This is where we call out by names the actions and companies that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin crack. Technology is an odd realm where PR speak doesn’t hold a lot of water if the 1s and 0s don’t line up. This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity. Here is what caught my eye this week:
iPhone 3G.
I missed this call completely. I predicted no subsidies, no lower price, multiple models and a build your own adventure. Why did I blunder so badly? Easy, Apple is on crack. White? Are we headed back to the plasticy white Mac days? Only one reason Apple included the white color: cocaine is white. I am not saying Apple has a problem, wait, oh yeah that is exactly what I am saying.
But it is much more than white. By reducing the price, Apple may have hurt themselves. Let me explain before you hit the comment button and expound your hate. There is this hot girl on my block and I don’t have a chance with her. Now, if I learn she is getting down with 1/2 the guys on the block, well, she becomes less hot (unless you are into that kind of thing). It has to do with brand power and well, the iPhone has come down a few pegs in my book. Will it stay cool or become the next Moto? Shame, crackheads.
Gmail
I like Gmail, but when are we going to get out of beta? I like new features but lets move on here. I’ve got far too much invested in my Gmail accounts for them not to be taking this thing seriously. Back to the lab sends me the signal that this cake is not done baking. Um, what? Crikey, I’ve been eating this cake for over a year now, what do you mean my chances of catching salmonella are unusually high? Time to fish or cut bait. But don’t you dare cut the bait, so really, just time to fish. Give us the 1.0 please.
Sprint
Ah, Sprint, we admire your gumption with this whole Instinct thing. But announcing the same price as the iPhone 3g and your iPhone challenging advertisements seems a bit, well foolish. Can you do anything without mentioning the iPhone? Always comparing yourself to the iphone will keep you down, even if on paper you’re better. Just look at Rocky vs Drago in Rocky IV, Drago should have kicked his butt, but no. I see us asking, “Instinct who?” in six months.
Roku
Ok, really, who’s doing the crack on this one? You intro a player we all want but are not certain enough to order lots? I’d say you missed your price opportunity if you can’t keep them on the shelves. A whole lot of crack isn’t going to make that feel better. 6-8 weeks is the latest delay time. Heck in that time I could have whittled one out of driftwood. Crack…
Perhaps we’re still hung over from the party out at the WWDC but this has been an odd week. What did you see that made you say “huh?”, let us know in the comments.
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