So .. the reason for Apple’s collapse is not financial, its Genghis Khan!

I think its fair expect if someone reads an article posted on Minyanville.com or a site named DailyFinance, they can expect the article to contain financial information and/or analysis. Wrong. Witness Anders Bylund:

My name is Anders and I’m an Apple skeptic. I made that clear two years ago, and the stock has more than doubled since then. So far, I’ve been very, very wrong.

Ok – so what’s your take on why you were wrong? Mis-overestimating the competition?

Being an Apple skeptic is not a terribly popular position today. Cupertino just posted a monster quarter, breaking records left and right. iPhones are beating the entire Android ecosystem, iPads outsell market-leading Hewlett-Packard’s PC systems, the company is richer than King Midas and Croesus put together, and CEO Tim Cook can probably blow gold bars out his nose at will.

It has been a good run and its not without reason. The products are exemplary, the distribution is outstanding & sales/post-sales service is bar none. Still, there are arguments that can be made against Apple. Even just saying law of large numbers is adequate. But no, Anders goes another way:

But empires fall all the time. What makes this one any different?

The transcontinental dominions of Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great fell apart.

Um, what? That’s it? Genghis Khan and Alexander the freaking Great? This is your rationale for why you are an Apple bear. Hey, don’t forget Hannibal & Caligula. Yes, empires do fall – so are you saying Apple has a 10 year run left in it or 30 years? Genghis Khan lived for 60 years and left behind the Mongol empire. But, you are right, he & his empire did die .. eventually. Good point.

Just before the scandal blew up, Enron had been named “Most Admired” by Fortune six years running. If everybody says they love your company, don’t believe the hype.

You mean the company that hired temp workers & put up a bunch of computers to pretend they were trading energy? That’s the best comparison you conjure up?

Apple admittedly had a huge quarter, but there are plenty of other companies out there that investors need to watch during this earnings season.

And if you lost money listening to Anders over the past two years, well, booyah, good for you. Because, at least, you avoided the indignity of having your horse slayed in India .. or something like that. After all, companies don’t last long .. at all … just ask the NYSE, founded 1792.

Apple TV & Siri – its not gonna happen because its not natural to talk to your TV

The Apple TV & Siri din has gotten louder since iPhone 4S release & Steve Jobs’ “I cracked it” comment in Isaacson’s book.

With Siri TV, Apple Will Dismantle the TV Networks

Apple Siri Television “guaranteed product”

Apple will ‘absolutely’ launch a TV, Siri to replace remote according to report

Yes, Apple’s Building A TV — And It Will Be Powered By Siri

What’s Really Next for Apple in Television

Apple Looking to Launch Siri-Enabled Television Set by 2013

Will Siri Drive New Big Screen Apple TV?

So much so, that there’s even a burgeoning backlash against a product that’s never seen the light of day. That’s how CARS works!

It’s not ‘Apple TV’ any more, it’s ‘Siri TV’ … ugh …

I think its not going to happen, though it has gotten Samsung in a tizzy & everybody releasing TVs with voice control (Microsoft, following someone’s lead again, of course).

Here’s the deal. Apple really doesn’t force actions that don’t make natural sense on some other object. Siri for iPhone (or iPad) makes sense. You are on the go, dont have the ability to search or edit using your hand and choose to dictate or query Siri. Easy, simple, and intuitive. Besides, you already talk into the phone – its a natural act. Imagine you are watching TV, does anyone talk to their TV (unless you are a 60 year old Southern gentleman watching Katie Couric interview Sarah Palin)?

Apple TV, which is probably inevitable , is going to be a delivery break through with a very natural interface:

Can the remote include Siri? Maybe, but, again, who the eff talks to their remote? That’s as natural as talking to camera. Imagine Apple signing deals with networks to aggregate HD feeds, independent, but professionally produced (because Apple hates amateur stuff), video content, and deliver it in a natural regular TV like interface with new pricing scheme? You manage it like your iTunes podcasts, create genius playlists, shuffle the damn thing six ways to Sunday, but its all delivered using a simple, intuitive, and easy interface – a remote that people already use & don’t seem particularly eager to get rid off. It’s a more natural way to interact with a TV.

iOS devices, of course, can offer additional capabilities to manage the iTV - similar to the Home Sharing, Remote apps that are already available, maybe there’s a bookshelf like interface that replaces (enhances?) channel surfing like behavior?

So, will the device need 30 different ports? No. Sorry, folks, the old cable interface is gone. Apple TV is going to be IP delivered TV – probably with 2 HDMI slots, built-in 802.11n (maybe even 802.11ac?), an Ethernet port, and optical audio output. That’s it. That’s the equivalent of Apple losing a CD slot, floppies, multiple USB ports etc. You want cable? Hook-up a set-top with HDMI output. You want OTC? Hmm, forget it – you can get network HD programs from Apple. Umm, local TV – individual stations will have to create their own apps if they want to get on Apple TV (pss. there already available:

Get the New 6abc iPhone Application

New and Enhanced FOX Toledo iPad App

CBS BOSTON MOBILE APPS

KQED iPhone/iOS app

Hell! Even CW has apps!

Get the CW Cincinnati app on your iPhone or your Android mobile phone

Finally, I can get rid off all those damn religious channels I don’t want/need. Thank you, Jeebus.

Hiding in plain sight, indeed. No Siri needed. This is, obviously, different from Google TV, which just wants to extend YouTube & helter-skelter nature of web videos to your TV. No, thanks!

Today’s Stupidest “Exclusive Report” Says Apple’s Siri-Controlled iTV Will Arrive By April [Uh, No.]

Not gonna happen