Beats Electronics | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:14:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Beats Electronics | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Apple’s now employs 100 thousand, keeps aggressive M&A strategy https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apples-employee-mark-passes-100-thousand-company-keeps-aggressive-ma-strategy/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apples-employee-mark-passes-100-thousand-company-keeps-aggressive-ma-strategy/#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:35:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=239750 At the annual meeting with investors, Tim Cook announced that Apple now employs over 100 thousand people worldwide. In addition, the CEO of Apple revealed that the company has acquired 26 smaller firms and startups for various reasons in the last 15 months. Apple traditionally does not make disclosures regarding its takeovers or plans regarding acquired …

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At the annual meeting with investors, Tim Cook announced that Apple now employs over 100 thousand people worldwide. In addition, the CEO of Apple revealed that the company has acquired 26 smaller firms and startups for various reasons in the last 15 months. Apple traditionally does not make disclosures regarding its takeovers or plans regarding acquired firms.

Apple’s aggressive yet stealthy M&A [mergers and acquisitions] strategy is well known around the industry. Of the 26 takeovers, only nine are publicly known, reports AppleInsider. The list includes Beats Electronics, photography developer SnappyLabs, TestFlight maker Burstly, micro-LED maker LuxVue, social search startup Spotsetter, talk radio service Swell, book analytics firm BookLamp, e-magazine publisher Prss and U.K.-based media analytics startup Semetric. All other purchases of Apple did not get any publicity.

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At the last year’s meeting with shareholders, Mr. Cook revealed that the company took over 24 companies in the previous 18 months. Therefore, it is evident that Apple is intensifying its M&A actions in order to get additional intellectual property and talent.

Unlike companies like Google, Facebook or Microsoft, Apple never advertises its acquisitions and never reveals plans it has regarding the future of startups it buys. In many cases Apple shuts down current businesses of the companies it takes over and integrates them into existing development teams.

While Apple’s product line may not be expanding as rapidly as those of other companies, the company constantly adds its own software, hardware or other kinds of intellectual property to its devices. As a result, Apple needs to take over smaller companies. For instance, the purchase of PA Semi acquired the company talent to develop its own microprocessors and now its Cyclone core is the industry’s highest-performing ARMv8-A core; the take-over of Siri Inc. brought an intelligent personal assistant, knowledge navigator and speech-to-text capabilities to the iOS and Mac OS X operating systems, making them more comfortable to use; the acquisition of Beasts Electronics got Apple into music streaming business, which means a lot of opportunities.

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Rapid business growth and numerous acquisitions are the reasons why Apple’s workforce is growing rapidly. Tim Cook revealed that Apple has passed 100 thousand employee mark after adding around 20 thousand new employees to its global workforce. AppleInsider notes that just in 2006 – less than a decade ago – the company only had 20 thousand headcount.

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KitGuru Says: While $32 billion in cash that Apple could use for acquisition is considerably less than the company had just nine months ago, there are no doubts that Apple will continue to take over smaller companies. What remains to be seen is whether Apple will make large strategic purchases that either fit into its current business model, or expands Apple’s business to other markets.

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Apple’s Beats settles legal dispute with Bose https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apples-beats-settles-legal-dispute-with-bose/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apples-beats-settles-legal-dispute-with-bose/#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:51:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=216148 Apple’s Beats Electronics and Bose Corp. on Friday settled their patent dispute over noise-cancelling technologies. Bose will no longer demand the U.S. ITC to prevent Beats’ noise-cancellation headphones from being imported into the United States from China. Bose and Beats in joint filings told a U.S. court in Delaware they have settled their claims, and …

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Apple’s Beats Electronics and Bose Corp. on Friday settled their patent dispute over noise-cancelling technologies. Bose will no longer demand the U.S. ITC to prevent Beats’ noise-cancellation headphones from being imported into the United States from China.

Bose and Beats in joint filings told a U.S. court in Delaware they have settled their claims, and asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to terminate its investigation, reports Bloomberg news-agency.

