Bastion

Rotten Apple? Google Voice App Blocked from App Store

Paul, this "choice" is also why there is so much incompatibility on PCs.

But I was most annoyed by your proposal that "many" Mac users install Windows to be "compatible with the world". With that word choice, "world", you are exaggerating the scope and need for Mac users to run Windows.

There isn't a whole "world" out there that we're missing. Macs natively do email, HTML, Word/Excel/PowerPoint, Photoshop, Flash, PDF, etc. etc. etc. just as well, if not better, than PCs.

So what "world" are you referring to? Gaming?

Oh well, for some, that will be worth infecting a Mac with Windows. For most, however, it does not...


On Jul 29 01:50 AM Paul H. M. wrote:

> This is an example of how Windows became big in the first place:
> it has always been much less restrictive than the Mac OS.
>
> Apple makes you do everything their way, while Windows makes it easy
> to choose from so many hardware and software companies that develop for Windows.
>
> Many Mac users are forced to install Windows, just to be compatible with the world!

Apple's Walmart Deal Will Effectively Kill Google's Android

I don't think so. Apple already sells iPods through Walmart, so I don't think they will lose any cachet by adding the iPhone to the mix.

Remember, they are the ones who made famous "the computer for the rest of us". The idea that Apple products are somehow elitist is just a Wintel fanboy fantasy.

They have often cost more than competitors (but not always), but that was because you were paying for greater quality and industrial design.

"Average folk" are willing to pay for quality (true quality, not just celebrity status) just as much as the "upper crust".


On Dec 10 07:38 PM Greg Skidmore wrote:

> I find this idea of selling in wmt curious. I think it risks alienating
> Apples cult like following. I remember reading Malcolm Gladwell's
> book Tipping Point and he discusses when Airwalk started selling
> their shoes in main stream dept. stores. Killed the brand immediately.
> What made Airwalks cool is you had to buy them in skate or bmx shops.
> Is apple going to make itself uncool by selling in wmt?
>

Apple's Walmart Deal Will Effectively Kill Google's Android

The thing that Apple has going for it over RIM and Google is the distribution infrastructure. And I don't mean just the retail distribution (is there anyplace that you can see the Blackberry showcased and demonstrated as the iPhone is in an Apple Store?).

Instead, I'm talking primarily about the content distribution system. Because Apple has an end-to-end solution, the iTunes / App Stores blow away anything that RIM or Google have or will have in the near future.

This is the kind of system that locks in loyalty - and locks in future revenue. Not to mention future innovation. I mean, I don't even have an iPhone (I have an iPod Touch), but I have had 12 (!) system updates in just one year (the iPhone had gone through 3 additional ones before the iPod Touch was released), and only the major upgrades had a nominal charge - the other 10 updates: free (all updates have been free for iPhone users). Not to mention all of the apps I've downloaded - and the developer has updated - over the course of just the past few months since the App Store launched.

And don't even mention Windows Mobile! How long did it take to finally release their 6.0 version? And the next release, 6.1, wasn't until another year later. And now 7.0 has been pushed out to 2010 (although I guess a minor 6.5 upgrade is due ... about now ...)

And all of this staying current for me took no more effort than getting email - it is right there in iTunes, waiting for me. The system tells me when there is a system update or a new version of a 3rd party application - all I have to do is click the "download" button.

That's the thing about Apple's approach - it is ease-of-use-centric and strongly encourages customer loyalty. I mean, the iPod Touch is like a "gateway drug" for the iPhone - I'm sure many iPod Touch purchases are people who'd like an iPhone but are still under their current mobile provider's contract. The number of upgrades from iPod to iPhone would be an interesting metric...

Apple's Walmart Deal Will Effectively Kill Google's Android

Ummm, Joe Six-Pack already knows how to use a cellular phone, and he knows how to use a touch-screen ATM.

That's all you really need to know to use an iPhone.

It isn't really that hard - easier in fact than navigating the infernal software systems on most of today's handset makers.


On Dec 10 07:59 AM Philly Jim wrote:

> Um, Joe six-pack doesn't know how to use the i-Phone. They are simply
> getting ahead of the curve. Consumers are shunning more expensive
> outlets for a bargain. Something more interesting to keep an eye
> is in the drop in new subscribers of internet access plans for these
> smartphones. The prices will eventually have to come down for these
> services to be viable in this market.