“Apple is finally growing up,” Marcus Wohlsen writes for Wired. “For years, guided by Steve Jobs’ firm hand and relentless vision, the company minted breakthrough after breakthrough. When gadgets appeared from behind Apple’s tightly guarded walls, they were so fully realized, it was hard to remember what life was like without them. But now that Jobs is gone, things have changed. Going years without introducing something radically new, Apple’s famously insular culture has started to look parochial.”
MacDailyNews Take:
• iPhone was released 5 years, 7 months, and 19 days after iPod.
• iPad was released 2 years, 9 months, and 5 days after iPhone.
• Tim Cook has been Apple CEO for 2 years, 8 months, and 16 days.
“That’s why Apple’s reported plans to buy headphone maker Beats for $3.2 billion — as yet unconfirmed by either company — seem like a big step forward,” Wohlsen writes. “The fanboys may bellow that the only real Apple product is hardware Apple makes itself. But the sign of real adulthood is asking for help when you need it. And that’s what Apple would appear to be doing here.”
MacDailyNews Take: Well, whatdayaknow, August came early this year.
“Unlike Google’s purchase of Nest — which carried the same price tag reported by The Financial Times — the fit between Apple and Beats is obvious. Apple’s bestselling product is the iPhone. You plug headphones into an iPhone. Done. But the connection is far more than functional. Beats took a totally banal hardware category, the headphone, and built a stunningly compelling brand — and not by going the audiophile nerd route of ‘my headphones sound better than yours.’ Instead, through a mix of design and marketing smarts, they made headphones cool again,” Wohlsen writes. “If Apple needs anything now, it’s coolness.”
Read more bullshit in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: “If Apple needs anything now, it’s coolness?” Seriously? As with his factually incorrect assertion that Apple is going any longer between revolutions than they would have under Steve Jobs, the evidence stands in stark contrast to Wohlsen’s statement:
• Sight unseen: 17% of U.S. teens would pay $350 for an Apple iWatch – April 8, 2014
• 61% of U.S. teens surveyed own an Apple iPhone, up from 55% just three months ago – April 8, 2014
• 67% of U.S. teens expect their next phone to be an Apple iPhone – April 8, 2014
• 66% of U.S. teens who want a tablet plan to get an Apple iPad – April 8, 2014Amidst the excrement, at least Wohlsen got one thing right: Beats isn’t about quality sound. As we wrote yesterday, Beats is a triumph of marketing over sound quality.
The following video, “Dr Dre On His Way To Being The First Hip Hop Billionaire: Dre & Tyrese Announce Apple Buying Beats For $3.2 Billion,” contains language that may not be safe for work (NSFW), depending on where you work:
Related articles:
Why would Apple want to blow $3.2 billion on Beats Electronics? – May 8, 2014
Apple in talks to buy Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion – May 8, 2014
This beats deal will prove to be brilliant.
Why exactly? Because of the generated hype?
Would you rather see apple buy more of it’s stock back to please shareholders? I would rather see them putting their capital to real actual use.
But is this “good use”?
And still: Why exactly?
Agreed, and if apple didn’t buy it, their competitors would have.
Ask HTC if it was good for them since they had a 300+ million deal.
It didn’t sell a lot of HTC PHONE, instead it loose out big time.
Wow did they buy Beats too then.
HTC bought 50.1% of Beats for 309 million way back in 2011
Hmmmm. Dr. iDre …. er… iBeats? … er ..iDunno
*not by going the audiophile nerd route of “my headphones sound better than yours.”*
Is he talking about MDN?
He is talking about flash over substance, hype over quality, appearance with inferior functionality. Say what you want about MDN, but that does not sync well with Apple.
So basically the same characteristics of Apple Maps, Siri, iTunes Radio, iCloud functionality?
Care to elaborate?
I guess I’m one of those audiophile nerds whose first priority in a set of headphones or earphones is sound quality. Style is of lower concern, and “coolness” barely measures on my scale.
However that is not to deny that other markets exist…. far bigger ones than the one you (and I) occupy indeed.
This “Beats deal” may very well prove to be just a rumor.
It’s a hoax. Apple always seems to be target of these but never much for google or Microsoft. Wonder why that is.
I blame dysfunctional analists
1.5 or 2 B is more in line with normal premium buy-out
3.2 billion shows recklessness or hard bagaining.
“Read more bullshit in the full article here”
I saw what you did there, MDN.
Anyone know where the rumor started?
