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Differentiation of Future iPhone Models to be Driven by Software?
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Apple running their company like Microsoft
like that's ever going to happen
Agree with this sentiment 100%.
This guy makes sense.
Apple should be hiring you as an analyst. I agree with everything you say here although I think maybe it would be a better idea to charge for data based on use rather than speed. (Although current prices per GB are LUDICROUSLY EXPENSIVE)
I like your ideas a lot better than the ones from these so called analysts.
Apple should be hiring you as an analyst. I agree with everything you say here although I think maybe it would be a better idea to charge for data based on use rather than speed. (Although current prices per GB are LUDICROUSLY EXPENSIVE)
I like your ideas a lot better than the ones from these so called analysts.
I think the writer was confused about what was explained to him.
The true cost of the phone IS the hardware. Period. How could you have the same hardware and charge different prices? That's inviting people to buy the base model and then hack it.
No, more than likely what was said is that our software will differentiate our phones. We can grow the app market and create Apple based software on the AppStore. That way if people want a YOUTUBE version of the phone, they can get the apps they need to do these functions.
They might have said, perhaps we could sell the phones with our software preloaded? You know - like an iPhone meant for video would have all our best video apps?
But there is no way they would sell a hardware product and charge different prices according to what hardware the software allows to run. Bogus.
The true cost of the phone IS the hardware. Period. How could you have the same hardware and charge different prices? That's inviting people to buy the base model and then hack it.
No, more than likely what was said is that our software will differentiate our phones. We can grow the app market and create Apple based software on the AppStore. That way if people want a YOUTUBE version of the phone, they can get the apps they need to do these functions.
They might have said, perhaps we could sell the phones with our software preloaded? You know - like an iPhone meant for video would have all our best video apps?
But there is no way they would sell a hardware product and charge different prices according to what hardware the software allows to run. Bogus.
Unlikely.
Keep in mind that crippling software features to sell multiple versions of software is the standard MS way, not Apple's. Apparently someone got confused.
Keep in mind that crippling software features to sell multiple versions of software is the standard MS way, not Apple's. Apparently someone got confused.
Whoever wrote that article should seriously consider applying for a Market Strategy position at Microsoft.
I don't think it's Apple's policy to create artificial product differentiation based on crippled software.
I don't think it's Apple's policy to create artificial product differentiation based on crippled software.
Even if Apple did create 1 master OS on the iPhone and have "switches" turned on/off to enable software features, it would be hacked within 24 hours and folks buying the cheapo version would now have the full flavor.
This technique of "switches" has been around since the early 80s if not earlier. Great technique...just don't get hacked.
Personally I could care less how Apple sells its next set of iPhones' operating systems, but bet your bottom dollar that if I know I can buy the el cheapo, run home, follow some Youtube 4 minute hack which brings me up to the premium model, I'll do it. And if Apple switches it back on me with a "mandatory update" then fine.
What I really care about to entice me to buy an iPhone is:
1)Offer me Verizon or other non-ATT service. ATT is horrific in New England...I had it for 2 years while driving in CT, MA, RI, and NH and it dropped 1/3 of my calls without exaggeration. Had Verizon for last 4 years in same geographies and I swear I've had 5 dropped calls in 4 years. Seriously.
2)Offer me cheaper iPhone models
3)Offer me cheaper phone/data plans than what are offered now...far too pricey for my blood....or at least better phone/data plans that give me more for my money.
-Eric
This technique of "switches" has been around since the early 80s if not earlier. Great technique...just don't get hacked.
Personally I could care less how Apple sells its next set of iPhones' operating systems, but bet your bottom dollar that if I know I can buy the el cheapo, run home, follow some Youtube 4 minute hack which brings me up to the premium model, I'll do it. And if Apple switches it back on me with a "mandatory update" then fine.
What I really care about to entice me to buy an iPhone is:
1)Offer me Verizon or other non-ATT service. ATT is horrific in New England...I had it for 2 years while driving in CT, MA, RI, and NH and it dropped 1/3 of my calls without exaggeration. Had Verizon for last 4 years in same geographies and I swear I've had 5 dropped calls in 4 years. Seriously.
2)Offer me cheaper iPhone models
3)Offer me cheaper phone/data plans than what are offered now...far too pricey for my blood....or at least better phone/data plans that give me more for my money.
-Eric
well apple used to cripple their macs to achieve better separation between model lines. so it's not totally impossible for them to do something like this.
however i don't think these marketing based business startegies are a good thing. good products make a company successful, not disgusting marketing.
and with apple being a company that tries to simplify i doubt that they want to confuse customers what version of a phone to buy and take all the bad publicity that comes from a move like that.
however i don't think these marketing based business startegies are a good thing. good products make a company successful, not disgusting marketing.
and with apple being a company that tries to simplify i doubt that they want to confuse customers what version of a phone to buy and take all the bad publicity that comes from a move like that.
Hmm, given that they poke fun at Microsofts multiple SKU's for pretty much every software and hardware they produce - I doubt they're going to go the same way. This would only complicate things.
