media Microsoft in the media: Unfair and unbalanced

[BajiRav]

Source: http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/microsoft-in-the-media-unfair-and-unbalanced-190570?page=0,0

Microsoft in the media: Unfair and unbalanced

Is Microsoft unfairly criticized while Apple, Facebook, and Google get away unscathed? Judge the evidence

I've noticed an unfair, ongoing trend: If Microsoft does something a little off, it gets bashed into the ground for it. But if Google, Facebook, or Apple (all three of which can be categorized, like Microsoft, as The Man in their own rights) missteps, it generally gets mild reprimands and even support from the media and those drinking the Kool-Aid.

The parade of unfair criticism

Case in point is the famous iPhone 4 antenna issue (affectionately termed "antennagate"), where holding the iPhone 4 in a certain way would interfere with the cellular signal. Then-CEO Steve Jobs said, "Hold it differently," and everyone said, "Oh, it's not a design flaw, we are simply not holding it properly."

[ There's plenty of criticism to go around: Galen Gruman shows how Apple's growing power could have a dark side. And Eric Knorr asks why Google stopped doing no evil. | Stay abreast of key Microsoft technologies in InfoWorld's Technology: Microsoft newsletter. ]

We also see a ton of false reporting regarding certain products. One example is when Chrome was crowned the most-used Web browser, according to numbers from the online metrics firm StatCounter. The report tried to show that the browser users preferred on the weekend was the one they love the most: Chrome. This story went viral, but did the true facts reach the same audience? Of course not, even though Microsoft columnist Paul Thurrott gave a full explanation of the situation and helped expose it as false. Unfortunately, the lie was already in people's heads and most likely still is.

Take the brouhaha over the "Smoked by Windows Phone" controversy as another example where a very tiny thing is blown up to huge proportions simply because it is connected to Microsoft. In that case, Microsoft has been challenging folks to beat the Windows Phone OS in a variety of tests. It's been described as more of a "carnival attraction" and deemed unfair, but people lined up to give it a shot and came away impressed with the Windows Phone speed. Ultimately, it served its purpose.

Still, what people remember is the controversy: One guy at one store won the challenge using his Galaxy Nexus by displaying the weather of two different cities faster than the Windows Phone did. The store claimed he had to show two different cities in two different states, and he and the blogosphere cried foul. The guy was eventually offered a new laptop and smartphone as an apology.

This is a simple case of store employees not knowing what to do and making a bad call -- and the press feasting on Microsoft. That story got a ton of (negative) attention for Microsoft.

It is a two page article (print view is ugly) and makes some valid points.

[Amarok]

I'd say that Apple and Facebook get away with things that Microsoft and Google don't. I would definitely say that Google doesn't get away unscathed. Just about any time Google does anything they get criticized by people who are unable to understand how google actually gathers information, how it uses it, and how everything works. Microsoft is in a similar boat in the mobile market at least. Just last week I read an article that more or less implied MS should give up it's mobile ambitions because it has no chance of standing up to Apple, which I think we all know isn't true. Just this morning one of the top TechCrunch people tweeted a few things about the Lumia 900 being an overhyped POS and last week that same person stated that imitating anything Microsoft does is a sure way to fail. So yeah Google and MS get made out to be evil and sinister while Facebook and Apple get away with some seriously questionable stuff. That's just the way of things I guess.

[still1]

I'd say that Apple and Facebook get away with things that Microsoft and Google don't. I would definitely say that Google doesn't get away unscathed. Just about any time Google does anything they get criticized by people who are unable to understand how google actually gathers information, how it uses it, and how everything works. Microsoft is in a similar boat in the mobile market at least. Just last week I read an article that more or less implied MS should give up it's mobile ambitions because it has no chance of standing up to Apple, which I think we all know isn't true. Just this morning one of the top TechCrunch people tweeted a few things about the Lumia 900 being an overhyped POS and last week that same person stated that imitating anything Microsoft does is a sure way to fail. So yeah Google and MS get made out to be evil and sinister while Facebook and Apple get away with some seriously questionable stuff. That's just the way of things I guess.

+1

[migo]

Facebook isn't getting away with stuff, they just have a monopoly, and a good reason Android is doing so well is because it's not Apple. Windows Phone is probably going to get success for not being Apple or Google, and Mozilla's B2G will probably get some success among the crowd that wants real open source software, rather than the lame imitation that Android is.

It's just various degrees of criticism. Note though, that the Xbox division doesn't get criticised - anymore that is. The same stuff that was being said about Microsoft going against Sony and Nintendo in the console gaming arena is being said about Microsoft going against Google and Apple in the mobile arena. They're just as wrong now as they were then.

[ArialBlue]

But Steve Jobs was the messiah, the great inventor, the great philanthropist, etc...!

[Vice]

I stopped reading when he said Apple don't get called on their bad actions. Just look at all the heat they get for what foxconn do with their employees? None of the companies he singled out get a free ride in the media. Just a bad unresearched article.

[migo]

But Steve Jobs was the messiah, the great inventor, the great philanthropist, etc...!

