Apple: the "shrine" of technology!

Apple store Fifth avenue in New York: Is it like any hardware or software store?!

Apple: the shrine of technology! This metaphor is not my creation. I was watching "Meet Dave", the movie which I rented on Apple TV/ iTunes store. This guy, Dave who lands on planet earth from another place in the space, is actually an alien-ship, being controlled from inside by miniature creatures. Eddie Murphy is great in the role. And when he sees "Apple Store" in New York, he says : it looks like a shrine of technology and then enters the store. It is hilarious and the person on the 'Genius Desk" is also amazing. Unfortunately, I could not found a video clip with Apple Store scene from the movie, but you will like this clip. The movie is nuts.

Competitors of Apple TV?

Here is a great review on competitors of Apple TV. This article appeared one year ago and since then, there is no major new competitor against Apple TV. It is not always a good thing if there is no competition. I recommend this article from CNET:

Competitors of Apple TV?

Here is a great review on competitors of Apple TV. This article appeared one year ago and since then, there is no major new competitor against Apple TV. It is not always a good thing if there is no competition. I recommend this article from CNET:

Mac versus PC ads: just entertainment!

Apple has scored over Microsoft by positioning as cool and entertaining. The best example of this is reflected in its Mac versus PC ads. This is high value entertainment. Here are my favorites:

Steve's greatest performance: "Connecting the Dots"!

As many of you know that Steve Jobs is not keeping well. I am an Oncologist (cancer specialist) and know that the path is quite uphill for Steve but with Steve, you never know. He has come back again and again; since his birth.

I think that this commencement address is Steve's greatest performance ever and full of entertainment in a different style. I thought that this video will set stage for the visitors and help them understand why Steve's magic transformed a hardware-software company to an entertainment company (at least I think so). This honest story has everything; saga, separation, humor, romance, spirituality and 'connecting the dots'. Take a listen:

What is Apple's core business?

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The premise of this blog is that whether Apple is a software company or a hardware company. I think that Apple is none. It is instead an entertainment company. Well, Apple is trying to make inroads into corporate business clients. But, who said that with all the revolution in technology, doing business will be boring and not entertaining. You can potentially do business and still be happy using a Macbook or an iPhone.

Steve Jobs proclaims that Apple is a software company (he is one of my heroes from the modern world) but I do not agree with him. Ask Four Seasons hotel: are they a hotel company? No, they are not. They call themselves a management or a service company and offer best service (quality service being their "product"). But they add value to the customers by providing what the customers what. In their case, customers do not want a hotel-room! What their customers want is a quality service which is unmatched. I think that is what Apple does when it comes to providing what its customers want. Now Four Seasons is not the biggest hotel company. Similarly, I think Apple is a high end entertainment company (I do not mean for high end customers but mean a high end of quality of entertainment). It is a pleasure to use every Apple product (there a few aberrations to the rule like their remote for Apple TV). I am not at all mean to those who do not use Apple products but ask them not to pass judgement if they have not used an Apple product. A company is as entertaining as its entertainers and no one would disagree that Steve Jobs is the king of modern day marketing and an entertainer par excellence.

So, what kind of company is Apple? That is the question for you. Please vote on right side of the page.

Cheers,

The new MacMini: does it have an inbuilt Apple TV?

The new MacMini: does it have an inbuilt Apple TV?

Is Apple TV just a hobby product?

Is Apple TV a serious product? I do not know the answer to that. Is it a hobby product? Probably, yes. At least at this stage, Apple seems to be promoting it like another 'want'. I spent around $300 on Apple TV. It is a one time cost and I save about 60-70 $$ which I would have potentially spent on cable subscription for CNN, NBC, ABC etc. What I get in return is a lot of value. I think that by keeping a low price, Apple moved this great product down the value chain and it is perceived as a hobby product. But, that is my explanation from the knowledge I have gained during my MBA (half way through, 'WoW'). I do not know what other users think about the product. For me, it is much more than a hobby product. Here is an honest review although I have personally found it better. Take a listen:

Is Apple TV just a hobby product?

Is Apple TV a serious product? I do not know the answer to that. Is it a hobby product? Probably, yes. At least at this stage, Apple seems to be promoting it like another 'want'. I spent around $300 on Apple TV. It is a one time cost and I save about 60-70 $$ which I would have potentially spent on cable subscription for CNN, NBC, ABC etc. What I get in return is a lot of value. I think that by keeping a low price, Apple moved this great product down the value chain and it is perceived as a hobby product. But, that is my explanation from the knowledge I have gained during my MBA (half way through, 'WoW'). I do not know what other users think about the product. For me, it is much more than a hobby product. Here is an honest review although I have personally found it better. Take a listen:

If hackers can improve it , why can not Apple?

