Is Apple Really Worth $3 Trillion?

Apple briefly touches $3 trillion in market cap and retreats. Were you forwarded this email? [Sign-up to Rude Awakening here.]( [Unsubscribe]( [The Rude Awakening] Is Apple Really Worth $3 Trillion? - Currently, AAPL is worth $2.82 trillion. - Money printing arguments aside, Apple’s products and services are top drawer. - Subjectively speaking, I’m an Apple shareholder, but they own me. Recommended Link [The Metaverse Story You’re NOT Hearing…]( [Click here for more...]( Everywhere you turn, people are raving about the Metaverse. Facebook’s now called Meta. Microsoft’s CEO says, “The Metaverse is here.” Apple’s all in too. But there’s a critical piece of the Metaverse story you’re NOT hearing about… [Click Here For More Details]( Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening Happy Tuesday! This piece is most certainly not a stock recommendation. But to be completely open, I own some AAPL shares in my pension account. Unfortunately, I don’t own that much and bought them far later than I should have. What I want to write about - and I actually promised a review of my new A1 Mac mini ages ago - is the thorough job Apple does in threading its way through their customers’ lives. Besides my Mac mini, I just bought the new iPhone 13 Max Pro. It’s simply the greatest phone I’ve ever owned. And I have barely used it. I nearly forgot about the 4k Apple TV we have. And the AirPods Pro headphones. And my old 2014 - yes, 2014 - MacBook Pro that still works, though it seems to desire retirement. Right now, I’m typing this looking at the old Thunderbolt screen I bought in 2011. Yes, it still works! Like it’s brand-new. And my wife’s very old MacBook Air that she uses every day. I bought her that before I bought my MacBook Pro. Yes, Apple owns us. How did that happen? A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far, Far Away… I’ve owned Apple products for the best part of 20 years. I’m not a Mac Fanatic - at least I don’t think so. I didn’t buy an iPod until its 3rd or 4th iteration. And when my first MacBook’s hard drive suddenly conked out, I bought an HP laptop. I hated it, and after a year, I bought my MacBook Pro. I don’t upgrade my iPhone all that often, either. My last iPhone was the iPhone 8. But I must say, the new stuff Apple built is mind-bogglingly good. So good, in fact, it’s weaved its way through my life. I could function without it, indeed. But I’d be much less efficient. Here are my top five reasons why Apple owns its customers - and certainly has me. The Hardware is Second to None Planned obsolescence is such a breach of business trust. That’s when companies make less than robust products, so you have to replace them every few years. I heard Apple was trying to do that. If they were, they’re terrible at it. My Thunderbolt monitor is still impressive. At ten years old, it’s not as good as the new Retina screen models. But it’s better than almost anything else out there. Here’s the thing: Apple stopped making these monitors in 2016. I use mine nearly every weekday. That’s insane longevity. My MacBook Pro is showing signs of wear and tear, for sure. But is anyone else out there using an 8-year-old laptop? My wife’s MacBook Air is still chugging along, but her screen has visible pixels. But she won’t let me replace it. Pam is loyal to her laptop! Apple Products are Easy to Use I think iPhones are the most intuitive machines on the planet. Just touch and go. Sure, if you’re switching over from Android, you’ll need a week or two to get used to it. But that’s all. Now, Apple pretty much integrates all your products together. So your iPhone and your Mac computer will talk to each other. Just plug your iPhone into it and hit the “Sync” button. I recommend getting at least the 256 GB iPhone model because, well, it’s not a phone anymore. It’s a personal assistant. And I’m not just talking about Siri annoying you every five seconds. But all your work files - assuming your company allows it - can be synced across devices. All of your music, movies, audiobooks, ebooks, and anything else you’ve got will be synced as well. It’s just too easy to get sucked in. Recommended Link [Attention! Before You Read Any Further…]( Before you read any further in today’s issue, an urgent situation needs your immediate attention. If you don’t plan on [claiming this new upgrade to your Strategic Intelligence subscription,,]( you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Right now is your chance to grab one of the biggest (and most valuable) upgrades our company has ever made to a newsletter. I’m taking Strategic Intelligence to an entirely new level and I’d hate to see you left behind. [Click Here To Claim Your Subscription Upgrade]( Apple Products Look Good and are Good Looking Most people agree Apple’s design team may be the best anywhere. But when you look at the products, it’s easy to see stuff. To wit, the Kindle app and Books app on the new iPhone 13 Pro Max I own make reading better than on paper. And I’ve got a colossal paper library in my house. I love the look and smell of musty old books. When Elon Musk said he only reads on his iPhone now, I thought he was kidding. Now I see why. Your whole library can be on one device you’d carry around anyway. Sure, you can while away the time playing games, which also look fantastic. But you can read full reports without squinting even a bit. I just read The Thrawn Trilogy - all three Star Wars books, which were excellent, by the way - on my Kindle app. On the new iPhone, it’s better than a book. I should’ve known The Force is with Elon… Pro tip: Change the Layout to the yellowed background, and your eyes don’t get sore. Apple Priced the M1 Mac Mini Cheaply Sure, there will be people who’ll want “the works.” And they’re welcome to pay for Apple’s higher-end models. But if you’re not a graphic designer, coder, or gamer, I’m not sure you need more than the M1 Mac Mini I’m currently typing on. It’s got the same strength as the MacBook Pro for less than half the price. I love the thing. When I get to Italy, I’m hooking this up to my television and buying myself a new MacBook Pro. But that’s because I need to have a screen with me when I’m traveling. If you just want a desktop, I think the M1 Mac Mini is perfect for most users. Apple TV is Better Than Ever The console is tiny and inconspicuous. But you can do so much with that little machine. Of course, you can just watch Apple TV+. I watched Foundation and thought it was good. But I’ve never read the original books, so be warned. But you can download apps for Apple TV, as well. I downloaded a bunch of news apps for entertainment. It’s super easy. You can also play games on it, though I haven’t explored that yet. Wrap Up I didn’t even get into the Apple Watch I want to buy. Or the iPad, though some people swear by them. But Apple has integrated itself into my life. I’m happy about it, to be honest. If Apple can do this to me, who’s far from an early adopter, surely they can do this to many others. And that’s what I think is Apple’s secret to their success. Apple is sticky. Apple is easy. This formula is a recipe for dominance for years to come. Are they worth $3 trillion? Maybe. Maybe not. But I wouldn’t bet against them. All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening [Whitelist Us]( | [Archive]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Rude Awakening is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We do not rent or share your email address. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [unsubscribe](. 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