iPod Shuffle Drives Flash Memory Demand

[Daveway]

Anyone wanna bet triple digit stock by week's end?

Doubtful. If anything lower. This isn't exactly good news at the moment.

 

[dejo]

Well, I hope this news sheds plenty of light on the fact that it is not always Apple's fault that they are always poorly forecasting demand for new products. It is not just Apple involved in the manufacturing. Sometimes it is a component manufacturer's fault since they are not able to ramp up supply sufficiently. Let's all remember that the next time we want to blame Apple for not predicting the demand properly!

 

[~Shard~]

Anyone wanna bet triple digit stock by week's end?

I'll bet against it if you want to put some money on the table.

This is great news though, and I'm sure that iPod shuffle sales are going to do very well. Apple is milking the iPod phenomenon for all it's worth, but let's hope they concentrate on doing the same with their computers as well - the Mac mini is a good step in that direction...

 

[jbembe]

I would happily buy the iPod Poop, as long as it was announced by Steve, and had ads featuring silhoutted dancers with the poop.

The iPod is just hot

I hope that wasn't said in a Paris Hilton voice...

Yet again, good news. Apple doesn't seem to be doing anything wrong lately...

 

[SoGood]

Doesn't matter how great it can be. But if Apple can't manufacture enough and fill the supply chain, then it's all wasted hype.

I was in Phoenix and checked the AppleStore both at Biltmore and Chandler malls repeatedly for a week and neither had stock of those little lime green boxes. Nearby CompUSA and BestBuys didn't have any either. In desperation on the last day, found 4 units in Circuit City (on Camelback). Now who would have thought CC would have them in stock?

 

[dejo]

Doesn't matter how great it can be. But if Apple can't manufacture enough and fill the supply chain, then it's all wasted hype.

I guess my earlier argument about Apple not being solely to blame for shortages has already fallen on deaf ears. And technically, Apple is not the manufacturer. They have subcontracted this out to other companies.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

This is the iPod mini frenzy all over again... what's next...?

This probably means (slightly) cheaper prices, eventually .

As long as demand far exceeds supply I don't think we'll see any pricedrops, even with a slight increase in production...

 

[d.perel]

hoorah. does this mean that the supply of ipod shuffles will increase any time soon? or will it be another 34 years?

 

[BornAgainMac]

This best part is that it won't kill sales of the bigger iPod. The bigger iPod can provide a navigation interface, basic PDA functionality, games, photos, and your entire music collection. The Shuffle is sort of like an accessory to your existing iPod when you don't need to extras. I don't even miss the screen on the Shuffle.

Hopefully, this will bring in more Mac users down the road when they try the $99 dollar Apple product for their Dell/eMachine and want to get a better computer experience.

 

[iGary]

Still have on person at our office waiting for a shuffle (didn't listen to me and ordered it from a two-step distributor).

I love my shuffle - awesome for running.

 

[dgdosen]

Laughing at all of this

that pretty much sums up the curse and blessing that is apple.

I have to laugh a bit about this. Apple is holding back supply in order to create the appearance of scarcity. They advertise the hell out of the shuffle. Why do you think they're doing that if there's no supply? Why not wait until they have supply before saturatying the market with ads? One could argue they're throwing away their money. But they're not.

Because they're gaming the system. There's a little bit of PTBarnum in Steve Jobs. Think about it. There are arguably some features lacking on the Shuffle. But currenlty, they're only generating positive feedback - The limited supply adds to the aura. On top of that, people who do order and wait will now say they love the thing becuase they've had to wait so long to get it. It's human nature. It's the same thing with the underpowered Mac Minis.

They want to get those "potential buyers" pushed over the edge to either order one, or buy one as soon as they see them. Even though in a few months, they'll be everywhere, just like the others are today and the bloom will be off - but by then they'll have something else shiny and new out there.

Don't get me wrong, it works on me. I see the new 15" PBs are in scarce supply. Makes me want one all the more...

 

[iGary]

I have to laugh a bit about this. Apple is holding back supply in order to create the appearance of scarcity. They advertise the hell out of the shuffle. Why do you think they're doing that if there's no supply? Why not wait until they have supply before saturatying the market with ads? One could argue they're throwing away their money. But they're not.

Because they're gaming the system. There's a little bit of PTBarnum in Steve Jobs. Think about it. There are arguably some features lacking on the Shuffle. But currenlty, they're only generating positive feedback - The limited supply adds to the aura. On top of that, people who do order and wait will now say they love the thing becuase they've had to wait so long to get it. It's human nature. It's the same thing with the underpowered Mac Minis.

