“When I covered Apple’s first iPod announcement in 2001, it was unlike anything I had seen in my three years of covering MP3 players — and the iPod wasn’t too shabby, either.
Steve Jobs plays the tech press like his pal Yo Yo plays the cello. I was blown away by the magnitude of the event and all the hooting and hollering from my normally sedate colleagues, who were indistinguishable in their enthusiasm from the Apple acolytes in the audience. But most importantly, I was impressed by the Mac-only iPod, which was leaps and bounds ahead of the competition with its 1.8-inch hard drive and groundbreaking design,” Eliot Van Buskirk writes for Wired News. “That first iPod announcement was probably the most important press event I have ever attended, so the hype surrounding it made sense. But Jobs’ cultivated mystique seems a little forced when he has nothing more to talk about than a mini Intel computer, leather iPod cases and the iPod hi-fi boom box.”
Van Buskirk writes, “That’s not to say Jobs didn’t say anything last week — in the midst of the drab mentions of accessories and Intel-inside processing power increases were a couple of kernels of genuine interest, mainly revolving around what he chose not to do and say… Perhaps the real meat of last week’s Apple announcement is that the digital home may end up seeded with computers rather than the specialized networked entertainment devices the folks at CES have been talking about for years.”
Full article here.
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Related articles:
Apple introduces new Intel-based Mac mini – February 28, 2006
Apple debuts iPod Hi-Fi speaker system, leather cases for 5G iPod, iPod nano – February 28, 2006
Somewhere in here, there’s a story trying to get out.
Anyone notice his Steveness said ” see you really soon ” at the very end? Hmmm…… April 1st ?
This sounds like the emperor has no clothes scenario to me. However you want to slant it, It was a weak announcement. I don’t care what he didn’t announce. What he did announce was boring. If Jobs has the time to announce new leather cases for the iPod as a press junket we certainly don’t have to worry about him being too busy at Disney.
is there anywhere one can actually view the show? always fun to see steve in action.
looking forward to april 1st!
I think the last announcement’s gravity won’t be realized until a few months down the road. I don’t mean we’ll look back with awe or anything, I just think that reviews of the minis and hifis will start trickling in and folks will realize how good the products are.
At least that’s what I’m hoping. And yes, I’m also hoping for Intel desktops April 1st. Please.
S
My recollection of the original iPod announcement was much different. I remember clearly reading a Steven Levy article about how a small group of journalists were assembled in the Apple Computer boardroom in Cupertino and each given a gift-wrapped box. Inside was the original iPod. Steve Jobs barely said a thing, but instead, let what was inside the box do the talking.
I remember this because the iPod had such an inauspicious beginning, instead of a loudly hyped, mass gathering. At the time, Apple stock could be had for a pre-split adjusted $13 per share – the company was barely selling for its per-share value of its cash on hand, and analysts were predicting gloom and doom.
The seed that was planted that day became a very large tree. But something tells me that the author of the Wired piece was not present at the creation.
Please correct me if I am wrong, however.
Steveo said in the announcement the mac mini can be connected to a TV, but didn’t expand on that. That teaser suggests they have more up their sleeve, but then was not the right time.
Emil,
The guys and gals at MacBreak have a nice inside look at the show available through their podcast on iTunes.
Sorry, I meant “Neil” not “Emil”
Look at it another way. If there is another ‘special’ event on 1st April, and it is the itunes film store the intel Mini, iPod hi-fi etc would get hardly any mentions in the press if they had been held over for it. This way they can get into the market with time to spare, especially if the intel chip is so important for the DRM.
This was never meant to be a mindblowing event. The small venue, the relatively uninspiring invitation, calling it “fun.”
It was supposed to be a minor announcement.
Following the original iPod unveiling, I remember most of the press writing stories saying that it would never sell because it was way too expensive. Good thing that they aren’t paid based on the accuracy of their predictions (much like the stock analysts).
“Anyone notice his Steveness said ” see you really soon ” at the very end?”
