Words Matter. Apple Knows.

Connotation, phrasing, inference… these are all subtle colors of writing that affect interpretation. I don’t think enough businesses consider this, but it’s something Apple Inc. demonstrated keen awareness of recently in noting how its computers are no longer the iron fortresses against virus infections they were once portrayed to be.

Words Matter. Apple Knows. Shot via Hipstamatic, edited in PhotoForge2.

Just like the occasional operating system or software update, Apple’s wording regarding just how safe its computers inherently are got an update recently. As reported in The Atlantic…

Apple is downgrading its antiviral swagger. On the company’s site, its former, blunt message — “it doesn’t get PC viruses” — has been replaced by a more generic boast:“It’s built to be safe.”

And the slogan of the past — “Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.” — has been replaced by the much gentler“Safety. Built in.”

–Megan Garber (& in PC World by Hamish Barwick).

More Accurate? Or CYA?

I find it very interesting how such a subtle change in phrasing notes a major shift in thinking. And perhaps Apple’s thought is that this subtle tweak will be enough to still accurately convey some benefit – although it kinda feels like a CYA to me.

Still, I find it encouraging that understanding shades of meaning and texture of words matters enough to be put into practice by one of the world’s leading companies. Words matter. Writing matters.

What do you think? Is this an obvious CYA on Apple’s part, or a legitimately more accurate way of describing its product? What is another example you can think of? Let us hear from you in the comments!

Related articles

• It’s Official: Apple Computers Are No Longer Virus-Free (theatlantic.com)
• Macs and malware – See how Apple has changed its marketing message(Naked Security)
• First apple computer to be auctioned (bigpondnews.com)
• Apple Drops ‘We Don’t Get PC Viruses’ Schtick (wired.com)
• Bad Apples: New Virus Affecting Mac Computers (Stahancyk, Kent & Hook)
• Visiting Apple, Inc. (Mountain View Hotels)
• The Secret Rules Every Apple Store Employee Must Abide By [Humor](cultofmac.com)

Social Media Selectiveness

Where are your contacts landing?
Photo by Håkan Dahlström / Edit by rsmithing.
Click for original.

Are social networks a gamble? Do you spin-off your contacts from one to the next?

With each new social network I actively participate in, beyond simply creating an account for, I become more selective with the people I follow. This started with MySpace. Initially, I followed bands and other folks whose profiles seemed vaguely interesting. I made some real friends (still in touch to this day), and as my offline friends got into social networking, I racked up contacts at a steady clip. This was fun until MySpace started to go downhill with spammers and overly customized profiles. But that was fine, because Facebook was ready with open arms as a fresh start.

Facebook Got This Right

Once on Facebook (just after they opened up beyond universities in 2006), I made it a point only to add familiar folks and people I knew in “real life.” What a difference this made! Pretty soon, I was reading status updates on MySpace about how folks were abandoning their profiles there and going to the cleaner, faster, more relevant Facebook. It’s my theory that this “fresh start” element was part of Facebook’s early mass appeal. That they got other things right also helped — photo sharing is what really sold me on embracing Facebook.

The one exception is Twitter, where following can become a free for all. Being selective there is somewhat counter to the experience, because content there moves so fast. I personally tell folks new to Twitter that until they follow about 200 active users, the experience just won’t be that interesting. I also use lists to sort those I’m interested in, some of whom I may or may not follow.

That said, I’ve been selective about my Instagram, LinkedIn, and nowPinterest accounts. As I’ve become familiar with Pinterest, I’ve found the experience at the site more rewarding now that I have a stream of cool and inspiring images coming in– rather than lame pictures from folks I don’t even know (or may actually know, but whose tastes don’t match mine).

So did LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another example of the fresh start approach, at least in my experience. The longer I’m there, the more steadily my colleagues trickle in. And I can truly say I’ve worked with, done business with, or somehow professionally interacted with each contact there. For me, LinkedIn represents quality over quantity rather than a numbers game.

Who’s Next?

My theory is that Pinterest will experience similar adoption, but these are still early days, and the site is more about visual content than social interaction. Only recently have I gotten serious about the site, and it takes some work to findboards to follow that really catch my eye. I think that’s a good thing for now, since it keeps the content I see relevant – not unlike when I signed up for Facebook after ditching MySpace a few social networks ago.

Did you welcome Facebook as a fresh start from MySpace? Do you welcome Pinterest as a fresh start from Instagram, now that Facebook owns Instagram? Do you follow people on different social networks all the same way, or does your criteria change from one to the other? Let us hear from you in the comments!

Related articles

• The Instagram Story (socialsamosa.com)
• On Our Radar: MySpace Fashion Rolls Out New Features (fabsugar.com)
• Facebook will disappear in the next 5 years – here’s what will replace it(postdesk.com)
• MySpace set to relaunch in late 2012 (slashgear.com)
•  3 Instagram Alternatives: Beyond Facebook’s Instabillion Buy(rsmithing.com)
• You need to become a total slut on social media (chrisabraham.com)
• Facebook will remain king, but social pure plays will fade (socialmedia.biz)

Young Rocker With Dad – Single Image Sundays

My dad took me to my first concert, Johnny Cash at the ’82 World’s Fair, when I was a boy. We sat way up high near the top of a stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I still remember the shine from Cash’s sequined jacket (black, of course).

