Apple is so stupid not to update the iPod mini

[dferigmu]

Great Ignorant Indris! Rio is catching up?? You have got to be kidding me. If anything, they are falling further and further behind. Just check out what some of the analysts are predicting for iPod sales over the next couple of years. Remarkable growth.

What I don't understand is why you don't buy a Rio or Dell? As you pointed out their stats are superior to the mini. And why would you want to own a "over-priced, underperforming product"?

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

Here's my opinion on the matter:

Apple will update the iPod mini on the same time-cycle as the regular iPod; that is, however much time elapsed between the introduction of the 3G iPod and the iPod mini will be how much time elapses between the introduction of the 4G iPod and the 2G iPod mini. Also, as far as Apple's concerned, the 2G iPod mini must have enough things better about it to make people buy one instead of a used 1G iPod mini - Apple probably doesn't think that we've reached that point yet. Hopefully, both come at the same time, and Apple releases the 2G iPod mini right when the rumor sites thought it would.

 

[26139]

Yeah, well..

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

I agree, but the average update time is about a year and minis are flying off the shelves still. Is that a mistake? The late arriving iMac G5 was a mistake, the 30" distribution issues were mistakes, but not wuickly updating one of the hottest techie products ever? Um....

 

[Inkmonkey]

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

Great Business Bernhardi Monkeys! Apple has made their fair share of mistakes throughout the years. Just take a look at their computer marketshare.
But not updating the mini because dferigmu wants it updated isn't necessarily one of those mistakes. You need to think about these decisions from a business and marketing standpoint. Not from a personal standpoint.
Many before me have eloquently outlined the business reasons that drive the mini not having been updated as of yet.

 

[rozwell]

Uh, this doesn't make a whole lotta sense. And yes, that iPod photo is a huge joke, no one is buying those....
Do you seriously believe that looks and brands are not everything to most consumers? Ever taken any kind of business or marketing class?

to most consumers yes, but to people who know what they are buying and actually understand it it doesn't matter, but to apple, the mindless masses will put them on top again, unless they f*** up... again.

 

[mklos]

The iPod mini is stuck at 4 GB of storage, 8 hours battery life, and no extras. I mean, look at the competition! Is Apple really this dumb? There's only so long an overpriced, underperforming product can keep it's cool-factor.

Dell Pocket DJ
5 GB
10 hours battery life
$199

Rio Carbon
5 GB
20 hours battery life
Voice recording
$249

Virgin Player
5 GB
FM tuner
Dual headphone jacks
$249

Creative Zen Micro
5 GB
12 hours battery life
FM tuner/recorder
Voice recorder
$249

Funny thing is.....Its the top selling item on the Apple Online Store. Hmmm....Who's stupid now???? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[Inkmonkey]

to most consumers yes, but to people who know what they are buying and actually understand it it doesn't matter, but to apple, the mindless masses will put them on top again, unless they f*** up... again.

Great Marketing Macaques! So if you own a business and want to make the most revenue possible who are you going to try and sell to? The couple hundred geeks who want an FM radio, mike, and GPS in the iPod mini or the millions ("mindless masses") who just want the cool item du jour?

 

[mj_1903]

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

I wouldn't say that exactly. Sure, trend has something to do with it, but a lot of the sales are because the iPod and iPod mini are the best on the market, not only in the player but in the integration with the computer, the ease of use and all the other small things that make Apple products great.

Yes Creative has a competitor that has more bells and whistles, but is it easier to use? Does it work with one of the best jukeboxes around? Does the interface on the device work?

More often than not a competitor will get one of those questions right and that is all. The iPod gets all of them right.

After those facts you have of course the iPod economy. There are so many people with vested interests in the iPod, like myself, that it is simply not possible for it not to be a success. Just compare the number of peripherals and cases for the Creative Zen to any of the iPod's.

 

[Ugg]

The only reason iPod and iPod mini are doing so well is because they're trendy. As we all know, trends don't last forever. Apple needs to work on making their products better than the competition, not just making them look pretty. Stop being a blind Apple fanboy. True mac fans will admit their company's mistakes.

I'm not sure that Apple is currently making any mistakes. The mini will be updated in the near future of that there is no doubt. The fact that the second largest selling hard drive based mp3 player is the HP iPod says quite a bit about the competition. iTMS is simply the best source for online music and it plays with few or no problems on all iPods with the least restrictive licensing of any music service.

Will prices come down? Well, eventually but due to the economies of scale in manufacturing they are probably making more per unit than any other maker. As long as their market share remains above 50% they would be stupid to cut the price. Do they need an entry level flash based player? Probably, but their profits will be razor thin so it makes sense for them to hold off for as long as possible.

I disagree with your trendiness assertion. The iPod works and works well, could it be improved, certainly but can't all things? The iPod and the iTMS are successful simply because they are the best available. Should another player and service start to dominate, then and only then would Apple be stupid not to lower prices or radically change their business model. Take a look at any financial analysis of Apple over the last couple of months, nobody, but nobody thinks Apple is stupid.

Some people wouldn't know a good thing even if it slapped them in the face.

 

[dongmin]

$199 minis are around the corner. Just not before MWSF. Why would Apple bother when they're barely keeping with demand at $249???

$149 flash ipods should make their debut sometime next year, but I wouldn't bet on it for MWSF. Maybe sometime in the summer, before the back-to-school season.

Some analysts are expecting 13 million plus ipods to be sold next year. Apple will have sold over 20 million ipods over 2+ years at an average price of $300. (How does it compare to the Playstatio 2?) I'd say A LOT of people are 'Apple's bitches.' More than 10% of the US population? Kind of scary to think about.

i would say you are now Apples bitch. its a portable music player. who buys a device which could easily be stolen, crushed, and so damn trendy anyway that costs $249 for the mini and $299 for the original, not to mention the biggest joke of the $499 photo iPod. come on people, looks aren't everything nor are brands.