Op-Ed: Apple Losing Market Share With iPhone 5 and iPad Mini Launch

Despite the tension and amazement generated during the latest two Apple launches, consumers are quick to realize and lose interest in what Apple has to offer.

Shortly after Apple's launch of the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III series sales spiked. The Korean conglomerate's flagship Galaxy S III had four of its five best-selling weeks in the U.S. after the iPhone 5 was unveiled, Samsung told CNET. According to CNET Reporter Roger Cheng: "The spike after the iPhone 5 launch suggests that consumers hung around to see what Apple had to show off, weren't impressed, and went with a Galaxy S III instead. " While Apple is struggling to keep its U.S Marketshare, Samsung, in the meantime, introduced their Galaxy Note 2, a generation ahead of its Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 10.1. On the other hand, Amazon's Kindle Fire sales also took a leap upon the release of the iPad Mini. As Apple announced the iPad Mini will be priced at $300, Kindle Fire's sales soared through the roof bringing Amazon's stock up $15.32 or an approximate 6.87%. It appears Amazon's original tactic is proving worthwhile. Back last year when the Kindle Fire was first released, Amazon's intentions were quite clear. Amazon was aiming at providing a low cost tablet solution and rake revenues through the sale of eBooks and other content via their Amazon Prime service. With Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7's tactic of introducing low cost tablet solutions, this really puts Apple at a tough decision. Will Apple follow suit and offer some major price cuts? or will they introduce the next big thing? Based on the current releases, it appears Apple has run out of ideas for what to produce next with each generation of iPhones and iPads bug prone and expensive.