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The number of products a company can produce in such a short period of time is truly astonishing. In this case, even a bit ridiculous. If you are an Apple consumer, you probably are no stranger to their never-ending production of seemingly "minor" changes. Take the iPhone for example. In early January of 2007, Steve Jobs had announced the initiation of a new revolutionary phone. He claimed to have "reinvented" the cell phone as we knew it. They launched the new iPhone in the United States on June 29, 2007. This distinct, multi-app, touchscreen phone was the first to run off its own iOS operating system. We soon found out this new invention was a prelude to an unexpected technology revolution. Having made millions of dollars in revenue, Apple had set the bar extremely high for all other competitors. Since the unveiling five years ago, they have manufactured six generations of the iPhone with 16 different versions of capacity space. 

What calls for such extreme overproduction? 

A successful company like Apple can afford to spend billions to overproduce these unnecessary creations, but why? As most of us know, Apple has a widely established name and has developed credibility with their consumers. Companies like this bank off of - and can take advantage of - consumers who long to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest. Research and history tend to show that over 90% of iPhone users will purchase newer iPhone versions. In so doing, is Apply diminishing their previously established credibility? 

It is amazing how quick society falls for the most recent trends, so much so that they will disregard their (well-working) devices for any new bell or whistle they can get. Speculation suggested that people would succumb to Apple's perpetual changing fads. As evidence in the case of the new iPhone, refinements are not so much of an upgrade, in fact they are very minimal. Yet over 5 million models of the iPhone5 were sold on the first weekend alone. The length of screen, thickness, and weight of the phone is what Apple primarily says is different, but the difference in screen size is barely one-fifth.

However, after the anticipated release, reviews towards this costly device were not exactly up to par. Though they iPhone5 had some internal tweaks, customers still left disappointed comments. Collectively, most had the same concern: "How can someone tell if I got a new phone if it looks the same?" Samsung even aired several commercials mocking Apple for the insignificant changes they were trying to "pimp." 

The tremendous amount of influence advertisements and media has on us can be completely overlooked. Like this situation, people risk hundreds of dollars to a fulfill self-serving bias and can sometimes leave you with unsatisfied outcomes. Perhaps questionable intent, on Apple's side, can fall into play when company's like this feed of "people's everlasting desire" to keep up with technological trends. Obviously, Apply is a for-proft company; however, that profit is born from the consumer who feels satisfied with the purchase he/she has made. If that satisfaction diminishes, so likely, will Apple's profits.

~ Karrah Barber, Katherine Barnes, Kyle DeFazio, Cara DiPiazza, Sarah Refait

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