My name is Joe.
I’m a crackberry.
“Hi, Joe.”
I’m addicted to my Blackberry, so this post won’t be a fair review of the new smart phones: Apple iphone vs Blackberry Curve.
Plus I haven’t actually seen the iphone yet, so this is not a legitimate review at all.
But let’s look at the marketing of both phones.
Steve Jobs has done an excellent job of garnishing publicity. His new baby is being reviewed and talked about in magazines and on television. This is enormous free exposure.
He’s getting so much interest for the iphone, which releases today, that I decided to push back the book launch of Zero Limits until July 10.
I didn’t want my book promotion to drown out the release of Steve’s iphone.
I hear he gets mad easy.
Anyway, the TV commercial for the iphone is excellent. It clearly shows you how it works by demonstrating it right there on the screen, before your eyes.
Whenever you can demonstrate your product or service, quickly and directly, so people can see the benefits to them without much thought, you are very close to making a sale.
From what I can tell from the TV spot, I doubt typing on the iphone will be very easy. A few early reviewers have already complained that the on-screen keyboard is clumsy and slow to respond. In fact one reviewer said that if you do mostly email and text messaging (which is me) you had best stick to your Blackberry for now.
As for the new Blackberry Curve smart phone www.blackberrycurve.com, which went on the market last week, I love it.
It’s small, light, easy to use, now has a camera, can play music as well as video, and the battery seems to last for days.
I bet it’s better than the iphone www.apple.com/iphone/ but again I won’t know until I wander into an Apple store (the only place to get it) and examine the smart phones side by side.
But back to the marketing of these phones.
The Blackberry Curve has gotten a lot of free press, too. Reviewers are calling it the long-awaited hit from the people at RIM, who make the smart phone.
I don’t think the TV ads for the Curve are as good as the ones for the iphone. The Curve ads are more brand and image oriented, where the iphone ones are more practical and direct.
In the end, you’ll have to look at both phones, try them out, consider what you want them for, and then roll the dice on one of them.
For me, even though the iphone has a better commerical, I’m sticking with my Blackberry Curve.
At least for now.
Ao Akua,
Joe
www.mrfire.com
PS – Launch date for Zero Limits is now July 10. Expect fireworks! Get your camera phones ready! Tell Steve Jobs! And Oprah! Heck, tell EVERYONE!
9 Comments
[quote]
I didn’t want my book promotion to drown out the release of Steve’s iphone.
I hear he gets mad easy.
[/quote]
– Now that’s funny!
Fred
I’m watching the iphone with interest…
only because Jobs has taken a “free commodity” – the cell phone (which normally comes free with service contract) and managed to create something with tremendous hype that says “everyone wants” and is willing to pay $500.00 for.
Jobs is re-defining markets – From Apple II, Mac, Pixar, Ipods, Itunes, and now iphones. Jobs transforms Markets…His only identifiable flop? NEXT computing.
Joe, your writing has the same transformational effects for people.
Keep at it, and I eagerly await the book launch!
David
Ohhh David, I came here to write something, but after reading the above I can not help myself to comment. “Thank you, I am sorry, Please Forgive me, I love you.”
“His only identifiable flop? NEXT computing.”
It is interesting what people class as failure. NeXT was purchased by Apple in 1996 for $400 million dollars. The software that NeXT introduced to Apple resulted in Mac OSX, which is found today on all Apple Computers and inclusively is the operating system of the new iPhone. I hope that my next (pun intended) identifiable failure has the same results. NeXT introduced to Steve Jobs the life lessons that he needed and a path back to Apple, where in 1996 he returned to the Board of Directors, followed to become iCEO, before settling into his role of CEO and ultimately offering leadership to the staff that created and changed our worlds with iMacs, iTunes, iPods and the likes.
Steve I am sure has had his fair share of flops (I am not the only one old enough to remember the Lisa, right?), but it is fun to debate whether these are flops. That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger.
Recently I watched an interview with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Both were asked what do they most admire of one another towards the end of the interview. It is humbling to watch smart people candidly admit to traits they admire and somewhat not posses. The response from both is admirable.
By the way, David, I am not having a go at you as I can see you posted an interesting question. I just felt impulsed to comment.
Now to Joe, did you hear how Disney Pixar has had the audacity to release their new movie Ratatouilee on the same day as the iPhone? The launch of your book taking away the limelight of both Steve’s babies on the same day would have made Steve a little more than just mad.
Now that more people who produce motivational material are putting out pod-casts and
other material that can be listened to (and now viewed) on an iPod, an iPhone makes
sense as far as reducing the number of devices that I would need to carry around to
gain access to 1. phone, 2. voice-mail, 3. email, 4. pod-casts, 5. maps ….
-Bob
I had to laugh at this, thanks Joe! Looking forward to the release of Zero Limits
You tease, making us wait that bit longer 😉
Hey there, Joe.
I geeked out yesterday. I’m an iPhone owner. I spent about 6 hours last night playing around with it.
I’ve resisted the crack-berry addiction so far. But I became a iTunes addict about 2 years ago…so the iPhone was a natural lust for me.
So I can’t really compare it to blackberry, but I can say that this phone is incredible. So ingenious, and the texting features is like nothing ever developed before, the dialogue works like a comic strip in a way; and the keypad actually works quite well…I’ve had no trouble with it. But the merging of music, movies, email, voicemail, etc, etc. is really very close to all they hype.
I’m impressed…
Anyway, have a GREAT weekend…
Jeff
Hey Jeff, can I borrow your phone? 🙂
I’ll have to check it out. My big concern is typing on it.
joe
Hi Joe,
Are you going to do a book signing anywhere near Austin for Zero Limits? If so…..where and when?
Thanks
Laurie
Hi Laurie. I’m doing a book signing in Wimberley on July 28 at Rancho Deluze on the town square. Hope to see you there.
joe