consumer electronics
iPad is No. 3 holiday wish, after world peace/happiness and a laptop
November 10, 2010: 10:02 AM ET"Family Together" came in No. 7 in a recent survey. "Good Health" was No. 8.
One of Apple's (AAPL) public relations operatives e-mailed overnight to let me know that a Consumer Electronics Association survey -- one that put the iPad No. 3 on this year's holiday wish list -- was likely to be highlighted in a CEA webcast scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Wednesday.
I can see why Apple would be pleased as punch to see the iPad so high on the CEA wish list, and the iPod/iPod touch not far behind.
I'm just glad the devices didn't come out ahead of peace and happiness!
After all, what are we to make of a survey that invites participants choose between products that can be purchased for a few hundred bucks and states of being that people struggle all their lives to achieve?
I mean, really. Family together No. 7? Good health No. 8? Money No. 10?
Doesn't everybody know that when the Genie grants you three wishes, your third wish should be for three more?
Below the fold: The results of the CEA survey, which found that although U.S. consumers are expected to spend an average of $750 on gifts this holiday season, down 2% from last year, they are prepared to spend a record $232 each on consumer electronics gifts, up 5% from 2009.
-
The iPod's rise and fall
Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPod on Oct. 23, 2001, nine years ago today
Here are the stats:
Age: 9 years
Units sold: 278,545,000
Net sales: $47,833,000,000Note the seasonal patterns of quarterly sales in the chart, with Sonic-the-Hedgehog-style Christmas spikes. Note also the major inflection points, when sales accelerated:
Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Oct 23, 2010 11:26 AM ETPosted in: Apple, Christmas, consumer electronics, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, iTunes, Piper Jaffray, Silicon Alley Insider, Steve Jobs -
(Screen) size does matter
The Jumbotron comes home --and the computer goes in the pocket.
Even before the recession began two years ago, people were talking about the need for Americans to downsize. What this means for the world of consumer electronics is unclear.
Our television screens just keep getting bigger and better. In 2009, the average screen size was 36 inches, up from 22 inches a decade ago.
For LCD and plasma screens greater than 60 MORE
Jessica Shambora, Writer-Reporter - Jan 15, 2010 6:00 AM ET -
iPod, shmyPod: Most consumer tech companies aren't that innovative
Apple's gadgets win adulation, but research shows the sector needs a jolt if it wants to grow
By Wouter Koetzier, global managing director-Accenture's Innovation Performance Group, and Adi Alon, North American managing director-Accenture's Innovation Performance Group
Large consumer technology companies are underperforming in the global innovation battle.
The culprit: Widespread flaws in how they manage and invest in innovation.
If tech companies want to grow, they need to invest in breakthrough, high-impact innovations MORE
Dec 7, 2009 10:00 AM ET
