Price

26 'Price' stories October 2011 - September 2015

Report corroborates Apple TV 4’s $149 price point + universal search feature

Zac Hall Sep 2 2015 - 7:40 am PT

Over the weekend 9to5Mac reported that the long-awaited Apple TV 4 hardware will be priced under $200 with executives deciding between a “starting price point of either $149 or $199”, and today Buzzfeed’s
John Paczkowski has corroborated that information. Apple is said to have settled on the $149 price point for Apple TV 4, which is higher than Apple TV 2 and 3’s original $99 price point but lower than Apple TV 1’s original $299 price. Apple TV 3, which we reported will remain in the lineup, was lowered to $69 (with an even lower street price) earlier this year.
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Apple TV 4 coming in October for under $200, Apple TV 3 stays & gets new streaming service

Mark Gurman Aug 30 2015 - 9:02 am PT

90 Comments

Rough mockup of fourth Apple TV vs. third Apple TV by Michael Steeber

With the official debut of the next-generation Apple TV less than two weeks away, sources have provided additional details on Apple’s pricing, availability, and product lineup plans for its set-top devices. According to sources, the fourth-generation Apple TV will be priced below $200, and is on track to become available in October. Apple executives are apparently still finalizing the price of the revamped living room device, but the latest options call for a starting price point of either $149 or $199, both higher than the third-generation Apple TV…

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Apple Watch 2: Apple plans FaceTime camera, iPhone-free Wi-Fi, $1000+ models, similar battery

Mark Gurman Jun 18 2015 - 7:15 am PT

97 Comments

Two months after the initial launch of the Apple Watch, and only a day following the device’s debut at Apple Stores, sources have revealed Apple’s considerations for the 2016 release of a second-generation model. According to multiple sources familiar with Apple’s plans, the Apple Watch 2 is planned to gain a video camera, a new wireless system for greater iPhone independence, and new premium-priced models. Interestingly, it will also feature similar battery life to its predecessor…

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Opinion: If any Apple Watch will cost thousands of dollars, Apple needs to start telling that story

Zac Hall Feb 20 2015 - 12:41 pm PT

137 Comments

Here’s a thought: Assume that the 18k gold Apple Watch Edition is several thousand dollars, as some people are currently predicting. How will Apple deliver that piece of news — which hasn’t officially been confirmed before, and remains the subject of increasingly wild speculation — to the public?

Depending on your perspective, a high price won’t be bad news for people who expect their jewelry to carry four- or five-digit price tags. But it’s going to be hard to explain why the Apple Watch Edition is priced so far apart from the entry level Apple Watch Sport… or most of Apple’s other products for that matter. Fake gold or not, golden iPhones starts at $99, and iPads at $399 or $499, just like non-gold ones.

While Apple has already started telling the story of what the Apple Watch will do for people that wear it, it has barely told the story on its own of how much it will cost and why. I believe that detail alone is worthy of a second Apple Watch event led by Tim Cook before the Watch hits the market in April.
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Results: 80% expect the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition to cost under $4500, but will it?

Jordan Kahn Feb 19 2015 - 11:37 am PT

36 Comments

In a poll of 9to5Mac readers, nearly 80% of people think Apple’s 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition will cost under $4500. Only 16% expect the gold Apple Watch Edition to cost between $5000-$10,000, and 3.8% expect a price tag over $10,000. The biggest group at 29.68% expect the gold model to cost between $1500-$2500. But how much will the gold Apple Watch really cost?
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Higher European app store pricing takes effect in line with earlier email to developers

Ben Lovejoy Jan 9 2015 - 4:46 am PT

23 Comments

Update: It appears subscriptions through iTunes (like magazines) that saw price increases have seen the auto-renew function disabled, a 9to5Mac reader reports, likely to avoid a higher subscription rate being charged, although users have not yet been notified of the change.

Apple has increased the prices of apps in all countries in the European Union in line with the email sent to developers a couple of days ago. Apple has made the move in response to shifts in currency exchange rates and varying tax rules.

