Tech Features

This week in the world of tech, Apple made far too much money than is humanly possible, while Sony and Nintendo have worrying futures ahead.

It's official: Apple have too much money

This week Apple stunned Wall Street with even better than expected sales figures for their iPhones and iPads as second-quarter profits jumped an incredible 94 per cent. At this stage we have to say that yes, Apple may have more money than God.

"For the first half of the fiscal year, we have sold more than 72 million iPhones, growth of over 100% and above the market by two times," said Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer. "Demand is staggering, and we're selling them as fast as we can make them."

If you believe Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White, Apple could become the first trillion-dollar company sometime next year, as he has raised his stock target to $1,111 a share from an estimate of $1,001. As of this writing, it's at $606 per share. It could be a nifty investment for the bullish sort...

PS Vita sales hit all-new low in Japan as software drought continues

Things aren't quite so rosy for Sony, as their PS Vita hand-hend console continues to flounder in its native Japan. Just two weeks after the handheld hit an all-time weekly sales figure low, the Vita has done it again.

Last week, just 8,206 units were sold, compare to 84,760 Nintendo 3DS hardware sales in the same seven-day period. Could we be seeing a worldwide price cut already?

Angry Birds wins app of the year - again

It may not be the industry's most prestigious award but we doubt Rovio will mind walking away with the Carphone Warehouse Appy award for Best Game for the second year running.

“Angry Birds shows no signs of running out of steam. Constantly creative, endlessly addictive, it remains unrivalled as the most popular gaming app to date. And looks like it will do for several years to come,” said Dave Masters, one of the Appy judges. Could Angry Birds Space take the honour next year?

Nintendo post company's first-ever annual loss

Although we did mention healthy 3DS sales for Nintendo earlier, the forthcoming Wii U console can't come out soon enough, as the Japanese giants slid to the first-ever annual profit loss, as revenue slid 36.2 per cent, with a net loss of 43.2 billion yen ($532.5 million).

If the Wii U can't turn things around twelve months from now, we do fear for the future of traditional console gaming and indeed, the fate of Donkey Kong et al.

Biotech firm announces 100 new jobs for Ireland

Biotech firm Amgen this week announced a whopping 100 jobs to be created in Dun Laoghaire, with 350 other jobs in construction to be created first for the building period. Thanks for that guys!

“As we expand internationally, Dun Laoghaire will enhance our global production capability, ensuring continuity of supply of Amgen medicines for seriously ill patients worldwide,” said Martin VanTrieste, the senior vice president of Quality at Amgen pharmaceuticals. What a lovely chap.