Tag Archives: Apple
Top 3D Printing Headlines Last Week: Apple, Google, Joe Biden, $300 Printer
A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from June 25 to July 1.
Monday, June 25
- Will Apple Make a Big Acquisition to Enter the 3D Printing Market?
- $300 3D Printer Printxel Shows at the Kansas City Maker Faire
Tuesday, June 26
Wednesday, June 27
- Broadway Shows Get New Mojo with 3D Printed Set Design
- Exclusive: Cubify by 3D Systems Prints at Google I/O and Launches API
Thursday, June 28
Friday, June 29
- Autodesk Shows off 123D Catch Software and 3D Printing at Google I/O
- 3D Systems Announces “Smarter 3D Printing” Seminars for Entrepreneurs
Saturday, June 30
Sunday, July 1
- Vice President Joe Biden Shares the Vision for 3D Printing
- Fab Lab of the Week: Massey University Centre Hosts New Zealand Event
Apple photo by aditza121 used under Creative Commons license.
Will Apple Make a Big Acquisition to Enter the 3D Printing Market?
Over at Seeking Alpha, Matt Cilderman thinks that Apple should make a move into 3D printing. Specifically, his target of choice is 3D Systems.
3D Systems has a market capitalization of $1.5 billion. For the first quarter of 2012, on a non-GAAP year over year basis, revenues increased 63%, gross profit grew 67%, and earnings per share rose 47%.
They expect full year 2012 revenue to be in the range of $330-360 million and non-GAAP EPS to be from $1.00 to $1.25 (see April 2012 Investor Presentation).
Why should Apple enter the 3D printing market? Cilderman shares 3 reasons:
- Jobs loved disruptive technologies and with the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, he changed the music, movie, telecommunications, and computer industries. 3-D printing may not be there yet, but this is the next, big disruptive technology.
- Apple has a ton of cash on their balance sheet. They could purchase 3D Systems (market capitalization of $1.5 billion) with their spare pocket change. Then, spend the time and money introducing them to Apple’s corporate culture, redesigning the software and hardware to fit Apple’s goals and style.
- 3-D printing and its future also fit right in with Apple’s business model.
Apple is often not the pioneer, but once they enter a market, they build products that are “insanely great” as compared to the competition. Apple has a marketplace for digital goods (music, movies, and apps); perhaps 3D printable designs would be a natural extension. Apple’s products can be used to generate 3D printable designs, as shown by the 123D Catch app.
Read the full editorial at Seeking Alpha.
Apple photo by aditza121 used under Creative Commons license.
A Look Back: 3D Printing in 2010 [Interactive Timeline]
2010 was a pivotal year in 3D printing technology. In an interactive timeline, TeamTeamUSA lists the key developments that moved the industry over the year.
Notably:
- January – HP announced a 3D printer
- January – First 3D printer featured at CES
- February – Apple sells 3D printed iPhone cases
- April/May – Shapeways introduces new materials, including glass and gold
- June – Lifesize King Tut Mummy printed
- July – 3D printed fashion
- November – 3D prints added to Smithsonian Collection
- November – Maker factory launches
- December – Thing-o-matic ships
- December – 3D printed flute
Check out the full timeline at Dipity.