Recycled April Fool’s Day rumor from Lefsetz Letter:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2014/04/01/apple-buys-beats/
It started with the Financial Times, then the Wall Street Journal corroborated it with separate and reliable sources and a few other publications joined in and said that they also got wind of the rumor from their sources but didn’t want to be the first out the gate since it was such a big news and they weren’t sure about it. Several reputable news outlets (including ones that have historically been accurate with Apple news and only report on something that is pretty definite) have reported that this deal is definitely happening.
The Financial Times may have arguable commentary on such matters but you can be sure they will not publish this based on simple rumours. If they report it there is certainly substance in the story even if certain details may not be.
OMF I’m sick of stupid Apple articles and news on the TV and news on the radio blahblahblah.
Apple is finally growing up
Maybe you should grow up and write decent technology journalism, Marcus Wohlsen who writes for Wired, instead of editorial Ambien.
Yawn.
Meanwhile: This morning I am amazed to hear every possible news source all a twitter about Apple buying Beat. Except Apple is NOT buying Beat. All we’re hearing about is MAYBE Apple MIGHT buy Beat.
And this is news?
NO!
BFD!
You’d think it was August ALL-YEAR-LONG!
Well… you don’t know that Apples is NOT buying beats. In actuality you would be less credible in your assertion then some of the outlets who are reporting that this deal is in it’s last stages. Some of the same outlets that Apple typically considers friends and historically have had intel from ‘sources within the company’ that other news/blog outlets have not had. Now whether or not the deal goes through is anyones guess but it’s a pretty safe assumption that they definitely are in the last stages of negotiations.
Say what you want about Cook or the Cook era or how it’s only been a couple years since Cook got into office, blah blah blah; at the end of the day it’s clear that this is NOT the same Apple as before Steve Jobs died and this deal will prove that to many fans dismay.
Excellent appraisal.
Oh yawn.
Most of the wired commenters don’t like the article the was written.
Ah, Wired.com: that explains where this banal nonsense is coming from.
The Wall Street Journal’s writers who have typically reported very accurately on Apple news is corroborating the story as well. This deal is in the final stages for sure; let’s all hope it doesn’t happen.
Lose your job? You sure are busy trolling today.
He is simply talking sense, there IS something in this story even if the details may be variable to interpretation.
What is there to say that Beats headphones aren’t just a fad? They seem to be sold on celebrity endorsement and fashion. The sound quality and value seems to be completely irrelevant.
Why does Apple need to “grow up”? All these so called journalists seem to insist that Apple need to do what other companies do, despite the fact that those other companies are less successful, so it could be argued that their strategies are flawed in comparison to Apple’s and thus Apple should ignore what they do.
“sold on celebrity endorsement and fashion”
Sounds like certain selfies taken at the Academy Awards and the White House, recently.
Deal possible if:
1. Beats streaming service is transferable.
2. Beats has somehow locked up Music Video streaming rights, locking out YouTube.
3. Apple wants to add Beats Audio as an option on iDevices.
4. Inroads on Android and WP with Beats Music with ties to iTunes for purchases.
someone at apple needs to be fired. those are terrible headphones. the only thing they are good at is flagging douchebags and posers.
also typical of Apple-ware.
Apple needs to buy Bose instead.
Hilarious!
Yeah because Bose don’t sell overpriced, underperforming shit to morons with too much money!
Oh, wait…
That is AAPL’s M.O.!!
Bose stands for:
Buy Other Sound Equipment
Worse idea ever!
With its ability to market its way past its overrated sound quality, it would have been more appropriate for Beats to sell to Bose.
Wow, Apple is now throwing money away. Seems more like a older tech company with no more innovation.
Their products and product support are antithetical to aapl’s “core”. Beats are garbage construction and marginal sound. Product support – zero. Beats headphones brought to the Genius Bar? I could not even get screws to replace the piece of garbage headband for my kid’s Beats.
Is aapl saying it can’t write software for a steaming service on par with spotify and beats? That is a sad commentary and makes me wonder whether I should keep my stock.
The deal makers will make money.
They should be fired.
This deal is stupid.
Apple leadership needs to step in and kill this waste of money.
Just read all the comments.
This rumor seems bogus.
Please let it be just a rumor.
MDN is the Fox News of Tech Writing… Their racists bias is undeniable!
Bests a mediocire product!
Apple mantra.. We only care about making the best products in the world !
Apple buys beats .. It destroys their reputation .
3.2 billion for a mediocire product.
Yup Tim.. That is in totally in line with your mantra!
Flood tcook at apple dot com and schiller at apple dot com with objections towards this ridiculous deal!
Whats at stake is not 3.2 billion … Its apple reputation and credibility !!
This is a business and PR and marketing disaster !
Apples New mantra if deal goes through!
We will sell you mediocracy but make you feel you have the best.
This is the new apple !? An illusion of the best ! And we are proud of it !