Ipod Case Study

IPOD

CREATING NA ICONIC BRAND

Discussion Questions:

1) What is the most important feature of the iPod? Why?

The iPod was the Apple’s latecomer developed device to the digital music party, because many other portable digital music players were already on the market before the iPod's arrival.

Apple wanted it to have a fast connection to the computer, a close synchronization with iTunes, and the most important requirement: an interface that would be simple to use. A ‘simple thing’: it is the most important feature of the iPod.

The device’s development was done through a constantly communication between the designers team, the engineers and manufacturers, what happened to make all the difference in the final product.

As the text says, one of the key design aspect of the iPod was that it not tried to do too much, because Jobs did not want to go in the same way their competitors did by creating complex devices which were difficult to customers to deal with.

So, as Ive (Apple’s vice president of of industrial device) emphasized the difference of the iPod was a consequence of its desire, quest to make it a “very simple thing”.

The most striking feature was the mechanical scroll wheel that allowed users to quikly and easily sort through and manage their music library. So, customers could learn how to use it instinctively.

To sum up, the most important feature of the iPod was its design. Actually, it simple design that enable people to deal instinctively with the device. As Jobs says: “(…) It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works”.

2) Apple continues to operate a closed system (i.e. music downloaded from iTMS can only be played on iPods). Do you recommend Apple continue this strategy, or should it open its system to users of any type of digital music player?

I recommend Apple to continue with this strategy, because it is one of their competitive advantages, since they have this combination of music player and...