mmcc
Mar 29, 08:46 AM
Yes, the App Store can give you exposure, but you still have to market and sell your solution for people to find you or want you. Plus, the AppStore is one outlet and your other outlets should never be abandoned.
Yes, but you can't have it both ways. A successful Mac App Store from your perspective means more Apple customers use it to find apps. In my experience to date, this means those other "outlets" become less and less profitable. Marketing is a numbers game and a major disruption like the Mac App Store can quickly shift those numbers to the negative. In my case it is no longer profitable to maintain some of those "other outlets".
Here's a specific example: Google AdWords. Before the Mac App Store opened, many customers gravitated first to Google search to find an app. I would pay for AdWords placement and if I got a click-through I could be assured that my website exclusively captured the attention. Yes, my app still had to be good enough to capture a sale but at least there were no other competitors there -- and no freebie alternatives (except for demos/trials).
The same strategy no longer works with the Mac App Store. First, the traffic in Google search is reduced as more Apple customers gravitate to the Mac App Store first. My conversions costs showed a clear trend upward as soon as the Mac App Store opened (other competitors in my app space have also dropped away from AdWords indicating similar escalating conversion costs). Furthermore, if I try to drive customers to the Mac App Store to buy, to increase my exposure therein, I incur the AdWord conversion costs, plus the 30% to Apple and a reduced price in the Mac App Store to compete in the race to the bottom. Clearly AdWords is a losing strategy in this case.
However... you're point on price is one to be considered. If you want to get impulse buys, you have to be impulsed priced.
That's fine if the volume was worthwhile. What I am saying is that impulse buy volume is NOT there at any price to even approach what I was making in my market space before. I've been in the #1 spot for my category and it was not a windfall.
I say again, the Mac App Store has depressed the sales volume and gross in my category for everyone. This is not a success in the sense of encouraging a vibrant and growing Mac software market. I felt that before the Mac App Store opened that the Mac software market was reaching a critical mass and that developers found it increasingly attractive. The Mac App Store has crushed that IMO and I am not sure it will return unless Apple makes huge percentage gains in the traditional PC market (and recent trends show it is leveling off).
Please don't take me wrong... I'm not saying you're wrong... just pointing out that the AppStore does not guarantee anything if you don't have good sales and marketing behind it. Also, you have to have software people want.
How exactly would you suggest to market in the Mac App Store? I can't buy ad placement. Lowering my price to 99 cents hasn't given me exposure. I need some (ethical) ideas. :p
Yes, but you can't have it both ways. A successful Mac App Store from your perspective means more Apple customers use it to find apps. In my experience to date, this means those other "outlets" become less and less profitable. Marketing is a numbers game and a major disruption like the Mac App Store can quickly shift those numbers to the negative. In my case it is no longer profitable to maintain some of those "other outlets".
Here's a specific example: Google AdWords. Before the Mac App Store opened, many customers gravitated first to Google search to find an app. I would pay for AdWords placement and if I got a click-through I could be assured that my website exclusively captured the attention. Yes, my app still had to be good enough to capture a sale but at least there were no other competitors there -- and no freebie alternatives (except for demos/trials).
The same strategy no longer works with the Mac App Store. First, the traffic in Google search is reduced as more Apple customers gravitate to the Mac App Store first. My conversions costs showed a clear trend upward as soon as the Mac App Store opened (other competitors in my app space have also dropped away from AdWords indicating similar escalating conversion costs). Furthermore, if I try to drive customers to the Mac App Store to buy, to increase my exposure therein, I incur the AdWord conversion costs, plus the 30% to Apple and a reduced price in the Mac App Store to compete in the race to the bottom. Clearly AdWords is a losing strategy in this case.
However... you're point on price is one to be considered. If you want to get impulse buys, you have to be impulsed priced.
That's fine if the volume was worthwhile. What I am saying is that impulse buy volume is NOT there at any price to even approach what I was making in my market space before. I've been in the #1 spot for my category and it was not a windfall.
