Even people who do not like Apple should admire this company for one thing: this company set her course without concern about what the analysts (and many fans too) think.
If Apple had listened to what analysts and pundits said, and the constant stream of advice from the "experts" that stalk sites like AppleInsider, Apple would have ceased to exist a long time ago. The "What Apple must to do in order to survive" articles are a mainstay of the Internet. Part of the reason Apple is so talked about is the fact that they ignore the self-styled experts, and talking heads can't stand that kind of "arrogance." How dare Apple not do what I told them they must do!
Because many people don't need all the cutting edge hardware of the 5s or even the 5. We would like to buy an Apple phone, but Apple refuses to make a viable phone for this segment of the market. It's not about wanting a cheap phone, it's about wanting a phone that is suited to more modest needs for a reasonable price.
Instead, we have the choice of an 8GB iPhone 4s for $450. That's just not competitive. If that was the price for a 64GB version, then maybe we're talking. But $450 for a 2 year old device with 8GB of storage?
The iPhone 5C is not a mid-tier phone. It is a different option for people in the market for a high end phone.
No, but that's the price it's gonna cost. They have to make SOME money to manufacture the phone. A $200 no contract iphone would be less quality, and Tim Cook said they would never do that at D12.
Um, there's a big difference between $550 and $200. I'm not aware of anyone here suggesting the 5C should be $200 off contract.
Has Apple ever said what the "c" stood for? Weren't people just speculating about what the model designation meant? Everyone is just constantly making assumptions about everything Apple does.
Apple's upper-management are smart people. They know this initial release is over-priced and there are hints they've made it cheaper to make than the iPhone 5. They could cut those prices quite a bit and still stay profitable.
Keep in mind a common 'market image' technique that Apple used with the iPod and iPhone. Overprice at first to create status and then discount after six months or so to increase sales. Making the unlocked version $400 would make life difficult for competitors. Making it $350 would leave Samsung utterly in the dust and is far more sensible than these useless lawsuits.
An iPhone 5c at a lower price point would be most appealing, particularly the 12-band, multi-provider unlocked model. It'd be great for international travelers and for those who want to be able to shift carriers at will without the hassle of a new phone and a new contract. That's particularly true for those who move around a lot. A good carrier in one city is often a lousy one in another city.
Apple's strategy for the new tier of iPhones will be more fully realized next year. At that time the new 5c's will bump down to replace the 4s (the "cheap" model we were hoping for today).
Next year, with the 5c replacing the 4s, that model will sport an A6, 4" screen, lightning connection and unapologetic plastic, which will bring it more up to date perception wise with the current generation span... making the entry model a more appealing option when people are considering the iphone to lower end competitors (esp if they can drop the price $50, possible with cost efficiencies and ram cost drops?)
My thinking is that next years model line up will be the 6 (obviously), the 6c in colors (obviously) (with A7 and sensors, and hopefully white front faces!) and then the replacement for the now 4s (in one color, all black, in unapologetic plastic). To me a 2014/2015 line up like that feels like an overall stronger presentation and offering than with the black sheep 4s that sits in the line today.
So the current 2013/2014 line up will shore up new customers this year without breaking their margins or compromising their quality. But next years line up will be the apex of their new tiered strategy ... b/c it will advance the company's lead with a new flagship product, give the mid-market the years ahead sensors, A7 64bit tech at the c level, all of which will provide a halo to what will be a relatively robust tech packed into the 4s replacement.
I could live with the blue if it has good hand-feel and durability. They may appeal more to the teen market (where fingerprint and motion sensors, etc. are less of a draw) than the full metal deluxe units. I'd go the 5S for the higher-spec'ed camera.
"C" stands for costs more than it should off contract.
Actually I think it will pay off big when the 5c becomes the 2 year old phone. They will be able to sell it for $400 with high margins so all 3 generations will be pretty profitable.
The bet is "will they be able to sell a lot". If those phones sell more than just selling old models they won.
My thinking is that next years model line up will be the 6 (obviously), the 6c in colors (obviously) (with A7 and sensors, and hopefully white front faces!) and then the replacement for the now 4s (in one color, all black, in unapologetic plastic). To me a 2014/2015 line up like that feels like an overall stronger presentation and offering than with the black sheep 4s that sits in the line today.
Hopefully they will also have bigger screen option. If I am leaving Apple for that reason this year I can assume I am not alone so they are losing sales over this.
And plus, all these leaks and rumors that've happened, like how the 5C showed up, and iOS 8 showed on MacRumors logs, do you people seriously not think apple just does that? Granted, they are very secretive, but if they just put a hook out in the water with a little leak that shows a plastic iPhone, or that shows a new OS, we're going to bite. People'll start saying apple is low on security, but actually most people got the 5C predictions wrong. It wasn't cheap, and they got a lot of the 5S wrong too, like that it was 64 bit, where was that leak? Or that it had an M7 chip, where was that one? Apple controls those leaks. If they let info leak out like that, then can prep us for buying their product. See what I mean? The more leaks we see, the more excited we become about the product. When I saw the 5S leak, I was excited about the gold one! So, that's my opinion. Apple controls what it leaks. Keeping us waiting and keeping us excited and letting us know 1/4 of the information is Apple's fail proof and clever method they've used for years (the iPhones in a bar... Like twice).
Exactly. AI and MacRumors are both part of the Apple marketing machine. As soon as the new iPhone was announced ALL iPad, MacBook, Mac and other Apple news stopped in it's tracks for 24/7 wall to wall iPhone coverage.
Great points. People were already criticising the 5C as the 5 'cheap' months before the reveal. Until the price came out and people HELD the phone.
Plastic no longer means cheap. That's how powerful the Apple brand is.
