iFixit teardown of iMac Pro lends a nuanced look inside the powerful all-in-one

As expected, iFixit has performed a thorough tear down the iMac Pro. This teardown comes on the heels of another look at the machine’s internals by third-party Mac accessory maker OWC. That initial look provided us with a great idea of what to expect from the iMac Pro’s internals, but in traditional iFixit fashion, the San Luis Obispo-based company provides us with a more nuanced glance inside Apple’s professional all-in-one. more…

Analysts: iPhone X projections ‘still too high,’ another says AAPL headed to $200

Just a week ago, a report came in that Apple would be reducing its iPhone X forecasts from 50M to 30M for Q1, causing a temporary drop in the price of AAPL shares. Now, one analyst believes that not only will Apple indeed post results closer to the rumored 30M mark, but is also concerned about iPhone sales across 2018. Conversely, another analyst puts AAPL’s target price at $200 with Apple trading for around $171/share currently.

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Opinion: HomePod delay coupled with new competition amplifies Apple’s smart speaker challenge

Apple’s HomePod is set to arrive sometime in ‘early 2018’ after missing its promised December ship date. Based on Apple’s definition of ‘early’ in the year, we can expect HomePod to go on sale any day between now and the end of April.

The smart speaker landscape has changed dramatically since HomePod’s unveil last June however. Missing the holiday quarter certainly wasn’t ideal for Apple, but the real shift is new competition from products that offer similar solutions to HomePod.

The market for HomePod with its premium price and limited skill set would be a challenge for Apple with just one of those factors, but combine the delay with new competitors and the challenge is only amplified: lower prices, wider compatibility, and a late entry to the market will make the $349 Siri-enabled speaker a tougher sell for Apple without a refocused pitch.

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