Anyone who believes he was a philanthropist (and I'm not saying you're one of them, my sarcasm detection isn't defective), is quite blind. When he came back to Apple he cancelled all charitible donations the company made. Now that Tim Cook is in charge, Apple has returned to at least making some charitable contributions (matching employee donations up to a certain amount). Steve Jobs was more the Anti-Christ.

[techbeck]

Unfair? You screw up big time or have other issues, its going to get mentioned. Unbalanced?? Umm, yea. If you screw up more than the competition it will be unbalanced but whose fault is that.

[CentralDogma]

I stopped reading when he said Apple don't get called on their bad actions. Just look at all the heat they get for what foxconn do with their employees? None of the companies he singled out get a free ride in the media. Just a bad unresearched article.

I was just going to post this. Don't know what Microsoft has been criticized on worse than Apple's Foxconn thing.

[Denis W. Veteran]

Unfair and unbalanced?

This isn't real life affairs or politics. Nothing to get worked up on really.

[jandler]

Most media depends on ads money to stay afloat. Google is an advertising company and Apple spends billions of dollars in advertising. You don?t bite the hand that feeds you.

[Alwaysonacoffebreak]

I was just going to post this. Don't know what Microsoft has been criticized on worse than Apple's Foxconn thing.

Remember Browser choice? What is it EU's prime court business what MS does/did/will do with their god damn OS. Are you kidding me.

If You're dumb enough not to know how to download another browser without MS doing that for you, you should be kept away from computers in general.

Its like going to Ford's dealership and saying I don't like your engine in that car, swap it for an Doge Viper one because I say so and if not I'll sue your ass.

Edited April 11, 2012 by alwaysonacoffebreak

[excalpius]

Apple spends a fortune on PR and advertising that Microsoft does not.

Since Pro-Apple articles and reports are demanded by Apple to continue this gravy train, and since most networks, magazines, and web sites are literally kept in business and afloat by Apple's marketing money, it's really quite easy to see the end results of this corrupt system.

[techbeck]

Apple spends a fortune on PR and advertising that Microsoft does not.

Actually, MS spends more money on marketing that Apple does.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/27/apple-ad-spending/

[resol612]

Arguments are irrelevant against Apple, because religion, that's why.

[excalpius]

Actually, MS spends more money on marketing that Apple does.

http://techcrunch.co...le-ad-spending/

Thanks for the article. 8)

However, you're confusing business advertising (the vast majority of MS and Dell ad $) with consumer advertising (all of Apple's ad $). All of Apple's success is in the consumer space and that's the only articles you'll ever see on all of the networks, magazines, and web sites that drink from the Apple teat.

I don't believe that figure includes Apple's "secret" promotional costs, which include free equipment to Hollywood TV shows in exchange for air time, etc. etc.

Regardless, though the article tries to cover this up by using %'s - which is ludicrous as Apple's worth has skyrocketed, etc. - the truth is that Apple's PR and marketing spend is ENORMOUS for what was a niche consumer electronics company. It's on the order of what the big boys spend to advertise to business/corporations.

Which means Apple is spending an order of magnitude higher than you'd expect given normal consumer vs. business trends.

[123456789A]

Most journalists hold Apple stock and have a vested interest in making Apple look good. This is evident in the pre-release hype, rumor hype, launch coverage, and other forms of free advertising they give to Apple. Every news program I see is blanketed with news on the latest Apple product. I remember when the iPad 3 came out, the news constantly mentioned its high resolution screen, sometimes using wording right off Apple's own web site.

News on Microsoft seems to be framed in a way of "can it beat Apple's product" rather than on its own merit. Coverage of Windows 8 so far has been incomplete and in many cases incorrect. Coverage of Windows Phone on sites like The Verge are inconsistent, especially their review of the Lumia 900, where they decide that's the point where they wanted to slam the OS and give the phone a lower score than most of the other Windows Phones they reviewed (the guy who reviewed the Lumia has a known anti-MS history, rarely contributed to their MS hub, yet he used his position at that site to be the one to review a hotly anticipated device).

[Farstrider]

Remember Browser choice? What is it EU's prime court business what MS does/did/will do with their god damn OS. Are you kidding me.

If You're dumb enough not to know how to download another browser without MS doing that for you, you should be kept away from computers in general.

Its like going to Ford's dealership and saying I don't like your engine in that car, swap it for an Doge Viper one because I say so and if not I'll sue your ass.

Most people aren't as clever as you are, you should also know that it's a Dodge Viper!

[Growled Member]

It's according to where you go on the web. On some sites Microsoft is treated fairly while on others they are considered evil. There is no one right answer.

[Alwaysonacoffebreak]

Most people aren't as clever as you are, you should also know that it's a Dodge Viper!

Firstly, it's not about being clever but if a person really doesn't know much about PC's he/she is as good off with IE not even needing any other browser, other people who need another browser already know how to download one. Therefor its stupid for even ask MS to implant that bull****. Take it like this, You'll build an program and all of the sudden another progam maker like you is going to sue you and tells you to add his ads into yours, yeah makes sense. At this point other browsers are leeching off of MS with the Browser Choise.

Dodge or not, don't really care, you got the point.