Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Not Having a Fucking Clue
When Apple’s iPhone came on the scene, everyone knew it was going to be paradigm shifting device. Cellular device makers like Motorola and LG were going to have up their game and actually get creative with their phones. The sales numbers for the iPhone speak for themselves: over a million sold since its launch in June. And the people have spoken: they’re tired of the same old uninspired designs and functionality of the cellular world.
But somewhere along the way, the cellular companies lost the point. They didn’t take the cue that the iPhone should have been inspiring in a way that makes them want to try new designs and functionality. No, in typical big business fashion, they took the path of least risk and took shots at imitating the iPhone itself.
Verizon will soon unveil the LG Voyager and BlackBerry is working on the 9000. Both of these devices are going to try and ride the wave started by the iPhone, but they’ll fail. Why?
Because while you can create knockoffs and copies and imitations, you can’t easily create cool. And Apple has that in surplus. Whether they’re starting to crap all over that coolness, though, is another post…
I lolled. This looks like quite a decent blog.
The thing is – Theres a fine line between being sensible. And doing business.
If I’m doing business I’m going to look at what is popular. LG done that with the voyager. And they’ve improved it [In this case with a slide out keypad].
Dare I say it – I’m tempted by the LG Voyager. It looks decent and has better features then the iPhone. It looks like the iPhone for people who don’t like lugging a brick of shit around in there pocket.
Look at all the Windows Vista themes for Linux, Mac and XP? Or the OS X themes for Windows and Linux? People try and imitate what is cool. If thats whats popular – Hell, I’m gonna try and sell it. Even if it is a steaming pile of crap. [Vista aswell as the iPhone]
Yeah, You get iDiots who buy stuff because it has the apple on. I agree – these people need to be eradicated from the earth. But unfortunately – they’re the “in” thing at the moment. Apple knows this and exploits it – they just have to stick there name on anything, and they can rest-assured there will be morons waiting at midnight to buy it.
Look at the new generation iPods from Apple. *cough* iPhone without the Phone *cough* They will sell like hotcakes – despite having numerous shortcomings. All because apple is so “cool” with the “in” crowd.
[P.S - Chou is pronounced Chew, and I thought this was someone elses blog. Hence my rather stupid comment.. Sorry
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I know someone who recently got a Nokia N95 – and its one of the best phones I have ever seen – functionality wise. Yet it looks as boring and plain as hell. Its the same sliding design that has been overused for the last year or two. Starting with Samsung – How many variations of the same sliding design can you get?!
I think these iPhones will be the next sliding design – in it for a while until something else “cool” comes along. [In the case of the sliding design - touch screen iPhone clones are going to be the next big thing I think]
I think you might have missed the point of my post, which was that instead of trying to understand (and emulate) the thing that made the iPhone so successful, which wasn’t multitouch or iPod-capabilities or Google Maps but rather the cachet that Apple has accrued, the other cellcos are instead trying to recreate the end result of that cachet. They view their business as one where products are shipped whereas Apple views theirs as one where status is provided. They’re both successful, but one creates adherents and investment and brand loyalty, which is worth so much more in the long run. I’ve never seen anyone stand in a long line and pay ridiculous money on day one for a new LG phone.
Who do you think understands this game better?
It’s not just about features, which can be ultimately copied. It’s about design (industrial, UI, etc.) and coherence in branding.