I say again, the Mac App Store has depressed the sales volume and gross in my category for everyone. This is not a success in the sense of encouraging a vibrant and growing Mac software market. I felt that before the Mac App Store opened that the Mac software market was reaching a critical mass and that developers found it increasingly attractive. The Mac App Store has crushed that IMO and I am not sure it will return unless Apple makes huge percentage gains in the traditional PC market (and recent trends show it is leveling off).
Please don't take me wrong... I'm not saying you're wrong... just pointing out that the AppStore does not guarantee anything if you don't have good sales and marketing behind it. Also, you have to have software people want.
How exactly would you suggest to market in the Mac App Store? I can't buy ad placement. Lowering my price to 99 cents hasn't given me exposure. I need some (ethical) ideas. :p
fortetfn
Aug 15, 11:06 PM
Mine was manufactured in June 2006 and Apple said that it was the old stock. I really wish if it was like someone here said that the new specs were quietly going back in April which means that mine would possibly be the new stock.
How I could possibly determine whether mine is the new one or not is by turning all the lights off in my room. This is a brand new 23"ACD from an Apple store. I don't need to set the brightness setting to 25% or more... definitely you would agree that a 23" display is a fairly big monitor as a big canvas in front of me. With no other lighting in the room, wouldn't I want to turn the brightness setting all the way down to the bottom if I don't want to burn my eyes with it. The answer is no. I let this display stay on for a while, but it is still not much brighter than when I just turned it on.
For a new monitor, i don't think I would need to turn the brightness setting so high up to impress myself with its brightness. I can positively say that if mine display was the new stock, Apple didn't do a good job on tweaking up to the new specs... I'm not going to talk about my ghosting problem, though that is a slight issue.
Hope someone has a different serial number, so we could differentiate between the new stock and the old stock. It's been really frustrating....:(
How I could possibly determine whether mine is the new one or not is by turning all the lights off in my room. This is a brand new 23"ACD from an Apple store. I don't need to set the brightness setting to 25% or more... definitely you would agree that a 23" display is a fairly big monitor as a big canvas in front of me. With no other lighting in the room, wouldn't I want to turn the brightness setting all the way down to the bottom if I don't want to burn my eyes with it. The answer is no. I let this display stay on for a while, but it is still not much brighter than when I just turned it on.
For a new monitor, i don't think I would need to turn the brightness setting so high up to impress myself with its brightness. I can positively say that if mine display was the new stock, Apple didn't do a good job on tweaking up to the new specs... I'm not going to talk about my ghosting problem, though that is a slight issue.
Hope someone has a different serial number, so we could differentiate between the new stock and the old stock. It's been really frustrating....:(
dernhelm
Oct 3, 03:09 PM
Well this does seem to indicate that despite all the reports of SJ's declining health, they expect him to survive at least until Jan 2007...
;)
;)
geocom
Jan 11, 11:53 PM
I would not see a problem with them going to report at macworld if anything happens in the keynote Steve would recover like he did at last years Mac World where his clicker stopped working and you are also talking about a mac event unlike CES things don't crash :)
calculus
Jan 12, 02:30 AM
i'm not saying iphone is crap, it's just disappointing from all the hype.
What else were you hoping for?
What else were you hoping for?
Dammit Cubs
Jul 21, 02:12 PM
Apple is proving a point. A point that most consumers, many people on these macrumors boards and even intelligent users don't understand.
ALL phones are subject to detuning. The amount of detuning is up to the phone but this is natural. When someone told me, your signal drops when hold the iphone in a wierd way....no s***.
Anyone with half a brain should already know the outcome. Also, holding your phone a certain way doesn't create a blackhole. It creates a constant -24dbm drop. I'll say that again. CONSTANT! Not accelerating.
ALL phones are subject to detuning. The amount of detuning is up to the phone but this is natural. When someone told me, your signal drops when hold the iphone in a wierd way....no s***.
Anyone with half a brain should already know the outcome. Also, holding your phone a certain way doesn't create a blackhole. It creates a constant -24dbm drop. I'll say that again. CONSTANT! Not accelerating.
samcraig
May 2, 12:21 PM
And yeah Google does record but they at least give you the option to turn it off
This is the point. It doesn't matter which side of the coin you're on regarding privacy. Off means off. On means on.
