Big week for Apple
Sometimes the smallest things end up being the biggest deal.
Steve Jobs of Apple dropped a small bomb at the end of his keynote this week, and it has become perhaps the biggest story of the week. If you were one of the loyal (yet perhaps a bit naive) Apple early adopters, you might be a bit pissed to learn that the 8Gb iPhone has dropped it’s price $200 barely 2 months after it’s much-hyped release. Happy 2-month Anniversary!
I, Cringley weighs in with a rather optimistic view on why this occurred, but I tend to agree with the NY Time’s view…the iPhone isn’t selling like they thought it would. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I am a COMPLETE believer in the iPhone’s leap in technology and the revolution it presents to the woefully behind U.S. Cellular companies. Wake up Guys! However, Apple is attempting to do what even the federal government has failed to do; change the beast that is AT&T. I wish them all the luck in the world. Shift happens, however slowly.
The big winner in this weeks keynote was Starbucks, who has just vaulted to the front of the class of promising 21st century music store concepts. This may really take off in dense urban areas. Generating revenue by selling products with no inventory and/or supply chain costs, and suddenly you give Starbucks a chance to recover the (surely) massive losses incurred by the terrible Pay as you go WiFi access they have been trying to sell for years.
Along with the iPhone price drops, there were new iPod Nanos, iPod Shuffles and the iPod Touch. However, the Apple Hi-Fi was not as lucky.
Wouldn’t it be cool to see a new Wi-Fi enabled Hi-Fi (A Wi-Hi-Fi?) that works within the iTunes framework, maybe with remote control abilities via Apple TV and iTunes! It could integrate into your home Wi-Fi network. Now you’re talking! While the Airport Express with AirTunes (Remember those products, Apple?!?) gather dust on store shelves, perhaps a combined update would be nice medicine for iPod sales come Christmas time. I’m sure Steve will fix this once he reads this article. 
Cool new hack will allow you to play NES games on your Apple iPhone. Cool stuff.
Well, at least Apple fared better than Gwen Stafani’s did in this weeks fashion reviews in New York City. Oh well Gwen, we still love you!
02/11/2008 Update: Looks like Starbuck’s is finally getting the free wifi they should have offered since the beginning.
