“Prior to iPad mini 2 launch, Apple might roll out a more affordable iPad mini to compete with Android products. To cut costs, Apple might push for lower component prices, use a more advanced process to produce the A5 processor, simplify metal casing production, remove the rear camera, cut storage to 8GB and find more component suppliers to lower costs. We think this cheaper iPad mini retail for US$199~249.”
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo
He doesn’t get it. Apple don’t fight at the low end. The iPad mini is still in pretty much high demand. Why is it so hard to understand?
Stumbled upon this Apple Core forum post this morning: I think Apple has defeated Android in its “thermonuclear war”.
Everybody knows that Android has a much higher market share than iOS. However, does that mean Android has won the platform war? It depends on the question of “What is the most important goal for a platform?” There are many important goals to achieve other than market share, such as profits, advertising revenue, profits to develepers and more. It has been widely believed that achieving a single goal of getting high market share will automatically help the platform to achieve other goals. Contrary to this common belief, according to John Kirk from techpinions.com, market share is only ONE are where Android is ahead of iOS
Here are a few other goals worth mentionning where iOS is clearly winning:
- Mobile market profits
- Adoption of system updates
- Accessories market
- Apps quality
- Ecosystem contents (iTunes,iBookstore,AppStore,iTunesU)
- Profits to developers
- Monetization
- Ads revenues
- BYOD (enterprise adoption too)
- User retention
Android market share is remarkable but not very profitable.
If people think Apple is trying to grab market share, think again. John Gruber says it better than I could myself.
(Apple’s business has never been about capturing the entirety — or even a unit-share majority — of any market. They just make cool things and sell them for a profit. That’s it.)
Any questions?
Simple answer? No. Will they do it? Probably. Here is why.
With the success of the Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple can no longer sit idly by and watch this part of the market get gobbled up by a competitor. An avalanche must be averted.
Non sense. Apple enter a market when they can transform it or make a real difference or simply become the best. Apple isn’t about market share. Google is.
If Apple ever produce a smaller iPad, something between an iPod or a currently shipping iPad, it will be because they feel that as a whole, the smaller iPad coupled with the iOS ecosystem is better than what Amazon can offer for the same kind of device. As the original iPad created a whole new device category, a smaller iPad must bring an uncompromised user experience at an attractive price point. Something that I’m not sure Amazon is currently offering with the Kindle Fire.
JFMartin