And if this were RIM, MS, Google or anyone else that had an important feature crippled due to QA, no doubt the ones claiming Apple's innocence here (and decrying everyone else has conspiracy theories) would be the ones laughing at, making theories, getting outraged, etc.
It's not a question of giving Apple a free pass. EVERY company should be liable. And consumers have every right to raise questions.
My goodness - there are threads on this board from people who cry about a one pixel shift in a graphic. Or that their app icon is blurry.
Here's a real issue. An important issue. And some people want to just wipe it under the carpet as a "non issue"
This is the point. It doesn't matter which side of the coin you're on regarding privacy. Off means off. On means on.
And if this were RIM, MS, Google or anyone else that had an important feature crippled due to QA, no doubt the ones claiming Apple's innocence here (and decrying everyone else has conspiracy theories) would be the ones laughing at, making theories, getting outraged, etc.
It's not a question of giving Apple a free pass. EVERY company should be liable. And consumers have every right to raise questions.
My goodness - there are threads on this board from people who cry about a one pixel shift in a graphic. Or that their app icon is blurry.
Here's a real issue. An important issue. And some people want to just wipe it under the carpet as a "non issue"
iJohnHenry
Apr 16, 03:50 PM
Why does it matter that he was gay? I thought that gay people where supposed to be the same as everyone else. Did his being gay give him some sort of super powers to break codes?
No, he was blessed by Mother Nature, and he obviously also had an analytical mind. :p
No, he was blessed by Mother Nature, and he obviously also had an analytical mind. :p
darkplanets
Apr 12, 10:59 PM
Yeah, the TSA is pretty absurd. The airport I use just got body scanners-- now when I fly I make sure to shake my junk around for the world to see.
Coming soon to the Internet near you.
Coming soon to the Internet near you.
Mad Mac Maniac
Apr 27, 08:15 AM
Perhaps a little quick on the draw here but it isn't working for me. The boxes have gone but the actual voting buttons still take me back to the forum index page.
.
same with me. On IE7 running Vista
Edit: Now works! :)
.
same with me. On IE7 running Vista
Edit: Now works! :)
charlituna
Apr 8, 02:18 PM
I wonder what the special promotion is.
Probably something semi lame like a free smart cover if you buy an ipad.
Or nothing at all and they are just doing a 'front page' featuring all the various tablets you can get. they have gotten bad PR for doing that and not having any in stock which could be why they are holding non pre-orders.
I also heard that there is no ad and they aren't selling 'walk ins' because they might have to redistribute them to other stores to fill pre-orders. Because they are starting to get some bad press and complaints about the wait. Which is also why they have been told not to take anymore pre-orders for the time being.
what I wonder is, if your unit comes up doing the promotion since you put money down is it considered already sold. Or was it basically a deposit and you are actually 'buying' it that day and can take advantage of what deal there might be
Probably something semi lame like a free smart cover if you buy an ipad.
Or nothing at all and they are just doing a 'front page' featuring all the various tablets you can get. they have gotten bad PR for doing that and not having any in stock which could be why they are holding non pre-orders.
I also heard that there is no ad and they aren't selling 'walk ins' because they might have to redistribute them to other stores to fill pre-orders. Because they are starting to get some bad press and complaints about the wait. Which is also why they have been told not to take anymore pre-orders for the time being.
what I wonder is, if your unit comes up doing the promotion since you put money down is it considered already sold. Or was it basically a deposit and you are actually 'buying' it that day and can take advantage of what deal there might be
MCIowaRulz
Mar 24, 06:20 PM
I remember using OS 10.1.5 at home when my school was hell bent on using OS 9.
I skipped 10.2 but 10.3 and 10.4 I have this year FINALLY I am making the leap to Lion!
With a new iMac sandy bridge:)
I skipped 10.2 but 10.3 and 10.4 I have this year FINALLY I am making the leap to Lion!
