Motorola taunts Apple: “Who’s Big Brother now?”

George says:

07:26am | 08/02/11

Yours is the attitude why Apple products are so much in demand.  One only has to look at how pathetic your rejection of Apple technology is and eventually make the decision to avail of it for fear that they’ll pathetically end up like you if one didn’t. 

You can’t reject something you don’t fully understand, but then again that’s your indoctrination. 

Why don’t you ask your ALP handlers to get you an Apple product even if its the humble iPod shuffle for $65, that ought to lighten you up.

Ryan says:

07:48am | 08/02/11

Apples real crime is cutting down 10 year old technology then claiming its “groundbreaking”. Tablets were around in the iPad form (originally by HP) so long ago now that most have forgotten they just plagerised like everything they do.
I can see a real application for the Motorola XOOM, since its got a built in barometer combined with accelerometer and GPS it will make a fantastic glass cockpit in a sailplane.

Paul c says:

08:17am | 08/02/11

George, no radio in the i phone - why? - so you are forced to spend money on itunes - steve jobs is the evil villain - the dress sense says it all. By the way I love my android phone - nothing like an open system.

bobw says:

08:20am | 08/02/11

“Indoctrination”?  “ALP handlers”?  What on earth are you on about, George?  Are you attempting to parody an incoherent fanboy?

Apple’s insistence on locking some of its hardware to closely-moderated systems of software and content distribution is an eminently sensible reason for choosing to avoid that hardware, and if you can’t comprehend why then it’s surely you who doesn’t “fully understand”.

Blair says:

09:14am | 08/02/11

Paul C - No radio? Gee, you really don’t know what you’re talking about. I use TuneIn Radio (which is 99c but you can get 17,042 other radio apps for free). Local, international and internet radio stations, recording and playback, you name it.

Anything you want to do on iPhone can be done. And even more when you jailbreak it, like I have. And don’t even start with the “illegal, warranty voiding, bricked iPhone” talk. Isn’t illegal, does not void warranty, and does not brick iPhone (you just restore and it’s fine).

Coolio says:

09:26am | 08/02/11

I agree with Eric, Ryan and bobw
Apples insistence on “owning” all the commercial aspects of the customer robs me of choice and competition in pricing. This and having a closed architecture is what put me off Apple.
Sorry Apple I don’t want to play the game by your rules. I can do the same things without Apple products.
The funny thing is, that Apple tries to use clever marketing to make you feel like you are so different when you use their products, when in truth, you’re exactly the same as all the others fanbois.

Shifter says:

10:52am | 08/02/11

@Ryan - but it looks really pretty and it’s really easy to use. They’ve dumbed it down so that the it catches the eye of the masses, and the tech is really simple to use. All whilst keeping a ridiculously high price for the hardware and OS thus ensuring the products elitism.

@Blair - so you pay a price premium for a device, and then pay extra to add features cheaper competitor products already contain.

Rants aside, the OS and GUI of Apple products are very well made which has forced competitors (Google/HTC, Microsoft, Nokia) to lift their game. In some cases this has resulted in even better products.

Apple Core says:

04:50pm | 08/02/11

@Ryan - Apple doesn’t claim the technology as being groundbreaking, they claim the use it’s going to be put to is groundbreaking.

Shifter says:

06:01pm | 08/02/11

Interesting that apple tend to release second gen products very quickly after first gen ones. Of course there’s the strategy of being first to market, but they also have a hefty track record of having deeply flawed first gen products.

The Xoom doesn’t have a chance in hell in making a significant dent in Apple’s iPad market share. Why? People are already locked in to the system, and history shows they generally don’t want to change and learn new things, especially when it comes to computers.

facepalm says:

04:53pm | 08/02/11

Apple still accounts for a pathetically small percentage of the overall market, so of course it’s going to be virus-free. Script kiddies/malware writers/virus writers will always target the platform with the highest level of market saturation. It’s not the result of some inherent superiority in the Apple platform. People who lack the know-how to keep their computers secure these days quite frankly deserve everything they get. Any IT expert worth their salt will tell you that the security of a computer ultimately comes down to the user.

The inconvenient truth is that Apple deliberately targets the technologically illiterate and hipster morons for whom style is everything. The fact that you have to take your iPod to an Apple store for something as mundane as a battery replacement speaks volumes as to Apple’s opinion of their user base. Oh, and if you are an Apple user, you better not be a smoker. Apple has a proud tradition of voiding warranties at the mere suspicion that a machine has been exposed to tobacco smoke.

Grumpy says:

10:16am | 08/02/11

razors were ok but thats gotta be like 6 or 7 years ago now. and the first ones couldnt record video, only watch it..I dont see the point there but ok. Motorola components are used in land mines too. Great company.

Shifter says:

10:54am | 08/02/11

@Elphaba - does that mean you’re anti apple or susceptible to slick marketing?

Elphaba says:

12:04pm | 08/02/11

@Grumpy, lol, I did’t say I would buy it, just that it maes me go “ooohhhh….”

It’s a cute ad.

@Shifter, it’s all about the slick marketing.

Grumpy says:

12:29pm | 08/02/11

yea i commented the wrong post, was meant for below.

Shifter says:

05:43pm | 08/02/11

@Elph - so you’ve watched all the Super Bowl ads?

Elphaba says:

07:18pm | 08/02/11

@Shifter, yes!  My favourite is the Volkswagon Force - hilarious!  The Doritos ad was a close second, because it was so gross.

Your favourite?

Shifter says:

08:44pm | 08/02/11

Has to be the Vader ad. But coming from me that’s expected. The Snickers bit got a chuckle from me too.

maybe says:

08:52am | 08/02/11

“Anyone who doesnt like apple stuff, hasnt used apple stuff”  I hate that.  I have had a play around on a iPhone, yeah it was fun, and I have used Macs extensively, and they did what I needed them to do, but I don’t like them good enought to buy them.  I don’t hate apple stuff (well, i do hate itunes…) nor do I think it’s useless crap, it’s just that Apple doesn’t make the right products for me.  I appreciate freedom, the ability to drag and drop, and not be dictated into buying software and products locked into one proprietry design. Simple as that.

guy says:

08:58am | 08/02/11

I’d hardly say “light years ahead”... They even sell Macs with win7 on them these days…why would anyone…

Anyhow, it’s harder to build an OS that will run on hundreds (if not thousands) of different hardware combinations made may several different companies that it is one to work on a hadfull of systems you have designed in-house.  Ironically enough, MS are at least sharing the love in that respect.

Dave says:

09:52am | 08/02/11

When I worked for Telstra we were issued with Moto Razers as standard issue phones, before we got blackberries. To this day I miss the Razer. It was an amazing phone, awesome call quality, indestructible, good features, and the battery lasted forever. They’ve come a long way.

Grumpy says:

09:56am | 08/02/11

thats exactly why people end up with problems. You cant defend something by actually pointing out why it is flawed and claim it to be pro. That is a huge con. Windows assumes everyone knows what they are doing. Imagine if you bought a laptop and another piece of hardware only to find out that a chipset in the laptop isnt compatible and the hardware so it wont work, so annoying. That wouldn’t happen on mac, its either going to work with a mac because it says on the box it will or its not compatible and wont claim to work with the mac. Windows on the other hand, sure it might work if you’re lucky enough to have the correct chipsets from a random manufacturer. and these are problems before you even turn on the machine let alone battle the errors, viruses, and constant crashes that are never far away with a windows computer. Either way its pretty much the same companies both OS ‘s use, Seagate, western digital, intel, and nvidia.

Matt says:

10:21am | 08/02/11

I guess that sums it up then… Pc is for people that know what they’re doing, and Mac is for people with no clue :p

Concerned Citizen says:

10:29am | 08/02/11

Grumpy if people just read the box the purchased software comes in it tells you the system requirements,  If you don’t know the requirements or what hardware you computers running, why are you buying something in the first place?

It’s like buying an airbook and then realising $%^^& i need to buy a external DVD drive for extra dollars. WTF did i just pay all that money for oh thats right a hipster accessory

Grumpy says:

11:08am | 08/02/11

Some specifications arent shown on the box. they just have the windows and mac compatible signs. this laptop is ok it has firewire, this external device uses firewire. ok itll work…WRONG. if the chipset is not correct it wont. Its not has black and white as you’re trying to make it. Not to mention drivers. Windows is shit, end of story. Youll never know how much of a headache a mac will save you until you own one.

Concerned Citizen says:

12:21pm | 08/02/11

Grumpy I dont think you have looked closely enough at the requirements on a software box, usually contains CPU requirements Ram requirements HDD space reqs occasionally it even tells you if it needs vista or mac,not only that they list minimum and then recommended specifications.

Grumpy says:

09:00am | 08/02/11

Itunes second rate? Its only second rate if you are using windows. works fine on OSX. i had the same issues and hated itunes on windows, now i couldnt imagine another way to do it. and you can still put data on an ipod without itunes like any Hard drive. Its your windows computer that is the problem, not the ipod or itunes.

Concerned Citizen says:

09:28am | 08/02/11

Tom, Itunes is the bane of apple products. I would consider paying more for less(apple products) if i could just use it as i please.

IE
“hey buddy can i just copy that 2 gig of music you got there.”
“sorry mate, its a PC your ipod/pad/book cant handle this generic MPx format that is common the world over.”
“Oh ok, um should i bring my macbook over and copy it, convert it and copy it again to my ipod.”
“Nah bro, I suggest you get a $30 MPx player and never have this trouble again.”

