“I understand that journalists want to be cynical and to claim ‘objectivity,'” TWO A DAY reports. “But when 11 bloggers at ZDNET write over 50+ negative blog posts in a little over a week for a product NOT even out yet? What is that?”
TWO A DAY reports, “ZDNET has over 11 blogs that touch upon Apple so of course, the writers are attempting to increase page view counts to get a bigger bonus and at the end of the year, their bosses won’t notice how they got there but out of some 60+ posts in the last week or so, there were about 2 that were positive and 2 that was neutral … really, Apple & the iPhone is such a horrible product that it warrants nearly 50+ negative blog posts and that’s just the last 10 DAYS or so?!”
TWO A DAY reports, “Even when they post news or just a press release, they have to add a snarky comment while most other companies in another blog post just simply get their press release info mostly re-posted with a few neutral or positive comments – are they trying to show they are immune to the ‘reality distortion field’ or the so-called hype?”
TWO A DAY asks, “And who exactly is creating this hype? Is one keynote, one official press conference, 5 ads and now 3 press releases really ‘hype?’ There’s more hype over M&M’s changing color … is it not ‘hype’ when ZDNET chooses to write 60+ articles by 10 different people?”
Full article, with a list of articles in question, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son” for the heads up.]
ZDNet and their parent CNET Networks, Inc. are anti-Apple? Now, how the heck would someone ever get that idea? 
…and apparently a stash of psychotropic drugs, Anthony. 😮
why that Busting
To Mac Realist.
You talk about “Apple’s overpriced and overrated products”
“Overpriced” in comparison to eMachines, yes. “Overrated” is a subjective judgment to which you are entitled.
“They are toys for the ultra rich” I work two jobs and support a family of three. My income is about 125% of the minimum that is required to support a family of four in my county. I’m ultra rich?
“[They] have no place in corporate America.” That’s for corporate America to decide. Personally, I don’t care whether you are right or not.
“Microsoft’s products interlink to bring you a secure computing system” That would be news to my employer’s system administrator. We have about a dozen people who are certified in that.
“Through VPN and user verification techniques.” Microsoft’s user verification techniques keep me from accessing the servers at work, but I can purchase a product called Dave that adds that functionality. Meanwhile, I use VPN to get on the corporate intranet remotely.
“The iphone is good at playing secured AAC files” You can’t say that without using an iPhone, so you must be an Apple fan who’s provoking discussion; in which case, thanks.
“[AAC files] only work on Apple proprietary hardware.” That was a slip of the finger. You mean software, not hardware. However, I don’t think that’s true.
You say the truth hurts. Well, here’s some truth. Microsoft accused me of stealing Vista when I had to reactivate over the phone; all I was doing was reinstalling it on the exact same machine. Without activation, Vista would go into a reduced functionality mode. That really shook me up, because if it did that in error, all of my software and data would be inaccessible and useless until I bought a new license. By my criteria, a platform that can collapse at any time is not secure. It’s like a safe with a foot-thick steel door that can fall off at any moment.
@ Anton.
iphone-red-snapper
ipike-iphone
Urchin-iphone
iphone-shark
bottomfeeding-shrimp-iphone
Red-Clam-Jamphone
Is that enough?
isn’t ZDNet/CNet a wholly owned subsidiary of microsoft?
Ta Crabapple
keep them coming
need more, Need one for a Community site
Actually, I think there is a very good reason for these critical views about the iPhone in many of these stories. News, in any form, is driven by a number of “house rules”, two of which are as follows:
1) You simply have to write about what is hot at any given time. No news outlet can ignore the hot topic of the day and hope to be taken seriously (and to be able to compete with rivals). For the tech media, nothing is hotter currently than the iPhone. So in a way, all these reports about the iPhone are actually a backhanded compliment to the device. It simply means the pending release of the iPhone is a sizzling topic at the moment.
