Talking of storage, why is it so expensive? I doubt apple ever would but a micro sd slot means you can have extra memory for peanuts.
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iPad How can Apple increase iPad sales?
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Talking of storage, why is it so expensive? I doubt apple ever would but a micro sd slot means you can have extra memory for peanuts.
It's only "so expensive" as Apple naturally wish to make as much profit as possible on every device they make.
They have found, due to the way they set up iOS and the way the market the items that they can set the price points they do and the public will buy them.
If I can charge you $10 for a 1KG Jar of peanut butter that costs me $1 to make, and you ARE buying it, why offer you 2KG for the same price, as that would cost me another dollar.
I sell 10 million jars a year, so that's $10,000,000 dollars I'm giving away, and hey, if you are dumb enough to keep paying $10 for a jar, then I'll keep offering you that.
I have no reason to alter my policy, I'm making lots of money and I'm happy. I can give my small close top end team a end of year bonus with that amount
Quite true and it's a reason why Apple dropped the 32GB model and doubled it's size for the same price. As demand drops you are forced to make consessions to lure customers back.It's only "so expensive" as Apple naturally wish to make as much profit as possible on every device they make.
They have found, due to the way they set up iOS and the way the market the items that they can set the price points they do and the public will buy them.
If I can charge you $10 for a 1KG Jar of peanut butter that costs me $1 to make, and you ARE buying it, why offer you 2KG for the same price, as that would cost me another dollar.
I sell 10 million jars a year, so that's $10,000,000 dollars I'm giving away, and hey, if you are dumb enough to keep paying $10 for a jar, then I'll keep offering you that.
I have no reason to alter my policy, I'm making lots of money and I'm happy. I can give my small close top end team a end of year bonus with that amount
To me the challenge is what most people use their iPad for. My folks have one, as does my father-in-law (all over 60). They just use the iPad for safari and email. My wife has one, same plus Facebook.
I'm the only person in our family who runs processor-intensive apps, so only I feel the need to update fairly regularly. And even then, I only update every other year at the most frequent. You will be able to use an iPad for safari and email for a very long time, so I can't see any of my parents updating more frequently than 5-6 years.
I think people just have to accept a slower refresh rate for iPads and adjust their view of what 'success' looks like in that segment.
I'm the only person in our family who runs processor-intensive apps, so only I feel the need to update fairly regularly. And even then, I only update every other year at the most frequent. You will be able to use an iPad for safari and email for a very long time, so I can't see any of my parents updating more frequently than 5-6 years.
I think people just have to accept a slower refresh rate for iPads and adjust their view of what 'success' looks like in that segment.
I think it was more sneaky than that.
They did not like people buying the 16GB Model.
They want to upsell you to a more expensive model.
So they doubled the next model up from 32GB to 64GB (probably at a cost of $5 to themselves)
So now you go into the store, and see you can get FOUR TIMES the storage for just that bit more money, so you think, would be silly not to, so you buy the next one up.
And as it's not just twice as much, as it was, but now FOUR TIMES as much, you are far far more likely to do that.
Apple sell more of the 64GB ones, and make even more profit.
Sneaky, but 100% sure it works and that's why they did it.
Nothing to do with under pressure.
Personally, I don't believe there is anything they can do to the feature list to put the numbers back where they were when the product first came out and no one owned one. It was adopted faster than any other Apple product if my memory is correct and that was because it fit between a 4 inch iPhone and a laptop. The much larger iPhones have squeezed into a portion of that same market.
They could increase sales by no longer offering updated firmware on 1GB Ram models like they did with the Original iPad, but the numbers aren't going back to where they were. It is a saturated market for an un-subsidized device that is mainly used for media consumption, so it doesn't fit the mold of something that needs to be replaced yearly or even every two years for many people.
Their best bet is trying to squeeze into untapped markets, but I am not sure how easy it will be when people can get Android tablets for less than $100 (sometimes a lot less) and iPads cost hundreds more.
All that being said, I love my Air 2 and I am happy I updated from the iPad 3, but I mainly updated to get more storage.
