The Irony of Apple’s ‘Think Different’ Campaign
Image courtesy of Mcbrooklyn
Apple’s ‘Think Different’ campaign has been one of the main driving forces behind the brand’s image and cult following. However, it’s actually pretty ironic; a lot of Apple product users are, essentially, identical. The above image illustrates this perfectly. Notice how every Apple fan thinks they’re being different, but there are so many Apple fans that this just isn’t the case any longer. It’s actually quite comical to see an image like this.
The irony here being, of course, the fact that it has reached the stage where if somebody truly wanted to ‘think different’, the last thing they’d do is buy an Apple product. The fact that Apple seemingly hasn’t dropped the slogan shows us that the company really does exist in their own parallel universe, with their followers existing there too. It’s not a bad thing by any means, in fact it’s a very powerful marketing tool, but if you take Apple’s attitude that it isn’t “hip to be square” toward their own products, it results in a paradox of cosmic proportions.
Techlust: Google Nexus S
Well here we go, folks; it’s that time again when I’m looking for yet another phone. This time, it’s more of a ‘political’ thing rather than me specifically needing a Nexus S. After all, it will most certainly be a downgrade from my current phone (HTC’s Incredible S) in terms of specs. So why am I selling a high-end HTC for a one-year-old, rather cheap-feeling Samsung?
The main reason I’m pretty sure I’m going to the Nexus S is software updates. I am sick of HTC cutting their customers off after eight months. My phone was released earlier this year and it won’t get an update to Ice Cream Sandwich. To me, that’s outrageous. One of the main problems with Android is the fact that manufacturers like to install custom UIs, which slows down the update process for certain devices, and in some cases prevents an update from being available.
The logical choice of Android phone in this situation would be the Galaxy Nexus, but as I’m a broke student, the Nexus S will have to do. I can’t sell my Incredible S for much, so the cost of me selling it will cover the cost of a brand new Nexus S off Amazon perfectly. The Nexus S will get ICS within the next few months, and it’ll probably get the next release of Android after that (most likely another eighteen months away); this makes it the only future-proof phone that I can realistically consider buying. The only real issue I originally saw with the Nexus S replacing my current device was the lack of HD video capture on its five megapixel camera, but the amount of phone photography I do is minimal, and for decent shots I’ll just use my Fujifilm S1600.
I’m also fed up of HTC Sense slowing my phone down; something that was previously aesthetically-pleasing for me has just turned into a CPU hog/graphical nightmare of a UI. Stock Android is so much faster, and the Nexus S also has some pretty powerful graphics processing power.
So at the end of the day, I’m happy to slightly downgrade my device for something that I feel will last me longer, and that will give me less grief. My current phone is like a Ferrari - powerful, but has a lot of flaws; the Nexus S is more of an Audi R8 - a sensible, slick, and reliable alternative. As a daily driver, I’ll happily take the R8 over a Ferrari.
Look out for my final decision on Twitter over the next few weeks.
No longer the Easy Target: My Apple Hating stops Here
Steve Jobs resigned as Apple CEO not long ago, and the reaction of most people (myself included) was sadness. I’ve never tried to hide the fact that I don’t like Apple’s business practise. I like companies that are constantly coming up with new things, rather than suing their competitors. However, Steve Jobs brought a consistently high standard of quality to Apple, and that is their major success. The cult following that Apple have is something to be admired (and no, I’m not talking about the fanboys/girls); the fact that people can have so much dedication to a brand is both a powerful tool for that company to utilise, as well as something to be in awe at.
It’s truly heartbreaking to see someone driven to tears by the resignation of Jobs, and I’ve realised that Apple are too much of an easy target, and are criticised rather too much. I know this because I myself am guilty of it. I resent Apple’s attitude toward the rest of the mobile industry; I think they have no respect or consideration for others, but most people out there who buy Apple products are not concerned with the company’s business acumen. After all, isn’t the consumer the most important component? What I saw in that video wasn’t a fangirl, but someone who just loves the brand. I have enormous respect for iJustine simply because she loves the Apple brand yet doesn’t show nor direct any animosity toward those who prefer other companies or platforms. I respect Apple ten times more now than I did yesterday, simply because of some people’s reactions to Jobs’ resignation; it says a lot of good things about how the brand empowers people. People can make a very personal connection to Apple, and Steve Jobs was, and still is, a huge part of that.
Heck, I couldn’t make a personal connection to Google no matter how hard I try.
Making Something out of Nothing: My New Business
Hello all, as you’ve probably noticed I haven’t really embarked on anything major in the past few months. Previously, I would be starting something new every week, but I think it’s time to consolidate all of what I’ve learned into a new business venture.
The Concept
I like the idea of creating something from nothing, and this idea forms the very ‘roots’ of my business. I’ll be creating items of furniture from old parts from cars and other machinery. In short, items that people no longer need will be reclaimed, cleaned and restored to their original condition, and mounted in a way that they will serve as normal household items of furniture. I’ll be creating two different kinds of furniture to begin with; firstly, small items such as bedside tables or even drinks coasters made from smaller components such as car brake discs or drums, as well as larger piece such as a coffee table for the living room, perhaps made from an engine block or other large component.
Wait, this has been done before, right? Yes, it has, but furniture made from reclaimed material is often made from old pieces of wood and garden tools such as spades. I don’t believe there is any aesthetic appeal in these items, whereas the intricacy and details that certain machine components offer will make each piece look truly spectacular to the discerning customer. Prices for the large pieces will start at around £999, and prices for the smaller pieces will range from around £50 to £500. Why so expensive? Well, although each item will be taken from a scrapyard, but I will spend around 72-100 hours preparing the component(s) for use. Any dirt will be removed, and damage will be repaired. I can also offer a variety of different finishes, from the standard machined metal look, and even a layer of paint (whichever colour you specify).
The Process
Let’s say you order a bedside table from me, and you want it to be made from an old car carburettor, for instance. I’ll take your order requirements, and hunt down a carburettor, most likely from a scrapyard. They will charge me around £50 for me to take it off their hands, and I’ll bring it home to my workshop, where I will restore it to its original condition. Depending on the size, I may take two and mount them on top of each other to give you that extra bit of height. I will use files, sandpaper of varying textures, and also a variety of polishes and finishing techniques to make that component look brand new. It will be finished to the highest standard you can possible imagine, and I will spend many hours ensuring that each and every millimetre of the component is smooth and finished beautifully before assembling the piece. Then I will order a round piece of strong tempered glass (to a size you specify, if you wish) and mount it on top of the component. I will also test the design to ensure that it is safe to use, be around, and that it will take a variety of weights and that it remains stable. Once the piece has been assembled, I will check it once again for quality, and have it delivered to you free of charge (UK only at the moment, I’m afraid; overseas customers will have to pay 100% of the shipping costs including import tax).
Of course, I will go into further detail about the range of products I will be making, and hope to have a company name and website up within the next two weeks. If you want to know more, feel free to get in touch with me.