Prices are also being increased in Norway and Russia, though Icelandic residents will see a price cut …
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Rdio matches Spotify’s family deal of $5/month for each extra person

Ben Lovejoy Nov 13 2014 - 3:57 am PT

3 Comments

Streaming music service Rdio has reduced the price of its family membership plans to match the deal Spotify announced last month of half-price subscriptions for additional family members. This means the first member pays the standard $10/month fee while up to four extra family members get their own account for $5/month.

Rdio has offered family memberships for several years now, but this price reduction brings the service into line with Spotify. As with Spotify, each family member gets their own playlists, keeping things tidy – especially now that you can listen to Rdio in your car thanks to CarPlay support.

With our Family Plan, say goodbye to having only one person being able to listen at a time — or having to share favorites and playlists that aren’t really your own. And say goodbye to friends wondering why “you” are listening to your kid’s music that’s overcrowding the Home feed.

Interestingly, $5/month is rumored to be Apple’s target price when it relaunches Beats Music under its own branding. The company has reportedly been asking record labels to reduce the fees they charge for music streaming to make the deal possible. It has been suggested that the relaunch may take place in February.

Apple has been under pressure to launch a true on-demand music streaming service in addition to iTunes Radio as the money continues to move from downloads to streaming.

LG announces impressive 31-inch 4K monitor with Mac compatibility for $1,399

9to5 Staff Oct 28 2014 - 8:41 pm PT

29 Comments

Click to enlarge, note Mac interface for scale

Update: The monitor doesn’t actually cost $2,499—that is the Australian price. In the U.S., the monitor will be shipping for a much more reasonable $1,399.

LG Electronics on Tuesday unveiled its new 31-inch Digital Cinema 4K monitor (4096×2160 px) for $1,399. Apple users will be pleased to hear that the monitor is compatible with both Mac and Thunderbolt. The monitor includes a Mini DisplayPort (in addition to 2 HDMI ports and 1 DisplayPort), which uses the same physical port as Thunderbolt enabling Mac users to drive the 4K display over a single Mini DisplayPort 1.2 cable.

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Credit Suisse estimates iPhone 6 earns lowest ever margins but predicts 14 percent revenue growth

Ben Lovejoy Sep 17 2014 - 7:15 am PT

6 Comments

Credit Suisse analysts have estimated that Apple is making a smaller margin on the iPhone 6 than on any previous model – but predicts that the impact will be offset by year-on-year revenue growth of 14 percent, reports Quartz.

The iPhone 6 costs Apple $350.60 to produce, all in. Apple typically receives $599 on the retail price of $649, leaving it with $248.40 in gross profit. That’s 41.5%. Still very healthy, but not at the levels of previous models.

In contrast, the iPhone 5s left Apple with $274.30, giving it a 45.8% margin. The two-year-old iPhone 5 gave Apple $293.70 per unit, or 49% …

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Opinion: Why the new $50 iPod pricing tiers probably won’t make it to Apple’s lucrative iPhones and iPads

Mike Beasley Jun 26 2014 - 7:08 pm PT

48 Comments

Earlier today Apple made a significant change to the iPod touch lineup. Aside from a few small hardware improvements to the lowest-end model, the company has—for the first time—started to close the price gap between storage tiers.

When the iPod touch first launched, there was a $70 gap between the 8 GB and 16 GB models. Jumping from 16 GB to 32 GB would cost an extra $100. However, with the launch of the second-generation iPod touch, the gap between the lowest two tiers increased to $100, and it’s stayed there ever since.

Until today, that is. Now, for the first time since the debut of the first iPhone in 2007, there is a mere $50 gap between all three capacities of an iOS device. Is this a sign that Apple is ready to give in and drop the ridiculous $100 pricing tiers on future big ticket premium devices when the actual Flash storage and controllers only cost Apple a few bucks? Or will we continue to see a $100 price gap between iPhones when the next-gen model is revealed this fall?

