“Credit Suisse maintained an ‘outperform’ rating on Apple Computer on the heels of the company’s new product announcements [iPod Hi-Fi, Mac mini],” Peter Kang reports for Forbes. “The Hi-Fi, with a price tag of $349, is more expensive compared with third-party iPod accessories items made by Bose, JBL and Altec Lansing, the analyst said. ‘We expect Hi-Fi to be successful, but do not believe it will be a blockbuster product as its functionality is very similar to that of the Bose, which is still recognized as a leader in acoustics.’ Despite Semple’s tempered expectations for the Hi-Fi, the research analyst said the product launch is a harbinger of things to come and expects Apple to roll out more peripheral products.”
Kang reports, “The analyst has a $90 price target on Apple. ‘Fundamentals at Apple remain very strong despite potential x86 transition issues and iPod seasonality in the March quarter,’ said Semple.”
Full article here.
Advertisements:
• Apple’s brand new iPod Hi-Fi speaker system. Home stereo. Reinvented. Available now for $349 with free shipping.
• Apple’s new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Related article:
Apple iPod Hi-Fi photos from all angles – March 01, 2006
Apple on the living room attack; Sonos CEO: ‘the shot heard round the world for home-audio business’ – March 01, 2006
Videos of Steve Jobs introducing Mac mini, iPod Hi-Fi – March 01, 2006
Apple debuts iPod Hi-Fi speaker system, leather cases for 5G iPod, iPod nano – February 28, 2006
comparable to a $1000 system, but who really cares about details like that
(sarcasm)
PALM stock has all bubbled up. It should drop sharply soon.
ANSW ( Answers.com ) CEO will be talking about their company on March9, possibly it will be positive news.
Apple stock is unlikely to go any higher, it is likely it is headed to under $64 again.
PALM stock has all bubbled up. It should drop sharply soon.
ANSW ( Answers.com ) CEO will be talking about their company on March9, possibly it will be positive news.
Apple stock is unlikely to go any higher, it is likely it is headed to under $64 again.
PALM stock has all bubbled up. It should drop sharply soon.
ANSW ( Answers.com ) CEO will be talking about their company on March9, possibly it will be positive news.
Apple stock is unlikely to go any higher, it is likely it is headed to under $64 again.
PALM stock has all bubbled up. It should drop sharply soon.
ANSW ( Answers.com ) CEO will be talking about their company on March9, possibly it will be positive news.
Apple stock is unlikely to go any higher, it is likely it is headed to under $64 again.
I stopped by our local Applestore in St Louis last night and they did not have new Mini systems or the iPod HiFi. I probably would have bought both as they appear to be problem solvers for a couple of situations I’m facing but I wanted to hear the speaker before buying.
When I asked “when will you have them” the lady behind the counter told me “it’s like Christmas every day, we never know what’s coming in. UPS comes and we just ooo and ahh at the new stuff, then customers come and buy all of it, what a great job this is”.
There were customers everywhere trying out everything Apple. The Dell island kiosk in the mall (200 feet away) had no customers, the two blue shirt Dell guys were standing around talking on cell phones.
That’s a great story Macs King! Just the sort of thing a buyer of a company’s stocks needs to know…
You want to talk about a true marketing force, then look no further than BOSE. They use some of the cheapest of the shelf components, combined with a monster marketing engine to garner thier success. If you actually get a hold of a BOSE test graph (hard to find) and look at it, it is about the most unaccurate speaker system on the martket. Huge gaping holes in the lower mid-bass sections, poor low end extention (6db rolloff starting at 80hz), and highs start dieing in the 16khz area. It’s pretty pathetic. Just about every one of thier systems uses the same quality paper cone speakers that came in 1950’s Chevys. They use poor accuracy designs such as seventh order bandpass boxes to achieve their “low end”.
BOSE speakers are designed to meet the minimum requirements for fooling the average listener into thinking that they are listening to full range sound using psychoacoustic theory. How many times do you get to listen to competing speakers side by side? Not at any BOSE store (not that I would do any thing different in my own store). If you can find something like a Henry Kloss clock radio and listen side by side with a BOSE clock radio the difference would be obvious.
Sorry for the rant, it just bugs me that so may people have bought into BOSE’s “better sound through research” crap. Started my audio listening with BOSE many years ago. I have owned thier 901s, an acoustimass 5 bookshelf system, and another bookshelf set that I can’t remember what model number. My eyes were opened, and the world sounds much better for it. Kind of like when I sold my PC for my Mac.
If your in the market for a iPod HiFi, take a look at a Bose Wave Radio first.
You get cd player, radio and clock, it sounds and looks better.
All you need is a stereo mini to RCA (left/right channel) breakout cable available at any electronics store.
