Cool new features of the iPhone 6? Wait, first of all, where’s the classic looks? In terms of both size and design, the new model is almost an exact copy of its rival brand, Samsung. The so-called “new” payment feature is actually a fairly old technology that already exist/is widely used in Asian countries for several years. The concept of a “phablet” is neither new nor original, just look at with the dozens of smart phones on the market. As a result, Apple’s stock prices actually fell by almost 40 cents on the same day it launched the iPhone 6. With its lack of innovation and creativity in design, it wasn’t surprizing to see the industry’s responses and disappointment among speculators.
In spite of all the negative comments, many Apple fans still pre-ordered/lined up outside the stores for hours before the launch; in fact, the new iPhone already sold out on the day it went on sale. This is a very interesting phenomenon, and we can certainly see this as an example of how successful branding can save a company from losing its customers. Even though the product itself does not meet up to the public’s expectation, the company will continue to make profit by focusing on its brand and marketing strategies. This explains why it will be difficult for smaller companies to compete with corporations like Apple, even with far more powerful/innovative/high-tech products.
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This post is highly relatable as many of my friends have already pre-ordered the iPhone 6, despite the fact that it is pretty much identical to an android (in-terms of how it looks). I agree that branding is very important and Apple is a super good example for that idea, but also its iOS as it is unique from many of its competitors and the idea of how you can get less ‘bugs’ on an Apple device/laptop and more prone to getting ‘bugs’ on for instance a windows.
Hi Yi-Fang, I agree with your point in comparing Apple’s operating system with other competitors. In fact, Apple’s superior quality and design was what gave the brand such popularity in the first place. However, today the brand is focusing primarily on selling its brand image and value proposition, and we can all see its lack of innovation from each new model to the next. Of course, Apple is still offering high-quality products, but when Samsung introduced larger screens they also made the change to catch up. Recall the video in Class 8 prep, Paul mentioned the importance of positioning of a brand within its industry. Clearly, Apple is a successful example and they still benefit from this because consumers are left with the lasting impression that they are the top/leading brand within the market.