Silent Apple!!! Does it help???

Yes it helps Apple a lot.

Tell people a new product is coming out, they stop buying the old product.

 

How did u get 30% off your GalTab? Yeah once people know something new will be release they won't buy and wait.

 

In some cases, their silence helps US too. I just sold my iPad 2 by simply posting on Facebook that I was selling it to raise money to pay for the next one. Within 15 minutes the deal was done, but I got about 5 responses from Facebook friends saying things like, "There's a new one coming out? When?" and "What is supposed to be on the new one?"

Apple staying mum on future products keeps the current ones selling. The only people that know new stuff is coming out are the tech blog watchers like us. Most other people pay no attention.

 

Yes. See results for the past several years.

 

Indeed, leaving Apple with a huge sales dip during the announced and released dates.

 

Much like what happened when iPhone sales stalled in the quarter before the new one came out.

 

All companies have their strategies. Even if Apple keeps mum about new products, if you are in this forum then you are already versed in rumors and sources and what not. Read this site, the buyers guide for some products, 9to5mac and a few others to know what is going on and pretty soon you will know when a refresh is coming. You might not be exactly accurate predicting a date, but you will have a general idea of when its coming. Also it helps to know that, for the most part, there is a yearly upgrade on certain products like iPad and iPhone until the 4S.