Jobs Jumps on the MobileMe FAIL Bus
It looks like an internal email from El Jobso to Apple employees it quite telling with regards to the current MobileMe situation. What is the MobileMe situation? It’s not good. We’re sure you’ve ready about the many, many problems that many, many people are having with the service. You’ve also likely read that people are dropping their MobileMe accounts left and right. Apparently Apple has noticed a bit of an issue as well and Jobs took it upon himself to circulate a “my bad” to his troops. In the note, Jobs acknowledges that Apple went about it all wrong. As opposed to dropping the unproven service in its entirety to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 3G, Apple might have considered a gradual piecemeal release starting with iPhone sync and then slowly adding additional services. From El Capitán:
It was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store. We all had more than enough to do, and MobileMe could have been delayed without consequence.
Well, you know what they say about hindsight. Apple has hardly given up on the service of course and it is reportedly working very hard to remedy the situation by year’s end. The MobileMe team has gone through a bit of a reorganization and all internet services including iTunes, the App Store and MobileMe will now be headed up by Eddy Cue, formerly the VP of iTunes. It would be hard to argue that Cue hasn’t done a bang up job with iTunes and we expect he will fair just fine in his new role. Jobs closes the email by saying:
The MobileMe launch clearly demonstrates that we have more to learn about Internet services and learn we will. The vision of MobileMe is both exciting and ambitious, and we will press on to make it a service we are all proud of by the end of this year.
Fair enough.
Tags: Apple, Email, MobileMe, PIM, Rumors, Services, steve jobs, Sync
This ‘leaked’ e-mail just comes off as staged to me. It looks like it was written specifically to be read indirectly by the public, and in turn somehow Jobs and by extension Apple would come out looking like good guys.
Permalink | Reply
Yup!!
Permalink | Reply
wow! That takes some balls. Hope job’s-n-crew come back strong!
Permalink | Reply
Breaking silence.
Good PR spin. iPhone 3G failed me in ways that I’ve well documented here. So did (does) mobileme. This is an appropriate and effective mea culpa. I don’t know what else people want. I’m still not returning to the iPhone. But their business acumen is clear.
Resuming silence.
Permalink | Reply
if that is the case Albert, and I said the same thing to myself as I read it; it was pretty smart to do it that way. No?
Permalink | Reply
When was the last time the market saw an ounce of honest, forthright contrition from MS or Palm or Moto or … ?
Some (formerly) silent folks are such sad, little victims.
Permalink | Reply
HNIC,
I don’t think it was necessarily a dumb way to do it, but it insults my intelligence somewhat if this was purposefully leaked. I’d always prefer a company be straight up with me as a consumer if they want my money.
The best way to apologize for continued subpar performance is not, in my opinion, to indirectly release a statement to the public that initially might stir sympathy for Apple’s situation. The best way to apologize for continued subpar performance is, again in my opinion, to simply apologize for continued subpar performance.
This ‘leaked’ e-mail says to me that Apple would rather let their fanboys use this ‘internal’ message as a means to defend the company and the service rather than to actually take the responsibility themselves directly.
And as Riley Freeman would say, that’s b*$@h move, Santa.
Permalink | Reply
wow ony now peopl are waking up to this? reality check appl your you can’t fleece people anymore an with the tight economy people pinching peenies will weigh their options for better stuff an not just the bling factor
all this memo dose is turn fanboys into free pr apoligists.
Permalink | Reply
mobileme, like the iPhone, like the macbook, like any other apple POS is just that. a POS!
enjoy:)
Permalink | Reply
Brilliant spin job by Apple. Nothing more. And Zach (and dozens of other sheep) will give Apple lots of press over it.
Permalink | Reply
The _only_ insult to one’s intelligence is those who have not the ability to deal with non-issues like this from a positive, objective position without the incessant need to namecall others ‘fanboys’ or the like. Funny how the likes of these types lack the wherewithall to manage themselves with any degree of honor or integrity.
Permalink | Reply
BGR Commenters = Apple Haters
I give them the benefit of the doubt. I would not doubt that Jobs is now coming to admitting that they did not do this properly. I wouldn’t call it a failure, as it does have tons of promise and parts of it do work - and all of it will work eventually… but it definitely does not fall into a success category.
Things were pushed hard to coincide with the launch, and both suffered as a result (MobileMe moreso than the iPhone.)
I do agree that it would behoove (sp?) Jobs and Apple to come out with some sort of public saying as much. “I apologize on behalf of Apple and our employees - we did not do this properly and we could have done better for you, our customers. Steps for improvement have been taken, and we will have a working product for you by…” A full page ad? A TV ad (not apple’s style of ad) A statement on Apple.com?
Anything would help them greatly right now.
