Apple Slashes iPhone 5 Part Orders Due to Weak Demand

[macUser2007]

I actually like the iPhone 5. Better than the iPhone 4S.

But there are things I like better on the Galaxy Nexus I still have:

* The ability to change keyboards: The stock Apple keyboard is kind of bleh, doesn't have number keys on the main page and it doesn't have the long-press button options on some of the keyboards available for Android.

** Multi-tasking: I never thought I'd miss that one, but i go running and when it's dark, I use the phone LEd as a flashlight. I also run Endomondo sports tracker (which is a rather poor option, but Noom Cardio Trainer is not available for iOS). Well, I have not been able to find an iOS flashlight app which runs in the background, so I have to keep using my Galaxy Nexus (which also has a noticeably more powerful LED).

*** Screen size: Yeah, I'd like a little more, it's just better. Not 5" or anything, but a bit more than 4".

Overall, I like the iPhone 5 a little better than the Galaxy. The hardware is way better designed and it feels better made. The OS is also more polished and better designed, but some customization options (like keyboard selection) are long overdue.

If Apple does get on the ball, Android will eat their lunch at some point in the future.

 

[gijoeinla]

Doesn't matter, it's the Wall Street Journal and investors take its reporting seriously. I mean shoot, if a rumor in a piece of garbage like DigiTimes can drive the stock down certainly something like this coming from WSJ will do so. If this story is garbage it's up to Apple to say so.

Apple will say it. Like other analysts are saying. "Apple Likely To Crush Analyst Estimates With 53 Million Q1 iPhone Shipments". So you really think they had a ****** first quarter that will bleed into the next? And mind you this all on speculation. What if a hot new product is refreshed in Feb or March? A major iPad update? I mean you seem to act like the company will stand still and reveal
Nothing.. Highly doubtful. They way enter the iwatch space ... A device that could itself ignite more iPhone interest we can all
Continue to speculate

Mon, Jan 14, 2013 | by Adam Levine-Weinberg
about: AAPL | includes: VZ, S, T

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I actually like the iPhone 5. Better than the iPhone 4S.

But there are things I like better on the Galaxy Nexus I still have:

* The ability to change keyboards: The stock Apple keyboard is kind of bleh, doesn't have number keys on the main page and it doesn't have the long-press button options on some of the keyboards available for Android.

** Multi-tasking: I never thought I'd miss that one, but i go running and when it's dark, I use the phone LEd as a flashlight. I also run Endomondo sports tracker (which is a rather poor option, but Noom Cardio Trainer is not available for iOS). Well, I have not been able to find an iOS flashlight app which runs in the background, so I have to keep using my Galaxy Nexus (which also has a noticeably more powerful LED).

*** Screen size: Yeah, I'd like a little more, it's just better. Not 5" or anything, but a bit more than 4".

Overall, I like the iPhone 5 a little better than the Galaxy. The hardware is way better designed and it feels better made. The OS is also more polished and better designed, but some customization options (like keyboard selection) are long overdue.

If Apple does get on the ball, Android will eat their lunch at some point in the future.

Enuff said..

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

So does Apple respond to this story or not?

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/02/apple-to-announce-1q-2013-earnings-on-january-23/

 

[kis]

Switched to WP8. Fewer apps but much more fun to use. I like the iPhone but it's so outdated by now that it's going to be hard for Apple to catch up again (not talking hardware here - except for the screen that's still too small).

 

[MRU]

A lot of folks I know switched to the SGS3 when they were due an upgrade simpy because of the price of the iPhone 5 here.

On contract the SGS3 was given away for free on most contracts, here the 16GB iPhone 5 cost €279 on a €35-45 2 year contract.

The Pay as you go prices being higher than the iPhone 4S launch prices by significant margin was a big issue for many too.

So surely a wiser solution for apple to increase demand would be to drop €100 off the price of each capacity model handset.

 

[louis.b]

apple thinks anything with their logo will sell.
well obviously NOT!

suffer apple. everyone told u to put a bigger screen on it. but what did you do?
u go everything right except the tiny screen u put on.

yet that tiny phone beats all the other big ass Android phones.

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[/COLOR]

Probably because people feel the alternatives offer a better value proposition... like MicroSD and NFC (and to some extent a "fresh" GUI).

The next iPhone or the one after (iPhone 6) really needs to be aggressive or else Apple's marketshare will continue to dwindle and will be in jeopardy of becoming the next RIM.

Only Samsung still offers MicroSD. And in most parts of the world NFC is an unknown tech to most consumers. And how can Apple be the next RIM when Samsung, ZTE and Huawei are probably the ONLY major ANdroid manufacturers who have seen growth in profit.

Ask HTC, Sony, LG and MOtorola how well their Android phones have been selling.

