“Steve Jobs is a genius. An absolute genius. Not for introducing the world to the iPod, iTunes and the iMac, but for his astonishing ability to make people desire gadgets that they have absolutely no use for,” David Derbyshire blogs for The Telegraph.
“Last night he was at it again. At a press event hosted simultaneously in San Francisco and London, he unveiled a new, small, gorgeous looking entertainment box for the sitting room,” Derbyshire writes.
“Designed to plug into an ordinary television, it connects wirelessly to any computer in the home, allowing the owner to watch video and pictures stored on the computer in the study (or ‘den’ as five year olds and Americans call it),” Derbyshire writes. “The announcement caused the predicted whooping and a-hollering from the American half of the press conference and a more muted snigger in London.”
“Not because it’s a terrible idea, but because of the name chosen by Apple for the prototype. According to Steve Jobs the bright, shiny future of television, the thing that will revolutionise the way the world watches television is called iTV,” Derbyshire writes. “Hopefully they’ll ask the advice of their British colleagues next time.”
MacDailyNews Take: “iTV” is a code name, not a final product name. This fact was made extremely clear by Steve Jobs during his preview of the device both verbally and in large text on his Keynote slides and in the iTunes 7 press release: iTV is the project’s internal code name and will not be the final product name. As a seeing and/or hearing human being, and certainly as a journalist, Mr. Derbyshire should easily have known this information before writing his piece, but then that wouldn’t have allowed him to take yet another unfounded, baseless swipe at Apple.
Derbyshire continues, “I’m always impressed by the ability of businessmen to sell us things we don’t need or want. You know the sort of stuff: shampoo so mild you can use it every day is one. Pre-moistened toilet paper. Or half strength coffee. Or lettuce knives. Basically what Apple have come up with is a box that will cost a couple of hundred quid that allows us to watch movies and television programmes on our television. And we’ll all want one. As I said, genius, sheer gneuis [sic].”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: First The Observer this past Sunday, then The Guardian earlier today, and now this bloody bugger from The Telegraph. What’s gotten into the Brits lately? Did Steve Jobs hop the pond in his Gulfstream and take piss on Big Ben last week or something?
Related articles:
The Guardian: Steve Jobs needs ‘a charisma download, Apple risks being left behind’ – September 13, 2006
The Observer’s iPod FUD: Apple iPod is ‘wilting away before our eyes’ – September 10, 2006
Mark Cuban: Things that are special about Apple’s announcements – September 13, 2006
Apple’s ‘iTV’ strategy – September 13, 2006
How will Apple’s ‘iTV’ work? – September 13, 2006
Apple eyes living room market with device codenamed ‘iTV’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV model ‘the gold standard for the digital home of the future’ – September 12, 2006
The Motley Fool’s Lomax: Apple news ‘mostly underwhelming, with some potential future bright spots’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV ‘will be hard for other players to match’ – September 12, 2006
Apple gives sneak peek of ‘iTV’ set-top box to debut Q1 2007 (with images) – September 12, 2006
Apple’s QuickTime stream of Steve Jobs special event now live – September 12, 2006
NFL and Apple team up to offer 2006 NFL game highlights via iTunes Store – September 12, 2006
If it has no use then why have so many people been waiting to see Apple unveil it.
We all knew it was coming sooner or later. It was obvious the moment Apple released Front Row last year that it was only a matter of time before they would provide some sort of connectivity to the TV, and Front Row would be the interface.
I’ll be getting one soon after it’s released.
Two things this clown’s article tell me about him:
1) He thinks Americans are equivalent to British 5 year-olds.
2) He thinks washing your hair once a day is too much.
Neither gives me a reason to take him seriously.
I’ll take two !
Cheers !
I’ve been meaning to write to the Telegraph about something else too. The reviewed 6 top laptops…and guess what, no Macbook or MacBook Pro.
As regards this guy, just remember than in twelve months time he will be regarded with the same respect as the publisher that turned down the Harry Potter novels!
Just amazing. Apple has a lot of educating still to do.
They forgot to complain about his new shirt–which makes him look rather too thin, wot?
Brits do a terrible job of hiding jealousy. I guess if they called it iBBC that would have been more palatable? Jeez, he made it CLEAR that it was a working name.
The important thing by far–my WIFE thinks it’s neat…
Wow, the Brit rags are really getting in on the “bash Jobs” action, aren’t they?
