Sweating and Swiping

http://www.thenortherneronline.com/2012/11/13/are-the-new-generation-apple-products-worth-the-money/

http://technoholik.com/media/content/2012/Sep/ipod-nano-new-post.jpg

With the introduction of the iPad mini, the corresponding release of the seventh generation iPod Nano is often overlooked.  To remind you:

“Now that the new 7^th generation iPod Nano has been released, it seems to have mixed both aspects of the 5^th and 6^th generation Nano bringing back the video playback but not including the camera the 5^th generation had.  Since the 5^th generation iPod Nano was released, it seems as though Apple had fit the most features into the Nano with a decent size capacity of 16 gigabytes.  But over time it seems Apple had gotten obsessed with the touch screen feature which in turn got in the way of the more appealing aspects such as the camera that the 5^th generation had.  When it comes to purchasing the new 7^th generation iPod Nano, it seems it would be a good buy with a price of $150.  But if you are thinking about trading in your 5^th generation Nano for the 7^th, that may not be a reasonable deal.  Especially if you enjoy the camera the 5^th generation has.”

Though the whole of this excerpt is informative, I wish to further its one sassy comment:  Apple is obsessed with touch screens.

What do I think of touch screens?  My entrancing analysis:

On a tablet?  Sensible.  On a phone?  Tedious.  On a music player?  Dopey.

What do you do with your music player?  If you’re like me, you bring it to the gym.  While you tire on the treadmill, you listen to those boisterous tunes that inspire your workout and aid you as you attempt another mile.

Riddle me this:  What is one act performed by all exercising individuals, regardless of their distaste for this unseemly human function?  Said succinctly and tactlessly, humankind sweats.  If you’re like me (and all of my breathing peers), you also sweat.

What’s my point?  The last thing I want to do while gasping on a treadmill is fumble with a miniscule screen to avoid smudging it with my overly moist grasp.  I’m weary, I’m irritable, and I’m not in the mood to smear my pricey gadget as I swipe to a new song.

I cannot stop wondering…  Has Apple performed market research that [wrongly] confirms our enthusiasm for touchscreens?  Am I the only one who prefers the original iPod dial?  Do users authentically enjoy touchscreens enough to justify Apple’s integration of this feature into EVERY device?

My hope:  That my current iPod lives forever so I can avoid the unpleasantly sticky practice of sweating and swiping.

It's a White and White Issue

http://www.courant.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-white-ipad-mini-20121026,0,7888407.story

Though black Apple gadgets generally enjoy greater popularity (MacBooks aside) than white products, the trend is reversing with the iPad mini.

As the Hartford Courant writes, “If you want an iPad mini, you'll have to settle for the black model.

“The white iPad mini sold out during the first day of pre-orders for the new, smaller version of the Apple tablet, according to the company's website.

“The iPad mini is supposed to ship to users by Nov. 2, but already, the expected ship time for the white models has now been changed to read “two weeks.”  That applies to the 16 GB $329 model, the 32 GB for $429 model and the 64 GB for $529 model.

“Meanwhile, the black iPad mini is still available to arrive on Nov. 2 in all three of its versions, although who knows how much longer that will last.”

Why the change in user preference?  Black devices are sleek, refined, and professional, no?

Yes.  Black devices are sleek refined, and professional.  However, the crowd that hastens to the iPad mini values character and quirkiness above sophistication.  Indeed, the crowd that hastens to the iPad mini is…young.

My proposal is that tweens and teenagers are the primary iPad mini customers.  The small size and low pricepoint delight young techies as much as the reflective apple that brands the rear of the device.

The kids who have been petitioning their parents for a tablet, yearning for an iPad but willing to accept a cheaper Kindle Fire or Nook, can now, with the advent of the iPad mini, obtain their true obsession:  An Apple product.

Goodbye Apple black, today’s kids applaud the whimsy of your white and wireless sister.