Apple's (AAPL) AMAZING Q3

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) smashed third-quarter results Wednesday, easily topping the highest estimates on the Street with double-digit or more growth in nearly every category - sales, profit, iPhones, iPads.

The iPhone and iPad powerhouse reported earnings of $7.79 per share, versus the consensus of $5.80 and more than double the $3.51 reported last year.

Quarterly revenue was $28.57 billion, up 82 percent from $15.70 billion last year and much better than the consensus $24.92 billion.

The company sold 20.34 million iPhones in the quarter, up 142% from last year. The company sold 9.25 million iPad, up 183% from last year.

Mac units were 3.95 million, up 14% from last year. The company sold 7.54 million iPods, down 20% from last year.

"We're thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Right now, we're very focused and excited about bringing iOS 5 and iCloud to our users this fall."

Apple, which usually sandbags guidance, expect revenue of about $25 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $5.50, versus the consensus of $27.7 billion and $6.42.

Shares will resume trading at 4:50PM and the company will host its conference call at 5:00PM.

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