Intel tries to backstop its own roadmaps - Bob Colwell, former Intel chief architect
|
|
|
Ipad 2 will be launched at the BBC
GADGET FREAK Stephen Fry won't have to walk too far to launch Apple's Ipad 2 because the magical event is being held at the BBC.
In another example of how the IT industry could not keep a secret if its profit margins depended on it, the widely reported 2 March launch date is now known to have an event at the BBC at 6pm GMT. The INQUIRER doesn't know for sure that it's for the Ipad 2 or that Fry will be hosting this epochal event but both are bets we're prepared to place.
Other than Fry's short walk for a long cheque we are happy to wildly speculate that the decision to hold the launch event at the British broadcaster is because there is something very televisual about the new drinks tray. Leaving aside the BBC Iplayer app for the Ipad, for all we know mobile telly may be a feature of the Ipad 2.
When we asked the shiny toy maker about attending the event, Apple told The INQUIRER, "As I am sure you can imagine there is huge media demand for the event, we will let you know early next week if we can fit you in."
So that's a no, then. We think that there is a greater chance of Steve Jobs embracing open source, or fragmentation as he likes to call it, after all the stories we've written about the fruit-themed cappuccino company.
Whether it was Jobs embracing Soviet ideology, the fact that he is actually not a Ninja, his Iphone Flaw, or pulled videos of Jobs admitting other people had good business ideas, we're no one's favourite at Apple. Covering the more recent claim that Apple's founder is heading for the big orchard in the sky probably didn't win us any friends either.
We admit that we are sceptical about everything that comes out of the cappuccino company. So like you dear reader, we expect to be watching the webcast that will show a sea of adoring reporters waiting to ask how quickly they can abandon their journalistic principles and give their cash to Jobs. µ
Share this:
Share
What an unpleasant place!
Apple, Google and (even) Microsoft produce great products - all drive the innovation of the others to the huge benefit of us users. If you watched recent BBC Click programs, you would have seen extensive tech coverage of both Android and BlackBerry Playbook (as an example). Was that advertising - no! It was a program about current key advances at MWC. IF Apple are making a key announcement then I, for one, want to see decent coverage - whether it's through the BBC, Webcast, iTunes, .... who honestly cares! If you don't want to watch it, go back to Emmerdale...or the porn channels.
Why anyone could be so jealous and bigoted to gloat over the (ultimately) terminal illness of one of (ONE OF!!!) the great tech visionaries of the past 20-30 years is totally beyond me - unbelievable lack of human decency. Jobs may run Apple but he is also a human being, a husband and a dad! @mycelo - perhaps you'd like to explain your joke to his kids... If you ever get the opportunity to leave your dungeon and breed (God forbid) perhaps you will understand.
Are there ANY tech sites out there where Trolls don't inject their inane "humour" or does the "Inquirer" foster this sort of content...truly the "Daily Star" or Tech Sites. Don't bother flaming me ... I won't be back to see it.
Well wouldn't you be jealous?
Even half of the BBC lot could be queueing up for their free ipads.
Many of our 'up everyones arse' tech media journalists admit to getting much stuff as freebies.
The BBC has many offices as well as television and radio production facilities, the latter often hired out to independent production companies. If you want to broadcast a product launch, a BBC studio apparently is a good place to buy to do it, but I don't know if it goes that far. Perhaps they're just doing it outside. Or perhaps they're flashmobbing Tracy Beaker.
I live in the UK and pay for a TV license. I'd rather not have to pay, but having seen the alternatives (fully commercial like the US, or state run like many of the Arab nations that are currently in revolt) I think that it's the least worst option.
Even as it is much of the BBC's funding comes from sales of it's programs to the rest of the world so it's unsurprising that it's not free of commercial influence (the fact that the UK government sets the licence fee means that there's political influence also) but I'd rather have 55 minutes per hour of advert free programs than 42 minutes per hour with adds like the US.
Licenses have traditionally served one of two roles - safety by proof of competence/fitness (driving licences, gun licences etc.) and fund raising (you think fishing licences are a matter of safety?). Theres nothing unprecedented in licensing TV watching.