Far as portability, the HiFi is not, batteries are a pain in the arse and cost too much over time. They fall out, they leak, they can even explode, they can ruin the iPod HiFi if you keep using them.
You’ll lose/break the battery cover eventually.
The fabric on the HiFi will get torn and dirty.
Apple doesn’t have the experience in designing these types of devices as shown by the ugly white plastic look and lack of input options.
Title is redundant.
har·bin·ger – One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner.
Should have used the word sign. Trying to look smart by using fancy word. Backfire.
The Anti-BOSE:
Wow. Well put. I have been trying very hard to hold back a similar rant against Bose.
People seem to think that because Bose are so expensive they must be good. My ears get fatigued after about 10 minutes around a Bose speaker system.
They belch out low midrange to cover up their poor bass extension. Their entire sound is hyped and unrealistic.
Bose seems to appeal to consumers who always turn up their stereo’s bass and treble knobs fully clockwise; people who automatically set a graphic EQ to that scooped-out smile shape no matter what the speakers or listening environment sound like.
For under $200 I could direct anyone who likes the sound of Bose to a pair of active bi-amped reference monitors. After listening to the monitors for just 15 minutes, they’ll believe that Bose should consider going into the meat packing business.
I am CURIOUS about Apple’s new HiFi. Gosh I think will have to VIST AN APPLE STORE in order to listen to it. Wow, they have lots of kewl products here. I am handing them my credit card for an iPod…
The Apple Hi-Fi has both digital and analog audio inputs. Still smokin’ the weed?
Troll.
Kate
two more alternatives Creative Soundworks 740 and the Pure Digital DTM-300. The they both have a plethora of ins and outs, the Pure device picks up digital radio and they both sound pretty good for their size. I see no problem with the ipod boombox, anyway the term ‘hifi’ was seriously devalued when the Japanese electronics companies started the hard sell of all their products under the banner of ‘hifi’.
informed,
Couldn’t agree more. The fully clockwise comment is especially dead on.
I have a nice set of reference monitors (Tannoy Reveals) I got for $200 that I use as my computer speakers. Head and shoulders above every set of BOSE I’ve ever owned. Don’t even get me started on how much better my old Martin Logans or new Mirages are. There are just way way way way way too many choices of great speakers/audio electronics out there to ever give your money to BOSE.
You know the saying I’ve heard is “BOSE all mids…No highs, No lows”. I love that saying.
I forgot to mention that I have a clock radio as well that was given to me as a gift. It sounds nice until you hear the same stuff from a well designed system. Dollar to performance, the BOSE clock radio is probably one of the worst buys in the market. Again, if you are interested you owe it to yourself to audition the Henry Kloss Model One or Model Two. Same size factor, whole different league of performance.
For the record I have no affiliation with any product.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
In reply to MacsKing’s comment – I also went into the Apple Store up here in Syracuse, NY and it was incredibly crowded and completely bubbled with excitement. People were buying stuff, store clerks were running around…it was mild chaos. Let’s hope this continues!
PALM has gone down to much, it may bounce back up.
PALM has gone down to much, it may bounce back up.
PALM has gone down to much, it may bounce back up.
PALM has gone down to much, it may bounce back up.
I forgot…what about companies like JBL, Creative, or any other company that targets computer audio? I am fully aware that Bose are not high quality…but sitting next to them on the shelf at the store were a pair of JBL’s that I bought. So far, no complaints. Anybody?
Idustry sayings
No highs or lows, it must be Bose.
JBL = Junk, but loud.
I think the ipod Hi-Fi will sell because it will go louder and have deeper bass than the other all in one solutions and it has “wife appeal”. No messy bits of wire and lots of buttons so marital harmony should be assured. I was just expecting something more from Apple and Jonathan Ive, like a silver grill for starters.
With Bonjour I can see an autonomous Wi-Fi-Hi-Fi that will play from your itunes library on the cards. Apple will be releasing more consumer products as it not only helps iPod and iTMS sales but also gives them more products to sell in its stores.
HiFi a Harbinger of things to come? What? Maybe a small fridge and a blender to go with that butt-ugly breadbox!!! I’m going to my Apple store right now with a loaf of Wonder bread, I’m going up to the HiFi, and I’m going to scream “how do I open this damn thing!” at the top of my lungs. “I’ve got some bread to deposit!!!” Ok, I feel better now.
To Anti-Bose…Thank you!
I have listened to the Bose peripheral and I was expecting to be impressed, but I was not! I just felt that the sound, while somewhat loud, was missing something. The richness and complexity was not really there. Now I know why.
things are not looking good for Bose, the mall of america store in Minnesota just shut it’s doors after a few year run there. I bought those $100 computer speakers there, went thru 2 pairs in as many weeks, eventually got my money back and went with the $100 Klipsch they sell at Apple stores, I love them!