They could increase sales by no longer offering updated firmware on 1GB Ram models like they did with the Original iPad, but the numbers aren't going back to where they were. It is a saturated market for an un-subsidized device that is mainly used for media consumption, so it doesn't fit the mold of something that needs to be replaced yearly or even every two years for many people.
Their best bet is trying to squeeze into untapped markets, but I am not sure how easy it will be when people can get Android tablets for less than $100 (sometimes a lot less) and iPads cost hundreds more.
All that being said, I love my Air 2 and I am happy I updated from the iPad 3, but I mainly updated to get more storage.
This Apple commercial says otherwise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2IaaFz4Fz4
The iPad's form factor gives it unique functionality over a laptop as a consumption tool, but also as a unique creation tool. Maybe it was meant for only consumption initially, but its potential as a creation/productivity tool is rapidly being explored by 3rd party software and hardware. And Apple seems to be picking up wind. The shift seems to have already begun what with this commercial and Apple's recent partnership with IBM.
In regards to Apple releasing a stylus, let me edit your car analogy. One minor point, stereo systems and wings are more or less just for fun. A stylus would be for practical and professional uses such as art and writing. So a better analogy would be something like a car trailer hitch. But as you said, not one that comes pre-installed. One that is meant to attach as an optional accessory. Because some people need to haul things, some don't. But it does have to be made by Apple for it to work properly, because all these 3rd party styluses are like trailer hitches that wobble and break off. To ask Apple NOT to make this optional accessory, just because you don't want to use it, seems absurd.
You're still thinking of those old PDA styluses meant for pointing and navigation. Yes, those are junk. You should think of this more like a digital pen or pencil, meant for things a finger cannot and will never be able to do, like drawing or writing.
Many valid and correct points. Tablets are evolving. My concerns revolve around web application development. An embedded stylus could signal to developers that HIG can be downsized due to finer control. I'm not at all against optional stylus, especially for the iPad Pro.
By "embedded" do you mean the iPad Pro having a silo for the stylus to live in? If so, I don't think that would happen. There hasn't been any indication of that in the rumors, plus it just seems un-Applelike. But regardless, it will certainly be a niche accessory for an already niche device. Therefore any web app that desires the largest possible user base would avoid requiring a niche accessory if at all possible, lest it too become niche. It is possible though that developers may add additional functionality for the stylus that would be impossible to incorporate with touch. Although for an app meant for mainstream, that seems like more trouble than it's worth. In all likeliness, only niche apps will make use of the stylus.
I upgraded from the 3 to the Air 2 just for the specs.
I am happy that I did do it, but it could be better. Honestly they could do a lot of things. They could add force touch, a better front and back camera, flash to the back camera, lower the price, get rid of the 16GB, ect.
The biggest issue is the operating system though. When I first got my iPad it was great because apps were made for it and I had a smaller phone at the time. With phones getting bigger they need to think of how to use the screen size in new ways. There is so much space that can be used. The OS really needs an overhaul just for the iPad.
I am happy that I did do it, but it could be better. Honestly they could do a lot of things. They could add force touch, a better front and back camera, flash to the back camera, lower the price, get rid of the 16GB, ect.
The biggest issue is the operating system though. When I first got my iPad it was great because apps were made for it and I had a smaller phone at the time. With phones getting bigger they need to think of how to use the screen size in new ways. There is so much space that can be used. The OS really needs an overhaul just for the iPad.
By making it more attractive for developers to build cool stuff. The current race to the bottom conditions means few cool apps are ever updated.
My thoughts on the matter is if Apple wants to increase sales, they need a better OS. Preferably one with a file system where user files can be shared across apps. Also allowing customers to customize their iPads more would be great, like the ability to change up the look beyond just wallpapers.
I agree with this.
Apple should have the 'supervised' version for enterprise and education. This way the apps all in the same place, the deployments could be sent via simple XML file at the same time the supervisory profile is sent via DEP, No more button pressing and agreeing to agree to agree to agree to service agreements, iCloud upgrading, ect. It really is ridiculous to set up 300 or so of these for a deployment. I've personally set up over 3800 iPads and I believe my index finger on my left hand is about 2mm shorter than it was originally.