Not every company that uses plastic makes cheap crap. It's really Samsung that gives plastic a bad name. Lumia's feel quite nice. Though the hands on reviews I've seen for the 5C challenge Nokia in that department. Adding the reinforced steel frame helps.
C is for "Cock" it will wake you up with the morning cock singing alarm call C is for Crap it try to make you believe aluminum is less superior than plastic C is for.... (drolling and thinking anything begins with C)
Comments
C is for "come on man" because I am tired of hearing what c and s are for.
That sounds naughty.
Even people who do not like Apple should admire this company for one thing: this company set her course without concern about what the analysts (and many fans too) think.
If Apple had listened to what analysts and pundits said, and the constant stream of advice from the "experts" that stalk sites like AppleInsider, Apple would have ceased to exist a long time ago. The "What Apple must to do in order to survive" articles are a mainstay of the Internet. Part of the reason Apple is so talked about is the fact that they ignore the self-styled experts, and talking heads can't stand that kind of "arrogance." How dare Apple not do what I told them they must do!
Why is this a bad thing, again?
Because many people don't need all the cutting edge hardware of the 5s or even the 5. We would like to buy an Apple phone, but Apple refuses to make a viable phone for this segment of the market. It's not about wanting a cheap phone, it's about wanting a phone that is suited to more modest needs for a reasonable price.
Instead, we have the choice of an 8GB iPhone 4s for $450. That's just not competitive. If that was the price for a 64GB version, then maybe we're talking. But $450 for a 2 year old device with 8GB of storage?
The iPhone 5C is not a mid-tier phone. It is a different option for people in the market for a high end phone.
Um, there's a big difference between $550 and $200. I'm not aware of anyone here suggesting the 5C should be $200 off contract.
$400 was the figure, right?
Has Apple ever said what the "c" stood for? Weren't people just speculating about what the model designation meant? Everyone is just constantly making assumptions about everything Apple does.
Keep in mind a common 'market image' technique that Apple used with the iPod and iPhone. Overprice at first to create status and then discount after six months or so to increase sales. Making the unlocked version $400 would make life difficult for competitors. Making it $350 would leave Samsung utterly in the dust and is far more sensible than these useless lawsuits.
An iPhone 5c at a lower price point would be most appealing, particularly the 12-band, multi-provider unlocked model. It'd be great for international travelers and for those who want to be able to shift carriers at will without the hassle of a new phone and a new contract. That's particularly true for those who move around a lot. A good carrier in one city is often a lousy one in another city.
Agree. But that mettle is being put to the test. As iCahn is making his trademark move on Apple. How much influence can he exert on Cook?
I don't expect anyone having much influence on someone (T. Cook) who has closely worked with S. Jobs for 14 years.
Next year, with the 5c replacing the 4s, that model will sport an A6, 4" screen, lightning connection and unapologetic plastic, which will bring it more up to date perception wise with the current generation span... making the entry model a more appealing option when people are considering the iphone to lower end competitors (esp if they can drop the price $50, possible with cost efficiencies and ram cost drops?)
My thinking is that next years model line up will be the 6 (obviously), the 6c in colors (obviously) (with A7 and sensors, and hopefully white front faces!) and then the replacement for the now 4s (in one color, all black, in unapologetic plastic). To me a 2014/2015 line up like that feels like an overall stronger presentation and offering than with the black sheep 4s that sits in the line today.
So the current 2013/2014 line up will shore up new customers this year without breaking their margins or compromising their quality. But next years line up will be the apex of their new tiered strategy ... b/c it will advance the company's lead with a new flagship product, give the mid-market the years ahead sensors, A7 64bit tech at the c level, all of which will provide a halo to what will be a relatively robust tech packed into the 4s replacement.
"C" stands for costs more than it should off contract.
The bet is "will they be able to sell a lot". If those phones sell more than just selling old models they won.
My thinking is that next years model line up will be the 6 (obviously), the 6c in colors (obviously) (with A7 and sensors, and hopefully white front faces!) and then the replacement for the now 4s (in one color, all black, in unapologetic plastic). To me a 2014/2015 line up like that feels like an overall stronger presentation and offering than with the black sheep 4s that sits in the line today.
Hopefully they will also have bigger screen option. If I am leaving Apple for that reason this year I can assume I am not alone so they are losing sales over this.
And plus, all these leaks and rumors that've happened, like how the 5C showed up, and iOS 8 showed on MacRumors logs, do you people seriously not think apple just does that? Granted, they are very secretive, but if they just put a hook out in the water with a little leak that shows a plastic iPhone, or that shows a new OS, we're going to bite. People'll start saying apple is low on security, but actually most people got the 5C predictions wrong. It wasn't cheap, and they got a lot of the 5S wrong too, like that it was 64 bit, where was that leak? Or that it had an M7 chip, where was that one? Apple controls those leaks. If they let info leak out like that, then can prep us for buying their product. See what I mean? The more leaks we see, the more excited we become about the product. When I saw the 5S leak, I was excited about the gold one! So, that's my opinion. Apple controls what it leaks. Keeping us waiting and keeping us excited and letting us know 1/4 of the information is Apple's fail proof and clever method they've used for years (the iPhones in a bar... Like twice).
Exactly. AI and MacRumors are both part of the Apple marketing machine. As soon as the new iPhone was announced ALL iPad, MacBook, Mac and other Apple news stopped in it's tracks for 24/7 wall to wall iPhone coverage.
C is for Crap it try to make you believe aluminum is less superior than plastic
C is for.... (drolling and thinking anything begins with C)
Great points. People were already criticising the 5C as the 5 'cheap' months before the reveal. Until the price came out and people HELD the phone.
Plastic no longer means cheap. That's how powerful the Apple brand is.
the old iPhones were made with plastic. Cheap means cheap.