Will Apple flash iPod rock market?
Apple may be preparing a flash memory version of the iPod
Sunday, December 26, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: iPod
Apple appears to be preparing to release a flash memory version of the iPod. The iPod is a media player device that has historically used micro-hard drives in their devices. The typical iPod has 20 gigabytes of space on it with the mini-iPod having 4 gigabytes (that's what I have).
A flash based iPod would likely make it smaller and lighter.
Apple was also not the first to offer hard-drive-based players when it debuted the first iPod in October 2001, but it now commands the lion's share of that market. In the U.S. retail market, the iPod accounted for more than 80 percent of sales in the 12 months ended this October, according to The NPD Group. That's up from about two-thirds market share in the same period a year ago and a 40 percent share in its first year.
Read the whole thing.
CygnusXII
Reply #2 Sunday, December 26, 2004 5:08 PM
Reply #2 Sunday, December 26, 2004 5:08 PM
If they think introducing an iPod w/flash memory, then it had better have a pretty good sized drive.
If market saturation is an indication, then I doubt they will have very good success. I am a regular at the Walmart Discout isles, and consider that a pretty good indicator, of Mom and Pop, harware owners trends. If wallyworld cannot sell it to the public and even at a discount it is probably going to be a flop. I have seen alot of the smaller sized flash devices, going for cheap. Who wants a small memory device when for $30, you can get a mp3/wma enabled cd/mp3 player? Easy to establish your preffs and if the disc gets scratched, what's lost? $.20 maybe? Do you know how many cd's I can burn, for the cost of a $30 player and Blanks vs the Cost of an iPod, any iPod. I think Apple has a fantastic marketing strategy. I love the commercials, the Viral Marketing, and the design, but then again I love Ferraris' as well.
Save your money, buy a new computer, or a subscription to ODNT, WinCustomizeor any of your favorite subscription based products. Support a developer, and get alot more for your money, than a small... Losable.. Breakable piece of hardware.
If market saturation is an indication, then I doubt they will have very good success. I am a regular at the Walmart Discout isles, and consider that a pretty good indicator, of Mom and Pop, harware owners trends. If wallyworld cannot sell it to the public and even at a discount it is probably going to be a flop. I have seen alot of the smaller sized flash devices, going for cheap. Who wants a small memory device when for $30, you can get a mp3/wma enabled cd/mp3 player? Easy to establish your preffs and if the disc gets scratched, what's lost? $.20 maybe? Do you know how many cd's I can burn, for the cost of a $30 player and Blanks vs the Cost of an iPod, any iPod. I think Apple has a fantastic marketing strategy. I love the commercials, the Viral Marketing, and the design, but then again I love Ferraris' as well.
Save your money, buy a new computer, or a subscription to ODNT, WinCustomizeor any of your favorite subscription based products. Support a developer, and get alot more for your money, than a small... Losable.. Breakable piece of hardware.
TheSkinsFactory
Reply #3 Monday, December 27, 2004 10:54 AM
Reply #3 Monday, December 27, 2004 10:54 AM
CygnusXII: how can you possibly compare buying a hardware media device to a software application? Get alot for your money? That's like saying don't buy a bath towel buy sneakers instead because you walk more often than shower. One thing has nothing to do with the other. And if you're a regular at the Wal-Mart discount isles then you aren't really the target demographics for the more expensive CE market. People who have disposable incomes are. When's the last time you saw an iPod marked down at Wal-Mart. So why even bring that up? Do they even sell them there? There's a shortage of iPods now due to higher consumer demand.
I say bring it on. If nothing else it will be another boost to the american economy and will allow consumers a lower cost alternative to the hard drive versions. I think it's great that someone who can't afford to shell out $250+ can still be a part of this exciting trend of portable digital media.
I say bring it on. If nothing else it will be another boost to the american economy and will allow consumers a lower cost alternative to the hard drive versions. I think it's great that someone who can't afford to shell out $250+ can still be a part of this exciting trend of portable digital media.