2) Most journalists stake their reputation on being “neutral” in what they write. And being “neutral” is taken to mean that you have to be critical at some point in your story. Sometimes, this is taken to ridiculous extremes. So if there is nothing to criticize in a topic (or product, as the case may be), they feel the need to come up with something to criticize, so that they can be seen to be “objective” and “even-handed.”
A product like the iPhone makes things very difficult, since all that is known about the product is positive. So writers are “inventing” all sorts of shortcomings in the iPhone. The priority is not to make the iPhone look bad (although that is the result) – the priority is to make the writer look like a “credible journalist.”
Of course there are the FUDers out there with an agenda, but there are also probably many writers trying to make their way up a crowded ladder by showing themselves to be “tough” journalists.
@mac realist
I tell what is over-priced. Windows Vista!
And plus it’s a weak bowel OS.
I hate to say this but, all my asian friends that have a vista running on their system didn’t pay full price for vista.
Which makes Micro$oft a very confused company.
I listen to the Buzz out loud …noticed the increasing negativity by the whole crew. Molly has always been an Apple basher…now even Veronica is at it as well. Constantly ragging about the iPhone or Safari and even iTunes/iPod…they now tend to praise lame products such as the Zune…
HAH! I thought it was only me. Every time Molly talks about anything Apple there is the sneer in her voice – I am so tired of her anti-Apple attitude. I would rather her not talk about Apple products at all, as, other than their Apple-bashing, I enjoy their mix and banter and humour.
I’d argue that we’re not nearly as negative as portrayed. My point by point response.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5437
Sure I’d like more details about the AT&T rates for the iPhone but more importantly, I’d like to know if I can record a message that says I’m busy watching top notch, widescreen porn on my iPhone and please call back later. My whirled delivered.
Comment from: LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son:
“The FUD will come roaring out at high volume, once the iPhone makes it into the wild. There will be plenty of invented problems. Being a new product, there will likely be some real problems too, as with new models of the Intel Macs. Those problems are most likely solvable and won’t make a difference in six months to a year.”
That’s why I’m buying put options for August 2007.
“Some of the Apple investors are hoping for a dip in the stock to buy some more shares in July. I hope so, because I am trying to get my son to invest in AAPL. I just spent the last of my available retirement money on AAPL stock in an IRA. I really do not care about any short term dips, since I am now fully positioned long on Apple stock for the long run — a few years down the road, since I am retired guy.”
I hang out with LG&MPS; on another forum populated by serious Apple investors. We understand that the long term trend in this industry is that Microsoft will slowly fade as it tries to control content and confine users to its increasingly proprietary systems, while Apple continues to gain market share at 2-3 points per year with 30% (double the industry rate) growth. This is not changing any time soon. Within 5 years Apple will have a 30% market share in computers and operating systems. Apple is growing. Microsoft is dying. Bet on it and get rich.
@Zorrin
I new this would happen. AT&T is just going to be another Best Buy scenario for Apple. I think you should report your experience, with names, directly to Apple, and I think Apple should sue the crap out of ATT and that sales rep right away.
This subjective anti-Apple bull shit in the open market is beyond tiring and always oh-so predictable.
That is, “…I knew…” – sorry ’bout that.
Compared to say, the FUD that MDN puts out about Microsoft. What did you expect?
It’s all one big game and MDN plays it as well as anyone.
MDN should orchestra some “social engineering” on these drone bloggers. In addition to the “think be you click” line that is used now to point out obvious “Dvorak-style” hit pieces, there should be a “click to give the dog a treat” line next to any of those few positive blogs on CNET (and elsewhere).
The problem with all these people at CNET, and others elsewhere (such as Kim Komando), is that they have made their reps via helping the tech-illerate, average Joes and Janes overcome various Windows computing problems.
What’s going to happen to these people when most average Joes and Janes no longer require their help?
The plain and simple explanation for the FUD? It’s obvious…they’re scared.