apple

Why I Bought Skates Rather than an iPad2

By Mark Evans in Apple/iPod 6 Comments Tags: , , ,

Life is full of choices. You need to choose what to have for lunch. You need to choose how much of a retirement fund contribution to make. You need to choose whether that person you met at a party on the weekend is worth calling for a date. And for many of us in the digital sphere, you have to choose whether or not to buy an iPad2.

As anyone who reads this blog or my tweetsprobably knows, I’ve been deliberating about whether to iPad or not to iPad for several months. But when push came to shove, I decided to buy skates instead – Bauer Supreme to be exact. As much as I didn’t really need a new pair of skates, I needed them more than I needed an iPad.

At the end of the day, the decision was easy: I play hockey three or four times a week so the ROI on a new pair of skates is a no-brainer. I have a MacBook Pro so justifying the purchase of an iPad is more difficult. Getting an iPad isn’t going to make my digital experience or livelihood dramatically better or different. But buying new skates will make playing hockey more enjoyable, although it may not improve my game. :)

As much as I would like to have a new iPad, it’s not a must-have or even a nice-to-have. It’s an extravagance compared with other things. As important, an iPad would probably encourage me to spend more time online at a time when I’m actually trying to be more productive and spend less time online.

So for now, I am iPad-less. But the silver lining is I have a great pair of new skates.

Related links:
- Why iPad 2 Won’t Have Much Competition In 2011—Unless It’s From Amazon
- Media Content Drives Tablet Purchase Intent (eMarketer)

Time to Pull the Trigger on the iPad?

By Mark Evans in Apple/iPod 7 Comments Tags: , , ,

I should have an iPad but I don’t…yet. As someone immersed in the digital world personally and professionally, an iPad should be part of my technology tool kit. As well, it’s difficult to tell people about the wonders of something when you have little experience actually using it.

In other words, it’s embarrassing not to have an iPad but I have somehow managed to justify it. Some of my “excuses” are I already have a MacBook Pro and an iPhone so I’ve got the “iThing” covered. As well, I’m not sure if there’s a fit or a compelling need within my technology tool kit. And then there’s the reluctance to purchase the first iteration of any new product, particularly given Apple’s habit of making the next-generation so much better.

But is now the time to bite the bullet and buy an iPad2? Is the newer, sleeker, thinner and faster iPad2 simply too compelling to resist? Has Apple eliminated the “barriers to entry”?

The answer is “Absolutely….definitely…I think so.” In other words, I’m closer to buying an iPad2 but not completely convinced…yet. As much as the iPad is uber-cool, I’m still questioning whether I need/want it or whether it’s the best option given the plethora of tablets hitting the market.

Some of my issues with the iPad include the lack of a USB connection and the inability to tether it to an iPhone (or another wireless device) without a “crack”. At the same time, I’m curious about Android’s “Honeycomb” operating system for tablet devices, which has been much touted.

In other words, I’m still torn about the iPad. That said, if I was walking by an Apple store AND they happend to have an iPad2 in stock AND there were a few dollars burning a hole in my pocket, you never know what could happen.


A Daunting Visit to the Apple Store

By Mark Evans in Apple/iPod No Comments Tags: , ,

I was in New York City last weekend to take in the sites. While my companions were more interested in shopping and tourist attractions, my interest was checking out the flagship Apple store on 5th Ave. Ironically, this toy store for adults is located right beside FAO Schwartz, the multi-story toy store for children.

First, the Apple store isn’t really a store but a beacon for anyone who is part of the Mac Nation or aspires to be part of the Mac Nation. With a large cube sitting atop the subterranean store, the store is impossible to not notice.

Getting into the store is an adventure as you carefully walk down a spiral staircase while a steady stream of people head up the stairs. Once arriving at the bottom, you arrive in a large room that is teeming with people. It is difficult to know where to start given there are people everywhere. This makes it difficult to tell where anything is located.

If you want to actually buy something, which seems like a major challenge, you need to literally tackle one of the Apple Geniuses and tell them exactly what you want to purchase.

It goes without saying that going to the Apple store is a fascinating experience.

