Filed under: Cult of Mac, Internet Tools, Apple
Apple's affectionate, slightly starstruck Twitter HQ profile
What's the microblogging trend that pits Ashton against CNN? Yes, it's Twitter -- you can dig it, and apparently so can Apple. The social-media darling is the subject of a glowing profile on Apple's Business site, bearing the humble and understated headline "Twitter. Triumph of humanity." Mmm-kay.
Aside from the slightly over-reverent "here's to the crazy ones" tone, the profile is quite interesting; it points out that Twitter's development team overwhelmingly prefers the Mac, and that the baked-in Ruby on Rails support in Mac OS X is vital. Several team members use the MacBook Air as their primary development machine (many running the so-good-it-hurts editor TextMate), and the overall theme of 'minimalist elegance' is cited as a common philosophical thread for both companies. Twitter founder Biz Stone even admits that, while other handset vendors have offered the Twitter team free phones, the staff remains fiercely loyal to their iPhones.
While we do love Twitter around here, and you can't blame Apple for wanting to highlight the Mac brand in the light of the blue birdie's buzz, I have to wonder if the linkage between these two companies -- both touted by critics as promoting style over substance, and both slagged for being 'cool' at the expense of actually being useful -- is strategically advantageous to Apple.
[via Techmeme]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hmcnally said 5:24PM on 5-01-2009
Shaft would not use Twitter. He follows no man, and no man can follow him.
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oakie said 3:00PM on 5-02-2009
not that funny, but infinitely more original than had you started off with "chuck norris" or "in soviet russia..."
thank you for the breath of fresh air.
Mikki Q said 1:37PM on 5-01-2009
Where is Apple's Twitter feed?!
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James Donevan said 1:42PM on 5-01-2009
"and you can't blame Apple for wanting to highlight the Mac brand in the light of the blue birdie's buzz"
Assuming you're not colour blind, Twitter doesn't use a blue bird in their artwork. Presumably you are trying to tie the story to Twitterrific - which begs the question: Where did you get the notion that Twitterrific had anything whatsoever to do with this article, let alone influence Apple's take on Twitter?
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Michael Rose said 2:12PM on 5-01-2009
It was indeed a reference to Twitterrific (see the link), which while not an official Twitter brand icon still has come to 'stand in' for Twitter for many Mac users.
Corgy said 2:16PM on 5-01-2009
http://img.skitch.com/20090501-cbdcqxtmj7i767fbt785dwfdtu.jpg
Erik Shultz said 1:43PM on 5-01-2009
Apple's Twitter's feed is ...?
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required said 1:44PM on 5-01-2009
Flutter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeLZCy-_m3s
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jigme said 3:26PM on 5-01-2009
point of order: being accused of promoting style over substance is hardly being "touted"!
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Johnny said 2:51PM on 5-01-2009
I think Twitter has its uses, but using it to tell people the details of where you are or what you're doing is really egotistical. You must really think a lot of yourself if you think I care that you're at Starbucks or whatever. And for that reason, if you need to tell me something that is important enough for me to read it, email it.
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Michael Rose said 3:02PM on 5-01-2009
I think you're missing the point a bit, Johnny. I would almost certainly not email you to say "Eating dinner at new restaurant X" because I have no reason to think you'd care. However, were you following me on twitter, and X was a hot new place in your neighborhood, maybe you would care. It's more casual and simultaneous than email.
Johnny said 3:17PM on 5-01-2009
But that was my point. I'm not saying you shouldn't use it if you want to, but I don't care that you are having dinner at X nor would I waste my time to tell you that I am having dinner at X. If it was really good or bad after going there, I might tell you about it later and that would be the time to send the tweet. My point was that a lot of people tweet about really boring and uninteresting things to make them feel more important. And yes, sorry ladies, but this is mostly women.
If it isn't important enough to call me or email, I don't need to know. That's just my opinion, but hey, a lot of people love it. I'm just not that 'sociable', I guess.
Michael Rose said 3:37PM on 5-01-2009
Again, the point is that I don't know WHAT you don't know. You may not care about my dinner plans, but you might care that I'm beta testing a new version of Mac OS X. I may not care about your cat's vet visit, but I could be very interested in your homebrewing project. If enough of our interests, focus and commonalities are aligned, we follow each other on Twitter. That's that.
The spontaneity of a tweet is fundamentally different from the context of an email. 99% of what I put on Twitter and/or Facebook is stuff I would never think to email anyone, but the reflections and collaborations that come out of those casual mentions are quite remarkable.
Now I'm starting to sound like Apple.
Johnny said 3:53PM on 5-01-2009
Dude, I think we're missing each other here a little bit. I was merely stating my opinion that I don't care to use it and a lot people abuse it which makes the possibility of me ever wanting to use it that much more remote. I used it for a while. I get it and it's purpose, but I don't need/want it. People tend to write stuff like "I'm going to lunch.", "I'm feeling bummed", "What a beautiful day", etc. Businesses, even ones I'm interested in, tend to use it as a new way of spamming. It's not really Twitter or its concept that I have a problem with, it's the way people use it. I guess you must have more interesting people to follow than I do.
It's great that so many people like Twitter and I wish them well, but "Triumph of Humanity"... please.
oakie said 2:22PM on 5-02-2009
@Johnny you trying to dictate or otherwise impose your personal definition of proper use is equally narcissistic, dont you think?
"I was merely stating my opinion that I don't care to use it and a lot people abuse it which makes the possibility of me ever wanting to use it that much more remote."
then dont use it.
also, it doesnt matter what it's named or what you print, but anyone who chooses to publicly display their opinion with the thought that it's worthy of being read by others is egotistical by your own definition. yet here you are, guilty of doing the same thing you accuse others of doing on twitter that irritates you so much: you're publicly declaring you wont be using twitter as if anyone really cares. there's something to be said about throwing stones in a glass house.
it's nothing personal. just pointing out the hypocrisy in your whole argument.
Mike said 3:42PM on 5-01-2009
Ugh, isn't it bad enough Apple has to hire Justin Long for their commercials? This hipster douchebag image they are trying (and succeeding) at portraying is becoming sickening. Can't they go back to the "I'm better than you because I am rich and can afford a Mac" image they used to have?
Makes me glad I don't own a Mac, just their OS with superior hardware ;)
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Andrew said 12:51PM on 5-02-2009
Welcome, it seems you fit right in with us other douches.
Oh, and you meant to say "stole" their OS.
oakie said 2:54PM on 5-02-2009
hey look everybody! Mike is a "1337 h4x0r"! he was able to orders parts off newegg, plug them together, and follow commonly posted instructions on building a hackintosh!
he is a true pillar of both the hardware and software communities whose h4x0r1ng abilities are second to none. man, it is so exciting to know i read the same blog as this obviously super rich guy who chooses to be frugal and builds the most powerful macintoshes on the planet! these are exciting times for the mac community and tuaw!
Mike is truly a god amongst us mere mortals! so tell us your secrets to success, Mike! we're all at the edge of our seats! dont keep us in suspense!
*facepalm* welcome to the comments section.
XMalcomOSX said 3:08PM on 5-01-2009
http://twitter.com/help/how
Notice the blue bird...
Not for nothing, but TextMate IS so good it hurts
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alansky said 3:14PM on 5-01-2009
Personally, I'd say that Twitter's meteoric rise to ubiquity is proof positive that the world, in all its complexity, is eager to embrace triviality.
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