The iPhone 5 was released last Friday. The much anticipated hysterics, hype, and long lines were all there. And it’s not an official release without the proverbial brawl to cement it into lore, this time on the side of Foxconn workers which ended up stalling production and creating a shortage (which will lead to more intrigue and desire amongst the phone). New Yorkers began lining up for the phone four days before its release. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak continued his tradition of lining up for the phone’s release, this time in Brisbane, Australia. It consumed the weekend’s news cycle:
Predictions thrown out for the iPhone were as much a product of the hype as the phone itself. The bottom number consensus was six million iPhones sold in the first weekend, while the higher ceiling ranged to 10 million phones sold. JP Morgan believed that sales could boost the GDP. This was not only a phone – it was an economic savior. Yet the weekend numbers did not match the initial predictions. There were “only” five million iPhone 5’s sold over the weekend, and Apple stock dropped 1.9% on Monday. The talk of trending Twitter was met with a dud.
Perhaps it would have been made a bigger deal if not what happened on Monday Night Football.
Touchdown Gate and the Next Four Hours on Social Media
Russell Wilson lined up with 8 seconds left in the game at the 24 yard line, his Seahawks down 12-7. He took the snap, dropped back, rolled to the left and heaved a hail mary. And then this happened. And this: Twitter and Facebook erupted for the next several hours. Players from around the league weighed in on the controversial touchdown call, and Packers guard TJ Lang was on pace to make Twitter history. Sonics legend Gary Payton got into the act. Even President Obama weighed in. After the countless Tweets, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell received over 70,000 voicemails.
5 million iPhones, 70,000 voice mails, countless more hours spent arguing – not a bad way to start the Fall.
There’s been plenty of articles and books written about the fragmented times we live in. As Wozniak says in the NY Times article linked above, it’s about feeling apart of a bigger technological revolution. We all want to be a participant in the larger discussion – whether it takes place on television or outside malls.
What’s got you riled up this week?
