It's been a while since I've posted, and with good reason.
As you may have noticed from previous posts, I'm a big-time Mac fan (and well, a fan of Apple Computer in general). I've worked with them for many years, and like many Mac users, I'm a loyal customer and very enthusiastic about Apple's products. So like many Mac fans, I've been posting about Apple stuff here in my blog.
Well, I can't do that any more. I work for Apple now (1).
Don't get me wrong...it's great to actually work for the company I've admired from the outside for so many years (well, at least it is so far...I've only been here a couple of weeks now), but part of the tradeoff of working for "the mothership" is that I'm strongly discouraged from talking about Apple anywhere publicly (2). Since a blog is about as public as it gets, and I'd like to keep my job, that means mum's the word.
I hope that discussing non-Apple stuff will still be OK...I've also been a fan of MacZOT!, and I hope that I'll be able to keep posting about those guys, since I really like what they're doing on the shareware publishing/distributing front.
Just to clarify, this blog is mine and mine alone, and doesn't reflect the opinions or views of anyone but me, ckm.
So, having cleared that up, I'm hoping to start getting back in touch with my more creative side now that my Mac geek side has a compensated outlet.
On the Chaos front, I've been in a hotel for over a week now. While I'm working most of the day, I still haven't trashed my room, and I've been pretty good about not leaving a trail behind me wherever I go. I've not been away from home for this long before, so I was a bit worried that I would discover I had been relying too much on my wife for domestic support. I'm happy to report that I've been somewhat pleasantly surprised by the fact my room doesn't look like a disaster zone. And as a bonus, I haven't even turned on the TV since I left home (although I did watch a couple of shows on my iPod on the plane to kill some time).
(1) That's as specific as I'm going to get; please don't email me asking about anything related to Apple -- you will get no reply.
(2) We all know Apple's a secretive company, so whether this is my own personal policy, Apple's, or just good advice from coworkers, it stands. Again, I know nothing, and even if I did, I couldn't/wouldn't tell you.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
To Sleep -- Perchance, To Dream...(for free, maybe!)
I'm starting to feel like a marketing service for MacZOT!
But they're just doing some really cool things for the Mac shareware scene, it's hard not to want to chip in and play when they ask.
This time, it's CollaboZOT....or is it BlogZOT? I dunno -- it's confusing. All I know is that if I mention the latest MacZOT promo on this blog, I have a good shot at getting the Pzizz Sleep Module as part of the latest MegaMyzteryZOT bundle. I got the Pzizz Power Nap Module as part of an earlier MyzteryZOT, and I was surprised at how well it worked. I've been wanting the Sleep Module for a while now; I'm hoping this is the chance to get it.
Now, the obligatory copy/paste bit from the promotion:
MacZOT.com Fans want Pzizz because 'According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation and its effect on work performance may be costing U.S. employers some $18 billion each year in lost productivity. Another study pushes this cost to over $100 billion.' - link to full article
OK, now that I've done my end of the deal, I do have some friendly comments /suggestions for the good folks at MacZOT!:
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to catch up on my CollaboZOT scavenger hunt....
But they're just doing some really cool things for the Mac shareware scene, it's hard not to want to chip in and play when they ask.
This time, it's CollaboZOT....or is it BlogZOT? I dunno -- it's confusing. All I know is that if I mention the latest MacZOT promo on this blog, I have a good shot at getting the Pzizz Sleep Module as part of the latest MegaMyzteryZOT bundle. I got the Pzizz Power Nap Module as part of an earlier MyzteryZOT, and I was surprised at how well it worked. I've been wanting the Sleep Module for a while now; I'm hoping this is the chance to get it.
Now, the obligatory copy/paste bit from the promotion:
MacZOT.com Fans want Pzizz because 'According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation and its effect on work performance may be costing U.S. employers some $18 billion each year in lost productivity. Another study pushes this cost to over $100 billion.' - link to full article
OK, now that I've done my end of the deal, I do have some friendly comments /suggestions for the good folks at MacZOT!:
- Your business model is fun; your promotions are catchy.
- You provide a valuable service to the Mac community.
- Your promotions, while fun, lack organization on the front-end.
- Don't try to do too much at once: currently, there's a MegaMyzteryZOT, a CollaboZOT, and a BlogZOT all going at the same time, tied to the same promotional bundle. That can get a bit confusing for all the new folks we're referring to the site.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to catch up on my CollaboZOT scavenger hunt....
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The Gloves are Off!
Apple has come out with a new Mac ad campaign, and they've come out swinging this time.
The "Get a Mac" campaign features six television spots that are playful, but notable. But the real blows are being delivered on the "Get a Mac" website. Here are a few excerpts:
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/works.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/stuff.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/macosx.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/photos.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/websites.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/movies.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/drivers.html
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/awesome.html
Those are only the most aggressive snippets I found, but there's plenty more where that came from. Personally, I'm happy to see Apple do this. Sure, it's a little candy-coated in places (what marketing isn't?), but it really targets people where it counts: our time is valuable, and we're wasting a lot of it using PCs.
I think it's a strong message; I hope it can sustain for a while.
Apple has gotten rather balls-y since they pulled the Intel ad stunt on the same stage as Paul Otellini during MWSF'06, don'tcha think?
The "Get a Mac" campaign features six television spots that are playful, but notable. But the real blows are being delivered on the "Get a Mac" website. Here are a few excerpts:
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/
- All those reasons you never bought a Mac? Not true anymore.
- How much time have you spent troubleshooting your PC? ... Get a Mac and get your life back.
- Mac OS X was designed with security in mind. Windows just wasn't built to bear the onslaught of attacks it suffers every day.
- Since Mac OS X engineers aren't busy damming a flood of viruses, they have the time to think up amazing new technology.
- Other computers include software, it's true. But once you start using that software, you find that you're hobbled in some way or another.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/works.html
- Your toaster doesn't crash. Your kitchen sink doesn't crash. Why should your computer? Think of the countless hours you would save if our PC worked on your time -- not the other way around. Then think about a Mac.
- If you spend more of your precious time figuring out why your PC crashes than you spend taking out the garbage every week, you need a Mac.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/stuff.html
- You can purchase lots of separate programs from different PC developers, and any one of them may have similar features to those you'll find in one of the iLife applications. But how many of those applications work hand in glove together?
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html
- By the end of 2005, there were 114,000 known viruses for PCs. In March 2006 alone, there were 850 new threats detected against Windows. Zero for Mac.
- When you get a Mac, only your enthusiasm is contagious.
