News
$1 billion worth of iPod accessories sold during holidays
While Apple shipped a record-breaking 14 million iPods during the holiday quarter, they weren’t the only ones to benefit from the device’s popularity. iPod accessory makers also had a tremendous holiday season, according to one tech analyst. Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group estimates that $1 billion worth of iPod accessories were sold during the recent holiday quarter. “It’s the iPod economy,” Doherty said. “And Steve Jobs is the Alan Greenspan of that iPod economy.”
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1
Random Rambling Question:
If an automaker offers up ‘Made for iPod’ compatibility for its standard sound system for a car, does the ‘iPod tax’ (as CNNMoney calls it) then translate to 10% of the TOTAL PRICE of the car? I mean, if the standard radio is part of the base car and can only be obtained with the car itself, it stands to reason (sort of) that the ONLY way you can get that iPod-friendly unit is to pay the price for the ENTIRE car…(ouch); that iPod-compatible stereo in effect is the price of the car. Even journalists are now referring to these iPod-friendly cars as accessories to the iPod itself, rather than a relationship the other way around. Image buying a Ferrari primarily to service your iPod; this world is definitely going all to hell.
Ohh, I can really see iPod groupies lining up and bending over, wanting to pay another 4 grand on top of a $40K Bimmer just for ‘Made for iPod’ marketability. I mean, do you really, REALLY think BMW (or Chrysler or M-B or Ferrari or Audi or Acura or whoever else) is just going to eat that cost for Mr. Jobs just for plugging in that iPod? Didn’t think so…
No wonder accessories scored in the billions.
Posted by flatline response on January 12, 2006 at 9:36 PM (CST)
1
I bought some retractable ear phones and while I love the fact that they retract, the round thing in the middle of the cord is HEAVY and the ear buds kept falling out of my ears. I’ve put it in a drawer and gone back to winding my earbuds around my ipod. Save your $.
Posted by Summer on January 13, 2006 at 3:13 PM (CST)