Comments on: Competition not afraid of Apple’s iPod Shuffle http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle News from the Tech and IT World Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:03:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: John http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-2250 John Sat, 21 May 2005 21:33:20 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-2250 You don't see people looking at the interface of their MP3 player because they don't have to. It's easy enough to go by feel for most functions (volume, track skip, etc). You don’t see people looking at the interface of their MP3 player because they don’t have to. It’s easy enough to go by feel for most functions (volume, track skip, etc).

]]> By: david http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-990 david Sat, 22 Jan 2005 20:11:56 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-990 MP3 manufacturer: "Hello sir" idiot interviewer: "Does the iPod shuffle scare you?" MP3 manufacturer: "Obsolutely not! The price is outrageous and it has too few features" idiot interviewer: "Thank you" Off camera the MP3 manufacturer takes two more valium and kicks his dog. Oh, you were expecting the executives of unsuccessful companies to admit they have products people buy only when they think there is no other choice. You know, they go to all the stores on Christmas Eve and there are no iPods to be found or they have $50 and want to get their three children an mp3 player, or they think Apple only has $500 iPods. MP3 manufacturer: “Hello sir”
idiot interviewer: “Does the iPod shuffle scare you?”
MP3 manufacturer: “Obsolutely not! The price is outrageous and it has too few features”
idiot interviewer: “Thank you”
Off camera the MP3 manufacturer takes two more valium and kicks his dog.

Oh, you were expecting the executives of unsuccessful companies to admit they have products people buy only when they think there is no other choice. You know, they go to all the stores on Christmas Eve and there are no iPods to be found or they have $50 and want to get their three children an mp3 player, or they think Apple only has $500 iPods.

]]> By: James Katt http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-968 James Katt Sat, 22 Jan 2005 10:36:25 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-968 Apple is making quite a profit on the iPod Shuffles. By providing simplifying the user interface - such as avoiding unnecessary features such as a radio receiver, Apple will actually maintain a high gross profit margin on the iPod Shuffle (and the Mac mini, for that matter) yet also undercutting their competitors. Apple's competitors are hobbled by lower profit margins on their more featured compact flash MP3 players. Apple is making quite a profit on the iPod Shuffles. By providing simplifying the user interface – such as avoiding unnecessary features such as a radio receiver, Apple will actually maintain a high gross profit margin on the iPod Shuffle (and the Mac mini, for that matter) yet also undercutting their competitors. Apple’s competitors are hobbled by lower profit margins on their more featured compact flash MP3 players.

]]> By: Mark S http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-948 Mark S Sat, 22 Jan 2005 06:22:57 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-948 Nobody uses these interfaces on they're mp3 players. I watch university students listening to them on the bus---none look at their screens. Jobs was right, a GUI on a mp3 player isn't practical. Most mp3 players are busy displaying numbers (play time?) 95% of the time. Do you really need to know that? The shuffle will be a hit. Nobody uses these interfaces on they’re mp3 players. I watch university students listening to them on the bus—none look at their screens. Jobs was right, a GUI on a mp3 player isn’t practical. Most mp3 players are busy displaying numbers (play time?) 95% of the time. Do you really need to know that? The shuffle will be a hit.

]]> By: Thom Carl http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-947 Thom Carl Sat, 22 Jan 2005 00:16:26 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-947 What competition? What competition?

]]> By: KenC http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-946 KenC Fri, 21 Jan 2005 23:11:48 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-946 It's not just about selling shuffles. It's about creating a price war in the flash market. This forces Creative and Rio to lower prices, cutting into their gross margins, and hurting their profitability. Apple could care less about actually selling shuffles, as their breadnbutter is in the HD iPods. By hurting their competition's profitability, they lessen the chance that they can compete with Apple in the profitable HD market segment. Now, if shuffles sell, all the better, but it's not necessary for Apple to achieve their aims. It’s not just about selling shuffles. It’s about creating a price war in the flash market. This forces Creative and Rio to lower prices, cutting into their gross margins, and hurting their profitability. Apple could care less about actually selling shuffles, as their breadnbutter is in the HD iPods. By hurting their competition’s profitability, they lessen the chance that they can compete with Apple in the profitable HD market segment.

Now, if shuffles sell, all the better, but it’s not necessary for Apple to achieve their aims.

]]> By: Chidi O http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-945 Chidi O Fri, 21 Jan 2005 23:10:25 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-945 Please note; there is a difference between a "user interface" and a "graphical user interface". On/off switches, play/pause/ffwd/reverse etc are examples of user interfaces. What one sees on a computer/mobile phone/ mp3 player screen is usually a graphical user interface. Please note; there is a difference between a “user interface” and a “graphical user interface”. On/off switches, play/pause/ffwd/reverse etc are examples of user interfaces. What one sees on a computer/mobile phone/ mp3 player screen is usually a graphical user interface.

]]> By: Kenton http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-941 Kenton Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:16:45 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-941 What would you expect Apple's "competition" to say? Privately they are terrified. Apple has made it abundantly clear they want the whole market, everything. Judging by what Apple has done with the iPod, they should be very afraid. Apple is in a very strong position to leverage their brand and their HD player lead into domination of the entire music download/player industry. Next year's market share numbers should be interesting. If the lack of a LCD display turns into a significant handicap, Apple will just add one. They have the momentum to recover from any small mis-steps and, unlike with the Mac, they have the volume to benefit from economies of scale. They can afford to undercut the comptetions because they can buy components in volume. As their competitor's market share slips, they will become less able to buy parts at volume prices. (They get to deal with the reality Apple has faced for many years in the PC market.) Creative can break out as many cases of Champagne they want, but they are drinking it in soiled shorts. What would you expect Apple’s “competition” to say? Privately they are terrified. Apple has made it abundantly clear they want the whole market, everything. Judging by what Apple has done with the iPod, they should be very afraid. Apple is in a very strong position to leverage their brand and their HD player lead into domination of the entire music download/player industry. Next year’s market share numbers should be interesting. If the lack of a LCD display turns into a significant handicap, Apple will just add one. They have the momentum to recover from any small mis-steps and, unlike with the Mac, they have the volume to benefit from economies of scale. They can afford to undercut the comptetions because they can buy components in volume. As their competitor’s market share slips, they will become less able to buy parts at volume prices. (They get to deal with the reality Apple has faced for many years in the PC market.) Creative can break out as many cases of Champagne they want, but they are drinking it in soiled shorts.

]]> By: tony http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-939 tony Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:12:30 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-939 They were not worried a year ago when Apple introduced the iPod mini, which now has cut their share of the flash-based market by 50%. This time next year, when they are down to 10% of what they had a year ago, I guess they will still be saying they are not worried. Well, I'm not worried for them either. I bought me a Shuffle, to compliment my bigger iPod. They were not worried a year ago when Apple introduced the iPod mini, which now has cut their share of the flash-based market by 50%. This time next year, when they are down to 10% of what they had a year ago, I guess they will still be saying they are not worried. Well, I’m not worried for them either. I bought me a Shuffle, to compliment my bigger iPod.

]]> By: AM http://news.techwhack.com/660-apple-ipod-shuffle#comment-938 AM Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:00:42 +0000 http://news.techwhack.com/660/apple-ipod-shuffle/#comment-938 Just bought 8 Shuffles for friends and family. Did not even think about others in the market - BECAUSE NONE OF THE OTHERS SYNC WITH ITUNES tracks that I paid and bought legally!! AM Just bought 8 Shuffles for friends and family. Did not even think about others in the market – BECAUSE NONE OF THE OTHERS SYNC WITH ITUNES tracks that I paid and bought legally!!
AM

]]>