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Walmart set to permanently discount iPhone 5s to $99, 5c to $29 tomorrow

Mike Beasley Jun 26 2014 - 6:09 pm PT

10 Comments

Engadget reports that Walmart is preparing to make significant cuts to its iPhone pricing tomorrow. According to a Walmart spokesman, the iPhone 5s will be available on a two-year contract for only $99, down from the previous price of $149. The iPhone 5c, on the other hand, will be only $29 on a contract, down $20 from the previous $49.

Both of these prices apply to the 16 GB models, but there isn’t any word on the prices for the 32 GB or 64 GB devices, though they will also see cuts. The new prices will reportedly only be available in-store, not online. It doesn’t look like any other Apple products will see similar changes, though the larger iPod touch models did just see a price drop earlier today.

$80 Full Parallels 9 bundle: 1Password, Fantastical, Kaspersky, CleanMyMac and more

9to5 Staff Feb 15 2014 - 6:06 pm PT

1 Comment

From 9to5Toys.com:

Parallels again offers its $79.99 bundle of impressive apps at the retail price of Parallels alone. Each one of the below apps is a keeper and they are all free with the purchase of the Parallels 9. You even get 6 free months of use of the Parallels iPad App.

Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac

The #1 choice of Mac users for more than 7 years to run Windows on Mac. Ready for Mavericks OS X(10.9) and 40% faster disc speed. MSRP $79.99

Fantastical

Plan your day in style with the most attractive calendar you’ve ever seen. The Mac calendar you’ll actually enjoy using. MSRP $19.99

CleanMyMac 2

Simple yet surprisingly powerful application for keeping your Mac clean, organized, and free of files that slow it down. MSRP $39.95

Parallels Access for iPad

6-month subscription – use PC and Mac applications like they were made for your iPad. MSRP $29.95

1Password

1Password gives you the security you need in today’s online world without slowing you down. Super secure passwords and more – 21st century digital wallet on any device. MSRP $49.95

Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac

Keep your Mac, your data and your children safe! Real-time protection against Mac, PC and Linux malware. MSRP $39.95

MacHider

The easy way to hide files and folders, put your confidential information out of sight from third parties or other unwanted eyes. MSRP $9.99

We reviewed Parallels 9 in September and said:

PD9 is definitely the most noticeable Parallels Desktop upgrade ever. The performance boosts are the best part of the upgrade, but the sticky multi-monitor setup has been extremely helpful for me and saved quite a bit of time. As a Mavericks user, the software hasn’t been giving me any issues even though the operating system is still in beta.

Already have an older version of Parallels? Save $30 and get the ‘v9 Update bundle’ for $49.99.
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$50 Parallels update bundle: 1Password, Fantastical, Kaspersky, CleanMyMac and more

9to5 Staff Feb 12 2014 - 11:38 am PT

8 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

Parallels again offers its $50 bundle of impressive apps at a $20 discount off the retail price of Parallels alone. Each one of the below apps is a keeper and they are all free with the discounted purchase of the Parallels update. You even get 6 free months of use of the iPad App.

Note this is a Parallels update so you’ll need an older copy laying around, The full Parallels 9 bundle is $79.99

Save $319.99 – Buy Parallels Desktop for Mac and Parallels Access bundle

Inside Apple’s MFi game controller program: Why the current crop of controllers aren’t up to snuff

Jordan Kahn Jan 16 2014 - 6:59 am PT

13 Comments

Apple’s new MFi game controller program offers a lot of promise for gaming on iOS— the top mobile gaming platform around could also soon be a serious platform for hardcore gamers. But the first crop of controllers have been met with much criticism from developers, reviewers and consumers alike. The consensus so far: flimsy buttons and joysticks, lack of support from developers, and a $99 price tag make them far overpriced compared to your standard Bluetooth game controller.