 

[SomeDudeAsking]

That's pure speculation. And no I don't believe that one if Apples "own" partners would put out info like this. No way. The Wall Street Journal -- prestigious ? The same ones that swore two days ago it hand first hand info that Apples own Phil Shiller dispelled rumors of a cheap iPhone? Later to site it as bogus?? It ain't so prestigious as you seem to believe anymore.. Heard of Rupert Murdoch? It's his paper. Enuff said.

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Cheers! Finally someone with a sense of reality. And why is this coming at the perfect storm hour? After 6p PST just in time to properly circulate before opening.

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This just posted in seeking alpha..Apple Likely To Crush Analyst Estimates With 53 Million Q1 iPhone Shipments

Mon, Jan 14, 2013 | by Adam Levine-Weinberg
about: AAPL | includes: VZ, S, T

So what would indicate a cut of half next quarter???!!! I don't believe it

I would make more fun of your whacky conspiracy thinking and your hypocritical agreement with a random source from a third rate site but I'm too busy reading about the tragic death of Aaron Swartz caused by the out of control US government.

 

[everything-i]

Haven't the last few weeks (even months) been filled with rumors like "Apple to update iPhone even sooner than expected"? Wasn't there talk of a 5S, even a 6, already under development?

So how is this a surprise to anyone?

The 5S and 6 will be under development but when they are going to be released is the issue here. Analysts FUD is now starting the hurt the company with their spin about release dates. No one knows when these devices are going to be released except for Apple's own people at this stage. There have been precious little leaked components for the 5s and apart from an early production run rumour which has failed to develop into anything more solid its anyone's guess at the moment what is actually going on. That doesn't stop the rumour mill from coming up with baseless predictions.

 

[denaliOnDubs]

... Right... That's it. Apple Maps...

If it wasn't for Maps, Apple wouldn't have needed a scale-down.

Sad, but true, that a really nice upgrade was ruined by one program.

 

[zhandri]

and when i said they'd lose costumers if they start releasing products every 6 months everybody told me i was crazy....

people are already waiting for the 5S/6 whatever it will be called.

 

[Bezetos]

(...) Apple is looking to launch its next-generation iPhone in the middle of this year as part of a broader effort to shorten its product update cycles.

Even shorter update cycles? How about they wait a bit longer and release properly updated phones, instead of going with small iterations and only slightly updated phones? And I'm sure they've already learnt their lesson regarding what happens when you rush things out (Apple Maps...).

Such business strategy will only see income from diehard Apple fans from the middle and upper class who can afford and want to update their smartphones every time a new one appears, even if it's been less then a year since the last one.

 

[Renzatic]

... Right... That's it. Apple Maps...

I pretty much blame everything on Apple Maps. It's become a really nice hobby.

Stubbed my toe?

Apple Maps.

Girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend?

Apple Maps.

Garbage can knocked over outside and trash strewn all over the yard?

Scott Forstall in cahoots with raccoons, who used Apple Maps to find my house.

It's like I now have something in my life to focus all my hate on. THANKS APPLE!

 

[725032]

And so it begins... All good things must come to an end.

I sold a chunk of my APPL a few weeks ago... Will be dumping more very soon if this continues.

 

[HiRez]

Switched to WP8. Fewer apps but much more fun to use. I like the iPhone but it's so outdated by now that it's going to be hard for Apple to catch up again (not talking hardware here - except for the screen that's still too small).

Um...Apple catch up? I think you have things backwards...

 

[Overg]

I'm not surprised.

I usually try to judge these things based on anecdotal evidence, and from that perspective the iPhone 5 is a flop. Of course it depends on my location, place of work and a billion other factors, but in a modern busy city you see a lot of random people with their phones and occasionally you notice one.

I don't tend to see a lot of iPhone 5s around.

Personally, I'm not tempted to buy one, either. The iPhone today does basically the same things the iPhone 4 did, just faster. The iPhone 4 was as big of a shake-up as the iPhone's had since launch (and even then it was a new case and faster internals).

There hasn't been anything revolutionary. Nothing that really pushes the device to the next level or provides something radically different. NFC could do that, but in that case it's less about physically sticking it in to the phone and more about building up the infrastructure; unfortunately Apple doesn't seem to be doing anything there, and they don't seem to be doing anything else either.

As always, would love to be wrong, hope they have something really great. Unfortunately when you build your brand on innovative ideas, people expect you to keep delivering. When those ideas run out your brand will just lose steam.

Can't agree more, I own 4, and simply can't understand why to shell another 700$ for the same thing basically.
Finally people came to their senses, and understand that a phone with slightly bigger screen, isn't worth another 700$ investment.
Apple biggest mistake in this launch was that it released it with the same ios nothing new.
So people see a"new" phone with 1 more row of icons, so?

