iPod Not Selling Well in South Korea; Apple Threatens Suit vs. iOPS

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.2638' target='_blank'>http://www.dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.2638</a><br /><br /></div><i>"South Korea... one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and one of the few places where the iPod is not a best-seller. In fact, sales of the iPod account for only 8% of all MP3 players in South Korea. That puts Apple behind iRiver, Cowon iAudio, even Samsung. It seems obvious that Koreans prefer Korean-designed players. Fair enough. But apparently, Apple is looking to blame someone and they've targeted iOPS, the fifth best-selling brand of MP3 players in South Korea with a 4-5% market share. Apple filed a complaint against iOPS in October, demanding they stop manufacturing and selling their two top models, the Z5 the Z3. The complaint alledges that these two players are a rip off the iPod Mini because they have a similar layout, with a screen and round controller, and because they are available in similar colors."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/applevs.jpg" /> <br /><br />Well, isn't it obvious that the reason that Apple is at 8% rather than 50% is because of a player with 5% of the market. :roll: Frankly, other than the storage space, I think the Z3 player outdoes the iPod in almost every feature. Maybe THAT is why it is more popular.

[Darius Wey]

Apple should consider dropping their prices before blaming someone. :roll:

[Felix Torres]

Well, Apple might have a case in some courts.

Surely the fact that both products are rectangular with a color screen and have circular controllers might confuse *some* consumer somewhere who might confuse a iOPS Z3 with an Ipod mini.

Of course, since the case won't be heard in Cupertino, finding such a consumer and making the case won't be a slam dunk by any means.
Especially when iOPS can simply subpoena Jobs and have him discuss his theory that iPod's success is due to its tie-in with iTunes, which doesn't exist in Korea.

I like the part where iOPS basically told Apple to bring it on.
Considering the Korean trustbusters are already concerned about Apple starving the local vendors of Flash RAM, I think the timing for such a suit by Apple is just a wee bit inappropriate...

Just the sort of situation "...where angels fear to tread..." ;-)

[klinux]

Well, isn't it obvious that the reason that Apple is at 8% rather than 50% is because of a player with 5% of the market.

I think the author and/or you may have missed a few points. First, Apple is not suing iOPS because it is blaming iOPS for it not being the 50% market share leader. Rather, it is because of the copying of the design, which, to my eyes, does look like a blatant rip-off of Apple's intellectual property.

I think the Z3 player outdoes the iPod in almost every feature.

I don't know why iPod critics and haters bring this up time and time as if having more features = better DAP.

Apple is not selling on features but rather the interface (both hardware like the click wheel and software like iTunes). Consumers (non-Korean ones, natch) have made this loud and clear by iPod sales. Yet people seems to like to tick off the features comparison list ever since generation 1 iPod as knocks against iPod as if having more features means that the competitor is better. Clearly, that is not the case.

[Chris Gohlke]

I'll give you the first point, but I don't think the iPod is the best player. It is often assumed that it is the best because it is the most popular. It is the most popular because it is the most visiable and known player. Much like the old phrase, "No one ever got fired for buying IBM", no one will make a huge mistake by buying an iPod, you could do better by looking around, but most people are afraid they could do far worse since they don't understand the products they are looking at and most don't even know that there are MP3 players other than an iPod. Really, my complements to Apple on this, from a marketing perspective they executed this product line nearly perfectly. But, I still don't think it is the best player out there. Best being completely subjective of course, the reasons stated above do make the iPod the best choice for many people. For me best equals a rich feature set as well as a bang for buck.

[Felix Torres]

For me best equals a rich feature set as well as a bang for buck.

There are no absolutes in product design; one person's must-have is somebody else's turn off. And those features that some decry as unneeded are mandatory for others.

In Asia, as a rule, FM and voice recorder are features that are in fact used by a fair amount of buyers, which is why digital-audio chip makers include them on the chips. It costs money to add those features so they wouldn't be in there if their customers didn't find them useful.

And, while the pod has always been criticized for being feature light, it has become more competitive over time; Apple has quietly added many of the missing features with each new version. So what used to be unnecessary became necessary in the face of customer feedback...

But until they get rid of the face-mounted touch pad, they'll never get my business. Not that they care, of course... :wink: