Event Blog 8: Apple WWDC10 vs Google I/O Conference

Now this is one of my favorite topics as I am personally an owner and consequently promoter of the iPhone.. on Monday, 8 June. Apple released their latest creation iPhone 4.. And to be honest.. it kicks ass!!

While at the same time Google, Apples largest competitor currently was holding a conference of their own, talking about their new Android operating system Froyo 2.2, there soon to be released Google TV platform and how much they grown and developed as a company over the last few years.

I find it very interesting having watched the entirety of both 2hour long keynote presentations that both companies are continually having a dig at each other, Apple putting up statistics to put down Android and Google doing the same, hacking away at Apple's creations because they are not an open source platform like Android.

Just decided I'm going to focus on Apple and try keep it to the point as this topic could go on forever..

Apple has been absolutely dominating the electronics industry over the last few years. It was only a few weeks ago that apple surpassed Microsoft to become the largest electronics manufacturer on the planet, the rock that was Microsoft is slowly corroding.

Apple is the King of hype, they are well known for yearly updates of each of their product lines, the iPad, iPhone and iPod, this is strategically spread throughout the year into quarterly increments the iPad in March, iPhone in June, iPod in September... An ever growing fan base of millions of people every year are permanently hung in anticipation of our Apple Over Lords next release.. There is no debate that their designs are second to none, but this means they also have great insight into how the human mind works and thus produce powerful advertising and marketing schemes which have made them the massive success they have become in recent years.

One of the biggest tools for profit maximization in nearly any industry is the use of 'planned obsolescence' and 'perceived obsolescence', both of which Apple now have down to a fine art. Because they focus so heavily on the visual look and appeal of their products and change it drastically with every update, many people purchase a new version of a product they all ready own simply because apple has crafted themselves as the definition of 'Cool'. A product that is only two years old sticks out like a sore thumb and looks ancient in comparison... making people feel insecure.. that they are not keeping up with social trends... and aren't as cool or happy as 'roger' who has the latest XYZ...

I have recently been thinking that the best way I can describe the hype that they create is 'Tech Lust'. By the time a year rolls round and your poor little brain has been getting slammed on a daily bases by indirect advertising (every person you know has or wants an iPod/everybody calls mp3 players iPods even when it's not an apple product).. you can't help but want to upgrade because the latest greatest XYZ seems so AMAZING it could change your life... Yet the under lying focus is to give XYZ just enough functionality that you really want to buy it but with enough holes in the functionality that there is continually something to upgrade to incrementally each year. It's very strategic purpose is to extend their empire and maximize profit.

I could easily be considered a minion of sorts.. as I have sold about 25 iPhones to people over the last few years while at the same time I promote that people should 'jailbreak' the device. This means modding the operating system to remove the restrictions placed upon it by Apple (which are an over whelming amount) and giving that power back to the owner of the device. There in lies the controversy, Apple products are amazing yet the draconian rule placed on them is rather scary if you truly understand the depths of it...