"A Prediction That I Forgot To Mention..."

There has been some talk about Apple introducing some new appliance 1st quarter, '06 that will wow the market once again.

What could be bigger than that?

Apple is going to announce a brand split. The two divisions will appear as Apple Computer and Apple Entertainment.

Reports on the number of itunes account holders vary widely. Steve Jobs has been quoted as saying 10 million accounts and the average account buys 60 songs.

The distribution channel is the juiciest across the industry.

Sorry for the vague reference, but 'juicy' aptly describes the only digital entertainment distribution channel (platform) people actually use.

Left under a single Apple umbrella, undistinguished, entertainment will forever compete against computers.

Peter

Comments

[Brad]

I'm not sure if you are just saying that it's going to happen or that it should. But I would disagree on both counts. "Apple Computer" is a corporation. But for the last 15 years or so, "Apple" has been the consumer brand which stands for a user-friendly technology experience. Which is exactly why they had no problem introducing the iPod or the iTunes Music Store. And it's why they'll have no problem should the decide to introduce a media center or boombox or movie download service.

In fact, I would argue that they are in a better position to do it than anyone. Microsoft is a software company (who happens to make a gaming console). Intel is a chip company. Dell is a true computer company. Even Sony, who has success in both computers and consumer electronics, can't pull off a music service -- and they own one of the major labels!

Just my 2¢ (For the record, I'm a copywriter and brand consultant whose client list includes Anheuser-Busch, FedEx, Jack Daniel's, etc.).