iPhone 5 launches in China, late and expensive. Chinese say 'meh' The iPhone 5 has finally launched in China, but reaction has been lukewarm. Launching their fastest-selling product ever in the world's biggest market is an opportunity for Apple to clock up major sales. And Apple need to maintain global market share against Android, which took 75 percent of smartphone sales in the last three …
Because it's an Anna Leach story and she has some sort of problem with Apple. Presumably Steve Jobs killed her dog or something given how she goes out of her way to post trolling Apple stories.
I can understand fanboyism from commenters but the sour grapes doesn't look very good coming from a supposedly professional IT journo.
>I can understand fanboyism from commenters but the sour grapes doesn't look very good coming from a supposedly professional IT journo.
Tonight's Now Show - BBC R4 [20 mins or so in] - just demolished the iPhone and iOS6 - not exactly a hot bed of technical evangelism. Apple's free ride in the media is definitely over, don't kid yourself it's a Register thing.
"Apple's free ride in the media is definitely over"
As it is in the markets - this was today:
"Another Bite Out of Apple’s Stock Price"
http://wallstreetsectorselector.com/2012/12/another-bite-out-of-apples-stock-price/
This was a week ago:
"Apple suffers worst share price fall in four years as $35bn wiped off tech giant"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/electronics/9725956/Apple-suffers-worst-share-price-fall-in-four-years-as-35bn-wiped-off-tech-giant.html
>Oh well that's it then if 20 minutes on BBC radio have the impact you suggest.
.... wasn't refering to sales - that's next year's story - rather the polar shift in the position of public & media on Apple - both of which increasingly define iPhone in terms of iOS6 Maps, SIRI, iPhone signal drops etc
I think the 2 or 3 minute TNS sketch was a quite accurate summary of current real world view of Apple - and it was written by group of largely iPhone owners - being R4 I'd expect a high rate of ownershp in the studio audience too and they were laughing not booing.
>20 minutes on BBC radio have the impact you suggest
I think a lot of people underestimate the impact of R4 - its not so much how many listen, but who listens.
Next week it will be Android - how about stories about security issues / fragmentation etc. They both have their merits - it's like suggesting you can have a black car or a white car and whoever has the other one is just plain wrong. I like iOS as it would seem to be more secure, it makes sense if you already have an iPod / iTunes or just prefer the integration. But... Android also suits a lot of people - it's cheaper (usually) and I guess a lot of people just do not care as they use their phone as a phone / for texting.
I know plenty of people with Android phones who have setup no email accounts on it and some do not even have data tariffs.
"But... Android also suits a lot of people - it's cheaper (usually) and I guess a lot of people just do not care as they use their phone as a phone / for texting. I know plenty of people with Android phones who have setup no email accounts on it and some do not even have data tariffs."
You were being so calm until you said this...this strange theme that says just because Android has more market share people people really would get iPhones if they had more money or used email. It would be far better to focus on things that the Apple eco-system does provide than say that poor people with no care for mobile email get by using Android.
China produce so many mobile phones, every shape and size, 3 sim, 4 sim phones with technology to match, 1,2,3,4 and now probably 5 core mobiles. They are all fit for purpose and if you want an iphone get a copy at a tenth of the price.
That's why no ones bothered anymore. Oh and you might just get turned down for a job if you have one.
Stuff the subtitle. Why the title?
"iPhone 5 launches in China..."
What did the only iPhone in China launch? Did Chinese air defences swing into action and shoot it down? Or was it launched onto water? Where is whatever it was now? Does anyone who blogs for El Reg these days have the wit to differentiate between a noun, verb, participle, etc?
Enquiring minds need to know these things.
At first glance the 23% markup compared to US prices seems odd, given that shipping costs are lower, presumably staff costs in the shops are lower etc. Do they have to give a ten year warranty or something? Is there a large sales tax in China? That's normally the justification for higher prices in the UK.
From Mic Gadget, who of course know their own ground:
"there is a reasonable explanation for today’s quiet iPhone 5 launch. Apple recently had a new reservation system in China to avoid scuffles. [...] Chinese consumers have to reserve a product online before they can buy it in the store. For the new iPad, the iPad mini, and today’s iPhone 5 launch, Chinese consumers are required to follow Apple’s new rules.
[..]
Actually, there’s another reason why no one shows up for today’s iPhone 5 launch. Apple is not offering contract-free iPhone 5 units for sale in all retail stores in mainland China.
So, the reason why the iPhone 5 fails to draw crowds for China launch is that China Apple Stores are only offering iPhone 5 on a contract with China Telecom to walk-in customers. In the past, where thousands of people lined up outside the Beijing Apple Store and Shanghai Apple Store on iPhone 4S launch day, walk-in customers are allowed to purchase contract-free iPhones, and no online reservation is needed."
@dx
AAPL Stock Price on Jan 1st, 2012: $401.44 (Adjusted Close)
AAPL Stock Price on Dec 13, 2012: $529.69 (Adjusted Close)
Total gain: $128.25 per share for the year to date.
iPhone 5 released 21 Sep 2012. AAPL Stock price on that day was $696.91 (Adjusted close)
As shown above, AAPL stock closed yesterday at $529.69. Total loss per share since iPhone5 intro of $167.22
Given there are 940.69 million shares, that loss equates to $157,302,181,800. 157 Billion dollars is one quarter of their company value gone in two months. I see no reason why the stock price will not continue to decline as their customer base dries up.
Source: http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=AAPL + http://www.google.com/finance?cid=22144
> 157 Billion dollars is one quarter of their company value
That value is not the "company value". It is a hypothetical number with no basis in reality generated by overheated speculative fever - aka "a bubble" - due to people having too much cash. In other words, people just buy at that price because they hope to sell the day after for some profit. This is only gonna get worse, as Quantitative Easing 4 has now been given the go-ahead.
Launching a product in restricted market and special network configuration and to fail it can be really expensive. That's tens millions of RND costs and other tens of millions of manufacturing costs to cover before any gain. Choosing CT is not very wise in China. It has only 17% market share in 2011. And 4G networks are also still in testing phase. So there iwill not be what so ever benefit of LTE in iPhone 5 for long time. And Chinese are not going to make a investment without benefit.
Bottomline: if iPhone5 is having reputation, that LTE does not work and that it just is not as hip as for example Galaxy S III, It Just Will Not Sell.
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So this whole article is just plain old bullshit then? We Used to call that something else before lawyering-up went all wrong.
Nice one, Register. Let's have some more of this:
The UK Govt. Is Wonderful And Doing EVERYTHING Right.
The Technical Stuff Inside Computers Is Actually Icing Sugar And Fluff.
The Harry Potter Books Are Non-Fiction.
The Hobbit Is My Uncle
etc
I do think that Apple seem to have missed an important market segment in not optimising their user experience for the low temperature water based customer market (many of whom have very thin stick based arms which must make any touch screen use tricky).
It's come full circle... Now if we could SOMEHOW get some dosh put back into XEROX pocket for STARTING this GUI business...
Oh but in the meantime, um, guess whose OS in in the majority of those SmartPhones. In CHINA, the EU, as well as the USA??? ( LATEST NUMBERS AS OF 21/Dec/ '12 shows Apple tops NADA, NOTHING period!) NOOO, not iOS' boys, they don't license their OS to ANYBODY. Hence their being relegated into a soon to be minor role ( it's a numbers game, remember, Apple??) NOO not WINdows anything. Although, yes it could be a play sometime in the future ( Nah, don't bet on it, we all see how MS tried, no did screw MOST linux os, as well as HTC, Lenovo et al. Folks see that stuff!! )
It's ANDROID!!!! Resistance is FUTILE.. ANdroid isFree, Open. Fun. Regular updates ( Well... Google does IT's part ) Just saw where NEW TINY Chinese companies are embracing ANDROID in HORDES. I've convinced ALL my company to go GOOGLE ANDROID.. But then so did FaceBook recently.. HENCE the fantastic job done with Facebook 2.0 upgrade for Android. And I AM LOVIN' IT!
Apple, you need quiet time. Screwing over XEROX PARC 33 years ago set up a pattern of NEGATIVITY that shall be BROUGHT INTO BALANCE. Although Apple pretends otherwise, Apple CAN'T KEEP UP!! ..Can't fight the universe Apple=FAIL
WATCH ANDROID's INNOVATIONS in 2013 and beyond. These news people are Apple Biased. ANDROID will be like a Tsunami JUST WATCH... HAHAHA..
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