U.S. Mac Sales Up 7% Year-Over-Year in July and August, iPod Sales Down 16%

[MacRumors]

Silicon Alley Insider reports on data from research firm NPD showing that U.S. Mac sales were up 7% year-over-year during the months of July and August, ahead of most analysts' projections. The data, reported by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, also shows a 16% decline in year-over-year iPod sales, a performance slightly below analysts' expectations.

Munster says NPD data from July and August show Mac sales up 7% year-over-year through August, while the Street is expecting 5% year-over-year growth for the quarter.

Back-to-school sales in the first few months of the quarter probably helped, but at least Apple could handle some deceleration this month and still meet expectations. (And Apple's international growth, not represented in NPD's figures, should help, too.)

Apple noted during its most recent earning conference call that it expects the market for Apple's traditional MP3 players to decline as users increasingly opt for the company's iPod touch or iPhone models. The introduction of new video camera-equipped iPod nano models at last week's "It's Only Rock and Roll" media event, however, may provide a boost to Apple's "traditional MP3 player" segment over the last few weeks of the quarter.

Article Link: U.S. Mac Sales Up 7% Year-Over-Year in July and August, iPod Sales Down 16%

 

[thegoldenmackid]

That seems to be a pretty big drop in iPod sales.

 

[MacDaddy901]

Wait. So iPod touch isn't included in iPod sales?

 

[Eidorian]

Back to school sales is what drives the summer computer sales. I'm unsure about the iPod Touch right now.

 

[DUSTmurph]

IMO i think this is overall good news for apple, since macs cost much more than iPods. Plus, I dont think touches were included in this.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Expected...

Most people who want an iPod have already bought one. Now, Apple's largest competitor is themselves, and they haven't released anything ground breaking since the Touch and iPhone.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Makes sense, why have an iPod and phone when you can buy one device that has both. The decline in iPod sales is natural and I believe will continue as the iPhone start spreading to more markets and getting cheaper.

There was a reason why Apple entered the mobile phone market after all

 

[ejbenjamin]

I realized the other day that I hadn't bought an iPod in about two years-- not since the first-gen iPod touch first shipped. There hasn't been anything stunningly new since then that would warrant an upgrade.

I'm not surprised if iPod sales have slowed-- the market is probably saturated, and at that point Apple's only option is to sell new devices to users who have already bought them before.

Nothing in the touch compels me to upgrade from my first gen. I can still buy apps, etc. The nano is great but its core features haven't changed much in its last few iterations. And the most recent shuffle is a trainwreck.

 

[iSee]

I would have thought iPod Touch sales would be included in iPod sales. e.g., if I were looking to buy an iPod, I'd compare and consider a nano and touch.

Anyone want to figure out what iPod would look like with the touch included?

 

[motulist]

"traditional MP3 player"

Geez! The world moves so fast these days. The "traditional MP3 player" is less than 10 years old, and it's already like this old style thing that modern technology has made look old fashioned.

 

[Lesser Evets]

Wait. So iPod touch isn't included in iPod sales?

Seems so.... not sure why, though. It makes this story ridiculously worthless, though.

 

[twoodcc]

now are ipod touches in that 16% ?

 

[NewSc2]

Well, they had iPod Touches last year, so if it wasn't included in sales then, it wouldn't be now.

I'd be interested to see this against iPhone sales data. I haven't bought an iPod since the first iPod Nano, but have purchased 3 iPhones since (EDGE, replacement EDGE, and 3GS).

 

[fluidedge]

ipods are not selling because EVERYONE has one now. Mine has lasted for 4 years. Don't need to buy another. Although the new nanos look sweet.

 

[crackbookpro]

call me crazy... Apple knew about this for quite some time, and may be a coincendence with the iPod Touch not releasing a big update (camera/video/mic) to the Touch this past keynote.

I made a poll earlier today - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/786519/

 

[crackbookpro]

ipods are not selling because EVERYONE has one now. Mine has lasted for 4 years. Don't need to buy another. Although the new nanos look sweet.

not really... there is a ton of outside factors besides that.

 

[puckhead193]

Most people who want an iPod have already bought one. Now, Apple's largest competitor is themselves, and they haven't released anything ground breaking since the Touch and iPhone.

very true. Why upgrade unless something amazing came out. (which hasn't happened since the ipod touch came out, hint apple - add a camera)

 

[trekkie604]

not really... there is a ton of outside factors besides that.

still, market saturation can't be ignored.

 

[jaw04005]

It'll be interesting to see the official breakout at the end of the quarter. I suspect desktop sales plunged (again) over the last quarter. Personally, I think it's time to reboot the iMac line and repurpose it from a marketing standpoint.

The age of the living room/family computer is over.

However, the sheer amount of growth across the Mac portable line since 2006 is remarkable.

http://switchtoamac.com/site/mac-sh...ears-first-yearoveryear-drop-in-55-years.html

 

[milbournosphere]

This makes sense to me. They have recently refreshed their portable line, and made innovations in the interaction between the user and their machine. Some might view multi-touch as a gimmic, but it really is a new way of computer interaction. On the other hand, with the exception of Genius, not much has changed since the introduction of the iPhone/iPod Touch. Even then, the iPod Touch really isn't too great for those that just use their iPods for music storage and playback. I bought my iPod (fourth generation) years ago, and with the exception of the storage increase, there really haven't been any major innovations to the original/classic iPod design. It's not Apple's fault, there just really isn't much of a way to improve on the device any further(especially with the recent addition of FM radio in the nano). It's a good device, but a device that needs a new "killer app" of sorts to maintain it's high sales in the face of a market in which many people already an iPod of some sort.

 

[Eidorian]

It'll be interesting to see the official breakout at the end of the quarter. I suspect desktop sales plunged (again) over the last quarter. Personally, I think it's time to reboot the iMac line and repurpose it from a marketing standpoint.

The age of the living room/family computer is over.

However, the sheer amount of growth across the Mac portable line since 2006 is remarkable.

Apple's desktop line feels largely irrelevant right now. I can only recommend their portables.

 

[RyanR.]

Wait. So iPod touch isn't included in iPod sales?

Why would it didn't you know it was a "gaming system".

 

[sud]

Sounds about right, you must remember there is a crossover area between the ipod/ipod touch and the iphone, I myself have not bought an Ipod since owning the Iphone

 

[*LTD*]

Single-function devices = dying.

 

[joueboy]

220 Million!

They already sold 220 million! Who else don't have an iPod? Anyone?