Source: Apple close to buying Beats for $3.2 billion

Dr. Dre: Genius, or just really savvy businessman?

Not only has the guy produced records for some of the biggest names in rap, he's also got his own stack of platinum solo records and grammy awards. Dre pioneered the 90's rap scene. On top of that, he's the founder and CEO of Beats Electronics, which is about to be bought for a shit load of money.

He donated $70m to USC last year.

Straight outta Compton, indeed.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-apple-offer-20140508,0,2523756.story

Man. That guy has done as well for himself as anyone could have ever imagined.

Plus, Chronic 2001 is arguably the greatest rap album of all time.

Ass Dan wrote:Man.  That guy has done as well for himself as anyone could have ever imagined.  

Plus, Chronic 2001 is arguably the greatest rap album of all time.

'

Sorry, License to Ill.

FTW

LoneWolfSparty wrote:
'

Sorry, License to Ill.

FTW

Strike 2.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:
'

Sorry, License to Ill.

FTW

License to Ill isn't even the best Beastie Boys album.

Phil McCrackin wrote:

License to Ill isn't even the best Beastie Boys album.

  Opinion.......................

They seem fitting for each other... Outrageously overpriced... A bunch of style, not much substance... and a simple yet rabid drone like following.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:They seem fitting for each other... Outrageously overpriced... A bunch of style, not much substance... and a simple yet rabid drone like following.

Dude, that's no way to talk about black people.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:They seem fitting for each other... Outrageously overpriced... A bunch of style, not much substance... and a simple yet rabid drone like following.

I think it's more interesting that Apple is simply buying their way into new markets, rather than coming up with something on their own.

Apple has been struggling to compete with streaming music, and with the plethora of options out there for this type of service, I'm guessing sales of music through iTunes are not looking promising for the future. Beats has a new streaming service they just launched.

This is partially about hardware, but also about the future of streaming music for Apple.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:

  Opinion.......................

It's a fact that Check your Head and Paul's Boutique are far superior to License to Ill.

Purchase finalized at $3billion. Deal includes $2.6B cash up front and $400million in stock options. Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine will join Apple in some capacity, as well.

Crazy.

Phil McCrackin wrote:Dr. Dre: Genius, or just really savvy businessman?

Not only has the guy produced records for some of the biggest names in rap, he's also got his own stack of platinum solo records and grammy awards. Dre pioneered the 90's rap scene. On top of that, he's the founder and CEO of Beats Electronics, which is about to be bought for a shit load of money.  

He donated $70m to USC last year.

Straight outta Compton, indeed.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-apple-offer-20140508,0,2523756.story

Awesome. USC could really use the money.....

Impressive display of corporate might by Apple. iPhone + Beats= a punch in the face to Android.

ErnieMcCracken wrote:Impressive display of corporate might by Apple. iPhone + Beats= a punch in the face to Android.

  

It is a good marriage of heavily marketed, over priced, technically inferior hardware.

The Apple fan boys will think they're gangsta now.

Those Beats headphones may be nothing special but how do they compare with what traditionally comes with a phone? Pretty big selling point to the audio and image inclined.

Hipster, meet gangster.

I can definitely see Dr. Dre doing some serious business and selling some phones. The man is joining as an executive right? iphone be pimping.

ErnieMcCracken wrote:Those Beats headphones may be nothing special but how do they compare with what traditionally comes with a phone? Pretty big selling point to the audio and image inclined.

Will Apple be able to sell the next iPhone with a Beats headset at the same price point, though? I kind of doubt it.

dubie7006 wrote:

Will Apple be able to sell the next iPhone with a Beats headset at the same price point, though? I kind of doubt it.

I assume they would. Maybe not though. What do those things cost to build?

ErnieMcCracken wrote:

I assume they would. Maybe not though. What do those things cost to build?

No idea, but I'm assuming the drivers are more expensive. When you consider that Beats in-ears go for $100 minimum, and the headphones that Apple currently uses go for $30, I would assume there is some sort of difference in their makeup that would lead to a price hike.

ErnieMcCracken wrote:Impressive display of corporate might by Apple. iPhone + Beats= a punch in the face to Android.

Haha. Typical Apple propaganda by Ernie.

It's a great move, but the Beats speakers on the HTC One aren't that great. The M7 model I believe. The GS4/5 speakers were better.

They make FANTASTIC headphones, but this purchase feels like a lot of hype to buy a big brand.

THE NEW APPLE IPHONE 7 WITH BEATS BY DRE!!!

Sounds more gimmicky now than ever.

Death Roe wrote:

Haha. Typical Apple propaganda by Ernie.

It's a great move, but the Beats speakers on the HTC One aren't that great. The M7 model I believe. The GS4/5 speakers were better.

They make FANTASTIC headphones, but this purchase feels like a lot of hype to buy a big brand.

THE NEW APPLE IPHONE 7 WITH BEATS BY DRE!!!

Sounds more gimmicky now than ever.

