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Saturday, October 23, 2010

Hewlett Packard Launches Slate Tablet PC (Videos) Aims at Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, RIM Playbook HPQ

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer originally announced the HP Slate tablet PC in January, 2010

Hewlett Packard Launches Slate Tablet PC

Hewlett Packard has entered the tablet PC fray with the HP Slate 500 vs Apple iPad vs Samsung Galaxy Tab vs RIM Playbook, et. al. The HP Slate 500 is a business tablet PC as opposed to the other tablet PCs being more oriented towards consumers, entertainment, and social networking. The Slate is $799 and availabe now, the Apple iPad is $499 and $699, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is $599, and the RIM Playbook price is yet to be announced.

Two videos are below. In the first video, Crunch Gear takes a hands-on look at the HP Slate 500 tablet PC. The second video is a Hewlett Packard promotional.

(CrunchGear) Here is our hands-on video of the HP Slate 500, HP’s new business slate. For those of you still on the fence, HP has posted all of the final specs for the device as well, including the fact that it has an active digitizer as well as an Intel Z540 Atom Processor Z540 (1.86 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB) and 2GB of memory.

(HP) HP introduces a slate for businesses. The new HP Slate 500 Tablet PC runs Windows 7 and supports a wide variety of business solutions, from retail point-of-sale to hospitality, insurance, healthcare, or any custom business application.

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VMware Reports Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Performance Charts & Review) *Meets our estimated EPS $0.20* VMW

Intel Reports Very Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Charts & Review) *Revenues $11.1B, EPS $0.52* INTC

Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 7 (Videos) *Aims at Apple iPhone & Google Android* MSFT AAPL GOOG

Microsoft Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 28* MSFT

Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) *Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners*

Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*

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Monday, October 18, 2010

VMware Reports Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Performance Charts & Review) Meets our estimated EPS $0.20 VMW

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VMware reported earnings on Monday, October 18

VMware Reports Good Q3 Earnings

Financial charts of VMware data and related commentary have been updated on the VMware Financial Performance page for the September Q3 2010 financial results reported by VMware. The charts are:

VMware Performance by the Quarters

Earnings per Share and Cash Flow per Share

Total Revenues, Operating Income, and Net Income

Gross, Operating, & Net Margins

Return on Assets

Total Revenues & Earnings per Share Growth

Income Statement Q3 VMware reported total revenues of $714M, net income of $84.6M, and earnings per share of $0.20. From the prior quarter Q2 2010, total revenues were up +6.0%, net income up +13.5%, and earnings per share up +11.1%. From the prior year Q3 2009, these were up +45.8%, +121.4%, and +122.2%, respectively. QoQ increases were as we estimated, though below analysts' estimates, and YoY increases were excellent. For Q3, gross, operating, and net margins were 82.3%, 13.2%, and 11.8%, respectively. Gross margin remains stable, operating margin is down QoQ and up YoY, and net margin is up both QoQ and YoY. Cash flow from operations was a poor $0.46 per share, has now decreased for 2 consecutive quarters, and is down QoQ and YoY.

Balance Sheet Q3 Total assets increased +4.6% to a record $6.065B from the prior quarter of $5.797B. The capital to assets ratio (total stockholders' equity divided by total assets) is 58%, a multi-year high. The current ratio (current assets divided by total assets) is a very liquid 59%, though lower than the 60%+ traditional range. VMware is very liquid with strong capital. Q3 total deferred revenue increased $51M and +2.6%, which is lower than the Q2 increase of $153M and +8.6%. However, company guidance for Q4 total revenues is in the $790M - $810M range, a QoQ growth rate of +10.6% to +13.4%.

Our Estimate Q3 VMware met our estimates. "VMware will beat Q2 EPS of $0.18 and the Q3 EPS will be $0.20. We estimate Q3 Total Revenues of $721M but the margins will only generate an EPS of $0.20. We think VMware continues to have an excellent future, Q3 should be a turning point to the upside, and Q4 will be even better than Q3. Disclosure: We have no position, long or short, in VMW."

