Why keeping secrets is paramount at Apple
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 09:29 AM EST
"Apple has long been notoriously secretive about its unreleased products," Daniel Eran writes for RoughlyDrafted. "Critics compare Apple's secrecy against the transparent development efforts of open source projects, and even with other commercial developers. Microsoft, for example, has a history of providing detailed roadmaps of future plans. Why does Apple keep its future plans under wraps?"
"If Apple is doing so well in delivering new features, why were some features left under wraps at WWDC? After all, Microsoft has long used early announcements of future plans to overshadow and divert attention from competitors' existing products. Why isn't Apple doing this with Leopard? There are multiple reasons," Eran writes.
Eran's reasons for Apple's secrecy:
• It avoids setting up the company for failure (see: Vista)
• It's how Apple generates the biggest media splash
• It's how Apple makes the "tech journalist" monkeys dance
• Apple's unique role as a fixture of national headlines
Erna writes, "While Apple’s secrecy works to its advantage in creating excitement for consumer products, the same secrecy can work against Apple’s efforts to working with partners, particularly in Open Source projects, and in dealing with corporate customers. An upcoming article will look at Apple’s recent efforts to adapt and provide more open information about their future plans."
Full article with much more here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Dan The Man" for the heads up.]
Send us links! Email: webmaster@macdailynews.com
MacDailyNews and iPodDailyNews are Apple Store affiliates and if you buy something from the Apple Store within 24-hours after clicking any one of our Apple Store ads, we will receive an affiliate percentage from Apple. There is no extra cost to you. Canadians please use this link: Apple Store Canada. Thank you in advance for helping to support MacDailyNews and iPodDailyNews.
Apple Store Advertisements:
• The all-new 13-inch MacBook. The next generation of notebooks starts at $1299.
• The all-new 15-inch Macbook Pro. New design. New features. New technologies. From $1999.
• The all-in-one iMac. Now at speeds up to 3.06GHz. Free shipping. From $1199.
• iPod touch. The funnest iPod ever. Starting at $229. Free Shipping.
• iPod nano. New design. New features. Starting at $149. Free shipping.
• Visit the Apple Store today. Free ground shipping on all orders over $50.
MacDailyNews on Twitter

And also to keep those photocopiers guessing