Apple missing golden .Mac opportunity
Over the last five years, people have grown more accustomed to storing personal photos, documents, and files in the "cloud," rather than on a hard drive in their home. At the same time, they are buying Apple's Macs in larger numbers than ever. The company's answer to this trend has been its .Mac service, a $99-a-year collection of online tools released in 2002 featuring 10GBs of file storage, Web site hosting, and photo sharing, among other things.Apple has designed .Mac to work very closely with its Macs, and updated it last year with additional storage and hooks into the latest version of iLife. But Apple charges far more than competing online services, which offer many of the same services for free or for a nominal charge. Combined with the fact that Apple is not an Internet brand, and it's not surprising that .Mac is an afterthought.Of course, Apple's financial performance isn't exactly hurting these days, so it's not like .Mac is a huge drain on the company. But the company is letting price get in the way of a service that could be a unique selling point for its hardware: the real profit engine at Apple. Viewed on just the features alone, $99 a year is hard to justify for the .Mac service. 10GBs of storage? I can get that for $20 from Google, and I can get much more if I want it. Photo sharing? I can do that for free on Flickr, and upload as many photos and videos as I want for $24.95 a year. Build my own Web site? Lots of services offer that capability for free.The value in .Mac only comes into play if you're a Mac user, since the tight integration with the iLife suite of software found in every Mac is the key pitch for the service. Sure, you could cobble together a suite of similar Internet services for maybe $40 or $50 a year and just run them through your browser, but if you're going to use iPhoto and iWeb anyway, why bother?For example, you can always share your photos with the world via Flickr by uploading them from your Mac's hard drive, but you can publish them to your .Mac Web Gallery with a single click inside iPhoto after importing them from your camera. Or, you can pull your .Mac Web Galleries right into a Web page created with iWeb, rather than pulling the files individually from your hard drive.Despite that, not even that many Mac users find the service valuable. Apple's installed base was estimated at around 23 million users last October. If all those users were paying $99 a year for .Mac (which is impossible, since some percentage of those users are still on Mac OS X 10.3, not supported by .Mac), Apple would add around $2 billion in revenue a year. The entire "Software, Service, and other sales" category that includes .Mac revenue accounted for $529 million of Apple's $7.5 billion in revenue during its most recent quarter, and Leopard upgrades had to count for a healthy portion of that.Apple is clearly managing to convince more computer buyers than ever that Macs are a compelling option, but it's failing to persuade those same buyers that .Mac is worth $99 a year. The company is missing out on two converging trends--a life spent online and surging Mac sales--to use .Mac as a selling point for the Mac, or to get the increasing number of Mac users onto the .Mac service and therefore transformed into a recurring source of revenue.Might it make .Mac free, as suggested by Silicon Alley Insider's Dan Frommer a few weeks ago? The three major Internet players of our time--Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft--offer basic services for free. And for nominal fees, they offer almost the same amount of storage and sharing abilities as .Mac, such as Flickr's $24.95-a-year deal for unlimited uploads of photos, or Google's 10GBs of storage for $20.Apple CEO Steve Jobs explains how the iLife software is designed to work with .Mac at an event last year.James Martin/CNET News.comA free .Mac service could be nothing more than a loss leader designed to sell Macs and iPhones. Apple clearly isn't making a ton of money anyway on .Mac, so the incremental revenue lost by making the service free might not even be noticed if that free service is used to sell Macs in greater numbers. A mass of online .Mac users could also have any number of implications inside the social-networking or content-delivery industries, such as free downloads for .Mac customers who visit the iTunes Store or more sophisticated online user forums and communities.It's not just about Macs, either. Storage space on devices like the iPhone or iPod Touch will be constrained for a while as we wait for the flash memory industry to continue packing more bits of storage into every chip. If you've got a ubiquitous, fast broadband connection--such as 3G and its eventual successors--cloud storage makes more and more sense. People always want more storage, and one way to satisfy those needs--and encourage more downloads from the iTunes Store--would be to ensure that potential customers will have enough storage for all their music and video with a free storage service that is also accessible from your Mac.But the art of business--even in a Web 2.0-gone-mad world--has not yet evolved to the point where giving your product away for free always makes sense. Maintaining a storage and networking facility costs real money. And why give something away for free when people are willing to pay something--if not $99 a year--for a service?Apple could turn .Mac into a real selling point for its hardware if it cut the price in half to $49--about what it would cost to maintain a pro Flickr account and 10GBs of file storage with Google--and improved the capabilities.For example, if $49 a year granted you access to 20GBs of online storage, unlimited photo sharing on a Web page you designed, and unique capabilities such as Back to My Mac, you might be more willing to pay the equivalent of four bucks a month. Use the same service to link iPhones and iPod Touches with Macs, and you increase the value of each device, while also giving users a reason to buy both their handheld and desk-bound computers from Apple.Or, Apple could give away a free year of .Mac service with the purchase of a new Mac. That's the drug-dealer strategy: the first one is free. After that, once you've put all your images and videos on the .Mac service, $49 a year won't seem like much to keep that service running. Apple does provide a 60-day trial period for .Mac services, but that's not enough to get hooked.Apple has always tried to sell its products as models of integrated design, where the software is designed to work with specific hardware to promote reliability and stability. It has extended that philosophy to the third leg of the modern computing experience--the Internet--but it continues to deter people from using .Mac with a high price tag.Grocery stores sell basic items like tuna fish and bread at razor-thin margins, because they know people are likely to pick up a few other things while they're at the market for the basics. Apple has an opportunity to do the same thing with .Mac, and it won't have to give away the store to make it happen.
