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The Ascent of Apple’s $3 Trillion Valuation

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In its intraday trading on Monday, Apple became the first to reach a $3 trillion valuation when its shares hit $182.86 per share, followed by a dire drop below its milestone, as the company seeks out to fortify its capital reign on the market.

The Big Tech giant welcomes the new year with hopes of reaching its long-anticipated market share valuation, with avidity to become the first-ever Big Tech giant to get a $3 trillion market value. And that’s precisely what happened.

Until, the stock slightly plunged, closing shares at $182.01, up by 2.5 percent, locking the iPhone parent’s “market capitalization at $2.99 trillion,” according to Reuters.

The tech mogul fulfilled its capitalization goal as investors firmly believe the company has the capacity to supply its customer base with products, therefore, sustain a solid monetary margin, as consumers continue to buy Apple devices, such as iPhones, MacBooks, and in-house services – Apple TV, Apple Music, and more.

“It’s a fantastic accomplishment and certainly worthy of being celebrated,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Jake Dollarhide, informed Reuters.

“It just shows you how far Apple has come and how dominant it is seen as in the majority of investors’ eyes,” he added.

While Apple briefly hit its $3 trillion valuation, the milestone, however, symbolizes more than that. It shows that the iOS developer has the immense capacity to secure its position in the industry.

With its latest capitalization, the company tripled its valuation in less than four years, with experts estimating more growth for the tech titan.

In its latest four quarters, Apple demonstrated its immense ability to sustain an annual growth for all its products, be it iPhones, Macs, or any other unit, with revenues increasing by almost 29 percent Year-over-Tear (YoY).

In 2021 alone, the Cupertino-based developer maintained a significant sale driver for its iPhone units, despite the global overtake of the semiconductor shortage caused by the rippling effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for its services business, its model’s capitalization grew by 25.6 percent YoY, delivering an estimate exceeding $18 billion in revenue in its last quarter.

“The market is rewarding companies that have strong fundamentals and balance sheets, and the companies that are hitting these sort of huge market caps have proven they are strong businesses and not speculation,” senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Scott Wren, said in a statement.

Investment banking firm, Morgan Stanley, estimated in December that Apple would be able to hit a bigger target margin, raising the price tag on the company to $200 from the previously set margin of $164. The investment titan believes the company will retain its high buying rate, despite plans to release new products such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets that have yet to own their place in the share market.

In parallel, the banking firm also highlighted that it is expecting the App Store’s revenues to exceed its expectations for its fourth quarter (Q4) as Apple was planning to ship out 83 million units – three million more than it had already anticipated for the tech giant.

Even though it is hasty to welcome the overtake of the fifth generation of wireless networks (5G), AR, VR, and artificial intelligence (AI), some of these technologies are either still in their R&D stages or in their early stages to place their trust and investments in them.

TFI Asset Management Limited analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed in a note on Monday that Apple has already marketed 27 million pairs of its latest generation of AirPods during the holidays period, signaling a 20 percent rise in YoY growth.

Due to its trust-worthy balance sheet and heavy cash flow, investors are willing to pump their investments into the iPhone parent by financing its latest and upcoming products, stock buybacks, as well as returning capital to shareholders via dividends.

On August 2, 2018, Apple became the first U.S.-based company with an initial publicly traded offering (IPO), hitting a whopping valuation of $1 trillion. Two years after, on August 19, 2020, the company exceeded its initial offering by closing its market with a $2 trillion valuation.

Since its Co-founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs, unmasked Apple’s first iPhone in 2007, shares skyrocketed to almost 5,800 percent.

Now, under Tim Cook’s new management, the iOS developer heightened revenues from diversified factors, such as video streaming, storage, and music services. This played a fundamental role in minimizing the giant’s reliance on iPhone sales by almost 8 percent, going from 60 percent in 2018 to reaching 52 percent in the fiscal year 2021.

Yet, while most investors are placing their trust in the hands of the Apple’s business model, others have kept their guard as worries escalate that the company might not have enough capacity to further enlarge its customer base.

Other Big Tech giants also rode the wave of hefty market capitalizations in 2021, with Microsoft reaching a whopping $2.5 trillion valuation in October, e-commerce titan Amazon marking an estimate of $1.75 market cap in September, and Alphabet Inc’s unit, Google, hitting a $2 trillion valuation in November 2021.

Apple’s latest groundbreaking $3 trillion valuation has pushed its net worth to exceed global cryptocurrency capitalization.

