Comments on: Apple basks in iPhone buzz

For months, the Apple gadget has been the talk of the town. How much of that is Apple's own doing, and how much is the fans?

[john55440]

The Media = Steve Jobs Neutered Poddles

Apple doesn't need a marketing department. Steve Jobs Neutered Poodles in the Media does the company's marketing for them.

[biggstuu]

i wonder

how hard it was for you to come up with such a riveting and
insightful comment like that all by yourself...the mind boggles.

[MacVet]

WHOSE neutered poodles?

Are we talking about the same media that failed to call Gates on 1) saying Vista was first with parental control; or that 2) OS X was being hacked "every day;" or that 3) Vista was the most secure OS ever????

[dansterpower]

I'm a Fan Yes, but it is about the Product

I am 20 year Apple Junkie, yes.

I use them to make my living in publishing, internet, and
marketing.

I've got my Vista, XP, and 2000 boxes, but really, it does come
down to better products that are easier to use, and more reliable
-- I spend less time working and more time playing.

[Thomas, David]

Re: I second that

I am a programmer, and I started out on hardware like
the IBM 360/370, DataPoints, IBM 36/38/400, TRS-80, HP 9000,
Apple II, AT&T PCs (plus a lot more I no longer remember), and
then the first Mac was introduced.

Like most programmers,
my B&B has been mainframes and Windows (still is) based PCs.
However, at the end of the day, I enjoy getting down to
using my Apple computer(s) for myself.

In case
anyone is wonder, my total cost of ownership (TCO) for my Macs
far less than my TCO for Windows based PCs. From hardware
upgrades, software upgrades, protection, development
suites, manuals, SDK costs, ... it isn't cheap to stay on edge.
Since Tiger, and the OSX developer library, I have been eager to
keep my time with learning as much about OSX development as
possible. Who knows, with any luck, I'll have that system under
my belt soon. It is one hell of a development
environment. I just wish they had opened up the iPhone ...
maybe they'll announce a new product soon, along with
documentation on how their Core Animation provides developers
with the tools to create multi-touch applications.

[cook54po]

iPhone

iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log

http://www.iphone-converter.org/convert-iphone/

[Lindy01]

Umm

So do many other phones.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Look Ma- No hands!

I touch one button, then say, "Call Bob" or if I don't have Bob's information in my phone entered, I can say, "Call 123 456 7890".

Can't get any easier than that.

[ServedUp]

Its not always Apple's marketing thats sells the product.

People who say its the marketing and glitz that sells Apple's
products couldn't be more wrong. Its actually quite simple.
It takes hardwork and a lot of planning! Period. I find it amusing
how all these articles try to dissect why Apple is doing so well.
The marketing has very little to do with it. Its probably last on
their list. I would think Apple would believe that once they've
finish making a great product the marketing becomes the fun &
easy part. You only need to have worked in a marketing dept.
to know this.

The hardwork actually requires a great idea, a hardworking
talented R&D department and talented hardworking engineers.
People keep skipping Apple's R&D. I don't know why?
I believe marketing is essential but having a great product to
market, makes it even easier.

If Apple didn't feel the iPhone was such a great product. I don't
think they would be putting all this effort going into the launch.
You only need to look at the Mac, Apple TV and Mac OS X as to
where Apple is placing there importance.

Funny though, that the article mentions Microsoft's Windows 95
campaign without getting into too much detail on why it was
successful. It wasn't Microsoft's R&D that made Windows 95 a
hit. Apple was Microsoft's R&D department then, and still
remains today with VISTA and ZUNE being me too products
milking OS X and the iPOD. The only innovation Microsoft did
with Windows was it created the Start button, had a catchy song
in "Start me Up" for their campaign and desperate Japanese PC
vendors begging to put their not so perfect GUI on their
hardware. And the rest they say is history..

Its ashame that their the industry leader, with such mediocrity
they spew.

[lenrooney]

Internet

"Funny though, that the article mentions Microsoft's Windows 95
campaign without getting into too much detail on why it was
successful. It wasn't Microsoft's R&D that made Windows 95 a
hit."

Good point, but also remember that the true wave that Microsoft
was riding with Windows 95 was internet. People wanted the
internet and Windows became known as the most popular way to
get there, even though that platform was the last and buggiest
method of getting there.

