Why iPhone 5 Will Be Blue?
A flippant question? Well, not necessarily. And perhaps it ought to have read: “A Blue iPhone4s”. Rumour has it the next iPhone may not be an “iPhone5 but an “iPhone4s”. If that be true, then it clearly won't be a case of: “the iPhone4 is dead. Long live the iPhone5.
Why should that be, we wonder? If the next iPhone is to be feature-heavy, so all-singing and all-dancing as to be a great leap forward then we would expect Apple to introduce it as a true 5th generation. To keep it in the fourth-generation rather implies that we are going to get something with some additional features (“all-singing”, but feature-light) but that we will have to delay until 2012 before we get the “all-dancing” features. This is all supposition, of course but the shortage of facts from Apple only serves to oil the wheel of the rumor mill which is running at a fast-increasing, and ever more frenzied speed, as we approach the Grand Statement. (Which, naturally, Apple wants)
Hence should we be even thinking of a blue iPhone5? Doubtless not (at least, not yet). Should we be thinking about a blue iPhone4s? Well, maybe that isn't too far off the mark. If the subsequent iPhone is to be a provisional model pending a best-thing-since-sliced-bread 2012 model (one presumes, “iPhone 5), Apple must handle the last of its iPhone4s stock left hanging about at the end of its lifetime. Just as it did, with the existing iPhone4. And how did Apple do that? Well, they followed a tried and tested practice employed by automobile makers all around the world. As they prepare to publicize their next model, they must get rid of the old stock. What they do? They add features. Make decorative changes. Perhaps include alloy wheels for free. Maybe it is going to be leather seats or air con. Maybe add some “go-faster” stripes down the side. All, of course, to attempt to induce the public to buy up what will soon be obsolete products.
Or they might maybe produce a “limited-edition” special color (very popular, this). Seems familiar? It should. That is precisely what Apple did. But they did it over-so-cleverly. By making a single cosmetic change and by exploiting its wonderful marketing experience, Apple made the White iPhone4 a “must-have” for true iPhone aficionados. A “limited edition, special color” model, indeed. It worked once, why should it not work again? And again? It appears clear that, a while ago, production of the iPhone4 was significantly reduced. Hardly surprising, given the imminent arrival of the next model, so something needed to be done “for the iPhone4 to exit, not with a sigh, but with a big bang.
As we have already commented, there was nothing new about the White iPhone4 save for the color. No smashing new features at all.
An interim “iPhone 4s”? If we are having a look at an interim model (“iPhone4s”) with some extra features but with Apple putting important effort into a new, gasp-inducing 2012 model (“iPhone5) when the time comes, it'll have to handle its remaining iPhone4s stock. Of course, it may discount heavily (what, isn’t “Apple” and “discounting” an oxymoron?). But that might well divide people who spent their hard-earned cash on the iPhone4s. Weirdly enough, even though it might well damp down production of its “ordinary” iPhone4s, it may well ramp up production of a limited edition, special color model. Going out with a big bang, indeed.
A “Limited Edition”, Special Colour at the End of Each generation”? So , given the successfulness of the White iPhone4, will it become a regular feature: produce a “special color, small edition” model at the end of each life-cycle? Think about it: the White iPhone is unlikely to sell plenty more. Many say it will change into a collectors ‘ item. Of course , we're all waiting with bated breath for the subsequent model (be it still part of Generation 4 or of a new Generation 5).
Hence if a blue (or whatever color) model is later produced, will this, too become a collectors ‘ item? Food for thought don't you think? And not such a flight of fancy after all.
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