“Apple’s iPod line has gone months without an update. It’s been nearly a year since the portable music player added new capabilities, such as the ability to play video, or appeared in a new form factor, like the slimmed-down nano. In the rapid-fire world of technology toys, that’s usually the sign of a product line that’s gotten long in the tooth,” Mathew Honan reports for Digit. “And yet, iPods continue to fly off the shelves just as fast as Apple can make them.”
Honan reports, “The reason for this conventional wisdom-defying turn of events? Analysts and trend watchers credit the iPod for finding a market that isn’t as focused on recent product updates as much as it is having one product that ‘just works.'”
“‘The reason people are buying [iPods] is to play music, and it does that very well,’ says Josh Rubin, editor in chief of Cool Hunting, which tracks consumer trends. ‘The Macworld [Expo] keynote-watching, blog-reading, Apple obsessed person will watch for the refresh. But the broader consumer base is just interested in having a music player that’s easy to use,'” Honan reports.
“Mike McGuire, research vice president at market-research firm Gartner offers another explanation: Many consumers are still making the switch to digital from physical media. And that’s helping fuel strong iPod sales even in the absence of updated models,” Honan reports.
Full article here.
Related article:
Apple reports third quarter results: $0.54 per share on $4.37 billion in revenue – July 19, 2006
The iPod is a music player, plain and simple. The first generation still works the same as the 5g. It really doesn’t need new chrome on the bumpers every couple of months. Hence it still sells.
Do one thing, and do it well. That’s why the iPod is a hit. Although it has other useful functions (calendar, contacts, movies etc.) the iPod is best used as a music player.
These ‘Jack of all trades’ POS players that other manufacturers produce are no where near the ease of use of an iPod.
Plus, you need iTunes on your side if you’re gonna be battling the iPod, and Apple aren’t gonna give that up without a fight.
Poor old Zune. What a mountain to climb. Might as well not bother but, hey, when your cash is burning a hole in your pocket why not spending it all on showing the world that iPod really is king of the hill.
“The reason for this conventional wisdom-defying turn of events? Analysts and trend watchers credit the iPod for finding a market that isn’t as focused on recent product updates as much as it is having one product that ‘just works.'”
Isn’t that why Macs are great as well? Wisdom should tell you that something that “just works” is better than something “cheaper” that doesn’t.
“‘The reason people are buying [Macs] is to handle their computing needs, and it does that very well,’ …”But the broader consumer base is just interested in having a computer that’s easy to use'”
My ipod mini 6gig still plays music the same way a new one does. Thats all that matters to me. I will have that thing till it breaks which has become quite difficult considering its the strongest ipod ever made =P
What the iPod has done is that it has taken a technology that needs a computer to work and made it simple enough that it’s as if it didn’t. Irrespective of how simple a Mac may be you have to accept that purely by virtue of the number of things it can do you have to put some effort into “learning” how to use it. People don’t like that, people are lazy. People would rather bluster through using something, causing themselves problems than actually take the time out and learn how to use it properly from the start. People do not read the manuals of even the simplest devices, the more complicated the device arguably the less likely they are to read the manual. As such a device that takes no effort to use will be successful. iPod.
” The Macworld [Expo] keynote-watching, blog-reading, Apple obsessed person … “
Hey! That’s me! Yay! Sadly, no iPods at my house yet, though. Still anticipating the transition.
err … I guess I’m in both camps. That means I’ll hafta buy TWO iPods, maybe? YAY!
The success of the iPod lies in iTunes.
iTunes is where all the decisions are made, and iTunes grows larger and a bit more complex with each update.
But the iPod stays the same. When a consumer looks at an iPod they see an easy to use product that has all sorts of content on it. How easy and wonderful they say, but the trick is they must learn to use iTunes. But in today’s world, learning such a simply SW app. is easy.
iTunes is the platform. iPod is a device that plugs into the platform.
Steve, more to the point, ALL the iPod software is designed to absorb the complexity of the product. That’s why the physical iPod is as simple as an old sci-fi prop, with ONE display and ONE control that does everything.
When you watch old Star Trek episodes, you think, “it’s ridiculous that that hand-held device can do everything they say it can do — it’s only got three buttons!” But the iPod fulfils that concept.
“Poor old Zune. What a mountain to climb. Might as well not bother but…”
This could just as easily read: “Poor old Apple Macintosh. What a mountain to climb. Might as well not bother but…”
Let’s hope that Apple can maintain the iPod AND make inroads in reducing the dominance of Windows. There’s no room at Apple for complacency, arrogance or giving up — in either market.
2-4% Market share for Apple Mac is great.
2-4% Market share for upcoming Microsoft Zune is to scorned and laughed at.
Hmmmmmmmmmm….
Macfanboy, you can’t compare the two markets. PC market share is distorted by the truckloads of generic PCs bought as office tools and point-of-sale machines. You can’t break down digital media players the same way.
Bottom line: Apple makes healthy profits off Macs. Microsoft will lose their shirt on the Zune.
I always thought the iPod was getting updated a little too quickly myself. If there’s an update in the next few months, that would be a more healthy pace.
Macfanboy – Apple make a lot of money from it’s Mac marketshare, whatever it happens to be. Microsoft will lose a lot of money to attain even 4%. That’s the difference.
As a consumer, I don’t want to see my gadget get outdated within a couple of months. I also don’t want to buy a new version of the said gadget every few months.
This “rapid-fire world of technology toys” (and trends) is just a market creation. Consumers want a slower pace. Now I’m sure some smart-ass chimes in with a “consuers are part of the market” comment, but this thing isn’t about consumer needs, it’s about creating a demand for new stuff, ever faster. The need was never there.