13th March 2021

• Apple to discontinue HomePod in India; will be sold till stocks last.

Tech giant Apple has discontinued its first smart speaker, the HomePod, choosing to focus on the smaller HomePod Mini. The company had launched the device back in 2018, taking on Amazon and Google in the burgeoning market. The HomePod will be sold till stocks last.

“HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just INR 9900. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through AppleCare," the company said in a statement.

• Apple Car, new iPhone could boost Apple shares by 50%: Analysts.

Apple Inc.’s stock could reach a market capitalization of $3 trillion, analysts say, citing the development of the Apple Car as well as high expectations for the next iPhone. Citigroup Inc. and Wedbush see potential for the tech giant to hit the milestone, an increase that implies an almost 50% surge from Thursday’s close. With a market cap of about $2 trillion currently, Apple is already the most valuable stock in the world.

Developing the Apple Car could boost the company’s sales by 10% to 15% after 2024, Citigroup Inc. analyst Jim Suva wrote in a note on Friday. By 2025, he expects the worldwide electric vehicles market to outgrow the combined market for smartphones, PCs, tablets and wearables.

                                    #ENJOY TECH