Comments on: Marketing Monday #1: What will Santa Bring This Year? http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm Designers' point of view Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:43:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Studio 469 » Blog Archive » Marketing Monday #3: Pokerface http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-505 Studio 469 » Blog Archive » Marketing Monday #3: Pokerface Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:52:06 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-505 [...] P.S.1 Studio469 can not be held responsible for addictional behavior. P.S.2 For the ones who have read Marketing Monday #1, just re-read the story above and take in mind that Bill’s last name is Gates and the I-person is also known as Steve Jobs. This round symbolizes media devices, like the Zune and the iPod/iPhone. [...] [...] P.S.1 Studio469 can not be held responsible for addictional behavior. P.S.2 For the ones who have read Marketing Monday #1, just re-read the story above and take in mind that Bill’s last name is Gates and the I-person is also known as Steve Jobs. This round symbolizes media devices, like the Zune and the iPod/iPhone. [...]

]]> By: Studio 469 » Blog Archive » Marketing Monday #2: If Everybody Looked The Same http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-174 Studio 469 » Blog Archive » Marketing Monday #2: If Everybody Looked The Same Mon, 18 Dec 2006 11:09:16 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-174 [...] So designers, tell me, what do you think? Should virtual worlds like Second Life run on pure emotion? Do you think this will last? Or do we need a sprank of rationality/morality/authority to make it ‘the Promised Land’? Why could we live our virtual lifes without these factors and would our real world be screwed without it? What should be the the balance between rationality vs. emotion…. 5% vs 95% or 25% vs 75% or 80% vs 20%? To give you some inspiration I ask you to keep in mind Marketing Monday #1 and watch this over-rational movie. [...] [...] So designers, tell me, what do you think? Should virtual worlds like Second Life run on pure emotion? Do you think this will last? Or do we need a sprank of rationality/morality/authority to make it ‘the Promised Land’? Why could we live our virtual lifes without these factors and would our real world be screwed without it? What should be the the balance between rationality vs. emotion…. 5% vs 95% or 25% vs 75% or 80% vs 20%? To give you some inspiration I ask you to keep in mind Marketing Monday #1 and watch this over-rational movie. [...]

]]> By: Guus http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-96 Guus Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:32:06 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-96 Ok, this is a little off-topic, but I don't care... I've seen the X360 quite a lot of times over here, and I really like it. The controllers feel nice, the thing looks twice as good as the original xbox, and the graphics... oh man, don't get me started. I've seen gears of war, and it's just amazing. But like always with Microsoft, it was released too soon. Everyone heard about the bugs when it was first released, but ok, that happens to everyone. After they got it fixed, they served the Fall Update. Well the quick downloaders had a fall update allright, like their x360 had fallen to it's death, so again scratch one for Microsoft... I actually know about 3 people who own an x360 of which 2 of them are currently in repair for unknown reasons. I think the x360 concept is great, but they should have prolonged the final development phase... Ok, this is a little off-topic, but I don’t care…

I’ve seen the X360 quite a lot of times over here, and I really like it. The controllers feel nice, the thing looks twice as good as the original xbox, and the graphics… oh man, don’t get me started. I’ve seen gears of war, and it’s just amazing.

But like always with Microsoft, it was released too soon. Everyone heard about the bugs when it was first released, but ok, that happens to everyone. After they got it fixed, they served the Fall Update. Well the quick downloaders had a fall update allright, like their x360 had fallen to it’s death, so again scratch one for Microsoft…

I actually know about 3 people who own an x360 of which 2 of them are currently in repair for unknown reasons. I think the x360 concept is great, but they should have prolonged the final development phase…

