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Evaluate the product life cycle as a tool for analysis in market
Product life cycle theory
Product life cycle theory
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Product Life Cycle: iPod
Development of the iPod: The iPod is a portable digital music player that holds up to ten thousand songs in a small, hand-held device that is lighter and thinner than two CD cases. iPod features a touch-sensitive navigational wheel and buttons, and an intuitive interface designed for one-handed operation. Songs are stored in several digital audio formats, delivering the highest sound quality. The iPod was born out of the idea dreamed up by Tony Fadell, an independent contractor and hardware expert, to take an MP3 player, build a Napster music sale service to complement it, and build a company around it. Fadell shopped the idea around to several companies and was turned away by all of them, except Apple. Apple hired Fadell in early 2001 and assigned him a team of about 30 people to develop the iPod. Fadell predicted that the iPod would remold Apple and that 10 years from now it would be a music business, rather than a computer business.
Introduction of the iPod: The iPod was introduced into the market just in time for Christmas, 2001. The first iPod was priced at $399. Apple relied on a hard disk for storage instead of flash memory or interchangeable CD-Roms and focused on promoting the uniqueness of the small size, power, and ease of use of the device. This first iPod had a 5 GB storage capacity—which is enough to hold over 1,000 songs—and it worked only on Macs, using iTunes as a music organization and CD-to-iPod conversion tool. iTunes, digital jukebox software that let Mac users import songs from CDs by converting audio files to the MP3 format and storing them on the computer’s hard drive, was introduced in January of 2001. Along with the iPod, Apple announced an enhanced version of iTunes that included a 10-band equalizer with presets, as well as a cross fading feature for smoother transitions from one song to another. An Auto Sync capability facilitated the downloading of music from a Mac to the new portable media device. Once the music was downloaded, Apple promised 10 hours of continuous play from the iPod’s rechargeable lithium battery. The device supported MP3, with bit rates of up to 320kbits/s, as well as AIFF and WAV file formats. Its amplifier could deliver 20-20,000-Hz frequency response. Apple sold 125,000 iPods by the end of December 2001.
During this introduction stage, the quality level of the iPod was ...
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...arly 2.5 years, iPod shipments are approximately 1 million units ahead of the Walkman’s pace after being on the market for the same period of time. During the 80s-90s, Sony sold over 300 million Walkmans. Given this information, it appears that iPod is showing no signs of being close to the decline stage in the near future.
In summary, I believe that the iPod is still in the growth stage of its life cycle. According to Roger Kay, IDC analyst, Apple is very good at releasing its iPod generations with incremental features which lure in new users and tempt other users to upgrade. Because of this, some iPod users have several generations of the player, and it is probable that mini owners also could follow that course. Apple now has a full product family that capitalizes on the original iPod’s success. Looking at the entire iPod line, the iPod is becoming a platform in of itself within Apple, as essentially a subsidiary within Apple. Based on the information I have read, Apple has many avenues that it could take with future development of the iPod and similar capabilities. The indicators show that the iPod will continue to have substantial success for a significant period of time.
The IPod Touch is a portable media player designed and markeyed by Apple Inc. The product was unvieled to the general public September 5, 2007 as part of an event dubbed "The Beat Goes On", featuring the introduction of Cover Flow and Multi Touch to the Ipod line. The IPod Touch can be purchased with 8 or 16 GB of flash memory. It also has a WI-FI and includes safari, Apple's web browser. The IPod touch is the first generation of the IPod line to include wireless access to the itunes store. The IPod touch also has the capability to detect the current and last 10 songs playing in a Starbuck's Cafe within the vicinity. The IPod touch's multi-touch interface is exactly like that of the IPhone. Like the IPhone, the IPod touch include a physical home button seperate from the touch screen. The home screen includes a list of buttons corresponding to the available applications, including Music, Vdeos, Photos, Itunes, Safari, You Tube Mail, Maps, and Widgets. With the January software upgrade, Ipod touch users can add websites to the home screen, for quick and easy access. The IPod touch comes preloaded with 28 wallpaper photos, some of which are figures from the IPod advertisement. (January 15, 2008 Steve Jobs announced at his Mac World 2008 Keynote "The IPod touch consist of five new application: Mail, Maps, Stocks, Notes and Weather").
Today, Apple keeps coming out on top with their exceptional and award winning items and administrations. Apple is additionally credited with driving the advanced media upheaval with their iPod compact music and feature players and iTunes online media store, making the first supportable music-downloading plan of action ever. (Jakab,
In January 2007, Steve Jobs with Apple Inc. introducing their first iPhone in his speech at the Macworld Conference and Expo. At the time in the hands of Jobs, looks like a sleek black rectangle. Then, Jobs touched the screen object. Suddenly, the object is turned into an interactive surface. Jobs placed a fingertip function as arrows on the screen and slide from left to right. When his finger moves, the arrow was moved. For some people, the interaction between a human finger and an image on the screen is more amazing than all the other combined features.
In 1979 Apple II+ is introduced, available with 48K of memory and a new auto-start ROM for easier startup and screen editing for $1,195.
Overall, Apple has a creative way of marketing to the millions of people over the world. Their creative marketing coupled with their unique product meshes together to form a multi-billion dollar company. If Apple keeps using their exclusive style of marketing to a younger “hip” generation then they will be Apple customers for life.
Here in the customer could buy the songs from iTunes by paying just 99 cents and then listen songs. It rapidly got more customers due to its revolutionizing music industry and also gaining leadership position in short period. Due to this the market share rose and eventually the company gained more revenues. It also kept the sales in concentration and launched new campaign by keeping IPod users in mind “iPod people”. The advertising was very effective due to the creative aspect used which drove the customer for the purchase of the product.
Apple Inc, founded in 1976 by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs, headquartered in California, is a multinational technology giant. Developing, designing, creating consumer electronics, computer software, online services. Well-known for the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, Siri and the IOS operating systems transfer and sync on all Apple devices with just one click. Consumers like myself are fascinated with all things Apple. Apple fashioned an assortment of devices and programs that are not only visually cool but also easy to use and makes my life easier.
Taking a step back into Apple's product history, and noticing how ancient the first products seem, compared to the sleek, "cool" products of today, will leave you feeling inspired. Apple has gained technological superiority over its competitors, but how and does Apple plan to continue its advantageous market share in such a rapid, fast-paced technological era? Apple has a cult like following, consumers who are anticipating and ready to purchase new Apple products as soon as they are released. Technology has become second nature and a very important aspect of millions of consumers' lives.
The iPod changed the music industry. Before the iPod, there was no access to digital music on
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who were determined to change the way people were utilizing the computer. From then Apple has been able to grow its business into one of the most prominent company in the world. Apple Inc. is an American company that creates software, cellular phones, computers and consumer electronic products as well. Some of the Apple products most recognized products are the iPod, iPhone, Mac, and the recently new iPad. They have established over 300 retail stores in about 10 countries around the world. Many people do not know this, but also service numerous of computer software, such as Mac OS X operating system, Final Cut Studio, Logic Studio, iOS, which is a mobile operating system that hosts
In almost every part of the world Apple and at least one of their products is known. The Apple brand started in the 1970s. Three men founded the organization in 1976, to produce a computer that every citizen could use personally (Sohail, 2010). The first item released was the Apple 1 personal computer kit made by Steve Wozniak (Sohail, 2010). Through the 70s, Apple concentrated on developing storing technologies such as the floppy disk and the use of color, graphics, and spreadsheets used for business (Sohail, 2010). Apple was about to have their first major product release with a million dollar ad campaign. This was the release of the Macintosh personal computer, which also led to Apple’s great reputation (Sohail, 2010).
Apple is considering new features to add into the iPod, due to new technology that is being introduced such as voice activated systems which will allow customers to control the iPod without pressing keypad. They could also have a personal digital assistant which will have computer software to help customers with other activities.
Apple Inc., was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on 1976, is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. Its best-known hardware products are the Mac line of computers, the iPod media player, the iPhone smartphone, and the iPad tablet computer. Its consumer software includes the OS X and iOS operating systems, the iTunes media browser, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites.
...P, 2005, p 23) Around 2005 cell phones and PDAs were referred to as Swiss army knives of gadgets due to the fact they had many functions in one device. All the big phone companies at the time were premiering phones with more mp3 storage than mp3 player, essentially foreshadowing the future. (Dempsey, P, 2005, pg. 23)An average smart phone in the year 2014 can hold around 8-16 gigabytes of data, and if storage is allotted correctly, the phone can hold thousands of mp3s. Any mp3 player trying to have a foothold in the consumer market cannot compete with a device that is an essential part of an average person’s daily life, and a music player. “Smartphones with increasingly high-quality audio and video capabilities have become popular and therefore hamper demand for products in the Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing industry.” (Krabeepetcharat, T. 2013. p. 8)
possible to fit 1000 songs on the iPod mini it was still one of the