Apple to Lure Android Users to iPhone With New Trade-In Program

[danakin]

For my own sense of satisfaction that a sleazy company got what was coming to it.

Not as in depth an answer as I was hoping for. You do realize there's no tangible gain there.

Good question!
It deserves a real answer.

Look... I applaud Samsung for their amazing stylus in Note 4. It's amazing & original. I respect their "glance to scroll" tech... it's innovative. I'd appreciate that from ANY company.

However...

When their 6 matches the Apple 6 by moving the ear jack to the bottom, getting rid of the removable battery, SD card slot, and waterproof ability - this type of cloning actually DISCOURAGES innovation!!!! As Jony said : (paraphased) "when we give up dozens of nights and weekends with our families over a period of months because we are creating and designing something unique and innovative; it is a direct and disgusting insult to our sacrifices and efforts when another company cobbles a quick product using our work as their prototype".

All "magical experience" talk aside... That's real.
Build your own stuff! Features in apps, OS, & even handsets can bleed over a bit... but we can all recognize when it's blatant.

No doubt there are a bunch of design elements, cues, whatever you want to call them that have been lifted from one manufacturer to another and yes, Samsung is a prime example. They did, however, have the rounded design - used by the iPhone 6, in 2012 on their Ativ models.

Who influenced, borrowed, or copied who? Who cares?

Jony's lamenting has become tedious. Every great artist (I consider designers artists as well as technicians) has had their work imitated; it's the way of the artistic world. Everything is an amalgam of what's come before or what has provided inspiration. Hell, if John Bonham and Steward Copeland heard my drumming they'd sue my butt off...

Nothing personal but when I read such dogmatic missives about companies it just strikes me as, dare I say, sad.

 

[mpavilion]

Features like widgets have been on Android for so long, you can hardly accuse Apple of stealing Google's idea. Plus, you can hardly credit Google with inventing widgets, particularly the implementation of widgets as it currently is on iOS.

Haha, what? Because it took *so long* for Apple to finally introduce things like widgets and notification center, it's no longer reasonable to point out that those features were inspired by Android? (It would be one thing if Google had patented those features and Apple adopted them once those patents expired, but that's not the case, AFAIK.)

Keep in mind, I'm glad Apple finally got around to adding those features, and think this whole "who-copied-who" argument is silly.

 

[AustinIllini]

It's sad that Apple feels like they have to resort to this.

There is nothing particularly sad about it. Apple is still going strong. I'm glad they are doing this.

 

[Oldmanmac]

Well, they DID poach employees……

What's so different?

 

[Sevanw]

The GS6/GS6 Edge certainly has them concerned. Rightfully so.

 

[Renzatic]

A $10 iTunes giftcard for your Samsung S5/S6.

No.

 

[LordVic]

The GS6/GS6 Edge certainly has them concerned. Rightfully so.

I'm really not sure why to be honest. the iPhone6 has been a resounding success for Apple in sales. record numbers, huge number of people who already shifted.

I dont think the S6 is going to win Apple users over to the Touchwiz / Galaxy camp. they're not bad looking devices, but, just don't see it happening.

And this deal doesn't make any effort to win over new customers. Those who don't have a device or are looking for their smart device wont get any discount, so they're back to square one comparing the S6 to the iPhone6

where I see this having an impact is former S3-5 users who bought their devices for specific Samsung features (Battery / SD Card), who without those features, might be more willing to try the iphone6 over S6

 

[thekeyring]

Haha, what? Because it took *so long* for Apple to finally introduce things like widgets and notification center, it's no longer reasonable to point out that those features were inspired by Android? (It would be one thing if Google had patented those features and Apple adopted them once those patents expired, but that's not the case, AFAIK.)

Keep in mind, I'm glad Apple finally got around to adding those features, and think this whole "who-copied-who" argument is silly.

I wasn't trying to excuse what Apple had done. I was trying to demonstrate Apple isn't hastily copying everything Google releases.

WWDC 2015 will not be Google I/O 2014 regurgitated, any more than Google I/O 2015 will be WWDC 2014 regurgitated.

 

[Oletros]

Well, they DID poach employees……

What?

 

[thekeyring]

The GS6/GS6 Edge certainly has them concerned. Rightfully so.

I don't think so. Look at how much media attention (both tech bloggers and the wider media) the Apple Watch took. All of this meant that Samsung and HTC had a harder time ensuring their new phones were what people were talking about.

Could you imagine Samsung announcing a new smart watch a week after the iPhone 6 was announced, and the same thing happening in reverse?

 

[sracer]

There is nothing particularly sad about it. Apple is still going strong. I'm glad they are doing this.

When they end up offering $25 for flagship Android phones I'd say that is sad.

