Search results matching tag 'Apple'

iPhone – so should you

2419367 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:02:00 GMT

In Saturday’s Guardian, Alan Rusbridger listed the 10 ways in which his life has changed since the last century. It was no great surprise that Google took the top spot. Neither was it a massive surprise that Wikipedia came second – although there is evidence to suggest that this online super power is on the wane. Twitter coming in third place raised a few more eyebrows while Rusbridger was forced to admit that putting Comment Is Free in fourth position was “a plug for the home team”. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the list though was the iPhone coming in a paltry 6th position.

“Can you remember the moment when you first held one?” asked Rusbridger. “The involuntary gasp as you saw what it could do?” While he acknowledges that as a result of the iPhone, “the only limit to what a mobile phone could become is human imagination itself”, it’s something of a surprise that the editor of The Guardian shouldn’t rate the technology higher, given its potential for growing his brand’s digital audience.

As well as offering a serious boost to Apple’s bottom line, the iPhone has revolutionised the way we consume media. IAB research shows that 40 per cent of iPhone users already use the internet on their phones more than on a PC, helping to fuel a spectacular surge in mobile internet usage. What’s more, over one billion iPhone apps have been downloaded worldwide with the average UK user downloading 37 each. According to Comscore, 11.3 million people in the UK use the mobile internet per month, representing a rise of 28 per cent year on year, while some 597,112 people in the UK use applications per month, a 1,724 per cent rise year on year.

This has helped to feed improvements across the board in the mobile market with rapid improvements to handsets and high speed networks, affordable data plans and mass consumer browsing now the norm. As Tim Hussain, head of mobile and video advertising at BSkyB, said at the IAB mobile forum last month, "the world did change with the iPhone".

On Monday, Rusbridger’s paper wrote: “Have you noticed how it’s impossible to read a newspaper these days without coming across a story about an iPhone? It’s as if the very word confers instant coolness and connectedness”. The Guardian concluded that the word “iPhone” had occurred “a whopping” 143 times in national newspapers over the last week. Two things are interesting about this. Firstly, 143 mentions of the word “iPhone” doesn’t actually sound like a lot, and secondly, “coolness” is not the most important reason for talking about the iPhone.

We at the IAB believe that the iPhone – and other smart phones like it – go beyond cool and instead open up hugely useful services for people looking to consume media on the move. It’s as a result of these changes that we’ve decided to revamp our mobile offering in partnership with Incentivated. Our new mobile site is now up and running – why not check it out.

Follow the IAB on Twitter

Bad viral is good viral

2116546 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:48:00 GMT

So there's a new set of groundbreaking Microsoft viral clips/ads out for Windows 7; I say that with sarcasm behind it but I think I'm wrong to slag them off. Here (1, 2, 3) are a few of them

Apple's competitor has become known for pretty dodgy advertising of late (well perhaps it's not just a recent thing) with the laptop hunter ads and ripping off Apple's "I'm a PC" concept - why even mention/reference a company that is by far the number two in operating system market share, come up with your own campaign, but I digress.

We were in awe of the crapness on display with these 'Windows 7 Launch Party' videos, but I think we've been sucked in; damnit. They're meant to be crap, they're meant to make Apple fans go "peh, so not cool" and then pass it around. Why would they care, Microsoft will never be as 'cool' as Apple. All Microsoft want is for people to know Windows 7 is coming out and it's not called Vista.

I think I might have opened a bigger can of worms than I meant to, and there's more to be said about 'crap' work becoming viral - and it being so on purpose.

iPhone Apps - what are best ones out there?

2646379 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:45:00 GMT

There are tens of thousands of iPhone applications out there including some very amusing ones (Puma and stripping models we're thinking of you), some must have ones (come on down Spotify) and some pointless ones (yes Noel Edmonds and Cosmic Ordering we are thinking of you), but what are some of your favourite?

Is Apple finally ready to welcome The Beatles to iTunes?

2371004 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:37:00 GMT

Can you hear it? The nothingness? The strange and gratifying silence that only comes once a year. The unnatural calm that precipitates out of every Apple September event?

Everyone is holding their breath, mouthing the same wordless question: Just what the hell are Jobs and Co going to drop on Wednesday?

For digital journalists, the stream of news has been reduced to a noticeable trickle. No one is moving, there's no shaking - it's a dry creek-bed and Apple's hand is on the faucet.

Any company, especially a plucky young start-up, would be wise to wait a couple days, maybe even a week to make a major announcement, lest Apple shows up and turns the industry on its head once more.

Apple enthusiasts have been sifting through rumours, gossip, hearsay, patent logs and their wildest dreams - for months - in anticipation of Wednesday, questioning every subtle nuance, inspecting every detail, like a jealous, embittered spouse.

