My sister treated herself to iPod the other day, an iPod
touch to be precise. I’ve got a touch myself, only the battery on it is
somewhat temperamental (even though I’ve only had it for one year – but that’s
another story). The difference is that her iPod touch it isn’t the same as mine. It’s got a camera on it for starters. The
screen is so much brighter and more crystal clear than mine. And I’m confident
in saying the games work better and look nicer on her model. I’d be lying if I
said I wasn’t a teeny bit jealous. It got me thinking though about how many
iPods my sister and myself have had between us over the years. I’d hazard a
guess at throwing out the number 6, so that’s 3 each. 3 iPods each over the
period of say 6 or 7 years... that’s extortionate. It’s not like they have
broken each time between buying an upgrade, it’s just the fact the new ones look nicer – no one wants to be seen
carrying the old model now do they? Only recently I threw out my perfectly adequate
alarm clock come iPod speakers because my speakers “did not support the iPod
model”.
Apple has so cleverly created a culture of conspicuous
consumption and planned obsolescence whereby we feel the need to keep up with
the Jones’, so to speak, in always demanding the latest model of iPods, iPhones
and nearly every gadget or piece of clothing in our household. Having last season’s
iPod is unheard of - I mean seriously. Take for instance the “new iPad”. Not
the iPad 3, the new iPad. They can
hardly keep numbering them with the rate they’re bringing the new ones out,
because then people would actually start to notice the speed at which they
throw away £500 worth of perfectly fine and working equipment. So what was new
about this launch? The HIGH RES SCREEN. Wow. I know what I’ve been missing out
on now. Spare a thought for the iPad 1 and 2 users though, because the new apps
being released seem to be conveniently only working with high res iPads. The
more Apple isolates you and your beloved first generation iPad with less apps
being available to you on the app store, the more you’re going to want have to buy the sparkly new
iPad.
Apple seem to be able to do this with just about every
product they offer. Older models start to slow down, so that must mean they’re
broken of course. Note to self: must buy
new model. With the launch of the iPhone back in 2007, the convergence of a
phone and an iPod only secures Apple’s knowledge that once you’ve had an iPhone
you’re going to stick with the brand and become loyal customers. Think of the
hassle of having to actually carry around your iPod and your phone if it wasn’t for the god-sent arrival of an iPhone...
So maybe Apple should start providing bins with their purchases,
because I can guarantee in the space of 6 months it’ll be full of old, out-dated
technology.
