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Apple Focusing on Existing Hardware Lines?
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Are they really going to cross-shop the two?
Is anyone really going to be choosing between an 8GB iPhone and a 100GB+ iPod Video. To my mind they don't overlap at all despite a possible physical resemblance.
Seems logical... The iPhone was a big 'un, maybe they need a break for a while
Is anyone really going to be choosing between an 8GB iPhone and a 100GB+ iPod Video. To my mind they don't overlap at all despite a possible physical resemblance.
Sorry, but that's not going to happen for a long, long, time. People like having their huge HD TVs with over 250 channels to chose from an any moment.tv essentially destroy that. It might work for singles who are busy working all day and don't have time for more than 1 or 2 TV shows a day, but for families, it's just is not feasible. ...Right now,
Apple doesn't have to get huge market share for this deal to work and for the cable/satellite carriers to suffer. The customers that Apple takes would be the good ones: high-income households that buy a lot of value-added features like HD.
Nobody watches 250 channels, and a fully on-demand service would actually be better than cable. Instead of 250 channels with nothing on, it would be one service with everything on. It would be like a giant DVR loaded up with everything you want to watch.
The only way
Apple could have allowed DVR functionality on either the Mac mini or
TV and elected not to. Apple is NOT going to go the DVR route unless they completely change the direction they're headed in right now. If you have a subscription plan with access to everything, you'll never need to DVR anything. You'll just select that show and watch it.
Apple won't make a TV. Period.
There's no reason for it. That's why they have
TV.Nobody watches 250 channels, and a fully on-demand service would actually be better than cable. Instead of 250 channels with nothing on, it would be one service with everything on.
Apple could have allowed DVR functionality on either the Mac mini orTV and elected not to. Apple is NOT going to go the DVR route unless they completely change the direction they're headed in right now. If you have a subscription plan with access to everything, you'll never need to DVR anything. You'll just select that show and watch it.[/QUOTE]
They might be able to get people to switch off cable, but frankly it is not very cost competitive right now. Right now I get to watch six+ shows a week plus maybe a couple of movies a week. I watch tennis when there is an Open and maybe a bit of soccer occasionally.
So what does iTunes let me do, movies cost how much? no matter how old they are. Can I watch soccer? What about tennis live? What about the Olympics? Then take my six shows a week (and that is pretty reasonable, about an hour of TV a night..). That is like $12 a week so $48 a month. And that doesn't count the occasional Antiques Roadshow, History Channel show, or whatever else catches my fancy. Is there Globe Trekker on there?
I am sure a lot of this stuff is coming, but the costs are too high right now to replace cable.
Apple could have allowed DVR functionality on either the Mac mini or
TV and elected not to. Apple is NOT going to go the DVR route unless they completely change the direction they're headed in right now. If you have a subscription plan with access to everything, you'll never need to DVR anything. You'll just select that show and watch it.[/QUOTE]They might be able to get people to switch off cable, but frankly it is not very cost competitive right now. Right now I get to watch six+ shows a week plus maybe a couple of movies a week. I watch tennis when there is an Open and maybe a bit of soccer occasionally.
So what does iTunes let me do, movies cost how much? no matter how old they are. Can I watch soccer? What about tennis live? What about the Olympics? Then take my six shows a week (and that is pretty reasonable, about an hour of TV a night..). That is like $12 a week so $48 a month. And that doesn't count the occasional Antiques Roadshow, History Channel show, or whatever else catches my fancy. Is there Globe Trekker on there?
I am sure a lot of this stuff is coming, but the costs are too high right now to replace cable.
I don't know if I agee with this line of thought. In my opinion, it makes more sense to bring out the 6G Widescreen Touchscreen iPod now.
Why?
If I'm planning on buying an iPhone in June, I'm gonna buy. I've got money for an expensive phone and I've got money for an expensive plan. If I'm buying $599 phone and agreeing to $1800 2 year contract (that's $75 x 24 mo), I'm agreeing to be ready to spend almost $2500 in the next 2 years.