According to the New York Times, the Californian mogul’s net worth has surpassed that of cryptocurrency, with almost approximating to the gross domestic product (GDP) of India and the UK.

The iOS developer currently attributes to nearly 7 percent of the Standard and Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) – a stock market index tracking the performance of the top 500 firms listed in U.S.-based stock exchanges – beating IBM’s 1984 6.4 percent record.

Apple’s relatively hastily ascension and reign in market capitalization are mostly driven by its tight grip on its consumer base. The company has more control over its products and services than any other tech establishment in the sector, and its revenue growth can be arduously attributed to that.

While the COVID-19 pandemic did play a critical factor in the decline of production of its products, the fact remains that the company imbedded a certain craving for its products due to its intense business model, which relies on not only the products themselves but also the in-house services provided.

Daryn is a technical writer with thorough history and experience in both academic and digital writing fields.

Technology

What are the Ethical Issues in Biometrics?

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Ethical Issues in Biometrics

What is biometric identification? It is the process through which unique biological characteristics are used in biometric identification to recognize and validate a person. These characteristics can be found in facial traits, eye structures, DNA, fingerprint patterns, and even handwriting. All this data that can be gathered on an individual inevitably brings up the ethical issues in biometrics that need to be addressed.

Facial recognition and fingerprint scans were previously the domain of security, and they were utilized for identification and law enforcement. However, increasingly more business and civil applications are using biometrics authentication. Due to this increased use, it is crucial to address the moral and ethical issues in biometrics when used in the creation of new application and technology.

Applied biometrics and corporate ethics have received little empirical study despite the widespread use of biometric technologies. As a result, there is plenty of room for future study to help us better comprehend the moral consequences of adopting this technology.

This article examines the ethical concerns associated with the use of biometric technology on the use of biometrics for non-security applications as well as the moral ramifications for business.

Ethical Issues in Biometrics and Privacy

Biometric data takes privacy concerns to a whole new level that typical data gathering only touches on. Digital identities can be forged, and anonymity on the web can be maintained to a degree if you know how. Also, digital data can be deleted – if we forget that Meta (Facebook) has been revealed to store deleted data, which is an ethical concern in itself.

The problem with biometric data is that it is unforgeable, unconcealable, and permanent, You can’t change your eye structure, your fingerprint, or your facial features. Big tech companies already have your face, fingerprints, and your voice recorded and stored via current biometric authentication systems – mainly used for unlocking your phone. That data will be there forever, and there is little that people can do about it besides avoid it In the first place.

While many companies still give users the option of using a good old fashion passcode to unlock their phones, as technology as a whole tends to do, the biometric alternative is slowly gaining more traction, and will one day become the norm, as it is hard to argue its convenience and security. You can’t accidentally leave your eyeball at home or forget your fingerprint. But in the same sense, you can’t change it. If your childish curiosity while browsing the web put a black spot on your record, there’s no changing that.

Therein lies the question of who if anyone should have access to such data. Today’s tech giants have all our data in their hands, that won’t change with the spread of biometric verification methods. Indeed, it will only increase targeting capabilities.

While the collection of biometric data on its own does not necessarily mean it will be shared, monetized, or abused in any way, it never the less requires clear and strict guidelines and regulations to be implemented around it. There are too many things that can be abused by the wrong party when the ethical issues in biometrics are not taken seriously, and if such limitations are not applied stringently.


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Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro: Specs and Comparison   

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Oppo Reno 8

The Reno line of smartphones has always had a fantastic camera and an attractive design. The Reno 8 and 8 Pro include a 120Hz AMOLED display, the newest Dimensity chipsets, 80W fast charging, a 32-megapixel front camera, and triple 50-megapixel back cameras, among other notable features that make the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro high-quality yet affordable option for anyone. 

Here we compare the two latest Oppo phone series iterations and see what to expect from the flagship Oppo smartphone, and how the Oppo Reno 8 and the Oppo Reno Pro stack up against each other. 

Oppo Reno 8 Specifications 

The Oppo Reno 8 has a smaller 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080 by 2,400 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It also runs Android 12 with ColorOS 12.1 on top. Additionally, the display has an 800 nits maximum brightness and a 20:09 aspect ratio. An octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage are all found within the Oppo smartphone. 

The Reno 8 has a triple back camera configuration for pictures and movies, with a 50-megapixel main sensor and an f/1.8 lens as its focal point. Additionally, there is a 2-megapixel macro camera with a 112-degree field of view and an 8-megapixel sensor coupled with an f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens. 

