CNET Accuses Apple of Over-Hyping Launch 382
An anonymous reader writes "A columnist at CNET is questioning whether Apple over-hyped last week's launch. From the article: 'Jobs' announcement of a new leather case for the iPod was especially ridiculous. Like the queen announcing a new toaster in Buckingham Palace. It seemed odd that Jobs was troubling himself to introduce fashion accessories to Apple's products.' Is Apple a victim of its own success? Can it hold a low-profile product launch anymore -- or do we inevitably expect too much?"
Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
Jesus... let it go.
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:2)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
In other news - world affected by common sense accuses CNET of overhyping Apple's unannounced products and then blaming Apple for them doing it.
I think Core {Solo|Duo}'ing the Mac Mini's was a great move, but we're all too busy complaining how bad the iPod Hi-Fi sounds to realize that we haven't even heard one and missed the more important release.
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:3, Informative)
Not saying you're wrong from a consumer perspective (most neophyte mac users just chuck the old and buy the new) but it's not the only option available.
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Interesting)
Everybody expected them to be releasing an Intel iBook. They did not expect a Mac Mini, and then a contingent of people are fervently bitching that it doesn't have a Radeon X1600 on top of that.
The iBook sells a lot of units to college students. Inbound freshmen get the acceptence letters in like April-May for public universities. We'll see the launch of the MacBook Regular at a time that capitalizes on that. Just like we'll see a MacBook Pro that allows the video professionals to do editing while sipping a latte at Starbucks when the software to do this is actually available: the end of the year.
See, this is the problem: people are thinking, "Wow, this is what I've got a big boner for," and thinking that's what Apple's going to do, rather than Apple doing what will maximize Apple's profits and hit the target the best. "The new MBP doesn't have a firewire 800 or a super-fast smartcard interface!" they say. Yeah, of course. Because it's a programmer's notebook. Programmers have no use for firewire 800, and it would only drive up costs and cause delays.
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:3, Interesting)
Not including an x1600 in the Mini was a very good idea, imo. Why? Well, the remote and S/PDIF optical ports would indicate that it's very much intended for use as a media center type machine (th
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
Just goes to show that nothing has changed with respect to Slashdot posters not reading the articles and still getting modded up. Article said:
"In the cold light of day, it's hard to decipher exactly who was at fault here. Did Apple over-hype the event by veiling these launches in secrecy, or did we, the press, speculate with such furious ambition that Apple never had a chance of meeting expectations?"
Which, of course, wasn't quite refleced in the article summary.
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, the editors can be glad that someone was prepared to write an article that would fit this slashdot topic at last ;)
(Not that I've read TFA this time)
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
1.) Apple sent out a very plain invite that breezily mentioned "fun, new products."
2.) The invite list is very small, only around 100 people.
3.) The event is held in Apple's cafeteria, for crying out loud.
Everything about this obviously screamed "routine product announcements." Every rational person should have realized it was going to be another Intel-transitioned Mac product (one of the low-end ones like the Mac mini or iBook) and maybe some iPod stuff.
But, no. All the Mac rumor sites and the press hyped up this tiny little event with touchscreen iPods, Mac mini PVR media centers, tablet Macs, and more.
I cannot believe this CNET author is actually claiming Apple overhyped the event. They didn't--you media bastards did!
Re:Downward spiral. (Score:5, Insightful)
Toast (Score:4, Funny)
Like the queen announcing a new toaster in Buckingham Palace.
I think you underestimate the importance of toast to we English. And iPod accessories to Apple users.
Re:Toast (Score:2)
I think you underestimate the importance of toast to we English.
You're quite right. Actually, a much better analogy would have been: "Like the queen announcing a new toast rack in Buckingham Palace."
Re:Toast Racks! (Score:4, Funny)
But they sure believe in hot and cold water - always out of separate taps in the handbasin in the loo - it's gotta be a law or something.
Re:Toast (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Paging GN... (Score:2, Funny)
Too much (Score:4, Insightful)
Who did the over-hyping? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Who did the over-hyping? (Score:2, Insightful)
How can you overhype a fashion product? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:How can you overhype a fashion product? (Score:2, Interesting)
Apple is about style, design, and being cool. Get it right. (n.b. that's also the difference with Microsoft.)