This idiot probably bitches about CDs and MP3s.
“Why my 8-track player is just fine, why are people buying that useless CD player?”
Technology marches on.
Someday kids will be amazed that we actually drove to a store to look at movie selections, picked one out and brought it home to watch.
“that allows us to watch movies and television programmes on our television.”
Yes, but with the exception of plugging your 5G iPod into your TV, there was no realistic way of getting your digital content from iTunes to the telly, ya daffy bastard.
Hey guys, now look here, I’m British too right. In the same way I regard some of my fellow Brits as complete cretins, you regard some of your fellow Amercans in the same way.
So let’s try not to become to generic about this.
But I do agree that British journo’s are looking like plonkers over this issue just now…!
Washing hair once a day? Don’t the British only bathe once a month or something?
iTV is a great thing. I’d love to have this out NOW, cause it would make life so easy. Just stream videos to a real TV…….amazing. Love you Apple!
Well actually, I have absolutely no need for an iPod. I don’t even have any compressed music. lol. But I want an iPod anyway. So maybe this guy is right.
But … I’m not an easy mark, eh? Just because I do want an iPod hasn’t made me actually buy one. I do frequently go to the store and fondle the iPods, however. ahahaha
plonkers?
wot?
a-hollering?
telly?
daffy?
Dont they speak english in england?
Perhaps Microsoft is pumping payola checks into the UK media figuring that if they can’t have the world, at least they can try for one tiny, cold, wet island?
They’re just pissed they don’t get their movies right now
Chris: “Washing hair once a day? Don’t the British only bathe once a month or something?”
I think you’re confusing us Brits with the French. We’re very clean over here, probably more so than the Yanks.
What seems pretty obvious is that the Brit Journos didn’t bother to actually watch the presentation, their comments appear to be based on what they (mis)read in first and/or secondhand written accounts of the presentation. After all it was around 90 minutes long!!!! Who can afford to spend THAT much time?
The Brits, the French, same difference.
I sent him an email, and he sent me two back. Apparently, he thinks he was being funny, and he knows about iTV being an internal name, and he was actually there, etc.
Winston,
You made me chuckle.
Am I missing something?
What’s wrong with these poms, I know they are often behind the rest of the western world. It’s idiots like these journos that lost the poms their empire. I want one!
Basically what Apple have come up with is a box that will cost a couple of hundred quid that allows us to watch movies and television programmes on our television.
I guess those Satellite Dishes, Cable Boxes, Video Cameras, DVD players, VCRs and BETAMax machines were all just a silly waste of money that serve absolutely NO purpose. What an ass! (a fact easily figured out which his stupid swipe about an interal product code-name…duh!) Next time, pay attention when you’re watching the video, Derbyshire. Do some ACTUAL research before you spout off vitriol that makes you look like more of a ass than you really are…unless you really are that much of a ass.
KenC,
Please post those emails here. No need to keep them all to yourself.
they’re all flame bait and attempting to fatten their numbers a la Dvorak.
just ignore them… and wait… as Apple stockprices rise and they sell more of those useless little items to a waiting, hungry public. then later, when they’re a smashing success email their article back to them.
I think that the responses we’ve seen in the UK are more to do with protecting vested interests. The concept of trusted and impartial news coverage has long gone.
The BBC would feel threatened if a successful alternative to conventional broadcasting were to emerge. In addition, Siemens has won the contract to take responsibility for the BBC’s entire broadcast engineering, satellite and desktop infrastructure.
Fujitsu Siemens Computers is a major European manufacturer of PCs. So it’s hardly surprising that the BBC have problems with the thought of Apple succeeding on any front at all..
Many UK newspapers also have financial interests in TV companies, either in broadcasting companies themselves, or in production companies. They will want the status quo to remain undisturbed.
There are businesses like BT ( British Telecom ) and NTL, who are offering alternative services into people’s homes and of course, Rupert Murdoch has his own newspaper empire and controls Sky TV, the satellite broadcaster.
When you then add the number of journalists ( particularly those on Microsoft’s ‘influencer’ lists ) who can be relied upon to dance to order when Redmond demands it, it’s hardly surprising that a launch like this attracts some negative comments.
It’s always amusing to see how the same mistakes get made across many stories. In this story we’ve seen the fuss about the iTV code name, where they overlook that it’s merely a code name and we’ve seen many of them complain about the term ‘near DVD’ without actually understanding what DVD quality is. I think that it’s very suspicious that all these ‘independent’ journalists are all making the same simple errors.
But I have much more faith in the public than I do in journalists. If Apple deliver the right solution, the customers will flock to it in droves and no amount of dirty tricks from Apple’s detractors will dissuade them.
The Redcoat’s are blathering! The Redcoats’ are blathering!
I agree with Winston. There seems to be a real hype agains anything Apple in the UK media at the moment. Microsoft must be behind this FUD. It’s strange, because the people turning their prose into print are all using Apple kit and it must seriously grate.
Mr. Derbyshire sounds like a really intelligent man. I agree wholeheartedly.
What exactly do you expect from a country that’s used to having only 5 TV channels?
i’d like something like that but i’m not payin $300 for it.
What you should realise is the Microsoft owns the UK computer market. Bill Gates is a FOT (Friend of Tony) which means neither he nor Microsoft can do any wrong.
They are all just bitter because movie downloads are only available in the US.
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I wonder if we could get good old Steve to convince the British public they could use some toothpaste now and again
Judge Bork: Funny stereotype! 5 channels! Har har.
How about this for the actual reality: 40+ channels with a $35 box from Asda (Wal-mart) for no extra cost.
5 channels is what you get if you only have an old fashion aerial (or antenna as you would say). How any channels do you get through an antenna? If its more than 5 I’d be surprised. Where I live I only get 3 (in the USA).
==
“Someday kids will be amazed that we actually drove to a store to look at movie selections, picked one out and brought it home to watch.”
==
I’m almost 40 and I’ve never owned a car (I think they are perverse extravagances, with few exceptions) and I’ve never rented or bought a VHS or DVD (also a perverse expenditure of energy and money).
Driving to Blockbuster is no more perverse than the elaborate Netflix that people seem to think is magic. (The number of people dying in car accidents just to go to the video store must be in the tens of thousands if anyone looked closely enough, but the use of cars for the most trivial of reasons is of course ingrained in our gasoline and waste- addicted cultures).
The amount of energy (gas used) and resources (plastics, paper, space) devoted to entertainment is going to be this century’s embarrassing legacy.
Archaic.
No media content is worth buying or renting or driving to if it is in a fixed, intentionally degrading (disc scratching, tape breaking) media format.
Digital (and analog) delivery has been the only thing that makes any sense, with some form of media for copying content for your favorite shows.
Macaday- states “…he will be regarded with the same respect as the publisher that turned down the Harry Potter novels!”.
Other examples:
Decca records Decc A&R man Dick Rowe turning down The Beatles in ’63. “People aren’t interested in young men playing guitars. Guitar bands are on the way out”.
Said they sounded to much like “The Shadows”.
What’s that other quote? HP? In the 60’s, I think, HP prez stating that there will neverba a place for computers in the home?
Hmm….This device is useless and not needed huh? I suppose most of the junk software included with a pre-packaged PC is considered usefull. HAH!
“My M$ shares are going down, better right aother FUD piece against Apple.”
^^^ It was obviously a joke. He knew that and if you knew what iTV means in UK… you’d understand. In addition, you MAC RETARDS! You people make intelligent Mac Users look bad.
“Shampoo so mild you can use it everyday” THINK ABOUT IT in context. It has NOTHING to do with frequency of bathing, you idiots.
Another tosser Brit journo. Crapola, most of them — I should know: I worked there!
These journalists are following a well trodden path the British press always take. Namely to allow a honeymoon period where a person or company can do no wrong then for no good reason verbally slaughter them to bring them crashing back down to earth. They would probably argue this is done in the interests of balance. And if you think this is bad you ain’t seen NOTHING yet! If the tabloids decide to have a go, Heaven forbid there by any tiny thing wrong with any of Apple’s new products – the red tops will have a field day and mercilessly massacre the company. Trust me, it happens every time. You just wait and see.
Tom.
I meant to say Netflix is no better, it just puts the onus on the mail delivery system, and on top of that most people are driving to the mailbox.
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Anyway…
I did it. I actually skipped an entire generation of media. I actually managed to not “buy into” DVD as a medium. Seeing fools rush about spending good money hoarding DVDs, amassing huge collections seemed to me as silly as back when it happened with records and tapes, even sillier considering the fact that the cost never came down but actually went up — so much for the touted efficiency/benefits of the media formats (lighter, smaller, store more info)…
Instant archaicisms.
Anicca, dukkha, anatta…it all makes so much sense now.
p.s. I’m neither British, republican nor democrat, let’s not pigeonhole me…
Anyone from the UK won’t be surprised by this Apple backlash.
It’s typical of our media.
As soon as anyone achieves any kind of success (which the media helped do) they love spending huge column inches bringing them right back down again and further.
You should see the sh*t celebrities get.
You know Apple is doing something right when all the worms come out from under their rocks to spit up their drivel. Way to go Steve!!!
Pray tell, why then does it seem that so many people imitate Apple?
yeah , a tiny island that unlike you yanks isn’t $200 trillion in debt
Yes, and the British still think they have their empire.
First of all I do have to apologise for charmless negativity that sems to have infested these so called Tech journalists. What you have to understand is that it is “de rigeur” for a British journalist to try ( and usually fail) to be funny, to be cynical and to want to see failure everywhere. (We do it so well, so why shouldn’t everybody else?)
You may remember when Steve came over here to launch the European iTunes music store. I actually almost felt sorry for him; it reminded me of a standup finding he could not get one laugh out of his audience. But look at the success of iTunes in the UK.
Having said all that, there are no harsher “apple knockers” than the Mac faithful themselves. To read Mac bulletin boards and blogs after key notes is always hilarious. There is no middle ground with Apple. Either they are gong to make the second coming look like a visit from your Auntie, or the whole company is immediately doomed because of what it has/has not just announced.
So let them have their moment of “clever” insight…it means nothing.
MDN Magic Word: wife
News from Italy and all Italian-Americans:
“Apple is friggin beautiful. It almost could be Italian-made.”
What’s with “Bash the Brits”, and comparing us to the French is NOT on.
we love all apple things.
Still waiting for the iPhone,when the hell are we going to be released?
Mr. English
I am sorry to say that Britain the country that practically invented ‘innovation’ just has no idea anymore what the word means. We have no vision, imagination or concept that the the technology we have today is not set in stone. Therefore these people cream themselves over the latest bug fix to Windows while not at all asking why it actually needs that fix and that just perhaps there is something better out there. This is epitomised by a friend of mine who can’t compliment Dell enough over their ability to help correct the numourous faults she finds constantly plaguing her laptop. mind you her latest problem sems to be testing even her as Dell seem at a loss as to why she can’t print anything except from the web. yes it baffles me too actually.
“…his astonishing ability to make people desire gadgets that they have absolutely no use for.”
Actually, Apple makes products that people purchase and then wonder how they ever lived without it.
OOHHH, are we a little upset about something Mr Derbyshire? Maybe he needs some web trafic his way, as his job is on the line. Or, maybe he’s upset because he already has to pay the Government £150 for a TV licence on every TV he has & with probably 2, or 3 TVs in the house, he does need his job…
Since “iTV” is already a broadcast network in the UK…
…he is simply riffing on the semi-humorous irony that for $299 he’ll be able to watch TV programs on his TV as opposed to before, when he could only watch TV programs on his TV.
LIGHTEN UP (AND READ WITH LESS DEFENSIVENESS)
Apologies to all Brits, from an American who “gets it”…
(Not that I’m saying his article isn’t ultimately stupid — but this is playing stupid for the sake of setting up a punchline. Big difference. (A punchline that US readers wouldn’t get if they didn’t know iTV was already a TV network).
Anyway!!!!
I think AlanAudio is right – the cross media ownership (TV, cable, radio & newspapers) has the many people collectively worried about Apple. Radio has adopted the internet really well with streams available way beyond their signal. Newspapers have moved to the internet and email format well. It is TV and cable that are really in denial and dragging their heels.
Apple personifies the whole move away from traditional means of media distribution on to the internet. It’s not just Apple, but they are the tall poppy at the moment.
We’re spending more money on the internet, more time on the internet, watching less ads and we love it! Whole industries risk disappearing over the next decade if they don’t adapt. Traditional phone lines will go VoIP via Skype. Cable-type TV will need to move to view-on-demand like video podcasts once the iTV becomes popular. Once internet channels start to show YouTube-type and reality TV content in the living room we wont watch pay TV channels. Less newspapers are being bought as people want up-to-the minute web information.
