“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.
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am I first
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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…
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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?!!