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Apple Phones

Frayed Knot Sep 10 2013 05:24 PM

Does it seem to anyone else that whenever Apple releases a new phone, or a new version of an existing phone (or any new product for that matter) that the coverage from news outlets, TV in particular, resemble commercials for the product much more than a news report? I mean it must save Apple a ton of money from their advertising budget since the news media is all too happy to do their advertising for them. Now I'm not one of those people who is either pro- nor anti- Apple so I don't have a dog in this fight. But I'm watching the news tonight and the "report" on today new Apple release is talking about the features, the colors, and all with slick production techniques that looked a helluva lot more like a paid promotional film than anything that could be called a neutral news item. Just speculation, but I get the idea that media-types both use and are enamored with Apple products to such an extent that they tend to cover these releases with the glee of a tween girl filing a report on the latest boy-band video.

metirish Sep 10 2013 06:09 PM Re: Apple Phones

OMFG , it has new colors...OMFG, it has new colors and a new iOS.....and get this, it will take your fingerprint but won't pass it on to the NSA..... Puleeeeese...what, no new ear plugs this time? Seriously, it's silly.

Frayed Knot Sep 10 2013 06:18 PM Re: Apple Phones

See, I EXPECT Apple to promote these new colors and new (possibly useful) features as if they're things you can't live without starting tomorrow. But it struck me with this release (although thinking back on it it's been happening all along) that the news media acts like it's part of their job to promote these updates and to sell as many of these new phones/pads/gizmos as possible. And I can't think of any other company that gets this kind of treatment.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 10 2013 07:10 PM Re: Apple Phones

The Apple situation is just the most extreme example of the laziness of contemporary business journalism which basically passes on press releases unedited from their corporate masters. It's what happens when only 6 companies basically control all the media and information outlets in the country.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 11 2013 05:15 AM Re: Apple Phones

Edgy MD Sep 11 2013 06:09 AM Re: Apple Phones

MTV demonstrated a great business model, as all their early content was commercials so they didn't have to do any production. I'm not sure news outlets are fantastically pro-Apple (though I hardly would be shocked to be corrected), so much as enjoying the low cost and high ratings of running a pre-produced story. I get all my tech news from Gizmac Gadgetech.com Video Pod. [youtube:kpd286jz]Bd3XXII8u9U[/youtube:kpd286jz]

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 11 2013 07:03 AM Re: Apple Phones

There's actually a lot of good biz reporters covering tech out there, I wouldn't disparage journalism so much as Apple's pandering to its cult and the blurry line between journalists and pretend journalists today. Getting news in big stagey events must suck for actual reporters.

Frayed Knot Sep 11 2013 07:15 AM Re: Apple Phones

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure news outlets are fantastically pro-Apple ... so much as enjoying the low cost and high ratings of running a pre-produced story. That--aka: the laziness factor that Willets talked about--is certainly part of it, but the only reason I even brought this up (like I said, I have no skin in this game) is that there seems to be a degree of giddy-ness for Apple releases from these supposedly neutral news outlets that isn't there for other new products/upgrades to the point where the story reads and looks a lot more like a slick press-release than it does information. And whether the info about these high-tech toys is really something new that one could argue actually qualifies as newsworthy, or is merely a come-on only slightly less mundane than Malibu Stacy's new hat, the sub-set of newsroom desk jockeys seem to be about as able to contain their glee over these new gadgets as did Steve Martin over the arrival of the new phone book.

Edgy MD Sep 11 2013 07:33 AM Re: Apple Phones

Apple has a Q rating to die for. Being in the know about that shit, or pretending to be, gives you a hipness. Plus, I can't imagine pandering to an audience that aspires to tech savviness hurts with the advertisers.

Frayed Knot Sep 11 2013 07:35 AM Re: Apple Phones

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: There's actually a lot of good biz reporters covering tech out there,. I'm sure there are and there could be no shortage of reports on tech journals and/or specialty business programs that are trashing, or at least yawning at, whatever updates Apple released yesterday. I was just referring to the standard news outlets and the ironic thing is that the one I saw was via NBC who are in bed on a corporate level with Microsoft and therefore wouldn't be apt to promote Apple products as the result of orders from above.

metirish Sep 11 2013 08:09 AM Re: Apple Phones

Not all good press though http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2 ... -5c-review

Benjamin Grimm Sep 11 2013 08:47 AM Re: Apple Phones

I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but a lot of people do care about this stuff, and the media does want to cover the things that people care about. If no one cared about a lavender iPhone, then it wouldn't make headlines. Why do people care about lavender iPhones? I have no idea.

Frayed Knot Sep 11 2013 10:08 AM Re: Apple Phones

Edgy MD wrote: Apple has a Q rating to die for. That was apparent at the time of Jobs death. Coming right in the midst of the 'Occupy' movement and the whole 'Fuck the One Percent' vibe, the outpouring of public grief probably won't be topped until Mandela goes sometime in the near future. I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but a lot of people do care about this stuff, and the media does want to cover the things that people care about. That they're covering these product releases is understandable (to an extent anyway). I'm merely questioning the way they're covering it, as if they see selling these updates as must-haves to their viewing audience as part of their job description.

Centerfield Sep 11 2013 10:20 AM Re: Apple Phones

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but a lot of people do care about this stuff, and the media does want to cover the things that people care about. If no one cared about a lavender iPhone, then it wouldn't make headlines. Why do people care about lavender iPhones? I have no idea. Gawd, you are so out of it.

Ceetar Sep 11 2013 10:48 AM Re: Apple Phones

It annoys me. I don't really have a dog in the fight either, to each is own, I don't care what phone you use..except there are two (well, four.. sorry Blackberry/Windows Mobile) major app development platforms and hyping Apple means more developers/interest in developing iOS apps first before Android ones despite Android being easier to work with/publish. Which means there are times when new apps appeal to my "That looks cool! I want!" materialistic self and I can't because it's not on Android yet. So while I don't really care what phone you have, the fan-boying in media about Apple products is suggesting that they want ME to switch because that's what everyone else is doing. (aside, my 17 year old brother recently switched from the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy and told me "I should've listened to you last time, this is so much better") It feels very similar to when people were saying Apple users should switch to Windows/Microsoft because that's what everyone else was doing and don't you want to fit in?

Centerfield Sep 11 2013 10:51 AM Re: Apple Phones

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but a lot of people do care about this stuff, and the media does want to cover the things that people care about. If no one cared about a lavender iPhone, then it wouldn't make headlines. Why do people care about lavender iPhones? I have no idea. Gawd, you are so out of it.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 11 2013 11:20 AM Re: Apple Phones

Centerfield wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but a lot of people do care about this stuff, and the media does want to cover the things that people care about. If no one cared about a lavender iPhone, then it wouldn't make headlines. Why do people care about lavender iPhones? I have no idea. Gawd, you are so out of it. Wow! I'm SO out of it that you had to tell me twice.

Frayed Knot Sep 11 2013 11:25 AM Re: Apple Phones

He couldn't be sure that your hearing aid was turned up loud enough to hear him the first time