“Apple’s robust earnings report for the latest quarter surprised few, given the runaway success of its ubiquitous iPod, yet there already is concern sales of the digital music devices will not suffice to keep Apple growing in the longer term. Moreover, criticism against iPods is on the rise, particularly from environmentalists,” Shihoko Goto writes for UPI.
MacDailyNews Take: Surprised few? What planet is this guy from? The highest estimate for iPod sales was 5.5 million. Apple sold 6.155 million iPods. The consensus estimate of $3.33 billion in revenue was nearly $200 million short of Apple’s reported $3.52 billion.
Goto continues, “…many analysts are already worried that Apple is far too heavily dependent on a single product… Apple faces the problem, however, that even its computer sales hinge on the success of the musical device, said Chris Green of London’s Computing magazine… Meanwhile, environmentalists have complained that Apple has been less responsible than other companies in using recyclable products in its music devices. The batteries and microprocessors inside iPods contain potentially hazardous material, and the company should be ‘more proactive in using materials that are less harmful to the environment,’ Zeina al-Hajj, campaign coordinator for toxic-waste disposal at Greenpeace International in Amsterdam, told United Press International.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s stellar earnings might not last due to environmentalists’ criticism against iPod. We’ve heard it all now.
From Apple.com: Apple rechargeable batteries provide a better solution for both your pocketbook and the planet. For instance, if your iPod were powered by 4-AA Alkaline batteries and you used one pack per week (which is conservative), after two years you would have spent over $200 (buying in bulk) and piled up 400 dead batteries for your local recycling center. http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipods.html
MacDailyNews Note: The once-proud UPI is currently owned by Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church which, in the year 2000, caused battleaxe Helen Thomas to leave the Moonified organization after 57 years for Hearst Newspapers.
OMFG!!!
I have said this before. Writers get paid not for covering a topic, but for the number of words they put down. Here is a perfect example of someone getting paid that way.
“The batteries and microprocessors inside iPods contain potentially hazardous material…”
Since when is the iPod’s processor any more or less hazardous than any other processor?
I’ve read of articles that reach very far for a reason to denegrate Apple, but this one is going to the far extreme.
I love it when a plan comes together.
FOFLMHO … what a hoot!
Yesterday EVERYBODY expected Apple to report a reduction in iPod and PC sales … exactly the opposite happened. And, today, it “Wasn’t a surprise.”
Yeah RIGHT.
The day SUV-driving America stops using iPods for environmental reasons is the day I bite the bullet. Still a good laugh, though. Thanks, UPI.
If these analysts get any more ridiculous, their articles should be posted on The Onion.
I think Im about to have a frickin aneurism! Uh why dont we start by talking about the millions and millions and millions of batteries in throw-away cell phones, and start the discussion there. We can talk about the iPod after a few weeks of that debate.
Jeebus H Cripes. Let me at these dolts!
Why with all those former iPod users tossing their old faithfuls into the trash bin, the hazardous battery sewage must be piling up??!!!
O’ come on, not that environmental responsibility isn’t a good thing, but Apple is already using a rechargeable battery that can be recycled (last I heard). And I haven’t meant too many people who’ve tossed their old iPods when they’ve purchased new ones. Lord knows, my friends have both my old 5GB and 10GB iPod, and I’m still holding on to my 20GB, and 40GB. I might give away my 20GB when I purchase a 60GB, but maybe not.
I’m very Enviro conscious- Recycling my ass off here in Cali.
But These Eco-Terrorists are really starting to irk me.
It’s thanks to them that the spooked American public hasn’t moved our nuclear energy programs forward (like Japan, Europe, etc.) and that much more dependent on foreign oil.
Yeah i know we are a gas guzzling SUV nation, but we shouldn’t have to burn oil to create Electricity for our Homes.
One more thing-
America Imports Concrete!!! Is that frickin crazy!!
Because the Enviro Impact studies needed to open new Gravel Pits are so expensive and time consuming (at least here In California) that it’s Cheaper to import concrete from South America and the far east.
