Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Apple Cult: The Cult of Unpopular Gadgets?
XBit Labs ^ | 7/09/2009 | Anton Shilov

Posted on 07/10/2009 11:33:42 AM PDT by Wooly

In the last few weeks numerous technology and mass media web-sites published hundreds of stories about Apple, its products, their availability or their issues. But does that enthusiasm towards the company have any correlation with Apple’s actual market share? It seems that not really.

Apple is a company that has been extensively covered by media, especially in the USA, for many years now without an obvious reason: apart from the iPod, all the products from Apple are hardly used by a lot of people around the globe. But the latest load of rush coverage about Apple on the Internet more resembles hysteria rather than a normal exposure of a popular topic.

The most recent wave of wide-ranging coverage of Apple began with the pending release of the iPhone 3GS: almost all the tech web-sites published rumoured specifications of the device, some were correct, some were wrong. Then, after the 3GS was finally launched and the press released a load of ecstatic articles on the matter despite of the fact that nobody has tried to use the device, the media rejoiced over the return of Steve Jobs, chief exec of Apple, to his position at the company. Virtually all tech and mass media web-sites decided to inform their readers that Mr. Jobs had liver transplant in April and was back in the office on time.

(Excerpt) Read more at xbitlabs.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: applecult
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
To: perfect_rovian_storm

If you don’t like your iPhone, it’s cuz you ain’t usin’ it right. :p

SOMEHOW I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT ME...

Yet, Google this and you will see what I mean;

iphone battery problem

there’s gotta be something wrong to get a zillion complaints...or we must be one lucky bunch of users on FR...except me, of course...


21 posted on 07/10/2009 11:57:24 AM PDT by jessduntno (NEVER say Cap and Trade Bill. It's the Electricity, Heating Oil and Gasoline Tax Bill....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno

You’re welcome!

I’m reading about those iPhone battery issues right now, but I remember coming across an article that mentioned 3GS iPhones which supposedly overheated and changed color. That too could be a battery issue. A brownish oval ring at the back of the phone, if it is a white iPhone, is the clearest hint of this problem.

But as I mentioned before, if they find any fault with your phone, don’t let them repair it. Demand a full replacement.


22 posted on 07/10/2009 11:58:43 AM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins (I don't have a license to kill; I have a learner's permit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Wooly

“Observe too that Apple’s OS X’s share grew by 31.7% within one year.”
So in simple terms, If I start a business today in competition with other companies selling thing-a-ma-jigs and over the next year from now I sell 1, that means that my market share has grown 100%.


23 posted on 07/10/2009 11:58:50 AM PDT by Wooly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Wooly

What is the point of this article?

Comparing the amount of Mac solds to PC sold versus their respective media coverage makes no sense.

Of course trendy, upscale, stuff gets more media coverage than the average mass market consumer stuff.

How many people actually buys the top line designer clothes versus people who buy off the rack Walmart. Probably a lot more extreme that 9% versus 91%. Yet when media discussions clothing they covers the lasted fashion shows but rarely run stories about clothes at Walmart.


24 posted on 07/10/2009 11:59:19 AM PDT by Truthsearcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE
I only wish it would default to WiFi when it finds it. You have to specifically request WiFi each time, or it defaults to 3G.

There's a setting for that; one that I would not turn off "Ask to join networks." I don't want my phone connecting with just any WiFi network, especially w/out my knowledge.

Now as far as the Networks I've authorized it to connect to; it has automatically connected with them whenever I'm in range. And that includes the encrypted, non-broadcast ESSID ones.

25 posted on 07/10/2009 12:01:48 PM PDT by AFreeBird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE

What’s amusing is that the ad is Microsoft spending money on pushing a product they don’t sell.

MS is losing market share. It’s still huge, yes, but shrinking.


26 posted on 07/10/2009 12:02:03 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (John Galt was exiled.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Wooly
Leave the poor Mac people alone.

They aren't bothering you.

They just want to use their 4 or 5 applications, and watch their BetaMax and HD-DVD movies in peace.

27 posted on 07/10/2009 12:10:47 PM PDT by Washi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JRios1968

Boy, you called that one...


28 posted on 07/10/2009 12:10:47 PM PDT by jessduntno (NEVER say Cap and Trade Bill. It's the Electricity, Heating Oil and Gasoline Tax Bill....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno; JRios1968

Well, publicly insult people and they tend to not stay quiet.


