The success of smaller tablets entering the market - Amazon Fire, Nexus 7 - has shown a gap in Apple's product line, which they have now had to start from behind, go back on their word (or at least Steve Jobs') and release a smaller tablet of their own. A smaller tablet which I am still not convinced is going to be a success.
Could it be that in these times of economic crisis, Apple are finally suffering? With the "ordinary man" struggling to find the money to get by, is it any surprise that the elitist design and pricing of Apple products is beginning to lose favour? The more budget tablets have shown huge growth in 2012, and with Google's announcement this week of a Nexus 10" tablet - again at a cheaper price than the iPad - will this take still more sales away from the marquee, most expensive, most exclusive tablet on the market?
In the midst of this competition, we have seen several strange decisions coming out of the Cupertino based outfit. Apple was always the most desirable because you had to wait. You only got things when they wanted you to. But in the last couple of years we have seen the disappointing release of the rushed and not very much improved iPhone 4S. The release of the "New iPad". The iPhone 5 which was a bit better, but still left people slightly disappointed. Then only 9 months after the last release, another new iPad, as well as a late arrival to the party the iPad mini (which Apple have previously said wasn't necessary).
With all these releases, products playing catch up, and so many announcements leaving consumers cold, had Apple lost its touch? Is the influence that was still left from Jobs' reign now gone? Are we seeing the real beginning of the Tim Cook era? Only time will tell, but many see this as the start of a slippery slope.
But when people begin to doubt - that is when Apple normally pull something out of the bag isn't it?
Images linked from Google and Apple sites directly.
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