And they should have the consumer version, complete control and modifying.
For me it's the active stylus. I am heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem so wouldn't switch to a Surface, however in saying that I won't be upgrading from my iPad Air 1 until there are some drastic new features introduced to increase productivity.
1. Improve hardware QC back to the levels in Steve Jobs time.
2. Drop prices and increase storage (ie. entry level iPad at 64GB)
3. Better productivity software
4. Quad HD Retina screen
5. Improve iOS and fix bugs and lags
6. Better cameras
7. Introduce file management
8. Introduce a comprehensive 3 year warranty for all iPads
9. Get more celebrities like Lebron James and Katy Perry to endorse
10. Free Apple Smartwatch with every top of the range iPad purchase
2. Drop prices and increase storage (ie. entry level iPad at 64GB)
3. Better productivity software
4. Quad HD Retina screen
5. Improve iOS and fix bugs and lags
6. Better cameras
7. Introduce file management
8. Introduce a comprehensive 3 year warranty for all iPads
9. Get more celebrities like Lebron James and Katy Perry to endorse
10. Free Apple Smartwatch with every top of the range iPad purchase
They could drop the price. Or make a budget tablet.
The thing is when the iPad first came out it was THE tablet. It had no competition.
Now it does. There's an android tablet for every budget. And a windows tablet for every budget. There isn't an iPad for every budget.
If you want a 7" tablet you can get a decent android or windows tablet for £100. You can grab a tesco hudl or nexus 7 for under £100. Add as much storage as you like. You're looking at double that for an iPad mini base model.
If you want a 10" tablet you can get a great android or windows tablet for £200 or less, you can buy the base model and add a micro SD card. Again, if you want an iPad you're looking at double that for 16gb. And no SD card slot. Add another £100 if you want more storage.
Apple doesn't cater for every demographic. Not everyone wants to shell out £200-£700 on a tablet.
If Apple made a budget 7" and a budget 10" tablet they'd fill that gap in the market. And probably get people then buying the more expensive model when they upgrade because they know they like the product. And are now invested in the Apple ecosystem. Have apps and music etc etc.
But Apple for some reason refuse to do anything budget. Thus completely alienating anyone who doesn't want to pay through the nose for a tablet.
And I can't bare the 'well if you can't afford it...' Argument so many Apple fanboys use. It's not about not being able to afford it. It's about the fact that you can get an android tablet that will do exactly what most people want a tablet to do (browsing, streaming etc) for half the price. And if you're a first time buyer who no experience of Apple products then you're going to look at the price and ask yourself is an iPad worth 2-4x the price of say a galaxy tab. And my bet is there will be a lot of people thinking it's not.
The thing is when the iPad first came out it was THE tablet. It had no competition.
Now it does. There's an android tablet for every budget. And a windows tablet for every budget. There isn't an iPad for every budget.
If you want a 7" tablet you can get a decent android or windows tablet for £100. You can grab a tesco hudl or nexus 7 for under £100. Add as much storage as you like. You're looking at double that for an iPad mini base model.
If you want a 10" tablet you can get a great android or windows tablet for £200 or less, you can buy the base model and add a micro SD card. Again, if you want an iPad you're looking at double that for 16gb. And no SD card slot. Add another £100 if you want more storage.
Apple doesn't cater for every demographic. Not everyone wants to shell out £200-£700 on a tablet.
If Apple made a budget 7" and a budget 10" tablet they'd fill that gap in the market. And probably get people then buying the more expensive model when they upgrade because they know they like the product. And are now invested in the Apple ecosystem. Have apps and music etc etc.
But Apple for some reason refuse to do anything budget. Thus completely alienating anyone who doesn't want to pay through the nose for a tablet.
And I can't bare the 'well if you can't afford it...' Argument so many Apple fanboys use. It's not about not being able to afford it. It's about the fact that you can get an android tablet that will do exactly what most people want a tablet to do (browsing, streaming etc) for half the price. And if you're a first time buyer who no experience of Apple products then you're going to look at the price and ask yourself is an iPad worth 2-4x the price of say a galaxy tab. And my bet is there will be a lot of people thinking it's not.