]]> By: Jan van der Asdonk http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-95 Jan van der Asdonk Thu, 23 Nov 2006 16:22:55 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-95 there is nothing wrong with the 360 [well, at least not a lot]. not being able to stun everyone with your first generation product in a market which already has so much diversity and innovation is not a thing to cry about. the 360 is a good choice for your bucks [though the wii and ps3 are also both a good bang for your bucks]. don't judge an entire company on one product. it's not like i completely hate microsoft because they made the ever-shitty windows........[moment of reflection].........wait! i'm just bullshitting, i do hate micorosoft! and that's not because of one thing....but because of all the windows versions.... there is nothing wrong with the 360 [well, at least not a lot]. not being able to stun everyone with your first generation product in a market which already has so much diversity and innovation is not a thing to cry about. the 360 is a good choice for your bucks [though the wii and ps3 are also both a good bang for your bucks]. don’t judge an entire company on one product.

it’s not like i completely hate microsoft because they made the ever-shitty windows……..[moment of reflection]………wait! i’m just bullshitting, i do hate micorosoft! and that’s not because of one thing….but because of all the windows versions….

]]> By: Alex http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-94 Alex Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:49:25 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-94 Is Microsoft really not able to improve the I-pod? Is this all they can offer? This column opened my eyes regarding this company I thought to be superior on every aspect... Think I will postpone my christmas X-box 360... Is Microsoft really not able to improve the I-pod? Is this all they can offer? This column opened my eyes regarding this company I thought to be superior on every aspect… Think I will postpone my christmas X-box 360…

]]> By: Martijn http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-93 Martijn Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:45:46 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-93 Yeah Scotty I have to agree upon this with Guus, I also think its because of the DRM strategies. However if I were Bill Gates, I would not be proud of such a stupid mistake in software. It's like giving a kid a candy bar and take it back after he's got one bit. I can tell you... This kid will be very disappointed. Yeah Scotty I have to agree upon this with Guus, I also think its because of the DRM strategies. However if I were Bill Gates, I would not be proud of such a stupid mistake in software. It’s like giving a kid a candy bar and take it back after he’s got one bit. I can tell you… This kid will be very disappointed.

]]> By: Guus http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-92 Guus Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:26:16 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-92 Hey Scott, I can totally understand where you're coming from. It's just another one of Microsoft's little software jokes. But if you think about it carefully, you'll see that Apple and Microsoft have the same strategy on this. If Apple preloaded the iPod with songs, they would be erased upon the first connection because of the synchronization. Of course you can prevent this by managing the iPod manually, but you still won't get the songs on your pc. So the mistake in my opinion is not that Microsoft programmed it's software this way, but that they made the decision to preload the songs. Because of all the DRM madness going on, Microsoft just followed the trend, but they should have thought about this before releasing the product. I think it just adds to the list of products that got released before it was quite ready. Hey Scott, I can totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s just another one of Microsoft’s little software jokes.

But if you think about it carefully, you’ll see that Apple and Microsoft have the same strategy on this. If Apple preloaded the iPod with songs, they would be erased upon the first connection because of the synchronization. Of course you can prevent this by managing the iPod manually, but you still won’t get the songs on your pc.

So the mistake in my opinion is not that Microsoft programmed it’s software this way, but that they made the decision to preload the songs. Because of all the DRM madness going on, Microsoft just followed the trend, but they should have thought about this before releasing the product. I think it just adds to the list of products that got released before it was quite ready.

]]> By: Jan van der Asdonk http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-91 Jan van der Asdonk Thu, 23 Nov 2006 11:52:44 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-91 hallelujah brother! amen! hallelujah brother! amen!

