Notebook

iClassic 是個模仿 iPod Classic 介面的軟體，JB 後才能在 Cydia Store 購買，售您 USD 2。雖然他的功能現在只有很基本的操作、也只能聽音樂；不能看歌詞、不能像真正的 iPod Classic 一樣在 Now Playing 的地方評分、切換播放模式之類的 (更不要說 iPod Classic OS 到後期功能其實塞得有點複雜XDD)，但是用來復古一下、自爽一下是很 OK 了。

功能有缺爽度會稍微下降，這部份就不知道是作者懶了不想做、還是受到 SDK 的限制 :P

iClassic 宣稱，因為版權關係沒辦法直接附 iPod 的實機照片在裡面做模擬，所以裝好第一次打開的時候會是一個很山寨的 iPod Classic。Cydia 上可以裝很多主題，但是都倚賴 WinterBoard 才能裝，我不知道為什麼。WinterBoard 在 iOS 4 以上會把主畫面的字弄得很醜，所以我完全不想裝。還好你可以手動把佈景主題裝進去，這邊有教學。

這張圖是我抓了 iPod Classic 的產品照片，然後改了一張 @2x 的圖片餵進去。不然本來的圖片放在 Retina Display 下面看都會糊糊的= =

Just more case of “Apple Robbery.” 看來也只能不爽不要買了？

Dear Apple,

I’m a customer in Taiwan, and the just-released iPod family look pretty great - except the price. Here in Taiwan, an iPod Touch is sold starting from NT$ 8,290 (with tax included), which almost equal to $253.87. That is over 27% higher than the price (without tax) in the US! The same problem also happens to other models of iPod Touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle and even iPod Classic.

It is reported that Steve Jobs, Apple CEO said that Apple is trying to make iPods “more affordable for everyone,” and that’s why an iPod Touch 8GB model is lowered to the price of $199. But the policy seems not exists in Taiwan, especially the average income here is quite lower than the US.

I’ll still love your products, but the unreasonable high price may left customers just window-shopping rather than really purchase.

Wishes,

Zhusee Zhang

I’m not sure what the hell is Apple Asia doing… Let’s see the comparison of the prices of the brand new and just announced iPod Touch in the US and in Taiwan above.

After calculating the currency, the prices in Taiwan (with tax) is incredibly higher than those in the US (without tax!) The price is converted from NT$ into USD and marked in red. Generally, the price in Taiwan is somehow a 27% markup, and I just have no idea what tax should be responsible for this.

And now we’re reaching the funnies part. According to Wikipedia, the nominal GDP per Capita in the US is $46,859, while $17,040 in Taiwan. That’s almost 3x higher income, but Apple Asia (Taiwan Branch) is charging customers in Taiwan with a 27% higher price.

I personally take it as a Twenty-senven-percent discrimination. And that is, definitely, a “Next level Discrimination.”