“Analysts for Merrill Lynch are the latest to express a lack of fanfare over Apple Computer’s new product introductions and are unconvinced that the company’s announcements were substantial enough to merit an invitational media event,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider. “Overall, the analyst was not overly impressed with the company’s new products, of which many believe combined for a lackluster media event. ‘We wonder if the announcements were substantial enough to merit an invitational media event and suspect Apple needs to be judicious if it expects to continue to convert journalists into marketing instruments with its aura of secrecy,’ Farmer wrote.”
Full article here.
Advertisements:
• Apple’s brand new iPod Hi-Fi speaker system. Home stereo. Reinvented. Available now for $349 with free shipping.
• Apple’s new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
am I first
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
I know it is sad, but after all the time I have been visiting this site this is the first time I have been first.
I think I will celebrate and buy a MacBook Pro (maybe)
There are as many reporters as lawyers; I wouldn’t worry about running out of “interest”, no matter how humdrum the product.
As far as media events go, this was one of the least exciting that Apple has had in quite some time. However, Apple isn’t really to blame for this, the media/rumor sites are. They were the ones that blew the expectations for yesterday’s product announcements way out of proportion ahead of time, not Apple themselves.
I agree with ML on this.
Well… I think the Hi-Fi looks great and I’d buy one tomorrow if I hadn’t just ponied up for an Altec Lansing (which is not bad at all, btw).
I’ll just have to wait for that new house with those acres of free space waiting to be filled with droolerizing stuff…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool smile” style=”border:0;” />
ANALYSTS need to be more judicious about Apple events. Rumor sites too.
I love how they concocted all these wild fantasies and then it’s Apple’s fault when they don’t actually happen.
I think this analyst makes a good point. If you dissappoint reporters enough times, they’re going to think twice before attending the next special event. But then again, maybe the next one will be the BIG one. I think Apple still has a few credits left with the media, but they better spend them wisely.
The Intel transition is going to need 5 things to reach critical mass:
1. All Macs shipping with Intel chips inside (including iBook, PowerMac and 12″/17″ PowerBook replacements).
2. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Universal Binary shipping.
3. Microsoft Office Universal Binary shipping.
4. All current Apple software shipping as Universal Binaries (including Apple Remote Desktop please!)
5. Reliable Virtual Machine environment to run Windows XP or Linux within Mac OS X.
Once all of the above has happened, the transition will be behind us and Apple can focus on taking back some serious market share! Number 5 will probably be the first to occur, and is also the least important part of the transition.
This is going to be a great year to be a Mac user!
I’m getting worn out waiting for Apple’s next big thing — whatever that might be.
The truth will be somewhere between peoples’ reactions and the hype.
Ok, maybe I’m wrong, but this WAS NOT AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA EVENT.
It was a small, private, invite-only presentation of a few new products Apple created. It wasn’t a huge big to-do with a live webcast and thousands of spectators in the audience.
Christ, get off their backs. They announce some new products and the whole blogosphere freaks out, crying that this announcement wasn’t enough and it was such a let down compared to all the rumours flying around.
Well I didn’t find this presentation disappointing. I remained skeptical to all the rumours and tried to keep an open mind about what they’d announce.
The moral of the story is: If you’re disappointed, it’s your own fault.
Hey! Wasn’t Steve Jobs supposed to personally deliver a free Mac mini to everyone who visited a website and posted a comment about Apple’s media event yesterday? He hasn’t shown up to my office yet!
/sarcasm
As opposed to M$? Who seem to make more announcements about products/services that either don’t see the-light-of-day or get discontinued.
So far, most of Steve’s announcements have been on the mark… even though they seem to be realized when you actually get the product in your hand (think GarageBand). I remember when GarageBand was released… sounded cool, but no biggie… until I got it home and checked it out. Ah, but I was amazed on three stages… the ease of use and sequencing simplicity… then when I plugged in an analogue musical instrument into it… then, finally when I purchased an M-Audio keyboard. Wooo whooo.
I’ll reserve my judgement until I use these products… I have high expectations, being both a graphic designer and musician.