For those in the know, a glaring peculiarity precludes Apple's event. It's as simple as the days of the week.

Specifically, Wednesday. Why Wednesday?

Historically, Apple events have been on Tuesdays.

Yet, Wednesday also happens to be the day MTV Games releases 'The Beatles: Rock Band'. It also marks the day the band's remastered albums hit store shelves.

Is Apple finally ready to welcome The Beatles to iTunes?

Deciphering clues is like a reliving the 'Paul is Dead' hysterics.

For instance, take Wednesday again - or 09/09/09. Nine, a famous Beatles number, as in 'Revolution 9'.

The invite to the event reads "It's only rock and roll, but we like it" - which is, well, a Rolling Stones reference - or rather a 'red herring', according to Mac Rumours, to throw us off the track of the likely Beatles announcement.

Beatles on iTunes has been rumoured for the past two years, with negotiations very much ongoing between the Beatles Apple Corp, Jobs' Apple Inc and EMI, specifically the $0.99-per-track pricing scheme that has irritated music labels since its inception.

Apple and Apple Records have a prickly history, going as far back as 1978 regarding a trademark dispute, which was settled in 2007, yet just last year Macca described the 'Beatles on iTunes' proceedings as "stalled".

Have the two sides finally buried the hatchet?

Is Apple going to launch a new iPod on Wednesday, with Beatles tracks preloaded (like it did with U2 a while back), much to the delight of millions of Apple and Fab Four fans the world around?

Sure.

But what else might happen?

iPods with cameras? This seems likely. iPods always play in the September events in one way or another, but as sales stall, how long can Apple depend these ubiquitous devices in the lead up to the holiday season. An in-house camera could certainly have Christmas shoppers clamouring for a replacement.

New iTunes? Almost certain. iTunes 9 (Number 9!), is expected to be integrated with Facebook and Twitter, marking Apple's descent into the murky depths of social networking. Perhaps a subscription package is in the works, much like Spotify has had success with, because if you can't beat 'em, just rip them off.

The iTablet? You wish, and so does everyone else, but it simply not going to happen. Not on Wednesday at least...

What is the fastest growing company in the World?

812253 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:52:00 GMT

Starbucks ? Tata ? "Some Chinese or Indian tech company" - these were the results of the straw poll I conducted in the office this morning,

According to Fortune BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) is the World’s fastest-growing company, apparently the Canadian firm recorded average yearly revenue growth of 74% over the last three years,and average profit growth of 84% over the same period. Since 2006, RIM has provided an average 45% return on its backers’ investment.

This growth is directly driven by the huge rise in demand for smartphones in the last three years.- it now has 74% of the business smartphone market and recent reports indicate that the BlackBerry now outsells the iPhone in the US. Interestingly Apple also features at 39 which belies their sucess recently due to the huge base it is growing from.

With smartphone sales representing the fastest-growing segment of the mobile devices market surpassing 40 million units,- a 27 per cent increase from the same period last year they have recently become the "phone of choice" for everyone from high powered International businessmen to sutudents which have apparently adopted them in droves - mainly down to unlimied access to personal email, free contracts and according to some even to cheat in exams ! it will be interesting to see if this growth is sustainable but with the exponential rise in social networking through phones, applications and announcements such as Nokia recently announcing a partneship with Microsoft and Apple relaxing its association with specific carriers such as O2 in the Uk it looks set to continue

I still dream about the simplicity of my old Nokia 6310i !

Apple getting social with iTunes

2371004 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:25:00 GMT

A new month, and a new salvo of Apple rumours to wade through - this time concerning iTunes, with the web salivating over the prospect of an iTunes/Twitter/Facebook/Last.fm partnership.

Thing is, it ain't gonna happen.

It certainly looks like Apple is planning some sort of social networking integration with iTunes, and soon, but don't expect Twitter or Last.fm to be involved.

Those in the know have probably seen a couple of screengrabs from the purported iTunes 9, which curiously followed rumours that the newest version of Apple's music player would integrated with Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm.

The photos have since been debunked as a hasty Photoshop job, by someone with far too much time on their hands.

But even with photographic evidence, a rumour such as this just doesn't make sense.

The idea is that iTunes would broadcast what songs its users are listening too, to Twitter and Facebook profiles, which would be simply, annoying - especially those among us to keep music playing several hours of the day.

Furthermore, Apple has never been a company to jump on a bandwagon, especially concerning a faddish little microblogging website with major operational issues.

A partnership with Last.fm makes less sense. The two companies work in a similar vein, and Last.fm (as much as I love it) is far from an established brand, Apple would have nothing to gain. Many of the features that makes Last.fm shine, such as it's 'similar artists' tab, are available on iTunes anyways (iLike).

But Facebook. Maybe, just maybe. The two companies established a partnership a while back, by allowing iPhoto users to publish their pictures to their Facebook profiles.

