gregg thurman

lmac said:

Tim Cook would never go along with that because phones made in the U.S. for U.S. purchases would cost double or triple what they do now because of our higher standard of living.

Forty years ago China began developing a specialized "industrial park" of immense size, then recruited manufacturers of electronic components and Taiwanese business managers.  The catalyst to its success was very favorable tax structures, fast-track permitting, easy access to FedEx and UPS air cargo, and an immense, highly trained workforce.

Foxconn employs about 1,000,000 workers in three cities.  There aren't 300,000 highly trained workers in any three cities in the US that aren't already working.  US unemployment is at post-WWII lows of 3.1% with over 66% participation (a post-WWII high).

US standard of living has little to do with the impediments to manufacturing in the US.

Beyond the poorly structured comparison test is discussion of where Apple intends to take HomePod.  You mentioned the upcoming SOFTWARE upgrade without noting that it is highly likely to be several software upgrades. 

Personally, I think Apple has an intended use for a proprietary sound system that includes Apple produced video content. Just like others, who can’t imagine the things Apple develops until we see it, I can’t imagine what Apple has in store for Apple Movies and HomePod streamed through AppleTV 4K. Given that the first Apple movie won’t be ready for distribution for at least a year, there will be lots of time to tweak HomePod. 

This can’t be, the iPhone X is way too expensive and doesn’t offer anything new. No way iPhone X could be the/a top seller 8 months in a row.  Everybody knows that Android is the best selling OS and Samsung makes the best smartphones, for less money. 

AI, that was the best wrap-up I've read so far.  Congrats.

Lucioguido said:

who knows what to expect. Certainly not these guys, since they have been very wrong already this year with this same data point. 

A very smart man once told me that if you can't measure something, you can't manage it.

I've been tracking many aspects of Apple's business since 2005.  One of the elements I track is unit sales by quarter and that quarter's sales in relation to the year.  Each year's results are pretty consistent as to relationship to full-year results.

Since iPhone 6 launch December quarter generates ~34.48% of full-year unit sales.
March quarter generates 24.72% of full-year unit sales
June quarter generates ~19.54% of full-year unit sales and,
September quarter generates ~21.25% of full-year unit sales.

These averages fall within 1.5% of actual results and have done so since FY2015.  You are correct Nikkei doesn't know what to expect, BECAUSE THEY ARE FICTION WRITERS NOT FINANCIAL ANALYSTS.  On the other hand, if you do track (measure) the right things you can know what to expect with pretty strong confidence.