Shifter says:

10:58am | 08/02/11

@Tom - if you’re a windows user Winamp can easily manage your iPod Touch on the music side of things.

I’m pretty sure other PC media players have iPod compatibility as well. iTunes is a PITA, but it isn’t the be all and end all of Apple music

martinX says:

12:39pm | 08/02/11

Did you try looking for iTunes alternatives?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_iPod_managers

Concerned Citizen: iPods have been able to play MP3s and MP4s since day 1.

Concerned Citizen says:

01:31pm | 08/02/11

Martin X your right, sorry i was confusing WMA.

Roja says:

01:47pm | 08/02/11

Someone is defending iTunes as useful?  Bought a $99 ipod shuffle for the wife 2 years ago, 2 hours later I had 20 songs converted and stored on it.  Can I load them from my laptop?  No.  Can I copy them to another computer? No.  Can I load songs at friends houses?  No.

Bought a 2GB dick smith mp3 player for $40 this Christmas, after 30 minutes I had 300 songs on it.  It’s a portable hard drive, you can copy on & off in seconds.  No hacking iTunes to do it, just plug it in and the magic happens.

Apple cares about making money first, the consumer second.  iTunes itself is a standout contender for the worst IT product ever delivered.

Jane says:

03:55pm | 08/02/11

I am surprised by how many people think that not being able to copy your mates music is annoying…wait - its also ILLEGAL! just cause the ipod wont let you do illegal stuff. wow. if you want to do illegal stuff, like say, infringing copyright laws and stealing from the ARTISTS (not apple - as if apple own every song!) then buy a cheap mp3. way to help the music industry. honestly.

Ryan says:

04:40pm | 08/02/11

@Tom: return it citing the device does not work the way you expected and therefore the device does not meet expectations or requirements.
If you can’t return it then load rockbox on it, that will fix it.

Tom says:

11:39am | 09/02/11

@Jane, wonderful, when some naive fool such as yourself lines up and says that Apple is just defending the music industry. My ass.

I notice you took the nastiest possible interpretations to replies on this matter. According to you, anyone who wants to organise their collection onto an MP3 player without getting bogged down in moronic software is a pirate? Anyone who does not want to hand over credit card details to a 3rd party must be a pirate?

So, Apple are heroes defending you average downtrodden muso? Get real.

Tom says:

05:24pm | 09/02/11

Thanks martin X and Shifter. I should have known that the industry soon helps the users navigate safely around the IBMs, Microsofts, Sonys and the Apples of this world.

Jane says:

06:10pm | 10/02/11

@Tom Thanks for such a kind response. Strong words. I think you will find that ‘moronic’ is an ill-informed personal opinion. My youngest son (2yrs) and my oldest living relative (87) can both use iTunes - it has to be pretty clever to reach such a wide range. And you can use other software to organise your library if you want - but I think you’d find these would be harder and take longer. And what was that - credit card dets? Surprisingly, you can get an iTunes (which i presume is the 3rd party you speak of) account without a credit card….what the??
So what if they are or are not heroes. you don’t have to buy an ipod. you can research before you purchase (say on the net) exactly what the ipod does and how to use it before you buy. No-one, particularly not apple made you buy one. they dont even advertise. I think, your term ‘naive’ would just be an account of your own encounter with a product you clearly didn’t research and clearly have not continued to research of seek support of. if i weren’t so busy being a mum to an ipod crazed family, maybe id sit down with you and walk you through it.

Grumpy says:

09:08am | 08/02/11

Ipad is a toy. Windows people tend to think its intended to be more than that.

Richard says:

10:35am | 08/02/11

Dude that link leads to a review of something called the “Kyocera Echo”, some wierd-ass looking device that is a cross between anAndroid 2.2 phone a Nintendo DS.

Android tablets will surpass Apple tablets in time, don’t let that get you down Blair, lassez-faire competition is the spice of capitalism!

stabfish says:

08:55pm | 08/02/11

First off, Gizmodo are notorious Apple fanboys who love anything Apple related.

And secondly, that is hardly a review.  They merely looked at the spec sheet and said “hmmm….we don’t like it”.

Grumpy says:

10:35am | 08/02/11

BMW M3 Vs Daihatsu Charade would be more accurate.

purplemonkeydishwasher says:

11:09am | 08/02/11

Hold vs Ford is like Homebrand Plain Flour vs Black & Gold Plain Flour…

Grumpy says:

11:48am | 08/02/11

or HP Vs Dell. Apple is in another league its reflected in their share price, quality and range.

Kebabpete says:

12:03pm | 08/02/11

@Grumpy, you have got to be kidding. Even when broken down to a basic level you still cant see that what’s good for one is not always good for another.

