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Phil Schiller is ending his long reign as Apple's marketing chief
Greg Joswiak will now be the face of the iPhone.
Apple says the Hey email app was originally approved in error
Apple isn’t going to let up on Basecamp’s Hey email app anytime soon. In an interview with TechCrunch, company Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said Apple has no plans to change its rules to accommodate the application despite the backlash it’s gotten over the past few days. Basecamp launched the Hey email app for iOS (and other platforms) a few days ago, promising a more organized approach to email.
Apple's Phil Schiller says Chromebooks won't help kids succeed (updated)
Apple's focus might be on its high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro at the moment, but marketing chief Phil Schiller has also chipped in on the lower end of the market -- namely, how he thinks it might affect students. The executive told CNET in an interview that students using Chromebooks are "not going to succeed" in schools due to the systems' limited abilities. The laptops are "cheap testing tools for required testing" that don't properly inspire students, Schiller said. To no one's surprise, he believed the iPad was the "ultimate tool" for K-12 students due to its ability to keep children engaged as well as tools like Swift Playgrounds. "You need to have these cutting-edge tools to help kids really achieve their best results," the exec said.
Apple's Phil Schiller takes ALS "ice bucket challenge", challenges Tim Cook
Have you heard of the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, AKA "Lou Gehrig's Disease") Ice Bucket Challenge? The challenge is a fundraiser to pull in funds for the ALS Association in which celebrities and non-celebrities alike pour a bucket of ice water over their heads and then challenge others to do the same, or make a donation to fight ALS within 24 hours. It's been a whopping success, raising US$4 million in donations since July 29 -- compared to $1.12 million during the same period last year -- and adding 70,000 new donors. Apple marketing head honcho Phil Schiller took to a California beach yesterday to soak himself, then challenged Apple CEO Tim Cook and a celebrity friend to join in on the fun. Schiller sent out three pictures via Twitter showing himself in a dry Boston College T-shirt, dumping the bucket of ice water over his ear, and soaked and smiling afterward. Schiller then challenged his wife Kim, Tim Cook and NCIS: Los Angeles actor Chris O'Donnell to also "take the plunge" and/or donate to the ALS Association. Cook has until 7:57 PM PT tonight to respond. The whole world is watching... TUAW readers can make a donation to the ALS Association and join in on the challenge.
Apple's classic comedy duo: Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller
Looking back on Apple's keynotes ahead of next week's WWDC conference, I've noticed that several of the most enjoyable moments at the company's keynote presentations have been provided by the light-hearted banter between co-founder Steve Jobs and "his only friend" Phil Schiller. The compilation video embedded below gathers several clips from different presentations that captured Steve and Phil enjoying themselves on stage. As much as we all love new features and stunning hardware, it was always refreshing to see Apple's top brass having fun instead of being stuffy and serious during a presentation.
Video Flashback: Steve Jobs and Scott Forstall following the intro of the iOS SDK
When Apple rolled out the App Store in July of 2008, it gave developers the ability to take an already revolutionary device like the iPhone and take it to unforeseen heights. While mobile apps up to that point were often clunky affairs that featured mediocre graphics, poor user interfaces, and relatively limited functionality, the App Store ushered in a wave of polished and innovative apps that forever changed the way we use mobile devices. Looking back, rolling out an App Store seems like a no-brainer, but Steve Jobs, as it turns out, was actually opposed to the idea at first. Recall this excerpt from Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography. Apple board member Art Levinson told Isaacson that he phoned Jobs "half a dozen times to lobby for the potential of the apps," but, according to Isaacson, "Jobs at first quashed the discussion, partly because he felt his team did not have the bandwidth to figure out all the complexities that would be involved in policing third-party app developers." But after months of developers and users alike clamoring for an SDK, not to mention a thriving jailbreak community that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore, Apple had a change of heart. The company finally announced an SDK for iOS at a special media event held on March 6, 2008, about 9 months after the release of the original iPhone. In an interesting look back, the video below shows Steve Jobs, Scott Forstall, and Phil Schiller answering questions during a Q&A session that followed the introduction of the iOS SDK. Funny enough, the App Store that Steve Jobs initially opposed to would quickly become one of the iPhone's main selling points, as evidenced by the ubiquitious "There's an app for that" ad campaign. As it stands now, there are now over 1 million apps on the App Store, with consumers having downloaded over 60 billion apps over the last 5 years and 9 months. So let's just be thankful that Steve Jobs had a change of heart, because imagine life without an App Store, as described by Jobs himself during WWDC 2007. The full Safari engine is inside of iPhone. And so, you can write amazing Web 2.0 and Ajax apps that look exactly and behave exactly like apps on the iPhone. And these apps can integrate perfectly with iPhone services. They can make a call, they can send an email, they can look up a location on Google Maps. And guess what? There's no SDK that you need! You've got everything you need if you know how to write apps using the most modern web standards to write amazing apps for the iPhone today. So developers, we think we've got a very sweet story for you. You can begin building your iPhone apps today.