IMHO Jb
Analysts were not invited to the media event. It’s not Apple’s fault that ML and other Wall Street firms make overstated claims. Perhaps thay should be directed their frustration towards sites like thinksecret.com rather than towards Apple.
Still, hedging stock based on “rumors” posted on online sites would still meet criteria for insider trading, based on the SEC’s definition.
Perfect. Now that everyone is back to reality about Apple, next media event is gonna be awesome.
MEMO
TO: Whiny analysts that oversold their clients, Neurotic day-traders, & Techno-crybabies
FROM: Someone smarter than you.
As far as you are concerned, the future holds no significant Mac events, none, never. Go away.
There, problem solved. Simple really.
For those that ‘get’ grand stategy… hope you’re enjoying the show.
Please stay tuned…
Mintdog, Think Secret got this one right, it obviously wasn’t a “media worthy event”. Most companies if they are only releasing such things would do it without needing a “special invite” event. A updated Mac mini and a boombox isn’t much of an event. So ML was correct, that’s quite clear. This has nothing to do with anyone or anything but Apple. Apple burned a few bridges with this one (period).
MW: result. Poor result for Apple.
Brick by brick Apple continues to lay a sturdy foundation for being a major player in entertainment and content delivery, two big markets that will help push my 1000 shares of AAPL higher in value.
If you were let down by the latest product releases quit reading all the rumors (and don’t ever think Apple is coming out with a Tivo killer or DVR). Actually it would not be too hard to kill Tivo since they’ve never achieved much market penetration (until they started giving the hardware away) or success (as in making money).
I figured it would be all about the new Mac Mini and I think it’s cool, can’t wait to get one for FUN.
I could care less about $100 iPod leather cases, that was just gingerbread.
The iPod HiFi looks good and I bet it sounds good too. I’m not sure about having an iPod sticking out of the top though, looks like it could get busted easily.
The Macintouch website has a basic hands-on review of the iPod HiFi and other than the premium price there are no complaints about Apples foray into speakers.
Now, come on with that 8-processor PowerMac.
TOTALLY AGREE. WORST SPECIAL EVENT EVER. THE PRODUCTS SUCKED. AND THEY RAISED THE PRICE OF THE MAC MINI TOO!!! Absolutely horrible. What the hell is Steve Jobs thinking? He has definitely lost his marbles now. The special event was so horrible that they didn’t even post a QuickTime movie of it on Apple’s website. The announcements yesterday were barely worthy of even a press release, let alone a special event. Nobody cares!!
So when is the next little thing. This was a non-event and could have just been posted on Apple’s web site. I think SJ is getting a little to big for his britches and is becoming Bill Gates with a beard.
The possibility exists that something got canned at the last minute.
I wonder if there was something else that got nixed from the rollout because of the MS handheld gadget rumor.
You got’a hand it to MS, they’ll steal anything, even Apples method of making waves with product introductions.
For those who said it wasn’t worthy of a media event, just check out the press it is getting. You can’t pay for this kind of press..
MacBill: your loud shout ing only tells the world you are an idiot. The price of the new Mini is not raised at all if you look at what were add-ons but are now included in the price.
As said many times before this was not hyped by Apple it was 150 invites and Jobs started off saying it was only mid-level stuff. Take it or leave it. And all the press? I don’t see any of it doing any harm.
I agree with Brash. It wasn’t held at the friggin’ Moscone Center. It was a small media invite event. Should Apple be more selective? Are you kidding? Don’t you realize what this event did or the significance of it? It put perspective on Apple’s PR events. Don’t expect the moon, sun and stars at these things. It lowers expectations for the next event and increases the WOW factor for the next event. Keep in mind that the next event is for Apple’s 30th Anniversary (of which I think they may release an iPod-black special edition iMac). Great companies create low expectations and over deliver on the hype – very hard for Apple to do these days.
I have been most critical of yesterday because of the lack of PVR functionality and being somewhat disappointed. I wasn’t expecting more than that but at least that. And it is understandable why they haven’t yet included that functionality.
