkouts, and highly tuned websites focused around getting the sale. But we didn’t," he says. "Instead, we found companies focused on lifetime customer value, seeking to thrill shoppers with a superior experience and to make it incredibly easy to purchase again. Moreover, we found companies willing to sacrifice a small proportion of initial sales lost as a result of their desire to capture user data. Because once captured, they use details very effectively to remarket to website visitors, driving highly qualified buyers with intent to their sites."

    "Conventional wisdom emphasizes SEO and streamlined conversion and shopping cart processes — reduce the number of steps, offer guest checkout, and the like — to optimize conversion rate," he says. "But the top 10 conversion leaders don’t care about one night stands; they want long term relationships. Still, they convert about 10 times as many visitors as the average ecommerce site. Their secret, quite simply, is their focus on long-term relationships with their customers, and that cardinal rule drives all of their activities."

    What are the Top 10?

       1. Schwan’s (food) 41.7 percent
       2. ProFlowers (flowers) 26.5 percent
       3. Vitacost.com (health and nutrition) 24.0 percent
       4. Woman Within (catalog/clothing) 22.4 percent
       5. Blair.com (catalog/clothing) 20.5 percent
       6. Lands’ End (catalog/clothing) 19.5 percent
       7. DrsFosterSmith.com (pet supplies) 18.6 percent
       8. Office Depot (office) 18.4 percent
       9. Roaman’s (catalog/clothing) 18.4 percent
      10. QVC (jewelry) 18.3 percent

    For comparison, Amazon has a conversion rate of 16.5 percent, almost two percentage points below the lowest-ranking member of the top 10, SeeWhy says. Here are a couple tables from the eBook that present some interesting stats about the top 10:

    SeeWhy Table - Min/Max ranges

    Check Out Processes of Top Converting Sites

    So is the lesson here to throw out conventional wisdom? I’d say a better strategy would be to build upon that conventional wisdom with strategies that are successful for these other sites. In e-commerce it’s ok to have long-term commitment and one-night stands. The top 10 sites, according to the eBook are optimized for repeat purchases, not for the first purchase, and make it easy for returning visitors to purchase. They make their sites easy to browse and "pleasurable to shop — especially for unplanned purchases."

    They each use remarketing vs. 25 percent of companies in the e-commerce sector, Nicholls says, and as a result, recommendations, suggestions and relevant content delivered through email, get very high open – and very low unsubscribe — rates.

    The top ten converting sites were determined using Nielsen data for six months, ending in November. Sites achieved a minimum of 5 million unique visitors per month, and conversions were measured based on the ratio of site visitors to purchasers in a given session. SeeWhy is taking requests for a free copy of the eBook in case you’re interested at a more in depth look.

    For those looking to optimize their conversions from search, Google recently started making data available to help with this. Search professionals are calling it a reason to use Google’s Webmaster Tools.