Now if Apple releases the 6G iPod for $299-399, it's quite possible (since I've got cash) to go ahead and get used to the "experience" of the touchscreen technology that I'll have in 3-4 months. At which time, I either keep both units or I can decide to give that one away. It's an impulse move but it's "only" an extra $299-399, on top of the $2500 commitment their bracing for. And it's an extra $299-399 in Apple's pocket.
If the 6G iPod comes out AFTER the iPhone, those iPhone owners would most surely not cough up the additional money. They have their slick iPod experience in their phone and the wallet is shut.
If I'm NOT buying an iPhone in June, why not make a big splash in the 2nd quarter and get those not buying in the 3rd to at least throw money in the till now. It's $299-399 in Apple's pocket now.
I say, bring on the 6G iPod now, 'cause I ain't buying an iPhone in June!
Apple - adapting technology 1/2 way through the cycle after everyone else.
Typical.
Is there any reason why the current crop of Mac Pros aren't octo core by now? Apple didn't make enough money out of the old ones? They ordered too many from the factories and now they couldn't sell? Do we as consumers care?
Since they don't actually make the liquid crystal screens in their displays, the real no-brainer here is that it isn't as much of a cash cow for them to do this... Because they'll have to pay a considerable chunk to a third-party vendor for the screens in TV's that get re-badged as Apple products.
Other companies might go for this by dropping their retail and wholesale margins. But Apple generally maintains larger profit margins. Part of this is a brand positioning strategy. Apple intentionally keeps their price points high to correlate with the brand value... that they are a premium product.
To wit... the Lexus is nothing more than a re-badged Toyota with some additional, cheaply manufactured bells and whistles. But they won't brand it as a Toyota in the United States because affluent people are not inclined to pay upwards of $55,000 for a Toyota-branded vehicle.
Furthermore, additional compromises in materials, manufacturing and customer service would need to be made in order to keep costs down on a product that depends hugely on third-party hardware.
So, to compete in the TV market Apple would have to resort to operations management and marketing practices that would dilute the value of their brand and risk alienating their core customers.
The displays they make now are strategic because they tie directly to usability of products Apple makes. But note that they make premium displays with high industrial design factors, SWOP-certified LCD's, and they charge an assload for them. The ONLY displays they make are aimed largely at Apple's professional customers (e.g. music, film, prepress industries, etc.) with a nice side niche of their more affluent consumers. Given that the 30 inch Cinema HD monitor costs over $2000... Where do you suppose a 40 inch Apple HDTV with hard drive and CPU for an AppleTV-type UI is going to be priced?
A TV really isn't in their future... at least not without some serious re-tooling of the concept. If we redefine what a TV is, then you might actually have something. But really... Why do this at all when you can sell an Apple display AND a Mac... two high-quality, high-margin products instead of one mediocre-quality, low-margin product?
Existing ?
The iPhone and
Why not? They exist don't they? Or are you from some universe where iShip therefore iAm?
hmmm. I can see that, but I hope there's always a click-wheel ipod lying around. I can feel the wheel in a jacket pocket or such. With an iphone-style ipod, if you had to look at the thing every time you had to change volumes or skip a song I'd go mad.
Recent comments to Prudential analysts indicate that Apple will be focusing on their existing product lines, rather than breaking into any "new categories":
This may dash some hopes of those hoping that Apple would build the iPhone technologies into a tablet form factor. Even so, Apple could easily cross this technology into future iPods and stay true to this statement.
the term used here is macs, which covers three lines of desktops and two lines of notebooks by last count. without stretching things in this context apple could add a tablet or iPod or anything else that would fit in this very broad description of their product line.
apple could wait for a little and make it look better to just go for the iphone to boost iphone sales for a little wile.
Don't forget the xServe line! But then again, the xServe probably isn't for the average consumer.
They exist. They just haven't shipped.Existing ?
The iPhone and
smart
they've doubled from 2 to 4 product lines lately. This is smart of them so they can remain focused (and consumers can remain focused) on what they're doing. If you expand too fast, you might get burnt.
they've doubled from 2 to 4 product lines lately. This is smart of them so they can remain focused (and consumers can remain focused) on what they're doing. If you expand too fast, you might get burnt.
