Apple Profiles Twitter, Where Apple is a Trending Topic Talking About Twitter,etc.

You know, Twitter founders, we have our own Mac-Powered Business segments we've been working on. All you had to do was Tweet us that you were a Mac shop...

In Apple's own business profiles section, they've recently added a look behind the scenes at Twitter. It's a fairly mundane article, but the importance of Apple embracing, nay even recognizing a web 2.0 company in this fashion is interesting. Perhaps rather than (or in addition to) a YouTube app, the next iPhone will have a Twitter client built-in...

Here's the link to the Apple article.

An Easy Litmus Test For App Store Approval

image from Geekanoids.co.ukApple found itself in an awkward position last week, as it removed a baby shaking app from the app store. Truth be told, there are other apps that mimic or derive fun from illegal or immoral acts on the store . And as you may have noticed, the usefulness of many of the apps is in doubt as well.

I have a humble solution to these problems, but don't expect it to be implemented anytime soon. There's a simple way to clear up the murky greys of the app store: Apple should simply ask themselves, if this app was made for the Mac, would we sell it in the retail store?

Overnight, the number of apps would significantly decrease (hence why it won't happen) but the faith in the apps as being worthwhile would skyrocket. I believe we could easily get down to say, 2,000 apps without any real loss.

Perhaps Apple could consider this test as the bar for the occasionally rumored premium apps store/section.

Clever New Mac and PC Web Ad

Sorry there's no sound. This is the new ad from Apple with "Mac and PC." Clever, because (spoiler) it uses fake ads for other companies. The humor comes from PC's 1 to 23 steps disguised as being as easy as 1-2-3. Check it out over at NYTimes.com, or watch below:

Apple Retail Layoffs: A Wake-Up Call

Archive.orgLast week, Apple announced a reduction in retail staff of the equivalent of 1,600 full-time positions 1,600 people. As many of you know, everyone involved with TheDigitalLifestyle previously worked for Apple in one capacity or another. Personally, I began as a mac specialist, later as a part of store management, and finally as a business consultant.

I remember in March of 2004, when I was working as part of an Apple retail store management team, rumors were beginning to swirl that full-time employees would be cut to below 40 hours per week. I remember being shocked. I was young, and "drank the kool-aid" as they say. It shook my bedrock view of Apple's retail initiative as first and foremost a showcase for Apple products, and secondly as a profit-driven retail store.

Those rumored full-time staff changes never came, and I don't know how serious those discussions ever were. What I do know is, it made me weary of getting too comfortable in Apple's retail division.

Last week, Apple announced 1,600 positions would be eliminated throughout retail. This as a time when quarterly results exceeded analyst expectations, and the company saw its best non-holiday quarter ever.

It has felt for some time as if some companies were jumping on the poor economy bandwagon to justify shrinking staffs, and now it appears Apple may be one of them. While some now see light at the end of the tunnel in the economic forecast, Apple seems to be getting these cuts in just before it would look absurd to do so. Jobs has stated previously how key the company views increased/sustained investment in research and development during downturns. It doesn't appear that same investment applies to those "in the trenches," actually closing the sales for the company. 

For those of you working in Apple retail, consider this a wake-up call. You may have more love for the company you represent than anyone else at any other store in the mall. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that the same corporate realities don't apply.

Could Apple Have an NAB Trick Up Its Sleeve?

This week marks the NAB Show in Las Vegas. In the past, Apple has used the event to demo updates to Final Cut, DVD Studio, Color, Motion, etc. This year Apple is sitting out the event, without a booth on the exhibit floor. But does that mean they don't have a surprise in store?

The current Final Cut Studio suite is full of what seems like all the tools a video editor/DVD author/ effects person could want. Of course it seemed that way before they even added Color, which was quite a jaw dropper. And FCS 2 has been out for two years now, beyond the traditional update cycle for the software. As a matter of fact, there's been an update or addition to the pro video apps every year since 2001, except for 2008. 

Maybe Snow Leopard is holding up the delay of a new addition. Or maybe, just maybe, we're closer to seeing a new version than we think. All the way back to 2006 there was talk of a rumored suite codenamed "Phenomenon" which would resemble today's suite, but include the functionality of Shake, Apple's high-end (and largely un-updated) compositing software. At the time, the software was expected in 2008. Overdue, or abandoned? We might know by the end of the week...