Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Steve Jobs, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
New iPhone ads. It's all about the apps isn't it?
As my colleague Aron Trimble has pointed out today, Apple has launched a new series of iPhone ads. As they have done recently, these 3 new commercials talk about all the added functionality the iPhone gets from having many thousands of apps available.There are some ironies that cross my mind as I look at and enjoy the usual creativity from Apple.
One of the apps highlighted is a point of sale system that runs on an iPhone. Most ironic, since if you go the the Apple Stores the POS system they use is running on Windows CE. They're the little portable credit card units the sales people carry.
These ads emphasizing the variety of apps also makes me chuckle, as I think back to how Steve Jobs insisted in June of 2007 that web apps would be enough for iPhone users. Not only was that not true, but by changing his mind, Apple has generated millions of dollars in revenues it would never have made. It could be argued that the addition of apps has revitalized the iPhone and iPod Touch and given life to a device that was showing some weakness before the SDK was allowed. As the many reviews we've done here show, there truly is something for every taste, or lack of taste at the App Store. Like other good ideas, they're hard to protect. Microsoft, RIM, and the Google Android all have app stores either running or on the way. Let's drink a toast to Steve giving in.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mark said 8:43PM on 4-08-2009
You can thank Installer and Cydia Steve, for your surprisingly short sightedness when it came to web apps. What were you thinking?
Reply
Bender Bending Rodriguez said 8:46PM on 4-08-2009
What short-sidedness was this? The plan to make a proper SDK before offering native apps? The iPhone hasn't even been released for two full years yet and there are already 30k apps and every smartphone company trying to follow suit in pretty much every aspect of the device, including the way the App Store works.
Sterling said 8:44PM on 4-08-2009
I'm pretty sure everyone knew "Webapps are the only apps you can make" was just temporary, and Apple didn't have a "change of heart". Obviously at the time they weren't prepared to announce the SDK. But they would have had to have been very foolish to not have one in the works.
Come on. Apple is smart enough to invent the iPhone in the first place, but were too dumb to realize it would make an excellent platform? Are you kidding me?
Reply
Harbinger said 8:54PM on 4-08-2009
Of course, but it's far easier for people to say "I told you so" than to contribute something worthwhile. Either that, or they really don't get how business works, you don't tell people what you're going to do until you're ready to do it.
PalmerDeville said 8:55PM on 4-08-2009
I agree with Sterling.
It would seem that between 'Web Apps only' and 'the iPhone SDK beta,' a ton of work was done writing API manuals and preparing the SDK for public release. Instead, I think an SDK was the plan all along. Why even announce web applications then? Well for one, look at the number of sites that have dedicated iPhone versions - far more than any other specific device. Apple pushed the web to add a third layout - there's standard browser, mobile browser and now iPhone. Sites that would never make an application took the time to design for iPhone.
whatishalo? said 12:00AM on 4-09-2009
Apple is just following a mildly successful strategy used by Microsoft to propel Windows into 90% of the computers on peoples desks. Give an SDK and let people write apps.
It's not an innovative idea, but simple a good business decision. The more 'open' the platform is for developers to create functionality, the wider and faster it will be adopted.
No I am not an MS fanboi nor an Apple fanboi, I own and use both, just stating the facts.
Bender Bending Rodriguez said 8:43PM on 4-08-2009
I don't understand why people find that ironic or funny or even noteworthy. Apple doesn't make a PoS device with a barcode scanner and CC reader. Other companies do and they use WinCE as a base with their own app tacked on so in some models you don't even see anything that says or looks like Windows except for the initial boot screen and the embossed Win logo on the back of the device.
Since the iPhone SDK has now opened up to allow the use of the 30-pin connector I am sure that there are 3rd-party companies working on making a PoS app with a CC reader and barcode scanner attachment. Though the latter may not be needed if the Touch gets the same 3.2Mpx camera as the iPhone, which I hear is the minimum required for a camera reading a barcode easily.
