An agreement was signed between Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and International Business Machines Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM) in July last year. Since then, the two companies have maintained a consistent collaboration on making enterprise-friendly apps. The mobile applications are developed by the combined efforts of both companies. Meanwhile, IBM Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM) supports the hardware made by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and sells it as well.

This partnership has yielded 22 applications to date; 10 were launched back in December, a few were launched in March and last week, 8 more apps were launched. The latest apps were related to enterprise and healthcare. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) signed this agreement with IBM Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM) for the sake of taking steps in advancement and proliferation of cloud computing among the business users. The strategy of the two companies was to produce about 100 apps by the end of 2015 at the time the agreement was formulated.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is attempting to enter into the corporate sector by proliferating its mobile devices for business purposes. IBM Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM) was the company that would help the iPhone maker achieve its purpose. This partnership is based on mutual benefits. While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) can easily infiltrate the corporate sector with the help of IBM Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM), IBM Corp. (NASDAQ:IBM) will be exposed to a lot of resources relevant to mobile cloud.

These resources include mobile integration, analytics, device management and security. This partnership combines the expertise of two well-established companies and gives them the capability to easily tackle the giants in the competition like Dell, Oracle and Hewlett-Packard. One of the newest app is called “Hospital RN”. By using pagers and phones, this app aims at freeing the nurses. The nurses can connect to the records of the patients from any hospital location.

The caregivers stationed in homes of the patients can access the state services as well. The users of this application can share information in the form of text, photos, videos etc.The two companies have made an app called the “Ancillary Sale”. It is a travel-friendly app which is made exclusively for the iPhone. This app will allow the flight attendants to upgrade or register seats, user mobile payment methods like the Apple Pay and perform transaction of food and beverages.

All the information fed into the app will be stored so that it can be used by the users at whim. Risk Inspect is an iPad app also made by the partnership. Insurance appraisers can take pictures and videos in order to perform thorough examinations. The data can be linked to the analytical reports which will then provide suggestions and recommendations on the potential risk factors. Order Commit is another application for the iPad platform.

The retail owners will be able to access metrics and business analytics. The analytical efficiency of IBM has been used heavily to constitute the performance of the apps. The merchants will be able to respond strategically for business benefits.

There are speculation in the air about a new and super charged Apple TV. These expectations were reiterated by the recent Apple Watch Event in which the hardware’s price was brought down to $69. Moreover, the website also has a lot to unveil in this regard. According to the website, the prices begin from $69, which automatically implies that there’s a new and improved model on the way.

Various anonymous sources have confirmed that an upgraded model is on its way. The most talked about feature which has caught everyone in a frenzy is a live TV streaming service. The number of channels on the fall is almost 25. This service will probably charge more than Sling TV, however it would come at a lesser price as compared to Sony’s basic PlayStation Vue package. This latter service would provide double number of channels as compared to Apple TV. Furthermore, most probably this new hardware would be made public at Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Worldwide Developer Conference, which is going to be held in June.

All these opinions conjugated with some of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:APPL) own statements reinforce this view that the upgraded model of Apple TV would be much more than a mere streaming and mirroring service. Instead it would bring forward five other notable opportunities as well, which will make Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) stand out from its competitors in the market.

1. Excellent Live TV Streaming Service

The upgraded model would come with an incredible live TV streaming service which has got everyone hyped. Moreover, it is expected that this streaming service would outstep its competitors such as Sling and Vue. This service would be broadcasting various networks such as CBS, ABC, and Fox, and will probably beat Sling in this regard. There is also a strong likelihood that it would be offering ESPN, since Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) maintains a close relationship with Disney.Apple TV would not only be offering a convenient channel line-up, rather it will also come with several other features that cable can’t claim to itself such as an interface conjugated with  Siri-powered voice control.

2. TV Apps

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL) has been adding various channels to its service gradually, but its persistent efforts indicate that it aspires to flood the arena with channels. There are rumors that an Apple TV App store is in the progress which will bring forward newer and exciting experiences for its customers, this fall.

3. A Hoard of Games

Apple TV’s gaming experience comes with various potential advantages. Its developer tool outsteps all its competitors in term of its depth and breadth. Moreover, it is reported that its remote would be more tactile and adorned with immense capabilities.

4. Dominate your Entire Smart-Home

Apple TV is not merely designed to provide entertainment, rather it also has many other practical benefits internalized in its system such as control of light bulbs, security cameras, door locks and various other appliances and smart ware. All of this enables Apple TV to have a control over your entire home.

5. Eco-System App

Apple TV not only offers live-streaming but it also claims to bring forth an app eco system. Both these factors can combine to bridge the gap between Apple TV and other established entities of the same arena.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) keeps on looking forward to advertise its novel leading features and technologies as it releases its latest products (Apple Pay, Touch ID etc.). Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will keep on with this strategy in order to stay high from its rivals like Samsung Electronics (KRX:005936). According to a survey report by The Wall Street Journal, Force Touch, features of Apple Watch will be taken for iPhone 6s’ feature.

