Say Hello to Apple Thoughts, the Newest Member of the Thoughts Media Network

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1225812301.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p>I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the fifth Thoughts Media site: <a href="http://www.applethoughts.com" target="_blank">Apple Thoughts</a>. It's been almost two years since we launched our last site (<a href="http://www.zunethoughts.com" target="_blank">Zune Thoughts</a>), and I'm really excited to be expanding our network with another great site. Why an Apple site? For the past three years or so, I've been watching the "Apple tide" rising. By that, I mean the overall impact that Apple has in the market - and I mean <em>real impact</em>, not the mainstream media fawning and hype that accompanies every new product Apple releases. The number of people I know that have switched to Macs is staggering - the painful launch of Vista certainly didn't help things, but Apple is making tremendous gains in the market. Earlier this year, 40% of all notebooks sold at retail over $1000 USD were Macbooks, <a href="http://www.jasondunn.com/are-we-looking-at-an-apple-future-572" target="_blank">and who can forget this picture</a>? The iPhone? Game-changing. Not the right phone everyone, and definitely over-hyped, but it changed the whole landscape of smartphones and what people expect from them. The Apple tide is rising, and as someone who makes a living online, it would be a poor decision for me to ignore that fact.</p><p>Now I know what some of you may be thinking: an <em>Apple </em>enthusiast site? From the guy who really doesn't seem to like Apple very much, and has been known to be quite critical of Apple, iPods, and Steve Jobs in particular? Well, here's the second announcement: Apple Thoughts is the first Thoughts Media franchise site. By that I mean that I will not be in charge of running it: Thoughts Media Inc. provides the server, back-end infrastructure, and monetization support, while the franchisee provides 100% of the editorial content and community management. I've tapped a very talented, opinionated, passionate, Apple-lovin' guy to be the Executive Editor of Apple Thoughts. His name some of you will doubtless recognize: <a href="http://www.insignificantthoughts.com" target="_blank">Vincent Ferrari</a>. Vincent has been a member of the Thoughts Media community for a number of years, and was on the Digital Home Thoughts review team for a time. He's got the right kind of personality to be a fantastic Executive Editor, and if I ever need an AOL account cancelled, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Ferrari" target="_blank">I know exactly who to call</a>.</p><p><strong>Here's a special request to everyone reading this: if you use a Mac, an iPhone, or any product made by Apple, please make a commitment to this new community.</strong> Starting a community is <em>tough</em> work - it's a classic chicken-and-egg scenario where, when someone comes to a Web site with sparse comments and empty forums, they think "Oh, I won't make this community my home, there's no one here". So I'm asking all of you Mac-usin', iPhone-totin' types to read, comment, contribute, share, help, and above all grow the Apple Thoughts community. My hope is that by this time next year, Apple Thoughts will have a vibrant, passionate, helpful community of Apple fans. We need you.</p><p>Please join me in welcoming Apple Thoughts!</p>

[Jason Dunn]

...and for anyone who's curious, no, I still don't own a Mac, nor do I have any plans to buy one. I really am hands-off on this new site. ;)

[Vincent Ferrari]

*cough* Yet *cough*

[Jason Dunn]

*cough* Yet *cough*

I can't say that I've never been tempted to buy a Mac, but thus far I've resisted the clarion call of the reality distortion field. My kung fu is strong! :D

[Snowmation]

Just made for first post over at Apple Thoughts.....just to say I'm hyped to see how things go. Keep up the good work.

[Jason Dunn]

Just made for first post over at Apple Thoughts.....just to say I'm hyped to see how things go. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Snowmation! Every post helps! :)

[The Yaz]

This is great, now I won't have to feel guilty toting my iPod with my PocketPC :D:D:D

[Dyvim]

Good move and I'll be sure to add the new site to my feed reader. I started out following Pocket PC Thoughts and then branched out into Digital Home Thoughts and also following Zune Thoughts sporadically, although lately my enthusiasm for Pocket PC has waned a bit and last year I went reluctantly over to the dark side (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f340/got-iphone-my-wife-86956.html). Good luck and I look forward to some good discussions over on the new forum boards!

[ignar]

Wow, didn't see this coming. Congrats and good luck.

[Craig Horlacher]

I'm not an apple fan but as Jason said, you can't ignore the impact they have made or the fact that the iPhone is a great device. Right now, the iPhone can't replace my Windows Mobile Phone and I still prefer XP to OS X (though I do think the unixish core is better on OS X). Anyway, I think you made a great move! I've already pointed my Apple-loving cube buddy to your new site.

Best wishes!!!

[Jason Dunn]

Good luck and I look forward to some good discussions over on the new forum boards!

You're one of the people I was hoping would get heavily involved with posting on Apple Thoughts. :D

[Jason Dunn]

Wow, didn't see this coming. Congrats and good luck.

I think a lot of people are going to be saying that actually. :D Surprises are fun though! ;)

[emuelle1]

Jason, thank you for the foresight to create "one login to rule them all". I went over to your new AppleThoughts site, and sure enough, my years old Pocket PC Thoughts account is perfectly valid. I have an iPod Touch and I'll do what I can to contribute.

[Jason Dunn]

Jason, thank you for the foresight to create "one login to rule them all". I went over to your new AppleThoughts site, and sure enough, my years old Pocket PC Thoughts account is perfectly valid. I have an iPod Touch and I'll do what I can to contribute.

You're quite welcome. I get the cold sweats when I think about how long and painful the process was to migrate everything over to a single login, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Nice to see it benefiting you. :)

[Cold Flame]

Hey Jason,

I just wanted to compliment you on this decision. Like you mentioned, whether you like Apple or not, you can't ignore just what an impact they have made on the electronics industry as a whole.

I know that I intend to buy a Mac for my next machine, and I hope to get an iPod Touch (32GB) for Christmas, but I don't think I'll ever fully switch just due to playing video games, etc...

At the moment my step-son has an iPod Nano (last gen) and will likely be getting a Shuffle for Christmas coupled with another product the wife and I found. At any rate, in addition to that we're looking at getting him (us? =)) a Mac Mini as they use both Mac's and PC's at school and it will be nice to have one of each around.

At any rate, like I said, congrats. It's nice to see you making the effort to support the other end of the spectrum. I'm sure it will be a move you won't regret and the new community will grow and thrive very quickly... =)

[jgrnt1]

I'm adding it to my Favorites list. Interesting, but timely addition. A few months ago, I went to the Dark Side and bought a 16GB iPhone 3G. I still miss some of the things my WM phone did and the iPhone doesn't, but it is still an amazing device. Since I picked up the iPhone, I've been coming back to PPC Thoughts simply to keep up with the tech and also out of a bit of loyalty -- I think I've been a member for over 6 years now.

I won't ever own a Mac. I build my own PCs and love tweaking them. If Apple ever opens up and lets people build clones, I'd probably build one, just to try it out, but I won't buy a closed system.

[rzanology]

jason????


:: heart breaking in 4 ::

???? :(

[crimsonsky]

Wow - this is fantastic. I'll certainly try to participate in the new site. The others are right - certainly didn't see this coming but I have absolutely no doubt that this will be a fantastic addition to the Thoughts Media family.

Now, don't surprise us with a Blackberry Thoughts site or something! :) (And I say this only because I just bought my 1st Blackberry - a Curve, and I'm loving it).

[petvas]

I just added the site to my favorites! Thank you for this site. I was a fan of PocketPCThoughts for many years but then came the iPhone and changed everything for me...Now I am 100% Mac and I don't think I am going back...

[marlof]

A Mac site? You? Miracles do happen!

[Damion Chaplin]

Jason, you're only encouraging them! Macs really are the bane of my existence. I grudgingly allow them to continue existing so Microsoft doesn't keep sitting on their butts. Competition breeds Innovation, so they're necessary to the technosystem.

However, the constant smear campaign they've been running for the past few years is really out of hand and no company in good concience should practice that form of business. It's nothing short of propoganda and mis-information and it disgusts me. By extension, those that drink the colored sugar water handed to them without question disgust me as well.

And don't get me started on the BS about me not being a 'serious' graphic artist because I use a PC... :mad:

So, to be perfectly honest, here's one poster that won't be wandering over to that TM site...

That said, I wish you all the luck in the world with your latest venture! :)

[Jason Dunn]

I won't ever own a Mac. I build my own PCs and love tweaking them. If Apple ever opens up and lets people build clones, I'd probably build one, just to try it out, but I won't buy a closed system.

Yeah, I feel the same way - I really like picking out the parts that I want to use, being able to swap out hardware whenever I feel like it - even swapping out entire motherboards, etc. Flexibility and choice is really important to me, which is likely why I'll remain a Windows guy for life. ;)

[PPCRules]

Jason, I understand the money thing; gotta go where there's money, and the Mac/iPod/iPhone types have long shown they have plenty of it. I am not in that free-spending league; e.g., I am no way capable of paying $70/month to make an iPhone do it's thing.