It’s fascinating to see so much enthusiasm for a company seen as dead that long ago. It’s fascinating to encounter so much consumer frenzy at a time when the economy is still volatile and the prospects are, at best, uncertain. It’s just fascinating to see first-hand how Apple has captured the imagination of consumers.

And perhaps what is most fascinating is not so much the coolness of Apple’s products the way that the company and the brand have been embraced as a lifestyle, a fashion statement and a form of self identity. It is something that crosses gender and demographics. The Apple store had children playing on iMacs, hipsters checking out the new 11″ Mac Air, and older people looking at iPads and iPhones.

This is perhaps the most striking part of the Apple “wave” in that it’s a long way from its roots as a computer for geeks. Apple has become everyone’s company or, at least, the company that makes products that people aspire to have.

Is It Really Time for Personalized TV?

By Mark Evans in Media 2 Comments Tags: , , ,

I don’t watch a lot of television – not even those HBO shows that everyone raves about.

That said, I still have cable television because it’s really the only way to watch live sports. If there was a service that let you buy live sports on a pay-as-you-go basis, I probably wouldn’t need cable service.

For all the talk about TV’s new future and the rise of services such as Hulu and Apple TV, the world is still dominated by cable and satellite service providers. As much as people talk about being able to just buy the shows they want by downloading them or streaming them off the Web, there doesn’t appear to be a stampede of consumers yet.

But there are indications that the marketplace is changing. A recent survey Webbush Securities analyst James Dix discovered 7% of 2,500 respondents had stopped using basic cable and 12% had cut their premium or satellite services.

“There is evidence of cord cutting,” Dix told the New York Post

Perhaps the biggest hurdle facing the growth of the pay-as-you-go TV market is live sports. While there is some pay-per-view and sports packages, sports remains the reason why many people still have cable or satellite service. As much as television shows have migrated to the New TV, sports is still pretty much rooted in the Old TV.

It may have to do with the fact the networks are willing to pay billions of dollars in broadcasting rights, or maybe it simply has to do with a new model not being ready for prime time yet. For example, a Hulu for live sports in which you could watch any professionals game for $2.99 or $4.99/shot could be very interesting.

My take is we’re just moving into the New TV era. Hulu is an indication of what may be over the horizon, although it is a hybrid given it’s controlled by traditional broadcasters. Apple TV could be interesting but it’s strong ties to iTunes will be a strength and a weakness, while Google TV is still finding its feet.

For couch potatoes, it could be an interesting landscape with far more choices.

For more, check out David Pogue’s recent column in the New York Times.

Forget About 3D TV, I Want My Apple TV

By Mark Evans in Apple/iPod 3 Comments Tags: , , , ,

How many rabbits can Steve Jobs pulled out of his magical Apple hat?

Since the iPod’s launch in late-2001, Apple has been steadily introducing new and improved products that have transformed it into the world’s most exciting and leading consumer electronics company.

The launch yesterday of Apple TV is another example of Apple’s ability to disrupt well-entrenched markets with something that may not be revolutionary but it’s bound to make an impact based on its design, functionality and, of course, the magical Apple aura.

Designed to stream television shows, videos and movies off the Internet or via a personal computer, the new Apple TV (aka the hockey puck) is simplistic yet it has the potential to be disruptive. At $99 (or C$119), it’s a product lots of people will if only because it’s from Apple, it’s cool and it will easily change how you watch TV, movies and videos. Heck, I’m going to buy one, and I’m someone who has steadfastly resisted buying an iPad because it’s been impossible to justify.

The another interest aspect to Apple 2.0 is how it puts the spotlight on another part of the TV world: 3D. For months, the TV industry has been aggressively trying to convince consumers they need a 3D TV, even though the amount of programming available is minimal right now. At a time when many consumers are upgrading to large-screen plasma or LCD TVs, the TV industry is trying to force us to take another step forward that consumers aren’t prepared to take.

Apple, on the other hand, is appealing to couch potatoes in a different way. Apple’s approach is providing consumers with choice and the ability to easily take advantage of all the content on the Internet. It is appealing to how consumers want to watch what they want, when they want, which is a powerful proposition.