- To get a sense of just how big the virus problem is, search for "virus" at both Apple and Microsoft. Compare the number of results.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/macosx.html
- Mac OS X, the most advanced operating system in the world today, delivers a platform of features designed to make the time you spend on your computer a wholly pleasant and entirely productive experience.
Can you say that about your computing life in Windows? - Built into the very fabric of Mac OS X, Spotlight puts lightning-fast search capabilities right at your fingertips, quickly showing search results as you type. And Spotlight searches most of the file types...you have on your drive. ...David Pogue says it's "like Google for your hard drive."
Has Microsoft delivered such functionality yet?
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/photos.html
- Sure, you can create a photo book using a PC. If, that is, you can juggle.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/websites.html
- With a Mac, you can create your very own website -- complete with video, podcasts, and photo galleries -- in the time it takes a PC to churn out a single text-only blog entry.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/movies.html
- Any computer can play movies. But only one comes with all the software you need (to) make blockbusters. Every new Mac features iMovie HD, iDVD, and iWeb -- three easy-to-use essentials for importing, editing, and sharing mouth-watering masterpieces. Part of the iLife '06 software suite, these applications work seamlessly together. Try finding that on a PC.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/drivers.html
- When you bring home a new hard drive, printer, or gamepad, it's probably because you have something you'd actually like to do. Back up your photos. Print the proposal you just finished. Play a few games.
You shouldn't have to waste your time trying to banish a nasty error message from your screen. You shouldn't have to restart your computer simply because you connected a new printer. And you shouldn't have to go off on a scavenger hunt, searching doggedly for device drivers, so that your computer can see and get along with that shiny new peripheral.
You should simply be able to connect that camera, printer, gamepad, camcorder, or phone to your computer and use it. That's certainly the experience you'll enjoy on a Mac. Millions do now. And you can join them.
SOURCE: http://www.apple.com/getamac/awesome.html
- Sure a new PC comes with software. It's just not software you'd ever want to use. A new Mac, on the other hand, comes with lots of really great stuff. So you can make lots of really great stuff.
- Unpack your new PC and you'll be amazed at what it offers. A bundle of mismatched software and that nagging feeling that your desktop has just been sold to the highest bidder. Of course, it does have that cool calculator. Oh, and a clock. That'll come in handy when you're ticking off the hours it takes you to uninstall all the software you don't want and buy all the software you do.
- So forget the fine print. With a Mac, fun is not sold separately.
Those are only the most aggressive snippets I found, but there's plenty more where that came from. Personally, I'm happy to see Apple do this. Sure, it's a little candy-coated in places (what marketing isn't?), but it really targets people where it counts: our time is valuable, and we're wasting a lot of it using PCs.
I think it's a strong message; I hope it can sustain for a while.
Apple has gotten rather balls-y since they pulled the Intel ad stunt on the same stage as Paul Otellini during MWSF'06, don'tcha think?
Monday, May 01, 2006
Apple: Back in Mac
On Monday night, May 1, two new Apple commercials debuted on prime time network television. The big surprise? They weren't iPod or iTunes ads, they were Mac ads. And they were actually pretty good.
Both ads feature two actors: one is the "stuffy" type -- clean-shaven, bespectacled, in a business suit -- playing the part of a PC, and one is more casual -- unshaven in t-shirt and jeans -- playing the part of a Mac (I believe the actor portraying the Mac is Justin Long; it was pointed out that the actor playing the PC is John Hodgman*).
The first ad focuses on viruses and touts the Mac's "resistance" to the thousands of viruses plaguing "PCs" (the word "Windows" is never used in either ad). The PC is sneezing uncontrollably, lamenting his viral infection, when the Mac offers the PC a handkerchief (nice touch), which the PC then uses to wipe and blow his nose repeatedly in between whining about viruses. He warns the Mac to stay away, but Mac says, "I'll be fine." PC then rattles off big-number statistics about viruses affecting PCs, and Mac says, "...PCs, not Macs." He assists with the handkerchief to demonstrate his resistance, then puts it back in his pocket, while the PC "crashes" (falls down backward out of frame).
The second ad is a bit more reserved, and starts off with Mac reading a paper, when PC asks him what he's reading. When Mac states it's the Wall Street Journal, PC snatches it from his hands and starts reading a Walt Mossberg review of the Mac, proclaiming it to be the "finest desktop PC on the market at any price." PC smirks in envy as he hands the paper back to Mac, and snaps, "very nice," to which Mac modestly responds, "It's just one man's opinion" (as if to cushion the blow). PC then proceeds to crow about his own glowing reviews, and when Mac asks for the source, PC unconvincingly makes up a name on the fly.
There is no direct mention of operating system (either Windows or Mac OS X) in either ad, and in the WSJ ad, the review implies the Mac is the finest PC available anywhere, suggesting the Mac is just as capable as a PC, if not more so. Nearly a month ago, Apple released Boot Camp, which as you know (unless you've been in a vacuum for the past month) allows Intel-based Macs to install and boot Windows XP with Service Pack 2. While I don't think Apple would go as far as to advertise a beta product like Boot Camp, I can certainly see this campaign continuing into the fall and winter, with a future ad featuring either dual booting or a virtualized solution for running Windows XP inside Mac OS X, and touting it as the "safe way to run Windows."
I didn't think Apple would have been so bold as to drop the gauntlet on the virus issue. They have to know that touting virus invulnerability is essentially a challenge to malware coders everywhere to start their engines and aim for Mac OS X, so Apple must be very confident in their system security at this point. The only other reason I could see Apple playing the virus card would be in an act of desperation, but today's Apple is the strongest ever (well, strongest in about fifteen years, anyhow), so I don't see grasping for straws as the game plan here. I'm surprised to see this bold move by Apple, but at the same time, I'm quite relieved they did it; it's time to stop playing it safe in their advertising.
By not mentioning Windows specifically, Apple is essentially baiting Microsoft to go on the defensive...but as soon as Microsoft does that, they tacitly acknowledge their own OS's security nightmares. By referring to the Mac as "the finest PC," Apple is also suggesting that a Mac is the smart choice for the consumer. When this message blends with the viral buzz surrounding Boot Camp, it's sure to attract a notable number of first-time Mac buyers eager to see what Macs are all about, since they know they'll have their Windows "safety net" available (although we all know in short order it'll be more of a chore than a safety net).
Another notable issue Apple is tackling in these ads is the perception of the typical Mac user. We are stereotyped as being the weird cult-like followers or snooty prima donnas of the computing world. We're typically smug about security and snobby about interface design. The Mac in the ad is a modest, helpful, concerned acquaintance. A friend, even. He looks on the PC with pity and compassion, not arrogance or self-righteousness.
