I can at least respect the admission of Applemania by the writer of this piece.
At Least He’s Honest
Reply
Monthly Archives: July 2007
Jobs Knew How Right P.T. Barnum Was
P.T. Barnum is said to have coined the famous phrase, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” My guess is that Steve Jobs understands this more than most. How else can we explain his ability to package old technology as new, and have the press and podcasters (P&P) trip over themselves to praise it? The press has gotten so good at Apple polishing that Jobs was able to get the vast majority (with the exception of a handful of journalists) excited over the iPhone without them ever having tested it. In fact, the closest they got to the device before its release was when they drooled over it while it was inside a glass display case! Even with these restrictions, they still wrote raving pieces about it, and gave such loving and gleeful podcasts in anticipation of its release that you would think they were getting paid to do so.(For some time I wondered if anyone else found this relationship between Jobs and the press as odd. Thankfully, Jack Shafer provided me with a nice confirmation regarding the P&P being hypnotized by Jobs and company. Right when I was starting to wonder if I was the only one noticing the psycho fawning over Apple by the P&P, I ran across his June 20th piece in Slate. It’s worth taking a peek at, if only for the sake of seeking some sort of balance during the current iPhone madness.)
This current iHype period we’re in has caused me to think back to earlier this year when I made the switch to Mac (a move I still highly recommend, mind you!). Of course, I excitedly listened to the podcasts and read about folks recounting their switching stories. It was nice knowing I wasn’t alone in my new found world of very cool usability, intuitiveness, and the best looking computers around. There were many like myself who had to admit that Macs really did just work. In fact, that number continues to grow. However, I also came across some folks who were flat-out hostile towards the PC world and all things PC [Note: I'm referring specifically to Windows PCs when I write "PC"]. These were people who would get so upset with anyone who dared to compare a PC with a Mac that it was disturbing. “Okay”, I thought (and think), “I disagree with the PC folks when it comes to Macs and PCs, but I’ve never really felt the need to belittle them like the Mac-O-Fascists do”. Well, I can’t help but detect the smell of hypocrisy lately.
As mentioned above, I came across an endless number of Mac-O-Fascists on the Internet who were hair-trigger quick to point out the technical superiority of the Mac. In the blink of an eye there would list the many ways in which Macs are more “stable”, “secure out of the box”, and “more intuitive”, as well as “gorgeous to look at” (some actually resort to calling what in the end is simply a box or component with circuitry and machine parts “sexy”, but I absolutely refuse to lower myself and the rest of mankind to such pop-culture drivel). In my experience, every single one of these points were and remain spot on regarding Macs. Compared to PCs running Windows, my experience with my Mac and OS X has been far more enjoyable. It is easy to use, and the security OS X provides is quite a nice feeling that has become an afterthought, and this should be the norm and not the exception. But, getting back to my point, if an honest person is to make is to take a good look at the iPhone and other smart phones on the market, it doesn’t take long to see that this particular product from Cupertino, California fits in the same category as a Windows PC compared to a Mac OS X.Yes, by now we all know the iPhone is “pretty”, but take away the interface and you’re left with the equivalent of a MacBook Pro (the best looking laptop around in my humble opinion, thank you very much!) running Windows 3.11. When Apple wants to put out a fantastic computer product, it can. But, as far as the iPhone, good looks and a slick interface seem to be the only things going for it. As far as it being “revolutionary”, a word Apple often uses that seems to cause a bit of a Pavlovian response in the P&P, Slate’s Tim Wu does a superb job of proving just how not-the-case this is, so there’s no need for me to add my two cents.
BTW, for the nitpickers out there, I’ll be the first to admit that the Sony VAIO laptops are very nice on the eyes. I don’t think anyone can truthfully say otherwise. However, when it comes to the complete package, the MacBook Pro is in a league of its own. But it’s not just good looking. The amount of engineering genius put into it is stunning. The built-in iSight camera is exactly where it ought to be; the MagSafe power cord has never failed to impress even the hardest of the hardcore PC folks I’ve shown it to; the trackpad that allows me regular mouse pointer functions with one finger while at the same time allowing me windows scrolling and right-clicking with two is itself worth a visit to Apple store. Those are just the tip of the iceberg that is an Apple computer, and this is also what brings me to the only conclusion that makes any sense, thanks to the astute observation of my good friend Elvis.
