JD on EP

Robert Scoble also picked up on the stats, although he didn't catch the lack of disclosure:
http://scobleizer.com/2007/07/06/why-microsoft-outplays-apple-long-term/

I've heard of businesses sending employees sub-rosa to competitors' open events -- that's sorta sleazy, but it does happen. But this is the first time I've ever seen a gag order against accurate identification of affiliation at an event openly about the company's own technology. That's just mind-boggling.

The effect? Apple could have had three staffers at an iPhone event, they might have had 30, they might have had corporate lawyers in their weekend T-shirts, I don't know. They might astroturf forums. Who can tell? We already know they don't disclose normal stuff, so who can tell how far it goes?

ThinkSecret was accused of abusing anonymity, and refusing to accurately disclose his sources.

My trust in Apple's culture has deeply changed.

[jd sez: Off-topic material, moved here.]

Funny enough I'm at the iPhoneDevCamp sitting with an Apple employee. He isn't allowed to be talking to the press. Their secrecy is what keeps them from building good relationships with developers. They don't like it either, funny enough.

But, secrecy works more for Apple than it hurts. Or did you miss that the iPhone had industry-record sales in the past week?

Trackbacks don't seem to be working, so I thought I'd mention that I've posted a response here.

Secrecy and opacity may work in the general consumer market, but where people must invest their actual time and bet on your story, then transparency helps.

(Yup, sorry, my trackbacks got hosed in one of the inevitable spam evolutions.)

Sometimes it can be a good thing, why hijack a discussion or conversation for the sake of your brand, let the raw discussion take place.

I've been to a few Code/Bar Camps etc where I've enjoyed the discussion but would of preferred not to identify myself as Microsoft. I do this because I like to hear the raw feedback and what the word on the street says about some of our technology or others yet I do notice people change posture when around Microsoft.

"We hate IE6.0's implementation of x feature in CSS...err..no offence Scott"..

I agree we could do better with IE6, but no need to apologise to me, in fact as the representive of Microsoft it's me whom should be apologising..

I also find fight-pickers at these events sometimes, these are generally folks whom have better idea of how MSFT should do X and are more then willing to bend ones ear about it. It's great, but in the end, it's a ruined experience as sometimes it's not about the brand being in the room, but simply ensure the brand is in the room listening.

I have no issue with Apple, Adobe, Google etc attending our events in secrecy, it will no doubt provide a cleaner understanding of the context of a discussion without being tainted by adjustments to behaviour simply because an opposing or embed brand is in the room?

JD, you have quite a skewed perception of ethics around brands. It's not right imho.

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Scott Barnes
Developer Evangelist
Microsoft.