]]> By: Scott http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-90 Scott Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:27:35 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-90 Do you think that the kids that get this player over Xmas, sync it, lose the pre-loaded MP3s only to find that Microsoft will only let you have the pre-loaded songs back at $15 dollars are going to like this player? Don't you think that some parents are going to be saying, "Well Johny and Sally, let me call Zune support and see if they can help me fix your new Zune" or do you think they'll just take it back since it has a problem only days after getting it out of the box. Then if they -do- happen to call tech support and learn that this is as designed... What then? I bought a Zune the day it came out from Target, called tech support the following weekend. After dealing with them for 2 days, getting some mis-information, calling back, etc. I have no solution. I check out Zuneinsider.com to find out that there is a playlist available for the pre-loaded songs on the Marketplace. Great, so I can get the songs back? No, not unless I spend another $15 with Microsoft. Bleh. Its going back to the store. I'm buying an iPod and a CD with music I currently want to listen to. F*** exploring new bands through the Marketplace. I'll just head to emusic.com/movies and get -50- free MP3s that I can use on any player (unlike Zune Marketplace and the pre-loaded content that can -not- even be backed up to your hard drive with a brand new Zune if the Zune decides to eat and delete your pre-loaded songs). Do you think that the kids that get this player over Xmas, sync it, lose the pre-loaded MP3s only to find that Microsoft will only let you have the pre-loaded songs back at $15 dollars are going to like this player? Don’t you think that some parents are going to be saying, “Well Johny and Sally, let me call Zune support and see if they can help me fix your new Zune” or do you think they’ll just take it back since it has a problem only days after getting it out of the box. Then if they -do- happen to call tech support and learn that this is as designed… What then?

I bought a Zune the day it came out from Target, called tech support the following weekend. After dealing with them for 2 days, getting some mis-information, calling back, etc. I have no solution. I check out Zuneinsider.com to find out that there is a playlist available for the pre-loaded songs on the Marketplace. Great, so I can get the songs back? No, not unless I spend another $15 with Microsoft.

Bleh. Its going back to the store. I’m buying an iPod and a CD with music I currently want to listen to. F*** exploring new bands through the Marketplace. I’ll just head to emusic.com/movies and get -50- free MP3s that I can use on any player (unlike Zune Marketplace and the pre-loaded content that can -not- even be backed up to your hard drive with a brand new Zune if the Zune decides to eat and delete your pre-loaded songs).

]]> By: Martijn http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-88 Martijn Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:07:17 +0000 http://www.studio469.com/blog/2006/11/marketing-monday-1-what-will-santa-bring-this-year.htm#comment-88 Yes Microsoft has got the budget, but I also think this same budget is the problem at Microsoft. Because when Microsoft got successful, they decided to sell their stocks. Which is financially very lucrative and had to be done, because as a growing firm you're in need of this money. However nowadays these same stockholders that allowed Microsoft to grow are now the ones who are turning down Microsoft innovativeness. Microsoft is ruled by stockholders and these stockholders only want one thing... value for their money... and not in 10 years, not NOW. Every investment should bring minimal risk and should pay off. If you as a manager fail to the stockholders perceptions you'll probably have to go and find a new job. Therefore these days are the hardest for companies like Microsoft. Because you should remember that Apple also had their bad years. (Before mr. Jobs returned) Only after their temporary break down, their stockholders knew that is was important for Apple to have a vision.. which will pay off tremendously in the future. Microsoft is now in a position it just doesn't want to fail. With as a result gives them products like the Zune (and/or Vista?!?). Because you can't tell me Microsofts people can't do better, they're are just trapped in a world where you're not supposed to fail. A world that will destroy creativity. Maybe I should change the title of this column into "What will the stockholders bring this year". Yes Microsoft has got the budget, but I also think this same budget is the problem at Microsoft. Because when Microsoft got successful, they decided to sell their stocks. Which is financially very lucrative and had to be done, because as a growing firm you’re in need of this money. However nowadays these same stockholders that allowed Microsoft to grow are now the ones who are turning down Microsoft innovativeness. Microsoft is ruled by stockholders and these stockholders only want one thing… value for their money… and not in 10 years, not NOW. Every investment should bring minimal risk and should pay off. If you as a manager fail to the stockholders perceptions you’ll probably have to go and find a new job.
Therefore these days are the hardest for companies like Microsoft. Because you should remember that Apple also had their bad years. (Before mr. Jobs returned) Only after their temporary break down, their stockholders knew that is was important for Apple to have a vision.. which will pay off tremendously in the future.
Microsoft is now in a position it just doesn’t want to fail. With as a result gives them products like the Zune (and/or Vista?!?). Because you can’t tell me Microsofts people can’t do better, they’re are just trapped in a world where you’re not supposed to fail. A world that will destroy creativity.
Maybe I should change the title of this column into “What will the stockholders bring this year”.

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