Apple

Changing Times. Changing Music.

Apple Inc. is an American multinational

corporation that designs and manufactures

consumer electronics and computer

software products. Established in

Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 and

incorporated January 3, 1977, by Steve

Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne

the company was called Apple Computer,

Inc. The company's best-known hardware

products include Macintosh computers, the

iPod, and the iPhone. Apple software

includes the Mac OS X operating system,

the iTunes media browser, the iLife suite of

multimedia and creativity software. The

company operates more than 250 retail

stores in nine countries, and an online store

where hardware and software products are

sold.

Digital cameras, camcorders and organizers

had well-established mainstream markets, but

the company found existing digital music

players "big and clunky or small and useless"

with user interfaces that were "unbelievably

awful, so Apple decided to develop its own.

The companies digital music players were

named as ‘iPod’.

The product was developed in under an year

and was launched on October 23, in 2001.

Jobs announced it as an Mac-compatible

product with a 5 GB hard drive. It was capable

of letting one carry 1,000 songs in their pocket.

These were much smaller in size , available in

different colors and soon became ‘fashion

statements’. It also came with a scroll wheel

which set it apart from other music playing

devices.

Meet the best iPods ever!

iPod Shuffle

iPod Nano

iPod Classic

iPod Touch

Till now there have been 6 generations of the

iPod Classic. The first generation iPod Classic

was introduced on October 23, 2001 with the

slogan “1,000 songs in your pocket”.

The “classic” suffix was formally introduced with

the 6th generation iPod on September 5, 2007.

This iPod is available in silver or black color

replacing the “signature iPod white”.

The first generation iPod

Nano was introduced on

September 7, 2005. It was

launched as a replacement

of iPod Mini(inset) which

was discontinued on the

same day.

It uses flash memory for

storage purpose. It is

available in seven colors.

iPod Mini

Launched in 2005 this

iPod model was the

smallest of the Apple

iPod family.

And it was the first to

use flash memory.

This iPod is currently

available in 2 designs. The

4th generation iPod comes

in a square design. The

small size makes it handy

to carry and is available in

seven colors.

iPod Touch is colloquially known

as iTouch. It is a handheld gaming

console and email capable digital

assistant along with being a digital

music player. It resembles the

Apple’s Smartphone although it is

not one.

Apple by no doubt dominates the digital music player market. The music market share

for the Apple iPod has been revealed at 78% in Apple’s Lets Talk iPhone event in

2011. That’s 300 million iPods sold since its launch 10 years ago.

Apple's own data shows that 50 percent of

new iPod sales are to new customers (didn't

previously own one).

The fastest growing model is the iPod Touch,

which has sold over 20 million units since it was

unveiled two years ago by the company.

Over the last 10 years since its launch,

iPod has literally taken over the market.

Basically there are none of its competitors

left. It has beaten them up badly, leaving

them ridiculed and frustrated.

Its once upon a time competitors were:

•Sony

•Samsung

•Creative Labs

•iRiver

•Phillips

•Microsoft Zune

•Archos

•e.Digital

•Cowon

•RCA

Apple iPod is mainly aimed at the young adults particularly those between the age of 12-30. The

sleek and simple design of the multiplayer, available in bright amazing colors is an eye catching

factor for the young generation. It appeals to both males and females.

People passionate about music or nurturing an interest in it ,music enthusiasts and

people who love to have fun with technology are

mostly the ones attracted towards it.

It is targeted at the niche market creating product desirability

especially in the middle class and the high class.

Apple’s real problem is not pricing, their iPods are

Neither too cheap nor too expensive. There are various

iPods that are available at different prices and are bought

by, from teens to millionaires, according to their reach.

One of the main factors in iPod’s

popularity is its design. Its design has

nothing that can be criticized about. And

no one can deny that its design is simply

iconic. Design museums around the world

display iPods proudly. Its aesthetically

appealing design and concept has won

Apple's senior vice president of industrial

design, Jonathan Ive, multiple awards and

honors.

The simplicity of its design speaks for

itself. There are no unnecessary wheels or

buttons, the element provided is enough

for the user to navigate between the

songs.Even its headphones are strategically

designed. The white sleek designed

headphones work awesomely and

fit perfectly in one’s ears.

Since their launch in 2001, Apple’s iPods have won many awards ranging from

engineering excellence to the most innovative product . The iPods have also been

receiving favorable reviews; scoring highly on looks, its clean, sleek and slim

design and ease of use.

Several industries have been altering their product designs so that they can be

compatible with Apple’s products.

The iPods have also stepped in and earned a name as business devices.

Organizations have turned to iPods and have started to use them as a delivery

mechanism for business communication and training. In the Royal and Western

Infirmaries in Glasgow, Scotland, iPods are used to train the new staff.

It has had now about 70% of the market share for quite a few years now.

The reason can be that it could store more of our music as compared to the other

players available in the market and by its use of FireWire it meant that more file

transfer speed could be used.