AJ_Ruopoli
Reply #4 Wednesday, December 29, 2004 11:27 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, December 29, 2004 11:27 AM
I have seen screenshots of the new flash ipod and I wasn't thoroughly impressed. I think it is important to remember if this iPod is going to suceed in any way, shape, or form then it has to be both small and stylish. The sceenshots that I have seen do not depict this to me
CygnusXII
Reply #5 Wednesday, December 29, 2004 1:06 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, December 29, 2004 1:06 PM
TSF - You missed my point entirely. Unless you havn't noticed there isn't a lot of disposable income out there, right now, at least in my neck of the woods. (which happens to include the entire southern region of the US) What I am saying is that alot of small form factor MP3 devices have hit the market already, and the flood has come and gone. If folks buy a FlashPod, it would need to offer alot of bang for the buck. I get alot of Bang for the $30 CD/MP3/WMA player I bought, because my media cost, roughly .20 per Unit, and I can edit it easily with several types of Burning Software, and not be trapped into iTunes, or ACC Format. I do not have to worry about licensing, moving licenses, loosing licenses, Flash Drive getting wiped, loosing a small piece of expensive hardware, smacking an expensive piece of hardware and destroying it. If I break a $30 device, or loose it or whatnot, I am out $30 Tops. Also unless you havn't noticed WalMart and "my Demographic" happen to be one of the biggest retailers in the world, if you think Apple wouldn't want a piece of that, you are foolish. Apple has err'ed on many occasions, and the errors have always been historic. The best thing going for iPod is that it is fashionable, and "Trendy." If you buy into the marketing hype, good for you. It is not going to single handedly save the economy. The USA's period of readily spendable, extra cash is over, as exhibited by this past Christmas Season, sales were down everywhere. The Fed has raised the Prime Interest Rates, and the Housing Market, Auto Market and Big Ticket Items are Slowing Down. The Dollar is dropping in value. Inflation is coming my friend, and "my Demographic" is soon to be all over the USA.things are getting so, bad that there is an attempt to change the Bankruptcy Laws to prepare for the deluge of Disposable Income folks, that disposed of a little too much income, that didn't exist.
As to my other comment, about supporting a Software vendor, or developer, this was spot on, my friend. Helping keep a software company alive, and developing is as much a value as you will get, versus some over priced,hardware device. I am saying get something for your money, and spend less to get more. If I spend $30 on a player and $20 on a CakeBox of 100 Blank CD's, I have effectively aqquired 70GB of MP3 player, for $50, and this serves me many thousands of songs. With the remainder of my $$$ I would have spent, on a FlashPod, I could spend it on other things of Value, like Software, Subscriptions, or other Items, I need. Spending the $$$ on a single "pod" I have furthered Apple and Apples manufacturing facilities, marketing,and whatnot. Going the other route I have spread the money out. Shopping at WallyWorld, at least spreads some of the money, right here in my very City, employing clerks, and help of all kinds, truckers, stockers, vendors of local goods, you name it. So who gets the most for their dollar (yen, whatever)?
As to my other comment, about supporting a Software vendor, or developer, this was spot on, my friend. Helping keep a software company alive, and developing is as much a value as you will get, versus some over priced,hardware device. I am saying get something for your money, and spend less to get more. If I spend $30 on a player and $20 on a CakeBox of 100 Blank CD's, I have effectively aqquired 70GB of MP3 player, for $50, and this serves me many thousands of songs. With the remainder of my $$$ I would have spent, on a FlashPod, I could spend it on other things of Value, like Software, Subscriptions, or other Items, I need. Spending the $$$ on a single "pod" I have furthered Apple and Apples manufacturing facilities, marketing,and whatnot. Going the other route I have spread the money out. Shopping at WallyWorld, at least spreads some of the money, right here in my very City, employing clerks, and help of all kinds, truckers, stockers, vendors of local goods, you name it. So who gets the most for their dollar (yen, whatever)?
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Reply #1 Sunday, December 26, 2004 4:36 PM