Back in late July Bose accused Beats Electronics of patent infringements. The high-end audio company said that Beats had willfully infringed upon five of its patents that relate to the company’s “active noise reduction” technology, which was first used in Bose products for the military in the 1980s and released for consumers in 2000.

Terms and conditions of the settlement were not disclosed.

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Earlier on Friday a rumour emerged that Apple planned to stop selling Bose products in its stores. It is unclear how the settlement can affect Apple’s rumoured decision if there is one. Apple is naturally interested to sell only Beats audio products in its stores.

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KitGuru Says: Patents infringements happen all the time in the high-tech world, they are hardly a big deal nowadays. This time Apple decided to settle a legal fight out-of-court. But at what conditions?

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Apple has completed 30 acquisitions this fiscal year so far https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apple-has-completed-30-acquisitions-this-fiscal-year-so-far/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apple-has-completed-30-acquisitions-this-fiscal-year-so-far/#respond Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:59:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=204606 With over $40 billion (£23.54 billion, €29.7 billion) on its bank account, Apple can make a lot of acquisitions without even noticing them. Moreover, sticking to its tradition of secrecy, Apple rarely makes announcements regarding its acquisitions. But the consumer electronics giant is more than active when it comes to taking over small, but promising …

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With over $40 billion (£23.54 billion, €29.7 billion) on its bank account, Apple can make a lot of acquisitions without even noticing them. Moreover, sticking to its tradition of secrecy, Apple rarely makes announcements regarding its acquisitions. But the consumer electronics giant is more than active when it comes to taking over small, but promising companies. Apparently, Apple has made 30 acquisitions this fiscal year so far.

“Not counting Beats, we have completed 29 acquisitions since the beginning of fiscal year 2013 including five since the end of the March quarter,” said Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, during quarterly conference call with financial analysts and investors. “We have brought some incredible technology and more importantly some incredible talent into Apple in the process.”

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The most notable acquisition that Apple has done in years is, without any doubts, the agreement to buy Beats Electronics and Beats Music. However, smaller take-overs have brought the company a lot more than a subscription music service as well as a fast growing line up of products. For example, the purchase of PA Semi allowed the company to develop its own microprocessors, whereas the take-over of Siri Inc. brought an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator to the iOS.

“We are hard at work and investing heavily on exciting opportunities across our business and we have an incredible pipeline of new products and services that we cannot wait to show you,” added Mr. Cook.

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KitGuru Says: 29 acquisitions (not counting Beats) means that Apple is working on at least 29 new technologies/services/applications for its personal computers and mobile devices. Not bad.

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Apple confirms acquisition of Beats for $3 billion https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apple-confirms-acquisition-of-beats-for-3-billion/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/anton-shilov/apple-confirms-acquisition-of-beats-for-3-billion/#comments Wed, 28 May 2014 22:59:30 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=195653 Apple late on Wednesday finally confirmed its acquisition of Beats Music, a subscription streaming music service, and Beats Electronics, a supplier of premium headphones and speakers, for a total of $3 billion (£1.7938 billion, €2.2053 billion). The company said that it plans to continue selling Beats-branded products in its stores and through its partners, but did …

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Apple late on Wednesday finally confirmed its acquisition of Beats Music, a subscription streaming music service, and Beats Electronics, a supplier of premium headphones and speakers, for a total of $3 billion (£1.7938 billion, €2.2053 billion). The company said that it plans to continue selling Beats-branded products in its stores and through its partners, but did not outline exact plan regarding the service.  The consumer electronics giant also said that the co-founders of Beats will join Apple.

“Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That’s why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world.”

While Apple will clearly benefit from software and hardware technologies developed by Beats Electronics and will likely take advantage of the Beats Music service, it is believed that another important reason for the acquisition was to hire Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. As part of the take-over, Beats co-founders will join the Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics supplier.

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Some market observers have said that with the help of Jimmy Iovine, who is best known as the co-founder of Interscope Records and the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, Apple wants to further improve its relationships with content owners and major content producers. This should help Apple to make iTunes even stronger and finally build a very competitive TV-subscription service.

