Taking "stock" of Apple

Eric Savitz who writes about technology for Barron's said, "as any tech blogger will tell you, nothing drives the page views like posting about Apple. Most-read magazine story last week on Barrons.com? My little 600-word curtain-raiser in this space on Apple's September-quarter results and Mac product launch. Two most-read items on my Tech Trader Daily blog last week? A report on Apple's earnings, followed by live coverage of the company's "Back to the Mac" product-launch event. People devour every scrap of data they can find about this company..."

Consider this a blatant attempt for views from someone who devours Apple information and as you'll see, product. On Sunday my wife and I ventured to the Twelve Oaks Mall Apple Store to buy the new Apple TV. One of the fifty guys in blue t-shirts was extremely helpful in the product education process. Not so helpful when informing us that the product was sold-out. No big deal, we ordered it online that evening. That most recent purchase caused me to take stock of Apple. No, not to buy the stock (fortunately I did that before the $300/share mark) but to take inventory of all products in our household with an Apple logo. It's Halloween scary. We have an ancient Bondi Blue iMac G3 that runs our household finances; two iTouches that allow my daughters to know the words to 4,000 songs (including a few good ones); an iPod Nano that my wife uses to secretly listen to Podcasts and The Carpenters; two white Mac Books that aid in chemistry and Facebook; a silver Mac Book Pro; an aluminum Mac Book that powers this blog; chargers, USB cords and whitebud headphones; an iPad, an iPhone 3Gs and the soon-to-arrive Apple TV. All told over $10,000 in Apple hardware not accounting for purchases at the App Store and on iTunes. Like I said, scary. And all this started 25 years ago when I bought the original Macintosh computer. I sure hope Apple appreciates us!?

Sure I fill my tank every 10 days at the Exxon station, yet by doing a simple household technology inventory I've got a better handle on why Apple is approaching the largest domestic market cap. And I've got a dozen devices to choose from in verifying that fact. Guess it's time to go change into my blue t-shirt. I must be approaching "genius" status.

Experiencing the new Bose VideoWave

Walk into any Costco store and you're immediately in the TV zone. Amazingly 60" screens look small in their cavernous stores. Yesterday I walked into a Bose store at the outlet mall. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just being curious. Immediately the salesperson ushered me into a vault-like home theatre room in the back of the store for a product demonstration. I sat in a chair facing a darkened flat screen television mounted on the wall surrounded by various sized black speakers. After the effects of lightning and thunder filled the room with sound the screen came to life with concert footage, sports action, roller coasters, ... the usual beauty shots with distinctive audio. What was amazing was during the demo the salesperson from Bose went up to each speaker and pulled away black covering to reveal NO speakers underneath. Even the big subwoofer box on the floor magically disappeared.

Rather than painstakingly rigging wire all over the room to individual speakers and a receiver, the Bose folks invented VideoWave. It's actually Bose's first television, a 46" LCD with a secret. Behind the HD display lie sixteen built-in speakers, enough to fill the room with rich, real, and booming sound. The sound comes from left, right and all around. It was quite amazing. They even created an intuitive, non-intimidating remote. Unfortunately at over $5,000 for the whole set-up the price is quite intimidating. But what's is the escape of consumer electronics if not for some new gadgetry to jones for? See - and hear it - if you get a chance.

Big Red (Secretariat)

I vividly remember watching Secretariat's romp home in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. I was seven years-old and little did I know that I was watching a race that would influence me for life. As the movie Secretariat opens today I can proudly call myself one of a small set of fans who know Secretariat's race record, his breeding, his successful progeny and a devoted fan of the sport he "Kinged" for the intervening 38 years. Hopefully this film will excite new-found appeal for thoroughbred horseracing. (The betting part is parimutuel so the more the merrier.) Each spring racing fans will begin talking about the "next Secretariat." There will never be another Secretariat but it's proof that in horse racing hope springs eternal. And I sure hope the movie lives up to my memories.

Off on a true "escape," a Mexican Cruise. Possible postings to come from sea. If not, I'll be back on the case to report on buffets, beaches, and "bandits" in a week. Hasta luego.

Congratulations to the Goodfellows

Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company

This morning the The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit honored Ford CEO, Alan Mulally with the Edward McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award at Tribute Breakfast XXI at Cobo Hall. Congratulations to Mr. Mullaly, the Goodfellows', and all the volunteers of this 95-year-old charity whose sole mission is to ensure that there is “No Kiddie without a Christmas.” Each holiday season the Detroit Goodfellows distribute holiday gift boxes to over 36,000 children ages four through 13 living in Detroit, Highland Park, River Rouge and Hamtramck. Each child receives warm clothing, toys, books, games and candy.

"The more I learn about the Goodfellows, the more I learn how fantastic an organization it is," Mulally said. "It's amazing what happens when skilled and motivated people get together to help others."

The Goodfellows' have a fundraising goal of $1.3 million this year. If you're inspired to support the organization please click the link above.

The Tenth Inning

I'm halfway "home"on Ken Burns' latest. I'll let the PBS write-up tell the story:

The Tenth Inning is a two-part, four-hour documentary film directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. A new chapter in Burns's landmark 1994 series, BASEBALL, The Tenth Inning tells the tumultuous story of the national pastime from the 1990s to the present day.
Introducing an unforgettable array of players, teams and fans, the film showcases the era's extraordinary accomplishments and heroics — as well as its devastating losses and disappointments.
Combining extraordinary highlights, stunning still photographs, and insightful commentary by players, managers, and fans, The Tenth Inning interweaves the story of the national pastime with the story of America.

Good stuff. How do I know? It got my daughter to close her laptop and watch just one screen. If you're looking to get primed for baseball's post-season ESCAPE find a repeat airing of The Tenth Inning on your favorite PBS station.

Door-to-door marketing goes under the door

I had the pleasure of running the ADT Security advertising account in the U.S. for many years. One of our effective tactical tools for the brand (and for the pizza guys) was the simple door hanger piece. I recall the instructions on these programs was explicit about NOT sliding the piece under doors. We took the blue 1's and zero's that form the ADT force-field of protection very seriously. ADT Chile and DDB went the more invasive route as demonstrated in the video. Hope the Chinese restaurants in New York don't see this. Pasar bien.

R.E.M. was right

Earlier this year we conducted a survey on Consumer Escapes. When asked "which of the following do you consider yourself passionate about," religion ranked 14th behind things like food, health, books, movies, and career. No wonder Americans didn't fare so well on this Pew Forum national survey. (To paraphrase R.E.M., that's us in the spotlight losing our religion.)

In our smaller-scale smz research study consumers were looking for "breathing space - a release from everyday activities or responsibilities." 77% strongly or somewhat agreed with that need. Clearly those same adults don't seek out religion to provide that breathing space. So Apple is happy, and the folks who teach about the first bite from the apple, maybe less so.