It’s remarkable how Apple has been getting away so well with every of its audacious propaganda, be it the 3 models of iphones launched in a row to compete with each other, or then an overfed one they called the “ipad”. And with every success, it seems that Apple has quite conveniently assumed the whole world to be going dumber by the day (which apparently does not seem entirely wrong looking at every third person carrying a slice of their fruit), and decided to boast on bringing “a change, again”.
Yes I am talking against the iphone4… which as per Apple “in so many ways, is first”. And indeed it is, but more than what they prophesize in, it is a beacon for the creative wizards of the advertizing world who always wanted to enchant their audience by camouflaging the product.
For those uninitiated innocent souls who are yet ignorant about the iphone4, here’s a quick run-up in comparison of its so called unique features.
- FaceTime: Now this is supposedly iphone’s new video calling feature, with a front facing camera for... (You guessed it right,) videocalls! But c’mon Apple, leave aside the feature, even the name sounds copied (or should I diplomatically say… inspired!). According to Apple’s site “People have been dreaming about video calling for decades. iPhone 4 makes it a reality”! Guys … ever heard of Nokia & Samsung who have been manufacturing dual camera phones since exactly the same decade you are talking about!
- Retina Display: Wow! So attractive does the name “sound” with its contextual “visionary” terms, this seems worth a “look”. With a multimillion color display, the company seems to envisage on providing HD graphical content. This would have really brought about a difference, only if they would have upgraded their 3.5” screen with a 60” television connected to a blu-ray player playing a $99 disc!
- Multitasking: Well, I don’t know if I should even be writing about it... But if they can... I feel no less embarrassed! The 1st phone I remember ran multiple applications on a symbian platform had started selling even before 1/399th of today’s mobile population got to know what a cell phone was or did... and they came up with it now?
- 5MP camera with Flash and HD recording: The only thing I can say here to its design maestros is “Better late than never fellas... We all learn from our mistakes... Keep trying… and who knows, one day you too can beat Sony & others who have just launched what.. a 12MP autofocus Dual LED Xeon flash cam!”
- And yes of course there are apps for everything that you never needed but made to realize how you must have them, may be this upgrade has one for doing the dishes as well!
- Last but never the least (as a matter of fact, the root the evil) talking about Steve's “Only I must know what I cook ... If you like it, pay $800 and eat it… if you don’t, pay $800 and I’ll make you eat it! ” policy of theirs, even the “Tech Specs” page on their site does no better than a glossy catalogue shouting out loud “Don’t ask Why Me… just stay stupid & Buy Me!” attitude of theirs.
Lately, I have been writing about the flipside of IT and how this sacred art has been corrupted with the malice of mis-marketing, but more disappointed than the guys advocating it; I am with the rest of the world who are yet not able to free themselves from the spell they have been casted into. It’s not that I am accusing anyone of the “love thy iphone” community, but it’s more of a humble request to “see what you believe… just don’t believe what you are made to see”
So please… The next time “I phone” … don’t just blindly pick it up!- Sarthak
I felt the same way after reading its feature description document. Only Apple's name and Marketing are creating hype as they always do for "THE i". Nothing new that other providers are not offering.. I agree its touch feel is unbeatable but still it is not best anyday when all features are taken into consideration.
ReplyDeleteTouché Aashi!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree on the thoughts..
ReplyDeleteThe "A" in Apple stands for Arrogance.
I don't understand how can they rename and emphasize on things which are not even created by them. Instead of the so called legendary touch screen, what else do they have to give away?
C'mon, I mean HTC comes up with something new called the "HTC Sense UI", but what's new in the bag with iPhone.
I bet they'll come up with even more Memory Sucking applications for desktop- Don't even think of drag n dropping, install the new iTunes, sit back, relax, and watch it destroying your PC while you transfer your music.
I hope they realize the power of open source, but nopes!! they gotta bleed the money out of ya..
Thats all they think according to me.
Well written bro.