New emails highlight Phil Schiller's frustration with Apple's ad agency
Apple and Samsung's ongoing trial continues to provide all sorts of interesting tidbits of information. While we previously described how Apple exec Phil Schiller expressed concern over Samsung's anti-Apple advertising efforts, Business Insider earlier today unearthed an email string showing just how testy Schiller got with an ad exec over Apple's own advertising efforts. The impetus behind the following email exchange was a January 2013 Wall Street Journal article titled "Has Apple Lost Its Cool to Samsung?" That very day, Schiller fired off an email to Apple's ad agency stating that "we have a lot of work to do to turn this around." What follows is a rather fascinating back and forth. First up, we have the ad agency suggest a number of battle plans for "bigger ideas" to help Apple reclaim its own "narrative." Under the second rubric, it's suggested that Apple is currently facing a "1997" moment insofar as the company is in dire need of advertising to help resurrect its image. Schiller didn't appreciate the analogy in the slightest, to put it mildly. And here we have Schiller's response. It's almost Jobsian in nature. Schiller is certainly not one to sugar coat anything. Quickly realizing that it's probably not wise to "shock" the head ad exec at the world's most successful tech company, an apology email soon followed. In subsequent emails, Schiller said that he saw progress with the ad agency's iPad marketing ideas but still found much to be desired as it pertained to the iPhone. Notably, in the months that followed this email exchange, Apple's commercial efforts noticeably improved. In April 2013, Apple put out "Photos Everyday", an ad that I think is one of the best iPhone commercials ever released. A similar ad titled "Music Everyday" is just as powerful.
Internal email shows Apple was worried about maintaining iPhone growth in face of cheaper and larger screened alternatives
Phil Schiller wrapped up his testimony today, but not before Samsung attorneys showed the jury an internal Apple email which shows that the company was keenly aware that maintaining iPhone growth going forward was fraught with challenges. According to Ina Fried over at Re/Code, the email in question was penned in 2014 by a member of Apple's sales team and reads in part: "Competitors have drastically improved their hardware and in some cases their ecosystems." Fair points, to be sure. What's more, the email expresses that much of the growth in the smartphone market was coming from sub $300 devices or larger screened devices, two market areas where Apple doesn't currently compete. Other concerns noted in the document was that Android rivals were "spending 'obscene' amounts of money on advertising and/or carrier channel to gain traction." and that mobile carriers had a interest in limiting iPhone sales because of, among other things, the high subsidies they had to pay on the device. Schiller noted that he didn't agree with much of the document, which he said didn't represent Apple policy. Schiller was under oath so perhaps he truly didn't agree with much of the document, but it's hard to dispute that Samsung and other Android competitors have made significant marketshare gains by playing on price and screen size, not to mention inflated advertising budgets. At the same time, it's not as if iPhone 5s sales have been anything but tremendous. Over the past few years, Apple, in an effort to prevent a price umbrella, has made generations old iPhone devices available for free with contract. That's a sound strategy, but it stands to reason that the company should have been equally as cognizant of the fact that Android devices were selling well because a lot of folks do, in fact, prefer larger screens. To that end, the rumor mill has been pointing to an iPhone 6 with a 4.7 or 5.5 inch display.