[MikeeeC]

Not Just Marketing

You are correct, it is not the marketing that really sells Apple products ? rather, it is the same mass ignorance that made the pet rock and chia pets such resounding successes ? for those of you who do not remember, the pet rock did not exactly have a record-setting marketing budget. Apple produces slick products that look really cool ? so much so that they find a ready market willing to pay 50%-100% more than competing, more capable products. It comes down to the age-old conflict of style vs. substance ? Apple has style, even though they keep having to admit that they are lacking in substance (i.e. telling people for years that the Mac is superior, and then improving it by going to mainstream hardware and a free OS). You will always have people who unabashedly choose style over substance, and to them I say, go for it, and I hope you are happy with your choice. There is another, much larger, group, however, that makes the same choice, but because they realize how ludicrous their choice is, they vehemently attack anyone who makes any other choice, presenting excuses and dubious claims (and often outright lies) of superiority. This group combines the human tendency to choose ?pretty? over ?functional? with the ancient practices of argumentum ad personam, sophism, definism, and other logical fallacies to ?prove? the superiority of their position. While it is impossible to draw universal conclusions from the small population who posts here, it is obvious that, in this environment, the latter group makes up the great majority of the Apple fan base.

[feranick]

iPhone mania

I am fed up with all this buzz about the iPhone. OK, it is going to be the revolutionary, the next big thing. But unless this thing solves real problems (global warming, world peace), it should be regarded as a tool, regardless how good it is. People worshiping this thing and its producer, is to me beyond comprehension. Again, I am not complaining about how good the phone is (it looks great as far as I am concern), but I cannot bear any more all this talking and talking. I hope Friday will come soon, so people will get their new baby, get excited over the weekend, and finally move on with their lives, so the rest of us can finally get over the tiring effects of this iPhone-mania.

[shoffmueller]

So I can't have a cool phone..

.. until the planet cools and world peace exists?

[Vegaman_Dan]

Much ado about nothing

It's not about it being a tool. It's all about it being an Apple product by the company that can do no wrong.

If it was about the hardware, nobody would have anything to say because when you compare hardware to hardware, it's nothing special. It's all about the name and image.

I look forward to Friday and even more on Monday when we start hearing 'bait and switch' along with 'scam' being used by people brainwashed into buying the thing without realizing it will run them another $100 / month easy for the service plan that is mandatory.

Time will tell.

[purpleshorts]

Is buzz just setup for backlash?

I'm sure the first iPhone will be great, and the next version even
better. I am a Mac person. But I find all the praise ("Apple's best
marketing campaign ever, and maybe one of the best ever in
American business") a little disturbing. Is this Apple's marketing
campaign we are talking about, or is it the media-obsessed
media?

What is the intent of all this news coverage and build up?
Expectations are being raised in an unsettling way. Could it be
intended to create a backlash next week after the product is
released? It's like one of those movies (think Da Vinci Code, or
Star Wars I) that is written about obsessively, has a huge
expectations on opening day, and then crashes and burns.
Perhaps the hype will lead to disappointment, with another flood
of articles about how we were tricked, etc.

I hope it is just Apple's innovative design that has got all these
journalists writing about each other writing about Apple. Best
marketing ever in the history of America? More like "we can
make you, we can break you."

[Thomas, David]

Re: I think So

Even the article pointed out that Apple did not do a lot of
marketing. In fact, hardly any.

Boggles the mind to hear people
say Apple is all about marketing.

[Repère]

Think different?

Ooooh, THE iphone is here. Battery sucks but you cannot change it (never mind). Only connects to the slow EDGE network (who cares? It?s so pretty). 599 dollars (well, it?s a Steve Job? product, Sir). Screen seems to get damage really fast (yeah, but, but, it?s big!) Morality: a typical Apple product, nice, fancy, expensive, limited, fragile (remember the Cube, anyone?), innovative only in the gadgets, not bad but not really ?different? either. I see a rapid sale start (fanboys), and then, once the limitations and defaults come out, not much. Again: remember the Cube, anyone?

[bureauguy]

An iphone will be nice!

As always....when I read the comments on CNET, the M$ fanboys
are spewing their rabid, jealous, froth-at-the-mouth anti-Apple
crapola....and what's so humorous is they have probably never used
an Apple product (which is usually the case!). But that's OK....I will
be using one of the world's most technically advanced phones
(yes....an iphone!) while they continue spouting their jealous, anti-
Apple banter.
Com'on guys.....quit Apple bashing....we all know that deep
down...you want an iphone too!