I get the feeling that Apple isn't doing this with the expectation of drawing any current Android owners but simply for attention... and maybe to draw attention AWAY from the negative rMB buzz and TOWARD the iOS vs Android war (which is safer for Apple) fanboys of all persuasions jump at the chance for an OS War debate (as is evident in this thread) like a shark is attracted to blood in the water.

 

[AustinIllini]

When they end up offering $25 for flagship Android phones I'd say that is sad.

I get the feeling that Apple isn't doing this with the expectation of drawing any current Android owners but simply for attention... and maybe to draw attention AWAY from the negative rMB buzz and TOWARD the iOS vs Android war (which is safer for Apple) fanboys of all persuasions jump at the chance for an OS War debate (as is evident in this thread) like a shark is attracted to blood in the water.

Negative rMB buzz? lol.

 

[mpavilion]

I wasn't trying to excuse what Apple had done. I was trying to demonstrate Apple isn't hastily copying everything Google releases.

WWDC 2015 will not be Google I/O 2014 regurgitated, any more than Google I/O 2015 will be WWDC 2014 regurgitated.

Well, of course not (and apologies if I missed your original point). Still, again, I don't think anyone has to "excuse" what Apple has done -- as long as a developer/manufacturer is not infringing valid patents, it probably can and should adopt whatever works best for its users... even if those ideas are inspired by others! (Like the famous Ur-tale of Jobs and the Xerox PARC GUI, or whatevs.)

 

[sracer]

Negative rMB buzz? lol.

Ah yeah... I forgot. Apple loves buzz like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHZ8ek-6ccc

4,000,000+ views

It's far from the only video of its type, and then there are blog articles with a similar sentiment.

 

[HenryDJP]

This moves makes it like Apple is the underdog and needs to lure in android to switch. Which is not a bad move imo, and make Apple very competitive.

Apple IS the underdog. Despite Apple being on top when it comes to premium smart phones the fact remains there are many more EL-Cheapo Crap Android phones being sold which grabs up customers from Apple.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Mmm nope, pretty sure I got that right the first time.

Most of Apple's highly touted features made their debut on Android and Samsung devices first. We iOS users owe quite a lot to Google and Samsung.

That's funny.

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here we go again on this merrygoround.

why can't we just all finally just ****ing admit that all these companies borrow ideas constantly from eachother. cause thats what tech companies do. they borrow and build off eachother and drive competition.

it is good for everyone.

and holy crap bbeagle, you never get tired of trolling the same old crap do you

Android and iOS, sure. Not Samsung. They haven't had an original idea... ever.

 

[sracer]

Apple IS the underdog. Despite Apple being on top when it comes to premium smart phones the fact remains there are many more EL-Cheapo Crap Android phones being sold which grabs up customers from Apple.

LOL

How can a company be an underdog in a segment of a market it isn't competing in?

 

[the-msa]

Never use these trade in programmes. They only give you value of the physical materials/components. If the device is still working, sell it privately, you'll get more.

 

[AustinIllini]

Ah yeah... I forgot. Apple loves buzz like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHZ8ek-6ccc

4,000,000+ views

It's far from the only video of its type, and then there are blog articles with a similar sentiment.

Ho-Hum. Another one of these. Who cares?

 

[iPad Air]

Apple should have worded that "Get an Apple Store Gift Card for the value of your inferior device".

 

[nick42983]

At the end of each week they should dump all the Android phones in a giant blender in the middle of the store.

 

[MH01]

I can hear the Imperial Death March for Android.... Android is definitely on it's last legs.

Image

Is Apple the Empire? Spoiler alert, the rebels win!

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Apple should have worded that "Get an Apple Store Gift Card for the value of your inferior device".

Check out how much apple will pay for your iPhone, will make you feel like it's an inferior device also.

These trade in programs are for suckers with more money than common sense.

----------

LOL

How can a company be an underdog in a segment of a market it isn't competing in?

Clearly it's coming dead last with zero sales. Major underdog status there

 

[HenryDJP]

LOL

How can a company be an underdog in a segment of a market it isn't competing in?

I was referring to overall marketshare. While I generally don't use marketshare as way to define how well a company is doing, in this stance with Apple luring customers their way I would say they are trying to grab more marketshare.

 

[X-X]

.
iPhone 5s 64GB Space Gray - Brand New, Unlocked to All Carriers

OFFER FROM APPLE TRADE IN PROGRAM

Based on your assessment, we cannot offer any monetary value for your device. However, we offer free and environmentally friendly disposal.


hahahaha, no thanks, I'll "dispose" it myself.

This trade in program is a pure publicity joke.

 

[MH01]

Android and iOS, sure. Not Samsung. They haven't had an original idea... ever.

Samsung has no patents?? You must think Samsung only builds products that compete with Apple, silly satement mate.