I think Apple has come up with a good mix in these ads. It's certainly refreshing to see Apple pushing the Mac again, and I'm looking forward to seeing this campaign develop.
UPDATE: Well, I didn't have to wait very long...there are currently six commercials, and they can be found on Apple's website. I'll post my thoughts on the remaining four ads in my next entry.
UPDATE 2: * thanks to "Surfungus" on MacAddict Forums for identifying the PC actor.
Both ads feature two actors: one is the "stuffy" type -- clean-shaven, bespectacled, in a business suit -- playing the part of a PC, and one is more casual -- unshaven in t-shirt and jeans -- playing the part of a Mac (I believe the actor portraying the Mac is Justin Long; it was pointed out that the actor playing the PC is John Hodgman*).
The first ad focuses on viruses and touts the Mac's "resistance" to the thousands of viruses plaguing "PCs" (the word "Windows" is never used in either ad). The PC is sneezing uncontrollably, lamenting his viral infection, when the Mac offers the PC a handkerchief (nice touch), which the PC then uses to wipe and blow his nose repeatedly in between whining about viruses. He warns the Mac to stay away, but Mac says, "I'll be fine." PC then rattles off big-number statistics about viruses affecting PCs, and Mac says, "...PCs, not Macs." He assists with the handkerchief to demonstrate his resistance, then puts it back in his pocket, while the PC "crashes" (falls down backward out of frame).
The second ad is a bit more reserved, and starts off with Mac reading a paper, when PC asks him what he's reading. When Mac states it's the Wall Street Journal, PC snatches it from his hands and starts reading a Walt Mossberg review of the Mac, proclaiming it to be the "finest desktop PC on the market at any price." PC smirks in envy as he hands the paper back to Mac, and snaps, "very nice," to which Mac modestly responds, "It's just one man's opinion" (as if to cushion the blow). PC then proceeds to crow about his own glowing reviews, and when Mac asks for the source, PC unconvincingly makes up a name on the fly.There is no direct mention of operating system (either Windows or Mac OS X) in either ad, and in the WSJ ad, the review implies the Mac is the finest PC available anywhere, suggesting the Mac is just as capable as a PC, if not more so. Nearly a month ago, Apple released Boot Camp, which as you know (unless you've been in a vacuum for the past month) allows Intel-based Macs to install and boot Windows XP with Service Pack 2. While I don't think Apple would go as far as to advertise a beta product like Boot Camp, I can certainly see this campaign continuing into the fall and winter, with a future ad featuring either dual booting or a virtualized solution for running Windows XP inside Mac OS X, and touting it as the "safe way to run Windows."
I didn't think Apple would have been so bold as to drop the gauntlet on the virus issue. They have to know that touting virus invulnerability is essentially a challenge to malware coders everywhere to start their engines and aim for Mac OS X, so Apple must be very confident in their system security at this point. The only other reason I could see Apple playing the virus card would be in an act of desperation, but today's Apple is the strongest ever (well, strongest in about fifteen years, anyhow), so I don't see grasping for straws as the game plan here. I'm surprised to see this bold move by Apple, but at the same time, I'm quite relieved they did it; it's time to stop playing it safe in their advertising.
By not mentioning Windows specifically, Apple is essentially baiting Microsoft to go on the defensive...but as soon as Microsoft does that, they tacitly acknowledge their own OS's security nightmares. By referring to the Mac as "the finest PC," Apple is also suggesting that a Mac is the smart choice for the consumer. When this message blends with the viral buzz surrounding Boot Camp, it's sure to attract a notable number of first-time Mac buyers eager to see what Macs are all about, since they know they'll have their Windows "safety net" available (although we all know in short order it'll be more of a chore than a safety net).
Another notable issue Apple is tackling in these ads is the perception of the typical Mac user. We are stereotyped as being the weird cult-like followers or snooty prima donnas of the computing world. We're typically smug about security and snobby about interface design. The Mac in the ad is a modest, helpful, concerned acquaintance. A friend, even. He looks on the PC with pity and compassion, not arrogance or self-righteousness.
I think Apple has come up with a good mix in these ads. It's certainly refreshing to see Apple pushing the Mac again, and I'm looking forward to seeing this campaign develop.
UPDATE: Well, I didn't have to wait very long...there are currently six commercials, and they can be found on Apple's website. I'll post my thoughts on the remaining four ads in my next entry.
UPDATE 2: * thanks to "Surfungus" on MacAddict Forums for identifying the PC actor.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
ZOT! goes the world...
Okay, okay...I haven't posted here in a while. I'll get around to it, I promise!
However, today I must pay homage to two truly cool things:
1. SubEthaEdit from CodingMonkeys, and
2. BLOGZOT 2.0 on MacZOT.com.
Yes, this is a shameless plug on my part to get really cool software really cheap. But the cool thing is: you can, too!
What is SubEthaEdit?
It's a really cool collaborative text editor. I'm no coder, and I probably don't have a really good use for it, but I've used it in earlier incarnations, and it's just kick-butt cool.
What is MacZOT?
It's a relatively new Mac shareware outlet that mixes things up a bit to bring the Mac community great shareware at great prices. Each day, MacZOT! features one shareware title and offers it at a great discount (some better than others). Sometimes, they'll offer a MyzteryZOT, which is a grab bag of shareware (which is how I discovered MacZOT), and sometimes they'll do these BlogZOTs, like I'm pimping right now. The way this works is, the more feedback they get from blog comments, the cheaper the price of the software goes (it could go down to $0!) -- so effectively, MacZOT and TheCodingMonkeys are giving away about $105,000 worth of software! GIVING! As in FREE! As in "w00t!"
So, check out both SubEthaEdit and MacZOT and let me hear what you think!
However, today I must pay homage to two truly cool things:
1. SubEthaEdit from CodingMonkeys, and
2. BLOGZOT 2.0 on MacZOT.com.
Yes, this is a shameless plug on my part to get really cool software really cheap. But the cool thing is: you can, too!
What is SubEthaEdit?
It's a really cool collaborative text editor. I'm no coder, and I probably don't have a really good use for it, but I've used it in earlier incarnations, and it's just kick-butt cool.
What is MacZOT?
It's a relatively new Mac shareware outlet that mixes things up a bit to bring the Mac community great shareware at great prices. Each day, MacZOT! features one shareware title and offers it at a great discount (some better than others). Sometimes, they'll offer a MyzteryZOT, which is a grab bag of shareware (which is how I discovered MacZOT), and sometimes they'll do these BlogZOTs, like I'm pimping right now. The way this works is, the more feedback they get from blog comments, the cheaper the price of the software goes (it could go down to $0!) -- so effectively, MacZOT and TheCodingMonkeys are giving away about $105,000 worth of software! GIVING! As in FREE! As in "w00t!"