The problem for these guys is that they can no longer control their pie (collect, print, distribute & sell). Nor do they have the resources to build their own iPod/store solution. They can only wait on the sidelines to see where their industries are going and I think this scares them. Nothing is going to save cable TV except their internet business. The only thing saving the newspapers is public transport (you need something to read on the 30 minute commute). Maybe they should invest in more subways!
could we fix this “extremely clearly” MDN? I’ve seen it in two different headlines–it’s getting a little old.
Old Fart,
I completely agree with you. Digital delivery is a boon to the environment. And we need all the help we can get in reducing CO2 emissions.
Signed,
One old fart to another
You misread me perhaps, I’ve only ever praised (obliquely) digital (non physical) delivery of content.
Cable (analog at first, now digital) and wireless delivery is by far preferred than this clumsy, wasteful physical media such as records, tapes, cds and DVDs.
Seeing By Wireless.
Inventor of apparatus wishes to hear from someone who will assist in making a working model.
=========================================================================
That was the title of a British newspaper ad that appeared more than 80 years ago, on June 27, 1923, written by a Scotsman named John Logie Baird who had been laboring day and night to create the first successful wireless television transmission.
Baird was hoping to find someone with the technical know-how to put Baird’s theory to practical use. Keep in mind 50 years had passed since the discovery of the photosensitive properties of selenium by Joseph May in 1873 and the time Baird decided to take up the challenge to invent the wireless transmission of moving pictures.
Steve Jobs and Baird had something in common: both were very secretive about their processes and inventions. In fact, Baird had successfully transmitted a television picture in 1918 but chose to keep his groundbreaking achievement a secret until he could perfect the signal.
The fact is Baird was very protective of his work. When his inventions were put on public display, they were altered slightly to avoid giving his competitors an edge. Unfortunately for Baird the BBC chose a competitor, Marconi/EMI, over Baird’s product and the rest is as they say, history.
John Logie Baird was a man of great vision, whose contributions to technology have been greatly underestimated. This is the man who experimented with Phonovision — the precursor to the videodisc — infrared detection systems, radar, fax machines, color and large-screen televisions, decades before they became popular.
Sadly, he died a pauper. He went to bed on the night of June 14, 1946 and never woke up.
The life of the man who invented television teaches us one thing, in spite of his stellar achievements, it’s the winners who get to write history, and that great achievement doesn’t always lead to recognition.
There had been talk of Knighthood for Baird, something I think has never materialized simply because recognizing Baird would require a rewrite of history.
Steve Jobs, whom I consider a technological visionary, shares a common interest with John Logie Baird; they both had a passion for wireless television transmission.
The story of John Logie Baird
Ill give you a “study” you pathetic wanker
God damn I hate the british.
Ah, the Brits.
As I recall, they said the same thing about the toothbrush: “No one could possibly have any use for this thing!”
And SJ is an absolute genious is getting these arrogant Brits to really overpay for their Apple products… A arrogant fool and his pounds are soon parted….
So is he complaining about the code name of the product??! You’re kidding, right?
Talk about five year old mentality.
Is there a place where they keep morons caged up until Apple makes a move, then the release them?
Oh, and I’m American, and I have a Den AND a Study!
Bitch.
Brit here.
That 5 year olds and Americans comment was pretty bad. Absolutely no complains if you yanks want to take the piss out of Brit stereotypes in this thread. Particularly as it’s innacurate. 5 year olds do not call a study a den. A den is more secret place to go to count your football cards, hoard sweets (candy) and read comics etc., and 5 is too young for a den unlessyou have an older brother!
As I understand ‘den’ in American terms, it’s a room in a family home, maybe a large basement or garage that the man of the house can use for leisure, but isn’t on display to guests in what otherwise will be a very feminised house. As such, most British blokes, perhaps being in touch with their inner 5 year old, would love a den. Somewhere with a fridge full of beer, a comfortable but ugly couch, a TV for wathing the football without getting grief of the missus becase bloody Eastenders is on, maybe a Pool table.
Hell. I’d LOVE a den. My wife would like me to have a den too.
As for gadgets that people have no use for, Apple haven’t made many. I’ve never bought one. This iTV happens to be one IMO. A solution for a problem that barely exists. But guess what, just like I never bought a PDA or a crackberry, as I have no need of an iTV, I won’t be buying one.