You need to pipe down Steve T.
There are 2 possible excuses for your comments;
1) You're not British and don't pay a TV license, therefore you have no idea what it feels like to pay for one company to produce poor and biased material whilst claiming neutrality.
2) You're mentally ill and feel that TV licensing is good and justified.
Think of other uses of "licensing". Gun licensing, car licensing, exotic pet licensing. All these require a modicum of care and though during use - but TVs... the UK needs a North Africa style revolt.
Advertising it's own wares is not a problem - and doing so makes sense, should they advertise ITV programme content instead? - but constantly discussing and publicising commercial products as "news" items is a problem, particularly when the coverage is disproportionately weighted in favour of one particular company (Apple).
I can appreciate that new product launches may be of some interest to members of the general public, in which case why not cover every Android product launch as well? Or WP7? Since very few if any Android products get coverage on the BBC, why is it that Apple should get so much coverage every time Jobs sneezes out a new product?
I'm not an Android fanboi either, just irked by the lack of neutrality shown by the BBC when covering the tech sector.
Has anyone watched breakfast TV lately? It's non-stop advertisements for other BBC programs disguised as features or recycled PR as news.
I would be upset if I actually paid a TV license.
I'm with @Horse on this one. Since when is it OK for a tax-funded public utility to engage in commercial promotions?
News is one thing, but a launch party? Come on! There's reporting a news, and making the news, and this event clearly steps over the line.
Please explain how this is the "neutrality" required by the Royal Charter. Even if Apple are paying for it, it's still nothing but commercial advertising.
And no, this isn't just a dig at Apple, I felt exactly the same way when the BBC devoted a half hour advertising slot to Windows Vista, claimed "soon everyone will be using it ... [because] Windows will be installed on every PC, so Microsoft will make the big sales anyway. That's the genius of Microsoft's business", conducted a sickeningly fawning interview with Ballmer, then were inundated by complaints of bias.
If the BBC is going to operate like a private business, by promoting commercial products, then it needs to start funding itself like everyone else in the private sector, not with "TV license" tax handouts. Period.
You guys make my day!
Why do I love this place? Because they tell it like it is or maybe.... Thought provoking and drawing all of the assholes out of the wood-work as well and having a readership of level-minded, reasonable and rational people too (some of them, anyway).
Let's pee on the Fanbois of every corporate delusion, people! Let's say it as it is! Let no corporation hide under the zsunami of blinded occultism....
Rise yea of the world. Poke your finger in the eye of stupidity; let your neighbour ride with you and lets start seeing a passage instead of a wall!
As the Royal Marines say: "It's a State of Mind"?
Love,
Dave xxx
Getting a bit previous aren't you? Or are you privy to knowledge that the rest of the world doesn't have re SJ's health? Either way marks you as an unpleasant little oik.
I'd be quite happy to settle for plain neutrality. Reporting the good alongside the bad (yes, Apple do both), which might even be enough to get them the occasional invite.
@Frank
The BBC seem to have figured out something that you haven't. News is something that people are interested in. They allocate broadcast time & web space based on that, and even people like you who don't like Apple seem prepared to watch/listen/read the stuff. Says something doesn't it?
that this comes as absolutely no surprise whatsoever.
No doubt the supposed-to-be-neutral tax-payer funded corporation will devote entire gobs of "News" channel output and web site to this new product, which is only marginally more coverage than they have given to previous launches (or any other utterances of St. Jobs, PBUH).
Fanbois better buy this one, because that's the last flagship Apple product that Jobs was involved on.
@Steve T
INQ doesn't seem that disappointed with the lack of invites, as usual.
And I'd rather see INQ "slagging off" companies instead of drooling over their emotional speeches like most ordinary journalists do.
Firstly the BBC already produces iPad software in the form of iPlayer (it's part of their charter commitment to provide their programs on as many platforms as possible before you start) and secondly how do you know that Apple aren't paying for the use of the facilities?
@Rob
You get many invites from companies that you make a habit of slagging off to their press events? Stop trying to throw your teddy out of the pram and get over it.
So why is the taxpayer-funded BBC promoting a private corporation's products?