But after some reflection, I think that people underestimate what was delivered yesterday. Granted there was a price increase but that is due to including more (remote, bluetooth, wireless, etc.) in the base config. The real deal was Front Row with Bonjour. That is huge, allows people to use Windows iTunes libraries on PCs at home. And is setting up the Mac Mini (and other Macs) to really become media hubs. Quietly done but nicely done.
Now what ever happened to the blowup iPod doll they were supposed to release?!!
The venue for the announcement was small, the “Town Hall” of the Apple campus, their large meeting room. It was the overblown hype form rumor sites, speculators, prognosticators, and the thousands of mindless trolls with obviously no life that are the ones at fault.
It was a modest announcement about equally modest products available TODAY. The features on, both, the Mac mini and the iPod HiFi are rather incredible for their class and size.
It is absolutely wrong to blame Steve Jobs for not producing the spectacular media event or Star Trek-like products that reside only in the minds of those completely devoid of a real life and with too much access to the media and/or internet.
Steve, the products are awesome. Thank you for staying far ahead of the herd. When Americans think of themselves as an innovative country, they all are imagining Apple products.
Merrill Lynch is right. Here in the Netherlands no national newspaper printed anything about the dumb event.
Keep in mind this is about lowering expectations to increase future WOW factor.
Don’t think Apple and SJ don’t know what they are doing. They have proven to be masters at it. Hats off to them.
C’mon April 1st!!!
MW country-as in”when will be get iTMS tv shows in my country?? (Canada)”
MACBILL is a bit OTT but not completely misguided.
The boombox and ipod covers are press-release stuff unless Apple are going to show the next step or two in the evolution process.
The Mac mini intel is somewhere between press-release stuff and a demo opportunity because it could open up streaming movies around the house – but still needs the tivo bit. I’d have thought an element of a 30th Aniversary event -if there is to be one being only a few weeks away would have done.
Apple HAD all the buzz.
This event was designed for the term “buzzkill”
Too bad for them.
And they did’nt pull any products from this. People said that about Macworld too. The invitations came out only a week before.
At best, this was a public relations stumble.
the funny thing is this IS huge, its just you have to understand technology to get it…
which the analysts don’t of course…
streaming video….
Now i just heard on Twit, my Dvorak saying that would be AWESOME, but it’s way to far out to do. he said that was still a few years out
Apple just did it, this is Airport Express Video. It’s a Mac mini.
as soon as you guys figure out how cool this is, you’ll say.. ah $100 and I can get all this media from all the PC’s in my house/office/small building
and i don’t even need a big HD on the mac mini cuz im just streaming no actual storage.. the mini can just be a dvd player.. occasionally being turned on to do a word file or sth..
I’m with Mike, FrontRow with Bonjour is HUGE and I’m surprised Steve didn’t spend more time playing it up.
My fiance is addicted to Desperate Housewives and Lost – she downloads every episode. I’m addicted to the Office and download every episode. For me to catch up on Lost or DH I have to disconnect my computer and connect her computer to our LCD.
It’s awesome that, once I get a new mini, I can keep that connected all the monitor all the time and watch or listen to my files or her files.
Now we just need higher quality video….
Yeah, this announcement was a dud, just like the first iPod announcement, when all the world said, “What the hell is Apple doing building a mp3 player? THAT’S their big new thing?”
Well, everyone was SO right back then, so I guess the Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi are about to change the world as we know it.
lbuschjr:
“Yeah, this announcement was a dud, just like the first iPod announcement, when all the world said, “What the hell is Apple doing building a mp3 player? THAT’S their big new thing?”
Well, everyone was SO right back then, so I guess the Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi are about to change the world as we know it.”
Apple does not have a good track record with the speakers that they’ve branded. (Unlike the iPod, which was unprecendented. BTW, the iPod did not become the phenomenon that it is today until they made a Windows version of iTunes.) Hopefully, these will turn out to be a real good deal.
Apple didn’t even post a tease for the event on it’s site. It sent out an e-mail invite to the press and hosted it on campus in Cupertino. The folks doing all the vamping and pimping were bloggers and the press. How is that Apple’s fault?
