Apple & Blockbuster? So 20th Century ...



Blockbuster Movie Rentals will clearly have to re-invent themselves soon before they become the typewriter repair shops of today – quaint reminders of a different time.

But why would Apple spend BILLIONS to buy Blockbuster, its THOUSANDS of employees and its BILLIONS in debt?

There are ZERO reasons.

Yes, Robert Cringley us right about one thing. The future evolution of the iPod will clearly be the iPod as a er ... pod.

The first step in the next releases will undoubtedly be wireless/bluetooth, et, al but before long (and of course, long before anyone else gets its right), Apple will “fix” the iPod so you can dock it in a mothership pod to buy music & movies.

Does Apple need Blockbuster to do this? No, Apple just needs about an 8’ by 5’ foot space ... do you need to buy a 10,000 square foot store to install a vending machine?

No.

Apple will probably add to their stores first and then, it will be a fight to see who gets it next. Like the intent on vending machines – which is to draw in foot traffic – and who knows, that customer might buy something else – that’s all you would need. A space or a wall will do nicely.

If Apple wants to buy anyone, they might buy, Zoom the company with the ipod vending machines.

But why would you spend billions of a store and a store name that reminds people of the days of video and not DVD’s?

Why would you spend billions on a store clearly fewer and fewer people are going into – associating it with old technology? When they have Netflix or Video-on-Demand now?

These iPod motherships would be perfect on campus, in company cafeterias, in airports, and in countries where homes are smaller or a more social societies (pretty much the rest of the world) where people tend to gather in the streets, in plazas and coffeehouses, the un-tethered iPod is perfect – people can dock in while buying a coffee, or waiting in line.

There’s still plenty of work to be done – the whole authorization issue, security issues regarding accounts, etc ... (perfect for an Apple iPod phone that adds your purchase right to your Apple mobile phone bill :-)

But you can see the possibilities are endless.

However one possibility is not just remote but pointless.

Apple needs to buy Blockbuster the day they need to buy Del Monte.

Posted: Sat - February 18, 2006 at 09:17 AM      

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