Slashdot Mirror
Apple Releases Basic iPod Touch, Possibly Foreshadowing iPhone Strategy
redletterdave writes "While the new 16 GB iPod Touch released Thursday features the same 4-inch Retina display and dual-core A5 processor as its other variants, the newest, cheapest iPod Touch lacks a rear camera and comes in just two colors black and silver. Apple is reportedly pursuing a similar strategy with the iPhone, as reports from the past several months have pointed to development of a 'low-cost iPhone' with basic features to be sold at a lower price point."
Except that Apple has historically never been one to sacrifice profit/(perceptions of) quality for marketshare.
Aside from the iPod and the iPhone, Apple has never really been the most used. Certainly they have historically been in some niche applications (graphic design and publishing come to mind) but they've never been the "mainstream" computer brand. They've managed to always keep a solid enough marketshare to make sure that they get supported, but aside from the iPhone and iPod, they've historically never been number one, nor seemed to have any interest in total marketshare domination.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
Rockbox (http://www.rockbox.org/) on a Sansa Fuze, day after Thanksgiving sale for $49. Expandable memory via microSD card slot; also picks up radio, has microphone, plays AAC, OGG, FLAC, etc., etc., etc. Comes with a number of games etc. Not ridiculously high resolution display, but I really don't see the point of that or random apps so hey. Oh, plus you can skin it. Can an iPod do that? No?
Unfortunately this was a few years ago when they still made them with physical wheels. Now they're making them with capacitance thingies like iPods :P
Unity? Screw that: XFCE. Slashdot Beta? Screw that: SoylentNews. Australis? Screw that: Pale Moon. UX developers DIAF
Walk into any office of any reasonably sized company. Count the number of Macs. Now count the number of PCs. In my company for example the only Macs I see are when people bring their own.
No doubt. But there are more Macs as a percentage this year than there were last year, iPads have replaced increasing numbers of PCs this year. When you lose ground every year for 2-3 years you aren't winning. Computers installed in people's offices are little comfort to Dell and HP as they try and figure out how to explain to their shareholders exactly why their sales are into double digit declines and share value yet again.
.. a shift in consumer preferences could completely trash Apple's bottom line.
The oft repeated mantra which has been proved wrong for every year over the past 10+ years.