Re:How can you overhype a fashion product? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:How can you overhype a fashion product? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Who did the over-hyping? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Who did the over-hyping? (Score:2)
If anything, perhaps the fact that nothing overly major was announced was intentional and designed to throw people off so as to better keep public expectations in check. I wouldn't put it past them.
oh okay. they purposely over-hype products so people will expect less and therefore be thankful to get anything useful at all. i'm sure that's exactly how it went down.
These products didn't deserve a CEO press event! (Score:3, Insightful)
What company needs a CEO-hosted press event to announce a boom box?
Or leather case? Or computer upgrade?
Seriously, when's the last time a company held a press event to announce a boom box?
Apple has themselves to blame. They could've introduced these products without the fanfare, just like any other company.
Re:These products didn't deserve a CEO press event (Score:4, Insightful)
Apple DID announce these without their usual fanfare. These goofy press people were buying into Thinksecret and Appleinsider's rumors.
When will people realize these rumors sites are hurting Apple? This isn't the first time in the last six months that all the rumor sites said one thing, and Apple fell short (dual-core G5s, which ended up coming out much later).
Re:Who did the over-hyping? (Score:5, Insightful)
This wasn't the MacWorld keynote, people! Nothing big was EVER promised or suggested. The people who did, in general, didn't know anything more than you and I. So quit acting disappointed. You got two new products and an overpriced carrying case.
No way! (Score:4, Funny)
By the way, did you hear about the new twelve-blade razor for Gillete? It's the best razor ever!
Re:No way! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm waiting for the thirteen-blade with ultrasonic action, an iPod interface - and a frickin' laser beam on its head.
A shave so "close" it'll expose your esophagus, while sounding great.
KFG
Error in line 3 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No way! (Score:5, Funny)
Introducing the iShave, preloaded with Sweeney Todd.
"They all to deserve to die..."
I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:5, Informative)
The hype I saw was coming from media outlets like CNN, CNET, and all the Mac news sites; not from Apple.
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:5, Interesting)
It's ridiculous to think Apple using that auditorium should automatically mean "earth-shattering announcement."
Obligatory reminder: (Score:5, Interesting)
from the well-thats-not-very-exciting dept.
This prediction is sweet, too (Score:4, Interesting)
Raise your hand if you have a FireWire port
Raise your hand if you have both
Raise your hand if you have $400 to spend on a cute Apple device
There is Apple's market. Pretty slim, eh? I don't see many sales in the future of iPod.
Another
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:3, Interesting)
However, they did nothing like that.
Yet, Microsoft did with Origami [origamiproject.com] and no one paid any attention at all. That is sad.
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:2)
Having said that, the "commercials" are so incredibly stupid, it makes me hope the whole thing flops.
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:2)
I still think the funniest commerical out is the one Microsoft does promoting itself as being more secure.
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:2)
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:2)
Like [slashdot.org] Slashdot [slashdot.org]?
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:5, Interesting)
However the Apple sites, along with other sites (I bet CNET is guilty of this too) instantly took this as "They are announcing the tablet Mac!", or "They are announcing the video iPod", or "The new Newton is coming!".
They were responsible for all the hype.
And the announcement of the Mini wasn't anything to sneeze at either. It means that now all consumer Apple computers (except the Laptops) are on Intel processors.
On a side note, I wish they would make a new Newton. I would love one. Apple is so good at interfaces.
PS: Also, the guys over a Penny-Arcade [penny-arcade.com] have gone Mac and they really like it so far. Check out their post about it (and the comic). They said they'd provide more details tomorrow (Monday).
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I didn't see much Apple hype... (Score:2)
Well, to be fair it's across the hall and about 20' down from Cafe Macs.
Well, duh (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow. Kettle and soot and all. (Score:5, Insightful)
Mac mini not a PVR (Score:5, Insightful)
Ghetto-Blaster? (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm assuming that most of these bloggers and columnists lived through the 80's and should know WTF a Ghetto-Blaster looks like
For those of you who lived sheltered lives during the 80's and early 90's, a Google Image Search for Ghetto Blaster [google.com] is highly informative.
Oddly enough, the GIS turned up no pictures of automatic weapons in the first few pages. Cause that's the other thing that comes to mind when I think about ghetto-blasters.
Re:Ghetto-Blaster? (Score:2)
Re:Ghetto-Blaster? (Score:3, Interesting)
iPod Hifi: Basically a box with speakers, can be powered by batteries, and is meant to be portable. Percieved as cool by a certain segment of the population.
