MacRumors

Architosh points us to a Guardian.co.uk article from last week which details the upcoming trend of using GPUs (graphics processors) for day to day computing. As they point out, if you have a computer with either an ATI or nVidia graphics card, chances are you have more than 100 microprocessor cores waiting for use. While these cores have been optimized to deliver high performance graphics for games and video, there's an effort to harness these processors for general use.

Those GPU cores are the piranhas of processing. Because there are so many of them, they can chomp through tens of gigabytes of data in a second. But it has to be the right kind of data - something that can be parcelled up and delivered in bite-sized chunks to each core. In many cases, almost as soon as they have started working, the GPU piranhas will be waiting for the next chunk of meat. Managing that is hard and often it is just easier for a developer to have all the software run on a regular CPU.

Due to their specialized function, some tasks are better suited for GPU use. So far, research has focused on scientific tasks such as weather predictions, but there are efforts to standardize this programming.

Most industry support is focused around Apple's OpenCL specification which they announced will be coming in the next major version of Mac OS X ("Snow Leopard"). Of course, not everyone is behind the initiative. As usual, Microsoft seems to have their own plans, and been involved in their own research on GPU computing.

Michael Dimelow, director of marketing for media processing at ARM, said: "I don't think Microsoft will be sitting and watching. I would never underestimate Microsoft's ability to come up with alternative positions."

Also relevant to Apple's recent mobile phone push is the fact that GPUs may provide handheld devices with extra computing power with less power consumption. According to the president of Khronos, GPUs can be 10 times more power-efficient than using a CPU. This can improve both video and audio performance on mobile devices.

Since the iPhone shares the underlying OS X codebase, these upcoming improvements in Mac OS X should trickle down to benefit the iPhone.

Apple's financial results conference call today was littered with references to future products coming from Apple. While some degree of optimism ("very excited about future") is the norm during these financial results calls, there was more discussion than usual about possible new products in today's results.

Steve Jobs first suggests in the initial press release that Apple is "busy finishing several more wonderful new products to launch in the coming months."

Meanwhile, in the conference call, Apple executives repeatedly referred to a "product transition" that may affect Q4 revenue numbers. Typically, "product transitions" represent existing product line revisions. In this case, the MacBook and MacBook Pro have been widely expected to be revised in the coming months with both models starting to approach the end of their lifecycles. Intel has conveniently released a new processor and chipset that could be used in the new Apple laptops.

Apple also described their formula for introducing "state of the art new products at prices their competitors can't match". They explain that these new products introduce new "technologies and features" (like the iPhone), justifying their initially higher prices. Over time, they expect to take advantage of scale and engineering to drive prices down. Apple suggested that they would follow this formula again and are "very excited" about what they have in their new product pipeline. Rumors have suggested that Apple may introduce a 12" or 13" Mac tablet later this year (September or October). Another possibility: rumors of a smaller PDA-like device that is 1.5x larger than the existing iPhone.

Apple announced their 3rd Quarter 2008 Financial Results today. Apple posted revenue of $7.46 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.07 billion (or $1.19 per diluted share). This compares favorably to revenue of $5.41 billion and net quarterly profit of $818 million (or $.92 per diluted share) in the year-ago quarter. Apple shipped 2,496,000 Macintosh computers and 11,011,000 iPods this quarter.

"We're proud to report the best June quarter for both revenue and earnings in Apple's history," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We set a new record for Mac sales, we think we have a real winner with our new iPhone 3G, and we're busy finishing several more wonderful new products to launch in the coming months."

Looking to the fourth fiscal quarter 2008, Apple expects to earn a revenue of $7.8 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $1.00.

The Mac sales numbers represent 41% unit growth over last year's quarter and the iPod sales represent 12% unit growth over last year's numbers. As we previously reported, Apple's results do not include iPhone sales, which were deferred until the 4th quarter. Apple's financial results webcast will begin at 5pm ET / 2pm PT. MacRumors will provide running highlights of the webcast.

Steve Jobs hints at "several more wonderful new products to launch in the coming months" in Apple's press release.

