Apple Pushing iPhone Upgrades During Holiday Shopping Season

[dampfnudel]

Let's be honest.
Mobile phone makers are now looking at heatpipes (some already use them) to cool the CPUs

No matter what you do, it's a tiny chip, stuck in a phone case and it's going to get HOT.
In a perfect world your phone would be your only computer, but heat is a killer.

We are reaching the limits of how much heat a phone can deal with.
Shame..........

We may get to a point where we get a new CPU every 2 or 3 years so maybe the iPhone 8 will get the same Axx CPU as the iPhone 7s with a new CPU as an incentive to purchase an 's' model along with a new color option. Frankly, just like PCs having CPUs that more powerful than necessary for most users, we're reaching or have reached that point with smartphones. The A9 is a beast of a CPU which should be more than most people need for the next 3 years or more. Even the A8 has more power than what most people need for all apps and games currently available and most in development. Developing CPUs with materials/designs that can deal with thermal issues may make the product too expensive, at least for the near-future.

Anyway, these targeted pop-up upgrade ads are definitely a sign that 6s sales are not as robust as Apple had hoped for. Welcome to a fully mature smartphone market where Apple has to to turn to tricks that previously Android phone makers were known for. I think there's a good chance that Apple will reduce iPhone prices next year with a 32GB iPhone 7 starting at $549. Maybe $449 by the time the 7s arrives.

 

[naeS1Sean]

Everyone with newer devices gets those. Usually when you say no or skip it doesn't show up anymore. If it doesn't stop for some reason, perhaps downloading or at least starting to and then deleting the apps should stop it.

Thanks. I'll try that.

 

[HighDesert50]

Give me a new/improved 4-inch iPhone and I'll upgrade today.

Agreed!

 

[neutralguy]

Apple is pushing iphone upgrades during the holiday season? No kidding.... I wonder if Vizio is going to try to sell any TVs this holiday season as well??? Groundbreaking news right here....hahahaha

Yeah. And I don't think when you turn on Vizio tv, it will show you an ad to buy the 65" one.

 

[DoctorKrabs]

If you're one of those people who say it's fine because you can skip the ad, you obviously don't know Apple's significance in the consumer tech world. The whole reason anyone would consider Apple would be to pay a premium and get more respect in return, i.e. no ads, no bloatware, no bull****. Why would I even consider Apple if they don't do this now? I have a Windows 8.1 PC that has an annoying Windows 10 upgrade promo in my task tray that I'll never accept. It's equally scummy, but it's Microsoft and they're known for it. They don't have high expectations. It's not good to see the same level of annoying scumminess from Apple.

 

[Poochi]

Yes, true enough. I've always paid a premium for Apple gear but felt I got good value for money. But I was just thinking of the growing nickel-and-diming in other areas that is starting to get to me. Like 5gb free space in iCloud despite owning several devices or $1.30 a month for 50gb more, $28 (CAD) for iTunes Match, $15 for Apple Music. It's like they need to consolidate all of this into one streamlined iCloud service.

Then in hardware, things like 16gb base storage in new phones, iPad 4 only a few months after iPad 3 (which I got burned on), and the fact that something as cheap as the strap for the new Apple TV remote is $17 and not a pack in. Gotta maintain those margins I guess, grow that cash pile.

I start to feel dislikes with Apple...

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Yes ladies, gentlemen, and others, this is not SJ's Apple anymore.

Indeed.

I think you got the wrong emoji, though; you surely meant this one:

This tacky pop-up advertisement of Apple smacks of poor iPhone 6s sales. Oh how the mighty are fallen.

Tim Cook needs to read Ozymandias.

 

[Glideslope]

Just had that popup ad myself when I opened the App Store app. Seemed very... odd. Could just be a coincidence, but it's not exactly helping quell the rumour about slumping iPhone sales to see a sudden change of sales tactic like this.

"Well darcyf, we prefer not to mention specific numbers in our forecasts ." Tim.

 

[AppleScruff1]

According to Apple, we are not the product. This is exactly why people rail against Google. Targeted advertising.

But that's different. It's OK if Apple does it because they have your best interest at heart.

 

[MH01]

Can you get this ad outside of US?

Pop up ads are the worst form of advertising. I've had many discussions with sales about how intrusive their are , and cause the opposite effect. Very surprised someone in apple approved this, geez seems the wheels are coming off in 2015. Apple in my opinion is entering the Sony cruise mode, when Sony were top dog. So it took three years .....

 

[Topperdog1973]

Can you get this ad outside of US?

Pop up ads are the worst form of advertising. I've had many discussions with sales about how intrusive their are , and cause the opposite effect. Very surprised someone in apple approved this, geez seems the wheels are coming off in 2015. Apple in my opinion is entering the Sony cruise mode, when Sony were top dog. So it took three years .....

Tim Cook is a master of the excel spreadsheet, and he is not a person who can innovate. After all this time at the head of Steve's ship, this sort of tactic is expected. I wonder if that woman running the Apple Store was the genius behind this. It smells like the wonderful idea of a person with a great "sales" degree would drum up.