Gee, I wonder why people are making the comparison? True, it's not exactly the same, one works with tapes, and the other works with iPods. And one sure costs a lot more. But the simulari
Re:Mac mini not a PVR (Score:3, Insightful)
Also, Apple always makes small but solid steps when approaching new technology. The capabilities of the iPod have increased with each new generation. The iPod was first launched without the iTMS but I think Apple planned to launch the music store all along. Mac OSX is on the 5th generation (i
Re:Mac mini not a PVR (Score:2)
Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple eventually comes up with a PVR capable Mac, but recording video over the air or from cable is never likely to be a huge money maker for Apple (just look at how TiVo is doing). For the same reason that Apple has held off on a radio tuner for the iPod, I don't expect to see a TV tuner right away. It makes considerably more sense for Apple to
Re:Mac mini not a PVR (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Mac mini not a PVR (Score:2, Insightful)
Video of the event? (Score:5, Funny)
Cause that sounds like everyone's nightmare: forgetting to wear pants at a public event.
No Webcast, No Mention on Apple's Page... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:No Webcast, No Mention on Apple's Page... (Score:2)
Um... (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple said they were going to announce some "fun new products". Forget the pouch, jeez. They introduced an Intel-based Mac mini with amazing features inside of the same form factor as the old mini, and a nifty set of iPod speakers that has unseated the previous leader in this category in the opinion of most reviewers (Bose).
Apple stopped always putting all of its eggs in the Macworld/WWDC basket, and introducing products when they became available. The Intel-based Mac mini is a pretty damned good product, and a huge hint at Apple's admittedly tentative and cautious steps toward the living room.
So what's wrong with that?
What were we supposed to get?
An Apple cell phone?
An Apple tablet?
A touchsheen video iPod?
Anyone expecting those things at every single introduction is expecting too much.
Amazing features? (Score:2)
It has Exactly The Same features, just some extra ports on the back and an Apple remote (which you can buy anyway..)
Re:Amazing features - Yes (Score:5, Informative)
2. The Apple Remote can't be used without IR, which the old mini didn't have (nor did it have Front Row, and yes, that's just software, but still, Front Row can't be "officially" added to a computer without it without hacking it, and even then, technically "pirating" it - and you still have no way to control it via IR without adding third party products like an IR receiver)
3. The ability to play 1080-line HD (which the previous mini didn't have the horsepower to do), which is a huge step toward, oh, I don't know, using it as an HD media center
4. Optical S/PDIF audio input and output (huge addition - previous mini did not have)
5. The ability to actually do sharing with Front Row of music, photos, and video from other computers on the local network (a big functional improvement and almost a necessity for a "media center")
6. Less important: the fact that it has a dual core processor in a 6.5"x6.5"x2" form factor, the addition or 802.11a, and Intel HD Audio
So yes, it's a mini with amazing features, by most estimations. If *you* don't like it (and I'm not saying you do or don't), fine - don't get one. But that doesn't change the fact that it has an array of new features that make it dramatically more useful as a media center than it was before).
Re:Amazing features - Yes (Score:2, Insightful)
You could say that the Mac Mini was underpowered in it's original incarnation. It's not like they COULDN'T have had these features (HD movie playback is a chipset support issue; Core Duo can't do it on it's own, either) on a PowerPC Mac Mini that size, they certainly had the Northbridge for it in the G4 Macs and PowerBooks.
Saying that the "Mac Mini has amazing features for it's size" is really just totally underestimating what you can do with technology
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Amazing features - Yes (Score:3, Interesting)
I actually run PowerCinema. It does more than Front Row in much the same way.
Re:Amazing features - Yes (Score:3, Informative)
I just looked up the word, and it said: "inspiring awe or admiration or wonder"
Basically the new features are "we added some new but scarcely amazing features but most importantly, still managed to get it in the same size box".
Then again, another definition was 'overused as a hyperbole for "good."'
"You've come a long way, baby!" (Score:5, Insightful)
What's funny though, is that this is a dramatically different situation than it was in 1998, when I got my first Mac. I dare say Apple has done so well in the last few years that the long standing
The leather sleeve is a precursor/clue (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:The leather sleeve is a precursor/clue (Score:2)
That particular touchscreen iPod photo was a Photoshopped hoax. Everyone knows this is the direction Apple is most likely to head though. If you disagree, I'd love to hear what you think is the most likely next step in the iPod line.
I accuse... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I accuse... (Score:2)
Re:I accuse... (Score:2, Insightful)
Exactly. Apple did not over-hype this ... the media did. When their own predictions disappoint them, they start pointing fingers. But the issue is much bigger than just a little Apple PR get-together. The media have become a bunch of boobs who no longer garner respect. This is one reason why corps and polls are getting away with all sorts of crap. Every time they screw up, they can just point to the media and yell "boobs ahoy!" and who can den
Because they have to (Score:5, Insightful)
Sooner or later, the market is saturated. What now? Sure, you can release a new model (and Apple did). Only works once or twice as well, there's only so much room for improvement. You can make it smaller, you can make it hold larger armounts of music, but when it's small enough to be no longer visible (don't forget, fashion is also about showing what you got) and when it can hold the equivalent to 100 CDs, people don't want it any smaller or bigger.
So accessories come into play. And besides selling those MP3s for 99 cent, that's where the money comes from. Because the players are sold. You will probably sell a few more, but that's no longer the big market.
Now, it's incredibly hard to patent sizes. Sure, you can patent a design, you can patent the brand, but there's no way to keep third party vendors from selling gadgets that "just happen to" fit the iPod perfectly. How should you patent the earplugs? It uses a standard socket, any earplug would do. How do you make your customer buy your add-ons instead of others, which are probably cheaper?
You start hyping. You have to make sure that your customers know that YOUR, and only YOUR accessories offer the value they're looking for. You NEED those earplugs, because they're original and without, the iPod is no longer cool. You NEED our case because only with it, you show the world that you have the original and only then you are part of the family.
Herding consumers (Score:5, Interesting)
Apple may be pretty good at herding consumers, but they're absolutely nothing [theatlantic.com] compared to, say, De Beers. De Beers created the diamond ring as a cultural item less than a hundred years ago. Now, you have to give your lady love a diamond ring -- no alternatives.
The story I linked to is pretty interesting -- if you have a couple minutes, it's a worthwhile read.
Not really Apple's fault (Score:5, Insightful)
Did Apple claim that their press conference would herald fantastically interesting products that would reshape the industry? As I recall, they merely announced a press conference and said they would have some "fun stuff". That's it.
This wasn't Steve walking on stage at MacWorld - which is a hypefest by design, where only the biggest products are released - this was Apple introducing another Intel-based Mac to show its partners and investors that it was committed to, and proceeding with the transition from PPC. The fact they had some other, far less interesting products ready at the same time, and decided to show them off as well seems to be more of a logical exploitation of the press conference. Would it have made sense for Apple to simply make no mention of their other new products while the media's attention was focused squarely on them? I don't think so.
People are so used to Apple throwing them curveballs that they build up entirely unrealistic expectations of the company, and get angry at Apple when they fail to live up to these fantasies. You can criticize Apple for borking the video chipset in the new Minis, but you can't really get mad at them for not releasing a product that may only exist in your mind.
Even more basic than that (Score:5, Interesting)
'Jobs' announcement of a new leather case for the iPod was especially ridiculous. Like the queen announcing a new toaster in Buckingham Palace. It seemed odd that Jobs was troubling himself to introduce fashion accessories to Apple's products.
Think about it.
A marketer tried to get the best currently-new offering from a company to sell better.
It's the exact same thing that any marketer, anywhere around the world would do.
If you watch QVC, you can see salesmen doing the same deal for thing after thing, time after time. ("This ball of twine is the most amazing, lifechanging thing ever!")
It's just good business. Apple isn't going to churn out something like the introduction of the Apple, the Macintosh, or the iPod every year. Matter of fact, if you count those lines, they've been managing better than one lucrative industry-changing product line a decade, which is pretty damn good.
The only unusual thing is that some Mac users seem to take a polling approach instead of a event-triggered approach to being notified about new Apple products (which means that sometimes, there isn't much there).
El Duplicado, stupido (Score:5, Insightful)
For a product to be overhyped I have to see it somewhere other than slashdot which does get a high bandwidth of users but does not have mainstream penetration.
It was good while it lasted (Score:3, Interesting)
During 2006, it's quite likely we'll see an increasing number of articles saying the iPod thing is over. When every kid on the block is toting one, it's time to get rid of it and buy something reassuringly "exclusive" instead. Never underestimate snob appeal.
Re:It was good while it lasted (Score:2)
Acutally, I think it's the other way around. I recall when Walkmans came out you HAD to own a SONY Walkman but after the novelty/newness of the walkman wore off people were more than happy to buy off brand versions for 1/3 the price at Radio Shack.
Maybe Archos will find a large marketplace yet.
Apple stock only rises before the announcement... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Apple stock only rises before the announcement. (Score:2)
obligatory link (Score:3, Funny)
UserFriendly state it perfectly... (Score:2)
Hey, CNET, we have some cool new products! (Score:5, Funny)
Apple: Really cool!
CNET: Are you sure?
Apple: Well, maybe not really, really cool, but still quite cool.
CNET: Just 'quite' cool you say?
Apple: Not just quite cool - pretty cool.
CNET: 'Pretty' cool? Nah! We're not interested. Who wants to report stories about stuff that's just pretty cool? We're CNET. We only report the coolest of the cool dude!
Apple: OK, OK. They're actually really cool.
CNET: Great, we'll be there for the announcement.
3 hours later...
CNET: Hey! You lied! You said that stuff was really cool but it was just pretty cool. We wasted expensive web site space on 'pretty cool'! What kind of lame ass web site do you take us for?
Apple: Um...well...we tried to tell you...
investors not happy (Score:3, Interesting)
The Press Invitation Said "Fun New Products" (Score:5, Insightful)
Does that sound like an earthshaking announcement to you? Like Apple was going to introduce OS XI or make a "fuck Intel; we're using Cell processors now" kind of announcement?
If so, you're nuts. I was expecting some iPod-related announcements, perhaps the fabled "Video iPod" (yawn) at most and some capacity bumps at the least. I'd say their product announcements fell right in the middle of that modest spectrum.
It's true that Apple created some hype by not issuing any hints about the products they'd be introducing. Most of those journalists would have stayed at home if you told them in advance that they'd be introducing a new Mini, a leather slipcover, and a boombox. But hey, I can't really blame a company for wanting to create excitement about their products. That's called capitalism, folks. What Apple really did was capitalize on the press and public's fascination with Apple. They simply allowed the press and public to create the hype for them.
So was Apple cannily trying to promote and sell some product? Sure. Did Apple themselves overhype the event? I would say absolutely not.
Regarding the Hi-Fi... (Score:3, Informative)
P.
Steve's sneaky (Score:3, Interesting)
I said it before, but (Score:3, Insightful)
Welcome to the media cycle (Score:3, Insightful)
1) Create false expectations
2) Pounce on those who fail to live up to its created expectations
I guess Apple's just getting what governments have enjoyed for all these years...
Re:Good morning!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously though, CNet and others need to get a grip. The Mini Mac was a great announcement. It wasn't the PDA or iPhone everyone keeps rumoring about, but it was a good, though small, announcement.
If you want over hype, check out Microsoft and it's Origami Project [origamiproject.com]. There isn't even a product yet, and yet they have launched a website, and had a media day the same day as Apple. At least Apple is shipping a real product.
Re:Good morning!!! (Score:2)
Please note the "stupid" keyword that was added to the story.
Gasp!
This means that you might be able to eliminate stupid articles from your view in the future (perhaps now - I haven't checked yet). I can wait for the keyword "dupe".
Progress is nice but slashdot has sucked for so long that I'm beginning to need it (if only for nothing more than something to bitch about). Venting is fun!
Re:Good morning!!! (Score:3, Informative)
PC Magazine gave it 4.5 stars [pcmag.com]. I guess they were not snickering huh?
Re:Of course they are overhyped (Score:2)
It may very well be that the recent product launches is designed to provoke a lawsuit so the issue can be settled once and for all. I for one don't
Re:First (Score:3, Funny)
Why is everyone so jealous that Aple is the bestest and inovativestest company in the universe?
I mean come on! They invented the mp3-player, they produce the wrold's most powerful personal-computer (using the new bestest Intel-processors), and they are overall very modest about it.
They never use dirty tricks like product-placement (or can you remember seeing a iPod casually displayed in Blade III?) or blog-astroturfing (all Mac-sites are of course completely independent business entities
Re:NO WAY!!! (Score:2)
Intel itself had to backpedal hard on that. After all, NONE of the current Intel processor line are marketed by clock speed, but by their new model naming scheme. After all, customers would be scratching their head with the "current" processor releases that perform better, but have a lower clock speed than the previous generation.
1:Warning (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)