The Street is locked in some kind of sadomasochistic embrace with Apple.  For years, Apple’s management egged on this tension by continually low-balling its projections on revenues, operating margins and earnings.  Now the shoe is on the other foot.  Apple’s numbers are set to implode in terms of revenues, gross margins and of course, earnings.  So management going forward wants to issue quarterly guidance in a realistic range.  About time their act folded.