I saw this word today on one of the many financial sites documenting Apple's steep decline.  UPOD="Under Promise and Over Deliver"  This is the financial market way of saying "Surprise and Delight."  Basically, Apple has often set guidance low, then they over deliver with great results.  The market gets delighted and up goes the share price.  Apple has been practicing UPOD in both the financial market and in their products.  The flip side is if you stop over delivering, you pay the price.

We saw that in action right after Steve's keynote with so many people expecting something revolutionary on the heels of the iPhone last year.  And yesterday, in spite of Apple's best quarter ever their lowered projections spooked the market, already spooked by other fears.  Today was bloody - at one point Apple lost nearly 25% of its value.  In one day!  That's just crazy.  Apple is still defying logic, growing market share, slamming out great new products and raking in huge profits.  But their iPod business isn't generating uPod any longer.

But don't worry, Apple's business has always been cyclical; intentionally so.  As the iPod business slows (this happens in any maturing market) you'll see Apple focus on the Mac and the business market.  And with the iPhone still in it's infancy, (not to mention Apple TV) Apple has lots of engines available to deliver uPod.