Branding

Branding is an exceptional form of trademarking a company. For instance, Target's branding/logo is a picture of a "bullseye". Their logo alone stands for the representation of that particular company, when and wherever that logo is seen, it's known to consumers that the logo is a representation of the Target company. Apple's logo/branding has the same affect. Their logo is placed on every product that the coompsny develops and sells. In my opninion their logo also represents quality and luxury. 
Branding is not an easy task to do, it takes a lot of consideration and planning to know what will stick with a customer for years to come. Like target Apple has been and still is very successful with how they decided to brand their product. The picture of an Apple was probably the most effective and smartest decision the company made when they first launched their business. Branding is not something to be taken likely, the choice a company makes, can in fact make or break them.  

Update on the new iPhone 4g

iPhone Leak: Police Seize Gizmodo Computers
Date: Apr 26, 2010
Author: Scott Lowe

Following last week's leak of the fourth generation iPhone, police have seized computers and other hardware used by Gizmodo.com, the tech blog who paid for, and later posted a detailed analysis, of the prototype device. According to reports today, California Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) entered and searched the home of Gizmodo editor, Jason Chen, and seized four computers, two servers, and other components as potential evidence in their investigation of the theft, sale, and transportation of Apple's prototype technology. 

The search warrant issued by the Superior Court of the County of San Mateo, which was posted in full on Gizmodo, states that the property was seized under the belief that it was used as the means of committing a felony. 

Last week, Gizmodo shocked the tech community when it published a detailed analysis of what they claimed was the next generation iPhone. The prototype was lost by an Apple employee and later found by a yet-to-be identified person at a bar in Redwood City, CA, just 20 miles north of Apple's Cupertino headquarters. Later, Gizmodo purchased the prototype from the unnamed party for a sum of $5,000 and posted pictures and video online. 

In the days to follow, Gizmodo said that they weren't certain of the prototype's origins but onceApple formally claimed the device as their own, they would promptly return it. Sure enough, Apple issued a request for the prototype's return, thus confirming the device's authenticity. 

It remains unclear whether the raid was targeting Chen, Gizmodo, or the unidentified seller of the prototype. 

Apple has yet to comment on the leak or the investigation. 

For more on the 4G iPhone leak, check out ourinitial coverage and stay tuned for updates.

Product Concept

Products are what make a business. The general concept of products determine the financial status of how successful your business can be. There are different types of product concepts such as business products which are goods that service customers while showing a businesses purpose. Then You have consumer products which best describe Apple, their consumer products are made to satisfy customers needs and or wants. For example, the iPhone, iPod and MacBook are all made for personal use. Consumer products, in my opinion, seem to be those of most value when it comes to consumer decision making. Most consumers react before they think when it comes to purchases, if an item seems like a good deal or if the customers makes him or herself believe they need it, the chances are they're more likely to purchase. This type of customer is known to the marketing force as an "impulsive shopper". 
When apple came out with their latest device the ipad that product in itself is looked upon as a specialty product because no other company sells an item like this. This also gives apple the upperhand on selling the most innovative and upcoming products in technology. This reason alone is why Apple is more successful than any other company selling up and coming technology related devices. APPLE IS THE BEST!    

Iphone 4g Prototype

Below is Apple's formal request to have their iPhone 4g prototype given back. Although, they haven't confirmed that this device is in fact the iPhone 4g they do confirm that it is a product of Apple. However it is seemingly obvious that it bares great resemblance to the iPhones already on the market. They have yet to make any official announcements to the media proclaiming the devices purpose. It will be interesting to see if the company waits until June to make any formal announcements because the past few years have shown this is the month which they've announced all new iPhones that were going to hit the market. Or will they come out out in the coming days and weeks to publicly state any information that the public is ready to hear. Either way as discussed in class Apple seems to be in the limelight of the media right now, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

"It has come to our attention that Gizmodo is currently in possession of a device that belongs to Apple. This letter constitutes a formal request that you return the device to Apple. Please let me know where to pick up the unit."

Israel ban's Ipad from their country

Israel has banned Apple's newest product the "ipad" from being sold in their country. The reason the country's government has given for banning this product from their country is that this new device has been made and configured to the United States technology standards and not those of Europe or Israel. They're also concerned that the technology of the ipad would interfere with their technological devices. Some experts claimed that this ban may have more to do with concerns of the ipad interfering with their military technology.
If a visitor/tourist from the United States were to visit Israel and have an ipad with them, their ipad would be confiscated and they would have to pay a storage fee to hold it upon their departure from the Israel.
I'm personally not technology savvy and I don't quite understand their skepticism towards the product but I do know that technology can be a scary concept to those who don't understand. Technology is broadening more and more as time passes, it has given us much power especially in the internet realm that we now live in. I do however believe their concerns are more than what's been stated on the surface. It's going to be interesting to say the least to see if Israel comes around to the product placement in their country. I will definitely keep up with this story to see what the end result will be.

Pricing

Apple is flexible when it comes to pricing their products. They make several of the same products in different sizes and storage options at different prices, which is beneficial to an array of customers. For instance, they sell iPod shuffles that carry 2 gigabyte in memory for about $59 and they also have a 4 gigabyte iPod shuffle for $79, next they have an iPod nano for 8 gigabytes for &149.

For the Iphone they have an iPhone 3G for $99 and it has 8 gigabytes in memory and for the iPhone 3GS it's priced at $199 for 16 gigabytes of memory and they also have a 32 gigabyte for $299.

Giving customers options in different prices for products that have similar features and functions is a really great look for apple because they're focused on selling their products to customers of all different income brackets. It's very rare to find a big company such as Apple that can make their products affordable and available to just about anyone.

Ipad Release - Sales are not as high as expected according to some analyst

The above picture shows consumers lined up outside of an Apple store in San Francisco.




Although Apple has not given an exact number on its anticipated sales, several analysts such as Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, had anticipated even higher sales projections of 600,000 to 700,000 units. So far reports are showing around 300,000 ipads sold around the U.S. from Saturday to Monday from it's release date. This number seems astounding simply because the when the iphone was first released it sold 270,000 units in the first 30 hours. From most of my findings it seems to be more heresay than anything else at this point. One good piece of news is that more than one million applications and 250,000 e-books from iBooks during the first day. It seems as if Apple and most analyst are waiting for the quarter to end (June) so that they can get a better sense of how many ipad's were sold and if they were able to meet a quota, if any.

Advertising & Public Relations

Over the years Apple has developed some very mind-blowing yet feasable advertisements for their products. They have iPhones plastered on billboards with slogans that stick such as "Your life in your pocket". This ad is logical because apple builds their products on convenience and they thrive on making products that make it easier to be more technology savvy without necessarily having to sit in front of a PC all day.

Public Relations has been an amazing help with boozing the awareness of all Apple products, from the commercials to billboards in very visible and high traffic areas such as times square. Their ads are also taking the front of most radioshack windows, circulars such as best buy. The list of places where Apple advertisements can be found is pretty extensive. Overall, I believe Apple is or should be one of the leading companies when it comes to advertising and public relations.

Possibility of Verizon selling iphones

Wall Street Jorunal - March 31, 2010
"The Wall Street Journal reported late Monday that Apple plans to release an iPhone this year that would work on CDMA networks — a technology used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Inc. in the U.S., as well as some carriers overseas."

There has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not Verizon and Apple are contemplating a deal with the sell of iphones. Personally, I feel a merger between the two company's would be very beneficial financially. Verizon is known to be #1 around the world as far as reliable service is concerned. If in fact this deal is factual I would be one of the first to jump on board with Verizon and leave At&t as a distant memory.