Apple's big bite

Computer and software giant Apple took a huge bite of profits recorded at a staggering $13.1 billion for its first quarter ending Dec. 31, 2011 – far above analysts’ predictions. Total sales registered at $46.3 billion, almost double the $26.7 billion posted for the same period a year ago, with huge holiday sales of the iPad and the iPhone 4S attributed to the consumer electronic firm’s windfall. Despite initial negative reviews, consumers snapped up the iPhone 4S when it went on sale a week after founder Steve Job’s death on Oct. 5 last year. Many of the iPhone 4S buyers reportedly switched from other platforms like Android and Blackberry, and a renewed surge in the Apple smartphones’ popularity saw them selling like hotcakes with 37 million units sold for the October to December period alone.

No doubt Apple is awash with cash, accumulating an estimated $97.6 billion and leaving its rivals struggling to keep up. The company’s market value has increased to over $437 billion, putting it at the top of the pile in Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, they couldn’t manufacture iPhones fast enough. The way things look, the same could be said with the Mac and the iPad, the other stars of the company. More than 5.2 million Macs were sold in the quarter – up from 4.1 million for the same period last year. On the other hand, 15.4 million iPads were sold for the period from October to December – proving that it is the most popular tablet – cornering more than 60 percent of the market.

More and more people are certainly appreciating the iPad with its breathtaking applications that have surpassed expectations. Even kids find it the most exciting tool for getting information from the net, with apps that make learning even more engaging. As a matter of fact, the Dubai Ministry of Health recently developed an iPad app for cancer patients, allowing them to link up with a doctor any time of the day – definitely making it easier for homecare patients. 

One of the industries that has benefitted from the iPad is publishing – with interactive features that make reading more engaging than ever. In the Philippines, PeopleAsia magazine’s iPad app version has been a great success – and it will be even more so since the app is getting an upgrade after the successful People of the Year awards night at the Dusit Thani Manila last Thursday.

Shame on Greeks

Grappling with a debt-laden economy, the Greek government has launched a “name and shame” campaign to force tax evaders to pay up. Over 4,000 people figured in a list – which reads like a “who’s who” in Greek society – finally released by the government after keeping it under wraps for months following a change in privacy laws. Greece has some $77.5 billion or 60 billion euros in unpaid taxes – equivalent to 25 percent of its economy, and the 4,000 or so tax evaders owe an estimated 15 billion euros, more than enough to cut the Greek government’s huge budget deficit.

In the Philippines, the BIR has been going after tax cheats via its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, with the focus now on professionals and other self-employed individuals like doctors, artists and lawyers. According to the BIR, they are raising tax collection targets from these self-employed individuals to over P222 billion. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told us the tax collections last year have been below expectations but they are confident that more Filipinos will now be more conscientious about paying the right taxes. He admits there are still collection inefficiencies, but efforts would be focused on going after tax evaders, smugglers and all those who are not paying the right taxes.

Miriam scores big

People who were nodding off from a rather tedious and unexciting impeachment trial last Tuesday were definitely jolted awake by our favorite senadora, Miriam Defensor Santiago, who lectured the prosecution for being unprepared and for wasting the senators’ time. Displaying her usual acerbic wit, Miriam added to the treasure trove of quotable quotes with the confession that she had suffered from “terminal boredom” watching the proceedings on television.

All levity aside, however, a lot of people agree with her suggestion to speed up the impeachment proceedings – which many suspect is being stretched to the max by certain personalities who think they are hitting it big with the public. If there’s anyone at all aside from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who has scored big time – it’s none other than the ever articulate and feisty Miriam Defensor Santiago, a bored observer dryly commented.

Encounter at Punta Fuego

The otherwise tranquil ambience at the community near the Terrazas de Punta Fuego and Kawayan Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas was rudely disrupted last Sunday when a landmine exploded. According to Spy Bits sources, about five people including a female have been spotted camping out in the hills above the Terrazas reservoir for the past few days. That Sunday at about 2:30 p.m., two trucks carrying Air Force personnel – most likely belonging to the 710th special operations wing in Batangas, our source said – were driving from Polico to Colayco and traversing the road between Terrazas and the Ridge when a land mine exploded next to one of the trucks, wounding four of the soldiers.

Quickly blocking the road and reconnoitering the area, the Air Force personnel discovered three more land mines embedded along the road and spotted an individual believed to be a sniper. No firefight ensued, however, after which the military cordoned-off the neighborhood and scoured the hills in search of the culprits widely suspected to be members of the New People’s Army. Unfortunately, no one was caught and while things have gone back to “normal,” perhaps the military should beef up its presence in the community.

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