Lenovo's Pokki deal targets Windows 8 app-athy
Lenovo's Pokki deal targets Windows 8 app-athy
Lenovo and Pokki announced on Thursday a deal to preload most of Lenovo's Windows 8 computers with Pokki's desktop mode Start menu, app launcher, and Windows store.The Pokki suite will ship globally on nearly all new Lenovo computers. The first models to receive the Pokki suite will be the IdeaPad and IdeaCenter, followed by the Think line, said Darrius Thompson, CEO and co-founder of SweetLabs, which makes Pokki."We want to build the largest distribution network for developers," he said. "Our potential to create a large channel for developers is substantial."His co-founder at SweetLabs, Chester Ng, said that Pokki fixes three major major flaws in Windows 8. It creates a Start menu where there had been the user expectation of one, but none existed. Pokki also creates a good app store, where desktop apps can be downloaded and installed in most cases with one click.The most unusual thing it does is that gives manufacturers the opportunity to update what he called the "software bundle" -- more commonly known as bloatware -- because Pokki can be used to recommend software."Pokki can promote TurboTax during tax season, as opposed to pre-loading it," he said, giving one example of how Pokki can obviate the need for bloatware, which drives much of the manufacturers' profit margins.The idea of buying an off-the-shelf computer that contains little to no bloatware, except for the Pokki app store, is practically unheard of. It won't happen yet, either.It's Thompson and Ng's hope that a reduced-bloatware future is coming. "We want to reinvent the software bundle that they make a lot of money off of, a significant amount of their margins off of it," Ng said.Pokki follows what Thompson described as the iTunes model. Instead of starting off as an "app player" and then taking years to become a place where people can buy apps, Pokki already provides both. "We can help OEMs monetize users because of our ability to provide targeted dynamic recommendations," Thompson said. Those recommendations, of which Pokki has already made more than 1 billion this year, could be eventually more profitable than the current bloatware system.Pokki's Windows app store creates a new way to install old and new Windows apps.Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNETThompson and Ng wouldn't reveal active user numbers for Pokki, but they did say that the suites rising popularity has driven both user adoption and the attention of hardware manufacturers. They have had 20 million downloads in the less than one year that Windows 8 has been on the market."On average," Ng said, "a Windows 8 user opens this thing 10 times a day."Pokki's developer services are robust. In addition to providing a distribution point for Windows software, it also gives developers the kind of in-depth analytics tools that exist on mobile operating systems, but have been lacking thus far on Windows. Ng described the analytics tools as the kind of usage data that you'd expect Windows to have, but doesn't, such as "number of downloads, engagement [in different part of the app], and time spent in app," he said.Lenovo, the number one PC manufacturer in the world, might be a major coup for SweetLabs, but the company isn't resting on its laurels. "Later this year, you'll see us help developers on other non-PC platforms," said Ng, which could mean that an Android version of Pokki is in the offing.Pokki may or may not help boost Lenovo's profits on Windows 8 computers, but the move definitely helps raise Pokki's profile.
Lenovo and Pokki announced on Thursday a deal to preload most of Lenovo's Windows 8 computers with Pokki's desktop mode Start menu, app launcher, and Windows store.The Pokki suite will ship globally on nearly all new Lenovo computers. The first models to receive the Pokki suite will be the IdeaPad and IdeaCenter, followed by the Think line, said Darrius Thompson, CEO and co-founder of SweetLabs, which makes Pokki."We want to build the largest distribution network for developers," he said. "Our potential to create a large channel for developers is substantial."His co-founder at SweetLabs, Chester Ng, said that Pokki fixes three major major flaws in Windows 8. It creates a Start menu where there had been the user expectation of one, but none existed. Pokki also creates a good app store, where desktop apps can be downloaded and installed in most cases with one click.The most unusual thing it does is that gives manufacturers the opportunity to update what he called the "software bundle" -- more commonly known as bloatware -- because Pokki can be used to recommend software."Pokki can promote TurboTax during tax season, as opposed to pre-loading it," he said, giving one example of how Pokki can obviate the need for bloatware, which drives much of the manufacturers' profit margins.The idea of buying an off-the-shelf computer that contains little to no bloatware, except for the Pokki app store, is practically unheard of. It won't happen yet, either.It's Thompson and Ng's hope that a reduced-bloatware future is coming. "We want to reinvent the software bundle that they make a lot of money off of, a significant amount of their margins off of it," Ng said.Pokki follows what Thompson described as the iTunes model. Instead of starting off as an "app player" and then taking years to become a place where people can buy apps, Pokki already provides both. "We can help OEMs monetize users because of our ability to provide targeted dynamic recommendations," Thompson said. Those recommendations, of which Pokki has already made more than 1 billion this year, could be eventually more profitable than the current bloatware system.Pokki's Windows app store creates a new way to install old and new Windows apps.Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNETThompson and Ng wouldn't reveal active user numbers for Pokki, but they did say that the suites rising popularity has driven both user adoption and the attention of hardware manufacturers. They have had 20 million downloads in the less than one year that Windows 8 has been on the market."On average," Ng said, "a Windows 8 user opens this thing 10 times a day."Pokki's developer services are robust. In addition to providing a distribution point for Windows software, it also gives developers the kind of in-depth analytics tools that exist on mobile operating systems, but have been lacking thus far on Windows. Ng described the analytics tools as the kind of usage data that you'd expect Windows to have, but doesn't, such as "number of downloads, engagement [in different part of the app], and time spent in app," he said.Lenovo, the number one PC manufacturer in the world, might be a major coup for SweetLabs, but the company isn't resting on its laurels. "Later this year, you'll see us help developers on other non-PC platforms," said Ng, which could mean that an Android version of Pokki is in the offing.Pokki may or may not help boost Lenovo's profits on Windows 8 computers, but the move definitely helps raise Pokki's profile.
Apple, labels talk music in the cloud
Apple, labels talk music in the cloud
Still, Robertson contends an iTunes streaming plan could be problematic for the music industry. There's a possibility that Apple may not believe it must compensate or even acquire new licenses to stream legally purchased songs to owners, Robertson said. As the largest music retailer in the world, Apple has the kind of muscle to launch the service without asking for permission, according to Robertson. "I've talked to one of the labels guys about this," Robertson said during our interview. "The person said the labels aren't very happy, but they aren't sure Apple won't try to jam this through regardless of what the labels want. Apple can say, 'We're selling 2 billion songs and this is what we're doing.'"On the issue of whether iTunes needs licenses to stream legally purchased music, Robertson has some experience. He is fighting a copyright lawsuit filed two years ago by EMI Music against his streaming-music service, MP3tunes.com. EMI argues that MP3tunes doesn't have authorization to exploit the company's music this way. Robertson counters that there's nothing illegal about storing and streaming someone's legally purchased songs. His case should come to some conclusion later this year. Another possible conflict between Apple and the labels could come when Apple's streaming service begins to harm subscription music services, Robertson said. If Apple is allowed to stream music to a user anywhere in the world, why would anyone pay $8 a month for a subscription? I pointed out that subscription services also offer all-you-can-eat music. Robertson said that by and large, the most important songs to music fans are those they already own. "An iTunes streaming service could close the window of opportunity for the labels to create a new type of subscription service," Robertson said. Maybe so, but two music industry insiders told me the kind of acrimonious relationship between Apple and the labels described by Robertson doesn't exist. The two sides have had a decent give-and-take relationship for years. A move by Apple to force streaming music down the throats of the record companies would be out of character and not in Apple's interest, they said. Another reason that Robertson's prediction doesn't ring true to some in the music industry is that the labels won't necessarily require added compensation for a streaming service, my sources indicated. They say it's a little hard to for anyone to assess that since Apple hasn't disclosed its plans.One thing that Robertson and music insiders can agree on: Apple has its heads in the cloud.
