Warning: The following post was written by a PR professional who uses a BlackBerry (gasp!).
So after yesterday’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), I find myself once again thinking about the Joneses and how best to keep up with them. If you haven’t heard, Apple recently rolled out its latest upgrades and features to more than 6,000 of its closest friends.
To put yesterday in context, the tweets and Facebook posts started rolling in early in the day. First, it was strictly the play-by-play:
- Apple releases new MacBook Pro.
- Apple announces improvements to Mountain Lion OS.
Then it was the commentary/love fest:
- Yay! I can’t wait to get iOS 6. New Siri and Maps!
- I absolutely NEED the new MacBook Pro. Right now. Immediately.
Finally, the dissenting opinions started to pop up:
- Noooo! iPhone 4 can’t get turn-by-turn directions or Flyover. : (
- Really? I was expecting more from the Mac Pro. Those updates are pretty insulting.
Great. Now I have “Apple Guilt,” the overwhelming feeling that you don’t have the coolest, fastest, thinnest, slickest technology. I’m stressed that the pixels of my tablet aren’t clear enough. I’m slightly embarrassed that I walked around SXSW checking in on a BlackBerry. I still get eye rolls when I mention I’ve been known to use IE instead of Chrome or Firefox.
One particular tweet stood out yesterday. “Started reading today’s Apple announcement on my cool state-of-the-art MacBook Pro and finished reading it on my stupid obsolete MacBook Pro.” (Chase Mitchell).
So I’m wondering … does social street cred suffer when you don’t have the latest tech? Can someone with a BlackBerry actually have a clue?
(By the way, I’m leaving my BlackBerry behind this year. You can try to sell me on iPhone v. Droid next time we talk.)
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.
(yes, THAT Chris). I have a BB Curve. Recently tried to upgrade it at the T-Mobile store and almost had a heart attack over the sticker shock.
I still have a BB Curve.
Recently at a conference, I sat with another SM Manager who had open her desktop, her iPhone and some kind of tablet (brand unnoticed), and I thought “Really?”
If THAT’S what it takes to be cool and connected (regardless of the brand), I’ll pass.
Not sure that answered your question.
I was at a conference recently and … wait for it … I took notes on PAPER. 🙂 Much to the chagrin of my technology-toting colleagues.