i pod case study
TRANSCRIPT
Apple Inc. is an American multinational
corporation that designs and manufactures
consumer electronics and computer
software products. Established in
Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 and
incorporated January 3, 1977, by Steve
Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne
the company was called Apple Computer,
Inc. The company's best-known hardware
products include Macintosh computers, the
iPod, and the iPhone. Apple software
includes the Mac OS X operating system,
the iTunes media browser, the iLife suite of
multimedia and creativity software. The
company operates more than 250 retail
stores in nine countries, and an online store
where hardware and software products are
sold.
Digital cameras, camcorders and organizers
had well-established mainstream markets, but
the company found existing digital music
players "big and clunky or small and useless"
with user interfaces that were "unbelievably
awful, so Apple decided to develop its own.
The companies digital music players were
named as ‘iPod’.
The product was developed in under an year
and was launched on October 23, in 2001.
Jobs announced it as an Mac-compatible
product with a 5 GB hard drive. It was capable
of letting one carry 1,000 songs in their pocket.
These were much smaller in size , available in
different colors and soon became ‘fashion
statements’. It also came with a scroll wheel
which set it apart from other music playing
devices.
Till now there have been 6 generations of the
iPod Classic. The first generation iPod Classic
was introduced on October 23, 2001 with the
slogan “1,000 songs in your pocket”.
The “classic” suffix was formally introduced with
the 6th generation iPod on September 5, 2007.
This iPod is available in silver or black color
replacing the “signature iPod white”.
The first generation iPod
Nano was introduced on
September 7, 2005. It was
launched as a replacement
of iPod Mini(inset) which
was discontinued on the
same day.
It uses flash memory for
storage purpose. It is
available in seven colors.
iPod Mini
Launched in 2005 this
iPod model was the
smallest of the Apple
iPod family.
And it was the first to
use flash memory.
This iPod is currently
available in 2 designs. The
4th generation iPod comes
in a square design. The
small size makes it handy
to carry and is available in
seven colors.
iPod Touch is colloquially known
as iTouch. It is a handheld gaming
console and email capable digital
assistant along with being a digital
music player. It resembles the
Apple’s Smartphone although it is
not one.
Apple by no doubt dominates the digital music player market. The music market share
for the Apple iPod has been revealed at 78% in Apple’s Lets Talk iPhone event in
2011. That’s 300 million iPods sold since its launch 10 years ago.
Apple's own data shows that 50 percent of
new iPod sales are to new customers (didn't
previously own one).
The fastest growing model is the iPod Touch,
which has sold over 20 million units since it was
unveiled two years ago by the company.
Over the last 10 years since its launch,
iPod has literally taken over the market.
Basically there are none of its competitors
left. It has beaten them up badly, leaving
them ridiculed and frustrated.
Its once upon a time competitors were:
•Sony
•Samsung
•Creative Labs
•iRiver
•Phillips
•Microsoft Zune
•Archos
•e.Digital
•Cowon
•RCA
Apple iPod is mainly aimed at the young adults particularly those between the age of 12-30. The
sleek and simple design of the multiplayer, available in bright amazing colors is an eye catching
factor for the young generation. It appeals to both males and females.
People passionate about music or nurturing an interest in it ,music enthusiasts and
people who love to have fun with technology are
mostly the ones attracted towards it.
It is targeted at the niche market creating product desirability
especially in the middle class and the high class.
Apple’s real problem is not pricing, their iPods are
Neither too cheap nor too expensive. There are various
iPods that are available at different prices and are bought
by, from teens to millionaires, according to their reach.
One of the main factors in iPod’s
popularity is its design. Its design has
nothing that can be criticized about. And
no one can deny that its design is simply
iconic. Design museums around the world
display iPods proudly. Its aesthetically
appealing design and concept has won
Apple's senior vice president of industrial
design, Jonathan Ive, multiple awards and
honors.
The simplicity of its design speaks for
itself. There are no unnecessary wheels or
buttons, the element provided is enough
for the user to navigate between the
songs.Even its headphones are strategically
designed. The white sleek designed
headphones work awesomely and
fit perfectly in one’s ears.
Since their launch in 2001, Apple’s iPods have won many awards ranging from
engineering excellence to the most innovative product . The iPods have also been
receiving favorable reviews; scoring highly on looks, its clean, sleek and slim
design and ease of use.
Several industries have been altering their product designs so that they can be
compatible with Apple’s products.
The iPods have also stepped in and earned a name as business devices.
Organizations have turned to iPods and have started to use them as a delivery
mechanism for business communication and training. In the Royal and Western
Infirmaries in Glasgow, Scotland, iPods are used to train the new staff.
It has had now about 70% of the market share for quite a few years now.
The reason can be that it could store more of our music as compared to the other
players available in the market and by its use of FireWire it meant that more file
transfer speed could be used.