 

[thinkkode]

For the tech savvy, these forced ads look lame but I'm sure the innocent were trapped. Not everyone knows the value of their old iPhone, so Apple may be smiling at all these comments!

I personally think though that the 6S did a ton of business and they are just trying to beat expectations big time.

 

[weave]

So how does the trade-in work in-store? It certainly sounds like you take it in and get the credit on the spot. Which is a lot better that the AT&T Next fiasco of dropping your phone into the mail and hoping they don't lose it, then praying they credit you appropriately. I wonder if there are any catches that can come back to bite you later.

 

[ILikeAllOS]

Breaking news: Company advertises their products!

 

[CmdrLaForge]

At times I find Apples marketing rather aggressive. Nothing wrong with market your products. Too much in my face sometimes. Not always.

Usually I enjoy Apples marketing. I even watch their ads on purpose because I like them. But when I get the feeling that I am aggressively pushed my reaction is usually the opposite of what the marketing tries to achieve.

 

[JackieInCo]

Am I the only one who gets the App Store pop up to download Apple apps, like Pages and Numbers? It's nearly everyday.

All of those apps were already installed on my 128GB 6S+. I deleted all of them.

 

[MH01]

Yes but he is implying that apple is charging 600 for phones that advertise "no pop up ads". Apple has never ever said you will not see ads with our phones.

Also an equally equipped phone on another platform would be the Galaxy s6...about 500 bucks, so not really much cheaper considering the different storage sizes between the two. In that case there are plenty of flip phones that have no ads on them at all...go join a Star-tac forum.

Just checked Amazon.co.uk Samsung s6 32 £350, iPhone 6s 16, £515.

Quite a difference .

I love how people are now defending advertising one step closer to google....

I'll be honest , I pay a premium £ for my apple handset, and it's been a premium unit and experience .

it's kind of buying a pro version of an app, or TV service to get rid of the ads, and down the track they introduce the ads anyway, you kinda Which brings us to this thread on MR.

Google has great support forums for ads you might want to join... Sing the praises of this ad campaign. People at Google are smiling right now .....

 

[justinhu8]

Would Steve Jobs have ever done this?

 

[GuitarDTO]

I sold all of my Apple stock about a year ago at 127...not because of any unhappiness in their products (although there have been a few annoyances here and there), but because their stock price is all about the iPhone. As the smartphone market matured it was inevitable that Apple would eventually lose some steam in the iPhone train. This advertising gimmick is just another indication. I suspect I am like many others, I no longer have the need/want to upgrade my phone every year or even every other. I'm perfectly happy with my 6plus. What Apple and other manufacturers want is for us consumers to replace these things every single year, which is ridiculous.

Quite honestly I probably would have considered upgrading to a 6s if they would have improved the battery (I'm sort of interested in downsizing to the regular size phone instead of the plus).

 

[EliasM]

Phones are at the point like PCs where the upgrade is not needed that often anymore.

You'd think, but that's not right. The hardware simply doesn't survive longer than two years, and even those two years can only be achieved with numerous repairs.

Source: my own experience with an iPhone 3G and an iPhone 5. And I actually take care of my stuff.

 

[JackieInCo]

You'd think, but that's not right. The hardware simply doesn't survive longer than two years, and even those two years can only be achieved with numerous repairs.

Source: my own experience with an iPhone 3G and an iPhone 5.

I have never had an iPhone in for repair. I still have my 32GB white iPhone 3GS that still works and holds a charge. I still have and use my 5S purchased two years ago.

 

[npmacuser5]

Phones are at the point like PCs where the upgrade is not needed that often anymore.

Additionally, the new way of purchasing the phones shows the actual cost. More in your face then the previous two year contracts. Now those that choose even the interest free are seeing a significant bill each month. A family of four could easily add $160 a month onto their monthly billing. One could argue a good deal but still in your face each and every month. The result maybe more users holding onto perfectly good phones as noted above.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

It's a bad idea from all perspectives.



People go to the App Store looking for software. It makes no sense to push an ad for hardware in a software store.

Well, isn't that what every retailer would like? Stop in for x and leave with xyz. Although, an iPhone is quite an add on!

Full page ads are always annoying. Even when you expect ads, that full page with having to look around to see how to dismiss it always irks me.

 

[EliasM]

I have never had an iPhone in for repair. I still have my 32GB white iPhone 3GS that still works and holds a charge. I still have and use my 5S purchased two years ago.

I've heard this of other people, and I simply don't get how that's possible. Or could I really have had the bad luck to buy a bad phone twice in a row? Not very likely, because the first one was even replaced a couple of times. Therefore I still think iPhones are pretty much disposable devices.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Yes, these are i'm sure the same people who get angry at iAds . Just accept it and press that button...

How dare Apple advertise on *their own phone*

What? Apple can advertise all they want on *their own phone* but not my phone. At least Amazon is honest about it and gives you a discount if you buy the version of Kindle that comes with ads. You also have the option to pay full price for an ad free version.