I think it's a little of both hype and sound (sorry for the pun) business.  You make a great point about the hype, but let's be honest, Apple's speakers suck.  If they can put that technology in their phone and both make it better and more notable, then why not?   Again, I just question if they can do so cost-effectively.

Death Roe wrote:

Haha. Typical Apple propaganda by Ernie.

It's a great move, but the Beats speakers on the HTC One aren't that great. The M7 model I believe. The GS4/5 speakers were better.

They make FANTASTIC headphones, but this purchase feels like a lot of hype to buy a big brand.

THE NEW APPLE IPHONE 7 WITH BEATS BY DRE!!!

Sounds more gimmicky now than ever.

If competing phones are converging and essentially offering a similar experience then areas of differentiation are important. Boom- Apple offers a superior music experience and gets some edge back.

I agree with you. But you know it will not be cost-effective. And certain people will be on here telling us "It's SO worth spending $200 on in-ear buds. They have Apple-branding AND Beats by Dre-branding!"

ErnieMcCracken wrote:

If competing phones are converging and essentially offering a similar experience then areas of differentiation are important. Boom- Apple offers a superior music experience and gets some edge back.

I really don't take music speakers into account when I'm looking for my next smartphone. My GS5 actually has nice speakers, but I use Bluetooth speakers/my car for music for the most part. I understand some people do, but the iPhone will still be behind technology-wise in some aspects. Until then, I'm passing 100% on Apple.

Death Roe wrote:I agree with you. But you know it will not be cost-effective. And certain people will be on here telling us "It's SO worth spending $200 on in-ear buds. They have Apple-branding AND Beats by Dre-branding!"

I tend to agree with you. And the cost, for me, will be yet another reason to not make the switch to iPhone. Cost isn't the only one, but it is one. Jacking the price up just for headphones, when I have a perfectly good, acoustically pleasing pair of Klipschs, would be a reason to stay away.

I couldn't believe they switched out the chargers on people when they released the iPhone 5. Blew my mind.

Death Roe wrote:I couldn't believe they switched out the chargers on people when they released the iPhone 5. Blew my mind.

I honestly think part of that was to create an air of exclusivity for new converts. "oh, you have an old iPhone? well you don't have this thunderbolt charger!"

ErnieMcCracken wrote:Those Beats headphones may be nothing special but how do they compare with what traditionally comes with a phone? Pretty big selling point to the audio and image inclined.

They are paying 3.2 billion for the brand.


Consumers are just so lazy/stupid that the name is actually worth that much.

BtothejizA wrote:


Consumers are just so lazy/stupid that the name is actually worth that much.

Bingo.

Death Roe wrote:

I really don't take music speakers into account when I'm looking for my next smartphone. My GS5 actually has nice speakers, but I use Bluetooth speakers/my car for music for the most part. I understand some people do, but the iPhone will still be behind technology-wise in some aspects. Until then, I'm passing 100% on Apple.

I generally don't care either. However Apple is about to enter the wearable market in a big way. Beats headphones is definitely a wearable also. That is where the market is heading. The fact ear buds have not really been marketed as a differentiator is going to change. Terrific selling point also. Get $100 Beats ear bud with every phone. Beats has terrific brand value. People can sit back and say Beats sucks compared to other high end buds but Beats eats their lunch. They saw the market and exploited it while their competition watched. Beats has some very smart people running it. If I was Apple I want those people.

BtothejizA wrote:


They are paying 3.2 billion for the brand.


Consumers are just so lazy/stupid that the name is actually worth that much.

So what- you think valuable brands just happen? Those businesses that got their lunch eaten by Beats are the lazy and stupid.

So are the people paying for overpriced products.

Refer to BtotheJizA's last post. People are stupid and lazy. There are plenty of brands with in-ears just as good as Beats. But people are too stupid to do their homework. No doubt this is a good move for Apple. As long as they can keep cost in check.

Death Roe wrote:So are the people paying for overpriced products.

How many products you pay for are overpriced? I bet in your buying habits there is a ton of shit.

ErnieMcCracken wrote:

How many products you pay for are overpriced? I bet in your buying habits there is a ton of shit.

I don't need to tell you my spending habits. As far as I'm concerned, that's none of your business. You're just pissed because you're thinking I generalized all Apple owners/users as stupid.   

About the only "over-priced" product I occasionally buy is Under Armour. But that product actually, believe it or not, is worth the price for what I purchase.

Death Roe wrote:

I don't need to tell you my spending habits. As far as I'm concerned, that's none of your business. You're just pissed because you're thinking I generalized all Apple owners/users as stupid.   

About the only "over-priced" product I occasionally buy is Under Armour. But that product actually, believe it or not, is worth the price for what I purchase.

That's fine- I assume you buy a ton of brand name crap. You are a lemming.

ErnieMcCracken wrote:

That's fine- I assume you buy a ton of brand name crap. You are a lemming.

Aren't we all, to differing degrees?

dubie7006 wrote:

Aren't we all, to differing degrees?

Pretty much

ErnieMcCracken wrote:

Pretty much

Then it's not worth arguing over, IMO.