Apple's Keynote Speech
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Well, two nights ago, I watched yet another keynote speech by Steve Jobs, as he introduced the iPhone and talked more about Apple TV. I use Windows all day at work, and then I use my MacBook Pro all night at home, and I'm not really biased or "for" one or the other (though I do sort of like my Mac a little better). I don't know if any one else feels like this, but this is what I kind of like about Apple. Apple definitely keeps its secrets looked up. The web begins to circulate all sorts of rumors about what Apple's really doing, and it drives people crazy about what's really going on inside Apple. To me, Apple Inc. is sort of like the Chocolate Factory and Steve Jobs is Willy Wonka. No one really knows much about what is going on inside, yet the umpa lumpas keep plugging away at interesting and sexy looking technology. Then the rumors spread about what's really happening inside the Chocolate Factory (Apple). And just as if the five golden tickets had been given to those five lucky kids, people crowd inside the MacWorld conference and people stream the keynote address and get the rare glimpse of Willy Wonka himself (Jobs). Yes Microsoft itself is a great company, 90% of the computer world uses their technology. And yet, Apple retains this personal feel, at least for me. I didn't feel a personal connection with Bill Gates nor with Steve Ballmer. They felt corporate, advertised and not the type of people you would want to get to know. They're kind of like a college professor. Smart? Yes. Success? Yes.. Hang out and drink some coffee with them? Probably not. And that's the difference. Jobs always gives his keynotes dressed in jeans and usually a black long sleeved shirt, with the sleeves pushed up. And he always has sneakers on (I think there DC's, at least they look like it). He has sort of a spring in his step (literally... he walks on his toes most of the time). After he reassures his customers of Apple's growing business, and he discusses future technology for Apple, he really comes off as a guy you really want to get to know, and I guess for me, I like that personal connection. Lastly, I like the fact that Apple remains the underdog. Microsoft is good at what they do... provide software on a global scale that directly targets developers and IT corporations. And Apple targets the average user, the creative individuals and the cult followers. Yes, Apple retains the small portion of the computer market share, and I like that. Microsoft makes easy products to use and you don't have to know a dang thing
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Well, two nights ago, I watched yet another keynote speech by Steve Jobs, as he introduced the iPhone and talked more about Apple TV. I use Windows all day at work, and then I use my MacBook Pro all night at home, and I'm not really biased or "for" one or the other (though I do sort of like my Mac a little better). I don't know if any one else feels like this, but this is what I kind of like about Apple. Apple definitely keeps its secrets looked up. The web begins to circulate all sorts of rumors about what Apple's really doing, and it drives people crazy about what's really going on inside Apple. To me, Apple Inc. is sort of like the Chocolate Factory and Steve Jobs is Willy Wonka. No one really knows much about what is going on inside, yet the umpa lumpas keep plugging away at interesting and sexy looking technology. Then the rumors spread about what's really happening inside the Chocolate Factory (Apple). And just as if the five golden tickets had been given to those five lucky kids, people crowd inside the MacWorld conference and people stream the keynote address and get the rare glimpse of Willy Wonka himself (Jobs). Yes Microsoft itself is a great company, 90% of the computer world uses their technology. And yet, Apple retains this personal feel, at least for me. I didn't feel a personal connection with Bill Gates nor with Steve Ballmer. They felt corporate, advertised and not the type of people you would want to get to know. They're kind of like a college professor. Smart? Yes. Success? Yes.. Hang out and drink some coffee with them? Probably not. And that's the difference. Jobs always gives his keynotes dressed in jeans and usually a black long sleeved shirt, with the sleeves pushed up. And he always has sneakers on (I think there DC's, at least they look like it). He has sort of a spring in his step (literally... he walks on his toes most of the time). After he reassures his customers of Apple's growing business, and he discusses future technology for Apple, he really comes off as a guy you really want to get to know, and I guess for me, I like that personal connection. Lastly, I like the fact that Apple remains the underdog. Microsoft is good at what they do... provide software on a global scale that directly targets developers and IT corporations. And Apple targets the average user, the creative individuals and the cult followers. Yes, Apple retains the small portion of the computer market share, and I like that. Microsoft makes easy products to use and you don't have to know a dang thing
I think Microsoft and Apple both are very good at playing to their markets. Microsoft's biggest market is business people, it's just as much a part of their image to be businesslike as it is for Jobs to give the "just one of us" image he portrays. But frankly I'm seeing Apple as the much more predatory and arrogant company these days. They get away with stuff that would tie Microsoft in Court for years if they tried to do it. The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance. Their complete unwillingness to partner with others is also a good example. Why isn't the EU hounding Apple about this?
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I think Microsoft and Apple both are very good at playing to their markets. Microsoft's biggest market is business people, it's just as much a part of their image to be businesslike as it is for Jobs to give the "just one of us" image he portrays. But frankly I'm seeing Apple as the much more predatory and arrogant company these days. They get away with stuff that would tie Microsoft in Court for years if they tried to do it. The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance. Their complete unwillingness to partner with others is also a good example. Why isn't the EU hounding Apple about this?
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?
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I think Microsoft and Apple both are very good at playing to their markets. Microsoft's biggest market is business people, it's just as much a part of their image to be businesslike as it is for Jobs to give the "just one of us" image he portrays. But frankly I'm seeing Apple as the much more predatory and arrogant company these days. They get away with stuff that would tie Microsoft in Court for years if they tried to do it. The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance. Their complete unwillingness to partner with others is also a good example. Why isn't the EU hounding Apple about this?
John Cardinal wrote:
The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance.
I think it's a great example of marketing on both Cisco and Apples part. How many of you had heard of the LinkSys iPhone prior to last Wednesday? The court "battle" will keep both products in the news for months.
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John Cardinal wrote:
The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance.
I think it's a great example of marketing on both Cisco and Apples part. How many of you had heard of the LinkSys iPhone prior to last Wednesday? The court "battle" will keep both products in the news for months.
Well, according to this, there was no Linksys iPhone even a month ago until Cisco realized Apple was going to use it... http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=236[^]
the Linksys CIT200 and the Linksys CIT310, (both of which I reviewed) are now called the iPhone and were only recently renamed on December 18th. Specifically, each Linksys/Cisco product is called the Cordless Internet Telephony Kit or iPhone for short. The PDF manuals still reference the old name, such as this manual for the CIT200 and I couldn't find a single reference to the word "iPhone" in the manual even though I see "iPhone®" with the registered trademark throughout their website. I guess they missed that. Time to re-print/convert those PDFs!
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Well, according to this, there was no Linksys iPhone even a month ago until Cisco realized Apple was going to use it... http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=236[^]
the Linksys CIT200 and the Linksys CIT310, (both of which I reviewed) are now called the iPhone and were only recently renamed on December 18th. Specifically, each Linksys/Cisco product is called the Cordless Internet Telephony Kit or iPhone for short. The PDF manuals still reference the old name, such as this manual for the CIT200 and I couldn't find a single reference to the word "iPhone" in the manual even though I see "iPhone®" with the registered trademark throughout their website. I guess they missed that. Time to re-print/convert those PDFs!
True, but they have owned the trademark since the 90s and Apple was in negotiations prior to MacWorld
Matt Newman
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John Cardinal wrote:
The blatant trademark infringement they are on with the IPhone is just another example of that arrogance.
I think it's a great example of marketing on both Cisco and Apples part. How many of you had heard of the LinkSys iPhone prior to last Wednesday? The court "battle" will keep both products in the news for months.