So, check out both SubEthaEdit and MacZOT and let me hear what you think!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Will Apple Boldly Go...?
This is a momentous year for anniversaries for geeks like me. In less than a month, on April 1, Apple Computer will turn 30. Like many thousands of other Mac geeks worldwide, I'm expecting something big to be announced by Apple...maybe something having to do with the mysterious touch screen iPod-like device that was conspicuously missing from the "Fun New Products" event last week (if it does indeed exist). That would be enough in and of itself -- I believe that such a device would be the next step in the evolution of consumer media technology, and could revolutionize the way we interact with our digital content (purchased or otherwise).
But, as fate would have it, 2006 marks another anniversary: it's the 40th year of Star Trek. Although there are no current Star Trek series in production, there is an archive of over 700 television episodes syndicated in some form or another in seeming perpetuity. But aside from some conventions and some standard self-promotional (low key) campaigns, the Star Trek people seem to be keeping below the radar. Unusually so, considering the occasion.
Why would this be? 40 years of any TV brand is a big deal. And given the fact that Star Trek's new owner is one of the oldest TV broadcast networks, this seems just a bit odd. CBS, you ask? Why, yes...Star Trek was under the Paramount Television banner for its entire modern existence until early 2006, when Paramount Television was folded into CBS (out from under the Viacom family of brands).
Now, these two anniversaries, separately, are cause enough for the geek in all of us to celebrate. But what if something -- somehow -- tied these two cultural icons together?
Something like, say, the iTunes Music Store.
This seems a natural fit: if the full-screen iPod is indeed a reality, it would very much resemble Star Trek-like technology. CBS is rumored to be in negotiations with Apple for an iTunes Music Store distribution deal. With one of the largest episodic television libraries ever, and a cultural fan base of millions, Star Trek on iTunes would be the ultimate foray into portable content distribution. At a few episodes a time, purchasing the entire Trek library would ensure a steady stream of revenue to the iTMS (and CBS) at a higher return than the DVD box sets (note: this is purely a guess on my part).
A combined launch of a full-screen iPod and a CBS content distribution deal (featuring the Star Trek license, initially) would virtually guarantee the top position for Apple, at least in the short term, in the digital video content distribution wars that are just ramping up.
[note: edited to correct the typo in the title, as pointed out by the first commentator below...(thanks!)]
But, as fate would have it, 2006 marks another anniversary: it's the 40th year of Star Trek. Although there are no current Star Trek series in production, there is an archive of over 700 television episodes syndicated in some form or another in seeming perpetuity. But aside from some conventions and some standard self-promotional (low key) campaigns, the Star Trek people seem to be keeping below the radar. Unusually so, considering the occasion.
Why would this be? 40 years of any TV brand is a big deal. And given the fact that Star Trek's new owner is one of the oldest TV broadcast networks, this seems just a bit odd. CBS, you ask? Why, yes...Star Trek was under the Paramount Television banner for its entire modern existence until early 2006, when Paramount Television was folded into CBS (out from under the Viacom family of brands).
Now, these two anniversaries, separately, are cause enough for the geek in all of us to celebrate. But what if something -- somehow -- tied these two cultural icons together?
Something like, say, the iTunes Music Store.
This seems a natural fit: if the full-screen iPod is indeed a reality, it would very much resemble Star Trek-like technology. CBS is rumored to be in negotiations with Apple for an iTunes Music Store distribution deal. With one of the largest episodic television libraries ever, and a cultural fan base of millions, Star Trek on iTunes would be the ultimate foray into portable content distribution. At a few episodes a time, purchasing the entire Trek library would ensure a steady stream of revenue to the iTMS (and CBS) at a higher return than the DVD box sets (note: this is purely a guess on my part).
A combined launch of a full-screen iPod and a CBS content distribution deal (featuring the Star Trek license, initially) would virtually guarantee the top position for Apple, at least in the short term, in the digital video content distribution wars that are just ramping up.
[note: edited to correct the typo in the title, as pointed out by the first commentator below...(thanks!)]
The revolution has already started...
[note: I originally wrote most of this on March 2 (last Thursday), but I thought I had lost it...it was, in fact, in the Drafts folder, so I finished it up and posted it today. Sorry for any confusion.]
OK, so maybe my knee-jerk reaction to Apple's "Fun New Products" event was a bit negative.
Apple is going exactly the route I was expecting. Not that I'm any sort of prophet; everyone seemed to be expecting some sort of media center Mac mini and an "iPod boombox." I think it's just that most folks (me included) were expecting a more radical change for the mini.
And I think that's why we don't run Apple, and Steve Jobs does.
Where anyone of the "Fun New Product" event's critics would have taken a bold new direction, Steve has made a slight alteration in course. Steady as she goes, so to speak.
The Mac mini is the most important product Apple has at the moment. Before you ask me to pass the crack pipe, let me explain: yes, the iPod is a juggernaut, and it shows no signs of slowing. The iPod has shown the world that people actually care about their portable media, and they're not afraid to spend more money on a good product to help them transport and enjoy that media. However, the iPod as it currently exists (in its various incarnations) is approaching the top of its arc in popularity. The iPod is about to undergo a fundamental shift in architecture, and when it does, the world will once again have to adjust its perceptions on how to interact with personal information and media.
More than any other product currently in Apple's portfolio, the Mac mini has the potential to change the way we experience the wealth of digital information we are so quickly collecting. It is poised as the progenitor (along with the iPod) of a new class of computing and portable media device. Along with the infrastructure of iTunes and AirPort Extreme, the Mac mini is set to partner with the iPod to provide a home digital content management system that will take consumers by storm. The iPod HiFi is testament to this.
Remember, the Mac mini is essentially just a reconfigured laptop. Imagine having a portable power source for it...like, say...a car? Imagine a standard docking solution integrated in an automobile -- heck, people have already started integrating minis into vehicles.
When I first heard of that phenomenon, I was a bit taken aback...I mean, how can you drive and use your Mac at the same time? But let's go to the land of imagination once more:
You're getting set for a family trip. You make sure to pack the digital camera, the DV camcorder, and your Mac Media mini (mobileMe, anyone?). Since the mini is so small, you just grab it from its power base on the entertainment center, carry it to the minivan, and plug it into its dock in the console. You know you have plenty of music and video for the trip, because your iTunes library is on the HD. The fold-down displays and headphone jacks in the back seats for the kids (and optionally, for the front passenger) are already integrated into the digital content management system. If the kids don't want to watch the same movie or listen to the same music, that's OK...you're bringing the iPod along, too...little Johnny or Suzie can just plug the iPod into the dock next to his or her headphones and enjoy something else.