Still, Robertson contends an iTunes streaming plan could be problematic for the music industry. There's a possibility that Apple may not believe it must compensate or even acquire new licenses to stream legally purchased songs to owners, Robertson said. As the largest music retailer in the world, Apple has the kind of muscle to launch the service without asking for permission, according to Robertson. "I've talked to one of the labels guys about this," Robertson said during our interview. "The person said the labels aren't very happy, but they aren't sure Apple won't try to jam this through regardless of what the labels want. Apple can say, 'We're selling 2 billion songs and this is what we're doing.'"On the issue of whether iTunes needs licenses to stream legally purchased music, Robertson has some experience. He is fighting a copyright lawsuit filed two years ago by EMI Music against his streaming-music service, MP3tunes.com. EMI argues that MP3tunes doesn't have authorization to exploit the company's music this way. Robertson counters that there's nothing illegal about storing and streaming someone's legally purchased songs. His case should come to some conclusion later this year. Another possible conflict between Apple and the labels could come when Apple's streaming service begins to harm subscription music services, Robertson said. If Apple is allowed to stream music to a user anywhere in the world, why would anyone pay $8 a month for a subscription? I pointed out that subscription services also offer all-you-can-eat music. Robertson said that by and large, the most important songs to music fans are those they already own. "An iTunes streaming service could close the window of opportunity for the labels to create a new type of subscription service," Robertson said. Maybe so, but two music industry insiders told me the kind of acrimonious relationship between Apple and the labels described by Robertson doesn't exist. The two sides have had a decent give-and-take relationship for years. A move by Apple to force streaming music down the throats of the record companies would be out of character and not in Apple's interest, they said. Another reason that Robertson's prediction doesn't ring true to some in the music industry is that the labels won't necessarily require added compensation for a streaming service, my sources indicated. They say it's a little hard to for anyone to assess that since Apple hasn't disclosed its plans.One thing that Robertson and music insiders can agree on: Apple has its heads in the cloud.
Star gets role in new 'Star Trek' movie via iPhone audition
Star gets role in new 'Star Trek' movie via iPhone audition
Actors are little different from ad agencies these days.They have to pitch for business. They have to sell themselves by whatever means possible to ruthless, tasteless producers and directors who see them as little more than pretty mouths into which to insert words.At least that's how it always seemed on "Entourage."Who can therefore not admire the ingenuity of Benedict Cumberbatch? This fine British actor -- perhaps most famous for his role in the BBC's contemporary version of "Sherlock" --managed to secure a large role in the new "Star Trek" movie by revolutionary means.Despite being saddled with the name of a upscale landscape gardener, Cumberbatch had the ingenious idea of impressing director J.J. Abrams with a spontaneous audition filmed late at night on his iPhone.The home page of the Cumberbatch otter Tumblr feed.Red Scharlach Points at Interesting ThingsThe way The New York Times presents it, he was in a friend's kitchen and "pretty strung out."The Times doesn't record precisely whether it was tiredness or pinot noir that caused Cumberbatch's strings to be visible, but apparently his agitation was precisely what Abrams wanted to see.The creator of "Lost" and other things described it as "one of the most compelling audition readings I'd ever seen." Oh, he was just reading, was he? Perhaps Cumberbatch used a shaky iPhone camera technique to increase the sense of agitation. Still, he is no stranger to science fiction or science fact, as he once played Stephen Hawking in another BBC movie. One can but hope that this iPhone audition can be released upon iTunes, so that others can learn what it takes to make it to "Star Trek."Actually, it would be nice if otters could learn too. You might think I am already a little strung out. However, after he moved to Hollywood, Cumberbatch suffered from quite some online criticism for, um, selling out. The criticism became so passionate that a Tumblr feed was created -- one comparing his facial expressions with those of an otter.Now if an otter could get hold of an iPhone, create an audition tape, and get a role in, say, a new Disney movie called "Some Like It Otter," then surely society will have taken an enormous step in the right direction.
Actors are little different from ad agencies these days.They have to pitch for business. They have to sell themselves by whatever means possible to ruthless, tasteless producers and directors who see them as little more than pretty mouths into which to insert words.At least that's how it always seemed on "Entourage."Who can therefore not admire the ingenuity of Benedict Cumberbatch? This fine British actor -- perhaps most famous for his role in the BBC's contemporary version of "Sherlock" --managed to secure a large role in the new "Star Trek" movie by revolutionary means.Despite being saddled with the name of a upscale landscape gardener, Cumberbatch had the ingenious idea of impressing director J.J. Abrams with a spontaneous audition filmed late at night on his iPhone.The home page of the Cumberbatch otter Tumblr feed.Red Scharlach Points at Interesting ThingsThe way The New York Times presents it, he was in a friend's kitchen and "pretty strung out."The Times doesn't record precisely whether it was tiredness or pinot noir that caused Cumberbatch's strings to be visible, but apparently his agitation was precisely what Abrams wanted to see.The creator of "Lost" and other things described it as "one of the most compelling audition readings I'd ever seen." Oh, he was just reading, was he? Perhaps Cumberbatch used a shaky iPhone camera technique to increase the sense of agitation. Still, he is no stranger to science fiction or science fact, as he once played Stephen Hawking in another BBC movie. One can but hope that this iPhone audition can be released upon iTunes, so that others can learn what it takes to make it to "Star Trek."Actually, it would be nice if otters could learn too. You might think I am already a little strung out. However, after he moved to Hollywood, Cumberbatch suffered from quite some online criticism for, um, selling out. The criticism became so passionate that a Tumblr feed was created -- one comparing his facial expressions with those of an otter.Now if an otter could get hold of an iPhone, create an audition tape, and get a role in, say, a new Disney movie called "Some Like It Otter," then surely society will have taken an enormous step in the right direction.