Its funny how you get people that are so pro Apple that they never stop going on about it, yet the people who are anti Apple you never here much from. Maybe talking it up is their way of trying to justify it to themselves. Very sad.

Grumpy says:

12:36pm | 08/02/11

yes, because mac is just that much better.

Salec says:

01:32pm | 08/02/11

You do realise that Apple typically charges between 2 and 3 times as much as a PC with EXACTLY the same hardware? To me (and most computer literate people) it’s not worth paying that for a pretty box and nice software.

The reason Apple locks down it’s software so hard and won’t let ANYONE use it on non-apple hardware is they know it would fail, that they can’t make the drivers work for the different types of hardware, so they don’t. Apple’s have there uses, but by virtue of their locked down nature they are no where near as powerful as scientific or brute computing machines. Or as usefult o anyone who likes to tinker and not just check their email and write a letter or two. Like me

Tugboat Ben says:

01:37pm | 08/02/11

Discussing the merits of Apple products with a fanboy is like discussing the existence of God with a church group. Even when faced with logical, tactile evidence to the contrary, they can still never be wrong.
Apple has run an amazing marketing campaign based on image above functionality and many the fool has been sucked in by it, and you know what they say about arguing with a fool…

Grumpy says:

02:23pm | 08/02/11

Tinker = repair. this is what windows user calling computing.

You cant buy a windows PC with the same hardware as a mac. theyre nearly always different.

Concerned Citizen says:

03:14pm | 08/02/11

Grumpy you know little to nothing about the components that make up a mac or a PC.
Heres the difference between microsoft and apple, one has an operating system called windows the other has an operating system known as OSx .
They run the same hardware ie motherbaord, cpu , ram, optical drive

Salec says:

04:32pm | 08/02/11

Tinker != Repair. It is playing with open source software and other useful things that is impossible with a mac. It is possible to configure a PC with exactly the same hardware as a mac. Since mac changed to from power-pc architecture they now use off the self hardware you can configure for yourself. The only difference is the pretty box

Grumpy says:

11:11am | 08/02/11

Because they make great stuff.

Salec says:

01:34pm | 08/02/11

that’s more expensive for the same thing that you can’t do as much with - did you say great?

Kebabpete says:

12:44pm | 08/02/11

The only people who refer to it as the “ipod generation” are people who own ipods.

Shifter says:

01:18pm | 08/02/11

So a triumph for Apple’s marketing department then? What you’re demonstrating is the ability of the design and marketing teams within Apple to produce and hype a product in such a way that people think they need it, and with enough blanket coverage that it becomes the ubiquitous default.

Much like a Kleenex, Google, Xerox or a Hoover or whatever other brand names people use as verbs.

Danny B says:

11:06am | 09/02/11

Sean,

The picture was quite different in 1984, when Apple made that ‘authoritarian’ ad.  At that point, IBM pretty much had a monopoly on the Personal Computer market and Microsoft was a small software company running out of a garage.

Also, Apple wasn’t the only one running those sorts of ads - Compaq ran a series of ads starring John Cleese comparing their computers to IBMs.

Andrew says:

03:10pm | 08/02/11

I imagine his point is that sales do not make them the best?

Creative Zen, Sony Walkman, Microsoft Zune are all decent mp3 players.

Truth be told my 5 year old creative zen is still brilliant.

David says:

05:02pm | 08/02/11

I am constantly listening to music, on commutes, at work and exercising and I’ve only have 2 mp3 players for the last 8 years - both iRivers. Both were fantastic, simple and easy to use (just don’t both with the software to integrate them, just dump the music on the flash drives). I think I have probably worn out nearly 10 pairs of ear phones in the same time period.

The only reason I’m not using my last iRiver anymore is I’ve just acquired a HTC Desire HD and it is a fantastic phone which happens to play music very very well so I don’t see any value in carrying a phone and mp3 player around anymore (this is my first smart phone).

I can’t comment on any other mp3 player (never owned any other) but the two iRivers I owned were fantastic products and derserved greater success.

Shifter says:

05:54pm | 08/02/11

@ceebails, Andrew - Well, sales do make them best sellers. My point was that Apple kill it in the slick marketing stakes. They’ve sold a lot of people a lot of products with necessarily being the best in market at the time of purchase.

However it depends on what you’re basis is for best; best featured, best value, fastest etc. In each of the three ‘best’ categories there it could be argued there is a product from a different manufacturer that is better than Apple’s offering.

As an example, like Andrew, I have a 4 year old Creative Zen X-Fi. At the time it was cheaper than an equivalent storage iPod Nano, sounded better had a couple more features, and didn’t force iTunes upon me. The drawback? A couple of my iPod/Phone using friends have said it has too many buttons, and there are no fancy docking station / speaker systems for it.