If hackers can do it, why not Apple upgrade its own product. They should learn from i Phone experiment. Apple: stop blaming hackers and work on a major upgrade on one of your best products!
The question is if Apple TV offers a complete product or service mix which we have come to expect of any Apple product. For example, iPhone exceeded all expectation by bringing tons of apps to a touchscreen. iPod is maintaining its advantage in the market. But, Apple TV has seen no major upgrade after the Macworld 2008 launch (relaunch or take 2). Other players like PSP3 or XBox 360 are working to enhance their streaming capabilities but we do not know what is Apple planning. There is some rumour of merging macMini with Apple TV but it is just a rumour. With Steve Jobs out of picture, the future of upgradation of a not on Apple's priority list product seems remote.

If hackers can improve it , why can not Apple?

If hackers can do it, why not Apple upgrade its own product. They should learn from i Phone experiment. Apple: stop blaming hackers and work on a major upgrade on one of your best products!
The question is if Apple TV offers a complete product or service mix which we have come to expect of any Apple product. For example, iPhone exceeded all expectation by bringing tons of apps to a touchscreen. iPod is maintaining its advantage in the market. But, Apple TV has seen no major upgrade after the Macworld 2008 launch (relaunch or take 2). Other players like PSP3 or XBox 360 are working to enhance their streaming capabilities but we do not know what is Apple planning. There is some rumour of merging macMini with Apple TV but it is just a rumour. With Steve Jobs out of picture, the future of upgradation of a not on Apple's priority list product seems remote.

How to use iPhone or iPod touch as a remote for Apple TV?

Did you know that you can use a free application from i tunes store called "Remote". With this application, your iPhone or iPodtouch turns into a remote. I love this feature and have strated using it a lot. It saves time and I do not have to use the white remote (see my previous post) which I am not so fond of. It is a different feeling to use a touch pad device as a remote. The cool thing is that I can also see the screen shot of a you tube video or a movie on my iPhone. This is amazing.
One more thing, using the "Remote" on iPhone or iPod touch, you can also play your iTunes files (music, music videos, movies, podcast) directly to TV using your Apple TV. It sounds simple but is great once you start using it.

I suspect that not many people are aware of Apple TV and all the features it offers for integration with other Apple devices like iPhone. Remember that you do not have to have a Mac for using Apple TV and these Fetures.

For more information, check the following link:

Remote on iPhone or iPod touch

How to use iPhone or iPod touch as a remote for Apple TV?

Did you know that you can use a free application from i tunes store called "Remote". With this application, your iPhone or iPodtouch turns into a remote. I love this feature and have strated using it a lot. It saves time and I do not have to use the white remote (see my previous post) which I am not so fond of. It is a different feeling to use a touch pad device as a remote. The cool thing is that I can also see the screen shot of a you tube video or a movie on my iPhone. This is amazing.
One more thing, using the "Remote" on iPhone or iPod touch, you can also play your iTunes files (music, music videos, movies, podcast) directly to TV using your Apple TV. It sounds simple but is great once you start using it.

I suspect that not many people are aware of Apple TV and all the features it offers for integration with other Apple devices like iPhone. Remember that you do not have to have a Mac for using Apple TV and these Fetures.

For more information, check the following link:

Remote on iPhone or iPod touch

Apple TV remote: not a true Apple product!

One thing I do not like about Apple TV is the low tech remote Apple provides. It takes all the time in the world to search items on YouTube and other things as you have to keep clicking and the feeling of the remote as well as the "tic-tic" sound is annoying. Why can not Apple create a soft touch device with a type pad technology (maybe on lines of iphone). You could use iphone or ipod touch as a remote but I have not found a way to make it fully functional for all the steps involved. I can certainly type in using my iPhone's touchpad (there is a free remote application in Apple Apps store) but Apple should not expect customers to buy an iphone or ipod touch to use it as a remote, right! Hope someone from Apple receives this constructive criticism. It is actually the same remote which they sell for laptop. So, that may be reason but I am not satisfied and am sure that many more customers are not.

Apple TV remote: not a true Apple product!

One thing I do not like about Apple TV is the low tech remote Apple provides. It takes all the time in the world to search items on YouTube and other things as you have to keep clicking and the feeling of the remote as well as the "tic-tic" sound is annoying. Why can not Apple create a soft touch device with a type pad technology (maybe on lines of iphone). You could use iphone or ipod touch as a remote but I have not found a way to make it fully functional for all the steps involved. I can certainly type in using my iPhone's touchpad (there is a free remote application in Apple Apps store) but Apple should not expect customers to buy an iphone or ipod touch to use it as a remote, right! Hope someone from Apple receives this constructive criticism. It is actually the same remote which they sell for laptop. So, that may be reason but I am not satisfied and am sure that many more customers are not.

