Beophile wrote:

Is this good or bad for B&O? 😕

Very clearly bad. Not only is Loewe B&Os key TV competitor, but the recent B&O Play integration of all things Apple, may mean that the V1 and others are much more difficult to sell to the current Apple crowd. It will be very interesting to see what B&O intend to do if a) Apple buy Loewe and b) they bring out a range of TVs that compete against the V1, BV10 and others.

And looking at that AppleInsider report, Apple would be competing against the other B&O Play products, too, potentially wiping out many of the recent plans and future plans for new B&O products.

Apple makes some great products as Loewe does, too... but I think Apple needs to be stopped on their way to the (digital) world domination. This wouldn'd end up well for all customers and companies.

Interesting rumour indeed! But I don't see the fit:

- manufacturing? Apple outsources everything, only the product design is done in-house, so what would be the point of buying Loewe?

- retail? Apple has a much stronger retail presence than Loewe, and probably the highest turnover per sq.m. of any retailer;

- size? Loewe is a niche player (just like B&O), Apple is a behemoth, so what would be the point?

- design? You can say many things about Apple, that their products lack design or flair is not one of them - they do not need Loewe's expertise.

- panels? Loewe buys them in Asia just like everybody else, including Apple...

So maybe it has to do with software or patents? We'll see.

At any rate, if this is confirmed, it is probably not good news for B&O, who will become even more of a niche player and will need to find new ways of generating business I guess: having somebody like Apple entering your market is not fun, ask the music industry, the TV and movie networks, etc...

It's all very bizarre!

I don't really see how this would fit in with the Apple TV rumours.

I always had a feeling that the new Apple TV would use B&O speakers.

Loewe is OK I guess bit it's not B&O is it?

Anyway whatever, I think the B&O PLAY brand is looking great and i'm planning on adding 2 to my crib when I get my commission cheque in July!

VANTAGE wrote:

So maybe it has to do with software or patents? We'll see.

They are running at a loss, and if Apple needs some patent coverage this could be a cheap solution

But I don't see Apple trying to carry the TV ranges that B&O and Lowe have.

"Furniture" is a much different business from what Apple is currently equipped for

In some ways Ikea is a worse competitor ... particularly if is undercuts - the opposite of Apple charging a premium

TWG wrote:

Apple makes some great products as Loewe does, too... but I think Apple needs to be stopped on their way to the (digital) world domination. This wouldn'd end up well for all customers and companies.

Yeah -But try and tell it to the Apple fanatics, who just loooove their overpriced products, made in China by underpayed employees, working under hazardous conditions...
Oh yes -Apple is suddently talking about doing something for the workers and the environment -after it was published.
And now B&O follow in their footsteps with their Apple docking stations -also made in China (hopefully under better conditions).

There's nothing wrong with Apple products -but the hype and fanatism that the late Jobs created is just too much for me...I don't want to be part of this iNsanity... 😎 No 'fruit boxes' in our home... 😜 iQuit.

I remember an episode of Star Trek from the 60's where they come to a Planet where primitive natives worship a fake God that turns out to be a computer...
The episode was called...The Apple...🤔 Who said 'prediction of the future'...👍

Yawn , you've got an android in your avatar so obviously you're biased. Get a life.

Persoally I think it's the beginning of the end for bang & olufsen , you can blame their arrogance for that.

A few years ago Apple put out their hands in friendship and the then B&O CEO ignored them , laughably informing them they were going to take Aople on in mobile phones and Mp3 players and look at the garbage they produced.

I don't have much time for Loewe personally but at least they're thechnically up to date with things unlike b&o . We're expecting updates to the iMac and cinema displays soon , maybe the much vaunted itv is it !?

More info on the Loewe takeover:

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/12/apple-interested-in-acquiring-german-television-maker-loewe/

"Loewe's largest shareholder is Sharp, the same company that has been rumored to be Apple's choice to work with Foxconn to build a television set. Foxconn and Sharp 

Flappo wrote:

We're expecting updates to the iMac and cinema displays soon

We are? I don't think so Flappo. The Thunderbolt Cinema Display only came out last year and it doesn't need a revamp! A new Cinema Display isn't coming out soon, IMHO.