Reply
Tim said 8:59PM on 4-08-2009
I think that the "browser is the SDK" stance is an example of Jobs thinking ahead of his time (like when NeXt released computers win optical drives only). The recent release of Gmail's new iPhone interace shows just how much can really be done with _just_ a web browser. And Google didn't have to wait on app store approval either.
Reply
EricW said 9:13PM on 4-08-2009
I had a Genius Bar appointment this weekend for my iPhone headphones. To check me for my appointment, they even had an app for that on the greeter's iPhone.
Reply
david said 4:10PM on 4-09-2009
that in fact is not an app; its just a website
evie said 9:21PM on 4-08-2009
Not only is it all about the apps, Apple's ads are now the only ones I'll rewind the Tivo to see. I like to see what new apps they're promoting. I discovered Photogene this way, which is my new favorite app -- so cool.
And btw, I find myself pausing Tivo to see not just the apps they are promoting but also the icons of the others on the phone. I check those out as well. (Human Weather, anyone?)
Reply
TylersPage.net said 9:41PM on 4-08-2009
I'm pretty sure that Steve Jobs had the App Store planned out since AT LEAST March '07.
Reply
samacur said 3:31AM on 4-09-2009
I have and love my iphone. But there were many programs I had for my palm that I miss. I think palm had a lot of potential - but the last one I had often crashed and I would lose data that wasn't yet backed up. That made it untrustworthy and therefore unusable.
Reply
iphonerulez said 10:34PM on 4-08-2009
Isn't it likely that Apple uses some Windows-powered computers in the company for some tasks? What difference would it make if it does? Would it be that big a blow to the company image? That's like saying Apple shouldn't allow Microsoft Office on their machines or something to that effect.
Reply
Bender Bending Rodriguez said 11:04PM on 4-08-2009
They have to have machines running Windows to test out Safari, Quicktime, iTunes, the MobileMe Control Panel, Software Update app, Bootcamp drivers, and probably a couple other things I'm missing.
MS has hired out commercials produced by Apple-owned software and have multiple print ads that have a Mac in the picture.
This rivalry is so ridiculous, but I do think that Apple will have iPod Touch's with PoS attachments before Thanksgiving of this year.
jonathan said 8:26AM on 4-09-2009
they definitely have machines running windows somewhere in the building. hell they have at least one boot camp mac at every store.
only difference is its running on apple hardware..
i doubt someones got a dell in there to test out safari or quicktime.
but u never know...
kenc29 said 11:57PM on 4-08-2009
I doubt Steve ever changes his mind. He just talks down anything until they are ready to release it. It's not that Steve thought webapps were good enough, it's just that webapps were good enough at the time. Apple had been working overtime to get the iPhone and Leopard out, shifting engineers back and forth. They needed to catch their breath before working out the SDK and all the other details.
As for webapps, what is Palm using?
Reply
south said 10:46PM on 4-09-2009
Agreed. I remember Steve also said once that there was no demand for color screens on iPods, too. What he really means is "you'll get it when I'm good and ready."
Mark Manes said 1:15AM on 4-09-2009
The ads show the JetSet Expenses icon! :)
Reply
Aloysius Snuffleupagus said 1:59AM on 4-09-2009
To me the most ironic thing about the app-centric ads is that they've managed to steer attention away from the central, but most poorly executed, function of the device: the phone. It's still called an iPhone after all.
I have devised the perfect slogan for iPhone OS 3.0 that would be a game changer and wipe Blackberry off the map:
"Now with telephone technology"
Until then I will carry around my iPhone for cool apps and my free Verizon LG flip for phone calls.
And before you all gang up on me and blame AT&T (and they do, indeed, suck balls), the bottom line is that the speakerphone still stinks, the vibration is too soft, the rings are too quiet and the battery life on 3G is still ridiculous. No matter how you slice it, it adds up to a fantastic digital device wrapped around a piss-poor telephone.
Reply