Saturday - What the F**k Was Steve Jobs Thinking??

First off I want everyone to know that I am a 110% Steve Jobs/Apple/Mac person. I have always had a Mac, both lap top and desk top, and I have multiple iPods (Billi Pod, get it?) and a first generation iPhone, courtesy of my super-son Bill. I have always thought that Steve Jobs was a genius, but ... Friday’s debacle surrounding the highly anticipated release of the newest iPhone was something right out of the pages of the Windows “I’ve Got My Head Up My Ass” play book. Yes, Bill Gates has gotta be laughing his billionaire head off, and rightfully so.

As described in the New York Times: “For many people on Friday, the iPhone was the iCan’t. Apple suffered extensive network gridlock Friday morning, as many of the six million users of the original iPhone tried to upgrade to new software while the first buyers of the new iPhone 3G were trying to activate their purchases.”

For new purchasers, Apple instituted a policy that the phone had to be activated in-store in order to prevent a recurrence of the mass overseas exodus of modified phones for unauthorized cellular networks.

Well, all that decision produced was mass chaos, disgruntled customers and a huge PR faux pas.

To add to the PR problems, early performance reviews are highly critical of the lack of battery strength. Yes, the new wireless internet system is 3 to 4 times faster than the woeful AT&T Edge, but it comes with a price - it eats up the battery life, now estimated to be about 4 1/2 hours. And the battery is sealed inside the iPhone, meaning it cannot be exchanged, only recharged.

And what about us, the original iPhone users? Well, technically we can upgrade (when the system will permit) but the upgrade will not include access to the new and faster wireless 3G. Nice Steve, real nice. Thanks so very much.

OK, I have ranted enough. It will be interesting to see how Apple reacts.

Have two shows today. At 2:00 is the Off-Broadway dark comedy “Stain” and then tonight is Bacchae with Alan Cummings.

Gotta go - Oh, Yankee bats - wake the fuck up, OK?

Go Yankees!!

Billi Pod
wanjr@aol.com