They want to get those "potential buyers" pushed over the edge to either order one, or buy one as soon as they see them. Even though in a few months, they'll be everywhere, just like the others are today and the bloom will be off - but by then they'll have something else shiny and new out there.

Don't get me wrong, it works on me. I see the new 15" PBs are in scarce supply. Makes me want one all the more...

I agree totally. Apple does this to create hype, which is fine by me - I've got mine.

 

[HiRez]

Thanks toshiba.
but could anybody help to speedup current supply of Shuffle?
because of shortage, the retail price have generally been marked up to 150% of original price

What!? Where did you see that? I've never seen Apple nor any major Apple retail sell stuff at above retail. Isn't that illegal anyway? Not one store I've looked at has any Shuffles for sale at any price, although the price is always $99 (512) and $149 (1G).

 

[eazyway]

I was at the Apple Store last week and I tried out the iPod shuffle, and I didnt like it. It is too small for me, and the lack of screen sucks.

I like my "Full Sized" iPod WAY better.
.

We are a 4 pod family about to become an 8 pod family. i love the 40 gb iPod for long trips and data transfer. The shuffle will be for walking the dog and working out.

 

[blybug]

iPod shuffle impulse buy

Went into Target yesterday (whilst listening to my 60GB iPp) to buy new sneakers and when walking past the electronics section spotted 3 of the little square green boxes in the lock-up with the video games. I bought a 512 on the spot without really having ever decided for sure if I wanted one because :

• It was only $99
• I figured I could run with it when I got my new shoes
• They were there!

It's a really neat little gadget, and complements the full-sized iPod perfectly. My most-often listened to playlist is a combination of songs newly added in the past 30 days, 200 songs rated 5-stars, and 200 songs that haven't been played in over 6 months. I have the iPs set to autofill from that playlist.

My wife (who uses my old 40GB) yelled at me for not getting her one too, as she found it to be extremely cool. Interestingly she claims to have never heard of or seen the iPs before I came home with this one, even though I know for a fact we have been watching TV together when the shuffle ad has come on. She says she never noticed it was for a new product. As great as those ads are, I wonder how many average-Joes (and Josephines) are starting to tune them out and not noticing the "details"...

 

[sinisterdesign]

yeah, crap. now i want one, too. i kind of went back & forth when it came out, i thought no screen was stupid and the "life is random" campaign was pretty weak, but i also found myself defending it from a neighbor (also a huge Apple fan) who thought it was the dumbest thing she'd ever seen.

once i see it's place in my aural universe, it makes perfect sense. i want it for running/taking the dog for a walk (i would say "working out", but that's been too few & far btw to count lately). how many times do you look down at your ipod while running to see what track you're listening to? and i don't need all 4,500+ songs with me when i'm gasping for breath up the hill, just a good 100 song playlist.

i think they need to play DOWN the "random"-ness of it and play UP the workout/sport/portability aspect.

grrrrr...everyone around here is sold out....

 

[blybug]

The more I've played with the iPs this morning the more I'm thinking of going back to Target for a second...for my car.

As it is I have a Belkin cup-holder mount and power supply for the original iPod with a direct line into my stereo via an adapter for the CD changer. But alas, it has become such a chore taking the iPod back and forth from the car to house, clicking into its mount, taking out of the car and into my pocket whenever I enter a store, etc... Life is hard.

The iPs could easily be tucked away out of sight but still within reach to press the agonizingly simple "Play" button. I'd just have to bring it back in the house for a recharge and refill every week or two. Hmmm....

 

[revjay]

I would happily buy the iPod Poop, as long as it was announced by Steve, and had ads featuring silhoutted dancers with the poop.

So what you are saying is that you would gladly buy the iPod 'veneral disease', or the iPod 'broken leg' or the iPod 'stick in my eye' ...but what about the iPod 'paper cut'? I know how much people hate those nasty paper cuts...would you still buy it?

 

[brautigan25]

iDoody

So what you are saying is that you would gladly buy the iPod 'veneral disease', or the iPod 'broken leg' or the iPod 'stick in my eye' ...but what about the iPod 'paper cut'? I know how much people hate those nasty paper cuts...would you still buy it?

I think he meant to say iPoop. And as for your products we would have iClap, iFracture, iBeam, and iCut.

 

[brautigan25]

To be expected...

I was at the Apple Store last week and I tried out the iPod shuffle, and I didnt like it. It is too small for me, and the lack of screen sucks.

I like my "Full Sized" iPod WAY better.

My brother on the other hand, doesnt have a digital music player, and cant wait for his birthday so he can get a shuffle, so I guess he isnt the only person who likes it.

Yeah, Apple expected this. Shuffle is directed at a very specific market: people who want to buy a Flash player. You aren't in that market.