So if I want to do video I need to buy a Youtube branded iPhone, but if I want to record music I should buy a Garageband/Logic iPhone? Because that's ridiculous and I'd jump out of the iPhone market very quickly.
So if I want to do video I need to buy a Youtube branded iPhone, but if I want to record music I should buy a Garageband/Logic iPhone? Because that's ridiculous and I'd jump out of the iPhone market very quickly.
It's not just MS' way. I'm not sure why this board immediately harps on MS everytime anything "not the Apple way" is mentioned.
I've used products from Adobe, Sonic Foundry, and probably 20 others in the Windows world create "light" and "premium" flavors of software since at least 1994.
Even over the past few years with Adobe PS vs. PSE is basically the same concept...sell different features for different prices. The old days it was simply a few switches...now the software vendors are doing a little more with naming the software differently and actually cutting the cds/dvds differently with different code.
Software code these days is so re-usable and object-oriented that you can create multiple flavors of a software product WITHOUT shipping identical code. What I mean is that, for example, 12 years ago if you bought Windows NT 4.0 you could by WS or Server...the cds you bought were IDENTICAL in the code except for 2-3 entries in the install script which affected tons of Registry settings once the Operating System was up and running. Nowadays software vendors don't create light and premium flavors by shipping identical code with a few switches...the flavors are compiled separately and each cd has different source material...so there's no way to buy, these days, Adobe PSE and flip a few switches to magically make it PS.
Hope that all made sense.
I'm still surprised everyone attacks MS about this popular topic that NUMEROUS SOFTWARE VENDORS have been doing for decades.
And by the way, does everyone on this board realize that ELECTRONICS vendors (notice I did not limit this to computer hardware vendors) have been practicing this Apple-shunned concept for probably 50 years...yup...look at all the VHS, DVD, CD players over the decades...one model is $99 while another one for $199 has 1 extra feature like some audio-decoding or whatever...ditto for televisions and telephones and home security alarms and car stereos and home receivers and a billion other devices. This is Programming 101 folks. If...Then statements, Case statements, Jump statements in Assembler, etc. in the software world while XOR and other concepts in Logic Gates at the chip/hardware level.
-Eric
So Vista requires twice the cores to work as well as Mac OS X?
Touche!
Nah, I just get a bit annoyed by some of the ill informed drivel people spout about Vista. It's fine to use and a hell of a lot better than XP.
It's about time!
This is something they should have done with the 2nd gen iPhone.
I didn't upgrade from my 1st gen because I had no need for extra speed of 3G.
I did though, want the GPS, speaker upgrade and non-recessed headphone jack. So I made a special trip to ask at the
store if I could use the 2ndGen phone with my current Edge plan, (just with the 3G data feature disabled, since the 2ndGen phone also has an Edge radio to fall back on). The 'geniuses' said they didn't know and told me to call AT&T.
Big surprise there (that they had no clue in store)
(Yeah, I'm a tad bitter but that's only because I've had at least a couple dozen separate experiences where the reps/'geniuses' unfortunately weren't helpful and didn't have a clue. IMO, online message-boards tend to have a higher collective IQ than in-store reps.)
But implementing the differences in software would be a VERY smart move for to finally make.
That is...as long as they don't F it up by crippling lower-level features in the more expensive models.
The model levels should progressively step up in price AND features.
Ideally, everyone should only be able to buy a base-price/feature-set phone at the store.
Then to upgrade (to enable features) they'd have to purchase said feature-blocks from the iTunes store (on their home computer).
Purchased features would then be downloaded in the form of a new firmware update via iTunes, or alternatively schedule a 'genius' appointment could be made to purchase&install the upgrade.
This could not only speed up purchases in-store since the reps wouldn't have to sit there explaining the different levels before the customer makes their purchase (they could just give them a pretty handout illustrating the upgrades available through iTunes) but also would also drive more base users to upgrade since for many, purchasing on iTunes is perceived less as spending 'real' money than doing the same in-store.
AND, if implemented this way it would also help users learn how to upgrade their phone's firmware and make purchases via iTunes (aka drive profit, which shareholders would like).
This is something they should have done with the 2nd gen iPhone.
I didn't upgrade from my 1st gen because I had no need for extra speed of 3G.
I did though, want the GPS, speaker upgrade and non-recessed headphone jack. So I made a special trip to ask at the
store if I could use the 2ndGen phone with my current Edge plan, (just with the 3G data feature disabled, since the 2ndGen phone also has an Edge radio to fall back on). The 'geniuses' said they didn't know and told me to call AT&T. Big surprise there (that they had no clue in store)
(Yeah, I'm a tad bitter but that's only because I've had at least a couple dozen separate experiences where the reps/'geniuses' unfortunately weren't helpful and didn't have a clue. IMO, online
message-boards tend to have a higher collective IQ than in-store reps.)But implementing the differences in software would be a VERY smart move for
to finally make.That is...as long as they don't F it up by crippling lower-level features in the more expensive models.
The model levels should progressively step up in price AND features.
Ideally, everyone should only be able to buy a base-price/feature-set phone at the store.
Then to upgrade (to enable features) they'd have to purchase said feature-blocks from the iTunes store (on their home computer).