For our colonial cousins not familiar with British TV:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/
http://www.itv.com/
http://www.channel4.com/
http://www.five.tv/
Flappo:
The US is $200 trillion in debt? Er, no. Try $8 1/2 trillion. You inflated the number by nearly 2500%.
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
How pathetic you America-haters are. Anything else you care to lie about to try and make yourself feel better?
To all you people bashing the Brits: You are a bunch of spoiled hateful people for saying such things. If you are this hard on the Brits, I shudder to think what you would have to say about black or Jewish people.
Haters are not welcome here.
This dude is a condescending superior victim. I’m not a hater but he makes me want to be one. I like the brits and their back stabbing sense of humor (humour?) but this guy is a whiner. He doesn’t like riding the train so much but can’t stand the thought that On-Demand programming is a benefit. Maybe he would like to walk instead of take the train. I mean, who really needs rapid transit? What happened to the good old days when we could wait a month for a letter to cross the pond and wait for a movie to be re-run on the Tele(vision).
I believe that he thinks that the Brits thinking up the name “iTV” is as groundbreaking as actually creating something original.
He Writes; “The announcement caused the predicted whooping and a-hollering from the American half of the press conference and a more muted snigger in London.”
I think I’m going to vomit.
Jon
Joel…
That’s just the USA’s public (government) debt as it stands.
However, there is the ticking time-bomb of the ‘hidden’ debt of the public sector which will become due when the first tranche of baby boomers become eligible for social security (over the next five years) and other benefits plus all of the unfunded public debt that many agencies, both Federal and State have hidden away.
And then there’s the personal and corporate debt mountain, including mortgages and credit cards.
If you think that $8.5 trillion figure is all you have to worry about, you need to sit down with a stiff drink, a calculator and a comprehensive set of statistics and reports.
big tex,
Or Texans?….
Theres, does that feed your troll enough?
Cyborg: I have a chip implanted in my hand.
Samantha: What kind of things can you do with it?
Cyborg: I can throw a dead bolt by passing my hand in front of it.
Samantha: Wait, are you telling me, with that implant, you can open a door… with your hand?
I love the Brittish people. So many wonderful people live in the UK. I have met many on vacation there and also love some of the English products too, like Lynn audio, Meridian, B&W, KEF, Jaguar, R.R., Lotus etc….
My problem here is that there seems to be a problem there with M$ co-dependency in the media. Somebody or some group is getting paid off there. Same here in the U.S. too. Example: Why is it that no matter what, people refuse to switch platforms regardless of price? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
BTW: If it wasn’t for the U.K., would we have theater as we know it today? Example: Shakespear, Monty Python, Benny Hill…..
F*ck England!
There, I said it. Kinda.
Some of you guy’s really suck. I am a Brit and I absolutely love Macs and have done for 13 years. And this was my favourite site!!!
Not so sure now!
I also hate M$ and really can’t stand the fact our media use Macs to produce their Newspapers then slag off the Mac in them. It pisses you yanks off but how do you think the Mac faithful Brits feel about it. It’s bloody embarrassing I’ll tell you. Oh yeah, one ignorant plonker’s comment knocking British innovation. You have no place being on the web. Look up Sir Tim Berners-Lee. A British Physicist/genius who invented the web. And his invention beat M$ who’s Microsoft Network in it’s original incarnation failed to compete and ended up being a bloody series of webstes and an IRC server/client thing.
So stop Brit bashing just because you don’t like a few wankers writing shit about the Mac. Neither do the UK Mac faithful. It’s harder for us. We didn’t grow up with Macs in our schools, and our media don’t show any of the new Mac ads. So we not only have to deal with trying to convince Windoze users that Macs are better we even have to explain what a Mac is to most of them.
Also around 85% of the many people I know own an iPod. Brit’s love ’em!
Also another note to the Brit bashers. Remember that our troops are backin up your fight in Afghanistan and Iraq too. Not because they want to be there but because we are supposed to be allies.
Blair’s reputation is a shambles because of it. I bet GWB never said sorry for dragging him into that!
Anyway. What does this say for the Mac faithful when the Macheads in the US insult their so called brothers across the pond?
I suggest that you appreciate the hard job we have over here evangelising the Mac. it aint easy!
Good to be appreciated.