With a new iMac sandy bridge:)
JTR7
Sep 29, 12:00 PM
Some people obviously want their homes to feel like a home rather than a hotel.
If we're speculating, maybe those with private baths for each bedroom care more about their guests/kids than you? A person who gives everyone equal convenience to his or her own bedroom shows that they don't think they deserve better than others. It's a bit hypocritical to criticize someone's opinions on this house by criticizing his or her house.
I like the house, but as others have said, I'd at least offer baths for individual bedrooms.
If we're speculating, maybe those with private baths for each bedroom care more about their guests/kids than you? A person who gives everyone equal convenience to his or her own bedroom shows that they don't think they deserve better than others. It's a bit hypocritical to criticize someone's opinions on this house by criticizing his or her house.
I like the house, but as others have said, I'd at least offer baths for individual bedrooms.
Arcady
Oct 6, 10:44 PM
I don't understand people who point a video camera at their TV and record it, then upload that video to YouTube. If they can figure out how to connect the camera to the computer, why can't they figure out how to connect the TV?
AppliedVisual
Oct 17, 02:33 PM
Tape!?! :confused: who on earth uses tape anymore? This is.. 2006. And I was always under the impression that a medium with moving parts would be more prone to failure than one without. Certainly my VHS and cassette library have had their share of tapes being chewed up by the machine or worn out from use.
Tape is still the most reliable, long-term archival media available. Newer tape systems can transfer over 150MB/sec. to and from the tape and store several hundred GB on a single tape. Cost-wise, tape is expensive to buy into, but if you have sufficeint archival needs, it pays for itself over time. Many tape solutions once they reach their ROI point afer a year or two, often are cheaper than HDD storage by half or more. Sounds weird, I know, but that's the way it still is.
Most large data centers covering everything from web storage, insurance databases, financial institutions etc... Have mostly converted over to large-scale redundant servers and storage networks using RAID subsystems. This serves all their immediate storage and backup needs on site and is very reliable if managed properly. But nearly all of them still use an additional tape archival workflow for off-site data storage. There really is no other way right now... Wish there was. Hence the reason tape systems also keep evolving and pretty much match HDD capacity with tape capacity in most cases and transfer rates continue to improve. Comparing tape archival systems to VHS or miniDV tape is not a good comparison, data tapes (or at least the good ones) are very robust and actually very hard to damage. Short of placing them in a magnetic field for a period of time, they're mostly indestructable. They do have moving parts, but hardly any compared to a hard drive.
Using hard drives as an archival solution is a bad idea... Hard drives are not designed for this and can corrupt data over time. Not to mention, the platter system and motors are not designed to sit stationary for years at a time for long-term storage. Optical media isn't too bad, but most photo-sensitive dyes and films used in optical media will decay over time. CD-R media was originally claimed to have a lifespan of 30 to 100 years. Now that it's been around for 30+ years, we're finding out that claim was somewhat exaggerated. Recordable DVD media and HD-DVD and BD are no different, just higher data density on the discs. And also not anywhere near practical for large-scale solutions. Just how do you archive and manage 300 petabytes per year to DVD-R???
For small business type users and home users though, DVD-R media in addition to a good redundant RAID setup probably makes the most sense. Unless they're pushing lots of data doing HD video editing or something like that. In which case, it may still make sense to give tape a consideration as the long-term archive solution. Prosumer level tape archive systems exist and are not that expensive and much more reliable than shelved hard drives and much easier to manage than optical media. The VXA2 format can afford someone an external Firewire tape system w/2 tapes for < $1K. Tapes hold up to 160GB each and factoring in the cost of the drive plus enough tapes to back up about 3 terrabytes of data, the cost becomes cheaper than individual hard drives. So a few terrabytes down the road and you could be wishing you had considered tape if you're still using DVD-R. OTOH, DVD-R is just fine and dandy if a terrabyte or two is all you need. Because you can fit a lot of discs in a shoebox and sharpie pen to label them is pretty cheap too.