Purchased features would then be downloaded in the form of a new firmware update via iTunes, or alternatively schedule a 'genius' appointment could be made to purchase&install the upgrade.
This could not only speed up purchases in-store since the reps wouldn't have to sit there explaining the different levels before the customer makes their purchase (they could just give them a pretty handout illustrating the upgrades available through iTunes) but also would also drive more base users to upgrade since for many, purchasing on iTunes is perceived less as spending 'real' money than doing the same in-store.
AND, if implemented this way it would also help users learn how to upgrade their phone's firmware and make purchases via iTunes (aka drive profit, which shareholders would like).
At the risk of going OT...I don't bash Vista but I have never scene any concrete evidence/features that would get me to upgrade from XP Pro or Home to Vista <enter it's 6 flavors here>.
I've been using XP Home and Pro since 2001-ish on numerous work laptops, numerous work workstations, and a few home machines...worked fine for everything from cd/dvd ripping to writing code to surfing to wireless networking to Sleeping/Standby...
All I've ever heard from MS is that Vista is prettier (big deal) and that it's more secure (mmmm, that's a very long topic), and that theoretically it supports more peripherals (do I have to go here?) and that it's faster boot/shutdown (why do I care when my pc is on 24x7? and why do I care if it takes 18 seconds to start or 31 seconds?). Other than some Vista flavors being 64 bit and/or able to address more than 4GB of physical memory, why should I upgrade? Seriously. I'm not bashing MS or claiming Apple is better, I'm just asking why the heck should I dump XP and get Vista? There has never been a single article or publication that has any meat to it.
I'm not really looking for an answer from you unless you want to reply but I my overall feeling (since nobody in my group of friends/peers/co-workers/ family has bought/upgraded to Vista in their personal lives or their employers have moved them to Vista) is there is no value for 90% of XP owners to dump XP and move to Vista. And I probably speak for the 90% of XP owners out there...if the sales pitch can't convince me to spend $200+ on an "upgrade" I ain't gonna upgrade. Shame on the Sales Pitch and shame on the Marketing Dept.
-Eric
I can see this happening. The Mini and Air are differentiated by the things they can't do because of a lack of power and connections that the Macbooks and Pros can do. Why not a crippled, lower priced iPhone ?
Here is a thought
How about offer the iPhone on different networks!! I am sure this was already posted but I dont have the time or the app to search for it.
How about offer the iPhone on different networks!! I am sure this was already posted but I dont have the time or the app to search for it.
Or, not to sound like an old fart, but how about creating an iPhone that lives up the the PHONE portion of the product name?!
I mean, jamming all these extra bells and whistles into iPhones (GPS, games, ipod music, video recording, youtube updating, whatever else) just makes me wonder "um, why is this called an iPhone and not an iThingy?"
I'm not saying the product isn't cool or good...but man, I want to use my phone as a phone...and every blue moon take a picture. And text someone 1-2 times a day. But overall, I want to use it to make phone calls...have a nice speakerphone, great battery, great reception, bluetooth capability, predictive text while texting, a few ringtones for different callers.
So give me an iPhone with the cool features of the 1.0 series that already differentiate it from other CELL PHONES... but cramming 10 new features in ever revision just, in my eyes, begs the consumer to ask why all that stuff is needed.
I'd love an iPhone. I like the way it dials and the nice display and the notepadding features and the virtual keyboard and basically just the way it works as a phone...the user interface. All the other bells and whistles is not even a nice-to-have for me. Put all that stuff into the iThingy.
Maybe Apple should release an iThingy for $199 and $299 and $399 and $499 while creating some $49 iPhones for the rest of as we compare it to our free Motorolla and Nokia and LG phones that come with any carrier in the USA...or even if I had to pay $50 for an "upgraded phone" while signing a new contract.
-Eric
Unless you've a need to neither would I. I bought a new PC and it came with Vista Home Premium - which about 90% of home PCs come with. I then changed to 64 bit Vista HP (free to do so). Early driver issues aside I can't say I've had problems with it. I just find XP so clumsy in comparison.
And with all due respect that's the problem - what you heard, not what you've done. I use it every day and prefer it. YMMV although I would agree there's no reason to upgrade any OS if you're happy with what you've got.
And with all due respect if MS came to your house and simply said "buy Vista" would you just fork over $199 and go discover, all by yourself with no help from MS, what Vista is all about? I highly doubt it.
Forget about MS. Forget about Vista.
This is Sales 101. Sales pitches and Marketing campaigns need to be clear on the benefits of why a consumer will buy a product or service. I don't just put a blindfold on and walk into a store and buy a tv.
All I'm saying is that I am a VERY informed techie...and I've never read an article...anywhere...that has clearly articulated the reasons to dump XP and go to Vista. No, I do not believe that "Vista starts faster" or "Vista supports more peripherals" is a clear articulation. I want the details. Since I can't find them for said product sales pitch, I'm not buying said product.
Maybe when Windows 7 rolls out late this year (or whenever) MS will have a better Sales Pitch about dumping XP and going to W7.
-Eric