Regarding that previous post with the video of the horrible TV reporter -- Katie has asked me to point out that most media people aren't as awful as that British guy. She doesn't want to create the impression that we dislike the media. Because we don't. In fact most of the media, especially guys like Goatberg and Pogue and the entire press corps here in the Valley, are consummate professionals who behave with a really high degree of integrity.
These folks have strong relationships with Apple. They know and obey the rules we've established with them for our interactions. Basically, it's very simple. When you get us on camera or sit down in a room with us, you're going to ask us a list of questions that we've vetted, and we're going to give you a set of answers that we've prepared in advance, and no matter how pointless or irrelevant or meaningless those answers might be, you will nod appreciatively and move on.
Now, when you're working with real media professionals, they totally appreciate this kind of efficiency. These are busy people. They're working on deadline. They're trying to fill space, either on air or on a page. They need information, fast. Doesn't matter what that information is, but it really, really helps for it to be in complete sentences that are grammatically correct and only a few seconds long.
Basically what we're doing is working to understand exactly what these busy professionals need in order to do their jobs well, and then we're making life easier for them. The smart ones, the real pros, totally appreciate this. I can't tell you how many cards and letters and emails we get from people who totally thank us for having such a first-rate public relations department.
Moreover, the Valley press corp is appalled when one of their so-called "fellow journalists" like this guy in England goes all rogue on us. It's embarrassing and totally hurts the credibility of everyone in their profession. Why, Walt himself just called to apologize for what that guy in England did to Phil. He's like, "Steve, Katie, even though I had nothing to do with it, I really feel bad about what that guy did, and I'm really sorry, and I hope you won't hold it against us."
Of course we told Walt that we appreciated his candor and that we would all move on and be professional, as always. The message I hope you'll take away from this encounter is simply this: Apple is the best. We're open and honest. We're the company you can trust. Sure, we might be a monopoly. Kind of, but not really, or maybe. But the stuff about us being a monopoly wasn't on the question list, was it? That's not something we agreed to discuss or were prepared to discuss.
And even if we are a monopoly, which we're not, but if we are, we're the good kind, the kind that is open and honest with you, not the bad, secretive, hostile kind that would shut down cameras and stifle communication. We're not some dictatorship in Ukraine or someplace like that where the government controls the media. And to all members of the obedient press corps everywhere, let me say this: Namaste. I honor the place where our spin and your stories become one.
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Classic. I am going to stop
Classic. I am going to stop using the term "Deer in headlights" and start using the term "Schiller hearing monopoly"!!!!
The reporter was using the
The reporter was using the word "monopoly" improperly; he was practicing "gotcha journalism."
A real monopoly was always a government created privilege whereby the consumer has no alternatives. Some products and services are very popular but no attempt is made to force people to buy them. A normal monopoly forces people to buy even though the monopolist delivers poor products and services. Then, competition is prevented from delivering better products and services.
Does Apple qualify as a monopolist? It depends. The reporter was trying to make the case that the tight integration between iTunes, the iTunes Music store and the IPod was monopolistic. The proper word he should have been using is proprietary.
Gotcha Journalism, only the
Gotcha Journalism, only the interviewer is the one that looks like a freakin' out of touch fool. At least to people that have an understanding of the word monopoly. :( He's just trying to throw out a 'red' word (and apparently that reporter already had an axe to grind with Apple over some other story).
>> The proper word he should have been using is proprietary.
And even that mostly doesn't fly given that you can use whatever (non-DRM) video/audio source you want to bring into your iPhone/iPod. Plus iTunes itself plays stuff on Windows PCs. And Apple has shown that it'll push providers for removing DRM that you can play on most recent players. All in all the reporter comes across IMO as just a wanker barking up the wrong tree and trying to showboat. And that's with he own edit of the video tap. Now if he would have tried to hold the feet to the fire about locking iPhone customers into O2? And all this bricking crap. Then he's at least got something to go on.
P.S. Shiller really needs to be kept out of situations where people ask questions. He has a hard time with completely scripted events (see back tapes of Apple Keynotes for that) muchless interacting with non-Apple people.
