04/22/05
06:52:18 pm, Categories: Internet & Technology
Apple Encourages Journalistic Disintegrity, Pays Under the Table
Here's something coming to light that happens all the time. Apple paid NBC "Today" show tech editor Corey Greenberg $15,000 to praise the iPod during an appearance last July. You can be sure this isn't the first time Apple has done this.
Why is this wrong? For one, Apple obviously paid a bribe to a reporter to hype up their product. And the Today show report did not tell its viewers about the report being, essentially, paid for by Apple, Inc. It's one thing for the show (or a magazine) to receive free products in return for promotion but another thing for a private party to receive cold, hard cash for it. That's what sets this transaction apart from Donald Trump hyping up Toys R Us or some other pathetic company on his show. We know his show gets money for in-show promotions.
Apple is approaching the land of Microsoft business tactics. Wait.. they've been just another hungry giant tech corporation for a while. Except Microsoft is smart about it, while Apple is just "cool".
06:32:28 pm, Categories: Products & Services
New Gap, Inc. concept store: Forth & Towne
Gap, Inc's profits are dropping and they're getting desperate for sales. With their new store, Forth & Towne, they hope to recapture one demographic they've missed more of. 35+ year-old female who used to like the Gap.
I think it would help their current sales if they improved the quality of their apparel. I've never understood why Gap stores are so popular among young folk. I think Gap clothes are made like shit and don't last 2 weeks wearing and washing them a couple of times.
Would it be difficult to spend a few more dollars and make the same shirt or pants higher quality? They'd never do it. It's better for you to spend a few more dollars yourself and buy something that's well made. (Which is one reason why the older demographic left the store - the other reason being the clothes are for kids.)
Gap currently has registered fourthandtown.com, fourthandtowne.com, forthandtown.com, forthandtowne.com, 4thandtown.com, and 4thandtowne.com. Talk about confusing! Is their store "fourth" or "forth"? Is it "towne" or "towne"? I guess I have to be in the secret club of well-to-do 35+ white American women to find out.