While Steve Jobs unquestionably knows computers, he doesn’t know much about mobile phones. When Elvis mentioned this yesterday it made all the sense in the world. It’s a simple statement, but the truth in it is both powering and sobering. It appears that in all the iHype no one, myself included, seemed to even consider this. Everyone automatically assumed that the genius from Cupertino must know what he’s doing. Even worse, and I speak as a professional in the business, it’s as if folks assumed since telephones and computers have so much in common, there can’t be much of a difference between the two. Well, I believe as the smoke starts to clear, the honeymoon between Apple and the P&P ends, and the iPhone is placed under the proper scrutiny of other mobile phones, things will change. People used to a certain amount of technological capability will soon tire of their “pretty” mobile phones, and will want phones that can do what their older phones did. Oh, the irony!
Well, seeing as Apple has inked a deal with AT&T for five years, this makes the things quite interesting. I have my doubts as to whether the genius from Cupertino will be able to make things better than they are, I really do. Folks are now forced to see what some of us are complaining about. It’s no longer just obscure blogs like mine pointing out something’s amiss. MSNBC, Slate, and other heavy hitter tech section are in the fray now. So, maybe it’s good that Steve Jobs and all the iPhone folks in the U.S. have five long years with AT&T to figure things out.
Mac O Fascist Ignorance
I must say it’s been quite the interesting week already, and it’s only Tuesday! I’ve experienced what has been aptly described by my good friend Elvis as “Mac O Fascism”. That’s what happens when Apple lovers of a fundamentalist stripe attack you without just cause because you’ve said something critical about the great Jobs-Aqbar. I’ve done this regarding the iPhone in certain forums and it was if iJihad had been declared on me. It’s quite interesting, but not in the most positive sense.
It didn’t matter that I let it be known I’m a PC to Mac switcher who’s absolutely nuts about his MacBook Pro, iPod Video, Mighty Mouse, Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard, with plans on buying the next iMac, and who salivates at the expectation of Leopard. Nah-uh. That meant nothing to the zealots. They didn’t want anything to do with my truth. It got to the point where I could almost sympathize with the folks who were accused of being witches long ago.
Nevertheless, my experiences have set me thinking. I’m getting a strange feeling that a lot of my fellow countrymen never really paid much attention to just how advanced the mobile phone industry was until Apple got involved. Add to that a somewhat blind loyalty to all things Apple, and some of their posts start making sense.
Besides the really hardcore crowd of mobile tech watchers in the U.S., and they are few and far in between, I don’t personally know a single fellow-American who really paid much attention to the evolution of mobile technology. I say this based (thinly, if you like) on my experiences of traveling annually to the Motherland for training or other work-related matters and noticing just how out of the loop folks are regarding mobile phones. Every single time I’ve gone back, folks have been blown away by the mobile phone I’ve had. I’ve experienced this with my Nokia(s) 6810, 6820, 9300, E70, and no doubt my current N95. Whenever I went back, without fail, my phone was the most advanced phone around.
Why is this the case? My suspicion is that Nokia’s been conducting business as they have because they’re having problems breaking into the North American market. Motorola is definitely the biggest player in the U.S., but this is to be expected. I know from living in Sweden that folks try their best to support Sony Ericsson, but fewer and fewer deny that Nokia is the leader in the world of mobile phones. They try to remain patriotic, but free market Western ways have a way of influencing what gets purchased. Long story short, Nokia’s a player here. Odds are the geography has a bit to do with it, but their products are top shelf. Respectfully, the competition has forced Sony Ericsson to bring their game up a notch. They’ve been responding well under pressure. Their W880 Walkman phone is pretty impressive; however, in my opinion, they’ve got work to do in the user interface area. (Either way, the consumer benefits. 
)
It also seems to be the case that Nokia releases specific models later for sale in North America. Take for example the Nokia 6300 (though not the renaming part, in this case). I recently took a look at the Nokia site in the U.S. and saw that the 6300 is soon to be released in the U.S. Well, it’s been here for several months now. It’s a pretty hot phone. Take a look at the Technical specifications. Don’t rush. Take a GOOD look. Now I need to let you know that this phone is available for 1 Swedish Crown (about 15 cents U.S.) if you sign up with one of the Swedish carriers for 18months. I am NOT kidding. If you dare, take a look at the tech specs for the iPhone. Go on and compare if you like. Of course, don’t forget to compare the price as well.
The point I’m trying to make, in a FAR too long and round-about way, is that I suspect my fellow-Americans aren’t aware of the technology that’s out here. It’s a bit heart-breaking to see folks “WOW!” the iPhone with the little it offers. If you want a “pretty” phone that doesn’t offer much, it’s definitely your phone. But for $600 dollars, I would expect folks to want more.
Maybe folks simply don’t know enough. Let’s hope that changes. If the iPhone hype is going to do anything it’s definitely going to put more focus on the world of mobile technology. I hope this will be the beginning of an awakening for my fellow-Americans regarding mobile tech. They’ve definitely been getting the short end of the stick for some time now. I hope they dare to take a good look and see what’s available around the world. Once they do, they may understand why folks in Europe (and surely Asia!) are chuckling and shaking their heads at them.
It’s Better to Think Before You Speak
Sigh…
I was in the “Discussions” area on the Apple site (registration required) to check on the situation with the iPhone. Besides the over 31,000 (as of this writing) views and postings in the Your Activation Requires Additional Time to Complete thread, I came across something very disturbing in the iPhone in Europe and Old Technology thread. It was a reply by one “nycruza” (who ended their posting “ajm”) to posting by “syntrak”.
After I read it I had to respond.
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Re: iPhone in Europe and Old Technology
Posted: Jul 1, 2007 9:20 AM[syntrak] I had a touch screen phone before (iMate JAM) and the touch screen became a real annoyance.
[nycruza/ajm] Personally, I never had a problem
[syntrak] You cant beet the good old feeling of keys under the fingertips !
[nycruza/ajm] AND that’s why Europe is referred to as the “Old Country”! 
ajm
My response follows:“ajm”,Europe may be referred to as the “Old Country” to some, and for other reasons mind you, but when it comes to mobile technology you may want to rethink things.
The number one seller of mobile telephones in the world is Nokia with approximately 35% of the world market share. That’s w-o-r-l-d. That would be from a country of 5.2 million people selling 35% of the worlds mobile phones. This is beyond impressive, and if you know anything about the history of mobile phones, then you’ll give the proper amount of respect due.Motorola’s 2nd with 22%, and has an instant sales base of 300 million folks in their backyard, as well as the rest of the world.
Europe and Asia have been, and still are ahead of the US when it comes to mobile technology. Before you get offended, bear in mind I’m an American (The nick “Harlemite”isn’t because I’m Dutch) living in Sweden, who is a Telephone Technician. I literally deal with mobile phones every single day.Swedes used to be just as cocky as you are when it came to the threat from Nokia. They used to try and laugh off that little country that was once under the Soviet thumb. But fate can be both unpredictable and sobering. Before they knew it, Nokia was so dominating the market that outside help regarding design became a more appealing idea. Thus we see today that Ericsson is now Sony Ericsson. (How they didn’t at least fight for becoming Ericsson Sony is beyond me!)
Technology wise, Motorola has never really been a big player in the mobile phone game in Europe. I’ve never really enjoyed that. As I said, I’m an American. This 12-year military veteran loves the red, white and blue. Nevertheless, reality is a friend you either buddy up to and keep an eye on, or she slaps you awake when you start to doze off. So I eventually faced the fact that Motorola simply could not hang with the big dogs in the world (and I do mean that in the international sense of the word) of mobile phones. “But what about the Razr?” you may be asking. A good question. Had it not been for the Razr, a very “pretty” phone that’s getting a bit better under the hood, I doubt there would be any serious Motorola presence in Europe at all. At least I KNOW this to be the case in Sweden. The Razr’s still just “pretty” in the world of mobile phones. That’s what bugs me about the iPhone.Let there be no doubt, it’s a “pretty” phone. No… It’s more than that. It’s a “beautiful” phone! I’m an avid fan of mobile phones and, being where I am, doing what I do, I’ve seen more than most. The iPhone is gorgeous! Nevertheless, as far as I’m concerned, at the moment it’s simply the hot cheerleader being taken to the prom. The prom is still going on, lucky for her, but proms end. There’s reality to be dealt with, and it already seems to me that the fans of our lovely cheerleader are so enamored with her beauty they aren’t pay attention to reality. Reality knows about the deal with AT&T. The problem of the being in bed with just one provider (I’ll never understand this) may prove to be much worse than we all thought.
So dear “ajm”, you may want to refrain from taking a jab at the “Old Country” just yet. Especially when you’re actually defending a phone with older technology than what’s being offered in the “Old Country” (http://darlamack.blogs.com/darlamack/2007/06/the-phone-of-th.html). That could come back to bite you in the long run.All this and it’s not even Monday yet. My, my, my!
Harlemite
http://technicalities.blogspot.com/
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What does one say, folks? And yet there was so much more that I could’ve added.
In closing, let me just quickly remind you all that this person is by no means representative of the majority of Americans. To even entertain such a though would give credence to the folks who use phrases such as “the Old Country” in the way “ajm” did.