29 posted on 07/10/2009 12:13:24 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (John Galt was exiled.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Wooly

LOL...I don’t care what the XDA guys do to the ROMs, it’s like polishing a turd. I used them on my Kaiser and I used them on my Touch Pro. Perfume on a pig. WinMo is crap. Certainly when compared to the iPhone.


30 posted on 07/10/2009 12:13:46 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

OS X share grew from the iTouch,iPhone. Something like 35 million apple pc’s to 45 million iTouch,iPhones in existence.


31 posted on 07/10/2009 12:13:48 PM PDT by aft_lizard (Barack Obama is Hugo Chavez's poodle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno

Yeah, because you weren’t itching for a fight over it or anything.

If you don’t like your iphone, you would be better served by either seeking repair or selling it on ebay than complaining about it on internet forums.


32 posted on 07/10/2009 12:16:49 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

The article claims their worldwide market share is about 3.3%.


33 posted on 07/10/2009 12:17:42 PM PDT by Smogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Wooly

There is also magical math involved.

Let’s say I move appx 10,000 items a year and my nearest competitor moves on average 1,000 items in already saturated market place. If I next move 10,050 items and my competitor moves 1025 items the next go around he percentage had a higher growth rate.


34 posted on 07/10/2009 12:18:17 PM PDT by aft_lizard (Barack Obama is Hugo Chavez's poodle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Smogger

Which is true. Apples are not that popular outside of the US and Canada.


35 posted on 07/10/2009 12:18:49 PM PDT by aft_lizard (Barack Obama is Hugo Chavez's poodle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2

Well, publicly insult people and they tend to not stay quiet.

Huh? You think THAT was an insult?


36 posted on 07/10/2009 12:20:03 PM PDT by jessduntno (NEVER say Cap and Trade Bill. It's the Electricity, Heating Oil and Gasoline Tax Bill....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2
You guys got to understand that I am bored here at work and Torquing the Apple fans to spec, beats the hell out of Birth certificates, Obama,Sarah Palin, and Michael Jackson. All of those are important, but if you dwell on this stuff 24 hours a day it will distort you views. By posting on Apple, at least you get a distraction and vigorous response to have some fun with.
I could actually care less what computer, phone, music player, car, dog, cat, house, job or what you have. The reality is that I have the ones that I see fit for me and the amount of money I want to spend.
I build my own computers, because I want to have the ability to upgrade it, I am buying a Hyundai Genesis Sedan because I think it is a great value and the Lexicon Sound system, I wear Piloti Racing shoes (7 Pairs) instead of Nike or other brands, because I like the fit and I can buy them on for $27.00.
I really should say thank you to the Apple Fans for the rabid and rapid response to these threads as it is entertaining to read the comments.
37 posted on 07/10/2009 12:20:57 PM PDT by Wooly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno

IMHO, Macbots are the computer world’s equivalent of the gay lobby...they can’t wait to tell you what a GREAT way they have and what a doofus you are for not entering their cult.

And God forbid that you present any argument against theirs.


38 posted on 07/10/2009 12:21:23 PM PDT by JRios1968 (The real first rule of Fight Club: don't invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

Yeah, because you weren’t itching for a fight over it or anything.

What? Show me a post where I was “itching for a fight?”

Are you demented?


39 posted on 07/10/2009 12:22:11 PM PDT by jessduntno (NEVER say Cap and Trade Bill. It's the Electricity, Heating Oil and Gasoline Tax Bill....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE

It’s all about the Blackberry Storm. First Blackberry I owned. I could never go back to another phone.

The only thing I envy about the iPhone is the WiFi. I mean? They didn’t think to put a camera on the thing? My Blackberry storm has a 3.2 Megapixel Camera that takes bitchin pictures and fantastic video. I guess you don’t need to take pictures since you can’t email them uh or video. I mean my friggin Motorola Razor from like 5 years ago had a camera, picture, and video messaging?

(And yes I know the “new” 3GS has a camera and picture messaging)

Apps? The iPhone can’t multitask so how can you run apps? geez.. Ok I am off my high horse now ;-)


40 posted on 07/10/2009 12:23:51 PM PDT by Smogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson