iPod shuffle : Sales of iPod Shuffles are finally hitting a wall in Taiwan, according to a report from DigiTimes. Competition has come in the form of cannibalizing gray-market iPod Shuffles built in Hong Kong and cheap MP3 players from non-traditional brands.
iPod Pricing is a major factor: Apple Taiwan charges about NT$3,000 (US$91) for the 1GB iPod Shuffle, but prices of gray-market models are about 10% lower and 1GB MP3 players offered by questionable brands sell for as low as NT$800. Though iPod Apple does not break down individual model sales in its quarterly reports, overall the company moved 9.8 million iPod units in its fiscal third quarter, representing $1.570 billion in revenue -- a year-over-year unit increase of 20 percent, but a sequential decrease of 7 percent in unit shipments.
Electronic Arts has released another iPod game branded with the Sims name, The Sims Pool (iTunes link). The game costs $5, and requires a fifth-generation iPod and iPod Software 1.2 or later; as with other iPod games, it will not yet work on the iPhone. Players create a customized Sim, and attempt to satisfy his or her goals in various game modes, including 8-Ball, 9-Ball and a trick-shot mode. The ipod clickwheel is used to adjust the cue and ball position, and EA is promising realistic physics and sound effects.
