Apple is curently preparing for the release of their new product, the iPad which is set to release on April 3. It is now known that Apple has upped their demands for secrecy of this product compared to products in the past. Apple has always been very secretive with newly released products as they do not want consumers and competing companies to know the software and hardware used in their products till after it is released. The iPad is potentially a billion dollar product in Apple’s mind and they are taking its release very seriously. Any software developer who wants to try the iPad before the release must prove to Apple that they have signed off on a 10 page pact with Apple. Apple will also come in when they deliver the device and tether it down to a fixed object so that the iPad cannot be moved, misplaced, or stolen.
Apple is extremely secretive with their products and do not want any information leaked to competitors or the public. I agree with the senior teams at Apple for keeping their products on such a tight leash. They are constantly coming out with the newest and best products for the average consumer and for businesses and if a highly priced project such as the iPad was to fall into the hands of a competitor and they are able to come out with the same technology before or near the release of the iPad then it would prove detrimental to the sales of the iPad. The secrecy that Apple uses ensures that they will have a very nice grace period in technological advancements over their competitors as their competitors will have to wait for the product to be released and then remake a similar technology which could take years. As that time passes the product that Apple released, such as the iPad, will be making Apple lots of money in sales as they are the only company producing it.
At the same time, I think Apple is hurting their own products in a minor capacity by not allowing all software producers to have an iPad in order to develop their software for the product. The producers of applications for Apple products are at a disadvantage if they cannot use the iPad to test their products. All pieces of personal technology have different features and different feels, and a product with a touch screen brings even more difficult dynamics to attempt to copy in order to create their technology. These software producers will not be able to make their products compatible with the touch screen until they are able to purchase the iPad and use it themselves so that they can see how it works with their application. If Apple was a little bit more lenient with releasing their product to the manufacturers of their software applications then I think they would be giving themselves an even stronger advantage because they would be able to develop many of the applications before the release of their product and make their product an even stronger buy for the consumer.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2010/tc20100318_833402.htm
I agree with you, Drew. My older brother actually just bought my dad an iPad. I'm not really sure what it is, but he seems to like it. I think Apple is making a smart decision by keeping their products in secrecy so other competitors aren't able to steal valuable information and technology. It seems to be working because Apple is always ahead of the game in technology and coming out with new sophisticated products. As for the manufacturers that produce compatible accessories, I think Apple should create agreements with them so the products can be available at the same time as the new products.
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