But, as I said when the Touch first came out, even on this forum I believe, seeing where Apple might be heading and not seeing Windows Mobile heading anywhere, a 3rd generation Touch could be my replacement device. That would not involve selling myself to Apple in the other market segments.

In that light, though, it seems to me that 'Apple' thoughts is pretty broad. If I were a Touch owner, I wouldn't want to deal with all the other Apple baloney to get info related to my device.

[palur]

I Hope this is not the beginning of the end (windows mobile for Jason!). Though I have been buying only pocket pcs ever since they were marketed, I am open to apple's products but they don't enchant me not even their hype at this point.
I am sad to see an ardent fan like Jason going for APPLE! ANyway good luck Jason. I still can not digest the fact that you are enchanted to the extent of starting an exclusive web site for it Pchhh!

[Jason Dunn]

A Mac site? You? Miracles do happen!

No, the miracle would be me BUYING a Mac, and that's not going to happen! :D Windows FTW!

[Jason Dunn]

However, the constant smear campaign they've been running for the past few years is really out of hand and no company in good concience should practice that form of business.

Agreed 100%. You don't want to get me started on all the things I don't like about Apple. But the reality is, as a businessman running a small company, I can't ignore Apple any longer. If I want to keep growing Thoughts Media, if I want to keep being able to do this for a living, I needed to add an Apple site to the portfolio...and so here we are.

So, to be perfectly honest, here's one poster that won't be wandering over to that TM site...

Heck, I probably won't wander over to AT very often. ;) As Thoughts Media continues to grow, as it must, the number of people who are going to be interested in every site we have will shrink - I certainly don't expect people from Apple Thoughts to hang out over at Zune Thoughts, etc.

[Vincent Ferrari]

I certainly don't expect people from Apple Thoughts to hang out over at Zune Thoughts, etc.

God forbid! ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

In that light, though, it seems to me that 'Apple' thoughts is pretty broad. If I were a Touch owner, I wouldn't want to deal with all the other Apple baloney to get info related to my device.

There's definitely an art to deciding how broad or focused to make a site, but I think we've hit the right balance with Apple Thoughts. Time will tell, but I think that if someone is looking for help/suggestions, having an iPod Touch/iPhone forum (since they're virtually the same thing) gives them a specific enough place to find what they're looking for. Sure, there might be iPod Touch-specific sites out there that will deliver better iPod Touch news, but the more specific the site is, the bigger the danger of having no news to publish, or having your site suddently be rendered useless when the name of the product changes or when it gets discontinued. Trust me: running a Zune site has taught me these lessons. ;)

I think Apple thoughts has an advantage over a broadly-focused Windows Web site (if I were we do a "Microsoft Thoughts" for instance) in that many people that own Apple products tend to own them in groups. I think Apple enthusiasts are interested in everything that Apple does, and that's the mandate that Apple Thoughts has.

[Jason Dunn]

I Hope this is not the beginning of the end (windows mobile for Jason!)...I am sad to see an ardent fan like Jason going for APPLE! ANyway good luck Jason. I still can not digest the fact that you are enchanted to the extent of starting an exclusive web site for it Pchhh!

I don't know how I confused people, but let me re-state this: I do not own an iPhone. I do not want to buy an iPhone. I do not own a Mac. I do not want to buy a Mac. I am not "going" for Apple. I am not going to be posting on Apple Thoughts.

I remain firmly committed to Windows Mobile. I love my Blackjack II. I want a Touch HD. I'm downloading the Windows 7 beta later today hopefully. I remain firmly rooted in the Windows ecosystem.

Lauching Apple Thoughts was a business decision - remember I do this for a living...

[Fritzly]

I am sad to see an ardent fan like Jason going for APPLE! ANyway good luck Jason. I still can not digest the fact that you are enchanted to the extent of starting an exclusive web site for it Pchhh!


Guess what? "Pecunia not olet"
Or: business is business... we are not arguing about Faith here.
Besides I do not like Apple computers and I do not use them; I am tired of the agony of WM, , and I switched to the Iphone.
Note that I have used some kind of PDA since 1982, at the time Casio were the best; later I moved to Windows CE and jumped on the WM boat with the Motorola 200.

When MS will release WM 7, and if it will be better than whatever version of the Iphone, or Nokia wil be available at the time, I will happily switch to WM... until the next better thing of course.

