Former Apple Ad Man Slams 'Genius' TV Spots as "Landing With A Thud" - Mac Rumors:

This is different. These ads are causing a widespread gagging response, and deservedly so. I honestly canโ€™t remember a single Apple campaign thatโ€™s been received so poorly.

It's probably time to start collecting the Apple Fails.  I know that's tired, but the post-Jobs Apple is starting to act more like a typical company.  As long as there's no serious brain drain (though Mansfield leaving isn't good), they'll remain above average, but things just don't feel the same from my poor vantage point.  There was the issue sending out OS X Server codes for Up to Date folks who wanted straight Mountain Lion.  There's, well, there's Bob Mansfield selling stock and leaving.  There's Tim Cook's claim that Apple will start paying more attention to business users.  There's a smaller iPad rumored to be on the way, something Jobs claimed wouldn't happen not because there wasn't money in it, but because it wasn't The Right Way to create hardware.

Jobs left money on the table to stay idealistically committed to his concept of great devices.  Cook's taking more of that money off.  I don't know, perhaps it's even sustainable.  I must think so on some level; I haven't sold all my stock yet.  But it is time to start collecting Apple fails.

And no, Ping, though a fail, at least works.  It was a lost gamble, but at least it was a gamble.  Apple needs social.  Worth a shot.

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