“Now that the holiday shopping season is upon us, retailers are hoping cool new consumer-technology products — the ‘iPod effect’ — will lure shoppers,” Mindy Fetterman reports for Gannett News. “The No. 1 holiday tech wish is for an MP3 music player (read: iPod), says the Consumer Electronics Association. ‘It’s going to be an MP3 holiday,’ says Jenny Pareti, spokeswoman for the association. (It’s unseemly for the trade group to highlight one maker, but Apple’s iPod and its tiny sibling, the Nano, are expected to bury rival players.)”
“The National Retail Federation raised its prediction for holiday sales, to a 6 percent increase. That’s almost a point less than last year’s increase but still pretty strong. Americans expect to spend an average $816 per household this holiday season, according to a Gallup Poll, the most since November 2000,” Fetterman reports. “Sean Wargo, director of industry analysis for the Consumer Electronics Association, admits that the typical shopper feels rather ‘dreary’ this year and that the economic outlook is a ‘net neutral.’ Still, 76 percent of U.S. consumers plan to buy at least one consumer electronics product this holiday season, according to an electronics association survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. Wargo says the season is shaping up to be ‘a good holiday, when you look at everything.'”
Full article here.
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Related articles:
Thurrott: Apple’s ‘stunning’ iPod lineup fits every need and budget – December 07, 2005
Apple’s new video-capable iPod’s resplendent screen bright, sharp, and colors really pop – December 05, 2005
TV Critic: Apple iPod video strikingly bright, crisp, very fluid; TV will have to reorient itself – October 27, 2005
Thurrott: Apple iPod ‘the new standard by which all are measured – highly recommended’ – October 26, 2005
Chicago Tribune: Apple’s new iPod is a showstopper – October 26, 2005
PC Magazine review gives Apple’s new video-capable iPod 5 out of 5 stars – October 21, 2005
CBS News: New iPod shows ‘Apple will continue to dominate portable digital media player market’ – October 21, 2005
USA Today: Apple’s new iPod + video: world’s foremost portable music players have gotten only better – October 20, 2005
Comprehensive review of Apple’s iPod 5G with Video – October 20, 2005
Ars Technica reviews Apple’s new video-capable iPod – October 20, 2005
NY Times Pogue: ‘watching video on new iPod’s 2.5-inch screen is completely immersive’ – October 19, 2005
Watching episode of ABC’s ‘Lost’ on 2.5-inch iPod screen surprisingly compelling – October 13, 2005
Using QuickTime Pro to create videos for playback in new Apple iPods – October 13, 2005
Apple unveils new 5th generation iPod, now plays music, photos, and video – October 12, 2005
So they are coming round to the way of thinking for the rest of us ;o)
Although I was taken aback today in Curry’s (UK high street electronics store) to hear a sales person telling a customer that the iPod (5G) was not as good as the Creative he was showing, as the latter had a mechanism for protecting the hard drive if you dropped it.
I really wanted to take the customer aside and tell them to run to the Apple store, where they would not be told such ridiculous stories concerning MP3 players.
I just pray they where not buying for a young relative…not something I would like to open on Christmas day…nice new MP3 player…doh they did not buy me an iPod…hope they kept the receipt
RIAA to Apple: “Let’s get ready to RUMBLE!!!!!!!”
MDNMW is “study”, as in, “Maybe these record labels need to study a consumer friendly music distribution system, such as iTunes.”
Come February I think we will see more reports of firms getting out of the “MP3” player business. Creative will always be there, but they will cut advertising, and other expenses, in order to make a profit on the few they do sell.
Sony may remain, but I don’t think so. At some point they will want to stop the bleeding, and join Apple at the iTMS where they can make some money.
Samsung will get out of MP3s in favor of Apple’s NAND business.
” . . . Apple’s iPod and its tiny sibling, the Nano, are expected to bury rival players.”
Let’s . . . bury . . . them . . .
FOR GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Samsung won’t quit the player business. Rather they will retreat to their home turf of Korea, with it’s protectionist barriers and where Apple has no iTMS. We just won’t hear of their player their business there for a long time, if ever. Mybe they’ll also stay in some other Asian markets, again where there is no iTMS.
Anywhere there is iTMS they are probably getting killed.
Remember, it’s the whole package – iPod + iTunes + iTMS. The tripod needs all three legs to stand so stable.
Why is this in the news exactly?
iPods were also the holliday gifts for xmas 2004.
@ Jeff
That is probably why it is news as they were also the holiday gift in 2003 as well. Most people expect the iPod to crash and burn or be surpassed by some amazing new iPod killer each Christmas shopping season…….<crickets chirp>
I enjoy wearing my nano, as I work out, is the iPod moisture resistant?, I dont want it to corode, due to my sweaty moments
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‘Tis the season…
From the Toronto Star.
……………..
Girl beaten, robbed of iPod
Dec. 11, 2005. 07:53 AM
Police are looking for several suspects who stole a cellphone and iPod from a 15-year-old girl.
A female asked for money for a pay phone on Weston Rd., near Eglinton Ave. W. at 8:30 p.m. Thursday and the victim let her use her cellphone, police said.
The suspect walked off, the victim followed to the Avon Ave. and Avon Cres. area, where she was beaten by the suspect, five females and two males before one took her iPod, police said.
Police are looking for several suspects who stole a cellphone and iPod from a 15-year-old girl.
—
get your anti-cell phone rhetoric outta here.
right?
dork
There are rival players? Where?
Oh the fever! Holiday Sales are going to crash through the roof! Everyone: spend, spend, SPEND! Retailers: stock, stock, STOCK! Manufacturers: Crank ’em out as fast as you can ’cause the SEASON is NOW and TIME is SHORT.
And I’ll be on the hunt for bargains when it’s all over.
“Most people expect the iPod to crash and burn or be surpassed by some amazing new iPod killer each Christmas shopping season…….<crickets chirp>”
You know what, they’re right. A new iPod killer does come each Christmas.
Only thing is…it’s always from Apple.
“Rival players” like the new Creative M-whatever will bury the iPods this Christmas – Apple is doomed®
Creative will win their “strong” patent case against Apple, effectively owning the iPod – Apple is doomed®
The new Intel Mac’s will be over priced and sell poorly – Apple is doomed®
When SJ retires “soon”, their is no one to replace him with a similar distortion field – Apple is doomed®
The music will stop on AAPL, all those who bought above $20 (pre-split) will loose their shirts – Apple is doomed®
Did I miss any?
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I was at Circuit City yesterday, there were a hoard of people in the mp3 player isle, lost because there were no iPods available and they knew that they couldn’t buy the “other” brand the salesperson was suggesting because the other brands aren’t options at all…Its like getting a substitute “cabbage patch doll” or fake “tickle me elmo”…doesn’t cut it on X-mas morning.
Introducing the new iPod Gift Card. Can’t give ’em substance? Give ’em paper – redeemable at any Apple outlet subject to availability.
Err … why, exactly, do we all want Apple to bury all competition? Come on people, think a little, I don’t think that’s exactly in the interests of the Apple-buying public. Monopolies don’t tend to equal better products and lower prices. Apple is a business, not your fairy god mother. If they could get away with charging $1000 for an iPod Nano, be sure they would.
Here in Oz I saw a Samsung 20gig mp3 player (or it may have been 40gig) with video, selling for $580. You can get a 60gig iPod with video for $599. You do the math.