Our Estimate Q4 VMware offered guidance for Q4 December 2010 total revenues of $790M to $810M, a QoQ growth rate of +10.6% to +13.4%. For the present, our early estimate of the Q4 EPS is a minimum $0.22 compared to Q3 EPS of $0.20, a +10.0% increase.

Disclosure We have no position, long or short, in VMW.

Related Articles and Links

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Apple Reports Record Revenues & Net Income! (Financial Performance Charts & Commentary) *EPS $4.64* AAPL
Apple Powers Up! (Charts) *Record closing high $314.74, reports earnings Monday* AAPL
Apple TV Reviews (Videos) *What is & how does Apple TV work?*
Apple Launches iPhone 4 in China (Video) AAPL
Apple Launches iPad in China (Video) AAPL
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Google Is Back! (Charts) *Reports excellent Q3 earnings, up $60.52 on Friday* GOOG
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Google Reports Excellent Q3 Earnings (Financial Charts & Review) *Revenues $7.286B, EPS $6.72* GOOG
Logitech Launches Google TV (Video) *Will begin shipping by end of October*
Here Comes Google TV (Video) *NBA, HBO, CNN, CNBC, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon Video*
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S&P 500 Posts Another Weekly Gain (Charts) *Bulls rally 6 of last 7 weeks* SPX SPY
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Intel Reports Very Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Charts & Review) *Revenues $11.1B, EPS $0.52* INTC
Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 7 (Videos) *Aims at Apple iPhone & Google Android* MSFT AAPL GOOG
Microsoft Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 28* MSFT
Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) *Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners*
Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*

More Charts!

USA and Global economic charts

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Google (GOOG) financial performance and stock charts

Microsoft (MSFT) financial performance charts

Intel (INTC) financial performance charts

VMware (VMW) financial performance charts

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) financial performance charts

Citigroup (C) financial performance charts

Goldman Sachs (GS) financial performance charts

Matrix Markets

S&P 500 charts and review

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

VMware Reports Earnings Tomorrow at Market Close (Financial Charts & Review) Est Revenues $698M, EPS $0.35 VMW

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VMware reports earnings on Monday, October 18, after market close

VMware Financial Performance Review

VMware will be reporting quarterly financial results on Monday, October 18 after market close. Charts of VMware financial data have been posted on the VMware Financial Performance page for previous quarters and will be updated for this next quarterly report. The charts are:

VMware Performance by the Quarters

Earnings per Share and Cash Flow per Share

Total Revenues, Operating Income, Net Income

Gross, Operating, and Net Margins

Return on Assets

Total Revenues and Earnings per Share Growth Rates

Related Articles and Links

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Apple Powers Up! (Charts) *Record closing high $314.74, reports earnings Monday* AAPL

Apple Reports Q3 Earnings on Monday (Financial Charts & Review) *Sky high estimates, expectations* AAPL

Apple Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 18* AAPL

Apple TV Reviews (Videos) *What is & how does Apple TV work?*

Apple Launches iPhone 4 in China (Video) AAPL

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S&P 500 Posts Another Weekly Gain (Charts) *Bulls rally 6 of last 7 weeks* SPX SPY

Recent Posts by Osprey Flyer

Intel Reports Very Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Charts & Review) *Revenues $11.1B, EPS $0.52* INTC

Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 7 (Videos) *Aims at Apple iPhone & Google Android* MSFT AAPL GOOG

Microsoft Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 28* MSFT

Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) *Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners*

Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*

More Charts!

USA and Global economic charts

Apple (AAPL) financial performance and stock charts

Google (GOOG) financial performance and stock charts

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) financial performance charts

Citigroup (C) financial performance charts
Matrix Markets
S&P 500 charts and review

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Intel Reports Very Good Q3 Earnings (Financial Charts & Review) Revenues $11.1B, EPS $0.52 INTC

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Intel reported earnings today, October 12

Intel Reports Very Good Q3 Earnings

Intel reported $11.1B total revenues, $2.95B net income, and $0.52 earnings per share for Q3 September 2010. Total revenues were up +3.1%, net income up +2.6%, and earnings per share up +1.96% from the prior quarter Q2 June 2010. More impressive was total revenues were up +18.2%, net income up +59.2%, and earnings per share up +57.6% from prior year Q3 September 2009. Updated charts of Intel financial data and performance have been posted on the Intel Financial Performance page. The charts are:

Intel Performance by the Quarters

Earnings per Share and Cash Flow per Share

Total Revenues, Operating Income, and Net Income

Gross Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Margin

Return on Assets

Geographic Revenues
Growth Rates (also included below)

Intel Growth Rates (Chart) Below is a chart of the quarterly (QoQ, Q/Q, quarterly change) growth rates for revenues and earnings per share. Intel is not a high growth company and stock but a very large technology company ($60B+ total assets). Growth rates are subdued, and decreasing, now that Intel has bounced back from the lows of the Great Recession. The chart below covers only some recent quarters through the latest quarter reported, September 2010. The rapid plunge in total revenues and earnings per share and the subsequent rebound as a result of the Great Recession and subsequent recovery resulted in some extreme percentages that obscure recent data. Financial performance charts for Intel are on the Intel Financial Performance page. Recent chart data is;
Quarter, Total Revenues Change %, Earnings Per Share Change %
Jun09: 12.30%, not included -163.64%
Sep09: 17.01%, not included -571.43%
Dec09: 12.57%, 21.21%
Mar10: -2.55%, 7.50%
Jun10: 4.52%, 18.60%
Sep10: 3.13%, 1.96%

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Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*

Apple iOS Maintains Lead in August 2010 Mobile Web Consumption (Chart) *Google Android #2*

Apple vs. Google in Mobile Advertising (Video)

Apple TV vs. Google TV (Video)

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They Just Don't Get Apple! (Video) *What is Apple TV?*

Steve Jobs Unveils New iPods, iOS, iTunes, TV (Video)

Monday, October 11, 2010

Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 7 (Videos) Aims at Apple iPhone & Google Android MSFT AAPL GOOG

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LG Optimus 7 with Microsoft Windows Phone 7

Microsoft Launches Windows Phone 7

Microsoft Windows Phone 7 vs. Apple iPhone vs. Google Android

Microsoft unveiled the new Windows Phone 7 at a press conference in New York City on October 11. The new phone will be available to USA consumers on November 8 and in some European markets on October 21. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, hosted the event. Nine devices manufactured by Dell, HTC, LG, and Samsung were displayed, will be available on the AT&T network, and all will sell for $199.99. For Microsoft, this is a "fresh start" in the smartphone market. Microsoft is clearly aiming at rivals Apple and Google. Growth in smartphone sales is expected to be higher than growth in PC sales this year and long-term as consumers go mobile and untethered from PCs.

Ambitious Goal Microsoft's press release states, "REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 11, 2010 – The goal for Microsoft’s latest smartphone is an ambitious one: to deliver a phone that truly integrates the things people really want to do, puts those things right in front of them, and either lets them get finished quickly or immerses them in the experience they were seeking."

Fresh Start, New Approach, Gains in Smartphone Market Microsoft further says, "The new phone is an important step for Microsoft in three ways. To begin, it is a completely fresh start for Microsoft in smartphones. Second, it represents a new approach from Microsoft toward integrating products and services from across the company into the phone to create a richer experience and greater productivity. Hence the presence of Office, Zune and Xbox LIVE and their integration within the Hub model. And finally, the new phone approach is critical to Microsoft’s efforts to make new gains in the huge smartphone market, which despite the success of the iPhone and Android is still relatively untapped globally."

Committed to Windows Phone 7 Every employee is going Windows 7 Phone per Microsoft, "Microsoft is so committed to the new phone that it has arranged for every full-time employee worldwide to be able to switch to the new phone as soon as it launches in their market. And while executives say they are thrilled with the final product, they also acknowledge there is a lot more to be done. When the phone is released, they plan to enjoy the moment – but not for long. “There’s so much more of Microsoft we’ve got to bring out in the phone,” says Myerson. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” (Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of Windows Phone engineering at Microsoft, led the development group for the new phone.)

Below is a Reuters news video covering the Windows Phone 7 launch and a second video that is the Microsoft and AT&T news conference.

(Reuters) Oct 11 - Microsoft is trying to regain market share from the iPhone and Google's Android system with its new line of Windows 7 smart phones. Bobbi Rebell reports.