Phil Schiller to testify in upcoming Apple/Samsung trial
With Apple and Samsung still bickering over their last trial, it's hard to believe that the two companies this March will begin a completely new patent infringement trial over a bevy of accused Samsung products. With the trial date steadily approaching, Phil Schiller will soon have to tuck in his shirt and don a suit as he will be called to testify, according to a recent report from from PC World. "Mr. Schiller will be called to testify regarding design, development, promotion, marketing, advertising, consumer demand for, and sales of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and other Apple products, including the features accused of infringing the Samsung feature patents, the smartphone and tablet markets, the Apple brand and Apple's marketing and advertising efforts," Samsung said in a filing Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. When the higher-ups at Apple take the stand, it's generally a good idea to pay close attention as you never know what type of nuggets may be divulged. During Apple and Samsung's first go-round, for example, Schiller testified that he was floored at how similar Samsung's products were to Apple's. "I was pretty shocked when I saw the Galaxy S phone and the extent to which it appeared to copy Apple's products," Schiller explained on the stand. Schiller further added, "My first thought was they're going to steal our whole product line." While there's no reason to believe that the two companies will reach a settlement agreement before trial begins, that isn't stopping Judge Lucy Koh from trying to facilitate such an agreement. Under court orders, Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun will meet on February 19 in a last-ditch effort to reach a compromise and avoid the time and expense of a completely new trial. Samsung further indicated that it may call Scott Forstall to take the stand as well. Apple and Samsung's first trial yielded a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, including information about the original iPhone development process along with photos of various iPhone prototypes. Perhaps the second trial will be just as enlightening.
Phil Schiller slams Android in WSJ interview hours before new handsets are to be introduced
In another unusual move for Apple marketing: Phil Schiller slammed Google's Android OS as a "fragmented" system in a Wall Street Journal interview. The interview came just 24 hours before Samsung is set to unveil their new smartphone. The new comments also come less than a week after Phil Schiller tweeted that Android users should "Be safe out there." That tweet was in response to a report from F-Secure, which highlighted a number of security and malware issues in the Android operating system. Schiller told the Wall Street Journal that Android users are often running old operating systems and that the fragmentation among Android devices was "plain and simple." He also added that "Android is often given as a free replacement for a feature phone and the experience isn't as good as an iPhone." Additionally, he brought up Apple's strong ecosystem as a benefit to users over what Android offers, something the company started touting with the introduction of the iPod 12 years ago. "When you take an Android device out of the box, you have to sign up to nine accounts with different vendors to get the experience iOS comes with. They don't work seamlessly together." The Wall Street Journal characterized Schiller's comments as defensive. Samsung is widely expected to launch the Galaxy S 4 later today.
Phil Schiller tweets followers: "Be safe out there"
Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller isn't known for using Twitter all that much, but he tweeted a link today and warned his followers to "Be safe out there." What was the link? It was to a Mobile Threat Report (PDF) from F-Secure, which highlighted a number of security and malware issues in the Android operating system. Apple's own iOS mobile operating system was only mentioned in passing in the report. The report shows that in 2012, Android accounted for 79 percent of all mobile threats, while iOS barely registered with only 0.7 percent of threats. Jordan Golson of MacRumors suggests that Schiller's tweet could be part of a move by Apple's PR group to paint the company in a more favorable light.