That is just stupid.
Thanks Environmentalcases.
Okay-
I feel a little better now.
I’ve sold on all my old iPods (3 in total) to friends, and they all still use them. One of my old iPods has a knackered battery, but my friend just keeps it plugged into a Dock in his bedroom.
I know loads of people who have second hand iPods, I’d never throw one away. If it became unuseable as a portable music player,I’d use it as a paperweight.
MW: call, as in “good call Steve”.
Long Live Jonathan Ive
For the life of me I just don’t see how iPods could pose an environmental concern. It is not like the iPod is a disposable product where after listening to the new Coldplay album we toss the iPod in the garbage can and open up a new one! And when my iPod is finally dead I will likely turn it in to the Apple store for a discount on my next iPod.
let’s close all of the terribly polluting power plants; park all of our cars; stop mass producing food; cease any and all activities that allow us to enjoy a modern civilization. maybe then we’ll get some peace from having to listen to these frickin’ wankers.
For the record Apple does recycle iPods but the environmentalists don’t want to hear that and pick on the most popular player for there attention. I haven’t seen any lack of sales due there whining either.
Just another dooms day boy. We’ve heard it all several times before. Go away.
Someone overestimates the value rational people place on “the sky is falling” tree-hugging greeny blabber. Who the hell cares what these whiners say?
They insist everyone recycle, when it’s such a waste of everyone’s time and energy. How much energy does it require to recycle material that many companies won’t use anyway because it’s so inferior? (Anyone ever try using recycled paper? Pure crap.)
iPod sales will not slow becaue of environmental concerns. Most people don’t think about and don’t care. By this logic, we shouldn’t buy cell phones, cordless phones, computers, cars, blah, blah, blah, blah. Personallly, I’m not willing to live like a cave man because it makes me feel better about “Mother Earth.”
I own 4 iPods. My 3G iPod’s battery charge goes for about 3 hours. Now, I could get a new battery I guess, but instead I got me a new iPod photo, and then set up my 3G in a dock in my kitchen and I just leave it there. I have another IPod w/dock set up in my office. Now I don’t have to carry an iPod everywhere, other than my shuffle when I go out, and I have localized stereo at my convenience.
The bottom line is, my 3G and older iPods will continue to provide many, many years of service, well beyond what the life of the battery may be. It’s all about the music. iPods + klipsch powered speakers and any room in your house can rock! Throw away my iPod? You’re nuts.
its time the world starts to focus on things that really matter. anyone or anything that becomes successful is immediatly attacked because people have way too much time on their hands. They should take their energy and use it to do somthing constructive, not write a pointless article.
Preach on, HDL. That’s what I’m talking about.
About the article, complete dribble. My goodness, cell phone batteries are disposed of at a rate probably 50 times that of the iPod, so why all the criticism, when in fact, their environmental statements are unfounded and unproven.
Rev Moon must be invested in Samsung or something. This article is bogus. The ultimate in bogosity.
I think shareholders should worry more about Steve Jobs’ health than the greenies complaints.
The guy is obviously a hack with little understanding of the market. Take this quote for instance: “Japan’s Sony, for instance, is seeing increased demand for its VAIO digital music players.”
Hello! VAIO is Sony’s brand name for PC desktops and computers. NetWalkman is the name for digital music players. Like, duh!
The article is more akin to propoganda, but not surprising considering it’s under the so-called “World Peace” banner. What a sad fate for UPI.
But they won’t harm Apple OR the iPod. They’ll make the iPod better, the disposal of iPods better, and help us all in the process.
Apple won’t bat an eye. No sales will be lost. They’ll even get good PR when they give in (as they should) to improving some environmental policies, like they’ve begun to do.
Bravo Apple, bravo environmentalists, and bravo the iPod’s bright future!
As an outdoor educator I gladly hug trees but, I would love to personally line up and shoot every single Greenpeace idiot! That is one organization that needs to go bye, bye.
MDN Magic Word “evidence”…