Normalkid:Arnold Kim

I’ve always had an interest in web startups and web based businesses. There is a growing boom in internet-based companies in the past few years. The reason is clear… the cost to startup is far cheaper on the internet than it ever was. Sites are being designed for relatively minimal costs, and seem to be able to achieve overnight success. Now, of course, we only hear about the success stories (youtube, digg, myspace) rather than the countless failures or minor players in these spaces.

What’s interesting is that everyone’s measure of success is relative. I run a reasonably popular Mac-based site on the internet, but I have my sights aimed higher in the long run. A couple of notable blog entries from much larger successes underscores that for entrepreneurs what you have is never enough.

(more…)

This may seem a little late to weigh in on the iPhone, but this blog didn’t exist when it was announced, so I’m finally going to put down my perspective on the iPhone.

As background, I’ve been an Apple enthusiast since the mid 80’s and run a popular Mac rumor site (MacRumors.com). I think what also gives me a different perspective is that I was a fan of the now discontinued Newton — Apple’s first PDA.

I was at the keynote, and the reaction to the iPhone in the audience was jaw-dropping awe. For those rumor-mongers out there, it was as if Apple had answered every dream-scenario possible in one single device announcement.

Did anyone really expect to see multi-touch technology incorporated in the iPhone? I didn’t.

(more…)

Again, this opinion may be a few months old, but I wanted to put down my thoughts on MacHeist.com — a promotional website which drew a lot of attention and criticism amongst the Mac web.

To give some background, MacHeist launched as a 6 week long Mac software promotion which ran near the end of 2006. The structure of the promotion involved weekly “heists”* which were essentially web-scavenger hunts. Each successful heist rewarded participants with free shareware applications and cumulative discounts for the final Mac software bundle which was for sale at the end of the promotion. The final software bundle included 10 applications for $49. If purchased individually, the software would cost $356.74. The bundle was only on sale for one week.

Now, I’m going to sidestep the controversy of MacHeist, which has to do with some people feeling that MacHeist made a disproportionate amount of money (vs the developers) during the promotion. This criticism, however, is related to what I feel was the biggest genius of MacHeist… and that was transparency of software sale numbers.

(more…)

One of the advantages of having a site that has been around for 7 years is that we have an archive of user reactions to various releases over the years.

In October of 2001, Apple announced they were holding a special press conference to announce a “breakthrough digital device.”

This coming Tuesday, Apple invites you to the unveiling of a breakthrough digital device, (Hint: it’s not a Mac).

The Mac web was abuzz with rumors of what Apple might be coming out with and on October 23, 2001, Apple released the iPod.

By chance, it was the 500th thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500) on the forum, so many MacRumors users now refer to it simply as “thread 500″. The reaction to the iPod was strong, and not generally positive.

(more…)