Last time around, Apple had yet another record-breaking quarter ($10.1 billion revenue, $1.78 in earnings per share), exceeding the estimates of Wall Street and observers, and beating their performance in the same period the previous year by a fair margin. They downplayed their expectations for the second quarter on that call, which is something they always tend to do, but Wall Street expects them to perform well, with $1.13 in earnings per share and $8.2 billion in revenue.

We should see at this conference call what effect Apple’s recent desktop update has had on sales figures, and also get a better idea of the toll the recession is taking on the company, which has appeared to be rather resistant to its effects. You can bet that investors will also be watching closely because of Steve Jobs’ continued absence, which is beginning to look like less and less a factor in the company’s success, since the stock (AAPL) is performing well. Some analysts are even going so far as to claim that Apple is better off without him at the helm. Be sure to check back for a follow-up on April 22 from us here at TheAppleBlog for all the details.

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Finally, we have something to do with the Apple stickers that come in all the Apple products we buy.

According to a recent report by Duke and Waterloo Universities, people respond to quick views of logos in a way that reflects the company’s values. They tested 341 university students using what is called a visual acuity test, which is where they flash the image in front of a person for such a short amount of time that the respondents could not identify their logo with a $100 on the line.

After the logo was flashed, participants were asked to identify a use for a brick. “Those who had seen the Apple logo came up with more unusual and creative uses for the brick than those who’d seen IBM.” So, if you are in a creative slump, try flashing that Apple logo on your screen at random times to help you get back in the groove. A follow-up study was done using E! and Disney logos and people who viewed the Disney logo acted more honestly.

Want some other ways to improve your creativity? Suite 101.com suggests ten more ways to get the creative juices flowing, which includes doing something new in a new place, being radical, chat with others about your projects, take a break, and give yourself a blank slate. Just make sure that you take your trusty Apple sticker with you.

Via Gear Log

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