Well , the suspense has end . After a tantalizing invitation to “ Come see some fun new ware from Apple , ” Steve Jobs bring out three new Apple items : The $ 599 and $ 699 Intel - hold Mac mini , two $ 99 leather case for the 5 G iPod and iPod nano , and the $ 349iPod Hi - Fi . We ’ll salve how they perform for another time ( another time when we really have them in hand , for example ) and instead focus on what the universe of at least two of them mean .
Third - parties , do n’t get too comfortable .
In the yesteryear , Apple jump into the “ me too ” food market when competing production were so blemished that the mere act of doing it right put Apple ’s production out front — witness the iPod , the iTunes Music Store , the iSight , Final Cut Pro , the iLife entourage , and , some might evoke , Mac OS X.
Two of the production announced today — the Leather Case for iPod and iPod Hi - Fi — don’t scene that mould . The number of slick iPod sheath is outmatch only by California ’s dust mite population and you ca n’t throw a brick in a Big Box Appliance Store without bowl over at least half - a - dozen stocky iPod stereo systems .
Today ’s offerings are nicely designed , but having plow my share of quality leather iPod cases and prance a great ear at the iPod Hi - Fi I ca n’t say that either is a merchandise destined to blow away the competition . And because they ’re not , I believe that Apple has shift its scheme about when a new Apple mathematical product build signified . Apple no longer needs to own a securities industry . dedicate a large enough market , Apple can finalise for being among the major thespian .
And by “ large enough market ” I do intend iPod supplement , the market for which is evaluate at around $ 300 million a year ( and growing ) . Given these numbers , Apple ’s hardly take a risk with just about any iPod accessory it releases . Capturing as trivial as 10 – 15 % of portable iPod loudspeaker system sale should give Bose , JBL , and Altec - Lansing a underage event of the jim - kettle of fish . And in an already over - crowd ( and therefore highly garbled ) iPod type market , Apple could do quite nicely in push its $ 99 leather case astheupscale iPod sleeve to own .
And if Apple is rightfully uncoerced to contend with other iPod accessory makers , where might it divagate next ?
Apple ’s already address the FM - Radio - on - iPod issuing with its $ 49iPod Radio Remote , but the cause of death portable FM transmitter — one that crushes interference from other stations — rest missing in action . Wireless headphones ? attack have been made , but if Apple were willing , there ’s another chance . And how about portable speaker systems with multi - elbow room playback ? Those that exist are n’t cheap . Seems to me that a Rev 2 iPod Hi - Fi that contain an AirPort Express would fit the bill nicely .
What will this do to the kinship between Apple and its current partners ? As reported by MacCentral ’s Jim Dalrymple , iPod accessory makers may be less than thrilledwith Apple ’s move into their perceived turf , but what can they really do about it ? And should consumers really give care ?
Moving from better half to contender may not make iPod accessory makers happy , but it ’s bound to profit iPod possessor to the air of more compelling product — either those made by Apple or those from third - party forced to step it up a notch to remain a saltation out front of possible plans by Steve Jobs and caller .
