Apple's line of Mac computers isn't selling as well as it was a year ago -- though a tumble in sales figures hasn't stopped Tim Cook and co. from earning a record amount of cash.
Divulging its earnings for the last three months of 2012, Apple revealed that it had flogged 4.1 million Macs, compared with 5.2 million in the same period the previous year.
Apple blames manufacturing constraints on its new, much thinner iMac desktop (pictured above), which may have impeded the maker of shiny gadget's ability to rake in Mac cash.
Apple isn't sure it will meet iMac demand in the first part of 2013 either, tuaw.com reports, with Tim Cook quoted as saying in an earnings call, "We're confident that we're going to significantly increase the supply, but the demand here is very strong and we are not certain that we'll achieve a supply/demand balance during the quarter."
The number of iPods sold has also dropped from 15.4 million in the last quarter of 2011, to 12.7 million in the same period last year.
Despite not every product line making Apple as much money as it has previously, the iPod-maker still posted record-busting revenue of $54.5 billion (about £34.4bn), and an eye-watering $13.1bn (roughly £8.3bn) of profit.
By comparison, Android-owner Google cleared $2.89bn (about £1.82bn) of profit in the same three months of last year, proving that when it comes to generating terrifying stacks of moolah, Apple still rules the roost.
It's earning power is down largely to the steady popularity of its mobile gadgets. Apple flogged a whopping 47.8 million iPhones in the last quarter of 2012, compared to 37 million in the same period in 2011, and 22.9 million iPads, compared with 15.4 million in the prior year. Samsung recently boasted that it had flogged 40 million Galaxy S3 units to retailers since its flagship phone went on sale six months ago.
Wall Street shuffle
Apple made $4.2bn per week in the last three months of 2012, but it wasn't enough to impress investors, who expected even greater numbers from the company. Amid concerns that Apple has lost its way, following the publication of the results nearly $47bn was wiped off the company's stock-market value.
I don't think it's unfair to say that Apple's last few product announcements have felt a tad underwhelming, but then it's hard to imagine where Apple could go with devices like the iPhone and iPad. Fingers crossed we see an exotic new product this year. Maybe that TV everyone's been harping on about, or a car perhaps?
What do you think Apple needs to do if it wants to stay on top? Will it continue to earn massive megabucks? Or is Apple's time in the sun over? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Neilc28 24 January, 2013 09:48
Something doesn't sound right, I have quite a few colleagues who have purchased the new iMac, not one of them had any delay getting one so a supply issue just doesn't ring true. Record profits, yes, but like the iPhone 5, maybe the iMac just isn't selling as well as they thought it would....
Either way, they've earnt a LOT of money! So they've got to be doing something right!
JohnsonDion1 24 January, 2013 09:54
I can't believe how much everyone harps on about Apple losing market share when it generated 8 billion profit! Lol!
anonymous 24 January, 2013 09:59
The investors are definitely stupid in this case for such unrealistic expectations of profits. These are massive insane amounts of money all in profit and still they clammer for more. Greed. Either way Apple has done phenomenally well to increase iPhone and iPad sales despite all the competition from Google and Samsung in both markets. The fact the iMac is more expensive then before might have something to do with the fact theres less demand for it! There might be the feeling Apple has peaked and can't do much more with their products as for why the shares have fallen. In some ways they only need very little updates what more can they do?
anonymous 24 January, 2013 10:00
The investors are definitely stupid in this case for such unrealistic expectations of profits. These are massive insane amounts of money all in profit and still they clammer for more. Greed. Either way Apple has done phenomenally well to increase iPhone and iPad sales despite all the competition from Google and Samsung in both markets. The fact the iMac is more expensive then before might have something to do with the fact theres less demand for it! There might be the feeling Apple has peaked and can't do much more with their products as for why the shares have fallen. In some ways they only need very little updates what more can they do?
Peter Hudson 24 January, 2013 10:00
Makes sense, with everyone owning iPads or other tablets, people really are questioning the need for a desktop computer at all. Having said that, I've had iPads since day one and I bought one of the shiny new iMacs.
anonymous 24 January, 2013 10:33
Maybe it's because owners of previous generations of iMacs don't feel the need to upgrade as specs aren't that different to the previous generation. Also, they have left out the optical drive, which can be a bit determining buying factor to many still.
I am thinking of selling my 2011 MBP and upgrading to a 27" iMac, which I can then leave switched on to stream media to other devices in the house. I will use an iPad for sofa surfing.
Time Capsule and NAS drives don't currently appeal to me
Damien2501 24 January, 2013 12:36
I find this disgusting. Apple releases a statement every quarter of how many people they managed to scam, and then highlight how they have improved their techniques from the previous year, I've reported this to the Feds and SFO.
anonymous 24 January, 2013 15:46
@Damien2501 you're a nugget
edex67 26 January, 2013 18:39
Damien2501 24 January, 2013 12:36 - I hope this was sarcastic.
JohnsonDion1 24 January, 2013 09:54 - +1.
The low demand for Macs might be because for most of Oct/Nov people were waiting for the new iMac and Mac mini to hit the shops. It'll be interesting to see the Mac mini's sales in next quarter.
anonymous 31 January, 2013 02:25
Stocks of the previous iMac models were run down prior to the release of the new models.
Apple said at the time of the launch, that sales would be down due to a combination of people holding off until the new model arrived and the limited stocks as inventory was run down.
anonymous 15 March, 2013 10:20
Yes that is the true that apple handsets are still very popular and very much in demand instead its desktop Mac. There might be cost is one reason for that because when you are going to purchase one mac, in the same price there will be new iphone 5 is there, then why one should go with mac. So, this thing apple have to identify in its product.