It seems like we’ve just come down from the massive hype-fest that was the Nexus One, and here we’ve gone again. There’s a tonne of speculation about the upcoming iSlate or iPad or iTablet or MacBook Touch or iWhatever it is that Apple will be launching next week, or next month, or next quarter. But we don’t really know anything, because Apple is being coy… again.
So there’s a mysterious Apple event in San Francisco next week, at which presumably something will be revealed. But we don’t know yet because Apple hasn’t really said anything.
And the vast body of rumour and speculation (some of it quite solid, it must be said) says that Apple will be launching what amounts to a “super iPod”. A large screen touch device with fairly powerful processing components, web connectivity and the ability for gaming, web browsing and reading e-books. But we don’t know yet because Apple hasn’t really said anything.
What we think?
Imagine you go into a store, and the store owner says “I’ve got something else you might like”. And then he sloooowly begins to bring it up from behind the counter, but then puts it back before you get a look. As he stands there with a “guess what it is?” look on his face, pretending like he might unveil it at any moment, your interest is piqued. And if the product he’s hiding turns out to be cool, sure you’ll buy it.
But surely that should only work once or twice?If he does this every time for every new thing he gets, you’re bound to lose patience and leave the shop. But he follows you onto the street, asking if you’re sure you don’t want to know what it is. And then he sends you emails about it.
This is the exact same process of generating hype that we’ve been treated to by Apple and Google before. Secretive invitations, controlled leaks, coy rumours and denials. I’m just beginning to find the whole process grating. How much can we be teased before we tell them to go stuff it? If you want to launch a new product, just bloody launch it.
The other option is to be in the situation which most tech companies are in where they announce products mile in advance, so that by the time they have come out they are forgotten or have totally changed from their early pitch. Because Apple do try and launch close to the announcement, it creates a torrent of speculation.
You should really tone down your distaste for Apple since their track record over the past few years has been amazing. Most of your articles about Apple and the iPhone seem to always be slightly negative. I realize that the iPhone might not be a major device outside the US, but you can not fault them for their ingenuity and design. Ease up on them.
I think he mentioned previously that he likes Apple and in fact uses their products extensively. Could be wrong though.
I agree with Erin you do seem to put a damper on anything Apple has done. It is my opinion that when the iSlate is revealed Wednesday, you might have to finally agree they are doing it right.
I’m so sick of the constant hype fest especially from Apple–look at our innovation = “multitasking.” Aren’t we the coolest. Yes, we really are the dominant market leader! We have 5% of the computer marker! 25% smartphone market! About 0.1% of the cell-phone marked! BUT don’t we have a shiny shitty iPod?!? (just compare the numbers to MS, HP, Nokia, Samsung, etc. . . and try and justify why this company that puts out crap gets so much hype–think about it. . . it might click. . . Jobs has lots of connections with the media
Everyone is trying to imitate this constant hype machine and all the blogs and supposed “tech news” sites keep it going with constant speculations. The fact is, that’s all it is, speculation. Rarely now do we get a tech article that actually discusses something they actually know anything about. Instead just more articles to get clicks and flame wars going over how cool Apple is or isn’t. . . etc. Who cares?!?! Really? If you like them knock your socks off. If you don’t, then enjoy the dominant market with the rest of the world.
I’ve personally gotten to the point where I no longer am reading the big tech sites. I’ll just search for a topic that way I don’t have to sift through there 100 opinion articles to get to the one where they have actually seen, felt, used, and tested the item in question.
I guess that’s the double edge of the internet. Now all these sites just have to regurgitate everything that every other site is spitting out so they don’t lose a few clicks. So, some “tech” site reports something about Apple’s latest and greatest “leak” so everyone else makes up an article about the same BS with no actual confirmation on anything. Within one hour we have thousands of articles saying the same stupid, uniformed, misguided hype. Most of which turns out to be false. Don’t get me wrong. This is true for all current “speculative reporting.” If you can call it reporting. Personally I think it’s more along the lines of gossip. There was a time when we would make fun of people who gossiped, but I guess it’s acceptable on the internet to call it news, reporting, or journalism. . . yeah, right.
If you actually spend some time researching out a few things you will see that most “news” articles on the internet these days are nothing more than sensationalism with very very few facts, if any at all. And often those facts are twisted to make some “point” that isn’t actually justified by the actual facts themselves. In other words, we are all just being manipulated.
It has all become a “pissing” contest to see who can get the most clicks, comments, or flame wars going. While entertaining at times, in the end it is a waste of all our energies.
If company X, Y, of Z has something great to show us or sell us then put it in front of us and demonstrate it and let the “news” do a real hands on thorough testing and review. If not. . . take your fictional POS and shove it. Well, that’s my opinion anyways.
But hey, you the readers and commenters are the ones keeping this BS going. . . so enjoy.
I think that many Apple users are manifesting the same kind personality as many cult members. They’re like Scientologists on speed, it doesn’t matter if the product is garbage or flawed, they simply see nothing but the good. The new IPhone 4 comes out and you can’t hold it a certain way or it loses it’s telephone connection, not an issue, just don’t hold it that way or buy a fix for $29.95. Can’t change the battery, oh well. Can’t multi-task, we’ll make do. Windows crashes or locks up more that Apple, not really. No Home or End button, what are they? Blind to any and all of Apple’s shortcomings, there’s an app for that, an Intervention!
I hate my Iphone because: I’m sick of waiting for all those constant upgrades that take forever to download and then they don’t improve things and why do I have to authorise my credit card all the time when I only have the free apps installed? Not to mention the arrogant and mightier than God attitude coming out of Apple, I can’t use my Flash enabled website because Adobe was banned by the Apple Gods!
NO freedom of software choice everything must be installed via ITunes wow, don’t you hate having to install all that Apple crap on your computer, thank God for PC’s and how about that stupid slider thing when you want to make and answer calls.
Thankfully the other manufactures are bring out better smart phones now and have you noticed they all seem to be less money to purchase, looks like it will be a re-run of the Mac verses PC and we all know how that turned out.
I really feel sorry for all those die hard Apple Mac fans; personally I will never touch another Apple product.
Yes well done Apple, it really is a shit phone.
Pretty much had it with anything Apple. Jobs said we take our time and our products are so expensive because we don’t produce crap, well bull hooky. Their 27″ screen imacs launched with problems, the iphone 4 launched with problems, the ipad launched with problems, there are bugs in itunes 10 and QuickTime has had a bug in it for so long that most people don’t even use it anymore except Apple diehards. The whole reason web designers went to Adobe Flash over QuickTime is because QuickTime was such a pain in the rear end to use.
Apple either deflects any negative comments, or denies there are any problems. And try to get a straight answer from them if you are having a real problem … People use to complain about Microsoft being a no-show in the customer service arena, let me tell you that if after writing e-mails, letters, and making phone calls, you can get no response from a company on an issue that company is in serious denial.
They’re arrogant because they think they’re taking over the market. Well let me tell you one thing, even though I’m stuck using them all day at work, (for which I am in constant torment, they freeze, crash over the simplest of things), I will never buy one of their products, and no one of my considerably large family will either. They are overpriced pieces of junk. As far as operating systems go I prefer Linux, but it is not always the most user-friendly, or widely compatible of os, so for now I will stick with the less reliable but relatively cheap Windows 7, which so far has worked fabulously. For once, Microsoft might have gotten something right. Well what do you know, will wonders never cease!