Magic Word TRUE
i completely agree with Daniel-san. Apple has been overhyped lately (look at what people were predicitng), and could not keep coming out with such ground-breaking products at the rate that people wanted them.
Steve set up this event just to get people’s eyes off apple for a while, and all the excitement building up to this announcement only helped him pull this off. So i guess thank you to all of the rumor sites for their out of proportion predictions. However, be prepared for a big product role-out coming in april that will truly amaze you, especially after this relatively uninteresting announcement.
and please…SHUT UP…some of you people are idiots and have no idea what you’re talking about. Steve, and the many people helping him at apple, are much, MUCH smarter than any of you and know exactly what they’re doing
The event may not have impressed the dimwits, but the significance is huge. We are seeing some key parts of the architecture of Apple’s home electronics/home entertainment business. It is innovative to the core. It makes it easy for customers to enjoy their entertainment without having to be experts in everything – or anything for that matter. Most analysts are anal-ists and MR apparently belong to the latter group. Streaming content from the user’s LAN wirelessly, Bonjour, Front Row, a Mac Mini that can handle HDTV and Dolby 5.1 sound, playlists, means to hook up an iPod, …. What the hell does it take to see the significance?
I guess this is just an example of casting pearls before the swine. I don’t depend on analysts. So I just smile, because I’ve got a bunch of stock in AAPL. My main worries are anti trust suits instigated by the losers and Steve Jobs’ health.
Last time I checked>
Ditto.
It truly beggars belief that so-called “serious” analysts believed that Apple were going to launch what would be a paradigm-shifting movie download service from a minor event in Infinite Loop’s Town Hall.
If/When such an event happens, I would expect Apple to announce it from a mass audience venue like the Moscone Center or – perhaps more likely – the Kodak Theatre in LA.
I was hoping there was more to this announcement and that iPod Hi-Fi and iPod Boombox were two separate products. For all we know, they still might be.
I will have to agree.
Apple, consider yourself scolded!!
Now don’t do it again.
Now for April 1st you will need to announce a 30th aniversary special edition iPod loaded with Britney Spears and Pink in a naykid oil wrestling contest.
I have been waiting for the next Apple big thing ever since I got my TiBook a few years back – and there hasn’t been one. Just lots of small incremental evolutions of its products.
Errr John… not sure what universe you’ve been living in but is sure isn’t the same as mine. Since the TiBook (I still use mine too and still love it to death) Apple has launched more blockbusting products than in its entire history.
In fact, all this fuss here is over the fact that they have been so gobsmackingly good at it that everyone wants more – about every 8 weeks preferably..!
this is why I love joy of tech, just check out their latest comic
http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/794.html
everybody needs to calm the hell down, just because you have wet dreams of what rumor sites say apple is going to release doesn’t mean it is going to
If the iPod nano leather case would have been only $29 instead of $99, I would say sure this event was not worth it.
But at $99 for a piece of “Italian” cow leather and announced at special event – wow – just shows what Apple thinks of its gulllible customers and fawning press.
Steve: “Shoot, I could announce Apple is selling fried dog turds and the press and macfanboy sites would have an orgy for weeks before the unveiling of iTurd trying to figure out what new product I have cooked up.”
(Wonder why this stuff wasn´t announced at Macworld and said it will be delivered around the time the first new laptops are deliverd.)
The mini media center has provoked about as much interest as the iPod when it was first unveiled (i.e. little). Will it have a similar impact on the world?
Oh, and having the event at their own on-campus town hall was low-key enough. As has been said before, it’s the media and rumor mill that blew it out of all proportion.
CNet news has video clips of the mac mini and ipod hifi introductions. Steve Jobs must have the flu, because his voice was scratchy and he was generally lethargic. You can’t get a bunch of reporters excited about your products if you project the exicted feelings of a rock.
That being said, big waste of an event for lackluster products. There are already many fancy cases and ipod stereos on the market. And the mac mini is the forgotten bastard child of the mac universe that no one really cares about anyways (at least until they actually add a tv tuner).