No one knew what this stuff was this morning. But not only did you have all of your write-ups ready with graphics, you also have the damn computer delivered, unboxed, and a hands-on?
You guys basically had this info likely for hours, and played some game like you were all in the dark. complete with "Ohh the Apple store is down. Wonder what it could be???" act to boot.
Sorry, guys, but I really hope you weren't working in coordination with Apple marketing, because that's plenty shady.
I'd be more concerned about how this affects their neutrality. There's an obvious bias, I guess now we know why...
New macbook looks good although I'm not a huge fan of the new trackpads... and where's the SD card slot? Come to think of it, where the heck is my brand new front row?!
My bet is that Apple went up to Engadget about this, not the other way around. It would also make no sense for Engadget to turn down the offer, as /they do get paid for the page views on this site/ (it's their job). There was probably some sort of non-disclosure agreement involved too so that there was no leaking of information (as we all know Apple is all about secrecy). There's nothing shady about this.
The information was available on apple.com before the store page was updated. Also, large blogs are treated like traditional press. I'm sure there are plenty of newspapers and print media receiving the same shipment of stuff now; and I wouldn't put it past Apple at all to ensure the merchandise was shipped via a courier instructed to deliver to a specific time frame.
Remember, Apple has to be on top form this week to try and steal Microsoft's thunder. Maybe engadget knew beforehand; though I doubt it. Don't think it's tin foil hat time just yet.
"My bet is that Apple went up to Engadget about this, not the other way around. It would also make no sense for Engadget to turn down the offer, as /they do get paid for the page views on this site/ (it's their job). There was probably some sort of non-disclosure agreement involved too so that there was no leaking of information (as we all know Apple is all about secrecy). There's nothing shady about this."
Here is the problem
Corporation goes up to blog and says, "Hey we want to funnel the info for our new products to you, but you need to play like you dont know nothing".
Engadget has the info, but begins to manipulate it's readers with the usual hype-up in the form of:
The Apple store is down act. (complete with Nilay posting a picture of his tip box again AS IF THEY WEREN'T IN ON IT AND DIDNT ALREADY HAVE THE INFO)
Then they "leak" a parts list...While still pretending not to be in on it. Keep the hype balloon going.
Then BOOM flood the blog with Apple stories.
You may not ultimately care, but Engadget has real image issues with readers when it comes to what is seen as a overly cozy/friendly relationship with Apple. Now if they were playing a game to pump up Apple's products that they knew about so blatantly, then what else are they doing, and what are they getting for the "news" they are posting?
If Engadget acted like they knew about everything, what's the point of having an NDA? If they didn't post all the rumours and the news of the Apple store going down, people would begin to develop a negative image of Engadget as a blog that's late on news (and since this is an Apple topic, people would probably develop some thought that Engadget is pro-MS). There's nothing shady about this, the fact that you don't see this with other devices like the HTC Hero, Zune HD is because those companies are a lot more public with their products so a hands-on is done at a press-conference.
Ah, yes the conspiricy theorists - and I suppose the statement: "Ports are looking pretty dismal -- there's no FireWire, no SD card slot, no dedicated line-in. Instead you get just two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, and a combo headphone / line-in jack. That's pretty weak in a thousand-dollar machine." was straight from Apple's marketing dept. too?
Let's be clear -- we didn't have any information on this stuff when I put up the store post, and our tips inbox really was flooded. We also didn't have the machines. I picked up the review units from Apple at 1210PM, after the PR went up, and raced to our offices to get these hands-on up. We've done similar for any number of big product launches, from any company you can think of. No conspiracy, just us trying to get this stuff in front of you as fast and as best as we can.
Apple has historically liked to put on a show. And media centers like to cover it because it brings in hits/readers/ratings.
It's a lot more exciting than Dell silently updating things without telling anyone or the endless Atom machines that are almost all identical. You still see articles about them, but there's not much to add to it. Apple updates everything all at once so that sites like Engadget can know when to shift over reporting focus to them.
It's pretty easy to understand. You'd do the same thing if you were in the business and biased primarily to get viewers. They might not even like Macbooks very much (note they said it was 'pretty weak' for how expensive it is) but it just makes a good show.
Also, because Apple does things differently that also prompts news sites to have to write more information about what they did. They can't just say 'it's the same specs as that DV2 you saw in July' and say pretty much everything you need to know about it.
Very few other companies do anything unusual. Whether it's good or bad it hardly matters. It's still news.
oh right, after months of apple-bashing post after apple-bashing post, and laying the microsoft hype machine mustard real thick, you fools still think engadget is apple biased? hell, even in all these new apple product posts there is a tinge of "eh, big deal.." in each story. i've been reading engadget for years and things tend to go in cycles, but at this point in time engadget seems to be getting more money from MS at the moment.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Hold on a sec!
No one knew what this stuff was this morning. But not only did you have all of your write-ups ready with graphics, you also have the damn computer delivered, unboxed, and a hands-on?
You guys basically had this info likely for hours, and played some game like you were all in the dark. complete with "Ohh the Apple store is down. Wonder what it could be???" act to boot.
Sorry, guys, but I really hope you weren't working in coordination with Apple marketing, because that's plenty shady.
Of course engadget knows this shit before it happens.
Its their job to make hype, keep rumours floating.