The iPad is NOT a creation tool in a large way by the brain dead refusal to not provide good stylus support.
Apps, and the world are moving on, and Apple is getting left behind:
http://www.wired.com/2015/05/papers-handy-new-diagram-tool-hints-ipads-future/
There's more to content creation than drawing by stylus. The iPad makes a terrific all-in-one podcast recording studio.
I'm hopeful (not necessarily confident) that Apple will provide some type of active digitizer support... if they do it won't be in the conventional way.
I agree! ...I did say in a large way
Let's hope they do get serious, because there's so much potential yet to be taped.
LOL fair enough.I agree! ...I did say in a large way
Let's hope they do get serious, because there's so much potential yet to be taped.
I'm hoping that Apple has had something in development for quite a while and watching what others like Asus, Microsoft, Acer, and Lenovo have been doing with hybrid devices to learn from their experiences.
I agree, the tablet form factor is great for working with documents and PDFs. The thing is, there is so much untapped potential. True digitizer support would be huge for productive and creation. Students could take better notes and artists could better utilize the system.
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LOL fair enough.
I'm hoping that Apple has had something in development for quite a while and watching what others like Asus, Microsoft, Acer, and Lenovo have been doing with hybrid devices to learn from their experiences.
What I fear is that all of there top tech will only go in the "Pro" model. Honestly, I am thinking about switching to a Mini, but then I'll REALLY get second rate treatment.
A weak argument. Apple created Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. There are tons of drawing and note taking apps that are for "creating" and could certainly benefit from a better input method.
And, no, we cannot buy a stylus today. Context is important. No one wants a rubber nub. I think you realize that and choose to be obtuse.
If they want to sell more tablets, then let them innovate something, rather than just putting out a mild refresh with little incremental updates every 12-14 months for a hefty price tag.
Also, redo the OS. It doesn't look or work much different than it did 5 years ago.
This is the problem they had in the phone market. The innovated with the original iPhone, and despite a decent list of missing features, it re-wrote what a smartphone should be.
And then they sat on it for years while everyone else passed them by in features, performance and ultimately marketshare.
Other than a larger screen and the theft of several Android features like the notification bar, the iPhone 6 is not much different than the original. Still no customization, no active widgets, just a blank slab of icons you have to manually launch 1 at a time, still no true multitasking, no SD slot for new memory, so running out of space means you need a new $600 phone, the list goes on...
The iPad, a game changer. And while some have gotten thinner, it is essentially a giant iPhone without the phone. It's nice, I have one, but there are better offerings out there. For what they charge for them, I don't see where the justification is in a lot of cases.
Why can I still not arrange icons the way I want? I want them around the border so I can enjoy the wallpaper better, uncluttered.
I have Microsoft's Outlook Web App installed, and the icon says "OWA". Why the hell can't I rename it to something else, like "Work Email" or something?
It is like every iDevice is designed for absolute noobs like my mom... It's like the nanny state has sanitized it and locked it down so I can only use it for what, and how some board of directors has decided how every iDevice needs to be used. I am an adult, let me arrange my icons and set the damned device up how i like.
iPads are not designed around power users or people who like to tinker. It's like a toaster. So long as you only use it for toast, and you use it exactly the way they want, it will make perfect toast.
But that's it.
With Android holding 80%+ of the world's smartphone market, I assume that a lot of tablet buyers want a tablet that is familiar to them, that uses the same apps, less learning curve, etc...
There are some brilliant Android tablets out there, and today, the Android platform has just as many quality apps, it is just as easy to use and it is far more powerful and lets you configure it to the way that you want to work. It's more functional, and it is usually cheaper. And if it mirrors the phone platform that 4 out of 5 people in the world are already using, I think the numbers speak for themselves.
This isn't a bash of Apple, it is just my opinion of why sales are declining.
Apple tends to come out with something first and hit with a huge splash, but then they sit on their laurels far too long, trying to milk it with minimal updates, and it doesn't take long for the competition to pass them by...