Tuesday, January 09, 2007
UGLIER than UGLY
We were chatting today about Apple's amazing (and amazingly beautiful) new phone, and someone mentioned that it takes serious cojones to remake yourself from a computer company into an electronics company.
But it isn't as difficult a decision for Apple as some may think.
Sure you can look at it from the perspective of declining margins in the computer business, and you should also probably consider Job's eternal focus on hardware design as a main selling point for Apple, but there is a stronger argument for why Apple might shift its focus towards electronics.
Because the electronics out there on the shelves SUCKS. This is a total opportunity for Apple, every single Sony Sanyo Panasonic Motorola Palm Rim Casio Canon company out there should realize that Apple can really screw up their gravy-train with a release like the iphone in their market segment.
I can just see Rim and Palm shaking in their boots (as I write this at 5:00 on the 9th apple's stock has climbed 8% and RIM and PALM have plummeted an equal amount). We are looking at an array of electronics out there that is truly so horrible, that people will spend any amount for a device that just does what they want and isn't embarrassing when they pull it out of their pocket. The iPod has proven that.
So I though that while everyone is "ooohhhing" and "aaahhhing" over the iphone, I would show you the REAL reason why the iphone will do so well: because it has no competition. Because if you walk around best buy it is just depressing: nothing is exciting and nothing makes you WANT to have it.
Here are some electronics devices that are ugly and sick.
The new skype phone. Some have made fun of it, calling it the iClunk.
Designed by Boucheron, the Signature Cobra is made from a pear-cut diamond, a round white diamond, two emerald eyes and all of 439 horrifying rubies. Count 'em yourself if you are a glutton. The price tag is about what you would expect for class-A prime insanity: US $310,000. Well they do have a discounted diamond-only version running for $115,000, if you are trying to cut down on flamboyant frivolity.
Venmill industries has a cd dvd repair unit worth mentioning. It is by all accounts a terrifically useful wondrous device that restores scratched dvds and make life grand again. It should win the "totally spewingly ugly" award. It comes in other ugly colors too: http://www.venmill.com/products/skipaway.asp
Bushnell and XM radio team up to make this radio/gps/portable weather-center combo which is ugly as sin. Part of what I am reacting to here is the gaudy icons, but I am also in a state of deep existential WHY. Why was this built? Who is it for? What am I missing?
From industrial designer Jacob Jenson, a new smoke detector that isn't completely ugly and grimly functional like every other white plastic-grilled model out there - but it is TERRIFYING and reminds me of a Cylon from Battlestar Gallactica. Imagine this in the hallway outside of my little girl's room - I could tell her if she isn't good the smoke alarm will get her. Couldn't Apple release some sort of iHub that is WiFi AND checks the air for pollutants?
Citizen has released the uniquely stupid i:VIRT, a watch equipped with Bluetooth that DOES NOTHING except enabling you to connect to your mobile phone and reject or accept calls, and see who called you. You can't actually talk to anyone a la Dick Tracy, you understand, but at least you can see who you're about to talk to! Wow, all this and unappealing too! Apple should have a field day with watches!
These noise-canceling headphones from Koss are vaguely industrial-Matrix chic, but just totally fails the "but will my girlfriend wear them" test. The wonderful "rko" look they have does have a place, don't get me wrong, but it isn't on my head.
Wii Classic Controller vs. classic SNES controller
We all love the Wii, but the normal controller sure hasnÂt gotten much prettier over the years. Wouldn't you love to see a seriously beautiful gaming machine that evokes the object lust everyone felt for the first imacs?
Some additional reading:
Apple products over the years:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/01/30-years-in-apple-products-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Seemingly stupid apple moves that have since been validated: http://www.webomatica.com/wordpress/2006/10/26/seemingly-stupid-apple-moves-that-were-actually-brilliant/
But it isn't as difficult a decision for Apple as some may think.
Sure you can look at it from the perspective of declining margins in the computer business, and you should also probably consider Job's eternal focus on hardware design as a main selling point for Apple, but there is a stronger argument for why Apple might shift its focus towards electronics.
Because the electronics out there on the shelves SUCKS. This is a total opportunity for Apple, every single Sony Sanyo Panasonic Motorola Palm Rim Casio Canon company out there should realize that Apple can really screw up their gravy-train with a release like the iphone in their market segment.
I can just see Rim and Palm shaking in their boots (as I write this at 5:00 on the 9th apple's stock has climbed 8% and RIM and PALM have plummeted an equal amount). We are looking at an array of electronics out there that is truly so horrible, that people will spend any amount for a device that just does what they want and isn't embarrassing when they pull it out of their pocket. The iPod has proven that.
So I though that while everyone is "ooohhhing" and "aaahhhing" over the iphone, I would show you the REAL reason why the iphone will do so well: because it has no competition. Because if you walk around best buy it is just depressing: nothing is exciting and nothing makes you WANT to have it.
Here are some electronics devices that are ugly and sick.
The new skype phone. Some have made fun of it, calling it the iClunk.
Designed by Boucheron, the Signature Cobra is made from a pear-cut diamond, a round white diamond, two emerald eyes and all of 439 horrifying rubies. Count 'em yourself if you are a glutton. The price tag is about what you would expect for class-A prime insanity: US $310,000. Well they do have a discounted diamond-only version running for $115,000, if you are trying to cut down on flamboyant frivolity.
Venmill industries has a cd dvd repair unit worth mentioning. It is by all accounts a terrifically useful wondrous device that restores scratched dvds and make life grand again. It should win the "totally spewingly ugly" award. It comes in other ugly colors too: http://www.venmill.com/products/skipaway.asp
Bushnell and XM radio team up to make this radio/gps/portable weather-center combo which is ugly as sin. Part of what I am reacting to here is the gaudy icons, but I am also in a state of deep existential WHY. Why was this built? Who is it for? What am I missing?
From industrial designer Jacob Jenson, a new smoke detector that isn't completely ugly and grimly functional like every other white plastic-grilled model out there - but it is TERRIFYING and reminds me of a Cylon from Battlestar Gallactica. Imagine this in the hallway outside of my little girl's room - I could tell her if she isn't good the smoke alarm will get her. Couldn't Apple release some sort of iHub that is WiFi AND checks the air for pollutants?
Citizen has released the uniquely stupid i:VIRT, a watch equipped with Bluetooth that DOES NOTHING except enabling you to connect to your mobile phone and reject or accept calls, and see who called you. You can't actually talk to anyone a la Dick Tracy, you understand, but at least you can see who you're about to talk to! Wow, all this and unappealing too! Apple should have a field day with watches!
These noise-canceling headphones from Koss are vaguely industrial-Matrix chic, but just totally fails the "but will my girlfriend wear them" test. The wonderful "rko" look they have does have a place, don't get me wrong, but it isn't on my head.
Wii Classic Controller vs. classic SNES controller
We all love the Wii, but the normal controller sure hasnÂt gotten much prettier over the years. Wouldn't you love to see a seriously beautiful gaming machine that evokes the object lust everyone felt for the first imacs?
Some additional reading:
Apple products over the years:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/01/30-years-in-apple-products-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Seemingly stupid apple moves that have since been validated: http://www.webomatica.com/wordpress/2006/10/26/seemingly-stupid-apple-moves-that-were-actually-brilliant/
Labels: Apple, Design, Industrial Design
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posted by Sean Cohen @ 4:15 PM
posted by Sean Cohen @ 4:15 PM