Conference Call Highlights

- Very pleased to report highest June quarter earnings and revenue.
- 38% growth in revenue over previous year-ago quarter
- Highest quarterly Mac shipments ever
- Continues to see healthy growth in all regions, sales in retail stores very strong
- Mac: 2.5 million Macs shipped. Most in any quarter in Apple's history.
- Apple's share of total personal computers up to 19.5% in June
- Best Mac quarter ever in U.S. education
- Sold 11 million iPods. Up 12% from year ago.
- Great start with iPhone 3G. 22 Countries. 1 millionth iPhone 3G just 3 days after its launch.
- Customer reaction to iPhone 3G overwhelmingly positive.
- App Store: offers more than 900 applications, with 20% free. 90% less than $10.
- Customers loving the App Store. Over 25 million Apps downloaded so far.
- Retail Stores. 476,000 Macs sold. 1/2 were sold to customers new to Mac.
- 216 Stores Worldwide by end of Quarter. Extending international stores. Switzerland and Germany coming.
- Looking forward to 4th Quarter: Great start with iPhone 3G. Expect to sell more iPhones in Q4 than any previous quarter. Due to subscription recording, much of the revenue will be deferred to future quarters. "Future product transition". Can't discuss today.
- More great new products later this year.

Question and Answer Highlights

- International sales growing well. Beijing store doing well already.
- Added 170 Best Buy stores. Total of 570. 600 by end of summer.
- Apple introduces new products that initially cost more because they deliver a new level of value to the customer. Then drive costs down and staying out of reach of our competitors. Apple will follow this plan again in the future.
- Question regarding Steve Jobs' health. Answer: Jobs has no plans to leave Apple. Steve's health is a private matter.
- Apple TV remains a "hobby" because its not a very large business and still continuing to invest in it.
- Stunning response to iPhone 3G. Sold out due to overwhelming demand. Pleased with production ramp. Shipping units as fast as they can. Trying to catch the demand. Confident enough that they will be launching about 20 additional countries on August 22nd. And over 70 countries later this year.
- Apple reiterates they will be delivering state of the art new products at prices their competitors can't match. Very excited about what they have in their new product pipeline.
- Significant interest in Enterprise adoption for the iPhone 3G.
- Looks at App Store like the iTunes Store. Not a huge revenue generator. Instead something to make the iPhone and iPod touch more attractive.
- Welcomes competition from mobile phone companies and believe they are well positioned with the iPhone.

CNN Money reports that some MobileMe customers are still without email service.

The Cupertino, Calif., company has been migrating its .Mac pay email service to an upgraded version, called MobileMe. But in doing so, it has run into problems including service outages and customers losing access to their accounts. It's the latest in a string of issues that have cropped up since the launch of the latest iPhone, an unusual turn for a company known for its attention to detail in its products and services.

According to the Apple's own MobileMe support site, 1% of MobileMe members cannot access MobileMe Mail. The outage has reportedly lasted for 4 days. Apple's discussion forums and our own have seen a number of posts from affected MobileMe customers.

Apple's MobileMe launch as been marred with delays and apologies surrounding the service. MobileMe is Apple's new $99/year service which replaces .Mac and offers customers web-based email, calendar, addressbook, online storage as well as sync services.

Bloomberg reports that Apple's earnings report later today will focus on Mac and iPod sales which make up for 75% of the company's revenue. Despite the prominent iPhone 3G launch last week, those sales fall outside the reporting window for today's earnings. In addition, the supplies of iPhones that were sold during this past quarter will not be reported upon until next quarter:

Supplies of the original version of the iPhone dwindled in May as Apple prepared the updated 3G model. Sacconaghi estimates that Apple shipped 715,000 iPhones in the quarter before running out. Because new software that was promised as a free upgrade wasn't available until July 11, those shipments won't count as sales until later, Apple said in April.

So, iPhone-weary readers may be spared extensive iPhone coverage during today's financial results. Despite the extensive media focus on the iPhone, one portfolio manager clarifies that "the Mac is the primary reason [they] own Apple shares". He specifically cites accelerated growth in Apple's PC business over the past few years.

Apple is predicted to have experienced 36% growth year-over-year from last year's revenue and will be webcasting their official financial results at 2pm PT/ 5pm ET on Monday, July 21st.