Looks like all of the problems that have been plaguing the latest creation of Apple, the iPhone, must have made Steven Jobs panic like Chachi did when he heard that he was becoming a father on his VH-1 reality show. According to the Associated Press, Apple announced today that the iPhone’s purchase tag will be cut by $200; thus alienating all of the First Gen iPhone purchasers who got stuck with the $600 price tag, an overheating battery, and an outrageous service bill from a carrier that you were forced to have.
Then, rather than letting that news bomb have enough time to settle, Jobs then announced the new iPod, smartly named the iPod Touch, which offers the same features as an iPhone but without the $400 bill. But to be fair, here are the specs:
- Less than a third of an inch thick
- A touch-sensitive 3.5-inch screen, same as the iPhone
- wireless Internet access which will allow users to download songs through iTunes and eventually, it will let people sample and buy digital tunes from any Starbucks in the United States that offers Wi-Fi Internet access
- a Web browser and photo storage
- An 8-gigabyte iPod Touch will cost $299 while a 16-gigabyte version will cost $399
Okay to sum it up for you – current iPhone owners, you just paid a $200 immediate gratification tax. New iPod Touch owners, begin to look for a telecommuting job since you’ll spend most of your time in a crowded, uppity yet quiet coffee shop where everyone is llistening to music through their headphones. Gotta love technology, man.
Britt, Britt, Britt – Apple’s offical policy is to refund the difference to anyone who bought an iPhone in the last 14 days, and there are numerous reports of them refunding people who bought the phone earlier than that. As for Jobs blinking,the only thing he’s rubbed his eyes about is that Apple’s already shipped 1 million iPhones, likely the target they set for themselves before cutting the price.
I’m a Mac man through and through, but I’ve understood and had some problems over their price cuts and product upgrades in the past. This isn’t one of those times.
I dunno, Steve. This news just reeks of desperation on Apple’s part; especially when you consider some of the TV companies pulling out of iTunes. Maybe it is just a case of bad timing and not a spin doctoring of a possible down turn for Apple. But I’m gonna reserve judgment until I hear reports that Apple has wen above and beyond in refunding purchases that were made prior to that 14-day window. Call me a pessimist if you want.
That’s big sucker for the dealer who sold car to teenage who crack iPhone turn unlock a week ago. And everybody who sell iPhone on ebay have lose $200 value. hur hur lol!
You’re a total pessimist! NBC just screwed themselves by cutting out 85% of the market for their video. In retrospect, Apple telling them to go blow makes even more sense now that the new iPods have been announced with even better video features. Believe me, Apple’s not sweating their loss at all.
Oh, I get that. I’m not saying that this step back marks the downfall of Apple but to attribute the price slashing of the most talked about electronic gadget of 2007 by a third as a form of a business-as-usual, laissez faire business practice just seems naïve to me. Then again, due to years of eating, sleeping and breathing Red Sox, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I think that we’ll agree to disagree. Would’ve made a pretty good point-counter point column, tho.