Microsoft Moves For Long Haul; Apple Needs To Take Notes, Pt. 5

By Chris A. Heidelberg III, Publisher & Managing Editor

    In the final analysis, Apple needs to prepare for the day that Steve Jobs is dead and gone literally and figuratively just as Microsoft is doing now. Sales are great now, but Apple has created a lot of professional jealousy and competitive enemies along the way and they need a makeover now to handle all of its recent success and missteps. If Apple does not develop a social network to help drive more consumers to its computers and devices, and does not build out and market its AppleTv brand it will quickly find Microsoft gaining and even surpassing them with its Zune brand coupled with its Xbox gaming platform which is a sexy Microsoft brand. Don't believe me, ask Sony's gaming division. All it takes is having a product that is great but too expensive for consumers and then someone else develops a cheaper alternative with similar features like the Xbox and Wii.  Does this sound familiar Cupertino? File this lesson under don't let this happen to you because it can if you start believing all of your own press too much.

    Apple cannot afford to take this success for granted and think that things will always be this way because it will not unless their is immediate action taken along with long term planning and action. Apple is already forging alliances with game makers for the iPod. However, I think Apple should create its own gaming portable gaming system that uses touch based technology and interactivity so that it can combine the iPod media with the gaming experience with fitness. This device could work for professional gamers, fitness devotees, casual gamers and even kids. Sony is making the PSP more a true convergence device and Apple needs to create its own portable gaming device that directly take aims at the PSP and make it seamlessly work alone or with any other member of the Apple device or computer family. Apple could use this as an entry to a full scale gaming system that would utilize the Mac interface, touch screen technology, and interactive technology that competes with the Wii and the ability to download, transfer, work in tandem with  and communicate with other Apple products. This would be the killer device and it would be perfect working with the AppleTv which in reality could become that device with some tweaking. All of these devices should also incorporate WiFi and WiMax technology for full online capability and even portablilty.

    To be sure, Microsoft is on the move, but Apple needs to take notes for the long haul and learn from Microsofts struggles aned success during this decade because Apple is now like Microsoft was at the end of the 1990 and being hunted is harder than hunting. Remember, Microsoft was only saved from being dismantled as a monopoly by the  George W. Bush's election when the government was more cooperative. Apple has now heard the whispers of monopoly from sovereign nations like France, Norway and others internationally. In fact, some of these countries passed anti-Apple laws and France was the first country even though Jobs cleverly came back with DRM free music and a brilliant op ed piece aimed squarely at the true villains of DRM abuse: the music industry and now the movie studios. Apple needs to declare victory with the media companies and let them fail if they raise prices too high. Besides if you own an iPhone or a more pimped out iPhone iTouch you will be able to watch network shows on the Internet for free too.

 

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