The Reno 8 offers 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connection options. An accelerometer, light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors on board. For biometric verification, the phone also has a fingerprint sensor hidden behind the display. A 4,500mAh battery inside the Oppo Reno 8 supports 80W Super Flash Charge quick charging. The phone weighs 179 grams and has dimensions of 160 x 73.4 x 7.67mm. 

Oppo Reno 8 Pro Specifications 

A 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,412) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection is included with the Oppo Reno 8 Pro. Running on top of Android 12 is ColorOS 12.1. Additionally, the display supports HDR10+ and is certified by Netflix HD, Amazon HDR, SGS Low Motion Blur, and SGS Low Blue Light. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max SoC, which has eight cores, and up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM power the smartphone. Storage on the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is UFS 3.1 capable of up to 256GB. 

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro boasts a triple rear camera arrangement with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor and an f/1.8 lens, an 8-megapixel sensor and an ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 112-degree field of view, and a 2-megapixel macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Along with the MariSilicon X NPU, the phone’s camera will offer generally better performance in both bright and dim light. It has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera sensor with an f/2.4 lens for taking selfies and making video calls. 

The phone has 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connectivity options. An accelerometer, a light meter, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors built into the phone. For biometric authentication, the phone also contains a fingerprint sensor underneath the touchscreen. The smartphone has a 4,500mAh battery that supports rapid charging at 80W Super Flash Charge. The phone weighs 183 grams and has dimensions of 161 x 74.2 x 7.34mm. 

Both the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro are prime smartphones that can fit any user’s preferences and can be considered premium smartphones on the cheaper side. If you like photography, you will be satisfied with the level of quality overall, but keep in mind that neither phone is particularly water resistant, so be careful where you take it.  


Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles. 

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Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: How do They Compare Today

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Electric Cars vs Gas Cars

Many prefer the rumbling ‘vroom’ of a gasoline car to the soft hum of an electric vehicle, while others would rather just be satisfied in the knowledge that they are lessening their carbon footprint. Let’s look at the cold hard facts however, and compare electric cars vs gas cars

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Components

The amount of moving components is an important distinction between electric and gasoline-powered automobiles. While a gasoline-powered car contains hundreds of moving components, an electric vehicle just has one, the motor. Another significant distinction is that the electric car has fewer moving components. The electric car is more dependable and needs less routine maintenance. The maintenance needed for a gasoline-powered car ranges from routine oil changes, filter replacements, tune-ups, and exhaust system repairs to less frequent component replacements including water and fuel pumps, alternators, and so on.

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Maintenance

The expenses associated with maintaining an electric car are reduced since there are less maintenance requirements. The shaft, the only moving component of the electric motor, is extremely dependable and needs little to no maintenance. The controller and charger are electrical devices that require minimal to no maintenance because they have no moving components. Modern sealed lead acid batteries are maintenance free and utilized in electric cars nowadays. However, these batteries have a finite lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. New batteries are being developed to increase the range of electric cars as well as the battery pack’s lifespan, perhaps eliminating the need to replace the battery pack throughout the course of the vehicle’s lifespan.

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Efficiency

In addition to being simpler and less expensive to repair than gasoline-powered vehicles, electric vehicles are also more cost-effective to run. The electric car will drive roughly 43 miles for $1 based on the efficiency of 3 miles/kwhr and the cost of power at 7 cents per kwhr. The gasoline-powered car will go roughly 18 miles based on the average gas mileage of 22 miles per gallon and the price of gasoline at $1.25 per gallon. As a result, an electric car may drive more than twice as far on a dollar’s worth of petrol.

Where Electric Falls Behind

There are still a number of difficulties for the owner of an electric car despite the fact that it will be less expensive to operate and maintain.

The primary issue is the restricted range offered by existing battery technology. The amount of driving distance possible utilizing the current batteries is between 50 and 150 miles. These ranges are being extended by new battery technologies, and prototypes of these batteries have shown ranges of up to 200 miles between recharging. Solar powered charging stations are being implemented in numerous places to decrease range anxiety towards electric vehicles

The lack of qualified service professionals to repair and maintain electric cars is another issue that faces their owners. A two-year associate degree program has been developed to train high school graduates to become proficient electric vehicle technicians, and training programs are being developed and made available to upgrade the conventional automotive technician with the skills needed to maintain an electric vehicle.

Infrastructure to recharge the batteries is also required. The most important component of the infrastructure for recharging already exists: electric power is accessible practically everywhere. To support the electric car, it is still necessary to guarantee that charging stations with the right sorts of service (i.e., maximum voltage and current) are placed in important areas. Plans must also be made.


Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.

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