Apple iPhone, iPads drive fans wild with simplicity
Over the past five years, consumers have
enthusiastically lined up for the chance to plunk down hundreds of
dollars on new iPhones and iPads. With the new iPhone 5 expected to be
unveiled Wednesday at Apple's announced event, that familiar rumble has
again begun to crescendo.
Retail releases of iPhones and iPads have become events akin to New Year's Eve for devoted fans. Read moreApple Loop: Talking Up The iPhone 5, A Pandora Rival, A Stock Split and Poetry
It’s almost here. Apple’s new iPhone 5, also known as the-worst-kept-secret-of-the-year, is expected to debut Sept. 12 and analysts are already tallying up how many of the slimmer, faster phones the company may sell. Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray predicts 6 to 8 million in the first week after the new model — which will reportedly add support for 4G LTE networks and devote more of the surface real estate to the screen — is released. Read moreApple rivals try to outshine next iPhone with cool features
Nokia and Google Inc. are doing their best
to spoil next week’s iPhone announcement, touting new phones with
features such as edge-to-edge screens, augmented reality and a
spring-mounted camera for steadier pictures.
Nokia released a lineup of Lumia models
this week with the latest Microsoft Corp. Windows Phone software,
aiming to win back U.S. market share with better camera and mapping
technology. Google’s Motorola Mobility division, meanwhile, unveiled a
Razr phone whose 4.3-inch screen spans the entire device — without the
typical frame or bezel. Read more
Apple needs to wow investors next week
Let me begin by saying that I have no clue as to what Apple Inc.’s stock will do the day before or the day after the presumed iPhone 5 announcement next Wednesday. Nobody does. I do know that Apple (US:AAPL) will benefit from the ridiculous amount of publicity it will get next week.The biggest surprise would be if Apple did not actually announce the iPhone 5, but since the death of Steve Jobs the company leaks information like a sieve. So Wednesday is the big day. Read more
Apple's secret weapon for iPhone 5: satisfaction
Got to keep the customer satisfiedThat’s really important because with the company set to introduce iPhone 5 next week, its achievements in creating customer satisfaction should translate into lots of iPhone 5 users when the device ships.
This morning we see yet more evidence of the company’s achievement when it comes to keeping its customers satisfied -- it ranks top in the reputable JD Power smartphone satisfaction survey as it has done consistently eight times in a row.
The iPhone excelled in every category, but scored particularly highly for design and overall ease of use. On a 1,000 point-scale the iPhone ranked at 848, way above closest competitor, HTC (790-points). Read more
Bottomline
What new innovations would Apple iPhone 5 provide that would amaze the world, yet again? Apple has set a very high bar for the iPhone. When the Apple iPhone 4S was released last year, many believed it fell short of these high expectations (although people loved Siri, it is the best iPhone to date, and it has been selling really good). However, the iPhone 5 is another story. Apple must really hit this one way out of the ballpark. iPhone 5 has to be that huge home run that gets everyone talking. Something so big that it becomes the highlight reel on prime time evening news. Can Apple deliver such a big hit? Can Apple amaze the world, again?
What would the Apple iPhone 5 have that would get everyone talking? 4G LTE, Bigger Screen, Thinner Frame, Brighter Display, Better Colors, Faster Processors - these are all given! Enhanced Siri - we already know this is coming in iOS 6. These features don't change the world. Free Streaming Music - Now that could get interesting. A Projector that can show and share what's going on the iPhone - Now that can get everyone talking. So what would be that one killer feature?
"What isn't known is what the "rabbit in the hat" — the surprise extra — will be. Two years ago it was the high-quality "retina" display; last year, the "Siri" voice recognition system. "I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with some kind of service that differentiates them from the rest and which consumers value," says Francisco Jeronimo, smartphones analyst for researchers IDC. Read more
What would Tim Cook announce on September 12th? Would Apple amaze the world again?
Check out Apple's innovation strategy, and learn to innovate like Apple and Steve Jobs. Learn more