Why does Apple not advertise a lot for Apple TV?

Well, I do not know why Apple has not advertised Apple TV, like it does for i pod or i phone or Mac line of products. On the other hand, there are not many ads on the podcast which you would view on your TV using Apple TV.

I am currently pursuing MBA program at Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, Canada. We had a talk from an executive from Dentsu (an international ad agency with a huge base in Toronto). He showed us a video from 1984 launch of Mac (Steve Jobs' famous and open war against IBM was launched following with with the Superbowl ad. Well, back to the point, I asked the executive what he thought about future of advertisement on devices like Apple TV. He said that I was among early adopters and in five years from now, Apple TV could become a dominant player in its segment and advertisements will start flowing as people will find a way to leverage. So, my question is whether I am really an early adopter of this fabulous product. I will be glad to hear if there any other people who find themselves talking about Apple TV but noone in the audience has even heard about it.

May be, Apple has a strategy behind not promoting its product aggressively at this stage. Or, they are developing the product further, in the back office! Watch this one of the only few ads on Apple TV and let me know what is the message.

Why does Apple not advertise a lot for Apple TV?

Well, I do not know why Apple has not advertised Apple TV, like it does for i pod or i phone or Mac line of products. On the other hand, there are not many ads on the podcast which you would view on your TV using Apple TV.

I am currently pursuing MBA program at Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, Canada. We had a talk from an executive from Dentsu (an international ad agency with a huge base in Toronto). He showed us a video from 1984 launch of Mac (Steve Jobs' famous and open war against IBM was launched following with with the Superbowl ad. Well, back to the point, I asked the executive what he thought about future of advertisement on devices like Apple TV. He said that I was among early adopters and in five years from now, Apple TV could become a dominant player in its segment and advertisements will start flowing as people will find a way to leverage. So, my question is whether I am really an early adopter of this fabulous product. I will be glad to hear if there any other people who find themselves talking about Apple TV but noone in the audience has even heard about it.

May be, Apple has a strategy behind not promoting its product aggressively at this stage. Or, they are developing the product further, in the back office! Watch this one of the only few ads on Apple TV and let me know what is the message.

How does Apple TV work?

How does Apple TV work?

Apple TV Take 2 (Macworld 2008): From the King of Modern Marketing (Steve Jobs)

Don't miss this video:

Apple TV Take 2 MacWorld 2008 -Steve Jobs


This video is from the launch of the Apple TV - Take 2. Steve Jobs is so cool and amazing. I have no words to express how perfect this man is at selling a new Apple product or re innovated product in this case. Watch for yourself.

I am not happy with Apple about this video as the embedding code is not available on youtube (removed on Apple's request)...why?

Apple TV Take 2 (Macworld 2008): From the King of Modern Marketing (Steve Jobs)

Don't miss this video:

Apple TV Take 2 MacWorld 2008 -Steve Jobs


This video is from the launch of the Apple TV - Take 2. Steve Jobs is so cool and amazing. I have no words to express how perfect this man is at selling a new Apple product or re innovated product in this case. Watch for yourself.

I am not happy with Apple about this video as the embedding code is not available on youtube (removed on Apple's request)...why?

My first movie I rented on Apple TV!

Hi,

The first movie I rented using my new Apple TV was Ironman. Interestingly, I had not seen this ad at the time I rented the movie. I want to write a blog about this as I think Apple TV is one of the best and most revolutionary products available out there. I have podcasts on news (my favourites are Meet the Press and Anderson Cooper Live), National Geographic for my elder son, everything Youtube and endless Barney YouTube videos for my younger son and soap operas for my wife, again on YouTube. All this is free.

This blog is intended to create a community of all the early adopters of Apple TV out there and share our experiences. I am an Apple fan but do not own any stocks. I just want people to know about this amazing entertainment channel, called as Apple TV.

Looking forward to your comments and questions.

My first movie I rented on Apple TV!

Hi,

The first movie I rented using my new Apple TV was Ironman. Interestingly, I had not seen this ad at the time I rented the movie. I want to write a blog about this as I think Apple TV is one of the best and most revolutionary products available out there. I have podcasts on news (my favourites are Meet the Press and Anderson Cooper Live), National Geographic for my elder son, everything Youtube and endless Barney YouTube videos for my younger son and soap operas for my wife, again on YouTube. All this is free.

This blog is intended to create a community of all the early adopters of Apple TV out there and share our experiences. I am an Apple fan but do not own any stocks. I just want people to know about this amazing entertainment channel, called as Apple TV.

Looking forward to your comments and questions.