The launch for the first few controllers to hit the market was rushed, developers are disappointed and still trying to catch up, and manufacturers are limited in pricing, features, and quality due to Apple’s MFi program requirements. What does Apple have to do to overcome a rocky start to its game controller program which is supposed to control quality? And how are manufacturers limited by Apple in building better controllers at a fair price? We’ve dug into Apple’s MFi program and talked to developers and companies building the controllers to find out…
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iPhone 5c goes on sale for just $27 with a two-year agreement this Friday at Wal-Mart

Mike Beasley Dec 11 2013 - 4:23 pm PT

10 Comments

Update: Best Buy is currently taking $75 off all iPhone 5s models.

Update 2: Starting today MacMall Retail Stores will offer the iPhone 5c for $19.99 and the iPhone 5s at $119.99.

The holiday deals just keep getting better for Apple fans. Wal-Mart shoppers will be able to get the new iPhone 5c for only $27 with a new two-year contract starting this Friday. The phone typically goes for $99, putting the total discount at $72. Following the 5c’s launch earlier this year, we noted that its higher-end counterpart, the 5s, was outselling it two-to-one. It seems Wal-Mart is quite interested in moving some stock to try to even those numbers out.

Special deals on other Apple devices will be available the same day, including the iPhone 5s at $127 with a contract, a savings of—you guessed it—$72. The retailer is also planning to offer a $50 gift card with the purchase of a new iPad mini. And of course no Apple sale would be complete without discounted iTunes gift cards. A $30 card will only set you back $25 during the sale.

To keep up with all of the latest holiday sales on Apple gear and more, be sure to check out our sister site 9to5Toys, and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature to make sure you’re always up-to-date with the latest deals.

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Apple slightly increases prices of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in France

Benjamin Mayo Oct 17 2013 - 2:48 am PT

5 Comments

iPhone 5s prices on the French Apple Online Store, yesterday and today.

First noted by iGen.FR, Apple has slightly raised the prices of the iPhone 5s and 5c in France. As shown above, the increase ranges between €10 for the 16 GB model, €12 for the 32 GB model and €18 for the 64 GB model. In terms of dollar value, when converted, these changes are equivalent to a rise of about $13 – $25.

The same price increase applies to the 5c, again dependent on capacity, going from €599 to €609 for the 16 GB model and from €699 to €711 for the 32 GB variant.

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Apple bought Matcha because it “found the answer” with its recommendation algorithm

Jordan Kahn Aug 15 2013 - 11:45 am PT

0 Comments

Following reports earlier this week that Apple had acquired video aggregation and discovery service Matcha, TechCrunch claims today that its sources have provided a bit more info on the motivation behind the acquisition. While noting that the purchase price was actually closer to $10-$15 million opposed to the $1 to $1.5 million reported by others, the report says that Apple is after the company’s proprietary recommendation algorithm rather than just its talent:

Nor was it an acqui-hire; this was about the product Matcha built and about the specific recipe for video recommendations it put together via its proprietary algorithm, according to one source close to the matter.Matcha was acquired after testing numerous approaches to generating recommendations, right at the point where it had refined its algorithm such that it saw an explosion in user growth, according to our source. The app did definitely do well on the App Store charts, and was ranked among the top 15 apps in the Entertainment category before it was shut down.’

TechCrunch also adds that Apple found Matcha’s user acquisition and user engagement strategy to be the “best of any other apps competing in that space” and that it had “found the answer” with its recommendation algorithms:

It was Matcha’s user acquisition and user engagement strategy that Apple was interested in, according to one of our sources, since the acquisition happened just after Matcha had completed a round of vigorous A/B testing and had “found the answer” to rapid user growth and time spent in app. Matcha’s pairing algorithms that drove the right content to the right users simply worked best of any other apps competing in that space, the source affirms.

The report also confirms that Apple actually acquired Matcha prior to the company shutting down the service back in May.

The video programming recommendation app, which lets users browse across services like Netflix, iTunes, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others, didn’t pick up much steam on the App Store after launching in January 2012. While some have speculated that Apple could use the service to help power recommendations for a revamped Apple TV service, today’s report compares the purchase to Apple’s previous acquisition of app recommendation and search service Chomp.

