SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the when-all-you-have-is-$160-billion dept.
AudioGuy writes:
"Adrian Perica is a very busy man. Over the past 18 months, the mergers and acquisitions chief at Apple has been scouring the globe looking for deals, snatching up everything from search engines and data analytics to mapping software and motion tracking chips.
A source tells The Chronicle that Perica met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Cupertino last spring at around the same time analysts suggested Apple acquire the electric car giant.
The newspaper has also learned that Apple is heavily exploring medical devices, specifically sensor technology that can help predict heart attacks. Led by Tomlinson Holman, a renowned audio engineer who invented THX and 10.2 surround sound, Apple is exploring ways to predict heart attacks by studying the sound blood makes at it flows through arteries.
Taken together, Apple's potential forays into automobiles and medical devices, two industries worlds away from consumer electronics, underscore the company's deep desire to move away from iPhones and iPads and take big risks.
Good grief. Is the 'iTesla next in the 'i' line?"
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Random2 on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:43PM
It's not like this is a new concept, see 3M, Procter & Gamble (before they sold pringles), or the Japaneze Zaibatsu (Mitsubishi, Yamaha....).
It's a question of how well Apple can execute. Can they find ways to make money in these dissimilar markets? Will they try to use their 'cult following' tactics in those areas? They certainly have the money to be trying new things and I'd personally consider them stupid if they only tried to maintain the status quo. Keeping current lines stable while expanding is a far, far better strategy.
If only I registered 3 users earlier....
(Score: 5, Funny) by mrbluze on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:51PM
But what's the difference between an Apple and a Lemon?
Do it yourself, 'cause no one else will do it yourself.
(Score: 5, Funny) by JeanCroix on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:16PM
(Score: 3, Funny) by ragequit on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:17PM
The above views are fabricated for your reading pleasure.
(Score: 4, Funny) by mrclisdue on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:38PM
Apples have rounded corners.
cheers,
(Score: 5, Insightful) by edIII on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:29PM
I'm more worried about the toxic culture at Apple with respect to privacy and the consumers absolute and inviolable right to actual property ownership.
As long as I need to expend a single iota of effort to jailbreak an Apple device to enjoy property ownership and peaceful enjoyment, I have no interest in Apple products.
I for one hope they stay the hell away from anything to do with medicine.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:00AM
What privacy issues are you concerned about from Apple? They have a much better track record than their competitors.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:40PM
Buying Tesla would be full on retard mode.
I'd say it's about a 50-50 chance whether Tesla is around in 20 years. If they are around, they'll probably be a major automaker, but there are plenty of ways to fizzle out.
Meanwhile Apple's day to day operations are focused on prospects which are doable within the next 10 years.
If you tie these two things together, chances are good that one is going to be a millstone around the neck of the other.
Most conglomerates were formed decades ago when the theory was that having diverse business units meant that profitability among different units would be uncorrelated, producing more stable average earnings in aggregate. These days that's considered a bit passé since current theory emphasizes focus on core competencies and leaves investors to diversify their own portfolios if that's what they want. There's some merit to both theories, but as I said, the old one is out of fashion.
(Score: 1) by githaron on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:23AM
If a company gets too focused, they will probably be the best at what they do but will not be well suited to create interesting and useful combination of technologies. They will also likely die when trends shift significantly. If a company is too diverse you get a "Jack of all trades, master of none" situation.