It’s interesting to watch how the markets are viewing the #Apple brand. Branding is something I am interested in. I have been to lectures and read several books on the subject. When you think of Apple what do you think of? I would guess “technology”, “design” but one of the words which will be up there will be “innovation”.
Apple did very well with the iPod. This hardware device (which was very similar to a Creative device at the time) leveraged the brands cult following to make sure the device was a success. That with the innovative way of locking you to iTunes meant the iPod went from Zero to Hero in a matter of months and the Apple brand was able to start to make some serious money again.
More recently the iPod, Nano, Mini, iPhone, iPad, and iPad Mini have all been a evolution rather than an revolution. The iOS has not changed in quite a while with little or no changes to the way you interact wit hit.
The markets are reacting accordingly with the Apple share price dropping. This has been coupled with the sad passing of Steve Jobs, a man who was as much the brand as the company.
If Apple don’t get something out the door quickly to restamp their “innovation” on the market I can see that things will continue to be a slow decline. They will always have their hardened followers, but the masses will start to walk to the next innovative company. Their biggest threat at the moment is the continued marching of Samsung…