Right to the links this morning…
–As revealed in Steve Jobs’ biography, Apple seems to have figured out how to bring their world-leading design and tech savvy to television.
A $100 Billion Revenue Opportunity for Apple. For Apple, we believe theSmart TV market represents a significant new revenue opportunity for thecompany, while bringing Apple into a consumer’s living room and providing thedigital hub in a home. DisplaySearch estimates the LCD TV market willgenerate $100 billion in revenue this year and reach $102 billion in 2012,however, we expect Apple to charge a healthy premium. We believe a productcould hit the market in the coming quarters, opening up a new growthcategory for Apple and driving sales of existing products that play into theApple digital ecosystem
–Ticonderoga Securities
Here’s a fun reader on what a potential iTV could do.
–More on AAPL here, as iCloud is getting a greenish hue to it.
Apple’s less-than-stellar environmental record raises the possibility that the solar plant is part of a greenwashing campaign aimed at blunting criticism from the environmental movement. But the size of the lot Apple has been permitted to make over hints at a substantial renewable energy installation. If Apple develops the whole site, the solar farm could generate 25 to 35 megawatts of power, depending on the solar technology used, said Shiao.
–It’s about time Apple did some good with their reported $80 billion in cash.
–Speaking of going green, can I interest you in a building with lungs?
Armstrong works on the cutting edge of “synthetic biology,” a relatively new science devoted to the manufacture of life-like matter from synthesized chemicals, and is something of an evangelist for the discipline.
–The image in the story reminds me of some works depicting the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
–I really enjoyed this piece of global strategy from Wired.com’s Spencer Ackerman. The story deals with China’s reported desire for military bases in Pakistan.
On the surface, this would seem to work against American interests, but…
But if the Chinese really are headed to tribal Pakistan, then — as Chris Partlow once said to Marlo Stanfield on The Wire — this is one of those good problems.
This Central Asian preoccupation — 10 years of war that has cost the U.S. hundreds of billions — has redounded decisively to China’s advantage. The U.S. funded its central Asian wars not buy raising taxes, but by borrowing money from China, and it’s only now turning to the problem of how to reduce its crippling debt. Meanwhile, China, the world’s second largest economy, is ever more assertive in the Pacific, and is modernizing its military with its first stealth jet and anti-ship missile. (Although the U.S. is way more militarily powerful.)
Think about it. The Chinese entangle themselves in a region where the U.S. found itself exhausted in an inconclusive effort. Since it’s China’s backyard, the domestic and internal military pressures to keepfighting there will likely be great. China can batter the residual terrorist presence in tribal Pakistan — its brutal Army will kill U.S. enemies as well as its own, if history is any indication — and also experience the pleasures of dealing with Islamabad, selling it weapons, and being responsible for Pakistani security. Surely Beijing will enjoy an intransigent ally that rejects its advice while keeping its money. And if China really wants a larger role in global affairs, tribal Pakistan is the most advantageous place for the U.S. to pass the baton.
–That’s some Spider-Man shit right there. (While that quote has little to do with this story, I’ve been itching to quote Marlo, and that’s his best quote, in my humble).
Italy’s lower house of parliament was briefly suspended Wednesday after a brawl broke out among lawmakers debating proposed pension reforms.
–Italians haven’t been good at government for about 2,000 years, give or take.
