Tuesday, January 22, 2013

THE GENIUS BEHIND YOUR FAB GADGETS

by Roger Pe

If not for an adopted son and a college dropout, the world will not endure queueing in long lines just to own the brand he made famous.

It is also unthinkable talking about that brand without talking about the man who made it synonymous to technology.


Steve Jobs is one of this century’s most admired men, largely instrumental for making Apple the most valuable company in history. At 621 billion dollars as of 2011, Apple alone is now worth more than what 200 countries could produce in an entire year.

In his speech at Stanford University’s graduating students, Jobs inspired millions for his humble beginnings. He delivered many inspiring lines. “Stay hungry. Stay foolish” was among them, which countless people now often quote.

We also got to know that The Beatles was his business model.

“They were four guys that kept each other's negative tendencies in check, they balanced each other, and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. Great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people,” he said.

Jobs announced his resignation as Apple's CEO on August 24, 2011, naming Tim Cook as his successor. He continued working before he passed away a week later.

The demand for Apple gadgets even grew with Jobs’passing away as in the case of the iPhone 5, the world’s newest smartphone.

A smartphone or any item from Apple almost always turns into a spectacle. It’s not because of a massive, systematic PR blitzkrieg. The brand is becoming generic to technology and innovation.

What is smartphone?

A smartphone is a feature-packed device that lets you experience amazing applications beyond calls, texting, capturing photos and audio-video recording.

It allows you Internet browsing, email handling, and a host of other entertainment and amusement apps at blazing speed whose operating system is called android.

Nokia introduced the world’s first smartphone in 1996. Since then, the number of users for the category has grown significantly. For the third quarter of last year, users totaled 1.03 billion, a whopping 47% increase for the same quarter of 2011.


The smartphone market in 2011 was estimated to be worth $219 billion, according to Bloomberg Industries.
The research firm predicts that by 2015, the number will double to 2 billion.

Choosing the best smartphone can be overwhelming as the field is wide open, offering gadget freaks with dizzying choices - from the sleekiest to the most glamorous with a number of brands vying for attention.

Apple, Samsung and Blackberry are three brands enjoying top-of-mind awareness and sales volume in most markets. The first two are also presently imbroiled in copyright infringement suits since the former launched the iPhone.

Apple’s flagship has been the iPhone lines 3, 4, and of late, the iPhone 5. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 are its bestsellers, which according to gadget bloggers: “smashed all-time sales records at retailers the world over.”

Recently Nokia bounced back with its Nokia Lumia and Asha series but still not enough to regain its once lofty standing in the category.

Blackberry on the other hand is reportedly coming up with it big equalizer: The BlackBerry 10, with softwares that according to gadget watchers can rival the best of iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3.

iPHONE 5: THE BIG APPLE SENSATION


Cuddling in sleeping bags and heavy coats, Apple-fanatics in New York camped outside of Apple’s 5th Avenue store as they waited for the doors to open.

Taller, faster, lighter and slimmer than the previous model, the iPhone 5 is the world’s newest conversation piece, undoubtedly the newest must-flaunt gadget.

It has a wider screen with a stunning new 4-inch Retina display, an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance and ultrafast wireless technology - all with even better battery life.

The iPhone 5 has iOS 6, the most advanced mobile operating system in the world, and over 200 new features, including shared photo streams, Facebook integration, all new map apps and a passbook organizer.

Elsewhere, more than 700 applications for pre-order were immediately collected in Tokyo at one time before the product was launched. The same scene happened in major capitals of Asia, Europe and North America.

Tennis sister superstars Serena and Venus Williams starred in a iPhone 5 tv commercial and influential trade magazine Adweek called it “the most enjoyable iPhone tv ad yet.”

iPhone 5 in Manila

Last month, it was Manila’s turn to go crazy for of one of Jobs’ legacies.

iPhone diehards went wild and naturally,
crowds trooped to Globe Telecom’s event at the new Glorietta Activity Center in Makati where celebrities like Kris Aquino, Bamboo and Paulo Avelino greeted a massive audience.


Over at Bonifacio, Global City, excited customers lined up as early as 5:30 a.m. of Friday at Globe’s fulfillment store just to be the first to get their hands on the iPhone 5.

“Finally, the iPhone 5 has arrived in the Philippines and Globe is beaming with excitement to bring the much-anticipated iPhone 5 to Filipinos nationwide,”
Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe Telecom, said.

The telcom company has a five-year history in launching the iPhone. “Globe is definitely the perfect partner of the iPhone 5 with offers going beyond just pricing,” Bithos said.


Bithos emphasized Globe’s strong partnership with Apple after it exclusively carried the iPhone 3 in 2008 all the way to the iPhone 4 in 2010.

In a public announcement, Bithos said Globe now has a stronger and more reliable network nationwide, with “best package” offerings across customizable postpaid plans, rewards and freebies, retail and store experience, value-added services and apps the customers deserve.

Perks and privileges


For as low as P1,799* monthly under Globe’s Unli Surf 999 with monthly cashout of P800, subscribers can maximize the features of the latest iPhone with unlimited mobile browsing and a call and text freebie.

It is also available at P1,999 monthly under Unli Surf P1799 with P200 monthly cashout complete with unlimited data, P800 monthly consumable for calls and texts, and three (3) call and text freebies.

Globe also offers light and easy payment terms for monthly cashouts, where subscribers can avail of the 0% installment at 3, 6, 12 or 24 months for partner credit cardholders1, making the iPhone 5 more affordable.

Existing postpaid subscribers can also enjoy the iPhone 5 with the innovative “Reset” program, which allows subscribers to renew or extend their existing account to get the device at a discount.

Subscribers also get free four (4) months of mobile phone protection under Globe Gadget Care, protecting devices from accidental damage, theft or robbery.

Under its most affordable and customizable postpaid plans offering subscribers a chance to customize their plans with over 21 million possible combinations, subscribers can also avail of the iPhone 5’s unlimited mobile browsing and a call and text freebie.

Globe iPhone 5 subscribers are also eligible to avail 1-year free subscription to GCASH American Express Virtual Card, 50% discount on iPhone 5 accessories, free and exclusive download of mobile apps, giving them access to movies, financial services, account management, and mobile messaging.

On top of these generous Globe subscribers can take advantage of the telco’s modernized network, an upgrade that is now 80% complete.

Aside from its superior plans, Globe offers light and easy payment terms for monthly cashouts, where subscribers can avail of the 0% installment at 3, 6, 12 or 24 months for partner credit cardholders1, making the iPhone 5 more affordable.

Existing postpaid subscribers can also enjoy the iPhone 5 with the innovative “Reset” program, another Globe-first, which allows subscribers to renew or extend their existing account to get the device at a discount.

This means that if a subscriber’s 24-month contract is still not up for renewal to get a new device, a corresponding “reset fee” can be settled to get the iPhone 5 under the same postpaid line.

On top of these genius offers, Globe subscribers can take advantage of the telco’s modernized network, which has already reached almost 80% completion to date, giving customers clearer calls, faster connections, on-time text messages, faster surfing and downloading, as well as more pervasive 3G network and expanded 4G network.

Globe holds a strong partnership with Apple after it exclusively carried the iPhone 3 in 2008 all the way to the iPhone 4 in 2010. This year, pre-orders for the iPhone 5 via the Globe website hit fever pitch, with thousands of subscribers eagerly anticipating to get their hands on the newest iPhone device.

With clearer calls, faster connections, on-time text messages, faster surfing and downloading, including a stronger and expanded 3G and 4G network, Globe just might be genius you’re looking for.