(Microsoft and AT&T Press Conference on Windows Phone 7, Oct. 11, 2010) Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, host a joint press conference in New York City to discuss the latest developments for Windows Phone 7.

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Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*
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Apple Launches iPad in China (Video)

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They Just Don't Get Apple! (Video) *What is Apple TV?*

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Apple Announces New iPods, iTunes, iOS, TV (Video)

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Google Rallies This Week (Charts) *Earnings to be reported on Thursday* GOOG
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Google TV to Launch in USA This Year (Videos) GOOG

What Is Google TV? (Video)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Intel Financial Performance Review (Charts) Earnings to be reported this Tuesday, October 12 INTC

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Intel Earnings to be Reported This Tuesday, October 12

Intel Financial Performance Review

Intel will be reporting quarterly financial results this Tuesday, October 12 after the market closes. Charts of Intel financial data have been posted on the Intel Financial Performance page for previous quarters and will be updated for this next quarterly report. The charts are:

Intel Performance by the Quarters

Earnings per Share and Cash Flow per Share

Total Revenues, Operating Income, and Net Income

Gross Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Margin

Return on Assets
Geographic Revenues

Related Articles and Links

Recent Posts by Osprey Flyer

Microsoft Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 28* MSFT
Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) *Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners*

Did One Large Trader Cause the May 6 Flash Crash? (Videos) *Did an algorithm trigger the Crash?*
Apple iOS Maintains Lead in August 2010 Mobile Web Consumption (Chart) *Google Android #2*

Apple vs. Google in Mobile Advertising (Video)

Apple TV vs. Google TV (Video)

Recent Posts by Matrix Markets

S&P 500 Rally Resumes (Charts) *Bulls continue upwards 5 of last 6 weeks*
Recent Posts by Apple Digest

Apple Launches iPad in China (Video)

Is Apple Doubling iPad Production? (Video) *Apple's Big iPad Push*

They Just Don't Get Apple! (Video) *What is Apple TV?*

Steve Jobs Unveils New iPods, iOS, iTunes, TV (Video)

Recent Posts by Google Investor
Google Rallies This Week (Charts) *Earnings to be reported on Thursday* GOOG

Logitech Launches Google TV (Video) *Will begin shipping by end of October*

Google Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 14* GOOG

Here Comes Google TV (Video) *NBA, HBO, CNN, CNBC, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon Video*

Google's Future (Video) *Co-Founder Sergey Brin: Instant Search, Google TV, Mobile*

Google TV to Launch in USA This Year (Videos) GOOG

What Is Google TV? (Video)

More Charts!

For USA & Global economic charts, go to Boom Doom Economy

For Apple Financial Performance charts, go to Apple Digest

For Google Financial Performance charts, go to Google Investor

For Microsoft Financial Performance charts, to to Osprey Flyer

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Friday, October 8, 2010

Microsoft Financial Performance Review (Charts) Earnings to be reported October 28 MSFT

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Microsoft Earnings to be Reported on October 28

Microsoft Financial Performance Review

Microsoft will be reporting quarterly financial results on Thursday, October 28 after the market closes. Charts of Microsoft financial data have been posted on the Microsoft Financial Performance page for previous quarters and will be updated for this next quarterly report. The charts are:

Microsoft Performance by the Quarters

Earnings per Share and Cash Flow per Share

Total Revenues, Operating Income, and Net Income

Gross Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Margin

Return on Assets

Related Articles and Links

Recent Posts by Osprey Flyer

Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) *Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners*

Apple iOS Maintains Lead in August 2010 Mobile Web Consumption (Chart) *Google Android #2*

Apple vs. Google in Mobile Advertising (Video)

Apple TV vs. Google TV (Video)

Recent Posts by Matrix Markets

S&P 500 in Narrow Trading Range (Charts)

Recent Posts by Apple Digest
Apple Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 18* AAPL

Apple Cools Off A Little (Charts) *Still at lofty heights* AAPL

Apple TV Reviews (Videos) *What is & how does Apple TV work?*

Apple Launches iPad in China (Video)

