Will the Halo Effect Bring Apple Support Nightmares?
The halo effect is kicking in. Maybe a bit bigger than some would have ever imagined. Apple’s computers are gaining popularity and are being sold a record levels. I’d expect the numbers to really go crazy with this year’s back to college shopping.
But I have a big fear, and the fear is this: Apple will NOT be able to meet the growing support needs of all the new users. After three negative experiences trying to purchase the iPhone 3G, I’m growing frustrated with Apple. My ability to see the “Genius” is a longer wait than ever before. And my one-on-one training has been filled with instructors without the knowledge to teach me the programs. The new MobileMe service has experienced trouble for old .MAC users converting and new users who are looking for sync goodness.
I have loved my previous Apple experiences. I’m worried that large increase in users is too great for Apple and their limited retail footprint of support outlets. Is it time to see more “Apple” resale and support locations? Can Apple let go of control and allow others to pick up where they slack?
TECHNOLOGY ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal.July 21, 2008
Apple’s profit climbed 31% to $1.07 billion in the fiscal third quarter on strong sales of Macintosh computers and iPod music players. Total Sales rose 38% to $7.46 billion.
Apple said it shipped nearly 2.5 million Macs during the quarter, up 41% from a year earlier, while iPod shipments grew 12% to over 11 million.
UPDATE (8/11/08):
My iPhone had a problem with the GPS. I had to make two visits to the Apple Genius Bar to take care of Apple’s problem–the first time I tried, they were too busy. Here is a picture of my visit today to the Genius Bar. The place was packed. People gathered around the Bar waiting to get answers to their issues.
Today’s a Game Changing Day for the Mobile Market!
This is a huge day.
Apple has done what Palm, RIM, Microsoft, Motorola, SonyEricson,and Nokia have not: they have delivered a compelling mobile platform that matches sexy hardware with a functional operating system PLUS attracted developers PLUS created a true shopping / marketplace experience for users like me who want to use and buy mobile applications. The application store had the shelves stocked with apps, applications that people want to use–and buy!
Today is game changing day for the mobile marketplace! Apple wins.
World-wide Productivity Slips but Gains Things on iPhone
I remember last year, June 29th. Productivity came to a standstill. People were in lines to get iPhones. I figured we’d have a repeat tomorrow on July 11th.
But I was off by a day. This morning, on my drive into Salt Lake City, I heard from @windley on Twitter that the iPhone 2.0 firmware was available. I also received note from @culturedcode, the makers of Things, that their iPhone version of Things was on the iPhone App Store. Bummed that I was driving, I rushed to a network connection, and got after the update.
On the first try, my phone didn’t like the update. It choked and I had to restore. I thought I’d follow the link from the Things page to the App Store. I was notified that I had to have iTunes 7.7. I downloaded and applied the new iTunes. Then Option + Check for Updates. This time it worked. The update and verify took a long time, but my phone is now running the iPhone 2.0 firmware!
I went back to the CulturedCode.com site and linked over to the iPhone App Store, bought Things, installed, and now–after a full year of waiting–have a fully featured task management application on my iPhone.
Grandpa’s been gone for four years
My brother Scott Baldwin captured this video on a trip to my Grandfather Baldwin’s home a couple of years before his death. While I love to hear these stories and view my Grandpa and Grandma, I still remember a much more vibrant, young, and energetic version of the same man and woman. My grandma gave me a pair of red socks for a birthday present when I was around 8 or 9. I still remember that day and the many others where I was able to spend time with her and my grandpa. I remember going fishing once with my day and Grandpa at a lake somewhere in the desert of central Idaho where my Grandpa’s brother had a big ranch. It was a great time.
Grandpa, I miss you. Look forward to a heavenly reunion.
Winners: UTC Golf Event
I had a lot of fun in this year’s UTC Golf Tournament at Talon’s Cove. I enjoyed getting to know three new guys that I had not met before the event. It was a team effort all the way around. Lee who put up with me as a cart partner and took off pressure when he hit putts for birdie. Preston who sunk an eagle putt on the short par 4 16th. Brandon nailed a number of long drives, including beating out the Pro who was an “extra player” on a par 5 and a monster snaking birdie putt on our first hole. Enjoyed the day, lunch, and putting the prize money in my pocket. 😉
Left to right:
Lee Jarman (Clearplay)
Preston Jensen (Tanner)
Brandon Perkin (Sundance)
Brad Baldwin (Rocky Mountain Voices)
Brad preps for long par 3.
Swing … hit this one pin high, left of the green. 🙁
Twitter Error : gateway timeout – HTTP 503 response
Anyone else tired of this Twitter Error? Is this a Twitter API issue or a Twitterific issue? Regardless, I’m just wishing that the insanity with uptime would stop.
“There was a “gateway timeout – HTTP 503 response” error while communicating with Twitter. This is a problem with their server, so contact Twitter at http://twitter.com/help if the problem persists.”
Foremski Suggests that CMOs Need Social Footprints
Tom Foremski is a smart guy with keen insight into the happenings of Silicon Valley. I interacted with him on a few occasions through PodTech.net and at the Bloghaus at CES. Foremski’s post today is targeted at marketing professionals.
Marketing technology is requiring a new training ground. Classical marketing principles can be leveraged, but the instantaneous feedback and interaction available today is game changing. And while good marketing people have always listened to the prospect or customer, today marketing pros must listen, listen, listen to the “networks.”
Good stuff Tom.
I’m Getting Old
My sister Jodi sent me this card for my birthday this year.
Funny. I used to get the cards telling me to have a “sexy” or “manly” birthday. Now I guess I’ve reached the age for diaper cards. Thanks Jodi.
Thanks to all who said hello on by snail mail, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, txt, and good old email.
Design is so Underrated in Tech
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s an Apple iMac vs. typical Dell desktop computer.
I had some friends over the other day. He was amazed at the lack of cabling at my iMac in the family room. I actually “added” a network cable because I wanted full-speed, 100 Mbps data transfers inside the network.
Engineering “complexity” out of technology is underrated. When did [why did] the consumer begin to accept complexity as a feature in a technology solution?
Storage to Match Small Form-Factor Mobile Devices
Seeing Samsung‘s next-generation 256 GB SSD makes my mind contemplate the mobile devices just over the horizon. A 1.8 inch solid state drives with the capacity that was in servers not all that long ago. But the performance is perhaps more impressive: sequential data reads at 200MB per second, and writes at 160MB per second. Tiny computing devices will be capable of carrying whole libraries and still leave space for are own creations. Of course if all those devices come with HD video recording capabilities, then we’ll fill it up quickly. Better get on that 512 GB version Samsung.
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