I recently came across an article in the Financial Post that claims that Apple may be “losing its touch” when it comes to advancements in its products. It discusses the new iPad 2, and mentions its new features:
- front- and rear-facing cameras
- black or white models available
- faster processor (dual-core A5 chip)
- thinner design
- smart cover in various colours
The article critiques Apple’s ability to offer much more than the iPhone 4 or iPod Touch 4G in the new iPad 2. One of the more prominent new features of the iPad 2, namely the front- and rear-facing cameras for the FaceTime application, can already be found on the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G. Besides this, there is not much to get excited about.
The interesting thing is that Apple continues to enjoy customer advocacy, even with relatively small offerings. Even when Apple introduced the first iPad, consumers went into a frenzy, trying to get their hands on the iPad on the release date. If we think about it, the iPad is really no more than a larger iPod Touch or iPhone. The features are virtually the same – the only “new offering” is the bigger screen size. However, Apple has embedded their name in the minds of consumers in such a way that any new product they release is sure to draw their interest, whether or not they decide to purchase it in the end. The ability to get their customers as excited and passionate about their products as they are, no matter what the product features, is truly a sustainable competitive advantage.
Photo Credits:
iPad
http://www.aingaran.com/ipad-coming-to-canada-in-late-april?nomobile
iPad 2 with Smart Cover