Best Buy slashes new Mac prices w/extra savings for students; Haswell Airs start at $849

Seth Weintraub Jul 18 2013 - 3:50 pm PT

0 Comments

From 9to5toys.com:

Best Buy is having a significant College Student sale this week on MacBook Airs, Retina/Pros and iMacs and Students or anyone with a .edu email address get another $100 off the sale prices signing up here. For instance, the entry level Haswell MacBook Air is now $949 and another $100 drops it down to $849, the lowest price we’ve seen by $100.

Haswell MacBook Air prices:

MacBook Air – 11.6″ Display/4GB Memory/128GB Flash Storage:$949.99-$100 students=$849.99 ($150 off)
MacBook Air – 11.6″ Display/4GB Memory/256GB Flash Storage:$1139.99-$100 students=$1039.99 ($170 off)
MacBook Air – 13.3″ Display/4GB Memory/128GB Flash Storage:$1,044.99-$100 students=$944.99 ($155 off)
MacBook Air – 13.3″ Display/4GB Memory/256GB Flash Storage:$1,234.99-$100 students=$1134.99 ($165 off)

Retina MacBook Pro prices:

MacBook Pro Retina 13.3″/8GB Memory/128GB Flash Storage:$1399.99-$100 students=$1299.99 ($200 off)
MacBook Pro Retina 15.4″/8GB Memory/256GB Flash Storage:$2044.99-$100 students=$1944.99 ($255 off)

iMac Prices save $100 across the board and another $100 for students = $200 savings starting at $1100

The MacBook Student $100 off promotion starts today, and will end July 27.
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Pegatron exec puts kibosh on $99 iPhone rumors

Jordan Kahn Jun 20 2013 - 7:53 am PT

0 Comments

Remember that report from Reuters claiming Apple is building a low-cost iPhone that will sell for mere $100? This morning a report from ChinaTimes claims Pegatron chairman Tong Zixian dismissed the rumors by claiming the word “cheap” shouldn’t be associated with the product and that the “price is still high.” We have a feeling some of the company’s comments might have been lost in translation, but it’s only stating the obvious: Apple’s doesn’t make cheap products and $99 without some sort of subsidy is probably out of the question for the company’s much rumored “low-cost iPhone”.

According to the analysts, Apple’s low-cost iPhone will likely debut for somewhere in the neighbourhood of $300.

Apple cuts prices again on refurbished iPads

Seth Weintraub May 24 2013 - 8:25 am PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

Apple this morning dropped prices across the board on iPads in its refurbished section of the online Apple Store as noted by MacRumors. We’ve recently seen quite a bit of iPad price reductions at 9to5Toys, some even steeper than this. For instance, Walmart has a new iPad mini for $80 off and refurb iPad Mini 16GB for $250. The new Apple Store prices:

iPad mini

– 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279, down from $299 previously and $329 brand-new
– 32 GB Wi-Fi: $359, down from $389 previously and $429 brand-new
– 64 GB Wi-Fi: $439, down from $489 previously and $529 brand-new

– 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $389, down from $429 previously and $459 brand-new
– 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $469, down from $519 previously and $559 brand-new
– 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $549, down from $619 previously and $659 brand-new

Fourth-generation iPad

– 16 GB Wi-Fi: $419, down from $449 previously and $499 brand-new
– 32 GB Wi-Fi: $499, down from $549 previously and $599 brand-new
– 64 GB Wi-Fi: $579, down from $649 previously and $699 brand-new

– 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $529, down from $579 previously and $629 brand-new
– 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $609, down from $679 previously and $729 brand-new
– 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $689, down from $779 previously and $829 brand-new

Good news for those interested in displays too: Thunderbolt and Cinema Displays are down to $799 (a $30 drop).You know what this usually means…

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Apple now selling refurbished 7th gen iPod nano, drops prices on refurbed iPads

Jordan Kahn Apr 23 2013 - 9:23 am PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

After it started offering a selection of refurbished 5th generation iPod touch through the Apple online store earlier this month, Apple today began selling the refurbished 16GB, 7th generation iPod nano in various colors for $129. That’s $20 or 13% off retail, but we’ve seen these refurbished units go for as low as $119 on 9to5Toys.

