Former Apple Marketing Insider Sheds Light on Apple's 'Controlled Leaks'

[Chupa Chupa]

Apple fans are the only fans in the world that actually enjoy being screwed, manipulated and used by their object of admiration. The idea alone that someone can be a fan of a technology corporation is bewildering. I mean, people normally are fans of a band, singer, or actor. Or a television series. But an electronics manufacturer?

You seem to have tripped up by your own logic. People are fans of bands and actors because they admire and enjoy their talent. People rave about TV shows because they find them entertaining, enlightening, etc. By that same concept people are mad about Apple because it's products stimulate the imagination, sometimes fun to use, usually straight forward and uncluttered, and really the example all other companies use to make their own products.

One more point. Apple fans are not the only ones in the world that are manipulated by the object of their affection. Have you ever heard of PR firms and Agents. Their job is to manipulate a company/band/actor, etc.'s fan base. However, people are not so gullible to not realize it's a game -- they just happily play. It's part of the entertainment.

 

[SoGood]

As if no other corporation/organization uses the same technique. Boring!

 

[topmounter]

I'm sure you'll all be equally shocked and dismayed when you learn that politicians make regular use of "trial balloons"

 

[Cloudane]

Certainly not a surprise.

Nor would it be a surprise if, given how early the tablet rumours started, the development of the tablet was actually triggered by the intense rumours (which often seem to start off as unfounded wishful thinking, and people support that wishful thinking by spreading the rumour) rather than the other way around. I suspect it works both ways.

 

[gibbz]

Nor would it be a surprise if, given how early the tablet rumours started, the development of the tablet was actually triggered by the intense rumours (which often seem to start off as unfounded wishful thinking, and people support that wishful thinking by spreading the rumour) rather than the other way around. I suspect it works both ways.

I disagree. Apple isn't a company that starts making products based on rumors of fans. I wouldn't, however, be surprised if Apple leaked its initial development to see how the market would react.

I think this comment from Steve Jobs sums up how Apple develops things.

"We did iTunes because we all love music. We made what we thought was the best jukebox in iTunes. Then we all wanted to carry our whole music libraries around with us. The team worked really hard. And the reason that they worked so hard is because we all wanted one. You know? I mean, the first few hundred customers were us.

"It's not about pop culture, and it's not about fooling people, and it's not about convincing people that they want something they don't. We figure out what we want. And I think we're pretty good at having the right discipline to think through whether a lot of other people are going to want it, too. That's what we get paid to do.

"So you can't go out and ask people, you know, what the next big [thing.] There's a great quote by Henry Ford, right? He said, 'If I'd have asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me "A faster horse." ' "

 

[LagunaSol]

Which is the most distinguishing factor between the two companies. The concept videos help to maintain an illusion that they're on the bleeding edge.

Microsoft shows you their vision of the future (2019, Courier, etc.) with renderings and 3D animations. You know, stuff just about anyone could do with a copy of Maya and After Effects.

Steve Jobs shows you his version of the future by unveiling a new product on stage. One that he actually holds in his hand.

That's the chasm between Apple and Microsoft.

 

[gibbz]

Microsoft shows you their vision of the future (2019, Courier, etc.) with renderings and 3D animations. You know, stuff just about anyone could do with a copy of Maya and After Effects.

Steve Jobs shows you his version of the future by unveiling a new product on stage. One that he actually holds in his hand.

That's the chasm between Apple and Microsoft.

vaporware vs. hardware

 

[Avatar74]

I need to take a controlled leak right about now.

 

[oTaRu]

this is not a surprise issue at all....

 

[ildondeigiocchi]

No surprise... hopefully they "leak" info on the 2010 Mac Pro.

 

[DMann]

Microsoft shows you their vision of the future (2019, Courier, etc.) with renderings and 3D animations. You know, stuff just about anyone could do with a copy of Maya and After Effects.

Steve Jobs shows you his version of the future by unveiling a new product on stage. One that he actually holds in his hand.

That's the chasm between Apple and Microsoft.

So very true!

I loved the Courier demo by Ballmer, complete with Black SOD.

Classic.

vaporware vs. hardware

What's even sadder, is that Microsoft's vaporware (concept videos) often chases rumors of Apple's hardware, i.e. multi-touch tablet and multi-touch mouse.

Watch the videos, LIVE! (now playing at a MS store near you)

 

[LagunaSol]

So very true!

I loved the Courier demo by Ballmer, complete with Black SOD.

Classic.