Looking at the big picture, the rumours generally deduce that Apple is planning to push a social networking strategy through its iTunes platform, even though the details might have been mixed up.

Digging deeper into the rumour pile, it appears Apple is preparing to launch some sort of social media app, whether for iTunes, its OS desktop, or the iPhone, that would consolidate various streams into one juicy platform.

Sound suspiciously like FriendFeed - rather a FriendFeed killer, which gives this rumour (some) legs and puts some more weight behind the companies surprise sell-out to Facebook this week.

Better late than never, it looks like Apple is ready to embrace social networking, but likely on its own terms - a sort of "social media browser", which would allow users to search and share content with their friends.

Perhaps this will be part of Apple's plans to 'reinvent' the digital album, by including loads of additional content with iTunes purchases.

Apple rumours, as per usual, are common and vague, but this one is keeping an eye on. Speaking of which, where's my iTablet?

U2 Love Blackberry .... and Apple

1244467 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:47:00 GMT

I've just seen the new Blackberry ad, "We Love U2".

I like it...but it reminded me of something...What was it...of course, the iPod U2 ad!

A mistake? An oversight? No, I can’t believe it’s anything but a conscious effort to take a leaf out of the iPod book of marketing. After all, if you want to emulate them and beating them is not really on the agenda, why not copy them? Mmmmm...

GreenHeart could win over hearts and minds

2114008 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:01:00 GMT

I’ve just clocked Sony Ericsson’s GreenHeart strategy.
These are based around the launch of two ‘green’ phones, the C901 GreenHeart and Naite which are due to launch here at the end of the year.
The company says that green innovations showcased in the phones will migrate into the wider portfolio enabling the company to reduce the environmental impact of its other phones.
I think this is a smart move. Brands, particularly in the technology sector, which rely on stimulating consumer demand through constant upgrades will be on the end of an increasing amount of flak so they need to develop strategies to counter this criticism.
Although Apple is a well-loved brand, movements such as Green Thing have already laid into its MacBook Air as an unnecessary new product.

Microsoft does mediocre… Again!

822535 — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Microsoft, and their agency, CP+B seem to think they hit a nerve by attacking Apple on price in the "Laptop Hunter" TV campaign currently running here in the US (maybe it’s over there as well, let me know) because they've now decided to employ the same tactic in a much tougher fight, Zune's underdog battle against the iPod. A new spot features Wes Moss — Certified Financial planner and unsuccessful contestant on that dreadful TV show "The Apprentice." In a spot reminiscent of a late night infomercial selling miracle stain removers, he explains that filling an empty 120GB iPod with songs from the iTunes Store at a dollar a track would run you about $30,000, whereas you can listen to all the music you want with a $15-a-month subscription to the Zune Pass streaming service.

So, you could maintain your Zune Pass membership for more than 166 years for that 30 thousand, if you can find a miracle drug that keeps you going that long. But, if you stop paying, you're left with nothing but memories (plus the 10 free songs a month that the Zune Pass allows you to keep). Strangely, the spot doesn't even mention the Zune itself; so a non-techie viewer could be forgiven for thinking that the Zune Pass was an alternative service for iPod users.

But going head to head on hardware probably isn't the best option for the Zune anyway. The first step is to try to introduce doubt about committing to the Apple ecosystem by arguing the benefits of subscription over ownership. It's a fair argument, depending on the users needs, but one that hasn't helped other subscription services like Real's Rhapsody slow down the explosion in iTunes sales.

Just like CP+B’s ever changing campaign for Windows, I don’t think this mediocre effort on behalf of the Zune will do much either. Watch for a new campaign shortly, and some bullshit about how this one is all part of some mysterious long term strategy.

iTunes kiosks coming to an airport near you?

255762 — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:29:00 GMT

A patent filing uncovered by industry blog AppleInsider shows that Apple has plans to develop a series of wireless iTunes 'kiosks' or download hubs where users can load content on their iPods before travelling.

The 19-page patent, filed in November 2007, reveals that Apple wants to develop an iTunes Store distribution hub, that could potentially set up shop in airports and train terminals, and would allow wireless downloads of music, films or television programmes for commuters.

The kiosks would be able to detect an iPod in the immediate vicinity, allowing users to download content without wires or cords, even in areas without wireless internet access.

The wireless component would mean that users could purchase content without having incur roaming charges on their devices while waiting for downloads to complete.

Apple said in the patent that the kiosks would be useful for travellers who wish to load their iPods, iPhones or other handheld devices before boarding a flight, ship or train.

The notoriously secretive Apple has not previously mentioned the iTunes kiosks, but it would undoubtedly prove to be a lucrative source of revenue, especially with the right branding and selective location. Hopefully this is one that doesn't get swept under the Apple rug.