Motorola

Google's Android is now the undisputed top selling mobile OS in the world, unseating Research in Motion's Blackberry, Apple's iOS and Nokia's Symbian/MeeGo in record time. Being that Android is essentially a front end to Google's cloud services and apps, does this mean that Google now has (or soon will have) more application reach than Microsoft - the world's largest software company? Pretty good performance for a search engine, eh?

The market limped in to the close today as the dip buyers were somehow distracted by the jump in new claims for unemployment which...

It appears as if I wrinkled a few feathers of the birds that are doing God’s work with my missive “Goldman’s $430 Target, Screaming Buy On Apple At Its All Time High Is In Direct Contravention To Reggie Middleton’s Logic – Who’s Right? Well, Who Has Been More Right In The Past?“. This is a good thing! A little creative destruction and anarchy is positive for the complacent masses. I say we take this up a notch, pull down our pants and see who is truly the most intellectually endowed...

It's Reggie Middleton vs Goldman again. This time on Apple. Who has the better track record? Let's delve into the logic of an Apple buy and realize who is making the recommendation and why...

Much of Microsoft's new tech is simply best of breed and undeniably cutting edge. It is amazing they don't get more sell side recognition for it. Whether the sell side recognizes it or not though, Windows is likely the future of computing - just as it has been the past.

Throw this (most likely quite accurate) statement in the middle of the next geeky fanboi argument you come across and watch the sparks fly!

Thought we'd make an evergreen on zero hedge out of this discussion about the future of content with my composer brother Michael Whalen that we published today in The IRA. Happy, safe and prosperous New Year to all. Oh, and to my friends in Japan: "Tora! Tora!,Tora!"

You can't say I didn't tell you it was gonna happen! At this point, anyone who doubts the onslaught of Android is in sheer denial. My last post on Wikileaks highlighted the possibilities truly distributed computing such as Android promises in the form of making it virtually impossible to censor any type of web site or publication, ex. Wikileaks. Keep in mind such a feat would be quite difficult with iPhones.

• Brazil’s lower house allows Petrobras to be sole sperator of Pre-Salt Fields.
• Deficit panel tackles health care costs.
• ECB to keep unlimited liquidity operations.
• Gold gained for a fourth day, trading near the highest in almost three weeks.
• US foreclosure sales fell, discounts rose in 3Q.
• Acer said it’s aiming to capture 15% of global tablet-computer sales next year.
• Aegon will cut 400-500 jobs in US, take $290M in charges.

• Asian stocks drop on signs regional governments acting to combat inflation.
• China October FDI up 7.86% at $7.663B vs. September's $8.4B.
• China's stocks decline to one-month low on inflation, property concerns.
• Crude oil falls for a third day on signs fuel demand recovery may falter.
• South Korea raises interest rate by 25 bps - for second time in 2010.
• US retail sales rose 1.2% to $373.1B in October, compared with September.
• Aeropostale announces $300M increase to its existing share repurchase program.

On Apple and Heebner cleaning house, whether he did it for liquidity reasons or not, the writing is on the Wall for Apple and the days of no competition high margin iPhone sales are over. Android is in town and has already taken over the lead. Add to that the fact that the equity markets are rather iffy to begin with, people are still heavily indebted and Apple caters to those who pay premiums, and the Apple sale was a no-brainer. Of course, I explained this in detail a month ago, but I guess it took time for the filings to come to light.

• API reports surprise declines in US fuels inventories.
• China ordered some lenders to increase their reserve ratios by 50 bps from Nov. 15.
• China posted a larger-than-forecast $27.1B October trade surplus.
• EU fined 11 airlines a total of $1.11B for forming cartel to fix air-freight tariffs.
• FDIC Board voted to take initial steps to implement higher fee structure for its deposit-insurance fund.
• G20 draws up two-tier bank plan; Global and national regulators to split focus.

An independent analysis of the grand slam Q3 earnings performance that was anticipated in full detail by BoomBustBlog, yet (and amazingly enough, as I attempt to wipe the sarcastic smirk off of my face) took the Street by surprise. Let the destructive creation commence!!!

The fact that robots are POMO juicing AAPL's shares and Google also has grand designs on the mobile/smart phone space, shouldn't detract from one simple fact, Apple designs and manufactures great products many of which happen to be game changers.

Increased Competition begets more pressure on margins. It's simple business 101. But "Apple's margin pressure came from growth so rapid that they couldn't source the components fast enough" you say. I say you should just take a closer look at that story before you go around repeating it... Maybe the Android will listen to it?