• by OMMA Editors , May 14, 2010

It's somewhat ironic that Apple's rise can be said to be traced to that iconic Super Bowl ad it ran in 1984 introducing the Macintosh computer to the world. It's a bleak landscape of all grey that the runner in orange shorts hurtles through, past bleak, grey people being chased by armored guards.

It's somewhat ironic because as we spoke to various people about Apple and Google for this issue, a theme crept in. That beyond being controlling Apple was becoming sort of monolithic and shady. One person speculated that maybe the iPhone 4G leak wasn't such a leak after all, and, maybe "they" wanted the news out (though the search and seizure at Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home pretty much quashed that notion). Worse, others railed against the "Gestapo" tactics of Apple's Worldwide Loyalty Team in suppressing leaks.

And, yes, one person even described the company as Big Brother.

So, what happened? Since 1984 Apple has long since changed its colors, literally. Gone is the Rainbow Brite-lovable Apple logo of the Me decade, replaced by an austere silver replicant. And Steve Jobs -- as deified and revered as the guy is, come on, does he have to wear all black? Talk about Teutonic.

Now, while nobody seems to exactly have the warm fuzzies for Google, those in charge don't frequently get slimed with these sorts of sentiments (they get told they have their heads firmly up their asses for launching Buzz, but that's another story). And in large part, any story about the companies is a story about two different cultures. One tight-lipped, sleek and stylish; the other messy, slightly befuddled, but eager to share its work with anyone and let them look under the hood. (But maybe that nutty professor routine is just an act to throw us all off the scent.)
It's often been said you can learn a great deal about Apple by looking at the design of the iPod. They won't even let you change the battery without sending it in.

The Editors
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