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Usually by the end of October, early November at the latest, Apple tends to wrap up its retail product innovation and set its lineup in stone for the upcoming holiday buying season. Not this year. Rest assured, something new and important is coming from Apple in time for holiday sales. Here's why: According to comments made during Apple's latest financial results call with analysts this week, the company is forecasting a significant rise in air freight costs to hit in the December time frame.
Please get my yule gift shipped on time
Posted by: hembreeder 2009-10-24 15:10:26 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
Could it be that shipping charges go up at Christmas because there are more orders and because Apple is willing to spend extra money to get gifts delivered on time?
Just wondering.
Just wondering.
I was initially skeptical, but...
Posted by: johnnyapplehead 2009-10-24 11:09:35 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
It was rumored for a while that Apple would be attending the 2010 CES, but that particular rumor has been squashed and we know that Apple doesn't attend any more MacWorld Expos. Therefore the only reason it would seem feasible to me that Apple would unleash its tablet in time for the holiday season is not to play "catch up" with Amazon's Kindle or Barnes and Noble's Nook (the tablet will be SO much more than an e-reader) but that Apple perhaps wants to launch a preemptive strike against any tablets or tablet prototypes that are sure to be on display at the 2010 CES Expo in Vegas. In addition, it would give Windows 7 a kick in the pants, as MS is touting the touchscreen capabilities of Win7. It would be the hottest selling item for the season, especially if it is not initially available in huge quantities. One thing though is somewhat troubling to me: how would that affect sales of some of Apple's other computers?
I too, noticed the emphasis on significant freight costs in the earnings call. Nothing in the recent announcement has the "WOW factor" to drive those costs. In fact, the announcement was expressly timed to allow for the disciplined ramp-up of production and inventories for the holiday season.
So, it must be a new product, and one that will not directly compete with existing Apple products (leaving recent buyers with a betrayed feeling).
To create significant air freight costs, Apple would need to announce a product late in the holiday buying season and then:
1) ship large quantities (of low-shipping-cost) items to a large number of end users and resellers
2) ship smaller quantities (of high-shipping-cost) items to a small number of resellers
The decision to purchase a big-ticket item like a HDTV is one that is usually made over time and by comparison shopping... it has, likely, already been made for this holiday season. That eliminates An Apple HDTV set or other big-ticket item (and shipping cost scenario 2).
That pretty much leaves a Tablet (and maybe some sort of device that interfaces a Tablet).
That device is one that could concurrently stream multiple [different] streams of A/V content to multiple tablet devices within the home,
The device could be an enhanced AppleTV, an enhanced AirportExpress or even a new set top box.
So, the consumer, could buy a Tablet for each family member, and 1 streamer device to stream content around the house... buy them all at once, or piecemeal.
Each family member would have a private tablet that would function as an eBook reader, computer, Internet device, iPod, A/V player (streamed), single/multiplayer game station, live radio/TV viewer (streamed).
WOW!
Now, those are stocking-stuffers!
So, it must be a new product, and one that will not directly compete with existing Apple products (leaving recent buyers with a betrayed feeling).
To create significant air freight costs, Apple would need to announce a product late in the holiday buying season and then:
1) ship large quantities (of low-shipping-cost) items to a large number of end users and resellers
2) ship smaller quantities (of high-shipping-cost) items to a small number of resellers
The decision to purchase a big-ticket item like a HDTV is one that is usually made over time and by comparison shopping... it has, likely, already been made for this holiday season. That eliminates An Apple HDTV set or other big-ticket item (and shipping cost scenario 2).
That pretty much leaves a Tablet (and maybe some sort of device that interfaces a Tablet).
That device is one that could concurrently stream multiple [different] streams of A/V content to multiple tablet devices within the home,
The device could be an enhanced AppleTV, an enhanced AirportExpress or even a new set top box.
So, the consumer, could buy a Tablet for each family member, and 1 streamer device to stream content around the house... buy them all at once, or piecemeal.
Each family member would have a private tablet that would function as an eBook reader, computer, Internet device, iPod, A/V player (streamed), single/multiplayer game station, live radio/TV viewer (streamed).
WOW!
Now, those are stocking-stuffers!
Tablet perhaps but TV is on the way
Posted by: timothyplank 2009-10-23 06:14:11 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
While I agree that the tablet is certainly most likely, I do think a fully integrated TV, or basically a very large iMac, is not far off.
While the initial cost might price them beyond the current TV range, this isn't something Apple has been scared of in the PC market, and their product would offer something no competitor does at this point. Even at a subsidised price point, the revenue through streaming movies via iTunes would be substantial and being first to market would once again make them pioneers in the 'cool' arena.
One market you're perhaps overlooking is SME's, rather than home users, who could both afford the price tag, and benefit from not having to plug the office laptop into the boardroom projector or plasma for every meeting. An integrated display unit adds the cool factor to their company image.
Another device that is surely in the pipeline is a product to compete with the likes of the Wii, Play Station and Xbox. The gaming market must be another natural progression with the liquidity of the App Store at their fingertips.
Exciting times indeed and I can't wait for both the tablet and the TV.
While the initial cost might price them beyond the current TV range, this isn't something Apple has been scared of in the PC market, and their product would offer something no competitor does at this point. Even at a subsidised price point, the revenue through streaming movies via iTunes would be substantial and being first to market would once again make them pioneers in the 'cool' arena.
One market you're perhaps overlooking is SME's, rather than home users, who could both afford the price tag, and benefit from not having to plug the office laptop into the boardroom projector or plasma for every meeting. An integrated display unit adds the cool factor to their company image.
Another device that is surely in the pipeline is a product to compete with the likes of the Wii, Play Station and Xbox. The gaming market must be another natural progression with the liquidity of the App Store at their fingertips.
Exciting times indeed and I can't wait for both the tablet and the TV.