My sense is Apple TV will be a smash-hit with units flying off the shelves because Steve Jobs will convince them it is something they need to have because it will make their lives better and more enjoyable. Whether or not they need one is another question but Apple, in many ways, is a master of getting people to believe there are things they wand, and then there are things (such as the iPod, iPhone and iPad), they need.

Five Questions With: Take My Mac

By Mark Evans in Apple/iPod 2 Comments Tags: , , , ,

Earlier this week, I came across a new and cool service called Take My Mac, which purchase Apple hardware (iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, etc.). As someone with a lot hardware sitting in my office (and an environmentalist), it struck me as a great idea so I fired off five questions to Take My Mac’s Andrea Bebirian

Q: How did Take My Mac Get started?
Take My Mac was actually inspired through my own love of Apple electronics. Apple is one of the most successful and innovative companies in the electronic market. With Apple always coming out with newer technology that excites the consumer market, many people often want to upgrade their current device or desire to gain quick access to cash.

I took the time to talk to some people I knew who always bought the latest iPhone model. I asked what they did with their older iPhone. One of them told me, “Right now, I’m holding off from selling my other iPhone. I seriously don’t have the time to sell it. I have to go to Chicago for 2 weeks, and then I’m flying out again to visit some family. I’m just going to upgrade and get it over with since I just need that new iPhone now.”

The other person told me, “I dropped my phone by accident and the screen shattered. Who would want a broken iPhone? It’s wasn’t worth much anyway since it was pretty battered up, so I tossed it.” (YIKES!)

I thought about what those people told me that night. One person just tossed their phone aside, while the other one contributed to e-waste… I knew there had to be a solution for these two examples. That’s when I thought, “To please the consumer market by providing them an easy to use service to sell their popular Apple devices and to cut down on e-waste, I could open a company to eliminate the hurdles of the lengthy and sometimes frustrating selling and recycling process.”

Q: How does Take My Mac work?
Take My Mac works so easily. All you have to do is visit http://takemymac.com and click on the “get started” tab. From there, choose your device and fill out a form to provide details about your electronic device. Through email, the consumer will receive an excellent quote for the device and has the option to either accept or decline the offer. If the owner of the device accepts, a prepaid label is sent to them to ship out their device. Therefore, they aren’t charged for shipping!

Once Take My Mac receives the device, it is inspected, and all personal and non-personal data is removed in a secure manner, if necessary. Once this process is complete, the previous owner of the device gets paid – and they’re done!

Q: What happens after a product is purchased?
3. With all the devices Take My Mac receives, they go towards good use. For instance, affordable laptops will be openly available to schools who are in need of technology upgrades, while iPhones are pitched to aspiring startup companies looking for an inexpensive way to connect with their employees and customers. In addition, other electronics are placed into “second homes” to be reused again to their full potential. Other electronics that have no value are recycled completely – guaranteeing absolutely no waste in order to keep the earth clean to reduce the increasing rate of e-waste.

Q: What’s been the response so far?
4. Our response has been growing a bit. We are really trying our hardest to get the word out about our company. We are hoping that with much interest and exposure, we will have a huge boom for our quality service, loyalty, and high satisfaction rate. No surprises yet – but we have one coming up in the future! ;)

Q: Why do you think so much computer hardware isn’t recycled or refurbished?
5. In my personal opinion, many people may not think twice about what their electronics can do to the environment. In 2007, 205.5 million computers were disposed, with only 18% being recycled. Moreover, 140.3 million phones were trashed, with only 10% of those units being recycled. Because of these statistics, hazardous waste has driven the United States to spend millions of dollars to recover harmful elements within landfills to avoid harming the environment. Many of these devices that contain cancer causing agents such as chromium, lead, and cadmium are extremely harmful to our health when they are trashed.

We as consumers should definitely be aware of the impact we could make if we could recycle and sell our electronics towards good use. Just by recycling our electronics, we are protecting our health and the environment, conserving natural resources, supporting the community, and we can create more recycling jobs to regulate the economy. As for companies, they are steadily catching onto the “green” movement, and Take My Mac is delighted to see this trend rise. We are hopeful other companies who do not fully practice green methods will catch onto the trend.

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