The acquisition indicates several important things: Apple is now ready to make large take-overs, Apple needs a music streaming service and is willing to buy it, Apple is ready to add a well-known third-party brand into its product line. In the past Apple always replaced brands of companies it acquired with its own name or trademark, but Beats will continue to live.

It remains to be seen whether eventually Apple integrates Beats Audio software technologies into its current product lineups, including the iPad, the iPhone, the iPod and the Macs.

Apple will pay a total of $3 billion for the two companies. The sum will consist of a purchase price of approximately $2.6 billion (£1.5546 billion, €1.9112) and about $400 million (£239.17 million, €294.03 million) that will vest over time. Apple expects the transaction to close in the Q4 of its fiscal year.

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KitGuru Says: The $3 billion price for Beats seems to be rather excessive, given the fact that the company has not really developed any breakthrough technologies, but has greatly succeeded in popularization of its brand. However, if the take-over helps Apple to build a TV service and make iTunes even stronger, then it may well pay-off eventually.

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Apple in talks to acquire Beats Electronics https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/anton-shilov/apple-in-talks-to-acquire-beats-electronics/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/anton-shilov/apple-in-talks-to-acquire-beats-electronics/#respond Fri, 09 May 2014 03:38:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=192060 Apple is reportedly working on one of its largest acquisitions ever, which could be an indicator of a radical change of the company’s strategy going forward. The Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics giant is seeking to buy Beats Electronics, an operator of music streaming service and a maker of advanced headphones. Apple is in the advanced …

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Apple is reportedly working on one of its largest acquisitions ever, which could be an indicator of a radical change of the company’s strategy going forward. The Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics giant is seeking to buy Beats Electronics, an operator of music streaming service and a maker of advanced headphones.

Apple is in the advanced stage of negotiations regarding buyout of Beats Electronics, a company founded by music producer Jimmy Iovine and the hip-hop star Andre Young (Dr. Dre). At present the company offers a family of premium consumer headphones, earphones, and speakers as well as patented Beats Audio software technology and streaming music subscription service Beats Music. The deal is projected to be valued at $3.2 billion (€2.3126 billion, £1.891 billion) and is expected to be announced as early as next week, reports the Financial Times. From the value perspective, this would be Apple’s largest acquisition ever.

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The acquisition will signal several things: Apple is now ready to make large take-overs, Apple needs a music streaming service and is willing to buy it as well as Apple is ready to add a well-known third-party brand into its product line.

Over the years Apple neglected to make large acquisitions since it involves loads of risks. The company said it only took over strategically important companies, which were generally software or hardware developers.

Although Apple has begun to roll-out its iRadio streaming service in numerous countries, many market observers said it was not enough to compete against services like Pandora, DI.fm and others. Taking over Beats Music means that Apple would immediately enter a new market while working on something that no one else has.

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While Apple has acquired many companies throughout its history, it consistently replaced their brands with its own trademarks or simply dropped the names. The valuation of Beats Electronics relies significantly on its brand-name and reputation. While the takeover will clearly grant Apple all technologies and patents of Beats Electronics, killing off the brand will hardly be a wise decision. At the same time, it is impossible to imagine an iPhone with “Beats Audio” inscription or Apple’s headphones with the famous “Beats by Dre” logotype.

Since Beats Electronics has a broad lineup of products, it will be interesting to see whether Apple will continue to sell them under Beats brand, or will somehow wed Apple and Beats trademarks so that to add “cool” to its name and “respectability” to Beats. It should be noted that nothing like that has been done before.

Beats Electronics is currently owned by Jimmy Iovine, Andre Young and Carlyle Group.

Apple and Beats did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: While the deal generally makes sense, the price of Beats Audio seems to be too high. In addition, it is not really clear how Beats will be integrated into Apple. All-in-all, if the acquisition takes place, this will likely be a new chapter in Apple’s history.

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