Poll: Apple Representative/Contact for Red User

[Lucas Wilson]

AVID is publicly traded.

Most of SOX has to do with financial reporting and accounting. Almost anything discussed regarding RED would not adversely effect stock values or financial fundamentals. I think a disclaimer in a signature would probably be fine.

No it wouldn't. Here's how SOX and Support Guys are tied together in this specific example. The following is a fictitious example.

A support person hears some internal whispering about what Final Cut Pro is going to do in the next release. It's amazing and cool stuff and will change the way editorial companies interact with media.

He talks about it on a few forums. It gets picked up by someone from Gizmodo or Lifehacker and published on their news pages. Because it's Apple and this is huge news, it also gets picked up by some fairly major technical media outlets and gets reported as fact.

Over the next few days, tens of thousands of people buy FCP bundles because of these upcoming features.

The problem is that it isn't true. The support guy has just heard some internal rumors that have nothing to do with actual Product Development.

So now, Apple has just booked Accounts Receivables as assets because of fictitious forward leaning statements.

And that is a SOX 404 prosecution waiting to happen.

So, instead of taking chances like this with their products, because a little whisper about iPhone future features can actually have major impacts on stock price - Apple clamps down *hard* on employee speculation.

I don't blame 'em.

This is more about Apple not figuring out how to handle pro app customer interactions (or caring to). They don't show up in Apple stores all day long and complain like iPod and iPhone users do.

It is both. Believe me, SOX and forward-leaning statements are something that is taken extremely seriously by tech companies.

Lucas
------
ASSIMILATE, inc.
LA, CA, USA

 

[Joel Kaye]

Apple clamps down *hard* on employee speculation.

Take a step back... we're not talking about forward leaning statements we're talking about Customer Service. Apple needs to figure it out with an awareness and training that make employees aware of SOX. Every Apple employee gets trained. And only one or two people need to be cleared to post on the Internet.

It's solvable.

This is more about Apple not seeing a problem. The Internet is changing things. Given that they own iTunes they should know.

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

A support person hears some internal whispering about what Final Cut Pro is going to do in the next release. It's amazing and cool stuff and will change the way editorial companies interact with media.

He talks about it on a few forums.....

Maybe not hiring a teenage girl for this function would do the trick.


Or they should just ditch the whole "pro customer interaction" thing altogether...

 

[Johann Schulz]

Personal high school kid-attacks are the whole problem: rumours and gossip are the reasons you hear nothing from Apple. They used to be open even to other HARDWARE DEVELOPERS! Remember that time in the 90's, those of you who've finished Uni?

Anyway, ten years ago, Apple was on the brink of complete stink, (I wish I had bought shares then, I really thought about it...). They were at something like 1% of total market share of personal computer buys; a bit better with pros. But they were trying everything just to survive.

Apple has always had a core of pro users, and they're not dropping them now, but I think they may be focusing on the masses at the moment, just to make the CO stronger.

Look at the release of Leopard - delayed as they said, so several functions could first be used with the initial iPhone launch. Was that a bit of honesty?

They've gone from 15 to 1 to 10 or 15 percent of the market now, I'm not sure.


And when they tell you about a new product, their support and updates for what IS OFFERED IS FANTASTIC! It's the same side of the coin as RED at this 'release point', except for input, so enjoy it all, you lucky devils! You've got complete openess and an open door once you buy a product from these dudes. (A bit simplified...).

Make the best of it, but I will admit, I sure wish some Ahole from Apple would just acknowledge that we exist at some point before they drop a bomb! Maybe we have some pertinent input.

But they think they've got the best behind their walls, and they're advertising for YOU, so if you think you can make them better, join them for the ultimate realisation!

 

[M Hsu]

vote with your wallets.

 

[Johann Schulz]

I love it! I was reading UNCUT magazine the other day and one dude was asked what the most important thing life had taught him so far was, and he said, "Talk less." I'm still learning! ;>)

 

[Robert Monaghan]

This thread is an interesting read.

My first observation is that everyone thinks they are a pro here. And therefore, should expect pro support. I've worked at pretty high levels in very large studios before. To get pro support from any vendor, you pay a "pro price" for that support. At Sony Pictures, we paid a few million in support contracts. We got (arguably) pretty decent support in return.

How many here are shelling out the bucks to Apple, for "Pro" support?
(thats what I thought.)

Another observation is that everyone thinks 2000+ Cameras warrant some sort of special attention. Canon, Sony, JVC and other "like" vendors have tens (maybe hundreds?) of thousands of cameras out there, working with FCP. Both Pro-summer and Professional. Apple *always* goes for the largest market.

My last observation is that people have only paid a few thousand dollars for the software. Not much different than other packages, or from Adobe, or even Avid. Hell, some may have even bought my package, or Ian Bloom's. I don't see too many people here, laying down the money for a Smoke, Avid Media Composer, or a Filmlight. Those are (IMHO) professional packages. What did you guys expect for $2000?

I have the fortune of working with Apple at many levels. I get to see how they work. They do have feedback mechanisms that work. Yes, they could do more of a "public complaint session" style forum, but it would be more about crowd control, than it would be for decent feedback.

-- Incidentally.. if you have a bug with FCP or QuickTime go to http://bugreporter.apple.com fill in the form properly, complete with regression steps, and you will be a hero to Apple. However, many people won't take the time to properly fill out a bug report/feature request form properly. (I've tried with my own product, but it never got used.)

Apple is a big organization, with lots of moving parts. They are fairly responsive as large corporations go, but keep in mind, "fast for a large organization" still means that changes can take a year.

And, being a 1 man shop, creating some film tools, then supporting a wide range of "professionals"</sarcasm> is a 20 hour a day job. Its really hard work. Its a good thing I like doing it. I know that Apple has a significantly larger base of customers than I do. They have a staggering array of products that are way more sophisticated than mine. I can only imagine the dedication and man-hours needed to build what they build, make it easy to use, then support it.

If you really want Apple's ears. The first place to influence Apple, is by submitting quality suggestions, and bug reports through their bug reporting system. (And not complaints.)

my $0.02

bob...
www.gluetools.com

 

[Johann Schulz]

I'm not sure of what problems you need addressing exactly, or how many others are queued with you, but apple.com does have even more support than you're alluding to. I've been there. I've even talked to some guy in India who tried his best to fix my problem, I kid you not. And it worked.

Apple came out pretty quick and said they had a problem with the new iPhone, fixed it, and moved on. Who wants to wallow?

Build 16 has been released after some griping, and rejoice! It's worth it. But where are those new intel chips in Apples?... And would it make any sense for the RED ONE to take P2 cards? Ha ha! The Devil wears Nada!