Apple today also began selling the refurbished iPad 2 and iPad 3 at even lower prices than before with the 16GB iPad 2 with WiFi + 3G now starting at $349 (roughly $180 off retail). Apple has also further discounted its refurbished iPad 3 with WiFi and cellular to a starting price of $409 ($170 off retail). That provides consumers with an additional $50 off its old refurbished prices and matches the best price we’ve seen on 9to5Toys.

Ron Johnson out as CEO of JCP, Apple Retail boss job still open

Seth Weintraub Apr 8 2013 - 2:02 pm PT

0 Comments

Former Apple Retail Chief Ron Johnson is out at JCPenney after his radical retail redesign failed to ignite sales in the same manner in which Apple Stores had grown accustomed. Ron Johnson left Apple in 2011 for the JCP job after a decade at Apple. He helped design the original Apple Store concept after being lured away from Target by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He pioneered concepts like the Genius Bar which was unheard of at the time but still a growing trend in the industry.

We know more than a few folks who would like to see him back at Apple which meanwhile has found him difficult to replace. One such attempt was the hiring and subsequent firing of John Browett, a former Dixon’s UK CEO.

Johnson continued to live in the Bay area during his stint at JCP commuting to Plano Texas via Jet so…

BREAKING: Ron Johnson out as J.C. Penney CEO – source • $JCP QUOTE: http://t.co/aP20vqeZqF

— CNBC (@CNBC) April 8, 2013

JC Penny CEO inventory apparently out of stock.

— M.G. Siegler (@mgsiegler) April 8, 2013

I'd rather see a guy fail like Ron Johnson did any day compared with all the corporate drones who just play it safe all day long.

— Adam Lashinsky (@adamlashinsky) April 8, 2013

J. C. Penney appoints Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III as CEO succeeding Ron Johnson #breaking

— Reuters Business (@ReutersBiz) April 8, 2013

We’ve reached out to JCP and Apple for comment and will update as appropriate. Press release follows:

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13-inch Retina MacBook Pro for $1515, 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro $1980 at Amazon, Best Buy

9to5 Staff Feb 1 2013 - 9:28 am PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon dropped the price of the Retina MacBook Pro to $1999 with free shipping. That’s tied for the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this product. Apple sells the refurb for $100 less (with Tax in more locations which negates the savings).

Amazon also has the 13-inch MacBook Pro for $1515.59. The sale compares with $1469 for a refurb with the same Tax equalizer.

The sale is in response to Best Buy knocking $200 off MacBook Pros (and $20 more off from in-store pickup). The effective price of a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro is $1980.

If you are holding out for a MacBook Air, check back with us tomorrow, we’ll have the lowest prices you can find on MacBook Airs across the board.
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Report: Samsung will not increase price of A-series processors

Élyse Betters Nov 14 2012 - 9:18 am PT

0 Comments

Update: Another report disputes these claims.

South Korean newspaper Chosun.com on Monday reported that Samsung would raise the price of its A-series processors on Apple by 20 percent, but a new report attempts to debunk that claim.

An unnamed Samsung Electronics official allegedly denied to Seoul-based newspaper The Hankyoreh (via TheStreet) that prices would increase, and he further explained prices are “set at the beginning of the year and aren’t changed easily.”

Apple and Samsung have a relationship that is extremely contentious as of late, especially since Apple victoriously sued Samsung in August, but CEO Tim Cook told investors during a Q4 2012 earnings call that Apple continues to be a “customer of Samsung and continue[s] to have a commercial relationship.”

Get the full report at TheStreet.

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