Recently, I emailed many of the companies and individuals that have played a role in bringing iPod related products to market. Below are their answers to several questions regarding the new, smaller iPod mini. In short, everybody likes the new mini and most all plan on introducing an iPod mini specific accessory.
- Aneta Genova
- Case Closed Bags
- Belkin
- Christopher Breen
- Dension USA
- Digital Lifestyle Outfitters
- Engineered Audio
- Jim Heid
- iSkin
- MacMice
- Marware
- Matias
- PodShop
- Pyrim Technologies
- RadTech
- SendStation Systems
- SiK
- Speck Products
- STM Australia
- TEN Technology
- Timbuk2 Designs
- Vaja Cases
- XtremeMac
Aneta Genova
Aneta Genova – PresidentThe best feature in the new mini iPod is the color!
ANETAGENOVA cases always reflect the latest trends in color and design and I would always stand behind a colorful fashionable look. Being a fashion designer I feel that this is a natural progression in technology – “smart” and beautiful product.
The size is slightly smaller and the huge sacrifice in memory doesn’t justify it. A 1,000 songs for $249 is not that fashionable. Just for $50 dollars more you can get 15GB memory. Smaller is not really better in this particular case and probably a lot of other cases. And speaking of cases there will be no AG cases for the new mini yet.
Case Closed Bags, Inc.
April Lockhart PresidentWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Reaction to the minis—very cute—-sooooo small—Apple is going after the teens market. Every kid I know in NYC got an iPod over the holidays.Is the price too high?
Yes $249 is too much-$199 is the right price.Is smaller better
Small is always better.Is offering several colors a good thing?
I think that the colors speak to a new breed (youth) of customers for Apple.How does this affect your iPod products?
We are excited about developing cases and accessories for the minis.When can customers expect new or updated products?
We have our mini on order to start the R&D—our goal is to be shipping in March 2004.
Belkin
Melody Chalaban, Public Relations ManagerThe new Mini iPod is an exciting addition to Apple’s product lineup. It’s a new look for the already successful iPod, so the end user experience just got better. We will offer accessories to support them in the near future.
Christopher Breen
Contributing Editor, Macworld magazine Author of “Secrets of the iPod,” Third Edition (Peachpit Press, 2003)What’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Generally very positive. They’re nice compact units that maintain the elegance of the iPod design in a smaller form factor.Is the price too high?
Yes, by $50.Is smaller better
Smaller is different rather than better.I can see the smaller size being an advantage when you’re doing something athletic—riding a bike, jogging, or working out at the gym. The small size and lighter weight make it easier to tuck into an armband, fanny pack, or pocket without making its presence felt.
Is offering several colors a good thing?
It may help increase sales. In a couple of my iPod sessions at Macworld Expo I asked about colors and a few women said they’d buy an iPod mini simply because they could get it in pink.How does this affect your iPod products?
If the final unit is the same one shown at Expo—meaning Apple doesn’t implement any new features in firmware for the final release—it will have some impact on the next edition of my book, Secrets of the iPod, but it’s not different enough to justify a “Secrets of the iPod mini.”When can customers expect new or updated products?
In the not-too-distant future.
Covertec
Fabrice Minelian, Marketing & Development ManagerWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Happy to see that it can be bought by many users because of lower price.Is the price too high?
NoIs smaller better
YesIs offering several colors a good thing?
Yes, even if it may be difficult for Apple to handle separate stocks.How does this affect your iPod products?
We will prepare new Covertec Luxury cases for iPod mini.When can customers expect new or updated products?
March/April
Dension USA
Alfred BarabasWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Great unit works with our ICE-Link car integration kits 🙂Is the price too high?
A bit high, but it will come down soon.Is smaller better
Not always 🙂Is offering several colors a good thing?
Not a bad idea, but it will make logistics harder for ipod resellers…How does this affect your iPod products?
More people with iPods that can purchase our ICE-Link kits!When can customers expect new or updated products?
It’s available from us already.
