Agreed! Apple could increase margins on the Beats headphones they already sell in their stores and probably decrease the cost of manufacturing!
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Apple in Talks to Acquire Beats Electronics for $3.2 Billion [Updated]
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Agreed! Apple could increase margins on the Beats headphones they already sell in their stores and probably decrease the cost of manufacturing!
When is the last time you saw any marketing or branding with regards to Beats that wasn't part of some other product?
If anything, Android makers like HTC and some laptop makers like HP will have to kiss their Beats affiliation goodbye.
This deal makes complete sense in the context of acquiring a fast-growing brand name.
However, Apple needs to be cautious about the following:
However, Apple needs to be cautious about the following:
- Dr. Dre is not going to stick around promoting these forever. He'll move on to the next thing. (Jay-Z moved on to other clothing companies after selling Rocawear, as soon as his last contractual obligation expired).
- HTC already bought Beats once. It didn't work well for them (I agree that Apple is a different case though).
- Apple could have easily created its own strong brand for headphones.
- Apple has all the technology it needs to create great headphone hardware. The innovation that Beats brought to the table is solid booming base. The kind of base that only hip-hop needs. Beats grew quickly in the hip-hop community because of three reasons acting simultaneously: (1) Dr. Dre's name, (2) hip-hop music sounds great with increased base, and (3) the people in the hip-hop community are trend-following to the extreme.
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Beats headphones are pretty good
Don't understand the hate for Beats. I have had Solo HD's for over three years of every day usage of about 6hrs (yup, I listen to a lot of music/podcasts). Best headphones and investment I've ever made. Plus the streaming service looks real nice - Beats have style as does Apple. Better than buying gray geeky no-name headphone companies and only then turning them into something nice.
Sorry to oppose almost everyone, but I really hope this one goes through.
Don't understand the hate for Beats. I have had Solo HD's for over three years of every day usage of about 6hrs (yup, I listen to a lot of music/podcasts). Best headphones and investment I've ever made. Plus the streaming service looks real nice - Beats have style as does Apple. Better than buying gray geeky no-name headphone companies and only then turning them into something nice.
Sorry to oppose almost everyone, but I really hope this one goes through.
I have no experience with their headphones, but honestly, I think the value of this (possible) acquisition is their streaming service. I've been using Beats to stream music for the last month or so, and going back to iTunes is like listening to music with an Excel spreadsheet.
I also prefer Sennheiser. The thing is, I need new in ears every 6-12 months. They just can't figure out how to make a sturdy 3.5mm connector. They change their design all the time. No success so far.
Wow why the hate? What makes this a worthless acquisition? Beats Brand is doing very well and has a core following...despite how you true "audiophiles"feel about the quality(they have improved) the average consumer is not concerned about all that dissecting decibels,frequencies etc
I agree. All in all it appears that a lot of people (who don't just jump on the hate bandwagon) don't mind the quality but the price tag and the marketing behind them, whatever that means.
Together with the patent regarding head phones w/ sensors a while ago Apple could improve their existing head phone technology quite a bit if done right - if the potential deal would affect the hardware business at all
This makes no sense at all. In fact don't believe a word of it.
Apple buy Technology not brands. And well... The technology is nothing new at all.
They presumable have much more power when it comes to deals with the music industry than even Dr Dre!
Apple buy Technology not brands. And well... The technology is nothing new at all.
They presumable have much more power when it comes to deals with the music industry than even Dr Dre!
Oh this rumor is true, and it's crazy.
If Apple wants to get into streaming, they should buy Spotify. Seems like a more natural fit.
If Apple wants to get into streaming, they should buy Spotify. Seems like a more natural fit.
Try out Bose's noise canceling headphones. The sound is better, as well as filtering out outside noises. Beats are known for their 'swag' and heavy bass.
Apple on the other hand is a luxury brand. I can't see swagalicious luxury go hand in hand.
Sure, if you're ok with battery powered headphones. Get yourself a Shure earphone anywhere over $100 and your life will change. I have the SE846s and I've never heard music so good, it's like sex for my ears.
Well, I hope that means first-party bluetooth and/or noise cancelling headphones.
I mean, if true, Apple wouldn't just rebrand their existing products. They never do that with acquisitions. They would use the acquihired people and their own people to iterate and come up with something of their own. I'm certain they can come up with something reasonable.
I mean, if true, Apple wouldn't just rebrand their existing products. They never do that with acquisitions. They would use the acquihired people and their own people to iterate and come up with something of their own. I'm certain they can come up with something reasonable.
They forgot part of the headline...
Apple in Talks to Acquire Beats Electronics for $3.2 Billion, then promptly will shutter it.
Apple in Talks to Acquire Beats Electronics for $3.2 Billion, then promptly will shutter it.
Brutal.
Let's hope this is just for offering an iTunes streaming service and nothing else. Even still, this strikes me as weird. Surely Apple has more leverage than having to buy into streaming?
Hopefully (if this is true) we won't be seeing some hideous fashion earphones with pronounced bass and an apple logo on them costing $400 a pop.
I'm calling BS on this tho. It doesn't fit the way apple acquires companies in terms of either IP or what they pay for companies.
Let's hope this is just for offering an iTunes streaming service and nothing else. Even still, this strikes me as weird. Surely Apple has more leverage than having to buy into streaming?
Hopefully (if this is true) we won't be seeing some hideous fashion earphones with pronounced bass and an apple logo on them costing $400 a pop.
I'm calling BS on this tho. It doesn't fit the way apple acquires companies in terms of either IP or what they pay for companies.
I don't understand the surprise at the rumor - I've been expecting this for many months. Beats headphones sound horrible, but they look great IMO. Beats Music is an awesome service that Apple was reported to have an interest in when they launched in January. Apple has long been very passionate about music. It fits.
They obviously aren't interested in the company for their overpriced plastic neck candy, people. This would be a quick and easy way to add a [rather successful] music rental service to iTunes. Plus, even tho the headphones blow, they sell. Quite a nice source of bonus cash. They wouldn't associate the Apple name with the headphones. They would just receive the income. Chill out.
So in 4 years, Beats has built audio technology that Apple doesn't have the capacity to re-create?
More of an indictment on Apple than anything else.