Apple Acknowledges Consumers Want Larger and Cheaper Phones

penter said:

I think we're beginning to see the era where Apple is no longer an innovator, but a mere competitor...

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It has been for several years now.

You have to wonder why a company with such gigantic fortunes and staff can't revise every device every year to jump ahead of the market instead of catching up to it. Their iPads and iPhones get attention while most other products languish in corporate disinterest.

ArtOfWarfare said:

I don't think the answer here is to abandon 4" phones altogether. I think a better move would be to have a 4" iPhone 6 Mini, priced as a replacement for the iPhone 5C and a 4.7" iPhone 6, priced as a replacement for the iPhone 5S.

As shown from the iPod Nano and iPad Mini, people are willing to spend less for smaller products, so long as they're still high quality. They aren't willing to compromise on the quality of the product for less money, as shown by the 5C.

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They aren't compromising on quality by going with a 5c. The 5c is outselling every other phone on the market other then the 5s.

penter said:

I think we're beginning to see the era where Apple is no longer an innovator, but a mere competitor...

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What? Like they were from 98 to 01, 01 to 07, 07 to 10, 10 to 14?

One thing is certain: If some meaningful innovation takes place, it will be because of Apple. That could be today, or in 2020. You can't count on Microsoft, Google, Samsung and the useless pawns to innovate.

forcesteeler said:

Apple has almost $200 Billion Dollars in its bank account. Its time to use some of that money and release some new products (New Industry's). Waiting Year after Year for something new is frustrating. Im tired of the same old New iPhone 27. Where is the 4K TV? the iWatch? how about a video game console, Game Industry makes a lot of money.

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Sorry, I forgot to mention to their focus on "customer's current needs" because you're right. It's time to look towards the future. Apple can't afford to be static.

Lesser Evets said:

It has been for several years now.

You have to wonder why a company with such gigantic fortunes and staff can't revise every device every year to jump ahead of the market instead of catching up to it. Their iPads and iPhones get attention while most other products languish in corporate disinterest.

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You realize that Apple never sold as many Macs, or Music, or Software. Right? The only product going down is the iPod.

I'm probably in the minority, but I hope they still make 4" versions in the future. There's still a large group of people who would prefer easy one handed operation.

penter said:

I think we're beginning to see the era where Apple is no longer an innovator, but a mere competitor...

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Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. If come September all we see is a bigger iPhone, then I guess one can conclude Apple has lost its innovative art.

4.7" is the biggest I'd go for. I like in 4.5" or 4.7" not too big and not too small.

forcesteeler said:

What Apple Needs is New Innovative Products. The iPhone this June will be almost 8 Years old. The iPhone Gravy Train is almost over. Its time to invent some new products. Just like the iPod had its run, The iPhone run is coming to a close soon.

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The phone that came out in 2007 will be 8 years old in 2014. The math isn't that complex.

It's good to see Apple recognize internally forces working against them, however slow they have been to rectify that while milking incremental changes.
Outside the US consumers are not as willing/able to pay Apple's premium prices or have multiple devices to enjoy cellular services and large screens. And now inside the US, the market share Apple has enjoyed due to economics of contracts and subsidized devices is endangered by the carriers finally giving better options on non-subsidized rate plans (thanks Tmobile!!) and now saturation.

MacFan23 said:

Why are people surprised that Apple does market research?

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I don't think anyone is surprised. Every company does market research. By the way, Jobs wasn't a fan of paying attention to market research.

mertyz said:

I used HTC 8X for a year and even 4.3" was painful to use for me, despite the fact that I have large hands. I'm really happy with the size of the display my 5S has really.

Unfortunately it is quite obvious that Apple will take the same route :/

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I just don't see what's 'unfortunate' with apple offering a choice in screen size?

Btw, for some context, when Phil Schiller was asked about this on these stand he said he didn't agree with it and it wasn't Apple policy. This document came from someone on the sales team. To spin this as official thinking inside Apple is incorrect.

http://recode.net/2014/04/04/internal-apple-document-shows-worries-iphone-growth-could-stall/

Schiller noted in his testimony that he didn’t agree with much of the document, which he said didn’t represent Apple policy.

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forcesteeler said:

What Apple Needs is New Innovative Products. The iPhone this June will be almost 8 Years old. The iPhone Gravy Train is almost over. Its time to invent some new products. Just like the iPod had its run, The iPhone run is coming to a close soon.

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Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. The iPod's run ended because the iPhone (and other smartphones) replaced it. Nothing is going to replace your smartphone any time soon.

mertyz said:

I used HTC 8X for a year and even 4.3" was painful to use for me, despite the fact that I have large hands. I'm really happy with the size of the display my 5S has really.

Unfortunately it is quite obvious that Apple will take the same route :/

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You might not have large hands then if 4.3 inch was "painful".

I consider myself to have large hands and the area I've highlighted on my Note 3 indicates the parts I can reach with one hand. And this is a 5.7 inch screen. That top curve is where my thumb can stretch to.

penter said:

I think we're beginning to see the era where Apple is no longer an innovator, but a mere competitor...

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When did people ever call Apple an innovator?

Darrensk8 said:

I just don't see what's 'unfortunate' with apple offering a choice in screen size?

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I agree. There is nothing unfortunate about it. It's good for many people if they offer a different choice in screen size.

Darrensk8 said:

I just don't see what's 'unfortunate' with apple offering a choice in screen size?

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Unless they don't offer a choice. If you want the new iPhone you are probably going to be forced to get a bigger iPhone.

JayCee842 said:

Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. If come September all we see is a bigger iPhone, then I guess one can conclude Apple has lost its innovative art.

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So who is innovating? Why is Apple somehow "forced" to innovate when they are making 13 billion $ (net profit) each quarter, and Microsoft loses relevance, Google makes nothing new, and almost every OEM is closing the front door?

This is a business. Apple is thriving, OEMs are dying. Clearly someone is right.

You do not have the knowledge or common sense to state that Apple lost it's innovative art. Instead of beating dead horses, why not buying some Windows machine or an Android device to support those innovators like Dell, HP, Samsung, Nokia, HTC., etc.?

Rogifan said:

When did people ever call Apple an innovator?

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Where have you been the past decades? I've been following Apple just recently (when I was in high school in 2010-2011) and I'm aware they've been seen as the top innovative company since they began.

brendu said:

Unless they don't offer a choice. If you want the new iPhone you are probably going to be forced to get a bigger iPhone.

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This is the correct answer.

Personally I think being able to use the phone with one hand (comfortably) is more important than having a bigger screen. But that's just me....

MacRumors said:

In a further breakdown, Apple acknowledges that "consumers want what we don't have" -- which shows that the majority of smartphone growth is in both >4" screen sizes and

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Bold
And what

forcesteeler said:

What Apple Needs is New Innovative Products. The iPhone this June will be almost 8 Years old. The iPhone Gravy Train is almost over. Its time to invent some new products. Just like the iPod had its run, The iPhone run is coming to a close soon.

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The iPhone itself (and its competitors) killed the iPod. The iPhone (and its competitors) isn't going anywhere absent something new to kill them off.

forcesteeler said:

What Apple Needs is New Innovative Products. The iPhone this June will be almost 8 Years old. The iPhone Gravy Train is almost over. Its time to invent some new products. Just like the iPod had its run, The iPhone run is coming to a close soon.

Click to expand...

Yeah, Apple should dispense the ATV, iTunes iPhone, iPod, iPad and the Mac (30yrs), because they are old now, and continue selling leather cases for iPhone.

Thanks Obama.