Additionally, you've already planned the trip, and you've saved some reference files for various stops along the trip. Part of the digital system in the car allows you to toggle a heads-up display on the windshield in front of you to view quick reference visuals (thankfully, rich media content is filtered from that display to prevent distractions from driving).
You also remembered to pack your iBook, since you or your spouse (whoever is sitting in the passenger's seat), may want to pass the travel time putting together the family photos and videos while the vacation is still a fresh memory. By the time you get home, you'll have a complete (or near-complete) home video of the trip; all you'll need to do is burn the DVD (if you didn't already do so in the van).
I can see that scenario playing out within the next 24 - 36 months. And the thing is, the foundation has already been poured with the iPod / iTunes combo. Airport Express is another key element in this strategy, and the Mac mini is evolving into one of the last key pieces of this infrastructure.
Steve Jobs is reigniting the platform wars. He has been for the past five years; it's only just now becoming clear. Apple has already claimed our personal space and our vehicles with the iPod. It's now taking our homes with the current iPod / Mac mini combo. In appealing to our passions and our intellects, Apple is harvesting the consumer's mindshare in scores. This, in turn, will raise consumer awareness of Apple branding and quality, which will eventually spill over into the office.
OK, so maybe my knee-jerk reaction to Apple's "Fun New Products" event was a bit negative.
Apple is going exactly the route I was expecting. Not that I'm any sort of prophet; everyone seemed to be expecting some sort of media center Mac mini and an "iPod boombox." I think it's just that most folks (me included) were expecting a more radical change for the mini.
And I think that's why we don't run Apple, and Steve Jobs does.
Where anyone of the "Fun New Product" event's critics would have taken a bold new direction, Steve has made a slight alteration in course. Steady as she goes, so to speak.
The Mac mini is the most important product Apple has at the moment. Before you ask me to pass the crack pipe, let me explain: yes, the iPod is a juggernaut, and it shows no signs of slowing. The iPod has shown the world that people actually care about their portable media, and they're not afraid to spend more money on a good product to help them transport and enjoy that media. However, the iPod as it currently exists (in its various incarnations) is approaching the top of its arc in popularity. The iPod is about to undergo a fundamental shift in architecture, and when it does, the world will once again have to adjust its perceptions on how to interact with personal information and media.
More than any other product currently in Apple's portfolio, the Mac mini has the potential to change the way we experience the wealth of digital information we are so quickly collecting. It is poised as the progenitor (along with the iPod) of a new class of computing and portable media device. Along with the infrastructure of iTunes and AirPort Extreme, the Mac mini is set to partner with the iPod to provide a home digital content management system that will take consumers by storm. The iPod HiFi is testament to this.
Remember, the Mac mini is essentially just a reconfigured laptop. Imagine having a portable power source for it...like, say...a car? Imagine a standard docking solution integrated in an automobile -- heck, people have already started integrating minis into vehicles.
When I first heard of that phenomenon, I was a bit taken aback...I mean, how can you drive and use your Mac at the same time? But let's go to the land of imagination once more:
You're getting set for a family trip. You make sure to pack the digital camera, the DV camcorder, and your Mac Media mini (mobileMe, anyone?). Since the mini is so small, you just grab it from its power base on the entertainment center, carry it to the minivan, and plug it into its dock in the console. You know you have plenty of music and video for the trip, because your iTunes library is on the HD. The fold-down displays and headphone jacks in the back seats for the kids (and optionally, for the front passenger) are already integrated into the digital content management system. If the kids don't want to watch the same movie or listen to the same music, that's OK...you're bringing the iPod along, too...little Johnny or Suzie can just plug the iPod into the dock next to his or her headphones and enjoy something else.
Additionally, you've already planned the trip, and you've saved some reference files for various stops along the trip. Part of the digital system in the car allows you to toggle a heads-up display on the windshield in front of you to view quick reference visuals (thankfully, rich media content is filtered from that display to prevent distractions from driving).
You also remembered to pack your iBook, since you or your spouse (whoever is sitting in the passenger's seat), may want to pass the travel time putting together the family photos and videos while the vacation is still a fresh memory. By the time you get home, you'll have a complete (or near-complete) home video of the trip; all you'll need to do is burn the DVD (if you didn't already do so in the van).
I can see that scenario playing out within the next 24 - 36 months. And the thing is, the foundation has already been poured with the iPod / iTunes combo. Airport Express is another key element in this strategy, and the Mac mini is evolving into one of the last key pieces of this infrastructure.
Steve Jobs is reigniting the platform wars. He has been for the past five years; it's only just now becoming clear. Apple has already claimed our personal space and our vehicles with the iPod. It's now taking our homes with the current iPod / Mac mini combo. In appealing to our passions and our intellects, Apple is harvesting the consumer's mindshare in scores. This, in turn, will raise consumer awareness of Apple branding and quality, which will eventually spill over into the office.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Are we having "Fun" yet?
Mac minis with Intel processors and a slightly revamped version of Front Row. For $100 and $300 more than the previous base model.
A $350 boom box that you can plug an iPod into.
This is "fun"?
Maybe I'm missing something, but these seem quite overpriced. I thought the whole idea of a Mac mini was that it was supposed to be the cheapest Mac ever. It's starting to resemble the Power Mac Cube more and more, from a marketing standpoint. Apple needs to remember that it's fighting for the dollars of people who are used to walking home with an entire system (keyboard, mouse, display and all) for less than what the Mac mini now costs.
And who thought that a $350 add-on to a $300 - $400 product would be at all appealing? It's portable...great. For $350, it had better be the best sounding boom box EVER. I'm glad they made it portable, because at that price, I certainly won't be buying one for each room of the house.
I'm fairly disappointed that we didn't see more. I was certainly expecting more from the revamped Mac mini. Maybe Apple's saving the good stuff for their 30th anniversary on April 1.
I sure hope so.
A $350 boom box that you can plug an iPod into.
This is "fun"?
Maybe I'm missing something, but these seem quite overpriced. I thought the whole idea of a Mac mini was that it was supposed to be the cheapest Mac ever. It's starting to resemble the Power Mac Cube more and more, from a marketing standpoint. Apple needs to remember that it's fighting for the dollars of people who are used to walking home with an entire system (keyboard, mouse, display and all) for less than what the Mac mini now costs.
And who thought that a $350 add-on to a $300 - $400 product would be at all appealing? It's portable...great. For $350, it had better be the best sounding boom box EVER. I'm glad they made it portable, because at that price, I certainly won't be buying one for each room of the house.