This photo is one I took this week in that tradition: a dad hoists up his boy to watch Weezer recently in Las Vegas – note the youngster getting in on the fun by giving the “W” hand gesture. It was a great show, and especially cool to see a parent educating his kid in the ways of rocking. Nice Father’s Day image, right there.

Bonus Video: Weezer Covers Poison!

Above: the guys pull off a note-perfect version of Poison’s Talk Dirty To Me.
Sorry for the crappy quality, but it’s still fairly awesome if you ask me.
And I was there. 

What was your first concert? Did a parent take you? Have you taken one of your brood to a rock show? Let us hear from you in the comments!

Related articles

• Happy Father’s Day – Rockers Celebrate on Twitter (loudwire.com)
• Top 10 Animal Dads (thesciencebulletin.wordpress.com)
• In Honor of Father’s Day Metal Dads Weigh In On Balancing Family and Career (loudwire.com)
• Father’s Day Love for a Daddy who Lives in Heaven (Author Jodi Ambrose)

Vintage Cameras Are Cool

Photo taken at Cookie’s Shabbytiques, Winston-Salem, NC. via iPhone.
Click to see more of my iPhoneography at Pinterest.

There’s a lot to appreciate about old cameras. I think they’re an art form unto themselves, having to achieve a goal (photography) in a certain way (conveniently, effectively), with a certain set of rules (workable by human hands). The more I explore photography, the more I’m drawn to these classic designs as a way of connecting with history.

Collecting Classic Cameras = Cool

I left the above comment on Down The Road, a blog by Jim Grey in Indiana. He did an excellent post earlier this year on why he collects vintage cameras, and I re-read it again today. Since that time, I’ve taken the above photo, and have become even more obsessed with photographic shooting techniques, cameras, iPhoneography, photo apps, artists… the list goes on. I say even more obsessed, because I was already far gone in the first place. Here’s what Jim says in return:

These classic designs are absolutely a link to history. Imagining what the world was like at the time one of my old cameras was new is part of what makes me collect!

I like the idea that mechanics, functionality and design all come together in these devices from the past, each of which were the height of technology at some point, and that we can still appreciate them today. And even now, as I’ve pretty muchditched my point-and-shoot camera for my iPhone, the trend continues. I view these vestiges with respect and fascination.

What do you think? Ever owned or operated a vintage camera? Do you collect any vintage gear such as these, vintage suitcases, or any other type of antique? Let us hear from you in the comments!

Related articles

• Is phoneography the future of photography? (itechtunes.com)
• Sixth-Gen iPhone May Get Full HD Resolution Front Camera, Slim To 7.9mm (iphone5newsblog.com)
• 5 iPhone cases for the vintage camera aficionados (digitaltrends.com)
• Vacation’s Vision, Via Hipstamatic (rsmithing.com)
• Vintage cameras get new life from Ilott Vintage (digitaltrends.com)
• With a Nod to Cartier-Bresson… (savorystew.wordpress.com)
• Camera Collecting (popcornonthestove.com)
• Something Cool We Saw Online: Vintage Docks (esquire.com)

East Meets West – Single Image Sundays

Ingredients: Downtown building, Spider in a window macro view, and a feather from a pillow on my black briefcase. I don’t think this is quite what @challengehub had in mind at Instagram for the #ch_archedwindow challenge, but hey; I had fun, and challenges help develop our skills.

Related articles

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• Pinterest and the Fancy Take Battle to the Streets (betabeat.com)
• Sunday Outings (pinkwedges.wordpress.com)

Tide Turns Tide with PR

I love it when fiction and real life intersect in clever, funny, or serendipitous ways. I especially like seeing that happen to the mutual benefit of everyone involved – including the public at large – in terms of culture jamming.

That’s what happened this week with Tide and The Onion. The publication ran a faux story on a product that doesn’t necessarily translate perfectly to social media releasing a “cool new viral video.” About… detergent? You get the joke.

Tide Turns Tables on The Onion

It just so happens that the actual company noticed this post and, in what must have been a Herculean effort of corporate teamwork, crafted a brilliant, self-aware response. And they even publicized it via a promoted tweet. Here’s the video and The Onion’s response.

Kyle Ryan@Kyle_Ryan

So @TheOnion wrote this onion.com/Lc7F52, then @tideresponded with this youtu.be/clt8cjOgUbI. Well played, Tide, well played.

2 Jun 12

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

I hope other corporations can enjoy and learn from this as an example of PR done right. Keep the funny videos coming, Tide.

What do you think? Was this the right move on Tide’s part? Have you heard of the story elsewhere, or does publicity like this actually amount to anything? Let us hear from you in the comments!

P.S. I really love embedding tweets. That’s awesome, Twitter.

Related articles

• Tide Detergent Releases Viral Video In Response To The Onion Spoof(mediaite.com)
• The Onion Describes ‘Cool New Tide Video’ Before Digitas Creates It(adrants.com)
• Check Out This Cool New Tide Detergent Video (adweek.com)
• Tide, P&G, Embraces Onion Lampoon of Their Viral Videos (reelseo.com)
• Tide creates ‘cool new’ video in response to The Onion article (Ragan.com)