So, there’s been a lot of gnashing of teeth over what the iPhone does and doesn’t do. It “does” look awesomely cool. It doesn’t look awesomely functional. It does look awesomely cool (hey, I think it deserves to be said twice). It doesn’t look like it’ll support third party applications. And much more.
My take on this, as a non Mac observer (and someone thoroughly unqualified to blog about it — but that’s the beauty of blogging), is that what it doesn’t do really doesn’t matter. In fact, the iPhone could rough you up in a dark alley, hit you with a bag of brass doorknobs, and, for many, they’d beg for more. The iPhone is a clear example that style trumps function. And what an unimaginable juggernaut of ferverent hype is created when you couple a powerhouse brand like Apple to a product which screams cool.
After all, is anyone REALLY surprised that the iPhone is only going to be carried by a single carrier? Or, that it is as locked down on DRM issues as anything else Apple? Or, that there won’t be any third party applications? And is there going to be any doubt that the iPhone is going to add hundreds of millions of dollars to Apple’s bottom line?
Come on.
I think the better question is this: if style and a sense of uber cool is the x-factor which is going to line Job’s pockets for years to come, why haven’t other companies created any similar products? I don’t have the answer to this, but I suppose they will try (including all of the Taiwanes companies that are furiously trying to copy it as we speak) … but here’s a follow up question: even if any one company *did* … would they enjoy the same levels of success as Apple? And the answer to that, I suspect, is “probably not”.
And that’s because Apple has enjoyed a rebuilt brand story that any company would envy. Its sense of self as the iconoclastic stylishly hipster brand is worth more than any new tech gadget, but that’s only because Steve Jobs has deftly guided Apple from tech gadget to another guided by that vision.
So, sure — let us all gnash our teeth collectively over what the iPhone doesn’t have … but secretly start saving our pennies for the day that it does get released (or in Canada, loonies). Because in this day and age that we’re defined by the brands we wear and use, even amongst the anti-hipster elite, Apple has become a giant in its own right, with the strength of its brand giving it monetary immunity to all the shortcomings its latest gadget doesn’t have.
*photo courtesy of “lasoda” at the stock exchange
January 15th, 2007 at 1:02 pm | Permalink
Yay! The funny captions are back!
About the iPhone, I’ll admit, it’s sexy. Have you seen the Conan spoof of the iPhone? It can be found on YouTube.
I will wait and see how the first gen models do before getting one.
January 15th, 2007 at 6:32 pm | Permalink
Hey Tony, congrats on the joining the Problogger team. That is great. Look forward to reading more of your info.
JMW
January 15th, 2007 at 10:11 pm | Permalink
In the dark past Apple made many a mis-step, screwing over the loyal users. You will remember all the locked down hardware, unmodifiable and nonupgradeable?
Somehow everyone survived. Annoyed, but hey, still apple consumers.
Same thing here. And largely because Redmond can’t invent its way out of a paper bag.
There is only one reason I don’t buy an iPod. DRM. Or at least Apple’s implementation of it. It simply is too annoying. And boy am I in the minority here!
January 16th, 2007 at 6:23 am | Permalink
Yeah here comes the first apple fanboy to the thread…
I think the logic behind keeping things fairly tightly knit is that it solves problems before they happen. For some people the ability to install all kinds of widgets and programs on their phone will be usefull however others will just want it to work without any hassle.
For me, and I assume many other people, the beauty of OS X is that most of the apps I need come preinstalled, are good quality and share a consistant user interface. That is where I think the mac beats windows systems. It’s not hugely surprising to see that strategy follow with the iPod and iPhone….
January 16th, 2007 at 8:42 am | Permalink
Just let me add I am a major Apple fan and make my living on the machines. I think Apple is the single best consumer marketing machine in the world. I think Jobs is brilliant.
But that is not the same as being blind to the quirks and failings to which the company is subject. And there are many.
March 12th, 2007 at 6:01 pm | Permalink
I’m confident that it will be as great as it is proclaimed to be. How many times has an Apple product not been up to par with how great their marketers say it will be.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:24 am | Permalink
The first time I meet this ideal from your article, so I will try to understand your topoint for it.Sometimes new way to the truth for it. ah. isn’t it?