Comments on: iPhone 4: The art of the planned leak? http://www.bitecommunications.com/2010/04/20/iphone-4-the-art-of-the-planned-leak/ A global communications consultancy Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:08:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill http://www.bitecommunications.com/2010/04/20/iphone-4-the-art-of-the-planned-leak/comment-page-1/#comment-14351 Bill Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:53:32 +0000 http://www.bitecommunications.com/?p=3217#comment-14351 You're not paranoid if they really are out to get you. But, Will, in this case, I think it was just a good old-fashioned screw up by a poor (now terrified) software engineer who was field testing the device. Did you see how they had disguised the device to look like a regular iPhone 3G? Apple is crazy about secrecy, and it has served them very, very well. They are not into openness and fun PR pranks. Sadly. You’re not paranoid if they really are out to get you.

But, Will, in this case, I think it was just a good old-fashioned screw up by a poor (now terrified) software engineer who was field testing the device. Did you see how they had disguised the device to look like a regular iPhone 3G? Apple is crazy about secrecy, and it has served them very, very well. They are not into openness and fun PR pranks. Sadly.

]]> By: Will Willis http://www.bitecommunications.com/2010/04/20/iphone-4-the-art-of-the-planned-leak/comment-page-1/#comment-14349 Will Willis Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:36:02 +0000 http://www.bitecommunications.com/?p=3217#comment-14349 Thanks Erin! And agreed about using a leak as a focus group. I'm no woman (or am I), but even I raised an eyebrow at the iPad name (or is that "raised an iBrow?"). :P Thanks Erin! And agreed about using a leak as a focus group. I’m no woman (or am I), but even I raised an eyebrow at the iPad name (or is that “raised an iBrow?”). :P

]]> By: Erin Bury http://www.bitecommunications.com/2010/04/20/iphone-4-the-art-of-the-planned-leak/comment-page-1/#comment-14348 Erin Bury Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:08:00 +0000 http://www.bitecommunications.com/?p=3217#comment-14348 Great post. From a PR practitioner's perspective this whole ordeal is a dream come true. I mean basically Apple could have taped a "4" to the current iPhone and millions of people would buy it, but the fact that it actually has useful upgrades (folders for your apps!) has made people salivate even more. Pretty much every mainstream outlet has written about it, and the online chatter is deafening. Do I think Apple did it purposely? Probably not. But I do love a good conspiracy theory so I'm not ruling it out. But if it wasn't intentional I think Steve Jobs just learned a valuable lesson about the value of an intentional leak - sometimes a vice-like grip on IP may not be the best tactic. After all if he'd released the iPad plans a few days early perhaps he would've realized that every female on earth cringes every time they utter the name... Erin Great post. From a PR practitioner’s perspective this whole ordeal is a dream come true. I mean basically Apple could have taped a “4″ to the current iPhone and millions of people would buy it, but the fact that it actually has useful upgrades (folders for your apps!) has made people salivate even more. Pretty much every mainstream outlet has written about it, and the online chatter is deafening.

Do I think Apple did it purposely? Probably not. But I do love a good conspiracy theory so I’m not ruling it out. But if it wasn’t intentional I think Steve Jobs just learned a valuable lesson about the value of an intentional leak – sometimes a vice-like grip on IP may not be the best tactic.

After all if he’d released the iPad plans a few days early perhaps he would’ve realized that every female on earth cringes every time they utter the name…

Erin

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