Keep posting :)
hey u gave words to what most of ppl were thinkin since iphone 3g... but this marketing has really helped iphone make a strong base of user submitted apps n games, which makes them way ahead of htc and nokia, this works for all the game dopers very well… I have a guy in office who’s wife is fed up of his all night iphone gaming!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAgree on your insight Sarthak. However, in my Iphone, the most interesting feature for me is to download Video lectures from Itunes...the iTunesU where u get amazing video courses free...Infact most of this is available on Youtube but it is in ITunesU they have organized so well that it is great learning in an organized way...Also we have to note that having an apple free account is enough for you to use ITunesU irrespective of whether you have a desktop, mac, iphone or any other medium to download...Ofcourse iTunes is needed mandatorily to be installed...Have a check and it is all free exceptional education for One and all...So, we can support poor and masses through these means..
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Chaitanya
Hi Chaitanya,
ReplyDelete1st of all, thanks for the comment, appreciate it!
And yes you sure get some stuff for free with itunes, but my point here was more to highlight Apple's (rather of many such companies) method to fool the innocent audience. Had they advertised it as a tool for gaining knowledge, things would have been quite different. And one thing you also must acknowledge that its not Apple imparting education, but its the authors who have no way else but to reach the masses through itunes. And as you said with Youtube, there could have been many other ways/tools that they could have used, but then since everyone uses iphone/ipod, they may have no better choice left.
@ Ashish: Thanks to u2! Again the cause and effect syndrome. It's the vendors who knew ppl are blindly going to buy whatever comes out from Apple, and like Apple they just mean business, irrespective of whether its iphone, Symbian or WinOS. Get all ppl using iphone to use Nokias and HTC's back .. and you will notice how the tide will change (eg Android)
Apple have recently overtaken Microsoft in the evil empire of I.T. stakes & look like staying there for a bit. While I think that the iphone/ipod/ipad are good products you have to be totally immersed in all that is Apple to use them. Apple will tell you that is for reliablity & thereby customer satifaction but in reality it is more to do with keeping you locked into buying from them exclusively to make your product work. This is somewhat similar to a manufacturer selling a cheap printer then gouging you for the replacment ink/toner.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say I have no problem with the darn iPhone, it's Apple that I have problems with, First off they ALWAYS mislead the masses with big words, bells and whistles. Secondly all the stuff that they have made so far are not revolutionary. Thirdly when you buy an Apple product you are consigned for life with using proprietary peripherals. Effectively Apple has complete monopoly in their own ecosystem and it's this walled garden that I can't live with at all. Everything that is Apple now is so against my principle as an IT dev it's not even funny :(
ReplyDeleteIf they are a bit more humble like what they used to be with the Apple Lisa, iMacs and even the first few iBooks, I'd be back to being a user, but otherwise I'll be walking with people who aren't stuck up their high horse.
Hey guys - Titania - proprietary peripherals!!?? Seriously? Any printer, mouse, hard drive, scanner, monitor, tablet, etc that works on a PC works on a Mac and visa versa. We've moved on since 1984... Apple users aren't "locked in" for life - although they will be Apple users for life - not because of the peripherals they own, but because they find the OS stable and easy to use.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, if you guys don't like Apple, don't use it. But when you consider the amount of products they are selling you gotta ask yourself what's selling it. Marketing... I think not. Users talking to friends and showing them their iphones, macs, ipods etc - I think so. Compare marketing costs of MIcrosoft and Apple - you'll find that Apple spends less on marketing and more on developing products that are good enough that the users end up loving them and doing the marketing for them. As for me - I use any technology that enriches my lifestyle - it just so happens that after years of mobile phone and Microsoft use, I discovered that Apple made some products that do the same thing, but in a way that works better for me. So I use Apple products - not because I consume their marketing, but because their gear works for me!
Go Android !!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletei was thinking to ask u to bring me iphone 4...
ReplyDeleteNow having second thoughts abt it :)