[adasha76]

Pot meet kettle

I do enjoy watching Microsoft and Apple fanboys slugging it out - almost as much as I like watching PS3 vs Wii vs X360. The best bit is how one side always accuses the other of blatent fanboyism despite doing it themselves in the process and usually even more so...

PS 'fanboy' is a rubbish term. Is there nothing better?

[jmdunys]

I-N-T-E-G-R-A-T-I-O-N

The iPhone is a champion of integrated applications.

Other phones have some or most of the iPhone's features, but it is much harder to work them all together. I've got a super Vodafone Windows Mobile phone. I don't use 3G (very expensive), but wi-fi as much as I can. Calendar, notes, and email are very important too. On every phone I used (Nokia, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Motorola, etc.) phone/application integration is not very easy at best.

The iPhone promises a good and easy user experience.

Furthermore, I use my Windows mobile in a corporate-like environment, and on top of Office stuff, I use VNC and RDP, although Java implementation sucks. Nevertheless, in all honesty, 100% of all corporate needs (email, calendar, mobile IM, etc.) will be covered by the iPhone combined to Leopard server.

Safari is only the bait for every user, Leopard server is what is going to give the iPhone full credibility in a corporate environment.

[Lindy01]

statements like this

"Nevertheless, in all honesty, 100% of all corporate needs (email, calendar, mobile IM, etc.) will be covered by the iPhone combined to Leopard server."

Make pray you dont work in IT...and if you do I never have to work for or with you.

Do you honestly believe that your company or any medium or bigger company that uses WM today with Exchange is going to rip out Exchange and replace it with some Leopard server/email server so they can use Iphones?

If they even spend one hour of one persons time on thinking about that kind of proposal....they have wasted to much money already. If they are seriously considering it.....they should just light money on fire and save some time.

[feranick]

Interesting

Quote: "Office stuff, I use VNC and RDP, although Java implementation sucks." I would be really interested in how you can actually use any of those features with the iPhone. For example how well you can run VNC on it, or how accurate editing Office docs is on the iPhone. All of course assuming you can actually do these things within Safari in the iPhone.

[Vegaman_Dan]

AT&T's faith in the iPhone

On Saturday while flipping channels in the morning I came across CNN doing a technology interview with an AT&T representative who had been brought onto the show to talk about the iPhone. It was interesting.

They spent a couple of minutes talking about the release, but not about the features or plans. When asked about what the plans would cost, the representative kept trying to avoid the subject, but admitted there would be a slightly higher charge in all services for the iPhone over their other handsets.

The interviewer kept asking more about the iPhone but the AT&T rep instead started talking about their new video to video feature where you could stream video from one phone to another directly. 3 minutes on the iPhone, 20 minutes on this new video feature.

When the interviewer asked about this being on the iPhone, the rep said no, the iPhone didn't have anything like that, but hey, most of the other AT&T phones in their lineup have this nifty new feature!

It didn't look good for CNN to invite AT&T to come talk about their new iPhone and instead they hyped the video feature of all their other handsets and pretty much ignored their own new iPhone product and refused to talk about pricing plans.

Make what you will of that.

[bureauguy]

Apple, AT&T Announce iPhone Service Plans

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2151014,00.asp

[Vegaman_Dan]

Unlimited Data Plan isn't unlimited.

Cool! Unlimited data plans are confirmed!

"All three plans include unlimited data, "visual voicemail," 200 SMS text messages, roll-over minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, AT&T said."

Ah, so it's unlimited data. Coolness. That's exactly what people wanted to know. $59.99 for unlimited data. People will sign up for that easily.

And then they said...

"The data plans will be priced at $59.99 for 450 minutes, $79.99 for 900 minutes, and $99.99 for 1,350 minutes, AT&T said."

What- but they just said 'unlimited' was $59.99. How can the plan have unlimited data if it's then immediately restated as having time limits? That's not unlimited if you have set time on it. None of the plans are unlimited. The maximum I can get is 1,350 minutes of EDGE data transfer for $100 a month?

Um, can we say bait-and-switch? What's the deal here?

I have to say that 1,350 minutes is equal to 22.5 hours and that's a heck of a lot of time to spend on the phone. That could be useful.

[ZuneChannel]

Will Be an Initial Hit...

...but, the buzz will fade as quickly as it arose. Looks like a long-term winner, though.