iPhone MMS send failure fix
iPhone MMS send failure fix
After discovering the following simple fix for my problem the next flower picture was actually sent to the recipient. I tried sending more images, resending images that had failed to send previously, and even a video with sound; all of those worked without a hitch and I was able to receive the same type of content from others.Warning notes:All your preferences and settings are reset. Information, such as your contacts and calendars, and media, such as your songs and videos, aren't deleted.You will have to re-enter your passcode, Wi-Fi passwords, and your apps will all be rearranged alphabetically. Note: the latter issue is actually a neat find--now I know how to alphabetize my apps when I want them sorted that way. Drastic yet effective.Additionally other settings like VPN, remembered Wi-Fi networks, etc., maybe lost.Fixing the MMS send failure error messageConnect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to your computer.Launch iTunes and go to the Summary tab for your iPhone.Click the Restore button to restore your iPhone and allow it to use your most recent backup when prompted; iTunes should do this automatically. This process will take a while so it is recommended that you try it only when it is convenient and you are not in a hurry. Once it is completed your iPhone will reboot.Launch Settings on your iPhone.Go to General > Reset All Settings > enter your PIN if prompted Try sending and receiving an MMS now. Hopefully this fix will resolve your MMS send failure woes, and if it does then welcome to 2003!Tell us about your iPhone MMS experience in the comments.Updated on 9/26/2009 at 11:56 a.m. PDT: Regarding JOBIROAL's comment about trying Reset Network Settings: both Apple and AT&T recommended this, but it did not resolve the problem for me. However, it is worth a try before attempting my fix.Updated on 9/28/2009 at 3:27 a.m. PDT: Check your AT&T account online to verify that you have one of the following three message plans:iPhone MMS supported message plansDavid Martin
After discovering the following simple fix for my problem the next flower picture was actually sent to the recipient. I tried sending more images, resending images that had failed to send previously, and even a video with sound; all of those worked without a hitch and I was able to receive the same type of content from others.Warning notes:All your preferences and settings are reset. Information, such as your contacts and calendars, and media, such as your songs and videos, aren't deleted.You will have to re-enter your passcode, Wi-Fi passwords, and your apps will all be rearranged alphabetically. Note: the latter issue is actually a neat find--now I know how to alphabetize my apps when I want them sorted that way. Drastic yet effective.Additionally other settings like VPN, remembered Wi-Fi networks, etc., maybe lost.Fixing the MMS send failure error messageConnect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to your computer.Launch iTunes and go to the Summary tab for your iPhone.Click the Restore button to restore your iPhone and allow it to use your most recent backup when prompted; iTunes should do this automatically. This process will take a while so it is recommended that you try it only when it is convenient and you are not in a hurry. Once it is completed your iPhone will reboot.Launch Settings on your iPhone.Go to General > Reset All Settings > enter your PIN if prompted Try sending and receiving an MMS now. Hopefully this fix will resolve your MMS send failure woes, and if it does then welcome to 2003!Tell us about your iPhone MMS experience in the comments.Updated on 9/26/2009 at 11:56 a.m. PDT: Regarding JOBIROAL's comment about trying Reset Network Settings: both Apple and AT&T recommended this, but it did not resolve the problem for me. However, it is worth a try before attempting my fix.Updated on 9/28/2009 at 3:27 a.m. PDT: Check your AT&T account online to verify that you have one of the following three message plans:iPhone MMS supported message plansDavid Martin
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Wozniak warns Apple must stay 'cool' -- or else
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a warning for Tim Cook and his executives: stay cool, or you'll have trouble.Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview published today, Wozniak said that while Apple is still "really good at setting a standard with a new device," it's starting to lose its standing as the coolest company in the technology industry."We used to have these ads, 'I'm a Mac and I'm a PC,' and the Mac was always the cool guy," Wozniak told Bloomberg. "And ouch, it's painful, because we kind of are losing that."According to Bloomberg, Wozniak said that Apple's products are no longer able to easily trump competing devices from Amazon and Google because those companies "all have great ideas." He added that Apple should at least consider opening iTunes to Android and Windows Phone users.Wozniak has been surprisingly outspoken about Apple over the last several months. In October, he called the company "arrogant" and lamented that it believed it was "the only one with the right clue." In November, he said that he was worried that Apple is "just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind." He also took a jab at the late Steve Jobs, saying that he didn't have "to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down, and make them feel demeaned."Despite the negative talk, Wozniak told Bloomberg that he was hoping Apple would launch the rumored iWatch -- a device, he said, he would definitely buy.
Woman hangs up on $10,000 call from Apple
Woman hangs up on $10,000 call from Apple
Davis was distraught when she called Apple back and somehow the person on the company's helpdesk reportedly proved to be less than helpful. Perhaps Davis was already a marked woman. Perhaps it had been Apple COO Tim Cook himself calling to tell her she had won a $10,000 gift card.Davis was mired in shame. As she told the Cult of Mac: "The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a genuine call. The girls were getting quite tense. They never would have forgiven me. They would have held it against me for all eternity."Children hold all sorts of things against their mothers for all eternity, from looks to luck. But this would have been too much to bear.Her eternity was made sweeter when she received another call from Apple. This time it was a colleague of Eddy Cue, Apple's VP of iTunes. You might wonder why Cue himself didn't make the call. It could have been because it had, indeed, been Cue, rather than a telemarketer, who had made the original call and received a polite British brush-off.So now Gail Davis and her family can download more apps and enjoy their fame. And Apple can content itself that it is now only Toshiba being rude to the company, rather than the woman whose family downloaded the 10 billionth app.
Davis was distraught when she called Apple back and somehow the person on the company's helpdesk reportedly proved to be less than helpful. Perhaps Davis was already a marked woman. Perhaps it had been Apple COO Tim Cook himself calling to tell her she had won a $10,000 gift card.Davis was mired in shame. As she told the Cult of Mac: "The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a genuine call. The girls were getting quite tense. They never would have forgiven me. They would have held it against me for all eternity."Children hold all sorts of things against their mothers for all eternity, from looks to luck. But this would have been too much to bear.Her eternity was made sweeter when she received another call from Apple. This time it was a colleague of Eddy Cue, Apple's VP of iTunes. You might wonder why Cue himself didn't make the call. It could have been because it had, indeed, been Cue, rather than a telemarketer, who had made the original call and received a polite British brush-off.So now Gail Davis and her family can download more apps and enjoy their fame. And Apple can content itself that it is now only Toshiba being rude to the company, rather than the woman whose family downloaded the 10 billionth app.