Right on Louis Wheeler. It's
Right on Louis Wheeler. It's frightening how people are losing their understanding of what a monopoly is. Windows is accused of being a monopoly, because, supposedly, business cannot rationally choose any other platform than Microsoft. I think, though, that Apple and Linux are challenging that. (Don't confuse monopoly from unfair trade practices, which MS seems very guilty of).
But an iTunes "monopoly"? Hah! Warner music could start it's own site and sell their songs for .50 cents. WalMart and Amazon both have MP3 downloads. Options for players are massive, but iPods are simply better.
The REALLY funny thing here, is that it is the music industry that has gotten us, as consumers, to call iTunes a monopoly. The real issue to the music industry is that Apply wants to PUSH PRICES DOWN and allow al la carte buying. Two things the media companies don't want. BUT WE SHOULD. If ANYONE has a monopoly (or, more technically, an oligopoly -- more than one vendor acting together to stiffle competition) it's the major music labels.
It's a shame to see a journalist puff from the hooka of the music industry.
Calling iPod/iTunes system a
Calling iPod/iTunes system a monopoly is patently ridiculous but Apple (and Phil) shouldn't shy away from addressing this red herring bait.
Just point out the many alternatives that exist in the marketplace and at the same time acknowledge that if you purchase an iPod that you'll have the best experience with it using the ITunes to manage what's on it. Cripes, that's what people want - ease of use, and that's what it's built for.
The fact of the matter is
The fact of the matter is that if you think Apple's dominance amounts to a "monopoly" you simply don't understand what that word means.
Well, it was a valid
Well, it was a valid question - is iTunes acting as a kind of monopoly because you need to have an iPod to get the best out of it?
All Schiller needed to say was "No." and move on, adding what he wanted to get across about the iPhone....
Now, maybe in the US you are not used to journalists who are independent, asking probing questions, but if the US media wasn't so obsessed with just filling up seconds on air, keeping corporate advertisers happy, and supporting anything the Republican administration told them to maybe you wouldn't have elected such a dumb ass President for a disastrous second term.
the man (or woman) has a
the man (or woman) has a point
....thus we get the magic of
....thus we get the magic of video editting. Why wasn't the whole encounter up? Schiller did say he already answered the question. Why wasn't the first part of the video up there so we could judge whether or not this was true. It all reeks of a passive-aggressive, act like an ass till he got bounced and then try to edit it to look like he was victim fighting for truth. Nice "reporting".
A little Ironic though in
A little Ironic though in light of Apple's recent "PR Lady" ads no?
http://www.commpoint.ca/Point/Blog/Entries/2007/11/18_Apple_Quicky.html
hilarious
hilarious
I'm no blind fanboy, but I'm
I'm no blind fanboy, but I'm gonna call shenanigans on this one. Disregarded until I see what happened immediately before the cut.
Besides, how can the iPod represent a monopoly? Mine is full of music I got over ten years from the iTMS, LimeWire, Amazon, my own legally purchased 15-year-old CD collection, frikkin NAPSTER, swiped across the network from my wife's PC, supplied by my BIL's band, and a half-dozen or so free (and hopefully legal) music download sounds I found when I went to troll the Zune forums.
iTunes is simply the software needed to sync the hardware, just like any other device has. That it happens to have a music buying service built in is neither here nor there, but one can't deny that Windows Media Player seems to have one too.
Nobody gets on Epson's case when you have to use the Epson Printer Utility to clean the nozzles.
I should add that if I want
I should add that if I want to buy a Zune, I have to a) own a PC, and b) move to the States.
Why do I have to be an American PC user to own a Zune?
The only way this will EVER happen is if the US decides to invade us (again) and we fail to burn the White House down this time, and they take over and we become US citizens by force, and then President Gates forces us to use PCs to manage the machinery as we toil in his underground silicon mines. THEN I can buy a Zune.
Monopoly, I say!
I don't see the problem, the
I don't see the problem, the reporter was asking a valid question.