Hmmm, indeed! Especially if one considers that “See you real soon,” was the sign off phase uttered by cast leader Jimmie Dodds in Disney’s original Mickey Mouse Club series.
A Disney connection coming up?
Yeah, there’s lots of things I didn’t say last week, either.
And why, oh, why do so many people try to read between the lines, or words, in this, and every other case whenever Jobs has anything to say? Why not just let Jobs say what he’s going to say, and pay attention to that? Or is that saying too much?
Everybody, just go take a look at today’s TechJoy cartoon – I think it sums it up quite nicely: http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/
The last Apple product announcement introduced a fantastic new model, the Intel MacMini. The new model should have been enough for any true Apple Mac fan.
If you were underwhelmed or disappointed by this cool new model then you’ve been spending way to much time on message boards and rumor sites.
The $599 model includes all the basic options that were missing on the previous $499 G4 version.
Intel processors are always expensive when they’re first released and then the price goes down as newer, better, faster models come to market.
The Core series is brand new Intel technology and early adopters always pay a premium, as the product matures, Apple will probably reintroduce a $499 or even a $399 model to entice more Windows users.
Given the bump in the road that the whole switch to Intel represents the Core based MacMini’s are priced to add to Apples bottom line and help keep their stock afloat.
The new HiFi speaker system will be another big hit product for Apple, it was designed to appeal to the 95% of consumers who only know if something sounds good or not, they don’t care about the specs, they vote with their wallets. If you think it’s too expensive your wallet is too empty or you’re among the 5% of consumers who demand more of some non-mainstream attribute. If you fail to understand this you’re one of the 1/100th of 1% with your head up you bum (pull it out and you’ll hear better highs).
The $100 iPod cases are for execs who wear $1000 Italian leather shoes (not me).
This is getting like the Da Vincie Code, Nastrodamus, Book Of Revelations, Kabala, Shia’s 12th imman,and Lost TV episode.
And I know I can’t spell today. Too much Vodka yesterday.
The Town Hall show has been edited into a 20-minute podcast, which you can find on iTunes. I’d give you more details and a link but I can’t access the iTMS from here (firewall issue).
If you get a Quicktime copy of the Steve show and play it backwards near the end you can hear Steve saying “I buried Gates”. And then there is another part where he says “Turn me on Balmer, Turn me on Balmer”
BuriedCaesar — That’s an almost word-for-word parody of Shatner’s “GET A LIFE” speech on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!
Good stuff.
And quite apropos for a lot of people around here!!!
Macs King — ROCK ON!!!
You’re like our own little anti-MacDude. Sweet.
I believe (and hope) that the next big redesigned release from Apple (after the ‘Macbook’) will be the Power Mac later in the year.
It doesn’t have to be so big if it’s got dual Core Duo (or later version) CPU’s in it.
Less fans and whatnots.
A nice compact Apple design, but not ‘mini’.
And the simpler configuration would be the flexible Apple consumer computer that many (including myself) have been waiting for.
I don’t like all-in-ones and the Power Mac is too big and expensive for me and the ‘mini’ which I’m now using and like very much, is, nevertheless, not flexible enough.
Not much good for games, for example.
Here’s hoping.
I agree with Mac Kings comments. The integrated video is less than ideal, but everything else in these machines has been updated. All of those upgrades for a lousy $100 is a great bargain. It seems like many folks here just repeat what they’ve read/heard elsewhere instead of doing their own research before posting.
shipwithsails,
I love that! A great post.
I’m old enough (58) to remember all the wonderfully absurd revelations and interpretations of the Beatles’ LP’s.
“interesting because of what he chose not to say”
That’s true. He also didn’t say “mugwump,” “dilly-dally,” “fresh pickles,” “highfalutin’,” “scrofula,” “Tora Bora,” or “knickers.”
Hmmm. Very mysterious.
hey Macs King, I ordered one of those leather cases – and I wear Pumas. Happy?