Dictionary.com's iPhone game tests ur spelling
Dictionary.com's iPhone game tests ur spelling
The app is straightforward. You quickly decide which of the 20 words in the round are spelled correctly or incorrectly. Points are knocked off for inaccuracy, and added to your total time. If it takes you 40 seconds to go through the list, but you get two wrong, your score spikes up to 60 seconds, a B. So save the pokiness for reviewing your score and for kicking yourself for casual errors.The game is cute all right, and a test to the ego in the way that SATs and other standardized tests are--taunting in their simplicity, and debasing when you miss a word you ought to know. At least you're not alone--the misspellings that are your object to spot are siphoned straight from the top 5,000 botched words entered into Dictionary.com at a rate of 2 million typos and flubs per month. Still, there are a few light raps of the ruler we'd make. In a test game, 'consiencious' was paired with 'consensus', rather than with 'conscientious'. Apart from that, we're not quite convinced the game will make us more intelligent, until Dictionary.com slips in definitions, and perhaps the pronunciation guide from the free Dictionary.com iPhone app. Miss Spell's Class is also a bit one-dimensional. Although this game title is just the beginning, we'd like to see it instilled with different skill levels and playing modes, where you might actively spell a word, not just passively review it, or quickly choose the right configuration from a handful of choices. There should be different skins to pull in the grade-school youngsters, old fogeys, and tweens who are too cool for school, and competitions over Wi-Fi.Some of these additional features are admittedly coming. A future version is planned that will shade in the tricky words with vocabulary content, and on Thursday, Dictionary.com is releasing its anagram game, Anagram Cracker, for the Web, which leverages the site's Thesaurus content. The bottom line is, while Miss Spell's Class is original and challenging, we know Dictionary.com can do better.P.S. In case you're curious, here are the top-10 words most often misspelled when searched on in Dictionary.com: definitely, separate, sense, savvy, liaison, accommodate, embarrassed, occasionally, inconvenience, and dilemma.
The app is straightforward. You quickly decide which of the 20 words in the round are spelled correctly or incorrectly. Points are knocked off for inaccuracy, and added to your total time. If it takes you 40 seconds to go through the list, but you get two wrong, your score spikes up to 60 seconds, a B. So save the pokiness for reviewing your score and for kicking yourself for casual errors.The game is cute all right, and a test to the ego in the way that SATs and other standardized tests are--taunting in their simplicity, and debasing when you miss a word you ought to know. At least you're not alone--the misspellings that are your object to spot are siphoned straight from the top 5,000 botched words entered into Dictionary.com at a rate of 2 million typos and flubs per month. Still, there are a few light raps of the ruler we'd make. In a test game, 'consiencious' was paired with 'consensus', rather than with 'conscientious'. Apart from that, we're not quite convinced the game will make us more intelligent, until Dictionary.com slips in definitions, and perhaps the pronunciation guide from the free Dictionary.com iPhone app. Miss Spell's Class is also a bit one-dimensional. Although this game title is just the beginning, we'd like to see it instilled with different skill levels and playing modes, where you might actively spell a word, not just passively review it, or quickly choose the right configuration from a handful of choices. There should be different skins to pull in the grade-school youngsters, old fogeys, and tweens who are too cool for school, and competitions over Wi-Fi.Some of these additional features are admittedly coming. A future version is planned that will shade in the tricky words with vocabulary content, and on Thursday, Dictionary.com is releasing its anagram game, Anagram Cracker, for the Web, which leverages the site's Thesaurus content. The bottom line is, while Miss Spell's Class is original and challenging, we know Dictionary.com can do better.P.S. In case you're curious, here are the top-10 words most often misspelled when searched on in Dictionary.com: definitely, separate, sense, savvy, liaison, accommodate, embarrassed, occasionally, inconvenience, and dilemma.
Dictionary.com launches new app for word nerds
Dictionary.com launches new app for word nerds
One dictionary, one would think, is much like any other dictionary: a useful resource, to be sure, but with little variance in general functionality. But Dictionary.com is working hard to prove that not all dictionary apps are created equal.The service, which originally launched in 1995, is celebrating Dictionary Day this year by giving its iPhone app a massive overhaul. Possibly the new feature that users will notice first is that the app is consolidating all its premium dictionaries. Related articlesUse mobile dictionary apps even when offlineWikimedia Foundation launches all-new Wikipedia appAdd a pop-up dictionary to AndroidPreviously, the Dictionary.com app offered a range of specialist dictionaries -- a slang dictionary, a medical dictionary, a science dictionary and a rhyming dictionary. It also offered example sentences, a translator with over 20 languages, grammar and tips, idioms and phrases, and an encyclopedia. Each of these features was its own in-app purchase, ranging from $0.99 to $2.99.Each and every one of these features has now been consolidated under a single in-app purchase of $3.99 -- or $2.99 for a Dictionary Day special."We're adding some of our most popular content to the premium Dictionary.com iOS app, which already includes 2 million entries in its standard dictionary," said Dictionary.com CEO Michele Turner. "We broadened its scope, providing users with more than 3.4 million definitions and examples in the premium version of the app. With these additional dictionaries and contextually relevant examples, students, business professionals and anyone who loves words now has the most comprehensive dictionary at the tap of a finger."The free version of the app will retain the dictionary and thesaurus, as well as the daily slideshows, word of the day, blog and trends -- but free users get something new to play with too: the developers have built a quiz widget into the app to test your vocabulary. Every day, this will send a push notification with a multiple-choice word quiz that can be played from the pull-down menu in iOS.You can grab these new features by updating the Dictionary.com app from your device, or downloading it for free from the iTunes app store.