I think i will work out better, so they can focus on making better versions of there current products. they're a little behind on the iPod. But I think after leopard is released they are gonna kick out some great product revisions to take advantage of Leopard's features (core animation and other unannounced).
hmmm. I can see that, but I hope there's always a click-wheel ipod lying around. I can feel the wheel in a jacket pocket or such. With an iphone-style ipod, if you had to look at the thing every time you had to change volumes or skip a song I'd go mad.
I was thinking the exact same thing when I got word of a touch screen iPod. I really do love the clickwheel. I find it to be one of the best controls I've used on a PMP and I've used plenty. To take it away would sort of destroy the experience for me. I often FF through tracks and adjust volume by feel. I couldnt do that with a big rectangular touch surface.
One possible solution would be simple controls for pocket functions on the side of the iPod, similar to the volume control that's on the iPhone. It would solve the problem for blind controlling.
If Apple is a "high end" brand, then why not offer a high-end branded tv. B&O offer overpriced plasmas (tech wise) so you can get a bezel that matches the speakers. Apple could apply the same marketing.
I was thinking about this too, but I went a different way - what if you could use the touchscreen blindly? Imagine if you touch the screen with your index finger, and then slide your middle finger up and down. Maybe tap your middle finger to alternate between seeking and adjusting volume.
These are just off the top of my head, but I'm sure Apple designers have put more thought into this, and given their creative UI feats in the past, I trust that they could come up with something equally good.
Too bad iTunes doesn't offer HD content. If you want HD content on your TV, you still need cable.
Sure, a la carte channels would be nice (and I believe, what most customers want), but that isn't what iTunes offers. The iTunes Store offers a la carte episodes, giving the consumer too many choices, and forcing them to weigh each TV shows against the price (e.g. Is LOST really worth nearly $50 a year? Do I really need to watch Desperate Housewives? I'm not sure John stewart is worth the money. etc. etc.). This is not what most customers what - TV should be entertainment, not a business decision.
Once again, too bad Apple doesn't offer HD content.
Yes, that would be nice, but right now Apple doesn't offer a subscription service. Basically, what you just described is what I get from my cable service.Nobody watches 250 channels, and a fully on-demand service would actually be better than cable. Instead of 250 channels with nothing on, it would be one service with everything on. It would be like a giant DVR loaded up with everything you want to watch.
Apple could have allowed DVR functionality on either the Mac mini or
I think it is a good move by them. Just concentrate on their products they offer now. I think a tablet and a macbook pro 12" would be a waste of their time.
In other words after that while is up they will make TV's etc. And I can't wait
In other news Apple coughs, the world gets a cold.
apple brand big screen TV
I really wish Apple would sell an Apple branded big screen TV to hang on my wall.
I really wish Apple would sell an Apple branded big screen TV to hang on my wall.
I'd certainly pay a premium for a dammed sexy Apple brand TV to be sat pride of place in my living room and especially one that had 'Apple TV' functionality inside. If I could stream my mac's desktop or 'dock' my ipod into the top of it then that'd be the icing on the cake!
Sooner or later someone is going to do this and if Apple don't they're going to see their own loyal fanbase buying this kit from elsewhere...it's just totally obvious that in a years time HDTV's are going to have a Hard disk and wi-fi in them. These little gray boxes under the TV are all going to disappear eventually...where to? - inside the TV!
I mean, the name Apple TV is already confusing the crap out of 'non-apple' people!
Even if only 20% of their Apple fans bought one they'd surely be shipping a million of them a year!...
Sooner or later someone is going to do this and if Apple don't they're going to see their own loyal fanbase buying this kit from elsewhere...it's just totally obvious that in a years time HDTV's are going to have a Hard disk and wi-fi in them. These little gray boxes under the TV are all going to disappear eventually...where to? - inside the TV!
I mean, the name Apple TV is already confusing the crap out of 'non-apple' people!
Even if only 20% of their Apple fans bought one they'd surely be shipping a million of them a year!...