MarketWatch: Some see white iPhone delay as part of bigger problem

[marmar]

By Cynthia Lin, MarketWatch


NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Apple Inc. users may have shrugged off another push-back in the release of white iPhone 4s, but some of them say the delay adds to a string of recent issues that call the company's priorities into question.

Customers outside Apple's store in midtown New York who spoke to MarketWatch were mostly unconcerned about white versions being unavailable -- but they thought the delay is a symptom of the tech-giant's wider issues.

"Apple has been so caught up on the aesthetics and design," said James Li, who works in advertising. "It's more a design firm now."

On Friday, Apple said it was postponing the debut of white models of the iPhone 4 for the second time in a month, citing manufacturing challenges. White versions of the new phone will not be available until later this year.

"Apple really dropped the ball this year," said Alan Reed, a financial analyst walking outside Apple's flagship New York store. "They shouldn't have put out a phone that didn't work...then try to blame the problem on the phone industry." ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/some-see-theme-in-apples-white-iphone-delay-2010-07-23

[onehandle]

1. White phones are universally harder to make. Maybe Marketwatch should do some research.

And my iPhone 4 works fine. 95% of owners agree.

70% of iPhone owners say they would buy another iPhone. Only 30% of Android owners say they would buy another Android phone.

Apple's doing something right.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yes they are

but it does point to a problem that does not only affect APPLE, not that they will go there.

Once you outsource your production you lose quite a bit of control over the production chain and distribution (at the source). This is not just Apple... but affects all the electronic bauble designers and distributors in the US...(Microsoft, Samsung, you get the picture)

Perhaps, gasp, they will decide to move production back where they can control it. But that will eat into the profit margin... no, not labor... that's the excuse. All the other externalities, silly.

[Book Lover]

3. Why?

Materials? Manufacturing process change? Why should it be so hard to make a phone with white plastic?