External drives are *not* long term archiving solutions. They are useful for storing vast amounts of data that presumably you want to actually access and use (and possibly modify) on a regular basis; also, they are good for the kind of incremental backups you refer to, Time Machine, Retrospect, other 3rd party backup tools can be used for this. But if you have important files you know aren't going to change, while having them on HDD is useful for instant access, that's not where they should be permanently archived -- they should be burned to a permanent medium, preferably more than one copy, and stored in a safe place (or places). If your drive fails and you still need the data to be on that drive, you can then restore from the permanent medium.
Um... I guess I got carried away and didn't mean to elaborate on what you already said. But, er... um.. Yep, I agree.
Tape is still the most reliable, long-term archival media available. Newer tape systems can transfer over 150MB/sec. to and from the tape and store several hundred GB on a single tape. Cost-wise, tape is expensive to buy into, but if you have sufficeint archival needs, it pays for itself over time. Many tape solutions once they reach their ROI point afer a year or two, often are cheaper than HDD storage by half or more. Sounds weird, I know, but that's the way it still is.
Most large data centers covering everything from web storage, insurance databases, financial institutions etc... Have mostly converted over to large-scale redundant servers and storage networks using RAID subsystems. This serves all their immediate storage and backup needs on site and is very reliable if managed properly. But nearly all of them still use an additional tape archival workflow for off-site data storage. There really is no other way right now... Wish there was. Hence the reason tape systems also keep evolving and pretty much match HDD capacity with tape capacity in most cases and transfer rates continue to improve. Comparing tape archival systems to VHS or miniDV tape is not a good comparison, data tapes (or at least the good ones) are very robust and actually very hard to damage. Short of placing them in a magnetic field for a period of time, they're mostly indestructable. They do have moving parts, but hardly any compared to a hard drive.
Using hard drives as an archival solution is a bad idea... Hard drives are not designed for this and can corrupt data over time. Not to mention, the platter system and motors are not designed to sit stationary for years at a time for long-term storage. Optical media isn't too bad, but most photo-sensitive dyes and films used in optical media will decay over time. CD-R media was originally claimed to have a lifespan of 30 to 100 years. Now that it's been around for 30+ years, we're finding out that claim was somewhat exaggerated. Recordable DVD media and HD-DVD and BD are no different, just higher data density on the discs. And also not anywhere near practical for large-scale solutions. Just how do you archive and manage 300 petabytes per year to DVD-R???
For small business type users and home users though, DVD-R media in addition to a good redundant RAID setup probably makes the most sense. Unless they're pushing lots of data doing HD video editing or something like that. In which case, it may still make sense to give tape a consideration as the long-term archive solution. Prosumer level tape archive systems exist and are not that expensive and much more reliable than shelved hard drives and much easier to manage than optical media. The VXA2 format can afford someone an external Firewire tape system w/2 tapes for < $1K. Tapes hold up to 160GB each and factoring in the cost of the drive plus enough tapes to back up about 3 terrabytes of data, the cost becomes cheaper than individual hard drives. So a few terrabytes down the road and you could be wishing you had considered tape if you're still using DVD-R. OTOH, DVD-R is just fine and dandy if a terrabyte or two is all you need. Because you can fit a lot of discs in a shoebox and sharpie pen to label them is pretty cheap too.
External drives are *not* long term archiving solutions. They are useful for storing vast amounts of data that presumably you want to actually access and use (and possibly modify) on a regular basis; also, they are good for the kind of incremental backups you refer to, Time Machine, Retrospect, other 3rd party backup tools can be used for this. But if you have important files you know aren't going to change, while having them on HDD is useful for instant access, that's not where they should be permanently archived -- they should be burned to a permanent medium, preferably more than one copy, and stored in a safe place (or places). If your drive fails and you still need the data to be on that drive, you can then restore from the permanent medium.
Um... I guess I got carried away and didn't mean to elaborate on what you already said. But, er... um.. Yep, I agree.
maflynn
Apr 18, 05:41 AM
You mean like how Finder is finally adding cut and paste?
Wow, so the finder is finally giving us, what other OS' had for years. I wonder what the fanboys will say now, after defending this lack of a feature for years.