One dictionary, one would think, is much like any other dictionary: a useful resource, to be sure, but with little variance in general functionality. But Dictionary.com is working hard to prove that not all dictionary apps are created equal.The service, which originally launched in 1995, is celebrating Dictionary Day this year by giving its iPhone app a massive overhaul. Possibly the new feature that users will notice first is that the app is consolidating all its premium dictionaries. Related articlesUse mobile dictionary apps even when offlineWikimedia Foundation launches all-new Wikipedia appAdd a pop-up dictionary to AndroidPreviously, the Dictionary.com app offered a range of specialist dictionaries -- a slang dictionary, a medical dictionary, a science dictionary and a rhyming dictionary. It also offered example sentences, a translator with over 20 languages, grammar and tips, idioms and phrases, and an encyclopedia. Each of these features was its own in-app purchase, ranging from $0.99 to $2.99.Each and every one of these features has now been consolidated under a single in-app purchase of $3.99 -- or $2.99 for a Dictionary Day special."We're adding some of our most popular content to the premium Dictionary.com iOS app, which already includes 2 million entries in its standard dictionary," said Dictionary.com CEO Michele Turner. "We broadened its scope, providing users with more than 3.4 million definitions and examples in the premium version of the app. With these additional dictionaries and contextually relevant examples, students, business professionals and anyone who loves words now has the most comprehensive dictionary at the tap of a finger."The free version of the app will retain the dictionary and thesaurus, as well as the daily slideshows, word of the day, blog and trends -- but free users get something new to play with too: the developers have built a quiz widget into the app to test your vocabulary. Every day, this will send a push notification with a multiple-choice word quiz that can be played from the pull-down menu in iOS.You can grab these new features by updating the Dictionary.com app from your device, or downloading it for free from the iTunes app store.
Apple to open first retail store in Brazil next week
Apple to open first retail store in Brazil next week
Apple is finally launching its first store in Brazil.The Web site for the new store points to Rio de Janeiro's VillageMall shopping center as its locale and February 15 as its launch date. The store will be Apple's first in Latin America, joining its hundreds of other outlets, most of which are in the US and Europe.The store will host a couple of workshops on opening day devoted to the iPhone and iPhoto. A workshop on the following day will focus on the iPad, while subsequent workshops will cover iCloud and the Numbers app.Iconic Apple stores around the world (ph...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevApple first announced that it would launch a store in Rio de Janeiro in November 2012. At the time, the company was unable to confirm when the store would open or exactly where in Rio de Janeiro it would be located.Last October, an "inside source" told 9to5Mac that Apple was aiming for a February or March opening and that the company planned to temporarily send US retail employees to Brazil to teach local workers about its retail practices."We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day," Apple said at the time. "We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and customers from across the entire region."Apple also is reportedly aiming to reintroduce the iPhone 4 in just three countries -- India, Indonesia, and Brazil. If true, the move would be a way to win over more budget-conscious consumers in regions where Apple is losing market share to less expensive phones.(Via MacRumors)
Apple is finally launching its first store in Brazil.The Web site for the new store points to Rio de Janeiro's VillageMall shopping center as its locale and February 15 as its launch date. The store will be Apple's first in Latin America, joining its hundreds of other outlets, most of which are in the US and Europe.The store will host a couple of workshops on opening day devoted to the iPhone and iPhoto. A workshop on the following day will focus on the iPad, while subsequent workshops will cover iCloud and the Numbers app.Iconic Apple stores around the world (ph...See full gallery1 - 4 / 18NextPrevApple first announced that it would launch a store in Rio de Janeiro in November 2012. At the time, the company was unable to confirm when the store would open or exactly where in Rio de Janeiro it would be located.Last October, an "inside source" told 9to5Mac that Apple was aiming for a February or March opening and that the company planned to temporarily send US retail employees to Brazil to teach local workers about its retail practices."We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day," Apple said at the time. "We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and customers from across the entire region."Apple also is reportedly aiming to reintroduce the iPhone 4 in just three countries -- India, Indonesia, and Brazil. If true, the move would be a way to win over more budget-conscious consumers in regions where Apple is losing market share to less expensive phones.(Via MacRumors)
Apple to open another 30 to 35 retail stores next year
Apple to open another 30 to 35 retail stores next year
Apple's retail empire is still expanding.The company today said it plans to open another 30 to 35 retail stores during its 2013 fiscal year, which wraps up next September. About three-quarters of those stores would be located outside the United States, the company said.The mention came inside the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. Apple added that it plans to spend about $850 million on the expansion, as well as investment into its current retail infrastructure. The plans fall in line with Apple's retail store rollout during 2012, which included the opening of 33 new stores, bringing Apple's full tally to 390 stores worldwide. Similar to the planned expansion, 28 of those 33 stores were opened up outside the U.S. The year prior, Apple opened up 40 stores. Related storiesApple's shopping for a new shopkeeper, againApple Stores reportedly still face budget cuts, unhappy workersApple reshuffles top brass: iOS chief to leave in 2013The company's operations are under a closer watch given the departure of retail chief John Browett, who Apple this week said no longer works for the company. During Browett's tenure, reports surfaced that Apple was making cutbacks on staffing, as well as in-store features, prompting speculation that the company's retail efforts were not as healthy as they once were. In its annual report, Apple said retail sales grew by $4.7 billion or 33 percent versus the year prior, mainly due to the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, as well as its two latest iPad models. Altogether, sales made at Apple stores made up 12 percent of Apple's total sales for 2012, down from 13 percent the year before.
Apple's retail empire is still expanding.The company today said it plans to open another 30 to 35 retail stores during its 2013 fiscal year, which wraps up next September. About three-quarters of those stores would be located outside the United States, the company said.The mention came inside the company's annual report, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. Apple added that it plans to spend about $850 million on the expansion, as well as investment into its current retail infrastructure. The plans fall in line with Apple's retail store rollout during 2012, which included the opening of 33 new stores, bringing Apple's full tally to 390 stores worldwide. Similar to the planned expansion, 28 of those 33 stores were opened up outside the U.S. The year prior, Apple opened up 40 stores. Related storiesApple's shopping for a new shopkeeper, againApple Stores reportedly still face budget cuts, unhappy workersApple reshuffles top brass: iOS chief to leave in 2013The company's operations are under a closer watch given the departure of retail chief John Browett, who Apple this week said no longer works for the company. During Browett's tenure, reports surfaced that Apple was making cutbacks on staffing, as well as in-store features, prompting speculation that the company's retail efforts were not as healthy as they once were. In its annual report, Apple said retail sales grew by $4.7 billion or 33 percent versus the year prior, mainly due to the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, as well as its two latest iPad models. Altogether, sales made at Apple stores made up 12 percent of Apple's total sales for 2012, down from 13 percent the year before.
Apple to offer iPhone 3GS for free, says analyst
Apple to offer iPhone 3GS for free, says analyst
Apple will offer the iPhone 3GS for free and the iPhone 4 for $99 timed with the release of the iPhone 5, says an analyst from RBC Capital Market.In an investor's note issued yesterday, analyst Mike Abramsky said that in line with the launch of the iPhone 5, he expects Apple to slash the price of the 3Gs to $0 on contract ($399 unsubsidized) and the iPhone 4 to $99 ($499 unsubsidized).The analyst believes these price cuts will be part of an entry-level iPhone strategy on Apple's part, designed to "target mid-market smartphone buyers and counter Android's mid-market expansion." Although a $49 iPhone 3GS is already available through AT&T, he sees a free iPhone as "psychologically" compelling to customers.A survey of 1,500 consumers conducted by ChangeWave and cited by RBC found that 14 percent would be very or somewhat likely to buy an iPhone 3GS for free with a two-year contract. That compares with 13 percent who expressed similar interest for the iPad and only 9 percent for the original iPhone.A free iPhone could also double the number of iPhone customers around the world to 150 milllion from an estimated 64 million currently, says the analyst, and expand Apple's presence outside the U.S.Abramsky expects the iPhone 5 itself to debut at a price of $199/$299 on contract ($599/$699 unsubsidized). Gazing into 2012, he also believes Apple will unveil a "baby" iPhone, a smaller, prepaid version of the standard iPhone and one designed to take greater advantage of the company's upcoming new iCloud service.The analyst didn't offer his take on when Apple may release the iPhone 5, a topic that's been subject to a bevy of rumors the past several months. Recent reports from Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley are predicting a September launch date for the new iPhone.
Apple will offer the iPhone 3GS for free and the iPhone 4 for $99 timed with the release of the iPhone 5, says an analyst from RBC Capital Market.In an investor's note issued yesterday, analyst Mike Abramsky said that in line with the launch of the iPhone 5, he expects Apple to slash the price of the 3Gs to $0 on contract ($399 unsubsidized) and the iPhone 4 to $99 ($499 unsubsidized).The analyst believes these price cuts will be part of an entry-level iPhone strategy on Apple's part, designed to "target mid-market smartphone buyers and counter Android's mid-market expansion." Although a $49 iPhone 3GS is already available through AT&T, he sees a free iPhone as "psychologically" compelling to customers.A survey of 1,500 consumers conducted by ChangeWave and cited by RBC found that 14 percent would be very or somewhat likely to buy an iPhone 3GS for free with a two-year contract. That compares with 13 percent who expressed similar interest for the iPad and only 9 percent for the original iPhone.A free iPhone could also double the number of iPhone customers around the world to 150 milllion from an estimated 64 million currently, says the analyst, and expand Apple's presence outside the U.S.Abramsky expects the iPhone 5 itself to debut at a price of $199/$299 on contract ($599/$699 unsubsidized). Gazing into 2012, he also believes Apple will unveil a "baby" iPhone, a smaller, prepaid version of the standard iPhone and one designed to take greater advantage of the company's upcoming new iCloud service.The analyst didn't offer his take on when Apple may release the iPhone 5, a topic that's been subject to a bevy of rumors the past several months. Recent reports from Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley are predicting a September launch date for the new iPhone.
Apple to offer in-store iPhone repairs, says report
Apple to offer in-store iPhone repairs, says report
Break the touch screen on your iPhone and your local Apple Store may soon be able to replace just the screen rather than charge you for a whole new phone.Apple is prepping its stores to repair and replace parts for the iPhone 5S and 5C, "sources with knowledge of the upcoming initiative" told 9to5Mac. This means that damaged iPhones won't necessarily need to be turned in for an entirely new unit.The initiative will cover several components, according to the sources, including the screen, the rear camera, the volume buttons, the motor, the speaker system, and the 5C's conventional (non-Touch ID) home button. Special calibration equipment will be provided to the stores to allow employees to replace the touch screen.Users covered by an AppleCare warranty can get the parts replaced or repaired for free. Other owners will have to shell out some cash. Replacing the touch screen will cost $149. A new battery will run $79. And a new home button for the iPhone 5C will cost $29.But those expenses are minimal compared with the cost of buying a brand new phone to replace a damaged unit. Replacing a single component also means that users can keep the same phone, eliminating the need to back up and restore their data. And since the repairs are done on site, people can simply wait for their phone to be revived back to working condition.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story with any further information.
Break the touch screen on your iPhone and your local Apple Store may soon be able to replace just the screen rather than charge you for a whole new phone.Apple is prepping its stores to repair and replace parts for the iPhone 5S and 5C, "sources with knowledge of the upcoming initiative" told 9to5Mac. This means that damaged iPhones won't necessarily need to be turned in for an entirely new unit.The initiative will cover several components, according to the sources, including the screen, the rear camera, the volume buttons, the motor, the speaker system, and the 5C's conventional (non-Touch ID) home button. Special calibration equipment will be provided to the stores to allow employees to replace the touch screen.Users covered by an AppleCare warranty can get the parts replaced or repaired for free. Other owners will have to shell out some cash. Replacing the touch screen will cost $149. A new battery will run $79. And a new home button for the iPhone 5C will cost $29.But those expenses are minimal compared with the cost of buying a brand new phone to replace a damaged unit. Replacing a single component also means that users can keep the same phone, eliminating the need to back up and restore their data. And since the repairs are done on site, people can simply wait for their phone to be revived back to working condition.CNET contacted Apple for comment and will update the story with any further information.