[palur]

I don't know how I confused people, but let me re-state this: I do not own an iPhone. I do not want to buy an iPhone. I do not own a Mac. I do not want to buy a Mac. I am not "going" for Apple. I am not going to be posting on Apple Thoughts.

I remain firmly committed to Windows Mobile. I love my Blackjack II. I want a Touch HD. I'm downloading the Windows 7 beta later today hopefully. I remain firmly rooted in the Windows ecosystem.

Lauching Apple Thoughts was a business decision - remember I do this for a living...

Hurray! Jason. You made my day man! Very good luck with your business venture then!

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Congrats Jason! I suppose since I still have my ipod touch I'll go peep on it every now and then. :P

[David Tucker]

I certainly don't expect people from Apple Thoughts to hang out over at Zune Thoughts, etc.

Send them on over...we'll convert them. :p

[Damion Chaplin]

Heck, I probably won't wander over to AT very often. ;) As Thoughts Media continues to grow, as it must, the number of people who are going to be interested in every site we have will shrink - I certainly don't expect people from Apple Thoughts to hang out over at Zune Thoughts, etc.

Heck, thanks for the honesty, Jason. That's why we like you. ;)

[MikeB]

Am I the only one who had to check the calendar to make sure it is not April 1?

Seriously though, best wishes on the new venture.

[Macguy59]

I just fell over . . . got back up . . . then promptly fell back over again :p Bravo but needing to issue a personal disclaimer (twice no less) seems silly Jason.

[Jason Dunn]

...needing to issue a personal disclaimer (twice no less) seems silly Jason.

I agree, but I also understand why people are shocked. I'm kind of known for being anti-Apple. ;)

[Macguy59]

However, the constant smear campaign they've been running for the past few years is really out of hand and no company in good concience should practice that form of business. It's nothing short of propoganda and mis-information and it disgusts me. By extension, those that drink the colored sugar water handed to them without question disgust me as well.

And don't get me started on the BS about me not being a 'serious' graphic artist because I use a PC... :mad:


Crying foul already? Here's a tissue . . .

[Macguy59]

I'm kind of known for being anti-Apple. ;)


Hence the silliness. Oh well. It's all good. Guess it's time to change my handle to what it is everywhere else (macguy or macguy59)

[wesk]

Jason,

I'm glad to see your business ventures expanding. :) I'll have to take quick look at the site, but I'm like you and like an open system. I've been turned off to Apple products since the Apple II, when I found out I couldn't just replace a bad floopy drive (On a friends Apple II) with an off the shelf floppy drive. :(

Wes

P.S. How soon before we see a G1 Thoughts? :D

Dopod WM Smartphone, Dell Axim x51v PPC

[Fritzly]

I agree, but I also understand why people are shocked. I'm kind of known for being anti-Apple. ;)

Did you edit your post Jason? :-)

[ignar]

Jason,

P.S. How soon before we see a G1 Thoughts? :D



Hmm, androidthoughts.com is registered by Thoughts Media. So it could be the next one when Android takes off. I'm really curious what 95 domains registered by Thoughts Media are.

For you squatters out there, ipodthoughts.com is available. Grab it before Jason does! :D

[Jason Dunn]

Did you edit your post Jason? :-)

Nope, I didn't. I don't quite follow what you mean...? :confused:

[Jason Dunn]

Hmm, androidthoughts.com is registered by Thoughts Media. So it could be the next one when Android takes off. I'm really curious what 95 domains registered by Thoughts Media are.

Yes, that's one of the many domains I own. I don't think I have 95 though? :confused: I have no immediate plans to launch Android Thoughts - I wouldn't run it myself, it would certainly be a franchise operation like Apple Thoughts is.

I've definitely registered some loser domains over the years. Mylo Thoughts anyone? But since domains are so cheap, it's not a big deal to register one and let it expire after a year or two...

For you squatters out there, ipodthoughts.com is available. Grab it before Jason does! :D

No site can use iPod in it's name, at least not without running the severe risk of Apple lawyers coming in black helicopters to get them. :cool: So if someone wants to grab that domain, they're welcome to.

[ignar]

Yes, that's one of the many domains I own. I don't think I have 95 though? :confused: I have no immediate plans to launch Android Thoughts - I wouldn't run it myself, it would certainly be a franchise operation like Apple Thoughts is.


Domaintools says 95, but I guess it's not very accurate.

http://www.domaintools.com/registrant-search/?and[]=Thoughts+Media+Inc. (http://www.domaintools.com/registrant-search/?and%5B%5D=Thoughts+Media+Inc.)