Gene from ZuneChannel.com

[Penguinisto]

Wow.

No, seriously... that's an even-handed post; something I didn't expect.

Dunno if it will be a long-term winner or not ...yet. I can wait and see, though. Depends on how willing Apple is to give up some SDK love to the base OS, and not just AJAX (though I haven't seen the web API's they're offering either - those might be enough as well, but I prefer getting my hands dirty @ the OS level).

[Sea of Cortez]

Loosers = Iphone buyers

Sea of Cortez

That is all I can say about people who would buy Iphone set aside stand in a line to do so.

Because who but a brain dead looser would want to look at the web via a 3inch screen! If you want to actually surf/use the web, you need at least a 12-inch screen. And if you want a cell phone, then u don't need to pay $600 for it, set aside stand in the line.

Iphone = more Big media Silicon Valley hype

[Charleston Charge]

Re:Loosers = Iphone buyers

So does that make everyone else tighters?

[holzfaller]

Mac and Happy

Unless you use the Mac OS on a regular basis, you will never understand why Mac users are so happy with their choice of computing platform.

The reason that I am looking forward to the iPhone is that it uses the same software interfaces for each application that I currently use on my Mac. These are interfaces that I find to be elegant, easy to use and feature rich. What this means for me is that I can acquire this product and not be concerned with a steep learning curve in order to fully utilize it. And it will sync perfectly with my desktop machine in a typically user friendly fashion.

Will the product meet with the hyped expectations? This remains to be seen although my past experience with Apple has been positive (my kids pound away on my first Mac, a 9 year old G3, which has never been repaired) so I feel it is a good bet that this product will come through as well.

Will I be in line to buy an iPhone this week? No, I'm not an early adopter. Like others have mentioned, there will be bugs to work out over the next 6 months to a year, at which point I will set aside my Nokia 6085 for an iPhone.

[Thomas, David]

OMG

... ok, you can carry around your 17" - 30" monitor in your pocket
... right?!

Ignorance can be forgiven, stupidity ... not

[crue24]

Phone plans are actually pretty good...

First, wow, I can't believe how heated everyone is. I know these
things always turn into mac vs. windows, but this is nuts. So the
guys that buys a Porsche is an idiot because the Vette is faster
and cheaper. If you can find a way to pay for it and you enjoy,
have fun, whatever it is. How can you hate something so much
when you've never even touched it?

I agree the buzz is crazy, but that's the media, not Apple. It's
news articles all over the place, not ads. So why hate apple over
the media writing about every stupid story, (as if anyone cares
that one display company had a problem so apple is buying
more of its displays from someone else).

On to my actual point: the phone plans are a good deal, for
Cingular anyway. My Treo that I'm replacing is 39.99 for 450
minutes and 39.99 for unlimited data and those are the current
rates. So 450 minutes and unlimited data for $60 is $20 saving
a month. And for the earlier poster, data and voice are seperate.
I have been with AT&T since they were originally ATT&T and
then became Cingular and are now AT&T again so I'm very
familiar with there billing. Anyway, point was, they definitely
aren't sticking it to the iPhone customers, in fact it sounds like
they are cutting them a break, unless of course they are
planning to reduce their unlimited data plans to $20 for all
products. My guess though is that they are making a nice profit
on the phone and are using this incentive to help convince user's
to make the switch. It could be could for all because from what
I've seen the other carriers also charge around $40+ for
unlimited data ON A SMARTPHONE (regular phones have cheaper
unlimited data plans). Could lead other carriers to reduce their
unlimited data plans to compete.

Based on my last observation, if it happens, all you iPhone
haters should be thankful for the "piece of junk" iPhone. It just
might lower your monthly data plans on your Treo/WM/
whatever.

And for what its worth, I have a Treo 680. I like it, but it's a little
bulky. Interface is friendlier than Windows mobile and
blackberry in my opinion (I have a Pearl for work), but I can't
resist the iPhone. Must be that evil Apple marketing dept
brainwashing me!

Chill out people, it's just a phone. A cool one that I plan to get,
but nothing worth hating. I don't hate Treo's or blackberry's,
why would you hate the iPhone? It sucks because it's getting too
much media hype?

[dansterpower]

Phone is Great Too.

While in CT last week I got to use and iPhone first hand (my
brother and sister-in-law) are managing and/or photo-editors
of a major paper in Boston.

