Is it just me of do things improve faster than the used to? Every years Apple releases new products in their distinctive families. Apple's newest iPhone is the the iPhone 5. Comparing it to the iPhone 4s, it has a bigger screen, it is thinner, and it is slightly faster. Why is this necessary every year? I understand it is for the companies profit, but the technology is not as innovative anymore. Meaning it is possible for them to run out of ideas if they do not slowdown.
I have noticed the same thing in video games, particularly with the Call of Duty series. Every year a new Call of Duty is released. It has become the same formula of the games being released sometime in November. Call of Duty 4 was a big departure from the first three. But then everything after Call of Duty 4 had to follow the concepts of that game instead of taking a few risks. The campaign and multiplayer of each game do very little to make that game distinct from the other ones. Now another franchise like Halo has games released every few years. Meaning the games are dramatically different and are noticeably different.
I remember when technology was improved every few years and the jump was bigger, but us the consumers can appreciate it. Going from CDs to an iPod was huge for many people including myself. But now all I see is different iPod models that are not necessary right now. I still have the very first iPod Touch model from 2007. It is 2012 and I cannot see myself getting a new iPod. I think the improvements that are made on technology need to be slowed down. Give consumers time to get something new and appreciate for at least a few years. Then an upgrade would be worth it.
I remember when the first couple Guitar Hero games came out, and I was so excited to get them. But then all of a sudden there were 5, and it didn't seem so exciting anymore. I can see your point in the upgrade of games being unnecessary. I think the exception in yearly released video games is sports games... They have always released a new game every year (MLB 12, NHL 13, etc.)
ReplyDeleteYou're seeing the effect of "Moore's Law" and it's impact on everyone's "Future Shock." Change is happening at an exponential rate, and we're just entering the knee of the upward curve. Hold on; things are going to get really wild in the next few decades.
ReplyDeleteI agree and although I agree with your reasoning above I also believe there is another element to it. It does seem true that companies, such as apple, are continually updating their products with what seems like insignificant upgrades. One can certainly argue, as you did above, that they do this for profit and that technology is not evolving because the changes that are made are so minor. I also think there is another aspect to it, however. Users like myself have never owned an iPhone. Phone companies trap their customers with year long contracts and having a newer version of apple products, in this case the iPhone, is meant to attract new consumers. The yearly upgrades seek to reach yet another group of people who have not yet converted to the iPhone team. The new upgrades, perhaps not enticing to already existing iPhone users, certainly attracts non-users. Although I agree that the constant minor updates can become a little annoying and do not seem to add up to anything major in the long run, the proof that apple continues to make millions of the sale of new iPhones proves that what they are doing works. I, for one, know that I will be purchasing the iPhone 5 this year when my phone company allows me to upgrade. There are cheaper versions that seem to function in the same capacity that I can purchase but the the attraction of purchasing the newest version of a product is what entices most of us and leads us to buy the newest version of whatever is on the market, no matter how little the changes are.
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