[Tim Williamson]

Congrats on the new site!

Since I'm an official iPhone user now, this is exciting news. Can't wait to see how the new community develops! :)

P.S. I hadn't realized that Vincent was the one behind that AOL video.

[Fritzly]

Nope, I didn't. I don't quite follow what you mean...? :confused:

Nothing important; just a reference to a "comunication" you had received. It was interesting because I did not know that it had already started.
As I said nothing important, just a nuance.
Congratulations for the new site; I am afraid that at last until WM7 will be out I will check it quite often.

[Jason Dunn]

Nothing important; just a reference to a "comunication" you had received. It was interesting because I did not know that it had already started.

You make it sound like Steve Jobs invaded my dreams and told me to launch Apple Thoughts. :D Gosh, I hope that's not why I did it. ;)

[Damion Chaplin]

Crying foul already? Here's a tissue . . .

You, my friend, have just illustrated why I don't like Apple and 'Apple people'.

Oh well... :rolleyes:

[Fritzly]

You make it sound like Steve Jobs invaded my dreams and told me to launch Apple Thoughts. :D Gosh, I hope that's not why I did it. ;)

No, no Jason, do not worry. I guess is more a NDA issue.
Btw Steve Jobs, with his the istrionic behaviour, would be more a nightmare than a dream, at least for me. :-)

[Macguy59]

You, my friend, have just illustrated why I don't like Apple and 'Apple people'.

Oh well... :rolleyes:

Oh please. You went out of your way to make your hatred for all things Apple known. Cry wolf somewhere else.

[Vincent Ferrari]

Come on guys. Take it down a notch, please.

[jsnielsen]

The iPhone? Game-changing. Not the right phone everyone, and definitely over-hyped, but it changed the whole landscape of smartphones and what people expect from them.

The revolutionary thought for me, in all of this product religion, is that Apple brought me something so enjoyable and easy to use, that it took technical inferiority out of the equasion.

No, my iPhone 2G doesn't have GPS. No, it doesn't have 3G.

But in every other area, it gives me so much ease of use, is so focused on giving me an enjoyable experience with it, that GPS and 3G is nice - but nothing critical.

The funny thing is, I've always been a die hard Windows Mobile fanboy. To an extent I still am. But no matter what device HTC churns out, I'm not buying one. Because the thought of going back to the standard WM UI is just dreadful. And the thought of having to use a not completely integrated touch experience (Touch Flo as an extension/addition to WM) is ditto.

There's a vast amount of sexy and technically superior hardware out there, that could easily compete with the iPhone. But the user experience... yuck !

MS needs to revamp their OS, and design the whole experience from ground up, for use with touch by finger. Forget touch by stylus. iPhone killed that concept.

That'd make for a technically great mobile operating system. With a huge developer base (and potential for even more, considering the relatively easy path to developing WM applications. And a great usability experience.

Oh - and possibly do the same on the Windows operating systems. After 18 years of Windows, it took 5 days for my iMac to convince me, that in my house - Windows is something that'll be running in a virtual machine, for use with the odd application I can't avoid having to use.

Same story for OS X. No, it's not the perfect operating system. But the usability benefits are so high, and it performs so well, that in my case there weren't really any competition once it got on to my desk.

I think Microsoft has... challenges ;)

[jsnielsen]

You make it sound like Steve Jobs invaded my dreams and told me to launch Apple Thoughts. :D Gosh, I hope that's not why I did it. ;)

Our Father Steve, can actually do that. So beware ! ;)

[saru83]

wise move.. congrats Jason ;)

[kiwi]

Wow!! good to see this..

I feel like the prodical son now

[Jason Dunn]

Our Father Steve, can actually do that. So beware ! ;)

I sleep with a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate under my pillow - he has no power over me! :D

[ucfgrad93]

Congrats on the new site. It is very nice. I agree it is a nice addition to the Thoughts Media empire.

[dh]

Yes, very nice.

We have a couple of iphones in our house (1st gen which is cool but crap phone, 3G which is great) and my 15 year old daughter is saving for a MacBook. Apple Thoughts will be a nice resource.

Good luck with the new site guys.

[David Tucker]

I sleep with a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate under my pillow - he has no power over me! :D

I actually sleep with a copy of Windows 8.

[jsnielsen]

I actually sleep with a copy of Windows 8.

Well, I've completely given up sleeping with anything IT related. Unless of course, Apple goes into the Real Doll market ;)