Is Apple Doubling iPad Production? (Video) *Apple's Big iPad Push*

They Just Don't Get Apple! (Video) *What is Apple TV?*

Steve Jobs Unveils New iPods, iOS, iTunes, TV (Video)
Recent Posts by Google Investor
Logitech Launches Google TV (Video) *Will begin shipping by end of October*
Google Financial Performance Review (Charts) *Earnings to be reported October 14* GOOG
Here Comes Google TV (Video) *NBA, HBO, CNN, CNBC, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon Video*
Google's Future (Video) *Co-Founder Sergey Brin: Instant Search, Google TV, Mobile*
Google TV to Launch in USA This Year (Videos) GOOG
What Is Google TV? (Video)

More Charts!

For USA & Global economic charts, go to Boom Doom Economy

For Apple Financial Performance charts, go to Apple Digest

For Google Financial Performance charts, go to Google Investor

For Intel Financial Performance charts, to to Osprey Flyer

Follow Osprey Flyer on Twitter!

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Monday, October 4, 2010

Battle for the Digital Living Room (Chart) Apple, Google, Microsoft early front runners

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Apple TV was announced by CEO Steve Jobs at the Apple Special Event in September

Google TV was announced by CEO Eric Schmidt at the Google I/O Conference in May

Battle for the Digital Living Room

Apple TV vs. Google TV vs. Microsoft Xbox

Digital Living Room UBS Investment Research issued a report on September 22, "Who Will Win the Battle for the Global Digital Living Room?" which has created some buzz. UBS states, "We believe the brewing battle between the megacaps to own the consumer is hinged to ecosystems that allow seamless content access everywhere and at all times (via smartphones, TVs, PCs, tablets). We have sought to investigate the brewing battle for the Global Digital Living Room. Specifically, we analyzed the key players in the market, current ecosystem offerings, strengths & weaknesses, and future plans of those involved in this race."

Ecosystem UBS sees the digital living room as an "ecosystem" and reviews each competitors' strengths and weaknesses by category per the chart below:

Key Pieces of the Global Digital Living Room Ecosystem

Competitors UBS identifies and reviews the competitors in the Global Digital Living Room, "A number of players, but we prefer leaders: Apple, Microsoft, and Google: Companies that successfully build ecosystems of content and hardware connected through the cloud will have clear advantages in the consumer electronics market. Although the race has just begun, we believe Apple, Google, and Microsoft are the early front runners; Amazon, Samsung, and Sony are “dark horses”; while Hewlett Packard, Nokia, and Research In Motion are challenged." Among the front runners, Apple is labeled the Ecosystem Leader, Google the Cloud Leader, and Microsoft the Potential TV Leader. UBS notes the lines are blurring among these companies as each enters the others' original core business and all are expanding into the three core pieces of the Global Digital Living Room: Platform, Hardward, Content.

Holy Grail Who will put all these pieces of the global digital living room ecosystem together and cash in? Who will attain the Holy Grail? Obviously Apple and Google are pushing forward to this end and Microsoft is attempting to catch up. UBS proclaims, "We believe the "holy grail" for these vendors is to provide users with seamless access (eventually through the Internet or so-called "cloud") to all types of content across all types of devices (anything with a screen) anywhere and at all times. It is what we dub the Global Digital Living Room. Unlike in past years, technology and ecosystems are now enabling this to be a reality. While the race is still in the early stages, we believe Apple, Google, and Microsoft are the early leaders in the group - each with strengths and weaknesses in different areas - and a number of “dark horses” including Sony, Amazon, and Samsung. However, the early leaders are the ones that have “glued” or are in the process of “gluing” the content together with the hardware through end to end ecosystems.

Summary UBS rates each company per the Global Digital Living Room Ecosystem chart above and their level of attaining the aforementioned Holy Grail: "seamless access (by the consumer) to all types of content across all types of devices anywhere at all times". The competitors score out (first to last): Apple, Google, Microsoft, Sony, Amazon, Samsung, Research in Motion, Nokia, Hewlett Packard. Apple, Google, and Microsoft are the clear leaders vying with each other for first, with the remainder of the pack a distance behind.

Charts and Analysis!

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