The phone is just so efficient in terms of using the features on
the fly, while driving, while moving, etc. This is the phones true
strength.

A lot of folks in this thread are beating on the phone's download
speeds on edge as being slow, or beating on it by saying, "My
smartphone (fill in your phone) has had all these features for
years. . . "

Truth is, I have had a lot of smartphones -- my current phone
is a Blackberry Pearl. None of my previous smartphones by Palm
(a Treo), my former Nokia, or my Pearl, come close to matching
the iPhone in terms of efficiency of use (that is how fast I can do
multiple real world things I'd do on a phone -- like sharing info)
or in terms of web browsing. The web broswer on the iPhone is
superior.

For the tiny percentage of users who use phones to move large
amounts of data, the iPhone on EDGE is not the answer.

For the majority of smart phone users who send an email at
lunch, find a piece of info via the web while at lunch, etc, the
iPhone cannot be beat.

In these areas, the phone is a revolution. Many here will flame
me for this, but let the truth be told.

[tombinitaly]

Wrong market?

All the cool things that the IPhone does are, well, cool. But the
voice/data plans Apple has put together with AT&T look like
high-end plans oriented towards business. They are clearly
not.cool.

I wonder if there might be a disconnect between Apple's
coolness and ATT's distinctively un-coolness.

The obvious question is: what is the demographic Apple is
targeting in its marketing? And how much resistance have they
had in marketing their device when linking up with such an un-
cool company as ATT/Cingular? (I'd love to have been a fly on
the wall for those negotiations.)

AT&T/Cingular is the largest GSM provider in the US, so the
IPhone will work (presumably) world-wide. (I assume it's at least
tri-band if not quad-band.) So when Junior runs out of money in
Europe or Khatmandu, there will be an easy (if not inexpensive)
way to I-Phone home.

The big disconnect here is that ATT's core high-end cell phone
business is, well, business. And the plans they have put together
for the I-Phone are, well, expensive.

My son is on his third I-Pod, but he's still on our AT&T/Cingular
shared family plan. I can't imagine him ponying up for the sort
of data plan that would let him watch skateboarding bulldogs on
I-Tube just so he could make calls on the same device.

I also suspect that the sort of people who subscribe to high-end
data plans aren't the sort of folks who'll be selling a house to
some schmuck in Passaic while flipping through their I-Tunes
library.

The news is full of people camping out in front of Apple stores
to get this phone. I wonder how excited they'll be when Apple's
partner takes title to their first-born child.

[Thomas, David]

Right Market

Personally, I don't know what a good competitive plan is.
However, quite a few posters, even anti-Apple posters have made it clear that the plans offered
are competitive.

All I can say is, when
an Apple product gets an endorsement from iZune ... well ... damn ... there is nothing more I could
say!

[bureauguy]

Walt Mossberg after 2 weeks use....

"We have been testing the iPhone for two weeks, in multiple
usage scenarios, in cities across the country. Our verdict is that,
despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on
balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its
software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone
industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses
with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes
adds steps to common functions.

The Apple phone combines intelligent voice calling, and a full-
blown iPod, with a beautiful new interface for music and video
playback. It offers the best Web browser we have seen on a
smart phone, and robust email software. And it synchronizes
easily and well with both Windows and Macintosh computers
using Apple's iTunes software.

It has the largest and highest-resolution screen of any smart
phone we've seen, and the most internal memory by far. Yet it is
one of the thinnest smart phones available and offers impressive
battery life, better than its key competitors claim."

[dansterpower]

Exactly -- This phone sets the new standard.

And boy is it fast to navigate through features.

[Kings X Rocks!]

Please answer this question: WHY?

The elite in society MUST evidence this by:
- spending a lot for their things
- buying the "fab" stuff
- elevating themselves in their own eyes
- literally looking down on those less fortunate

Why do Apple owners purposefully try to come off like this?

Apple makes great stuff. Their user-interface(s) are refined and practical.

Windows OS is surely a wannabee from way back...BUT...can promote equal productivity, in the right hands.

The defining asset of an OS is NOT it's succeptibility to malware/being compromised...it's a freaking PERSONAL CHOICE by the person using it.

Now, let's all hold hands and sing "Que Sera, Sera".

:-)

[System Tyrant]

Personal Choice

You know the really interesting thing about personal choice is that 90% of the time people make that choice based on bad or no information.