To the non-Brit haters! Cheers guy’s. You are the best
I think Jackson & Boston Burke are the only ones who “get it” on this one. MDN doesn’t seem to understand British sensibilities, so they immediately get defensive and post an inflammatory response. Déjà vu
The author fully understands that iTV is indeed an internal code name – read the comments section of the article.
Forgot a couple of things:
IMO the Brits have a *much* better sense of aesthetic than Americans. Don’t believe me? You drool over the look of you Macs and iPods – designed by a British gentleman. The British also have a much better appreciation for true craftsmanship (a lost art in America). Some of the best luthiers in the world are British.
And, as I said above neither MDN nor most of the contributors to this thread seem to understand British sensibilities. Therefore, they immediately overreact.
Hey ©, I just re-read the guy’s article and I think I actually realise why our friends across the pond were so upset. It comes down to one thing. Differences in American and British humour.
Think about it for a second. The sense of irony there in the man’s comments. I have heard Americans say they never get British humour. The only ones that do are the ones that live over here and they are used to us. Many British comedians have to change the type of comedy they performed to suit an Amerian audience. Look at how Lenny Henry had to incorporate swearing into his stand up routine and act all eddie murphy like just to appeal to an American audience. The jokes just didn’t work for me especially the unnecessary overuse of the word shit…
British humour always used to thrive on subtle irony whereas American humour is in your face. Think of the irony in this article! I giggled when I heard iTV was the name of the product even though I loved the concept. As Apple are the independant computer company. ie. not tied to Micro$oft, only they could have made this prduct and called it iTV (yes I realise it’s a temporary name MDN).
For the Americans that don’t know what ITV is an acronym for it’s “Independant Television”. Named so because it was a new commercial television that didn’t get funding from the TV licence payments we are obligated to pay here in the UK. “Round peg in the square hole”.
It’s ironic and British Journalists know this and irony to a Brit is hilarious.
Also, he is quite right. Nobody needs to have an iTV but how many will get one just because they are cool. It’s a good thing as it helps the world econmy to buy stuff. Keeps people in work. And Steve is really good at selling us stuff we don’t need. How many of you have upgraded your Mac to a newer model when you really don’t have a need for it. But a Jobs keynote just impressed you so much you had to go out and get one. I bought my G5 because 64bit sounded pretty cool. Isn’t that kind of funny in a subtle way.
Just to help you guy’s realise that there are humour differences across the great divide I want to point out that I don’t get get it how American sitcoms like Friends are funny. I find some of them reasonably entertaining, I love the characters and I will admit to the occasional smile at Joey’s and Phoebe’s stupidity and Ross’ pathetic marital ineptitude. Chandler’s sarcasm is clever at times but a little tiresome. But to me it’s not John Cleese or Peter Cook. It doesn’t get me bending over double and rolling on the floor with laughter.
As British comedy has done so much over the years to accommodate potetial American Audiences and includes more swearing and obvious gags the subtle ironies are often lost. I find myself laughing less and less and sometimes wonder if I have lost my sense of humour then I watch an old repeat of Monty Python and I realise it never went away.
OzzysCross101 wrote:
“Is there a place where they keep morons caged up until Apple makes a move, then the release them?”
Yes, there is. It is called United States of America.
Calmed down Brit,
The cultural lesson was appreciated. However, many of the comments in the article were rather in-your-face rather than subtle irony. For an outlet on the Internet which has readership well beyond the bounds of its host country, it displayed a misunderstanding of it audience. A qualification of “den” and iTV might have helped bring down the tone, yet still make it’s (humerous?) point.
Now that the meaning of iTV is clear, I can understand ruckus.
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And yes, SJ could probably make a fortune selling pre-moistened toilet paper with Apple logos on it….
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zupchuck
“And yes, SJ could probably make a fortune selling pre-moistened toilet paper with Apple logos on it….”
Ooh. I have just got to get some of that….
Seriously. I prefer the moist stuff. It’s way more comfortable on that “burning ring of fire” the morning after a vindaloo or a dodgy kebab
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” I watch an old repeat of Monty Python and I realise it never went away.”
The irony is that the rest of the world, particularly those who’ve who’ve spent any time in the UK or dealing with Brits can see that Monty Python is not a comedy but a documentary…
the problem with you yanks is you’re so out of touch with the rest of the world , proven by your usage of such pathetic stereotypes
your arrogance will be your downfall