Comments on: The iPhone is Not Immensely Popular

By: Katie Feo

Katie Feo — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:03:36 +0000

What an excellent point you make. On re-reading my post in blog format, I can see how the tongue-in-cheek title (with tiny, easily missed, italicized subclause beneath the image) could be misconstrued. Probably better would have been: ‘The iPhone is not immensely popular…or is it?’ together in bold one line of type at the top.

In other words: On July 24th most major new sources (including the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal, where I received my information and sales numbers; not, as you say, from data gathered on my hand-held clicker outside my local Apple store) reported that the actual numbers of iPhones sold fell far beneath predicted sales. A quick Google search will confirm all my facts if you’re skeptical. That day, most news sources projected the view that iPhone sales were disappointing based on analyst’s pre-sale predictions (’Not immensely popular’). Of course, numbers don’t always tell the whole story, both because the initial numbers were falsely inflated, and because this technology has effectively seeped into the cultural consciousness, whether the initial sales are high or not (’…or is it?’).

(For a better explanation of how technology analyst’s forecasts miss reality, see: http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/analysts-ponder-iphone-sales-forecasts-158/)

I’m glad that my post piqued your interest, and also happy about my newly discovered ability to make the future abide by my whims. That should come in handy next time I’m buying lotto tickets or betting on horses.

By: Aj

Aj — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:28:29 +0000

Your information seems to be askew and your headline intentionally misleading. Apple sold 270,000 iPhones in the first 30hrs of its launch according to Apple’s fiscal third quarter report. That is 150 iPhones sold every minute. Now maybe to you that seems unpopular, but as someone who seems to prefer to skew situations against Apple (”..despite seemingly low sales..”, “..despite the negative publicity..”, “..what seems to be low turnout.” - kind of amazing how a writer can rewrite events with the power of a keyboard, makes me wonder if you visited any Apple store or were cut off from the media the weekend of the iPhone release?), I guess that doesn’t surprise me. Your prophetic skills are quite interesting as well. Not only have you been able to rewrite an event to your satisfaction you can also make the future abide by your whims as well (”..the iPhone will sell, but only when the price goes down.”).

I don’t know how as a designer any factless opinion in this article was worth reading, but “ya got me” - I both read it and responded. Not a good start to a day.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:51:00 +0000

If two things were at more polar opposites than design and computers, I would like to see them. It speaks volumes that most of the people I know in technology today can’t stand to communicate with people-except through their computer-go figure. Their condescension is worse than that of designers! Congratulations to Apple for bringing elegance to something so void of good design, and for bringing designers into the technology mix.

: ) P.S. Your Les Gomes link doesn’t work. I think it should point here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112224339106494349.html

Sucks that darwin almost got robbed. I felt robbed clicking on the link in his comment.

By: darwin

darwin — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:39:48 +0000

well i got stressed out with the iphone waiting for it .. almost got robbed too .. WOW.. crazy well i love it i have a blackberry curve as well but the iphone is the best for media…

i download all my media from IPHONE NOVA.. wow the best they said it.. officially the 1st iphone download service ..

http://www.J-winzo.com

im trying to fill up my 8gb of memory with music and movies (long way to go )..LOL