I suspect along the lines that apple innovates again and creates a brand new feature :p
Wow, so the finder is finally giving us, what other OS' had for years. I wonder what the fanboys will say now, after defending this lack of a feature for years.
I suspect along the lines that apple innovates again and creates a brand new feature :p
Cassie
Jan 12, 12:44 AM
i totally agree with you. "aint that just cool?" "probably the best photo management program in the world".
Those are not smug, those are facts!
In case you can't tell, I'm serious.
Those are not smug, those are facts!
In case you can't tell, I'm serious.
Abstract
Sep 7, 07:35 PM
George Bush doesn't care about black people, but STEVE DOES!
*Kanye hugs Steve*
Take a photo.
Print the advert.
Done.
*Kanye hugs Steve*
Take a photo.
Print the advert.
Done.
Hephaestus
Mar 17, 06:20 PM
for the things you mentioned you should replace the word 'envy' with 'jealously' :)
I've bought the first iPhone and have never gone back. I totally understand your situation lol, it comes with owning any luxury item. Usually its people who've never owned it themself that go bashing it. I personally haven't had as much encounters but I have friends who get harassed constantly lol.
The antennagate thing is the classic example of a non-user/owner reading some silly article and gripping it for every attack. None of my friends or myself use a case and we have absolutely no reception issues.
The funniest case was my friends colleague attacking him, saying it was the worse phone ever, most overpriced phone ever, its heavy! it has no flash! His Xperia X10 was miles better! Week later he buys his own iPhone 4 and stayed quiet about the topic. I rest my case.
On a positive note, I always get good encounters with the girls at work about iPhones lol.
Lol yeah I think jealousy is probably a better term.
I've bought the first iPhone and have never gone back. I totally understand your situation lol, it comes with owning any luxury item. Usually its people who've never owned it themself that go bashing it. I personally haven't had as much encounters but I have friends who get harassed constantly lol.
The antennagate thing is the classic example of a non-user/owner reading some silly article and gripping it for every attack. None of my friends or myself use a case and we have absolutely no reception issues.
The funniest case was my friends colleague attacking him, saying it was the worse phone ever, most overpriced phone ever, its heavy! it has no flash! His Xperia X10 was miles better! Week later he buys his own iPhone 4 and stayed quiet about the topic. I rest my case.
On a positive note, I always get good encounters with the girls at work about iPhones lol.
Lol yeah I think jealousy is probably a better term.
BenRoethig
Aug 14, 08:01 PM
Hey guys, when did we stop talking about displays and start the communism discussion?
SevenInchScrew
Nov 28, 02:39 PM
I disagree with everything except for the RC Car...that IS gay.
If people have issue with the RC-XD, I have to question if they are even paying attention when they play. You get a call-out when someone launches one, and they are LOUD as hell driving around. Don't get me wrong, I've been killed by them on a number of occasions. Almost every time I did, though, it was because I was careless and walked right into it. Just be more cautious when you hear the call-out that one is around, and you'll probably survive more. I know I did.
Besides, the more people on the other team using the RC-XD, the less people they have using the Spy Plane, so it is a give-and-take thing.
If people have issue with the RC-XD, I have to question if they are even paying attention when they play. You get a call-out when someone launches one, and they are LOUD as hell driving around. Don't get me wrong, I've been killed by them on a number of occasions. Almost every time I did, though, it was because I was careless and walked right into it. Just be more cautious when you hear the call-out that one is around, and you'll probably survive more. I know I did.
Besides, the more people on the other team using the RC-XD, the less people they have using the Spy Plane, so it is a give-and-take thing.
mabaker
Apr 16, 08:26 AM
Aw, I almost feel sorry for Google not trying to compete with Apple with their own ideas but blatantly copying them. Pathetic.
iphone3gs16gb
Apr 26, 08:59 AM
This guy was more than capable of defending himself...
Popeye206
May 3, 11:11 PM
Or you know, the more obvious conclusion - iOS 5.
Agreed... seemed like a teaser for iOS 5.
Agreed... seemed like a teaser for iOS 5.
No comments:
Post a Comment