The bonus is that lots of people who already own regular MP3 players are getting sucked into that market. But Apple had a very specific customer in mind when they made this thing (check out the MacWorld keynote).

As far as the whole supply/demand issue. Yes, there is some hype to be generated in saying, "They're so popular we can't keep up!" but imagine this: You're Toshiba and Apple comes to you and says, "Hey, you're going to have to expand your facility to make enough Flash drives based on our projected sales figures." Are you going to spend the money to expand your capabilities based on another company's "projected" figures? No. And most likely Apple never tried to get Toshiba to increase their production capacity. But you better believe Toshiba was ready to go if this happened. There is money to be made here and you can only sell 'em if you got 'em.

What I'm saying is that nobody is going to sink a bunch of money into ramping up production capabilities based on some high end estimates, or the possibility that demand could exceed those estimates. And yes, it is "good" to be short of a hot product...in the short run. Both these companies know all this. Expect demand to be met ASAP.

 

[Piarco]

I think he meant to say iPoop. And as for your products we would have iClap, iFracture, iBeam, and iCut.

FOFL

I think I've even tuned out of the ads - I know its for an iPod and thats it. Thinking about it it may actually explain why a lot of my friends didn't even know that the shuffle was released until I showed them mine. One or two had read in The Times about it being the new "must have" gadget, but they were convinced it wasn't out yet - and this was two or three weeks after they were readily available. Now they know and 4 of them have bought into the iPod phenomenon. One decided to go for the iPod mini, but the others are loving their Shuffles.
And if they are anything like me, in a year they'll get their first Mac
I seriously need to keep a score of people I've brought over to the Way of the Mac - must be about 8 or so and rising......

 

[maya]

Maybe Apple is sending too many unit to one location while too little units to other locations. Then again it can also be a case of more popularity and wealth in certain areas.

Just because it is selling great in your home town or city, doesn't mean that it is in another.

The shortage that Toshiba is talking about is the increasing amount of flash media being used in mp3, cameras, mobile phones, pda's, jump drives, etc... products. This is not all due to the Shuffle, it seems like a marketing gimmick that he just happen to mention the Shuffle.

This short fall stresses worse on the overseas market, considering Apple rip's off outside the US countries on exchange rate.

The iPod mini, was similar however not the same.

 

[brautigan25]

Maybe Apple is sending too many unit to one location while too little units to other locations. Then again it can also be a case of more popularity and wealth in certain areas.

Just because it is selling great in your home town or city, doesn't mean that it is in another.

The shortage that Toshiba is talking about is the increasing amount of flash media being used in mp3, cameras, mobile phones, pda's, jump drives, etc... products. This is not all due to the Shuffle, it seems like a marketing gimmick that he just happen to mention the Shuffle.

This short fall stress worse on the overseas market, considering Apple rip's off outside the US countries on exchange rate.

The iPod mini, was similar however not the same.

Now I CAN see the guy at Toshiba getting some money from Apple everytime he can work "Shuffle" into an interview...paid by the interview of course .

 

[jettredmont]

Well, I hope this news sheds plenty of light on the fact that it is not always Apple's fault that they are always poorly forecasting demand for new products. It is not just Apple involved in the manufacturing. Sometimes it is a component manufacturer's fault since they are not able to ramp up supply sufficiently. Let's all remember that the next time we want to blame Apple for not predicting the demand properly!

Ummmm ... no.

If you have supplier problems, that's poor planning. If Apple knew it was going to sell x thousand units per quarter and only arranged for x/2 thousand units per quarter from its suppliers, that's just plain poor planning.

Given Apple's lower-than-market-rate prices on the shuffle, I suspect their contract with Toshiba was something along the lines of picking up "excess" production instead of a specific supply. For this, Apple gets low prices and still makes a good margin; unfortunately, the flip side is that Tochiba, not Apple, determines the supply. Apple's enjoyed the benefits of such an arrangement; they should also shoulder the blame if it costs them in supply.

This falls squarely on Apple's shoulders. Unlike certain "leadership" figures today, the buck really does stop with them.

 

[jettredmont]

Interestingly she claims to have never heard of or seen the iPs before I came home with this one, even though I know for a fact we have been watching TV together when the shuffle ad has come on. She says she never noticed it was for a new product. As great as those ads are, I wonder how many average-Joes (and Josephines) are starting to tune them out and not noticing the "details"...

Interesting. My wife had never heard of the shuffle before I'd come home with mine either (and I specifically remember gushing about that and the Mac mini after they were announced ... but apparently the Mac mini got her attention then instead of the shuffle).

Oh, well. For all the hype, perhaps Apple needs more ...