Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

[Techwatcher]

Functionally, this and the sock product seem interesting, but then they're priced at $150 - $200 instead of $10 and it instantly becomes a stupid product.

 

[Guacamole]

too early for April's fools

 

[segfaultdotorg]

They missed the chance to call it the iHole.

 

[Anaxarxes]

Apple makes up their cost estimates to make profit

They calculate an operational income, asses their financial structure and crate a net profit margin. That with the market dynamics and competitive landscape creates the MSRP.

 

[satchmo]

"The grip was designed through an extensive interview process to support varied ways of holding iPhone while reducing the effort needed to keep it steady." ​

Yet they don't have any photos of a person holding the grip.

 

[attila]

How is this cheaper than a sock?

 

[aaronito]

And already sold out

 

[Icehawk]

Get Sir Patrick Stewart to reprise his role for the iPoop stand commercial.

 

[Morod]

And already sold out

Cue P.T. Barnum.

 

[laptech]

So many negative comments. It's exhausting.

Many years ago, my dad owned a pawn shop, and I helped him for a few years. Not a day went by without someone asking, "What is this worth?" The one truism I took away from this experience is, "It's worth whatever you're willing to pay."

Regardless of what you think of this particular item, someone will find value in it.

No, in such a shop an item is worth what the shop owner thinks it is worth. I've done this many times, said I think an item is worth x amount, still a decent price but the shop owner says 'nope, it's worth more'.

It is therefore not a case of what a buyer is willing to pay, it is what the shop owner 'wants' the buyer to pay. There is a big difference.

 

[crisneat]

It is remarkable that a company known for such precision and restraint can also approve something that looks this clumsy. The accessory feels more like a student sculpture experiment than a considered design. I genuinely wonder what Jony Ive would think if he saw it

 

[Zensō]

OK, Apple is just straight up trolling us now.

 

[Graphate]

Due to manufacturing volume, probably made for less than a $1 via injection molded process but sold for $69.95 because customers like to be ripped off.

Accessibility for the rich, so that the ultra rich become ultra rich plus.

There are extra processes to make it work with MagSafe. Not saying the margin is not still high, just pointing out that $1 won’t cover it. The magnet probably costs more than the moulded part.

$70 for a chunk of silicone.

Incredible stuff.

All of these comments: that was similar to my initial thought too, then I thought this is a very tiny market. How many would I need to sell to make it “worth it” to design and manufacture? The low volume would make it cost more (even if just 2$ vs 1$), but the low volume would also mean: where is the balance point where I am better off not “doing it”, than “doing it”.

I think, they probably hope to sell 1,000. They might have only made that many, cost of production, shipping, liability, returns, etc. $60 doesn’t seem too far fetched.

I would like to see the numbers or more accurate than my “stabs in the dark.”

 

[Parowdy]

Due to manufacturing volume, probably made for less than a $1 via injection molded process but sold for $69.95 because customers like to be ripped off.

*Impaired customers

 

[Parowdy]

OK, Apple is just straight up trolling us now.

By offering a grip attachment for impaired people?

 

[Zensō]

By offering a grip attachment for impaired people?

There is already an entire ecosystem of assistive MagSafe accessories that serve this function, most of which also don’t require removing the accessory to charge the phone, at around 25% of the price. The obvious, cynical sales pitch here is the “designer” label.

 

[jlc1978]

Who in their right mind would be stupid or tasteless enough to buy such a hideous thing? Probably the ugliest accessory ever commissioned by Apple.

Perhaps someone who has difficulty gripping an iPhone but wants to use one?

I do think it is overpriced.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Too cheap, wanted to give Apple $499. Your loss, Apple.

 

[DotCom2]

What's that bulge in your pocket? Are you happy to see me? oh

 

[x-evil-x]

China copies probably 2$

 

[ayephoner]

There is already an entire ecosystem of assistive MagSafe accessories that serve this function, most of which also don’t require removing the accessory to charge the phone, at around 25% of the price. The obvious, cynical sales pitch here is the “designer” label.

I don't see the issue with the design at all, that you seem to. It looks like a good product for what it is designed.

The only issue is to have a known designer make it as a limited, anniversary product, slap her name on it, and mark it up. But the product is right in line with her other products, so it's really not that surprising.

3d ergonomic phone cases designed as a grip, phone stand & protection.

Bailey Hikawa creates 3D ergonomic iPhone cases in Los Angeles, California. Grip, phone stand and art object in one. Finally, design meets function in a phone case. Bailey Hikawa Studio designs functional artful objects for everyday use.

www.baileyhikawa.com

(if you're somehow offended by this grip, check out her other cases... and toilet seats)

 

[Dr McKay]

It looks 100% exactly like the brackets we have on IV poles here at the hospital I work at. Just needs a set screw. They even have that recycled plastic look.

Inspired by modern sculpture, my ass; it was inspired by Stryker and STERIS. 😂

I used to work at a mental hospital and it looks almost exactly like the waterproof flooring we had installed in the patients en suite bathrooms, just a lighter shade of blue.

 

[TVreporter]

Why is the phone resting on a block of moldy cheese?

 

[macduke]

Due to manufacturing volume, probably made for less than a $1 via injection molded process but sold for $69.95 because customers like to be ripped off.

Gotta love ripping off people with disabilities. They are often known for being the richest people in our society who love buying high-end fashion accessories.

 

[ThisIsMike]

I’m starting to get into these. lol I want whoever is smoking enough £h!t to come up with these accessories to take a stab at the macbook air. 😂