Phil Schiller: No cheap iPhone in the works (Updated)
We've been hearing rumors of a cheaper iPhone for longer than we'd care to remember, and while everyone from the Wall Street Journal to Bloomberg is trumpeting the budget iPhone horn, Apple's own Phil Schiller is doing his best to put an end to it. TNW reports that in an interview with China's Shanghai Evening News, Apple's SVP of Worldwide Marketing adamantly denies that the company is considering an iPhone with a lower price point. "Despite the popularity of cheap smartphones, this will never be the future of Apple's products," Schiller bluntly states. "In fact, although Apple's market share of smartphones is just about 20 percent, we own the 75 percent of the profit." And that's what it really comes down to: profit. The iPhone 5 sold more than 5 million units in the first weekend of availability. That doesn't sound like a product line in need of an economy-minded addition. The iPhone is Apple's biggest cash cow, and with new, full-priced models consistently selling out at launch, there's absolutely no reason for the company to consider producing a budget model. The older models of the iPhone drop off in price each year, and you can currently get an iPhone 4 for no cost through Verizon, and for US$0.99 through AT&T. So if you're looking for a cheap iPhone, there are already plenty of options on the table. Until Apple sees iPhone popularity wane, we don't expect to see a budget-tier option materialize. Update: Reuters has rescinded its story, noting that the "Shanghai Evening News report [was] subsequently updated with substantial changes to its content." The updated post ends by saying, "No replacement story will be issued." Here we go again.
Tim Cook visits Apple reseller in China
Apple CEO Tim Cook is in China supposedly meeting with government officials to talk about China's IT industry and Apple's role in this burgeoning field. It's not all business for the affable CEO, who used part of that time to soak up the local flavor. According to AppleInsider and M.I.C. Gadget, Tim Cook has been photographed inside an Apple reseller store in Beijing, caught on film with an Apple fan at the Wangfujing Apple store and even spotted talking to a group of fans in an underground passageway. M.I.C. Gadget claims marketing head Phil Schiller is also touring Beijing. Schiller is apparently keeping a much lower profile than Cook as photos of him in public have not surfaced. Details on why he is in China are also not known.
Phil Schiller to provide further testimony to Samsung Electronics
Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will take the stand again in the ongoing legal battle between his company and Samsung. The US District Court for the Northern District of California has ordered both Samsung and Apple to make a number of executives available for "not more than three hours." Schiller was among those requested of Apple. He is expected to appear "no later than November 5, 2012." I can picture him on the witness stand now: "Good morning. I've got some exciting things to share with you today..."
Phil Schiller on the state of the Mac
After Apple unveiled its refreshed lineup of Mac computers on Tuesday, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller talked to Harry McCracken about the Mac and how it has evolved over the years. "This is what Apple has always been about, and the Mac has been about, from the first Mac and first iMac," Schiller said. "It's always been about making the best Mac we know how." Schiller added that the "approach at Apple has always been to make products we're proud to own and use ourselves." He reiterated to McCracken the same line we have heard from CEO Tim Cook -- that Apple "wouldn't make something cheap or low quality." Schiller pointed out that "when the economy is difficult, people care a great deal about the things they spend their money on" and added that "customers have come to understand that Apple's products aren't priced high -- they're priced on the value of what we build into them." You can read the full interview in McCraken's Technologizer column on Time.com.
The iPad mini vs. the competition: fight!
The traditional trail of inventory listings, leaked casings and internal components have teased us enough: it's finally time to get down to the nitty gritty specs, and see how Apple's latest (and daintiest) iPad shapes up to the competition. We've collected a trio of like-sized slabs to pit the device against, just for the fun of it. Read on to see how it stacks up against its peers. For more coverage, visit our Apple Special Event hub!
Apple announces 7.9-inch iPad mini with a 1,024 x 768 display, A5 CPU and optional LTE for $329
Well, hello there, the worst-kept secret in tech. Apple's iPad mini is the company's newest device, a 7.9-inch tablet that's designed to go toe-to-toe with Google's Nexus 7. For now, it'll sit alongside the iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPad, and as it packs the same 1,024 x 768 display as the second-generation slate, apps will carry across without any resizing. While Phil Schiller didn't mention Google or the Nexus 7 by name, the rival slate (and Google's app library) was compared to the newest iOS device. On stage, he claimed that the screen, which is .9-inch larger than the Nexus 7, gives the iPad mini 35 percent more display area than Google and ASUS' collaboration. On the hardware size, the 7.2mm thick, .68 pounds device has been manufactured with an "all new" process that gives it the same anodized edges as you'll find on the iPhone 5. If you were hoping for equal specifications to the big-daddy iPad, you may be mildly disappointed. While it will pack a 5-megapixel camera and an LTE modem (if you opt to buy a cellular model), it's running the last-generation A5 CPU. However, the slower internals and less potent display may account for how the company has been able to squeeze out a claimed 10 hours of use despite the constrained space for a battery. Pre-orders for the $329, 16GB WiFi-only model begin on Friday (October 26th) and will begin shipping on November 2nd. The cellular-equipped models will begin shipping a few weeks afterward on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, with the 16GB base model costing $459, running all the way to $659 for the 64GB unit. %Gallery-169066% For more coverage, visit our Apple Special Event hub!
The iPod touch doesn't have a light sensor because it's 'too thin'
Kevin Tofel over at GigaOm stepped into the sunlight this past week (a dangerous endeavor for any blogger, let me tell you), and found out something strange about his new iPod touch: It doesn't have an autobrightness function. That's because it doesn't have a light sensor at all, apparently: There's only a manual setting for the brightness, and when Tofel went to Apple's product page for the new iPod touch, he confirmed that there's no light sensor listed in the various features of the device. While older iPod touch models do have the light sensor function, this current model apparently does not. Why not? An iDownloadBlog reader named Raghid Harake emailed Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller to ask him that very question, and he got the answer that the device is just too thin. Schiller confirmed again that the device doesn't have a built-in light sensor, and reported that the design makes the whole thing too thin to fit one in. Indeed, Apple lost more than a millimeter in the latest iPod touch design, and part of that space means losing the light sensor. Was the trade-off worth it? For Apple, apparently so. While some users might be surprised when their iPod touch doesn't automatically brighten up or down when moving into different ambient light situations, Apple decided that feature wasn't as important as slimming the device down. Do you agree?
Apple's iPhone 5 keynote event now live for online viewing
San Francisco shook today, but thankfully, it wasn't from an earthquake. In case you missed today's event, Apple took the wraps off of the new iPhone 5, along with a new batch of iPods, a new version of iTunes and a round of price reductions. A replay of the keynote is available on Apple's website, where you can join Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and even the Foo Fighters make waves. So grab your beverage of choice and settle in for two hours of gadget goodness -- you'll find it at the source link below.
Apple's Phil Schiller explains new 'Lightning' port, doesn't think much of NFC and wireless charging
Now that we know much, much more about Apple's latest iPhone, we can't help but wonder why certain features are missing from the iPhone 5. For instance, near-field communication -- standard in many iPhone competitors -- is notably absent. This seems especially odd considering iOS 6's Passbook feature, which acts like a virtual wallet for gift cards, boarding passes, and other such things, would be a perfect fit for NFC technology. "Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today," Apple senior VP Phil Schiller told All Things D. Schiller also explained the reason for the iPhone 5's new "Lightning" port, which allows for faster data transfer between phone and computer, but also requires an adapter ($29) for use with Apple's previous wire standard. Apparently Apple's future lineup would be impossible without the new connecter, according to Schiller. He attempted to assuage concerned consumers with one hopeful promise: "This is the new connector for many years to come." And finally, when pressed on wireless charging -- a main feature of Nokia's flagship Windows Phone 8 device, the Lumia 920 -- Schiller said such a feature offers little to consumers beyond confusion. "Having to create another device you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated," he said. As per usual, the iPhone 5 will charge via USB -- using the new dock connector, of course. But surely, turning a bunch of cables into just one giant wireless charging plate aligns well with Apple's simplicity design, right?
