Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has announced its fiscal Q3 2014 earnings. Apple reported $37.4 billion in revenue and $7.7 billion in net profit ($1.28 per share). This is 5.9% revenue growth from a year ago and 19.6% in EPS (adjusted for the 7-for-1 split). Apple’s guidance from its last earnings released was between $36 billion and $38 billion in revenue with gross margin between 37% and 38%.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) has reported an increase in Q1 profit, which is largely driven by titles purchased for new generation consoles. EA’s earnings and revenues for the quarter were ahead of Wall Street estimates. However, EA lowered its full year 2015 guidance due to a delayed launch of Battlefield Hardline and Dragon Age Inquisition.
Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone giant, has launched a wearables fitness band that costs only CNY79 ($13). The $13 band is known as the Mi Band. It has sensors for tracking health metrics and it can be used as an alarm clock. The Mi Band can last 30 days on a full charge. It is also waterproof and is on the IP67 standard. The Mi Band can be used to unlock a Xiaomi smartphone.
Ellen DeGeneres has sold her 11,511 square foot home for $55 million to Sean Parker, the co-founder of Napster and the founding president of Facebook. The home was built in 1950 for real estate developer and modernist art collector Sidney Brody. The house was purchased for $15 million by an unnamed investor-owner around 4 years before it was purchased by Ellen. That investor spent around 3 years restoring the “Mid Century Modern” home. Ellen bought the home last winter for $40 million. Some of the home’s features include tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a guest house.
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) is now hitting around 450 million monthly active users per month and its search and display mobile ad revenues grew 100%. According to reports, Yahoo! has closed on an acquisition for Flurry at a price of over $200 million.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is going to temporarily idle production at its factory in Fremont, California. The two week down-time will be used to increase production of the Model S sedan vehicle and to make way for manufacturing of the Model X crossover SUV. Tesla Motors will deliver around 35,000 Model S vehicles this year with a goal of 1,000 per week. The Model X crossover SUVs will be delivered in early 2015. The production at the factory will resume on August 4th.
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Yo is an app that lets users send a message that says “yo” to your friends. The company has raised $1.5 million in seed funding at a $10 million valuation. Some of Yo’s investors include Betaworks, Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore, and the founders of Tencent. Yo will be using the funding to expand operations in San Francisco.
Shakira has come a long way since the song “Wherever, Whenever.” She is now the first person to hit 100 million fans on Facebook. She hit the record after posting a picture of herself at Maracanã Stadium in Brazil last week. Shakira performed the closing ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which helped increase her popularity. The photo she posted hit over 3.5 million likes in 4 days. Shakira also posted a video on Facebook to thank her fans.