Apple to move A6X production from Samsung to TSMC -- report
Apple to move A6X production from Samsung to TSMC -- report
Apple's A6X processor, which is found in the company's fourth-generation iPad, might soon see its producer switched from Samsung to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.Apple has agreed with TSMC to initiate trial production of its A6X processor during the first quarter, Taiwan-based Commercial Times is reporting, according to the AFP. The trial period could decide whether TSMC will be given the entire A6X order.Samsung, Apple's arch-rival in the mobile market, is currently producing the company's A6X processor. However, with their legal and competitive struggles increasingly weighing on their business relationship, reports have suggested that Apple has been looking for a change.In October, CNET reported that Apple was considering a drawdown in its reliance on Samsung's processor production. Gus Richard, a chip analyst at Piper Jaffray, told CNET that Apple was "working with TSMC." Another chip industry source told CNET at the time that the "Apple-Samsung relationship has deteriorated to such a poor point that they're just looking to fill contractual obligations, then make a change."That said, those sources indicated that Apple's switch to TSMC would coincide with its transition to 20-nanometer technology. Still, a source told CNET last year that Apple was planning to kick off the design process early on this year, and then go into production in full force by the end of 2013 -- a scenario that might be playing out with this latest move.It's important to acknowledge, however, that this would be just a trial production. Apple and TSMC would be testing the waters to see if the latter can deliver enough solid processors to handle demand and accommodate Apple's notoriously high standards for chip quality. If TSMC can pull it off, Samsung might be pushed out. If not, Apple might have to go back to the drawing board.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the report. We will update this story when we have more information.(Via 9to5 Mac)
Apple's A6X processor, which is found in the company's fourth-generation iPad, might soon see its producer switched from Samsung to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.Apple has agreed with TSMC to initiate trial production of its A6X processor during the first quarter, Taiwan-based Commercial Times is reporting, according to the AFP. The trial period could decide whether TSMC will be given the entire A6X order.Samsung, Apple's arch-rival in the mobile market, is currently producing the company's A6X processor. However, with their legal and competitive struggles increasingly weighing on their business relationship, reports have suggested that Apple has been looking for a change.In October, CNET reported that Apple was considering a drawdown in its reliance on Samsung's processor production. Gus Richard, a chip analyst at Piper Jaffray, told CNET that Apple was "working with TSMC." Another chip industry source told CNET at the time that the "Apple-Samsung relationship has deteriorated to such a poor point that they're just looking to fill contractual obligations, then make a change."That said, those sources indicated that Apple's switch to TSMC would coincide with its transition to 20-nanometer technology. Still, a source told CNET last year that Apple was planning to kick off the design process early on this year, and then go into production in full force by the end of 2013 -- a scenario that might be playing out with this latest move.It's important to acknowledge, however, that this would be just a trial production. Apple and TSMC would be testing the waters to see if the latter can deliver enough solid processors to handle demand and accommodate Apple's notoriously high standards for chip quality. If TSMC can pull it off, Samsung might be pushed out. If not, Apple might have to go back to the drawing board.CNET has contacted Apple for comment on the report. We will update this story when we have more information.(Via 9to5 Mac)
5 Ways Paul Verhoeven’s 'RoboCop' Is As Relevant As Ever
It’s become instinctual for movie fans to complain about remakes, reboots and whatever else Hollywood does to repurpose and rework the old into the new. It’s not a wrong instinct. The most common question fans lob at studio recycling is: “What’s the point? Why bother remake something that didn’t need to be?” Sometimes that question is propelled by a great deal of nostalgic affection. Sometimes it’s propelled by the soon-to-be-updated movie remaining a legitimately great work that can’t possibly be improved upon. Sometimes – more rarely – the question is propelled by the fact that there’s nothing to update because the film remains relevant in every way. That’s certainly the case with Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop. Revisits of old material generally operate under the principle of wanting to make the old once again current – lend it the benefits of modern sensibilities, filmmaking and technology. The thing about the 1987 film is that – Claymation ED-209 and ‘80s fashion aside – it’s not just as topical as ever, it may be even more relevant than it’s ever been. No matter how José Padilha’s remake turns out, here are a few waysRoboCophas become an uncanny mirror of 2014 nearly 27 years after its first release. The State of Detroit Riddled with debt, crime and infrastructure woes, RoboCop’s near-future Detroit is exactly like our present-day Detroit. The city is currently $8 billion in debt. Its current violent crime per capita rate is one of the highest in the country. Its police force is stretched thin, and “is down by more than half from 12 years ago.” And it’s become a city with infrastructure that can accommodatetwo million people, but only houses a population of soon-to-be less than 700,000. In 1987, RoboCop must have seemed like it was presenting a depressing dystopia. It turns out the most depressing thing is the fact that its dystopia became a reality. Technology and People Are Merging The idea of a RoboCop – half-man, half-machine – existing is, still largely science fiction (though we’re getting closer). The spirit of the idea isn’t. With smartphones practically welded to our palms, and the rise of wearable tech enhancing and quantifying everything we do, the merging of human and tech is very much happening already. The existence of Google Glass (or Meta Spaceglasses)alone recalls RoboCop’s digitally enhanced visual experience, and designers are only going to push further and further into augmenting the human day-to-day experience with omnipresent technology. Technological Efficiency Is Sacrificing Jobs Bob Morton (Miguel Ferrer) pitches RoboCop as a more efficient alternative to human police officer that can single-handedly wipe out crime in Detroit. Sure enough, we see him put a pretty big dent in it. Morton tells us that thanks to RoboCop’s enhanced abilities he can better protect the people of the city, all while doing the work of several police men without needing any sleep. It’s a classic modern-day corporate move of presenting something as a benefit to everyday people that’s also at their expense – specifically, their jobs. Consider: we’re pitched the exciting possibility of better service via drones delivering our pizzas, or robots navigating warehouses to facilitate quicker shipment of our Amazon orders. Yes, that all sounds amazingly efficient, but of course that kind of innovation comes at the sacrifice of human jobs. The Corporation As Bad Guy Corporations have always been met with a certain degree of cynicism and resentment (especially in movies), but postrecession we’re all particular wary of big companies. It’s no accident Google, very much aware of this, adopted “Don’t Be Evil!” as its unofficial motto. Sure, RoboCop paints its corporate villainy with a pretty heavy brush, but that doesn’t keep it from being remarkably relatable in the here and now. Take the scene where the Old Man talks about wanting to benevolently help give something back to Detroit, and then talks about the corporate growth it presents. It’s a remarkably topical understanding that a lot of corporate philanthropy is really just thinly disguised business strategy – whether in the form of gentrification or military contracts. Lowbrow Entertainment Is King RoboCop’s satire of vulgar, shallow, lowest common denominator entertainment via Mr. “I’d buy that for a dollar” hasn’t aged a day. If anything it’s become more common. Pick any Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Real Housewives or Two and a Half Men episode, stick it into the TVs in RoboCop, and you’d get pretty much the same point Verhoeven is making with good old Bixby Snyder.
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