New iPods to help Apple counter rivals
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Apple Inc is expected to unveil new iPods this week, injecting fresh excitement into the product line at a time when defections by partners have shown cracks in its digital music dominance.
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MacCentral - With the iPod leading the way for Apple Computer Inc.'s charge into the consumer market, NPD Group analyst Ross Rubin said the iPod is reaching iconic status. While the iPod Shuffle aims to openly compete with many other players in the MP3 market, the upcoming release of iLife '05 may quietly threaten products of third-party developers.
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Blog: Apple has filed for several patents that could hint at future iPods that talk to each other and a mouse that moves 3D objects.
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(InfoWorld) - Apple Computer's recent introduction of several new iPods shows the company is looking for better profit margins, not gaining market share, according to researcher Gartner. And the move could boost its rivals. The top sign Apple is going for the green is its lack of aggressive pricing, according to Gartner analysts Joseph Unsworth and Jon Erensen in a Monday report. The second-generation iPod Shuffle, for example, could have been priced closer to $49 to stimulate demand from users, since the cost of materials going into it amounts to only $30, the analysts said. Instead, the shuffle is priced at $79. The company could have also priced the new 8GB product lower than $249, since its materials only cost $130, Gartner said, the same with its 4GB, which at $199 is far higher than the $90 worth of materials inside, and the 2GB version, which is $149 and is made from materials costing only $70. The two Gartner researchers even lamented Apple's decision to discontinue the 1GB nano, which they say could have been a nice mass-market item for around $99. "Apple is in a secure position atop the portable media player market and has decided to strategically focus on its margin this time," the analysts said. Indeed, AppleÂ continued to leadÂ the U.S. digital music player market in the second quarter with a 75.6 percent share, according to the NPD Group, followed at a very distant second by SanDisk at 9.7 percent and Creative TechnologyÂ in third with 4.3 percent of the market. But a lack of revolutionary new functions in the latest lineup of iPods coupled with just a small price reduction could give rivals,Â Microsoft and its new ZuneÂ in particular, room to gain market share this year. For one thing, Apple's rivals may not be affected by strained component supplies, since Apple won't be taking as much as it could, according to Gartner. The market researcher had predicted a shortage of NAND flash memory chips in the fourth quarter due to strong sales of portable media players, USB (universal serial bus) flash drives, and other products requiring the chips. While it still forecasts a shortage, the situation won't be as severe as previously thought, the analysts said, perhaps a 3 percent shortfall rather than the 4.6 percent shortage originally predicted. NAND flash, one of the key data storage components for iPods, is 60 percent cheaper than last year on average, and with Apple's huge investment in NAND companies, it could have priced its iPods more aggressively to keep its market share, the analysts said. In addition, Apple's rivals won't have to work so hard this year to keep up with the iPod because the new lineup does not redefine the portable media player market like it did last year, Gartner said. And finally, the company only trimmed nano prices by $50, different from the past when the company's aggressive price cuts forced competitors to lower prices and increase storage capacity to compete. Jill Than, a spokeswoman for Apple in Hong Kong, declined to immediately comment.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.
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The new iPod to be launched today will include digital radio and a 'buy now' music function, rumours suggest. By John Plunkett.
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Apple Computer has unveiled two new versions of its hugely successful iPod: the iPod Photo and the U2 iPod.
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An iPod software update released by Apple over the weekend tackles many of the performance issues noted in initial reviews of the new iPod nano and iPod classic.
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As of yesterday&#39;s Apple announcements, the newest breed of iPods -- called the iPod touch -- include a multitouch interface, a WiFi connection, widescreen video display, and the Safari browser. But are the new iPods pointing to the future of portable media players, or merely holding on to an old-style music system that is about to undergo another radical change?
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When Steve Jobs unveiled his company's new line of music players, consumers saw cool new gadgets. Attorneys who claim Apple engages in anticompetitive behavior saw something else entirely.
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Apple Inc. is scheduled to make an announcement today that analysts expect will be iPod upgrades.
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Carmakers and Apple face a number of serious challenges if they decide to form an alliance to produce an iPod-capable car.
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Apple sent out invitations to a special event it is holding on September 5, which indicate the company is preparing to launch new iPods in time for the holiday season. It is largely expected the iPods will incorporate a touch-sensitive screen and "Cover Flow" user interface found on the iPhone.
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Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday   unveiled a number of new iPods, including one with the most   capacity to date, and said new versions of the popular digital   music players would sport video games such as Pac-Man and   Tetris.
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SAN JOSE, Calif.  - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out  on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share  photos as it opened nine new iTunes music stores in Europe,   spurring its rivalry with Microsoft Corp. and others.
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Apple Inc. unveiled new iPods on Wednesday including a model with an iPhone-style touch screen and wireless Internet connectivity, refreshing the product line at a time when its digital media strategy is facing renewed attacks from rivals.
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SAN JOSE, Calif.  - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out  on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share  photos, a dramatic expansion that takes the popular digital  music player into the multimedia realm, while spurring its  rivalry with Microsoft Corp. and others.
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NEW YORK - It&#39;s never a smart move to pick a public fight with Apple Computer, and it&#39;s doubly unwise if that fight involves the iPod in some way.