Personally I don't agree that iTunes has a monopoly, but he didn't even say that. He simply asked if they are "acting in a monopoly way", and sometimes you get that impression, when you look at how tight iTunes is bundled to the iPod. The guys from the Apple store (was it the one at Regent Street?) completely overreact. Apple is so paranoid, it's unbearable. I own two Macs (a desktop and a laptop) and I got two iPods, and even though I don't think Apple has a monopoly (for there are competitors), they do have a very strong market position, which is kinda frightening. Sure, times will change, and the iPod won't sell like hot buns forever, but I have changed my oppinion on Apple since all the hassle with the iPhone and third party software. They are overreacting once again and i'm going to get fed up with that behaviour.
Apple, calm down! I'm with the reporter, he's there to ask questions. I'm not expecting a reporter to kiss Apples bud. If I would only feel comfortable with convenient questions, I could go and check out some Apple fanboy site.
Would have been a LITTLE
Would have been a LITTLE more convincing if the journalist, Benjamin Cohen, was not the same guy who cybersquatted on iTunes.co.uk in 1999 and then had a prolonged legal battle with Apple. Can you say sour grapes? What would you have expected from him OTHER than confrontation with Apple?
I'm sorry to point out but
I'm sorry to point out but this guy is representative of the British tabloid press who would stop at nothing to create fabricated stories to sell crap posing as news.
One correction to my earlier
One correction to my earlier comment -- I am not defending Apple's response. They look like twits, and should have addressed it head-on. Having said that, I've been on the receiving end of interviews where the interviewer has said it's about XYZ, but turns out it's about ABC. Sometimes you just don't want to deal with s**t like that. This kind of exchange happens ALL THE TIME in corporate communications. Still, Apple will look better if they handle it better.
Still, in the end, there is no government support or mandate or protection for Apple. They are not running a monopoly, acting in a monopoly way, or being monopolistic. They simply have the best, most desireable product, and offer units built on proprietary technology. That's why I use Apple products -- I don't have to deal with the crap that comes with PCs -- i.e. updating drivers, compatibility issues, constantly trying to find multiple solutions that will work together. With Apple I buy it, I learn how it works, and I don't have to worry.
By the way -- monopolies are more aligned with infrastructure -- steel, oil, water, roads, basic computing infrastructure. The fact that you want your tunes in a mobile device so you can blow your ear drums out hardly deserves ANY kind of regulatory oversight. Honestly.
One other comment -- part of
One other comment -- part of what locks the music to itunes is the DRM which is driven by the music industry, not Apple. Once again, we the public have been brainwashed by the music industry to think Apple is the villain here. If the agreed to sell it DRM free, then you could down load from iTunes online, and move the files to any player as an MP3.
It's widely known that any
It's widely known that any relationship with the media in the UK can be a double edged sword. Apple invited several news organisations into the Regents street store for the iPhone launch (according to some reports journalists and Apple employees outnumbered real punters). The phrasing of the question may not have been valid (although I believe there are related issues that need to be asked on behalf of the less questioning majority of iTunes/iPhone/iPod users) but Apple must grow up and learn to deal with less sincere journalists hungry for a story. Unfortunately for Apple, that's exactly what he got with this reaction.
Hiya Hope everyone is
Hiya
Hope everyone is keeping well, Im neither supporting or rejecting this journalists view, Im writing as I think many of these posts are missing the point by discussing the content of the interview and its validity where really we should be supporting the right of people to ask probing questions on behalf on the consumer. Whether we agree or not with the subject isn't the issue, its Apple's unwillingness for honest and open debate that should be criticised and yes I know that its standard practice amongst most companies (particularly american) and celebrities that everything is pre-scripted, but that doesn't really make it right and it certainly isn't in the wider public interest.
If a company believes its in the right then it should have no problem answering openly should it?
I certainly find it strange that Apple seems to class journalists who ask scripted questions and receive scripted answers as having integrity, surely the job of the journalist is to be a spokesman for the people and pose the difficult questions that need to be asked, not repeat parrot fashion a load of marketing spiel that provides little to no real insight.
Hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season and yes I have asked Santa for a nano, I'm an Apple lover not a hater
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