 

[mr.bee]

the iPhone 5 is my first iPhone and I love it.
I love the design more than the iPhone 4 and the bigger screen is much much better.
I played a lot with my brothers iPhone 4s and I can't help it to appreciate the 5 much more.

whatever the reason is to slash part orders, the iPhone 5 is a great product.

 

[billystlyes]

To be honest, I think Apple jumped the shark during the iPad mini press event. People seem really bored by iOS these days. The Mac lineup has sport of grown tired too. Throw that on top of a bad economy, and I think it will be a while before Apple rebounds to past glory.

 

[Mackan]

the iPhone 5 is my first iPhone and I love it.
I love the design more than the iPhone 4 and the bigger screen is much much better.
I played a lot with my brothers iPhone 4s and I can't help it to appreciate the 5 much more.

whatever the reason is to slash part orders, the iPhone 5 is a great product.

For newcomers it can be exciting to own a new iPhone. But for people having had an iPhone for 5 years, it's not so exciting anymore.

Perhaps Apple is finally feeling the pressure to do something about it. My guess, though, is that reports like these are part of the stock manipulation machine before the earnings call... and that a iPhone 5S is coming sooner than expected.

 

[Ramius]

No! Dont make a new iPhone yet! I want to have the best iPhone for atleast a year before you outdate it!

 

[TMay]

Switched to WP8. Fewer apps but much more fun to use. I like the iPhone but it's so outdated by now that it's going to be hard for Apple to catch up again (not talking hardware here - except for the screen that's still too small).

Sure, new kid on the block that W8. But for the last 5 years, Apple has been harvesting cash, and when Apple does a major rewrite of iOS down the road, including UI, then all the other guys will suddenly look outdated.

Same as it ever was.

 

[ChazUK]

Only Samsung still offers MicroSD.

O'rly?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMm6ubCc5h0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Want a newer newer phone?
http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/1/7/3847944/sony-xperia-z-zl-hands-on

What you won't find so easily are the ports on the Z. It's Micro USB, micro-SD, and SIM card slot are hidden under panels and flap doors.

 

[MichaelAdam]

History repeating

Stock down 25 % in three months due to performances
Iphone 5 sales slowing down
IOS not so innovative anymore with stronger competition coming up even from Nokia
Apple TV so limited in its functions
Cheaper Iphone denial (Iphone 4 is a cheaper iPhone in fact and still in place)
Windows 8 laptop tablets hybrid vs nothing from Apple

Come on Apple bring us

MacPro in rack
MacTouch (macbook doubling as a tablet)
A new IOS with customisation
A more open and versatile iPad (cant do proper attachement on emails is a disgrace a this point, not mentioning the fact we cant use usb port as well from HD)
App store for Apple TV
Iphone with a bigger screen for the one that dont want to have an ipad mini
bring back the old Ipod nano as a watch slimmer with connectivity with IOS

In few words bring innovation back and keep up with competition !! otherwise it will be history repeating

 

[Jamez1502]

Remember the days where apple weren't that bothered about 'slowing momentum' of competitors and just tried to make the best products it possible could?

 

[thomamon]

How am I suppose to believe this when Apple only just recently caught up w/the backlog of orders. Only a few weeks ago there was still a wait if you ordered online.

Give me a break...

 

[everything-i]

People are going iPhone 3G to iPhone 5. Mostly everyone else is holding pat because their iPhones "just work". Expect the next jump to be iPhone 4 users to the next iPhone after 5 (whenever that is). Partly because the lack of a GPU will tell sooner rather when later in overall performance.

Oh my gosh, sales of iPhones are slowing! Because most of the people in the current markets that have an iPhone have the one they want and it does what they want. The iPhone 4 and the step up to the iPhone 4S (with its GPU) do most of the current "Smart" tasks as well as they need to.

I do however agree that Apple needs to seriouslly take a look at iOS and different interface technologies. IMO it is the obsession with thinness and weight reduction that is going to eventurally kill the iPhone (and other iOS based products). Just as it was the obsession with over the top skeuomorphic design that is holding back iOS, that and the refusal to actually make workflow between Apps easier. At least Apple finally took the hint and put "Open In..." into the iOS iWorks Apps, which I take as an encouraging sign.

Some good points here, I know someone who has just purchased an iPhone 4, not a 4S, a 4 and is perfectly happy with it. Does everything she wants and is still a very well made device. The smart phone market has started to saturated in much of the US and Europe and the new features in new devices are for the most part pointless to the vast majority of users, faster processor, faster GPU, more cores and more memory are pointless to them. Apples phones are very well made with many people owning 3GS phones still having a perfectly usable device that they are still happy with. For most people there is just no reason to upgrade any more, the phone they have is all they need and in many cases more than they need.