I'm fairly disappointed that we didn't see more. I was certainly expecting more from the revamped Mac mini. Maybe Apple's saving the good stuff for their 30th anniversary on April 1.
I sure hope so.
Monday, January 09, 2006
A SteveNote Eve Frame of Mind
I've learned over the years that it's pointless to try to guess what Steve Jobs is going to announce at any given Macworld keynote address. I don't know how ThinkSecret manages to get 90% of its predictions correct, but my track record is somewhere hovering around 5% (and that's being a bit generous). The only think I do know is that whatever is announced will be impressive, even if it initially seems anti-climactic. Case in point: the latest iMac G5. When I was keeping up with the product announcements (via a live source feeding text information), I wasn't terribly impressed...until I saw the video stream later and saw just how much potential the Front Row software had.
Regardless, I woke up this morning in a "SteveNote Eve" frame of mind, so I thought I'd discuss some of the rumors that are floating around regarding Apple's forthcoming product announcements.
Intel laptops
I think it's been all but confirmed that the new Intel-powered Apple laptop will be announced tomorrow. And it would seem to follow that the Mac mini will also get the Intel treatment, since the mini is essentially a headless iBook in a small box. I have no doubt we'll see the first production Intel Macs at MacWorld Expo tomorrow; I'm just a bit anxious to see their specs. I just bought my first PowerBook last February, and I'd hate to think it's going to get blown away by a consumer model so soon.
iPod Shuffle revamp
It will be interesting to see what happens to the iPod shuffle. I haven't yet taken the iPod plunge yet, and the shuffle as it stands wouldn't be my first choice; let's see if Apple is paying attention to the post-nano low-end iPod crowd.
Front Row 2.0
I actually managed to get Front Row 1.0 installed on my PowerBook, and it's pretty darn sweet. Of course, since I don't keep much in the way of music or photos on my PowerBook, it's rather limited in functionality, but it is a great supplement to the Mac interface. I could definitely see myself using it quite a bit on a home-centered Mac.
Media Center Mac mini
A Mac mini + Front Row + AirPort combination seems to be a natural progression. The mini is diminutive enough to fit inconspicuously near a TV or entertainment center, but the main question in my mind is this: how will such a product will be positioned in the market? If the iPod is the portable multimedia device, what will the Mac mini be? If the iPod carries the content, then the mini will have to be the device that delivers that content, as well as relaying various other information (think regular computing). Will we see a Mac OS X interface redux in the form of a return to 640 x 480 resolution support (for those who aren't yet on the HD bandwagon)? I doubt it, but we'll see.
iLife '06 with iWeb
The thing that annoys me about the iLife line is the naming scheme: as soon as the current year is over, the product seems obsolete. Of course, that's also the brilliance of Apple's marketing, since iLife is typically priced reasonably enough that most people don't mind buying it year after year. If iWeb is included (and is compelling enough), this will be a no-brainer for me. Some of you may know that I tried to launch a few Mac communities back in 2004, but my limited technical knowledge doomed the projects from the outset. A product like iWeb may allow me to revisit those projects with renewed zeal.
.Mac enhancements
I haven't heard a whole lot on this front, aside from a huge increase in bandwidth limitations that is supposedly intended to be tied to a new streaming service. I would love to see PHP and mySQL support on .Mac, as well...since I'm paying for it anyway, it would be nice to have that flexibility. Of course, as indicated by the previous item, they would have to provide an easy way for me to work with those technologies if I am to take full advantage of them.
That's all I have time to post this morning; I may follow up with more thoughts a bit later (then again, I may not). I just thought it was kind of funny how I woke up this morning with the giddy anticipation that I used to feel as a kid on Christmas Eve. I wonder how many other Mac geeks feel the same way....
Regardless, I woke up this morning in a "SteveNote Eve" frame of mind, so I thought I'd discuss some of the rumors that are floating around regarding Apple's forthcoming product announcements.
Intel laptops
I think it's been all but confirmed that the new Intel-powered Apple laptop will be announced tomorrow. And it would seem to follow that the Mac mini will also get the Intel treatment, since the mini is essentially a headless iBook in a small box. I have no doubt we'll see the first production Intel Macs at MacWorld Expo tomorrow; I'm just a bit anxious to see their specs. I just bought my first PowerBook last February, and I'd hate to think it's going to get blown away by a consumer model so soon.
iPod Shuffle revamp
It will be interesting to see what happens to the iPod shuffle. I haven't yet taken the iPod plunge yet, and the shuffle as it stands wouldn't be my first choice; let's see if Apple is paying attention to the post-nano low-end iPod crowd.
Front Row 2.0
I actually managed to get Front Row 1.0 installed on my PowerBook, and it's pretty darn sweet. Of course, since I don't keep much in the way of music or photos on my PowerBook, it's rather limited in functionality, but it is a great supplement to the Mac interface. I could definitely see myself using it quite a bit on a home-centered Mac.
Media Center Mac mini
A Mac mini + Front Row + AirPort combination seems to be a natural progression. The mini is diminutive enough to fit inconspicuously near a TV or entertainment center, but the main question in my mind is this: how will such a product will be positioned in the market? If the iPod is the portable multimedia device, what will the Mac mini be? If the iPod carries the content, then the mini will have to be the device that delivers that content, as well as relaying various other information (think regular computing). Will we see a Mac OS X interface redux in the form of a return to 640 x 480 resolution support (for those who aren't yet on the HD bandwagon)? I doubt it, but we'll see.
iLife '06 with iWeb
The thing that annoys me about the iLife line is the naming scheme: as soon as the current year is over, the product seems obsolete. Of course, that's also the brilliance of Apple's marketing, since iLife is typically priced reasonably enough that most people don't mind buying it year after year. If iWeb is included (and is compelling enough), this will be a no-brainer for me. Some of you may know that I tried to launch a few Mac communities back in 2004, but my limited technical knowledge doomed the projects from the outset. A product like iWeb may allow me to revisit those projects with renewed zeal.
.Mac enhancements
I haven't heard a whole lot on this front, aside from a huge increase in bandwidth limitations that is supposedly intended to be tied to a new streaming service. I would love to see PHP and mySQL support on .Mac, as well...since I'm paying for it anyway, it would be nice to have that flexibility. Of course, as indicated by the previous item, they would have to provide an easy way for me to work with those technologies if I am to take full advantage of them.
That's all I have time to post this morning; I may follow up with more thoughts a bit later (then again, I may not). I just thought it was kind of funny how I woke up this morning with the giddy anticipation that I used to feel as a kid on Christmas Eve. I wonder how many other Mac geeks feel the same way....
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
The MPAA made me break the DMCA
I've never really understood the appeal of downloading movies. I have several friends who do so using their PCs, and 95% of the downloads they attempt end up being intentionally mislabeled porn titles, attempts at distributing malware, or foreign language (or badly recorded) versions of the movies they're trying to get.
To me, it just seems like less hassle to buy or rent DVDs. After all, most DVDs can be purchased for under $20 or rented for a fraction of that using a service like NetFlix.
However, I've noticed a trend in DVDs lately, and it has driven me to the point of purchasing a DVD burner and DVD copying software and just abandoning the idea of ever purchasing movies from certain studios again. What I'm referring to are the previews and warnings that precede the actual movie (or menu) that are coded in such a way as to not let you bypass them using the "Menu" button.
If I've just shelled out $19.99 to buy a DVD for my family (or myself), I should be able to view the enclosed content in any way I like...in fact, I should be able to do anything I want with that content, short of using it commercially or distributing it illegally. My purchase of the media gives me Fair Use rights.
Apparently, the MPAA doesn't see it that way. It seems that they want to FORCE me to have to watch the MTV-ish "Piracy Is Stealing" short that they hobbled together, as well as previews for other DVD titles that are presumably configured in the same manner.
Here's what I'm talking about; I'm sure you've seen it in front of movies in the theater or on DVDs in recent months:
(cue aggressive techno music)
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone breaking into car)
You wouldn't steal a car.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone stealing a purse)
You wouldn't steal a purse.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone taking a cell phone)
You wouldn't steal a cell phone.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone shoplifting a DVD)
You wouldn't steal a DVD.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of a street vendor set up selling bootleg DVDs)
Buying pirated films is stealing.
Stealing is against the law.
Piracy. It's a crime.
And, inexplicably, it's followed by a warning that seems to be unrelated to "buying pirated films":
[ I ] Illegal Downloading. Inappropriate for All Ages.
(cleverly designed in the format of a movie ratings bar).
(I say "unrelated," because I would think that someone buying pirated movies from a street vendor would be doing so because s/he didn't know how to download them illegally.)
It goes on to show a montage of several other films that are coming out on video. While I can't escape the previews using the "menu" button, I am able to skip these (how considerate of them).
So, what pirate-bait title could this possibly be? An action-adventure or sci-fi epic? No, this title is Robots, the 2005 computer animated film that's rated PG, but clearly marketed towards children.
My wife took our 5-year-old daughter to see Robots this past summer, and they both loved it, so they found it under the Christmas tree this year. Now, every time my daughter goes to watch the DVD, she has to sit through the piracy warning and lame previews for Garfield and Fat Albert before she can actually see her movie. That's about 5 minutes of anxious, wasted time every time she watches the movie.
The movie that we purchased. Legally.
"Daddy, I don't want to see this part again. I don't like it."
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I can't make it stop. We'll just have to wait."
"Why does it do that?"
I'd explain it to her, but I don't think she could wrap her 5-year-old mind around the DMCA and the related undertones of corporate greed and paranoia.
So, I've bought a DVD burner and some "backup" software, and I'm going to make a copy (of a movie I own) without all that crud in front of it. And in doing so, I will be violating the DMCA (or so I understand...I don't actually feel like reading the whole thing just to support this blog entry). Congratulations, entertainment industry: you've alienated another customer.
Now, the news outlets are reporting a 7% or so drop in movie ticket sales for this holiday season, and people are starting to point the blame at piracy. I don't buy it, and here's why:
DVD player sales have reached a near saturation point, and large screen TVs are starting to drop in price and sell in greater numbers. While I don't think that piracy is blameless, I don't think that it has the impact that the MPAA seems to suggest. I think a large part of sagging ticket sales is the fact that more and more people prefer to spend their money on a DVD and enjoy movies with friends and family at home. It's much cheaper that way, too. Let's compare watching a movie at the theater vs. watching the DVD at home:
Tickets (Family of 4)
(2x) Adult tickets at $9 each.
(2x) Child tickets at $6 each.
Total ticket price: $30
Snacks
1 Large popcorn (for the adults): $5
1 Medium popcorn (for the kids): $4
2 large sodas (adults): $4
2 small sodas (kids): $2
Total snacks price: $21
Total cost for night out at the movies: $51
Plus, you might have to deal with projector problems, incessant talkers, cell phones, and other distractions...and you can't pause or go back if you need to run out of the theater for any reason (like taking one of the kids to the bathroom).
Now, waiting until the movie comes out on DVD, the cost would be much less significant:
Buying a DVD: $20
Microwave popcorn: $5 (for everyone)
A couple of 2-liter sodas: $3
Total cost for DVD for the family: $28
Plus, you usually get extras on the DVD, the comfort of your own home, the ability to pause if there is a distraction, you get to make whatever you darn well want to eat or drink, and you don't have to pay to see the movie again if you want to watch it over and over again.
Another factor worth mention is that there are an awful lot of movies being made lately. Many people can only afford a night out at the movies every now and then, so when it comes to making a choice which movie to see, they'll choose the ones they really feel strongly about seeing in the theater, knowing they'll be able to catch the others on DVD in a few months.
So, is it piracy that's eating into ticket sales, or is it a fundamental shift in the way people enjoy movies? Given the factors listed above, I think it's the latter.
The entertainment industry (music and movies, in particular) needs to learn to adapt, and adapt soon. Apple has taken the leadership position in the digital music revolution, and it looks as though they're about to take digital video by storm, as well. Apple seems to have figured out the new entertainment paradigm, and they have reaped from it handsomely.
And at first, the music companies were clamoring to line up to get on the iTunes Music Store. Recently, though, it seems they're questioning the pricing model (it seems they want to charge more for "premium" content) and threatening to back out.
Here's a hint to entertainment industry executives: it took an outsider to figure out how to adapt to the new digital ecosystem. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Like Steve Jobs said not so long ago...you're competing with piracy. Even with a successful business model like iTunes, you're competing with free (albeit illegal) file distribution. You can adjust to placate the masses that want your content digitally, or you can watch helplessly as you are file-shared out of relevance. Sure, there are a lot of people swapping music and movies online, but most of those people either (a) already saw the movie in the theater, or (b) weren't going to pay to see it anyway. There are very few (at least in my experience) who download and burn movies to keep in their video library...it's just not practical. Real film fans are going to see movies in the theaters and buy the DVDs, especially if they continue to offer compelling extras on the DVDs (give yourselves some credit for getting that content distribution model right!).
However, if you continue on your paranoid and greedy path of treating every consumer as a criminal, you may just well be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sony is learning that lesson right now. Sure, it's costing millions to settle the CD rootkit fiasco, but how much has been lost in bad faith by the public? I don't think that's measurable.
