Apple is reportedly seeking growth opportunities in the fields of electric cars and medical devices, amid concerns that the fiercely competitive smartphone and tablet markets are slowing.
Apple is therefore said to be seeking new avenues to explore. The company is course already widely rumoured to be developing an iWatch and even an iRing device for the wearable computing market, as well as an enhanced television product.
However, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the company is also now considering branching out from its IT roots.
It said that Apple’s mergers and acquisitions chief Adrian Perica is looking to use Apple’s enormous cash pile ($160 billion/£96 billion and counting) for possible takeovers, including companies that specialise in search engines and data analytics, as well mapping software and motion tracking chips.
The Chronicle also said that it had learned that Apple is heavily exploring medical devices, specifically sensor technology that can help predict heart attacks. It said that this area is being led by sound genius Tomlinson Holman, whom Apple hired back in 2011.
Holman is a renowned audio engineer who invented THX and 10.2 surround sound and the thinking is that Apple could in future have devices that may predict heart attacks by studying the sound blood makes at it flows through arteries. Or it could likewise use the technology to unlock a smartphone for example, based on the sounds of the human heart.
Apple staff have also reportedly met with the American US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees approval for medical devices to discuss “mobile medical applications,” according to FDA records.
Of course, rumours surrounding Apple are plentiful in the extreme, but comes amid growing concern at where Apple is going to find “the next big thing.”
Last month for example Apple posted record first quarter revenues and revealed that it had sold 51 million iPhones – a new company record – during the holiday-period that ended 28 December.
Despite those stellar results, the markets were not impressed, and Apple’s share price declined dramatically in the hours following the results.
How well do you know Apple? Take our quiz.
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Tesla + Apple = Frapple {baked wrapped apple) = Crapple
Both Apple & Tesla have spyware that make it possible for them to track and spy on customers user habits. Big brother type of stuff.
How is it a "secret meeting" when there are dozens of articles posted on this "secret meeting" that seem more like advertising than news? I think the creampuff articles about this "secret" meeting is a way to create buzz to inflate stock that is already overvalued and try to divert attention away from the companies problems. Much of the so-called "news" is veiled commercial advertising.
Are companies that manufacture defective products that catch fire and EXPLODE, a good choice to start manufacturing medical devices?
Tesla manufactures more excuses and hype, then cars.
There has been at least five significant Tesla related fires. Tesla has been dragging its feet on safety and the recall.
The most recent Tesla garage fire to hit the news was in Toronto. The car supposedly wasn't even plugged in, so the charging system isn't likely to be a source. I'm hoping to hear reports from the fire departments investigation, because I don't trust Tesla's "fire investigations", which seem more like coverups.
There has been at least five Tesla fires. Two Teslas caught on fire after only running over road debris. One Tesla caught on fire and EXPLODED after being in an accident in Mexico. There was a Tesla fire in a California garage, that the Tesla charger connection was ruled as a possible source of the fire by the fire department. Recently there was a Tesla garage fire in Toronto, that so far I haven't heard the fire department give a ruling. Arguably there has been scores, possibly hundreds of minor Tesla fires. There has been a plethora of Tesla charge connectors that have overheated, melted and burned. Though many Tesla shills will argue that they are not fire. Categorically and scientifically they are often classified as fire. Rapid oxidation or rapid decomposition is often classified as fire. Like the metaphor; where there is smoke, there is fire.
A few months ago there was a Tesla related garage fire in California that the fire department ruled that the Tesla charging system was a possible source of the fire. The suspect portion of the Tesla charging system that the fire department in California determined was a possible source of the California garage fire, is also suspected in many other Tesla charger reported cases that Tesla charge connections have overheated, melted and burned. Tesla issued a software "fix", however Tesla charge connectors have continued to overheat, melt and burn despite the so-called "fix".
The Tesla model S. still has defects that make it a fire hazard. Tesla charger connections are still overheating, melting and burning. Tesla batteries are poorly located and poorly protected.
On 01-09-2014 Elon Musk said that replacement adapters that are part of the recall would be mailed out within two weeks. A month later Tesla customers still have not received the replacement adapters that are part of the Tesla model S. recall.
Several people have been injured by faulty Tesla charge connectors. Tesla is big on making promises and hype, but short on delivery. Tesla needs to start making safety a top priority. Tesla needs to stop playing blame games and games with semantics. Tesla needs to stop lying. Tesla needs to be proactive instead of reactive. Tesla is being a follower of technology, rather than a leader. Tesla is a greedy corporation that has a disregard for safety. The Tesla model S. is an E-Pinto.
Will Tesla's designs kill someone, before Tesla starts taking safety seriously?