6 ms·

The model launched two years ago (Apple TV 4) remains at $149. That hardware hasn't gotten cheaper at all in two years? The spec-bumped 4k one is $179. It sho

The model launched two years ago (Apple TV 4) remains at $149. That hardware hasn't gotten cheaper at all in two years? The spec-bumped 4k one is $179. It should have been $99/$149.

mkempe 9y ago
I agree. Something changed with their pricing strategy in the last couple of years. They used to keep and shift previous generations down the price curve to eat more of the spectrum of demand, but now they seem to be shifting new offerings up the price curve instead.
- johansch 9y ago
  They simultaneously reached a saturation point in most rich markets.. and stopped being able to innovate themselves into higher price points. Steve used to be around to to direct them into risky but likely profitable endeavours.. Like for example doing zero profit on the Apple TV to grow critical mass. Not so much any longer. This is so fcking sad. Instead of building computing jewels, the Apple of today is focusing on building actual... jewels. Steve did a major fuckup to give control to Tim.
  - mkempe 9y ago
    That may be one element. I think of what they do and how they talk about it as invoking the spirit of Steve, but not quite knowing what his spirit stood for. (I suppose when one approaches death knowing that cancer is eating you, one struggles with clarity of mind and purpose to fittingly identify and choose one's heir to keep the revolution going.) Their cheapest iPod is now $199. Their cheapest iPhone is $349. Their cheapest TV-streamer is $149. They've steadily eliminated the lower-price options they had, by neglecting to offer older product generations, or by eliminating the simpler models. The iPod shuffle was $49, iPod nano $149, Apple TV was $99 (often just $49). It's as if they no longer want to participate in the lower range of the supply-demand curves. Before the iPhone you could walk into an Apple store with any price in mind from $50 on up, and you would find some decent iPod that would fit your budget every $50-step up (once you had chosen the most expensive iPod, there were headphones available to absorb further spending interest). At some point they decided the spending floor should be $200 or more, instead of wanting everybody to buy Apple products and thus participate in the personal computing revolution. Even their HomePod is absurdly priced starting at $349...

The model launched two years ago (Apple TV 4) remains at $149. That hardware hasn't gotten cheaper at all in two years? The spec-bumped 4k one is $179. It should have been $99/$149.

mkempe 9y ago

I agree. Something changed with their pricing strategy in the last couple of years. They used to keep and shift previous generations down the price curve to eat more of the spectrum of demand, but now they seem to be shifting new offerings up the price curve instead.

johansch 9y ago
They simultaneously reached a saturation point in most rich markets.. and stopped being able to innovate themselves into higher price points. Steve used to be around to to direct them into risky but likely profitable endeavours.. Like for example doing zero profit on the Apple TV to grow critical mass. Not so much any longer. This is so fcking sad. Instead of building computing jewels, the Apple of today is focusing on building actual... jewels. Steve did a major fuckup to give control to Tim.
- mkempe 9y ago
  That may be one element. I think of what they do and how they talk about it as invoking the spirit of Steve, but not quite knowing what his spirit stood for. (I suppose when one approaches death knowing that cancer is eating you, one struggles with clarity of mind and purpose to fittingly identify and choose one's heir to keep the revolution going.) Their cheapest iPod is now $199. Their cheapest iPhone is $349. Their cheapest TV-streamer is $149. They've steadily eliminated the lower-price options they had, by neglecting to offer older product generations, or by eliminating the simpler models. The iPod shuffle was $49, iPod nano $149, Apple TV was $99 (often just $49). It's as if they no longer want to participate in the lower range of the supply-demand curves. Before the iPhone you could walk into an Apple store with any price in mind from $50 on up, and you would find some decent iPod that would fit your budget every $50-step up (once you had chosen the most expensive iPod, there were headphones available to absorb further spending interest). At some point they decided the spending floor should be $200 or more, instead of wanting everybody to buy Apple products and thus participate in the personal computing revolution. Even their HomePod is absurdly priced starting at $349...