Digital Lifestyle Outfitters
Jeff Grady, President/CEOWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
I want one right now! Make mine silver. I also cannot wait to see the return of Mini Me in Apple’s upcoming iPod mini television ad campaign. Also look to see Apple dropping VW as their automotive partner and replacing them with the cooler and smaller Cooper mini. I can see it all coming together in a commercial during the upcoming Super Bowl.On a more serious note, Apple has done a great job extending the iPod design to a smaller, lighter device. The new scroll wheel is perfect and I would look to see this design utilized in a smaller, lighter 4G iPod. But I do miss the “on the go” playlist on the new mini. Let’s hope that they add this feature at product release.
Is the price too high?
Right now the price is too high. Apple really needs to break the $200 price point to be extremely competitive with the smaller, flash-based players. At $250, the iPod mini is .06/Mb while the 10Gb iPod is half the cost on a per megabyte level. But then again, less is more sometimes.Is smaller better
In this case, it is. I would not look to see Apple make any future iPod products that are any smaller than the mini. The size is perfect.Is offering several colors a good thing?
No. Maintaining proper inventory levels and projecting sales on a color basis will cause Apple some headaches here. Look to see a surplus of green players and long lines for silver players. They should have stuck with white and should have included white in their lineup. Plus with all of the silicone skin products on the market (and we will be releasing a Jam Jacket for iPod mini very soon), you can basically pick any color you want and change it whatever your iMood.How does this affect your iPod products?
We will be launching a whole new line of products just for iPod mini, and we will be working closely with Apple on a couple of projects that will utilize some special features found only on iPod mini.When can customers expect new or updated products?
Absolutely. Keep an eye on everythingiPod.com for all the latest iPod mini products.
Engineered Audio, LLC.
Marshall StrouseWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Looks to be another good product from Apple. And while some question its initial price, the mini is probably priced right. Certainly it will allow Apple to (perhaps) slowly lower the price over the course of 2004. Perhaps even add additional features or capacities.Is the price too high?
Priced about right. Actually if you analyze it carefully, it was very shrewed pricing.Is smaller better
Perhaps. Certainly for those that are really ‘on-the-go’ … ie Hiking, Biking, Running, etc.Is offering several colors a good thing?
No real feeling one way or the other on this item. It’s sort of been there done that, what with the iMacs and such.How does this affect your iPod products?
Shouldn’t affect our products.When can customers expect new or updated products?
Our current remote will work the mini today. We are in the process of doing a complete re-design (guts and new cases) that should be available in the next few months.
Jim Heid
Author/Host, “The Macintosh iLife” book and instructional DVDWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
It’s beautiful! I’ve had a chance to use one, and found the “Click Wheel” works very well. It’s a very efficient, elegant design. The display is beautiful, too—very bright and crisp.Is the price too high?
Alas, yes, especially since it does not include a dock and doesn’t work with the Belkin Media Reader or Voice Recorder.It’s a gorgeous little device, but I can’t help but think that the buzz around it would be a lot louder if it cost $199. Whether that price would be economically viable for Apple is a question I can’t answer. But I just don’t think $50 is a large enough price gap between the mini and the full-sized iPod, especially given the capacity and capability differences.
Is smaller better
Yes.Is offering several colors a good thing?
Absolutely. But please—no Blue Dalmatian or Flower Power.How does this affect your iPod products?
The next edition of my iLife book (which covers the iPod) will be out before Spring. I’m typing as fast as I can!When can customers expect new or updated products?
See above.
iSkin Inc.
Andrew Ackloo, PresidentWhat’s your reaction to the new iPod mini?
Overall, I think they’re great. The smaller profile, lighter weight and redesigned navigation/scroll wheel is “simply” the best design yet. The flat top and bottom does seem a little harsh and pulls away from the smooth curves of previous iPod designs but I can get used to it. Surprising was the available colors. I expected Apple to stick with one color and I would have guessed Aluminum or plain white. Although, it’s nice to see color back in Apple products. Close examination of the surface shows that these new mini iPod are going to get scuffed. The screen is beautiful, clear and sharp and the bluish backlight adds that oh so modern look. We’re looking forward to skinning it 😉Is the price too high?
Yes I believe it’s priced about $50 too high. I know that Apple is trying not to kill the sales of its regular iPods and this pricing decision was necessary.