A Remarkable Day in Apple History: The Controversial iPad Tweet
!incident unfolded that underscored Steve Jobs’ intense desire to manage Apple’s public image. This was illustrated when Alan Murray, an executive editor from The Wall Street Journal, tweeted using an iPad – a device not yet publicly launched by Apple.
The Incident That Sparked Outrage
Murray’s tweet quickly vanished without explanation. Jobs was reportedly furious about the situation.
Control Is Key for Steve Jobs
In a bid for absolute control over how their products were perceived before launch, it is quite understandable why Steve Jobs would react strongly to something as seemingly trivial as a tweet sent from one of Apple’s unreleased devices. In fact, Murray later stated he wished he could discuss it more openly but felt constrained about doing so.
According to sources at Valleywag, the deletion of the tweet can be directly linked to Job’s infamous temper:
“A tipster informed us that Alan Murray swiftly deleted his February 4 post after what appears to have been a fiery reaction from none other than CEO Steve Jobs.”
!Tweet by Alan Murray stating “This tweet sent from an iPad. Does it look cool?”
The now-deleted tweet caused quite a stir in jobs-was-upset-by-the-pc-winning-man-of-the-year/” title=”Looking Back: When Steve Jobs was Upset by the PC Winning 'Man of the Year”>media circles.
Prelaunch Buzz Amidst Strict Secrecy
Interestingly enough, this wasn’t the only instance before its official unveiling that put the spotlight on the iPad. Just days before this event at The Wall Street Journal, comedian Stephen Colbert had unintentionally showcased his own pre-release unit while presenting at the Grammy Awards.
Colbert recalled his impulse upon seeing Apple’s announcement: “I thought I just had to have one! I contacted them immediately asking if they could get me one for my appearance—only temporarily though since I needed to return it after!” His moment onstage delighted audiences but raised alarms within Apple’s ranks regarding their strict pre-release confidentiality policies.
Conclusion
From post-launch excitement generated through celebrity appearances like Colbert’s to unexpected social media controversies involving industry figures like Alan Murray—February 8 will always be remembered as yet another chapter in Apple’s ongoing story filled with challenges tied closely around product secrecy and public perception management under Steve Jobs’ distinct leadership style.