Historically, Apple have been very good at releasing new iterations of their products at a rapid-fire rate.
It makes sense that they would want to keep competitors on their toes by doing this.
The problem with this (and this is not only my opinion - just Google it), is that each new product version is not really ground-breaking, so much as it is a general improvement over the outgoing version.
Historically, Apple customer expectations have often been much higher than the final product that they received.
Sure, each person has their own definition of the term "ground-breaking", but for me personally, it means a brand new feature or capability that simply blows the competition out of the water.
Something that has never been done before.
Crazy new innovation.
That type of thing.
The second problem with this (and one which loyal Apple fans generally fail to recognise), is that it is a great way to keep the Apple bank balance happy.
It is the old carrot-on-a-stick approach - one that just keeps the salivating fans coming back for more; waiting for the next Apple branded product to enter the market; more ways for them to show love and support for the brand, and a way to show off their "unique" social identity (along with the millions of other fans ;), in a world full of competitive techno-gadgetry.
The iPad 2 arrived on South African shores in April this year, meaning that it has been available here for a total of approximately 8-9 months.
For the first few months, only the Apple elite could get their hands on one.
Hell, if you owned an iPad 2, then Ferrari's were making way for you in the fast lane...
Then, about 1-2 months ago, the rest of us started to experience the iPad 2.
Friends started getting them, you saw them all over the place, geez maybe even you got your hands on one.
Finally, the dream became a reality - oh the joy of beholding a real, live iPad 2 in the palms of your own hands, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, through sickness and health, until drop / steal / crash / other do you part...
Unfortunately, Apple do not believe in fairy tale endings such as these.
Yup, you better believe it... according to some online analysts who seem to know their stuff, we may well see the arrival of the iPad 3 in February 2012.
Sure, here in South Africa it will only arrive a month or 2 later, but that is still a disgustingly short time between the release dates of the iPad 2 and the iPad 3...
I suppose though, that if you consider the original iPad USA launch date - 30 April 2010, and iPad 2 USA launch date - 11 March 2011, then it spaces them about 11 months apart - roughly the same as if the iPad 3 were to launch in February 2012...
I understand very well that human beings today simply cannot keep up with trends, new gadgets and technology in general, but if what the analysts out there are predicting is true, then we may soon see Apple product life cycles even shorter than they already are, and I have to wonder how well that will sit with those loyal to the brand...
The fantastic online comic creator "The Oatmeal", sums it all up in pictures brilliantly here...
Care to comment anyone?
It makes sense that they would want to keep competitors on their toes by doing this.
The problem with this (and this is not only my opinion - just Google it), is that each new product version is not really ground-breaking, so much as it is a general improvement over the outgoing version.
Historically, Apple customer expectations have often been much higher than the final product that they received.
Sure, each person has their own definition of the term "ground-breaking", but for me personally, it means a brand new feature or capability that simply blows the competition out of the water.
Something that has never been done before.
Crazy new innovation.
That type of thing.
The second problem with this (and one which loyal Apple fans generally fail to recognise), is that it is a great way to keep the Apple bank balance happy.
It is the old carrot-on-a-stick approach - one that just keeps the salivating fans coming back for more; waiting for the next Apple branded product to enter the market; more ways for them to show love and support for the brand, and a way to show off their "unique" social identity (along with the millions of other fans ;), in a world full of competitive techno-gadgetry.
The iPad 2 arrived on South African shores in April this year, meaning that it has been available here for a total of approximately 8-9 months.
For the first few months, only the Apple elite could get their hands on one.
Hell, if you owned an iPad 2, then Ferrari's were making way for you in the fast lane...
Then, about 1-2 months ago, the rest of us started to experience the iPad 2.
Friends started getting them, you saw them all over the place, geez maybe even you got your hands on one.
Finally, the dream became a reality - oh the joy of beholding a real, live iPad 2 in the palms of your own hands, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, through sickness and health, until drop / steal / crash / other do you part...
Unfortunately, Apple do not believe in fairy tale endings such as these.
Yup, you better believe it... according to some online analysts who seem to know their stuff, we may well see the arrival of the iPad 3 in February 2012.
Sure, here in South Africa it will only arrive a month or 2 later, but that is still a disgustingly short time between the release dates of the iPad 2 and the iPad 3...
I suppose though, that if you consider the original iPad USA launch date - 30 April 2010, and iPad 2 USA launch date - 11 March 2011, then it spaces them about 11 months apart - roughly the same as if the iPad 3 were to launch in February 2012...
I understand very well that human beings today simply cannot keep up with trends, new gadgets and technology in general, but if what the analysts out there are predicting is true, then we may soon see Apple product life cycles even shorter than they already are, and I have to wonder how well that will sit with those loyal to the brand...
The fantastic online comic creator "The Oatmeal", sums it all up in pictures brilliantly here...
Care to comment anyone?
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment