January 8, 2009 at 13:553 reasons why the Internet reduces the magic of Apple
- Transfer
Table of contents
1. Bloggers
2. The era of CEO-rock stars is over
3. Web applications and netbooks are eating up Apple pie
Translation of the article “Three Reasons the Internet is Eroding Apple's Mojo”
I was a fan of Apple and a Mac user for most of my adult life. I bought my first Mac in 1992 and have since owned another half dozen. I wrote for Mac magazines in the mid-1990s. I have been waiting for many hours online when the iPhone appeared and I am writing this post on the MacBook Air which I bought without even seeing it live last year, right after Jobsnote’s performance.
However, after yesterday's report, which did not shine, I am convinced that the Internet is slowly washing away Apple’s PR magic. They (Apple) are still making good progress, but times are changing. Here are 3 reasons why Apple may not make a coup, similar to what they did before. Useful material for PR professionals.
1) Bloggers
Previously, Apple firmly kept their mouths shut about upcoming updates. Steve Jobs has built a culture that eliminates information leakage since his return in 1996. With eyes everywhere and manufacturing in China, this is no longer easy to do.
Bloggers write better and better, guess which products are coming. Professional journalists use their posts as a basis, doing an additional fact-checking on their own. By the time the invitations are sent to the press, there is not much interest and tension left - especially since the iPhone’s debut. If you think about it, this was the last time Apple was capable of causing shock and sacred awe.
What does it mean? That expectations are high and Apple has not been able to achieve them since the launch of the iPhone.
2) The era of “CEO - rock stars” is over.
For many years we lived in an era when CEOs were like rock stars. Edison, Henry Ford, Jack Welch, Sam Walton, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are all rock stars.
Today, rank-and-file employees and “guys like me” are highly trusted, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. This is not Apple’s mistake, times are changing. Recent CEO scandals have not helped. More importantly, web 2.0 and social networks make individual voices and personal brands more important.
Apple still lives in an era when its CEO and his team are the only people who speak on behalf of the company. Compare with Google, for example, who have a whole army of trustworthy people in communities such as Matt Cutts. Gmail security issue? Matt will do this. Is your MacBook on fire? Write to Steve and pray that he is not too reprehensible.
3) Web applications and netbooks eat up Apple pie
I am a big web application enthusiast. I fulfill 75-90% of my needs through a browser. I am writing articles in Google Docs, editing photos in Picnik or Photoshop.com. The only traditional applications with the exception of the browser that I still use are Microsoft Entourage (email client for Mac OS X) and PowerPoint.
Now I'm still pretty original. Many of you still love traditional applications, but I think that will change. In the coming years, you will all be using web applications more. And this means that a netbook or even a phone will be enough for you. This area is still evolving and many applications are still version 1.0. But I think this will change, and if the current economic climate continues, it could reduce the share of Apple laptops.
“But Apple has its own web applications,” you say. “How about Mobile Me and the new iWork.com?” They are cool, of course. However, in terms of functionality, they do not stand in line with Google or Adobe web applications. And I think that Microsoft products in this area will also be quite strong. In the next three years, iLive and iWork should completely move to the cloud (cloud computing) and the advantage will be given to those who take such a step first.
This is a look at the situation of one person. More opinions here - discussion on Friendfeed.
1. Bloggers
2. The era of CEO-rock stars is over
3. Web applications and netbooks are eating up Apple pie
Translation of the article “Three Reasons the Internet is Eroding Apple's Mojo”
I was a fan of Apple and a Mac user for most of my adult life. I bought my first Mac in 1992 and have since owned another half dozen. I wrote for Mac magazines in the mid-1990s. I have been waiting for many hours online when the iPhone appeared and I am writing this post on the MacBook Air which I bought without even seeing it live last year, right after Jobsnote’s performance.
However, after yesterday's report, which did not shine, I am convinced that the Internet is slowly washing away Apple’s PR magic. They (Apple) are still making good progress, but times are changing. Here are 3 reasons why Apple may not make a coup, similar to what they did before. Useful material for PR professionals.
1) Bloggers
Previously, Apple firmly kept their mouths shut about upcoming updates. Steve Jobs has built a culture that eliminates information leakage since his return in 1996. With eyes everywhere and manufacturing in China, this is no longer easy to do.
Bloggers write better and better, guess which products are coming. Professional journalists use their posts as a basis, doing an additional fact-checking on their own. By the time the invitations are sent to the press, there is not much interest and tension left - especially since the iPhone’s debut. If you think about it, this was the last time Apple was capable of causing shock and sacred awe.
What does it mean? That expectations are high and Apple has not been able to achieve them since the launch of the iPhone.
2) The era of “CEO - rock stars” is over.
For many years we lived in an era when CEOs were like rock stars. Edison, Henry Ford, Jack Welch, Sam Walton, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are all rock stars.
Today, rank-and-file employees and “guys like me” are highly trusted, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. This is not Apple’s mistake, times are changing. Recent CEO scandals have not helped. More importantly, web 2.0 and social networks make individual voices and personal brands more important.
Apple still lives in an era when its CEO and his team are the only people who speak on behalf of the company. Compare with Google, for example, who have a whole army of trustworthy people in communities such as Matt Cutts. Gmail security issue? Matt will do this. Is your MacBook on fire? Write to Steve and pray that he is not too reprehensible.
3) Web applications and netbooks eat up Apple pie
I am a big web application enthusiast. I fulfill 75-90% of my needs through a browser. I am writing articles in Google Docs, editing photos in Picnik or Photoshop.com. The only traditional applications with the exception of the browser that I still use are Microsoft Entourage (email client for Mac OS X) and PowerPoint.
Now I'm still pretty original. Many of you still love traditional applications, but I think that will change. In the coming years, you will all be using web applications more. And this means that a netbook or even a phone will be enough for you. This area is still evolving and many applications are still version 1.0. But I think this will change, and if the current economic climate continues, it could reduce the share of Apple laptops.
“But Apple has its own web applications,” you say. “How about Mobile Me and the new iWork.com?” They are cool, of course. However, in terms of functionality, they do not stand in line with Google or Adobe web applications. And I think that Microsoft products in this area will also be quite strong. In the next three years, iLive and iWork should completely move to the cloud (cloud computing) and the advantage will be given to those who take such a step first.
This is a look at the situation of one person. More opinions here - discussion on Friendfeed.