The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

A lot of it has come from me.

However recently I was walking through the Shanghai Apple store when I saw this …

Yep, it’s a ‘how to use an iPhone’ class for the elderly.

Brilliant … almost as brilliant as these elderly people wanting to know how to use it.

I know I’ve said in the past how I admire Apple for developing an operating system that is so intuitive, that even babies know how to use it, but I also have to admire them for making sure they pay attention to their users at the other end of the age spectrum.

Of course, part of this is because the ‘younger audience’ segment has been well and truly exploited – but that still doesn’t take away Apple’s desire to help people – all people – get the most out of their product, without dumbing down their brand.

For example, unlike brands like Samsung and LG they never created a ‘smart phone character’ to appeal to kids – they just made their store experience accessible to kids.

Smart. Intelligent. Sophisticated.

The thing I’ve always loved about Apple is that while they want their products to be in as many hands as possible, they’ve never treated their audience like idiots. They appreciate that if you want to be respected, you better act in a way that can be respected.

While that message is obviously deeply ingrained with the product and retail folks, I would say their advertising team need a reminder – because apart from the odd moment of understated niceness [the recent photo billboard stuff for example], they’ve been acting like a total bunch of tossers. [Or, as this guys says, unendingly arrogant]

If it’s not an iPhone, it’s not an iPhone.

The funnest iPod ever. [OK, so it’s not for the iPhone, but it’s possible Apple at their shite-est]

Purleeese.

On the bright side, I suppose it shows how powerful making a great product can be, because it sure-as-shit wasn’t the advertising that made people want to go out and buy that stuff.

How about that for an endorsement Baz? Well, if you ignore the ad slag-off.