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Why Apple has a split personality when it comes to keeping iPhone owners happy
After shelling out top dollar, the customers felt betrayed and angry. The shine on the company's new flagship product was tarnished. The remedy wasn't cheap... and the CEO stepped up and spoke to those irate early adopters. "We want to do the right thing for our valued customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of us," he said, responding quickly after the first complaints came in. Within a few weeks, the PR hiccup was calmed, and the new product went on to glory and success. Looking back on that experience is illuminating. With the rapid response, the willingness to pay for customer happiness, and the frank handling of the situation, it's a bit surprising to be in the midst of the current stressfest and see how things have deteriorated. Where's the corporate responsibility and the can-do attitude of 2007 when we need it? Let's take a look at how the two scenarios diverge, and why Apple didn't -- or couldn't -- step up to the plate now like it did then.
Sony cuts e-reader prices: Pocket Edition now $149
Not much of a surprise here, but it looks like you can officially include Sony in the e-book reader price wars. It's now dropped the prices on its three current models: the Pocket Edition is down from $169 to $149, the Touch Edition drops from $199 to $169, and the 3G-equipped Daily Edition is now $299 (down a full $50 from $349). As The Digital Reader blog notes, however, that still leaves Sony a bit out of step with the competition -- the Pocket Edition lacks the WiFi of the similarly-priced Nook, for instance, and the Daily Edition remains a tough sell even at $299.
Sony focused on Move and 3D, not PS3 price drop
Sony Worldwide Studio President Shuhei Yoshida isn't looking to cut the price of the $299 PS3 this fiscal year. Speaking with IGN, the executive reiterated that the console became profitable this year. "We aren't making huge money from hardware, but we aren't bleeding like we used to," he added. The company is currently focused on getting PS3s on retail shelves, having run into supply issues throughout most of this year. Yoshida noted that Sony is currently "trying to catch up [its] production." With its attention on marketing 3D gaming (and TVs) and the impending Move launch, Yoshida said that Sony is considering additional hardware bundles to appeal to consumers instead of slashing the price of the base PS3 model.
DSi price drop set for June 18 in UK
Nintendo announced price drops for the DSi, DSi XL and DS Lite in Japan today. Nintendo UK has confirmed to MCV that a similar price drop will occur in that territory, starting June 18 -- but only for the DSi. Because Nintendo UK chooses not to dictate the retail price of any of its consoles, Nintendo is simply cutting the trade price for the DSi in the UK (meaning retailers will purchase the system for less). It's up to the individual retailer to pass the savings on to the consumer (or not) -- though most retailers will want to cut prices fairly consistently with the market standard to remain competitive. MCV estimates that the retail price of the DSi would drop from the current £150 ($220) standard to around the £120-£130 ($175-190) mark. Though we'd expect a similar announcement from Nintendo of America, the company told Joystiq that "We have nothing to announce on this topic at this time." Maybe it's saving it for E3?
Nintendo cuts DSi and DSi XL prices in Japan, announces new DSi XL colors
[Nintendo] With the 3DS right around the corner, buying a DSi or DSi XL seems a bit foolish. Now, in Japan, it'll at least be a more cost-effective foolish decision, as Nintendo of Japan has announced price drops on both iterations of the DSi. The regular-size DSi drops in price on June 19 from ¥18,900 ($205.55) to ¥15,000 ($163.13), while the DSi XL drops from ¥20,000 ($217.51) to ¥18,000 ($195.76). The DS Lite is now "open price," meaning retailers can price it at their discretion. In addition to the price drop, there will be three new colors of DSi XL available in Japan on June 19: blue, yellow, and green. These are a lot more fun than the previous luxury car colors for the giant handheld. [Via Siliconera]
Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)
Good news for Nippon-based handheld lovers: from June 19, Nintendo will be selling the DSi at a new reduced price of ¥15,000 ($165), accompanied by a more affordable DSi LL, which lands at ¥18,000 ($198). That will make the jumbo portable console cheaper than the regular-sized one costs today, while the whole effort seems clearly aimed at maintaining the market for Nintendo's classical wares after it blows all our minds with its 3DS debut at E3 in a couple of weeks. We look forward to it, we just wish this price cut would go global -- Europeans need love too, you know. Update: We've also just learnt Nintendo is bringing out a trifecta of new color options for the Japanese LL: blue, yellow and green jumbo DSis will be available on June 19, right alongside the price trim. Come past the break to see the other two hues.
Obscure: The Aftermath is half-price until June 15
If you could use a bit more cheesy B-movie horror on your PSP, Playlogic's Obscure: The Aftermath may be right up your alley. Sure, the game's reviews could be described as tepid at best -- however, from today's PSN update until June 15, the title will have its price reduced from $30 to $15. If you haven't already had your fill of budget-priced, comedically lo-fi survival horror games, you might want to pick up Aftermath within the next two weeks.
Walmart officially cuts iPhone 3GS to $97, potentially clearing out inventory for the iPhone 4?
Well, this is intriguing: Walmart just officially announced that it'll be selling the 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97 starting Tuesday, a full $100 off the regular price. Given the high probability that Steve Jobs will introduce the thoroughly-leaked next-gen iPhone when he gives the WWDC 2010 keynote on June 7th, the price cut seems like either an attempt to clear out remaining inventory or a way to slide the 3GS down the line to replace the $99 8GB iPhone 3G -- a move which would corroborate some whispers we've heard today that the 3G is no longer being shipped to stores. Either way, the 3GS just got a lot cheaper, which is never a bad thing, but we'd still say potential iPhone owners should wait a couple weeks and see what's coming next. [Thanks, Ryan]
Xbox 360 receives 'limited promotional' price cut in Spain
Effective today, May 3, the Xbox 360 received a price reduction in Spain. The Arcade model was cut by €30 to €169 ($223), while the Elite experienced a €20 drop to €199 ($262). No other European countries seem to be experiencing a similar price drop. Following up with Microsoft in the States, the company's official comment to Joystiq was that "the limited promotional price of Xbox 360 Arcade in Spain does not reflect an official price drop." The company's statement continues, "We work closely with retailers to determine the best approach for our products on a region-by-region basis." [Thanks, Antonio R.; Via VG247, ElOtroLado]
Nintendo Australia drops Wii price
Nintendo of Australia is dropping prices left and right! That is, if you imagine a DSi on the left and a Wii on the right. The company announced a substantial price drop for the Wii console today, from its original AU $399.95 (US $369) down to AU $299.95 (US $277). The new price is still painfully expensive compared to other regions, but it's better. And EBGames is sweetening the deal by throwing in The Bigs 2 and Overlord: Dark Legend. The price drop is taking place concurrently with the release of Monster Hunter Tri, making Capcom's ARPG essentially the unofficial "launch" game for the new, cheaper Wii. If you buy that and the black Wii, it's sort of like you bought a bundle! [Thanks, Alejandro]
DSi now cheaper in Australia
With the DSi XL arriving April 15, Nintendo's Australian branch has announced a price drop for the original DSi; a move none of the other regional branches have made. It's still pretty expensive, though: the system will now sell for $249.95 (US $233.35) instead of $299.95 (US $280). The DSi XL will now occupy that $299.95 slot, which explains why Nintendo chose to drop the price of the smaller model. Still, if you're in Australia and you want to be even remotely pleased with these prices, try not to look into how much this stuff costs anywhere else.
Xbox 360 Arcade for $159 at Amazon [update]
Amazon has dropped the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade console to $159, as noticed by CheapCollegeGamer. The retailer doesn't mention an end-date for the promotion, but the listing notes that the price isn't shown without clicking to add it to the cart "because [Amazon's] price on this item is lower than the manufacturer's suggested retail price." It's rare for consoles to go on sale without it being an official price drop. We've followed up with Amazon and Microsoft to verify that the promotion is isolated to just Amazon and not indicative of a general price cut. Update: It's back to $199. Curiouser and curiouser. [Via CheapCollegeGamer]
DJ Hero price scratched down to $50 at Toys 'R Us
If you skipped out on last year's crossfading, record-scratching simulator DJ Hero due to its once-outlandish price, you're running out of excuses to not pick it up. Toys 'R Us recently knocked the price of the 360, Wii and PS3 (but puzzlingly, not the PS2) versions of the game down to a scant $49.99 -- a significant decrease from its launch price of $120. Still wondering whether the game's worth your hard-earned Grantpaper? That's a decision you have to make on your own -- though, wait! Dizzee Rascal is here to help! Oh, and so's Chuck Brown! And look, it's Daft Punk! How nice of them to aid you with your soul-searching.
64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20
Let's just be nice and feign surprise, okay? Good. With that out of the way, Microsoft has announced a 64GB version of Zune HD, due out April 12th via the Zune online store (and later via other retailers) with a handful of color options and a strapping $349.99 price tag. Not to be outdone, the 16GB and 32GB will each receive a $20 cut on the MSRP, to $200 and $270, respectively -- whatever Amazon and Newegg slash beyond that is up to them. It seems "as soon as possible" is the motto for when the price drop is taking place, so if your favorite online / brick-and-mortar retailer isn't yet honoring the extra Andrew Jackson in your pocket, have patience. So now we're left with a v4.5 firmware release date as the remaining piece in this puzzle, but Microsoft promises to solve that riddle wrapped in an enigma "in the coming days." Right. Press release after the break.
120GB Xbox 360 hard drive drops to $99.99
With the new 250GB 360 hard drive moving into the price territory once occupied by the 120GB drive, it should come as no surprise that the old model is getting a price cut. In fact, we're a little surprised it's not getting more of one. Microsoft just told us that the price on the 120GB HDD has been cut to $99.99, effective immediately. Microsoft tells us the drive is available at that price "while supplies last," so it sounds like they may not be on the market all that much longer. In case you're bad at math, that's $0.83 per gigglebyte on the old model and $0.52 for the new. In case you're bad at Newegg searches, those are both still bad prices.
Analyst: Time for another Wii price drop
Somebody had to be the first to start it up again. Last year, analysts clamored for months about the need for a Wii price drop, a din Nintendo quelled by actually dropping the price of the Wii to $200. On Industry Gamers, Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey has kicked off the next round of calling for a discount, declaring that Nintendo needs to cut the price of the console to $150 to stop the declining sales and fill out as much of its install base as it can before its competitors' motion controls hit the market. "We believe they also need to generate strong hardware sales momentum into their competitors release," Hickey said, "or face the draconian consumer perception of the Wii having a dramatically reduced entertainment value proposition over a faded technology innovation; Rock Band anyone?" In other words, with compelling motion control devices on the way from Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo needs to do something drastic to prevent the Wii from slipping from #1 to #1 by a smaller margin.
Trine chops price on European PSN
Co-op platformer Trine has received a magical 25 percent price chop on the European PlayStation Network, making it €15. There's currently no word of a stateside drop, but we're aiming for some answers. Considering the second delay (following a three month holdup) between Trine's European and US release was about a month, maybe it's the theme that's being used for the discount? Then again, €15 converted to USD is $20, so this "price drop" is actually bringing price parity with Trine's current cost in the States. %Gallery-50263%
Rumor: PSP Go relaunch in the works
We weren't absolutely smitten with the PSP Go when it launched last October, but according to Gamervision, Sony may be hoping for a second chance at a first impression. Citing unnamed sources, Gamervision suggests that a relaunch of the handheld is "imminent" and speculates that it will include a price drop. A price drop is definitely the place to start over (if the rumor is accurate), and some Kevin Butler spots would certainly help too. As for a new campaign slogan? We say stick with what's worked for the PS3: "It Only Does Everything*." *Y'know, the PSP-3000.
Pachter: More console price cuts coming by summer
In his latest advisory note to investors, Wedbush Morgan prognosticator and analyst Michael Pachter goes on record with his belief that we'll see "another price cut for both systems some time this year (around summer)," noting in the email that "because its manufacturing costs are lower, Microsoft has the ability to lower price as early as March or April." In lieu of a price cut on Microsoft's part so soon, Pachter feels that the company may instead introduce "a more feature-packed Xbox 360 in early 2010 (likely with a 250GB hard drive) at the same $299 price point." The great seer believes that Microsoft will only drop the price on its console before summer "if it begins to lose significant market share to Sony," adding that he anticipates last fall's price cut on PS3 will continue to help Sony gain ground on Microsoft. On the portable front, Pachter doesn't expect PSP Go (remember that?) to make much headway this year unless Sony prices it "more reasonably," and says that the biggest challenge facing Nintendo DS is "its own high installed base," stating that he anticipates sales of the handheld to steadily decline in 2010. Good thing Nintendo's started talking about a "DS2," huh?
Pachter predicts another Xbox 360 price cut in 2010
If you read the first installment in the latest installment of "Pachter Predixx," you already know that the analyst's new report praises the PS3 for its resilience during these troubled times. According to the report, the PS3 saw an 85-percent year-over-year sales increase in November, while the Wii and Xbox 360 suffered sales declines. This reversal in fortune leads Pachter and his Wedbush associates to a surprising conclusion: "We think that the PS3 will again outsell the Xbox 360 in November and December, prompting a price cut some time early next year." Pachter adds that while Microsoft "has the ability to lower price yet again," it probably won't do so until "it begins to lose significant market share to Sony." As with all conjecture -- even when delivered by professional conjecture conjurers -- we suggest considering Pachter's educated guess as just that: a guess.
