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Why the iPhone Keynote Was A Mistake
jcatcw writes "Mike Elgan at Computerworld lists six reasons why it was a mistake to make the iPhone keynote at Macworld. He argues that extremely high expectations can only lead to disappointment for consumers and investors. The focus on the phone during the keynote also took away from the Apple TV announcement, put iPod sales at risk, gave competitors a head start, and (perhaps worst of all) ruined the company's talks with Cisco over the iPhone name. From the article: 'The iPhone, despite its many media-oriented virtues and its sweet design, will do far less than most existing smart phones. The problem Apple now faces because of Jobs' premature detail-oriented announcement is that of dashed expectations. When customers expect more and don't get it, they become dissatisfied.'"
Right at the start of the presentation, Jobs says something like "When's it going to be available? We're shipping them in June -- we're announcing it today because we have to go get FCC approval... We thought it'd be better to introduce this today rather than let the FCC introduce this".
Judging from all the rumours about the Zune the future iPods that have been helped along by FCC documents, I think they made the right call.
The trouble is that Apple apparently had no choice, because it needs FCC approval which would have made the device public anyway.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Just about any Fortune 1000 firm in the US, for starters. Why?
I agree that those announcements that end in, "and you can buy them in stores today" are much more powerful. I recall the Intel-based Macs were announced that way. Clearly the iPhone didn't miss MacWorld due to development delays, they announced it now to make the biggest splash. I thought it was overdone at the time - especially as they completly ignored the 11n AirPort upgrade - but who can argue with the incredible PR it brought them and the 5% stock bump, all ahead of another jump at earnings announcement. And they beat the LG/Prada phone to the punch. This was less an analysis of the unqualified success that it was, and more a prediction of the failure that iPhone is going to be. These journalists seem to be rewarded for making wrong predictions, because they're labeled "controvertial." Adjust accordingly.
I still want a AirPort Extreme though.
Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. -Groucho Marx
This has to be the least impact and most important cellphone news of the past year, and no one seems to be able to remember it. New rules got passed last december. It was covered here and on most of the major tech sites. The telcos can't as in "NO", restrict the use of any phone as along as it is frequency capable. You can unlock them, they are now portable if you so choose. Apple saying it is cingular only is mass consumer FUD now. That might be their contract they have with AT&T, but it isn't the law for individuals. Tell your friend he shouldn't have to switch if the iPhone hardware is compatable. Scroll to section five, clear as day, cellphones are now portable, legally, they can't stop you
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/index.html
"5. Computer programs in the form of firmware that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."
I have posted this a few times now on cellphone theads, hopefully it will stick this time
With that said, I would encourage anyone to support open moko and the neo1973 instead of the iPhone,it is pretty close to half the price, totally open, no restrictions of note, free as in speech.
Support hardware vendors who support open source (and it is a sharp looking phone, and there will be a ton of apps for it, unlike apple's big FU to consumers and devs)
The IT professionals get pissy because they don't like being blindsided by new computers or operating systems.
I can't recall any time during the past ten years that Apple has blindsided anyone by introducing a new operating system or feature as a surprise. They've been quite upfront about upcoming Enterprise features in Mac OS X Server and Client at WWDC each year. One might argue that the interface of Mac OS X Beta in 2000 was a big surprise, but the underpinnings of the OS were well-known and didn't change much from NeXTSTEP/OPENSTEP to Mac OS X with the exception of RedBox.
If anything, Apple was very open about the features and underpinnings of Mac OS X, they stuck to a release schedule after the summer of 1998, and Apple hasn't cut significant features or introduced surprises that break software since, either. A notable quibble could be that MaconIntel won't run 68k or Mac OS 9 software anymore, but after twelve and seven years respectively, it's time to give up on those old cdebases.
You can't say that Microsoft has been as punctual or diiligent in it's efforts during the same time. It's tough to underdeliver when you don't overpromise.
Hardware? Apple has been very secretive about hardware design specifications, but has always provided a well-anticipated set of interfaces, with the exception of the iMac and Blue and White G3 - disruptive machines indicitive of Steve Jobs' first releases. Nothing since has been disruptive in the sense that it wouldn't connect to an existing network or be able to use existing peripherals. Since those 1998-vintage machines, even with PowerPC, Apple has been at the forefront of compatibility and standards adoption when it comes to interfaces - USB, Bluetooth, Gigabit, Firewire, ATA, SATA, Fiber Channel...now, with Intel, we have a practical roadmap to Apple's new CPU products.
Now, with the iPod and iPhone, Apple has a "secret" product line not slaved to the expectations of corporate purchasers.
Honestly, I think the IT types just hate not being invited to Cupertino for "technology briefings" - which are useful for making one feel like a mini-God with a purchasing budget.
The adage that helps me give computer purchase advice to friends remains true for businesses - look at the roadmap for the parts, and imagine the whole. Intel's roadmap is now Apple's - unless you want me to believe IT managers are now buying based on color coordination.