Permalink | Reply
Backbeat,
Relax. I would try decaf tomorrow. I was merely stating my opinion. I think the e-mail being leaked was staged, giving devoted followers of Apple products the tools they need to defend Apple’s obvious misstep. It’s free PR for Apple, and it’s entirely too clever and smart a move to not have been done intentionally.
At least in my own humble opinion. In this particular instance, I did not mean fanboy in a negative way. I just didn’t feel like typing out devoted follower of Apple products. But I suppose someone as honorable as you and also of your integrity didn’t bother to offer a lowly cur like me that benefit of the doubt.
Permalink | Reply
^ Your suggestion for lifestyle modification is duly noted and now residing where it belongs, ie. with the last bit of spam I last received.
Regurgitating your own opinion must leave a nasty taste in your mouth. A reasonable assumption given the glare on one’s eyes.
No little bitchboy who assumes he’s smarter than the rest of the world gets a free pass, in life or on the internet(s). Of course, ‘bitchboy’ is not meant in a negative way.
Permalink | Reply
I’m not sure where its all headed, but I’m up and running on MobileMe with over 100 mail folders on my email account, over 2000 contacts, and a very busy schedule with 3 interlaced calendars, and all of this is staying in perfect sync with very fast updated changes. I have a home and a work computer, and an iPhone 3g, and when I make a change on any one of the three, it has changed on the others within a minute, or two at the most. I feel like I have true exchange for the first time! Maybe it can be improved and made better, but its working well for me right now!
Permalink | Reply
Breaking silence
@ backbeat
You attacking me? A “sad victim”? I didn’t say I was a victim and I don’t feel like a victim. I tried the iPhone 3G and liked many things about it. But it wasn’t for me. I returned it without incident and that was that. Not a victim. Just not a match.
I agree with the balance of your comments re: this issue in general. So, if I was the object of your victim reference, pls let it go. We’re on the same page.
Resuming silence
Permalink | Reply
Backbeat needs to stop reading the Daily Kos an the huffingtom post lol
Permalink | Reply
People like Backbeat are why I don’t comment much on here. just isn’t worth trying to share opinions with someone who needlessly takes on personal vendettas over blog post comments.
Permalink | Reply
Though some sad souls continue to solely make personal barbs against those who dare view this tiny episode objectively, they never once consider how such ‘failures’ are dealt with by those with the lion’s share of the market. Not once. Not ever. It goes without saying (by them) that MS, Palm, Moto and most others lack the corporate integrity to admit or correct any failure, any shortcoming. Therefore, their lockstep followers never question, never hold accountable those who lead them. No wonder the US has the government it has.
“And all the people said, BAAAHHHH!”
Permalink | Reply
Backbeat,
That’s a pretty broad assumption you’ve got going there. Especially if you had the comments I made in mind while you typed it. I didn’t bring up Microsoft, or Palm, or other companies because that wouldn’t be on topic.
It’s an interesting point, and speaks to fanboyism in its more negative context, but it’s a pretty flat assumption in regards to me because I have no personal allegiance to any particular company.
Permalink | Reply
^ Albert, you ignorant slut …
You’ve already proven that the term _relevance_ means nothing in your mental-sloth-inspired little world, having exchanged it for the misleading, convenient cowardice of ‘on topic’. If Jobs is insulting your intelligence, you’re most certainly insulting ours. The difference is that jobs is addressing a legitimate business performance issue. You’re simply a dime-a-million internet slug who can’t even carry Jobs’ (or Gates’ or Bob-the gas station attendant’s) waterbottle.
Permalink | Reply
Backbeat,
Wow. Just… wow. I didn’t read anything past your insult. You clearly aren’t worth having a conversation with. I apologize for wasting each other’s time.
Permalink | Reply
^ Somehow, I don’t stand in amazement that you’re in shock. When your first direct comment to me was to try decaf tomorrow, you defined and proved that “a conversation” was the last thing on your mind. Idiot.
Permalink | Reply
And I wonder if El Jobso himself has to take some of that blame. I can just imagine him in some conference room, pounding his fist on the table saying that MobileMe HAD to be ready on day one of iPhone 2.0 launch and no excuses would be tolerated. THen when shit hits the fan, he blames people for not raising the issue hard enough to convince him.
This is really a failure of leadership to recognise that MobileMe could have been delayed without the sky falling for Apple. Apple fans (sycophants) were more than happy enough to just have a iPhone 3G. Mobile me would have been a further surprise down the road. All effort should have been put into App store. As Jobsy says, MobileMe could have waited. Too bad he didn’t tell his troops that 3 months ago.
Permalink | Reply
There ya go again. Letting your fantasies get the better of you. Given the void of inspired direction from any of the ‘traditional’ market leaders over the past decade, your sophomoronic potshots are easily understood for what they are.
Permalink | Reply