At 1 PM EDT on September 10th, Apple unleashed a new iPhone (okay, two). By 4 PM EDT I had to abandon my social network feeds to get away from people hurumphing about said iPhones. This has become as much of a pattern as Apple’s annual releases. Which is amusing, because the people whining are ignoring that same pattern.
Here’s the thing, Apple knows exactly what is it is doing. The first iPhone was releases in 2007, the second in 2008. For every single early adopter, the second generation iPhone was simply not worth it – particularly because they were all still under contract. Then came 2009 and the iPhone 3GS. Suddenly, it becomes worth it to update for that first batch of buyers, and coincidentally they’re coming out of contract. Yes, the 2008 buyers have to wait, but it’s their turn in 2010 – and so it goes. Every year Apple puts out a new phone, but you’re only meant to update every other year, which matches a typical cell phone service contract.
Apple’s not the only one to do this. Samsung may come out with a metric ton of phones every year, but the flagships are compelling on a two year basis, not year to year. The Note 3 looks grand, but if I have a Note 2, why bother. Now if I am still on an original note?
Apple’s goal is to make money – shocking, I know. It is not, as some seem to think, to entertain with cool tech (although I will admit that the A7 chip made me feel funny in my pants). If you have an iPhone 5, then there’s no absolutely compelling reason to get a 5S and certainly none for a 5C. But for those of the world still on the 4 and 4S, it’s a perfectly timed launch.
To steal from Walt Kelly, Apple has met the industry standard, and they is it.
Deal.
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