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Apple Developing Hardware Subscription Service for iPhones and Other Devices
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Huh? What are you disagreeing with? The part where I said it's good or the part where I said it's bad?
Wrong, as there is a HUGE world of difference between paying monthly or paying outright.
Do you have the money to buy an house outright or do you pay a monthly mortgage/rental fee?
Not everyone has thousands of dollars etc in their pockets all the time.
Having various services for the subscription (variables date) and I think this will lead more financial problems.
Yep. Time to buy an iPhone 13 mini soon and keep it for 6 years.
As a consumer I loathe the idea of subscriptions (music, phones, etc.). Subscriptions always extract more profit from consumers than purchases, for typically you pay for services you do not use (think streaming/cable/satellite TV). Hopefully this will be just an option. Were Apple to try to force this on consumers, I'd drop the platform like a hot potato. Scr*w that.
I'm confused as to why you think the only two options are renting and paying in full outright. The number of people paying for their phones in full is relatively small. Most people pay it off over time. You're setting up a false dichotomy.
That's the sticking point. What does Apple consider to be a reasonable monthly fee? Also, is Apple going to commit to more regular release schedules for iPads and Macs?
I rotate iPad purchases between 10-11" and 12.9" and use each for about 3-4 years after which, they might get handed down to family and used for another 2-3 years or so. The iPads usually still have ~$100 trade-in value after all that. The monthly subscription cost would have to be less than my amortized monthly cost for 3-4 years for me to consider such a program.
This thread is just another hilarious thread. Many of the detractors here are the same ones that lament Apple for being the last - “android have had this for years blah blah”.
They fail to realise (or more likely don’t want to acknowledge) that this type of system has been in place for mobiles since before Apple were even in the sector - via carriers, or if talking traditional hardware, for decades. Apple finally offering such a system is only in line with the industry.
But once again: Apple do something it clearly becomes the be all and end all of everything.
They fail to realise (or more likely don’t want to acknowledge) that this type of system has been in place for mobiles since before Apple were even in the sector - via carriers, or if talking traditional hardware, for decades. Apple finally offering such a system is only in line with the industry.
But once again: Apple do something it clearly becomes the be all and end all of everything.
I am sure in the fine print Apple will say “if you are on a hardware subscription plan you are not permitted to install apps outside the official AppStore”.
There goes the justification that if you own the hardware you should be able to install any app from anywhere.
There goes the justification that if you own the hardware you should be able to install any app from anywhere.
What are you talking about?
For ‘normal’ people, adobes creative suit is finally attainable. Over the 800+ Every few years per app it once was.
For us in the industry it offers an easy to understand and maintain price structure.
I balk at apps offering a sub for no discernable reason, but this is not that.
When you get a phone from a carrier the cost is subsidized over the term not subscribed. After the term ends you keep the device or you can trade up and receive a credit.
juuuuuust a matter of time until you dont even own your electronics. And once it's on subscription and not owned by you, then can do whatever they want. Prob including giving law enforcement access to it.
I usually pay in full for my iPhone since I like to choose my own carrier(currently Mint Mobile). But i think Apple doing this is good. Gives more people options on how to pay for a new iPhone.
As long as they don’t force this on everyone. If it was “leasing only” then no… hard pass. It always starts off cheap and eventually gets ridiculous. Adobe.
I don’t upgrade my phone enough to find this useful. I buy my phone outright and pay $15/month for unlimited talk and text with 5gb of data (and I almost never use the data unless I’m traveling which has been limited post covid days).
Apples eco division feels more like a PR stunt or HR department ?
I don’t upgrade my phone enough to find this useful. I buy my phone outright and pay $15/month for unlimited talk and text with 5gb of data (and I almost never use the data unless I’m traveling which has been limited post covid days).
Apples eco division feels more like a PR stunt or HR department ?
Lease, rent, subscribe, what’s the difference? At the end of the day or term you own nothing and depending on the agreement maybe rotten for the subscriber.
From the link below we find that 53.6 million tonnes of electronic waste is generated each year. Assuming 8 billion people on Mother Earth, that is 14+ pounds per person per year (90 million tonnes per week in the UK which is a good bit higher per capita). Apple could release its version of the FairPhone thereby helping reduce this amount, or do this. Of course... "shareholder value..." dictates the latter since external costs are not counted in the equation. Really shocking how little people really care re: Mother Earth. Link:
www.cnbc.com
Britain's Royal Mint to build plant that will extract gold from electronic waste
Electronic waste has become a topic of much debate and discussion in recent years.
Adobe is cheap. 10 quid a month for an app (plus more) that used to cost 800 every two years. I’ll admit, those that want to be the app once and never update are left in the cold. There is an auguement as to why this is bad - but it’s only a matter of years before it become obsolete anyway. For who it’s aimed at and for ´normal’ périple who can’t spend 800 on just Photoshop, it’s a much better deal.
Édit: I quoted the wrong person, apologies.
I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up about this.
We don't know the exact terms. But obviously, it's not going to be something that appeals to everyone or something that's markedly better than what's currently on offer.
These types of "rent-to-own"/"switch-in-x-months"/"pay-very-little-but-never own and get benefits" are all just ways for businesses to open up more ways for costumers to pay for their products and get the total number of sales up. Creative ways of obscuring the total cost years down the line by letting you pay very little from month to month.
But different people have different needs and any business is smart in accommodating as many types of wallets as possible.
Apple's main goal is, like every other business, profits, and Apple has an unparalleled and unwavering demand for its products even at very high prices and thus isn't in any way forced to accommodate to consumers needs to hit its targets.
So don't ever think you'll be winning much by "subscribing" to your next device.
We don't know the exact terms. But obviously, it's not going to be something that appeals to everyone or something that's markedly better than what's currently on offer.
These types of "rent-to-own"/"switch-in-x-months"/"pay-very-little-but-never own and get benefits" are all just ways for businesses to open up more ways for costumers to pay for their products and get the total number of sales up. Creative ways of obscuring the total cost years down the line by letting you pay very little from month to month.
But different people have different needs and any business is smart in accommodating as many types of wallets as possible.
Apple's main goal is, like every other business, profits, and Apple has an unparalleled and unwavering demand for its products even at very high prices and thus isn't in any way forced to accommodate to consumers needs to hit its targets.
So don't ever think you'll be winning much by "subscribing" to your next device.
I mean, a £1000 iPhone is already ~£50 per month on the iPhone Upgrade Program which already allows upgrading every year.
A subscription service would have to be even cheaper than that.
I wonder if this will be manitory to use an iPhone. If they are going to require that I pay a monthly fee to use the iPhone 13 Pro Max I purchased last month I'll chuck in the trash and switch to Android.
Options are good, Apple is seeking methods to increase revenue and as a shareholder I see no issue with it. Similar to vehicle manufacturers who offer options for Cash, Lease, Finance and since Apple likes to compare itself to luxury vehicle makers or only makes sense. Service at the Apple dealership while leasing too, then expand this to the AppleCar and you have your answer to why Apple is getting its toes wet now with hardware.
I suspect Apple is going to provide options such as vehicle manufacturers such as Cash, Lease (subscribe), Finance. It already has the Cash and Finance components and now it’s the Lease option to the pot. Trade-Up options were with iUP.
Just some logic to know what options will be offered, subscribe will be a blend of iUP and Financing.