This is not what the Apple earnings report looked like.

Since the iPod renaissance that followed a reclusive streak in the 1990s, Apple has been a growing empire, and the Apple earnings for the most recent quarter have blossomed.  The company has been shipping huge volumes of the iPhone, and with the iPhone 4.0 and iPad beginning to take off, Apple is set to never need payroll loans again.  Even though recessions mean that fewer people buy toys, Apple posted impressive gains for the first quarter of this year.

Apple earnings from iPhone up over 100 percent

From this recent post on Marketwatch, the first quarter Apple earnings were substantial.  The iPhone drove sales through the roof, selling over eight million iPhones when they were expecting to only sell seven million.  Apple enjoyed a 130 percent sales increase on the iPhone from a year ago.  Since so many people are willing to plunk down money now on one of the most popular technological phenomenons of the last decade, it’s no wonder that Apple should be raking in the cash.  They have become a true success story not once, but twice, as apparently they make some vastly superior products.

They sold some Macs too

The report of Apple earnings also included some heavy sales for Mac computers as well.  Nearly three million Macs were purchased over the quarter, showing a sales increase for their computer brand of about 40 percent.  Apple managed to also sell over 10 million iPods, though the sales for the ubiquitous portable media player were actually slightly down. However, the decrease was in units, rather than revenue (iPod sales revenue was actually up about 12 percent.) The iPod touch has been quite the popular item as well.

What about the iPad?

No official sales figures were given by Marketwatch, but CNN reports that Steve Jobs had told a conference that Apple had sold around 450,000 units for the basic unit alone. The Cadillac model of iPad, set to come out soon, may have access to the AT&T 3G network, instead of the current model’s use of WiFi only.  That will probably send Apply stock through the roof, though they don’t really need the help – according to the Marketwatch piece, Apple stock was trading at almost $260 a share.

So what’s next for the Apple machine?

What is next for Apple is the iPhone OS 4.0, which was involved in the recent Gizmodo leak.  The prototype was returned. The new model iPhone will likely sell a lot of units, and since the iPhone OS 4.0 will also mark the rumored debut of the Verizon iPhone, it is foreseeable that Apple earnings will shoot to the moon by year’s end.

Another contender is about to enter the war of the smartphones. Image from Wikimedia.

Though the commercials for the Verizon Motorola Droid were stark and simple — just black text on a white background — they have created a lot of hype. Since the Droid commercials started airing, everyone has been waiting to find out the Droid release date, and now it has been discovered.

Several sources say the Verizon Motorola Droid release will be Oct. 30. The big question looming over Verizon’s head is whether holiday sales of the Droid will beat out the iPhone. After spending so much money on development and advertising, Verizon and Motorola might need a loan until payday, when Droid actually starts selling and turning a profit.

Droid directly challenges iPhone

The reason Droid commercials have made such a splash is because of their controversial nature. Verizon chose to use an advertising strategy not commonly seen, which is to directly challenge another product. It does seem that lately — unless it’s a cola controversy — Apple always seems to be involved in these direct comparison advertisements.

After all, Apple has been using the Mac versus PC commercials for quite sometime. In answer, Microsoft began running “I’m a PC” commercials, in which people favor PCs to Macs. Once again, Apple is getting a taste of its own medicine, as Droid is being advertised under the slogan “Everything iDon’t, Droid does.” These advertisements are drawing a lot of attention because Apple customers generally are staunchly loyal. Furthermore, in the case of Verizon’s attack on iPhone, Verizon started it.

Poised for big release

While it’s true that Apple customers tend to be almost snobbishly loyal, there are also consumers who are vehemently opposed to Apple products for one reason or another. Those types will likely pounce on the Droid release date, relieved to finally have an option that, by all accounts, appears to be superior to the iPhone.

Of course, it will all come down to a matter of preferece, so it is tough to say whether the Verizon Motorola Droid will actually surpass the iPhone in popularity and profits. But with advertising creating a buzz and people eagerly awaiting the Droid release date, I’d say the Droid is off to a good start. Check out a photo of the Droid.