Apple's Claim Against the Appstore—Not Its Own App Store—Gets Chopped; Stock Prices Predictions Vary Greatly

Every week, Apple makes news with technology developments, business deals and, more often than not, controversies.

That’s where our weekly "Core Bytes" column on Apple comes in. We’ll relay the past week’s news highlights from our favorite backyard tech giant.

What’s in a Name?

Depending on what you’re shopping for you may go to the App Store or the Appstore. Yes, they sound alike and look alike, but they don’t necessarily walk and talk alike, at least according to U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton who ruled against Apple’s claim that the Amazon Appstore for Android was committing false advertising.

According to a Wired report Hamilton wrote this in her dismissal order: “There is no evidence that a consumer who accesses the Amazon Appstore would expect that it would be identical to the Apple App Store, particularly given that the Apple App Store sells apps solely for Apple devices, while the Amazon Appstore sells apps solely for Android and Kindle devices. Further, the integration of Apple devices has more to do with Apple’s technology than it does with the nature, characteristics, or qualities of the App Store.”

The Ups and Downs of Apple’s Future

Apple’s stock will definitely go up. Apple’s stock will definitely go down. Both are claims made my stock analysts. And the way stocks fluctuate, even Apple’s pricey stock, both predictions could come true.

In the spring of 2012 Topeka Capital Markets' Brian White said Apple’s stock would hit over $1,000, according to a CNET report. A San Francisco Chronicle article said White predicted in October Apple stock would hit $1,111. He was wrong in 2012, but who knows what will happen in 2013? If you listen to Doubleline Capital's Jeffrey Gundlach, who according to this CNET article told CNBC that Apple stock would fall to $425. He was wrong, too. Care to make your own guess, er um, market analysis?

Wearable Tech

No matter where Apple’s stock travels, it’s technology may travel closer to our bodies than just our nimble fingers sliding across the iPhone’s screen. According to an L.A. Times article at least one Piper Jaffray analyst, Gene Munster, thinks Apple will venture into wearable technology, such as a Bluetooth watch. Munster reportedly predicted the watch following rumors that Apple is working with Intel on a watch that would work with the iPhone.