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iPod touch Apple Cripples iPod Touch Calendar
- Thread starter ksolano
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CalBoy
macrumors 604
I wonder if Apple uses FedEx air services during the first few weeks of a product's introduction in order to help supplies get to markets faster, but after that, it becomes heavily freighter based. Just a thought.
You live in Australia no? I don't think it would take long for a ship to go from China to Australia (relative to China and US). However, what I wrote above may still apply.
sblasl
macrumors 6502a
Apple I believe uses FedEX to transport all products into the US. Their long time & long term contracts with FedEX makes it the most cost effective way as well as secure way to get products to distribution channels as well as customers who purchase online from the Apple Store.
CalBoy
macrumors 604
Can a bulk rate on a plane beat the bulk rate on a freighter? Usually the rate is a third or even less of the cost of going by air. For a company like Apple, that's a lot of savings.
balamw
Moderator emeritus
Some believe that minimizing inventory is a big deal. This means no warehousing of parts, or finished components, and is especially suited to fast moving technology "stuff".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_In_Time_(business)
B
jackc
macrumors 65816
I agree, do people not notice that part of the selling point is the PDA-like features, including a web browser? The price tag might give you a hint. I don't know if the coolness factor has much to do with it, I think people are just so used to defending Apple from any criticism.
I'm waiting until the product matures a bit more, but I don't expect any sympathy or people to care about my decision either. It's not worth it for me right now, so I'm passing. However, the forums are here to discuss present and future features (and now past ones that were advertised).
CalBoy
macrumors 604
I suppose this makes sense from Apple's point of view. Either way, we've gone way off topic😛
IJ Reilly
macrumors P6
I'll echo that question. I'd be prepared to buy one, but the calendar issue is a total deal-killer.
CalBoy
macrumors 604
I guess that whole, "is it the right size for a PDA?" discussion we had is about to be nullified huh🙁 Oh well, I could always buy an iPhone I can't afford😱
I just watched the MacWorld unboxing and first "7" minutes video. They showed that yes, there is NO "+" icon in the calendar application to add events.
IJ Reilly
macrumors P6
I suppose I'll wait for a good, solid hack to appear, or for someone at Apple to come to their senses. I'm guessing the former will happen first.
CalBoy
macrumors 604
This has AT&T written ALL OVER it. It's sad to see Apple going this route with the crippling of the Touch. Verizon Wireless has done it with OBEX and Bluetooth, and AT&T with certain PDA phones. I guess AT&T is too afraid to see the Touch steal iPhone sales.
iCal evolution on the iTouch/ iPhone
I don't think Apple give a stuff what AT&T think about the iTouch. I'm certain that Apple are working on a new version of iCal for it's handheld OS X products that will properly integrate with Leopard's iCal. When this is ready Apple have a choice: they could release it as a software update (please), they could sell it as a software product, perhaps with a few other goodies (doubtful - who'd be willing to spend more on the thing?), or they could keep it back to package with iWork 09 (making this package more like Microsoft's Office). The real question for now is - will future iTouch/iPhone software upgrades work with the current hardware? The new iPod cassic software doesn't work with my current 80GB video iPod, so Apple seem quite happy to push people into buying new hardware.
I don't think Apple give a stuff what AT&T think about the iTouch. I'm certain that Apple are working on a new version of iCal for it's handheld OS X products that will properly integrate with Leopard's iCal. When this is ready Apple have a choice: they could release it as a software update (please), they could sell it as a software product, perhaps with a few other goodies (doubtful - who'd be willing to spend more on the thing?), or they could keep it back to package with iWork 09 (making this package more like Microsoft's Office). The real question for now is - will future iTouch/iPhone software upgrades work with the current hardware? The new iPod cassic software doesn't work with my current 80GB video iPod, so Apple seem quite happy to push people into buying new hardware.
That's my sentiment, except I don't want to have to hack anything. The appeal of Apple products is that they're supposed to "just" work, and if I have to constantly worry that the next update is going to ruin my carefully hacked system, I might as well buy a Microsoft product.
Apple's insistence that those who need the extra features should simply buy an iPhone simply doesn't apply to me. I would buy an iPhone if there was a pre-paid plan - I simply don't use my cell phone much at all, and I am sure there are others who will only buy one with a pre-paid plan (don't forget the countless parents who need pre-paid phone plans for their kids...).
I realize that Apple is in a position to offer whatever product they want and they can afford to lose a bunch of customers who'd like to replace their old Palms with a PDA-like iPod touch because they will find enough other people who don't care about the PDA features. I guess they figure they can drive enough people to buy an iPhone that it is worth losing those customers along the way. But for me, paying $2000 over two years just to get the calendar, notes, and E-mail is simply not a worthwhile option. Maybe Palm will respond with a product that is well enough integrated into OSX - that would be the next best option.
Possibly a bug in the system?
Am I the only one who is thinking that its possible that Apple removed the add function due to a technical problem? I know that this seems unlikely as the software and hardware both are very similar if not exactly the same as the iPhone but its still possible. Apple may have originally intended on it being available in the first release but it had problems so they pulled it. They may add this feature in an update early on, we never know. Apple has been know to add updates after the fact to fix features people wanted and I think if Apple REALLY wanted to break the pda functions on this device then a primary concern would be the fact of adding contacts which they have not, as far as I've read removed yet. I'm still keeping my hopes up that after a month or so we'll see a software update which adds this back.
Am I the only one who is thinking that its possible that Apple removed the add function due to a technical problem? I know that this seems unlikely as the software and hardware both are very similar if not exactly the same as the iPhone but its still possible. Apple may have originally intended on it being available in the first release but it had problems so they pulled it. They may add this feature in an update early on, we never know. Apple has been know to add updates after the fact to fix features people wanted and I think if Apple REALLY wanted to break the pda functions on this device then a primary concern would be the fact of adding contacts which they have not, as far as I've read removed yet. I'm still keeping my hopes up that after a month or so we'll see a software update which adds this back.
CalBoy
macrumors 604
Well, seeing as how Apple's video about the Touch indicated that there was no add option, I think we can be fairly confident in knowing that Apple doesn't want Touch sales to challenge iPhone sales. I think from that point of view, we can be pretty confident in declaring that Apple's motive is to keep iPhone sales high-and what stock holder wouldn't want that😉
PowerFullMac
macrumors 601
You lot do realise that, according to hacktheipodtouch.com, it can be jail breaked and there is even instructions on how to install apps from the iPhone.
IJ Reilly
macrumors P6
We know the feature is missing, but the reasons why are known only to Apple at this point. Not that your theory is completely unreasonable, I just have my doubts. I can't imagine how Touch sales would seriously cannibalize iPhone sales. I mean, the Touch isn't a phone, fergodsake!
CalBoy
macrumors 604
I quite agree that it's not a phone, but perhaps the marketing team is worried that some people may be happy with a small phone and simply want a PDA to do the rest. Personally, it makes no sense to carry two products, and I would be more than happy to have an all-in-one like the iPhone. I really don't know why Apple is doing this-it's a bit puzzling.
IJ Reilly
macrumors P6
The implication is that Apple believes their customers don't really know whether they want a phone or a PDA, so they need to be "pushed" to the iPhone if they want PDA functionality. (Since they both function as an iPod, that function factors out.) I am also reading today that while you can add contacts to the Touch, it won't sync them back to the desktop computer. Another limitation!
To me, this makes little marketing sense so I am groping for a technical one.
Aw that's great to know. Wow! I mean it's SO cool you told us that. Awesome! 🙂 That's what I love about this site, people telling you really aggressively what they're going to buy. Fan-TASTIC stuff, Stig. Cheers! 😀