iPod nano released

Sep 11, 2005 at 9:13 PM Post #256 of 265
Thanks for the offer vranswer... I've got one on it's way in a week or two. I'll compare it with a friends nano to see if they have implemented a volume cap for the European versions.


Oh yeah, a problem I've been having... I've been unable to sync via Outlook on iTunes 5 by the way... is anyone else having problems? I've tried a couple of iPods but no joy. Some sort of generic error comes up. I know some basic apps fall over when asked to sync with Exchange Server... do you need to sync with a PST-file implementation for iTunes?
 
Sep 30, 2005 at 12:28 PM Post #257 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx
News article on the response by Korean domestic manufactures. We'll see if there are any ripples.


The NYTimes just released an article which indicates approximately "200 minor makers of MP3 players in Asia, or about half the industry, which have gone out of business because they cannot get parts".
 
Oct 2, 2005 at 11:55 AM Post #259 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx
The NYTimes just released an article which indicates approximately "200 minor makers of MP3 players in Asia, or about half the industry, which have gone out of business because they cannot get parts".


Will be interesting to see if this NAND flash near monopoly that Apple currently has will be the subject of any anti-trust fair trade suits. It may not be fair, but I suppose it really isn't a crime to be a huge spender.

-Ed
 
Oct 2, 2005 at 11:59 AM Post #260 of 265
I don't think it would've killed Apple to have made the Apple 1mm thicker. Playing with the Nano a few times, the screen area is very very soft, it flexes very easily. Ironic that the Nano is so shock resistant, but quite weak against case flexing. Even though Steve Jobs touted this thing being pocketable in your pants pocket, it's a bad idea.

Every Nano is scratched to hell in every iPod store I've seen them in.

Perhaps there will be a very nice rigid case from Vaja, and a nice milled aluminum one.

-Ed
 
Oct 2, 2005 at 2:47 PM Post #261 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood
I don't think it would've killed Apple to have made the Apple 1mm thicker.


Right.
It amazes me how product development, with certain products, does not join with marketing to produce a consistent product with a consistent message.

The original iPod was an example of a concept unified with a marketing message, coordinated with a significantly unique product. The Nano brings a unique iteration of the Mini, but with Apple's offshore product group not fully communicating with their marketing team. I'm not sure if Apple was just under the pressure of a short product development cycle or component availability, but it's clear that these products are not being given the chance for field testing (battery, color ipod sound distortion and now nano screen and scratches).

Maybe we're to blame? Perhaps we're just demanding too large a variety of products at too aggressive a price?
 
Oct 2, 2005 at 8:20 PM Post #262 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by stevesurf
Maybe we're to blame? Perhaps we're just demanding too large a variety of products at too aggressive a price?


Don't be so gullible
eek.gif


It supposedly costs Apple $100 to make the 2GB nano which it sells for $200. I doubt marketing and distribution is more than 5% of the profit.

From the blatantly obvious bugs that have appeared in the iPod (alarm clock not working, OTG playlists not updating without restarting the playlist, or the biggest one, left and right audio channels switching back and forth when playing and pausing) to severe hardware issues (poor battery life, iPod mini static, 4G and photo static/whining while the hard drive is spinning), I think it's pretty clear there are about 5 people who work on the iPod and test it during development - one being an engineer who can't catch all the problems, three being from marketing who want a pretty piece of plastic on metal, and Steve Jobs who thinks Apple is god-like perfect and can do no wrong, and whose highest priority thought is on the next iPod that people will buy to replace their old, scratched up, and poor battery life iPod.

Well that's just an exaggeration, but close enough to the truth. The lack of extensive beta testing, maybe due to arrogance and definitely due to the persistent insistence for secrecy, makes the paying public the real beta testers. And this sadly applies to all Apple products (I know, I have a $500 Mac mini with poor VGA video output that is a defect that has never been fixed or addressed, and OS X Tiger still has issues) - hence the Apple logo, "Wait for Rev. B" (TM).
 
Oct 3, 2005 at 12:32 AM Post #264 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by Taphil
Don't be so gullible
eek.gif

It supposedly costs Apple $100 to make the 2GB nano which it sells for $200. I doubt marketing and distribution is more than 5% of the profit



I would estimate that Apple makes around 40% GM on the Nano (I do not believe it is as high as 50% - what you stated). It is obvious that Apple spends a great deal on outdoor advertizing, publication ads, television spots and demo pieces for third party vendors, so 5% has got to be low, even with the projected volume.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taphil
I think it's pretty clear there are about 5 people who work on the iPod and test it during development


I understand you're exagerrating and I agree with your point - it's clear that they did not or could not test market the concept or even test a prototype for a substantial enough period of time to uncover the issues.
 
Oct 3, 2005 at 12:54 AM Post #265 of 265
Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood
Will be interesting to see if this NAND flash near monopoly that Apple currently has will be the subject of any anti-trust fair trade suits. It may not be fair, but I suppose it really isn't a crime to be a huge spender.


Arguably the monopoly is the Samsung side (as only manufacture). Not trying to shift the blame, however although it may be a little naive on the news/rumor sites, it was widely reported leading up to the nanos launch that Samsung was pushing hard for Apple to shift from micro-drive to flash. I'm sure this is an over simplification (doubt Apple never had the thought), but it was reported as a Samsung initiative drive for their new technology, not Apple. Would certainly play a part in any anti-trust suit. Plus it's somewhat similar to Toshiba creating the only 1.8" HD, then agreeing to sell all its first year production to Apple for the first gen iPod (when Apple had a 0% MP3 market-share). Gotta be pretty expensive R&D and thats somewhat offset having a guaranteed customer (even at a discount) for everything you produce the first year.

No matter it's a big shame if the stats are to be believed. One decision eliminating 1/2 the number global manufactures. Probably needed to condense at some point, but a lot of potential creative output now gone.
 

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