by now, you will
undoubtedly
be aware of the recent
developments in Apple world.
Such is the marketing clout of
the Cupertino-based tech giant
that even Maasai nomads, deep in the Kenyan
scrub lands, have probably spent the past six weeks
debating the merits of the latest iPhone releases.
Alongside conversations about the fingerprint reader
and the vastly improved camera on the premium 5S
model they, like everyone else, will have noted that after
many years of peddling black or white handsets, Apple
appears to have suddenly embraced the rainbow,
issuing a choice of five funky hues in the slightly more
affordable 5C version.
Some have dismissed this move as a gimmick – and
arch-rival Nokia eagerly pointed out that it merely
imitates its own range of brightly coloured
Lumia Windows phones – conveniently
ignoring Apple’s six shades of iPod.
However, there is clearly a broader
trend here. From cameras right through
to cars, gadget-makers are keen to offer
“C’s like a rainbow”
The new iPhone comes in a range of colours, but, asks
Alex Pell,
is it just camouflage?
V I E W P O I N T S
T E C H
T A L K
vital
statistics
sa
apple iphone
5
c
£469
apple.com
us ever greater choices in terms of colour or
finish. Yet, while folks might be prepared to
indulge in a cheeky passion for purple in an
iPod, they may be more circumspect with a
smartphone, and even more so with a family
runabout. But this kind of thinking misses
the real point: when it comes to the iPhone’s sudden
design reboot, there’s only one colour that’s important –
and that’s the green sheen of hard cash.
The genius of this unveil was that it distracted
attention from people noticing that the 5C is
fundamentally a redressed version of its own predecessor
– and isn’t really much cheaper than the new 5S handset,
which does bring some serious innovation to the party.
It’s a slightly moot point. Both handsets will sell like
hotcakes, even though Android fans will rightly argue
there is better value to be had in the company of
the droid. People will pay a premium for Apple
products because they are polished gems
with an ecosystem of apps and accessories
that’s unbeatable. The new colours add to
the appeal, though I for one am already
looking forward to iPhone 6 next year.
People
will pay a premium
because they are
polished gems with an
ecosystem of apps
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