Whats the problem with that?
It's called a non-disclosure agreement, and it's likely the only way they were able to get this MacBook so early.
They prob got it from the apple store, as they are saying is available NOW is stores.
It's just a few pics with some quick background thrown together. You act as if it takes hours to put a short blog out..
I'd be more concerned about how this affects their neutrality. There's an obvious bias, I guess now we know why...
New macbook looks good although I'm not a huge fan of the new trackpads... and where's the SD card slot? Come to think of it, where the heck is my brand new front row?!
My bet is that Apple went up to Engadget about this, not the other way around. It would also make no sense for Engadget to turn down the offer, as /they do get paid for the page views on this site/ (it's their job). There was probably some sort of non-disclosure agreement involved too so that there was no leaking of information (as we all know Apple is all about secrecy). There's nothing shady about this.
The information was available on apple.com before the store page was updated.
Also, large blogs are treated like traditional press. I'm sure there are plenty of newspapers and print media receiving the same shipment of stuff now; and I wouldn't put it past Apple at all to ensure the merchandise was shipped via a courier instructed to deliver to a specific time frame.
Remember, Apple has to be on top form this week to try and steal Microsoft's thunder. Maybe engadget knew beforehand; though I doubt it. Don't think it's tin foil hat time just yet.
I agree, it's shady.
"My bet is that Apple went up to Engadget about this, not the other way around. It would also make no sense for Engadget to turn down the offer, as /they do get paid for the page views on this site/ (it's their job). There was probably some sort of non-disclosure agreement involved too so that there was no leaking of information (as we all know Apple is all about secrecy). There's nothing shady about this."
Here is the problem
Corporation goes up to blog and says, "Hey we want to funnel the info for our new products to you, but you need to play like you dont know nothing".
Engadget has the info, but begins to manipulate it's readers with the usual hype-up in the form of:
The Apple store is down act. (complete with Nilay posting a picture of his tip box again AS IF THEY WEREN'T IN ON IT AND DIDNT ALREADY HAVE THE INFO)
Then they "leak" a parts list...While still pretending not to be in on it. Keep the hype balloon going.
Then BOOM flood the blog with Apple stories.
You may not ultimately care, but Engadget has real image issues with readers when it comes to what is seen as a overly cozy/friendly relationship with Apple. Now if they were playing a game to pump up Apple's products that they knew about so blatantly, then what else are they doing, and what are they getting for the "news" they are posting?
@Look_Around_You 100% agreed. This is really suspect and disappointing.
Yeah, that "Ohh the Apple store is down. Wonder what it could be???" act was stupid. And it has *nothing* to do with non-disclosure-agreement.
If Engadget acted like they knew about everything, what's the point of having an NDA? If they didn't post all the rumours and the news of the Apple store going down, people would begin to develop a negative image of Engadget as a blog that's late on news (and since this is an Apple topic, people would probably develop some thought that Engadget is pro-MS). There's nothing shady about this, the fact that you don't see this with other devices like the HTC Hero, Zune HD is because those companies are a lot more public with their products so a hands-on is done at a press-conference.
Ah, yes the conspiricy theorists - and I suppose the statement: "Ports are looking pretty dismal -- there's no FireWire, no SD card slot, no dedicated line-in. Instead you get just two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, and a combo headphone / line-in jack. That's pretty weak in a thousand-dollar machine." was straight from Apple's marketing dept. too?
Let's be clear -- we didn't have any information on this stuff when I put up the store post, and our tips inbox really was flooded. We also didn't have the machines. I picked up the review units from Apple at 1210PM, after the PR went up, and raced to our offices to get these hands-on up. We've done similar for any number of big product launches, from any company you can think of. No conspiracy, just us trying to get this stuff in front of you as fast and as best as we can.
Remember: you might hate us, but we love you.
1 word -- embargo.
Apple has historically liked to put on a show. And media centers like to cover it because it brings in hits/readers/ratings.
It's a lot more exciting than Dell silently updating things without telling anyone or the endless Atom machines that are almost all identical. You still see articles about them, but there's not much to add to it. Apple updates everything all at once so that sites like Engadget can know when to shift over reporting focus to them.
It's pretty easy to understand. You'd do the same thing if you were in the business and biased primarily to get viewers. They might not even like Macbooks very much (note they said it was 'pretty weak' for how expensive it is) but it just makes a good show.
Also, because Apple does things differently that also prompts news sites to have to write more information about what they did. They can't just say 'it's the same specs as that DV2 you saw in July' and say pretty much everything you need to know about it.
Very few other companies do anything unusual. Whether it's good or bad it hardly matters. It's still news.
Sorry Nilay, not buying it. Pandora doesn't go back in the box, it only comes out..
"Remember: you might hate us, but we love you."
Awww, Nilay Patel is like Jesus.
Hey fuck-nuts. Did you even read the post? They're dissing the feature set versus the price. You think Apple coordinated that with them?
oh right, after months of apple-bashing post after apple-bashing post, and laying the microsoft hype machine mustard real thick, you fools still think engadget is apple biased? hell, even in all these new apple product posts there is a tinge of "eh, big deal.." in each story. i've been reading engadget for years and things tend to go in cycles, but at this point in time engadget seems to be getting more money from MS at the moment.