Apple is \'new Sony\'

Apple is becoming the next Sony of the computer and consumer product industry and may be readying new iPod-like HDTV "living room" products, according to a new analyst report. Research firm Bear Stearns said that Apple has multiple growth opportunities ahead, increased visibility into Apple's product roadmap, and reduced Intel transition risk, according to Forbes. "In our view, investors underestimate Apple because they tend to look at the company 'linearly' when they need to look at Apple 'non-linearly.' In light of the recent developments in the film industry, the bigger picture is that Apple is emerging as the nexus of digital lifestyle revolution," according to the company analyst Andrew Neff.

Apple's products are leading the digital revolution, discrupting the current trends and bringing innovation. Neff believes said that he sees the iPod today as a starting point of four primary vectors: new platforms, wireless, new content and new storage, according to the report.

Neff told clients that Apple continues to alter technology beyond the current trends. "In a sense, Apple is becoming what Sony always wanted to be: a visionary that seamlessly integrates the best-of-breed hardware with content to fundamentally alter the way we life -- and iPod is just the beginning, like Walkman before it," Neff said.

The report said that Apple's iPod technology may be incorporated into an HDTV device to provide a "big iPod" in the living room and that Apple will introduce "a new type of phone," an iPod camera and improved connectivity between iPod and car audio systems.

Bear Stearns maintained an "outperform" rating on Apple and a $103 price target.

by MacNN Staff