The Apple Haterade Brigade on Engadget (the commenters, not the staff) were in a frenzy of joyous rapture yesterday, thinking Ballmer was going to put a knife in Apple's heart with some magical tablet announcement and perhaps even WinMo 7.

I noticed they weren't saying much tonight. Pity, that.

"Wait until next year!" they spit, shaking their fists.

 

[DMann]

The Apple Haterade Brigade on Engadget (the commenters, not the staff) were in a frenzy of joyous rapture yesterday, thinking Ballmer was going to put a knife in Apple's heart with some magical tablet announcement and perhaps even WinMo 7.

I noticed they weren't saying much tonight. Pity, that.

"Wait until next year!" they spit, shaking their fists.

What a blowout - backed by such hype!

Those concept videos did them way more harm than good.

The 'Slate?' How F'n original?

Microsoft - "We'll follow in your footsteps, while wearing your own shoes."

 

[LagunaSol]

What a blowout - backed by such hype!

You could almost hear the air go out of the room like a prolonged fart from a spinning, untied balloon.

"I want to highlight new form factors in what we call Slate PCs."

How original, Mr. Ballmer. Did you come up with that one on your own? "In your face, Apple! YEEEEEAAAAARRRRGH!!!"

Microsoft: Smell the Innovation (TM)

Dear Apple,

Newton, please. Ballmer has forever sweat-tainted the word "slate."

Thank you.

By the way, that HP device looks much more slab than slate.

 

[DMann]

You could almost hear the air go out of the room like a prolonged fart from a spinning, untied balloon.

"I want to highlight new form factors in what we call Slate PCs."

I've heard drunk Karaoke singers do better impressions of Steve Tyler than Microsoft does with their attempts at mimicking Apple.

How original, Mr. Ballmer. Did you come up with that one on your own? "In your face, Apple! YEEEEEAAAAARRRRGH!!!"

Microsoft: Smell the Innovation (TM)

It reeks intensely of a knock-off, of a premium line of fragrance.

Apple = Microsofts R&D.

Dear Apple,

Newton, please. Ballmer has forever sweat-tainted the word "slate."

Thank you.

By the way, that HP device looks much more slab than slate.

A slab it is, much like the slab who introduced it.

Wouldn't it be great if Apple had leaked the name iSlate as a joke, just so that MS would copy it?

Hopefully, this'll turn out to be the case.

 

[LagunaSol]

I've heard drunk Karaoke singers do better impressions of Steve Tyler than Microsoft does with their attempts at mimicking Apple.

Speaking of mimicry, I was really hoping to hear about the surely-smashing success of the new Microsoft retail stores at their pilot locations. How many dozen Zunes did they sell? How many thousands of RROD Xboxes did they replace onsite? How many viruses were removed from customers' PCs at the Wizard Bar/Smartie Counter/Brainiac Station/Really-Intelligent Chest-High Working Surface/Whatever-the-Heck-They're-Calling-It?

And more importantly, with the Electric Slide aptly under their staff's belts, what will they do for an encore to fill hapless customers with alarm and humiliation?

 

[DMann]

Speaking of mimicry, I was really hoping to hear about the surely-smashing success of the new Microsoft retail stores at their pilot locations. How many dozen Zunes did they sell? How many thousands of RROD Xboxes did they replace onsite? How many viruses were removed from customers' PCs at the Wizard Bar/Smartie Counter/Brainiac Station/Really-Intelligent Chest-High Working Surface/Whatever-the-Heck-They're-Calling-It?

And more importantly, with the Electric Slide aptly under their staff's belts, what will they do for an encore to fill hapless customers with alarm and humiliation?

"At our very successful Microsoft Stores, we have celebrated nine birthday parties this month, and have sold a respectable 67 XBox360s this holiday season. We are aware that most purchases are made through our partners, so the low number doesn't faze us one bit. Our tireless staff has kept our storefronts filled to capacity, to maintain a facade of high foot traffic, and have all been exceptional buffers for our aspiring Gurus, who have dealt with hoards of infuriated customers, each hour of every day. We'll keep our doors open until the last team of our dedicated employees turns in their notice. We are proud of our stores, our partners, and our persistence at following Apple's every move. Be the ninth customer to enter one of our stores, and you will receive Microsoft points good toward the purchase of a new Slate. See you there!"

***crickets***

 

[JBmac]

Magazine/MagaZeen = Zeen ?

At least Apple's controlled leaks are interesting, even exciting.

Unlike "This is my Zeen. It is the key to my Airlife."

Laugh? I nearly choked.

May be a reference to a tablet like magzine reader? Zene for Magazine.