“Probably still reeling from all publicity around these shots, Microsoft reportedly told journalists gathered for a company press event in Germany not to use or mention Apple products,” Chauncey Dupree reports for 9 to 5 Mac.
Apple Macs reigned supreme at Microsoft’s Mobius 2009 last month:
Dupree reports, “Our German is a bit rusty and Google is even worse, but according to Handelsblatt and our bad translation: ‘While at a Windows Mobile 6.5 demonstration in Munich, Germany a journalist was warned by a Microsoft spokesman not to mention or use Apple products…since it was a Microsoft event the journalist had previously told everyone that he had never owned an easier to use cell phone than the iPhone.'”
Dupree reports, “Now, you can say what you like about Microsoft’s huge market share – not just in terms of PC sales but also in virus and Trojan horse production – but even in Apple’s darkest days we don’t think Cupertino ever insisted on no mention or use of Microsoft-powered products.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If Microsoft bans Mac- and iPhone-toting journalists, their events will have very little coverage and none of it smart.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Sounds like the White House
Testy, aren’t we? Who pissed in their cornflakes?
It’s an indication that the Windows Mobile operations are in complete disarray…
Cat fight! Cat fight!
I don’t think MS realizes that, at this point in time, they need the journalists more than the journalists need them.
“The revolution will be streamed to your iPhone.”
I smell fear!
FFFFF EEEEE AAA RRRR
F E A A R R
FFF EEE AAAAA RRRR
F E A A R R
F EEEEE A A R R
@Deus Ex….you hit the nail on the head !
What next: Dances With Monkeys stands up at the next event and warns journos that “you’re either for us or against us!”
If this is actually true, it’s another sign of a management culture that has adopted a persecution complex instead of trying to innovate and persuade using the strength of their products.
Genius.
otherwise know as FEAR!
Why does MDN keep posting Microsoft news?
Why do drivers slow down and stare at a fresh car wreck?
Obama warns journalists: Do not mention Fox News or Gallup Approval Polls at our events.
Dear Microsoft: Classy.
Dear Journalist waving competitors product in spokesperson’s face: Classy.
@ Big Als
Why does MDN keep posting Microsoft news?
Because it is fun and they can’t help it.
Why do drivers slow down and stare at a fresh car wreck?
Because it is fun and they can’t help it.
Could it beeeeeeeee…
DESPERATION?!?!?!?!?!
Microsoft was using “You are with us or against us” for a long, long, time. That is why they went to court for using unfair business practices. Those who did not follow what Microsoft wanted got steamed rolled or run out of business.
Yup, I has been a Microsoft policy for decades.
Have a little temper tantrum monkey boy wont you?
And here is somewhat better translation of the text:
The blow below the belt came without warning. “This is a Microsoft event” a Microsoft manager barked at a IT journalist; “Apple products have no place here”. When a tentative laughter began to rise in the upscale restaurant “Maria und Josef” in Munich, he pressed on: “I mean it!”
The offense: At a dinner talk, the journalist dared mention that he never owned a phone that was easier to use than the iPhone. This was at the introduction event of Windows Mobile 6.5. “His emotionality surprised me”, said a PR consultant attending the event. “It shows that the nerves are on edge [at MS]”.
No wonder there. Only days before, Paul Jozefak, attendee at the Microsoft Venture Capital Summit, quoted a twitter message by Steve Ballmer: “We screwed up with Mobile 6.5, I wish we had Mobile 7 on the market:” This is due in 2010.
Ballmer knows that he has to reach a similar situation as in the PC world. Today, “Accenture” consultants found, 62% of smartphone owners use it to check their email. They don’t even turn on the PC for it anymore. They use Nokia, Blackberry and iPhone. [..] according to Gartner, Windows Mobile has a market share of less than 10% in Q3/2009. What a humiliation.
Etc…
I have attended a few keynotes at the last month’s INTEROP in NYC. In the audience of about a hundred people, at least a third, and often times more than that, were Macs.
Official market share numbers are heavily skewed due to all the Point of Sale, ATM (bankomat) and office installations, where no conscious choice (based on ROI) is made.
If we were to count market share among the computers for which their users made a purchasing decision, the numbers would be significantly different.
I’m sure software developers who offer both Mac and Windows version are aware of this. ATMs and cash registers don’t research and purchase desktop software. Real people do. And there are significantly more than 5% of real people who own Macs.
“If Microsoft bans Mac- and iPhone-toting journalists, their events have very little coverage and none of it smart.”
From what I’ve seen of journalism lately, even if they don’t ban anybody, none of it will be smart.
@Steveray: The election is over, you lost. Move on. Get over it. Accept it. Don’t worry, 2012 isn’t far off and you will have a chance to vote for that airhead, Palin.
Apple’s presenters have apparently survived the long-time confrontation with MS-infested laptops and mobile phones with slightly more grace than that…! B-)
This is how it ends…
Microsoft of Oz:
“Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Microsoft. There are no other operating systems. Pay no attention to that PR guy behind the curtain! [speaking in a booming voice into microphone] I am the great and powerful… “
[then, realizing that it is useless to continue his masquerade, moves away from microphone, speaks in a normal voice]
Microsoft of Oz: ” … Microsoft of Oz. “
Every Apple-toting journalist is Microsoft’s Toto.
Wanna see a bunch of Tech journalists scatter?
“Anyone with an iPod or an iPod leave the premises immediately”
….. You may as well shout “Fire Fire!! Ballmer had Mexican food for breakfast again. !! Save yourselves!”
@ Predrag – Thanks for that! It does indeed sound like Microsoft would prefer that nobody say or do anything to show how much better their competitors’ products are. Which continues to allow poor quality work to be acceptable and justifiable, which perpetuates the denial… a self-reinforcing downward spiral. This story also throws some extra light on how touchy things must be within Microsoft surrounding the recent Pink/Danger fiasco.
@ MCCFR: If this is actually true, it’s another sign of a management culture that has adopted a persecution complex instead of trying to innovate and persuade using the strength of their products.
Had to repeat that comment in full because I think it hits the nail on the head. MS had a persecution complex even back in the 90s, when they were seemingly unstoppable. I have a feeling we’ll see a few more meltdowns like this.
What is German for “jackass”?