Force Touch has been created to highlight user’s input ability. Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices are able to recognize touch or tap input by user. Connection with screens of iPhone 6 and 6s to give an input enables the system supplying more ways of user interaction with future smart-watches. This was the prime aim of Force Touch. Its sensitivity could increase the growth of user experience of iPhone 6s in case of gaming but it might face less development in technology. It is expected that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)  is making the interoperations between its applications and Apple Watch using Force Touch which is going to be popular in upcoming devices.

The other rumor reported is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is working on launching device with increased range of color options. This color introduction will be more descent, despite the fact that colors like space gray got so many likes in US market. iPhone 5s initiated gold color, which got fame in China according to some reports. Markets of China are fundamental cause in improvement in Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) finance for many years. Gold color was purchased more by users in China as well as in Hong Kong. This gold color was the basic reason for iPhone 5’s sales when it was released as cited. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) when initiates a new color to its device, it is definitely for some logical reason, but the reason for the thought of releasing a pink iPhone is not yet clear. But believing in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) schemes, this would also have some obvious reason behind it. This rumor of iPhone 6s in pink might actually be wrong for iPhone 6c which is under development.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is going to make use of LTE chips supplied by Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) in its upcoming devices to cope with increased market demands from Asia and Latin America. As iPhone 5 and 5s were proved to be more visionary regarding finance, it is possible that this rumor of pink iPhone might actually be a working model for iPhone 6c. We still have six months to watch if the rumors related to iPhone 6s and 6c are true and to what extent.

Other things are also delineated in the patent details.  The method of claim 1 has been mentioned in these very details. In this method various types of data are included such as HDMI data, USB data, audio data and video data. From these details, it can be deduced that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has already managed to lay its hands upon the patent which covers USB-C technology. One only has to look at the USB-C worth $78 which has to be bought along with the new MacBook, to get acquainted with the patent.

Interestingly, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) claim regarding the invention of USB Type C has been disputed. This conflict was brought forward by a BetaNews report which made its way into public yesterday. The report denies to accept John Gruber’s statement as authentic and true. It should be noted here that according to John Gruber, USB Type C has been invented by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). In this context, the report brought forward a statement made by USB Implementers Forum. This statement asserts that USB 3.0 Promoter Group is responsible for both the development and connector specification of USB Type C.

The report also brought this fact to light that there is a whole list of contributors behind this invention. Universal Serial Bus Revision 3.1 Specification encompasses the names of all project contributors.The page 10 of this USB Type-C Specification Release 1.0 document does include AppleInc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in this list of contributors to the project. Other companies which are mentioned alongside Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are ACON Laboratories Inc., Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A), Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:CY), Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HP).

These theories have been brought forward by BetaNews, yet there is a lack of concrete evidence which could support this theory. Even if this theory is taken as true, this fact can still not be denied that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was the only company which brought forward the USB-C technology as an enlightening deviation from the standard connectors. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) introduced this technology with its iPhone 5 and this introduction claim will be held by the company even when USB-C gradually comes into use across the globe.

Moreover, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) did register a timely patent for the USB-C technology, which is itself an indication of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) authentic involvement in the matter.

The iPhone has built up strongly. Mr. Arcuri is of the view that the iPhone maker may even cross the projections for their iPhone units, for the first quarter of the calendar. The company has implied that they may sell more than 50 million iPhones in the CQ1. Mr. Arcuri has made another interesting prediction that in the future Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930), the rival of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), will be a supplier of OLED for iPhones.

About the Apple smart watch, he says that there is a shortage in supply of the wearable. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is already looking to boost the production of the Apple Watch. For this purpose, the company has collaborated with Foxconn and developed an infrastructure in Japan. Arcuri crunched some numbers and predicted that by June, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will achieve a rate of 6 million units. Mr. Arcuri believes that the demand of the Apple Watch will be higher than the production rate. He has made another prediction, but this one is regarding the device itself. He believes that there is a possibility that the second edition of the Watch will be released later in the current year. The new version will be able to connect to the internet independently, without the interjection of the iPhone. Mr. Arcuri foresees that the Apple Watch edition 2.0 will be the first device that will incorporate and OLED screen from Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930).

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:TSM) is willing to take the production and manufacture of the A9 chips from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) hands. This is another speculation by Mr. Tim Arcuri; but it isn’t reported. The Cowen Group has rated Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock at Outperform, which was their previous rating as well. The target price that the firm set on the stock is $115 for each share.

Currently, 58 analysts are covering Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock. Out of these analysts, 15 analysts rate the company’s stock at hold and 41 have rated it at buy. The consensus price target on the company stock is $139.06 on a 12-month basis.

Toni Sacconaghi is an analyst from Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Apart from Mr. Tim Arcuri, Mr. Sacconhagi’s firm is the only other that rates Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock at outperform. He has given a price target of $135 to the Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares in the next year.

Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares increased by 0.74%. The shares were priced $124.51 during the trading session today in the afternoon. The stock has increased by 10.58% on a year-over-year basis. The iPhone maker may see a supply issue with the Apple Watch but they are well-positioned to handle it.