...but then again, what do I know? My wife just came home with a new Sony DVD player.
To me, it just seems like less hassle to buy or rent DVDs. After all, most DVDs can be purchased for under $20 or rented for a fraction of that using a service like NetFlix.
However, I've noticed a trend in DVDs lately, and it has driven me to the point of purchasing a DVD burner and DVD copying software and just abandoning the idea of ever purchasing movies from certain studios again. What I'm referring to are the previews and warnings that precede the actual movie (or menu) that are coded in such a way as to not let you bypass them using the "Menu" button.
If I've just shelled out $19.99 to buy a DVD for my family (or myself), I should be able to view the enclosed content in any way I like...in fact, I should be able to do anything I want with that content, short of using it commercially or distributing it illegally. My purchase of the media gives me Fair Use rights.
Apparently, the MPAA doesn't see it that way. It seems that they want to FORCE me to have to watch the MTV-ish "Piracy Is Stealing" short that they hobbled together, as well as previews for other DVD titles that are presumably configured in the same manner.
Here's what I'm talking about; I'm sure you've seen it in front of movies in the theater or on DVDs in recent months:
(cue aggressive techno music)
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone breaking into car)
You wouldn't steal a car.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone stealing a purse)
You wouldn't steal a purse.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone taking a cell phone)
You wouldn't steal a cell phone.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of someone shoplifting a DVD)
You wouldn't steal a DVD.
(grainy, jerky hand-held shot of a street vendor set up selling bootleg DVDs)
Buying pirated films is stealing.
Stealing is against the law.
Piracy. It's a crime.
And, inexplicably, it's followed by a warning that seems to be unrelated to "buying pirated films":
[ I ] Illegal Downloading. Inappropriate for All Ages.
(cleverly designed in the format of a movie ratings bar).
(I say "unrelated," because I would think that someone buying pirated movies from a street vendor would be doing so because s/he didn't know how to download them illegally.)
It goes on to show a montage of several other films that are coming out on video. While I can't escape the previews using the "menu" button, I am able to skip these (how considerate of them).
So, what pirate-bait title could this possibly be? An action-adventure or sci-fi epic? No, this title is Robots, the 2005 computer animated film that's rated PG, but clearly marketed towards children.
My wife took our 5-year-old daughter to see Robots this past summer, and they both loved it, so they found it under the Christmas tree this year. Now, every time my daughter goes to watch the DVD, she has to sit through the piracy warning and lame previews for Garfield and Fat Albert before she can actually see her movie. That's about 5 minutes of anxious, wasted time every time she watches the movie.
The movie that we purchased. Legally.
"Daddy, I don't want to see this part again. I don't like it."
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I can't make it stop. We'll just have to wait."
"Why does it do that?"
I'd explain it to her, but I don't think she could wrap her 5-year-old mind around the DMCA and the related undertones of corporate greed and paranoia.
So, I've bought a DVD burner and some "backup" software, and I'm going to make a copy (of a movie I own) without all that crud in front of it. And in doing so, I will be violating the DMCA (or so I understand...I don't actually feel like reading the whole thing just to support this blog entry). Congratulations, entertainment industry: you've alienated another customer.
Now, the news outlets are reporting a 7% or so drop in movie ticket sales for this holiday season, and people are starting to point the blame at piracy. I don't buy it, and here's why:
DVD player sales have reached a near saturation point, and large screen TVs are starting to drop in price and sell in greater numbers. While I don't think that piracy is blameless, I don't think that it has the impact that the MPAA seems to suggest. I think a large part of sagging ticket sales is the fact that more and more people prefer to spend their money on a DVD and enjoy movies with friends and family at home. It's much cheaper that way, too. Let's compare watching a movie at the theater vs. watching the DVD at home:
Tickets (Family of 4)
(2x) Adult tickets at $9 each.
(2x) Child tickets at $6 each.
Total ticket price: $30
Snacks
1 Large popcorn (for the adults): $5
1 Medium popcorn (for the kids): $4
2 large sodas (adults): $4
2 small sodas (kids): $2
Total snacks price: $21
Total cost for night out at the movies: $51
Plus, you might have to deal with projector problems, incessant talkers, cell phones, and other distractions...and you can't pause or go back if you need to run out of the theater for any reason (like taking one of the kids to the bathroom).
Now, waiting until the movie comes out on DVD, the cost would be much less significant:
Buying a DVD: $20
Microwave popcorn: $5 (for everyone)
A couple of 2-liter sodas: $3
Total cost for DVD for the family: $28
Plus, you usually get extras on the DVD, the comfort of your own home, the ability to pause if there is a distraction, you get to make whatever you darn well want to eat or drink, and you don't have to pay to see the movie again if you want to watch it over and over again.
Another factor worth mention is that there are an awful lot of movies being made lately. Many people can only afford a night out at the movies every now and then, so when it comes to making a choice which movie to see, they'll choose the ones they really feel strongly about seeing in the theater, knowing they'll be able to catch the others on DVD in a few months.
So, is it piracy that's eating into ticket sales, or is it a fundamental shift in the way people enjoy movies? Given the factors listed above, I think it's the latter.
The entertainment industry (music and movies, in particular) needs to learn to adapt, and adapt soon. Apple has taken the leadership position in the digital music revolution, and it looks as though they're about to take digital video by storm, as well. Apple seems to have figured out the new entertainment paradigm, and they have reaped from it handsomely.
And at first, the music companies were clamoring to line up to get on the iTunes Music Store. Recently, though, it seems they're questioning the pricing model (it seems they want to charge more for "premium" content) and threatening to back out.
Here's a hint to entertainment industry executives: it took an outsider to figure out how to adapt to the new digital ecosystem. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Like Steve Jobs said not so long ago...you're competing with piracy. Even with a successful business model like iTunes, you're competing with free (albeit illegal) file distribution. You can adjust to placate the masses that want your content digitally, or you can watch helplessly as you are file-shared out of relevance. Sure, there are a lot of people swapping music and movies online, but most of those people either (a) already saw the movie in the theater, or (b) weren't going to pay to see it anyway. There are very few (at least in my experience) who download and burn movies to keep in their video library...it's just not practical. Real film fans are going to see movies in the theaters and buy the DVDs, especially if they continue to offer compelling extras on the DVDs (give yourselves some credit for getting that content distribution model right!).
However, if you continue on your paranoid and greedy path of treating every consumer as a criminal, you may just well be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sony is learning that lesson right now. Sure, it's costing millions to settle the CD rootkit fiasco, but how much has been lost in bad faith by the public? I don't think that's measurable.
...but then again, what do I know? My wife just came home with a new Sony DVD player.
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