破解蘋果秘密的天才少年
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????對一小群科技記者而言，試圖預先琢磨出蘋果（Apple）的產品計劃是件嚴肅的事，過去，這方面一直是由《華爾街日報》（Wall Street Journal）的蘋果報道團隊獨占鰲頭。 ????但在本周的全球開發者大會上，所有人——包括《華爾街日報》在內——都被洛杉磯一位名為馬克?古曼的18歲中學生搶盡了風頭。 ????為蘋果報道網站9to5Mac擔任兼職寫手的古曼上月發布了對蘋果全球開發者大會（WWDC）大會的八大預測，讓我們先來回顧一下： ????5月11日：iCloud beta網站（Beta.iCloud.com）透露，蘋果計劃發布記事本（Notes）和提醒（Reminder）應用，而且，可以確定，iOS 6測試版即將發布。 【預測正確】 ????5月11日：iOS 6：蘋果將拋棄谷歌地圖，首次采用自行研發，擁有極強3D效果的“地圖”軟件?！绢A測正確】 ????5月14日：蘋果準備升級15英寸版MacBook Pro：視網膜顯示屏、超輕薄設計，配備速度超快的USB 3接口?！绢A測正確】 ????5月15日：蘋果還準備發布配備視網膜顯示屏的MacBook Air和iMac。 ????6月4日：Facebook現身iOS 6：將成為系統級應用，應用程序商店將出現Facebook的“贊（like）”選項?！绢A測正確】 ????6月4日：在iOS 6，蘋果將為iPad帶來完整版Siri語音助手：（為用戶提供）更多模組和細節。【預測正確】 ????6月4日：在WWDC大會上，蘋果將更新大部分Mac產品線和各類配件?！绢A測正確】 ????6月5日：在經過近兩年的苦苦等待后，蘋果終于將于下周發布升級版Mac Pro?！绢A測正確】 ????日前，我在舊金山偶遇古曼，當時他正參加蘋果的開發者大會。當我問他是從哪里獲得這些資料時，他守口如瓶，不肯透露一點風聲。不過維特勞布（他在兩年前就雇傭了古曼，當時他發現這個少年對蘋果可謂了如指掌）更為坦率。古曼的一些資料來自蘋果的內部人士，但絕大部分資料都基于所謂的 “老式的費時費力的報道”（ old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting）——認真研讀蘋果的公開文檔，歸納總結出一個蘋果開發者及零部件供應商的資料庫，并進行不厭其煩的研究。 ????我們上周對古曼進行了報道，彭博新聞社在本周二也提到了他的光輝業績。古曼有些擔心這些關注會惹惱蘋果。 ????但他也渴望得到蘋果的認可。當他聽到蘋果的公共關系部門在打聽自己時，簡直容光煥發。他還很自豪地強調，蘋果高級副總裁菲爾?席勒知道自己。真實情況是，幾個月前，某人（不是古曼）打電話給席勒，自稱是馬克?古曼，向他詢問蘋果的新產品信息。我得知古曼第二天接到了蘋果公共關系部的電話，告訴他如果想知道任何與蘋果公司有關的信息，必須通過公關部門。嗯，雖然這么做基本不管用。 ????譯者：項航 |
????Trying to scope out Apple's (AAPL) product plans in advance is serious business for a small army of tech journalists, one that has been dominated in the past by the team that covers the company for the Wall Street Journal. ????But in the walk-up to this week's World Wide Developers Conference, everybody -- including the Journal -- got scooped by an 18-year-old kid named Mark Gurman who goes to high school in Los Angeles and writes on the side for Seth Weintraub's 9to5Mac. ????Let's review, with the benefit of hindsight, the WWDC predictions Gurman posted over the past month: ????May 11: iCloud beta website reveals plans for Notes and Reminders web apps, affirms iOS 6 beta coming soon CORRECT ????May 11: iOS 6: Apple drops Google Maps, debuts in-house 'Maps' with incredible 3D mode CORRECT ????May 14: Apple readies revamped 15-inch MacBook Pro: Retina Display, ultra-thin design, and super-fast USB 3 CORRECT ????May 15: Apple also working on MacBook Airs and iMacs with Retina Displays TO BE DETERMINED ????June 4: Facebook in iOS 6: Integration is system-wide, 'Liking' of App Store apps present CORRECT ????June 4: Apple to bring full Siri voice-assistant to the iPad with iOS 6: mockup and details CORRECT ????June 4: Apple to update most of its Mac lineup and multiple accessories at WWDCCORRECT ????June 5: After nearly two years without an update, Apple to finally revamp Mac Pro next week CORRECT ????Seven out of eight ain't bad, and I suspect that the one that we don't yet know about -- his report that Apple is bringing the Retina display to the rest of its notebook line -- will eventually be proven true. ????I ran into Gurman in San Francisco, where he is attending Apple's developer sessions. He clammed up when I asked him where he gets his stories. But Weintraub -- who hired Gurman two years ago when he realized the teenager had his finger on Apple's pulse -- was more forthcoming. Some of his stories come from sources inside Apple, but most are based on what used to be called old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting -- poring over Apple's published documents and building a network of Apple developers and parts suppliers that he hammers relentlessly. ????Gurman is a little worried that the attention he's been getting -- we wrote about him last week and Bloomberg News mentioned his work on Tuesday -- could bring down Apple's wrath. ????But he also craves Apple's recognition. He lights up when he hears that Apple public relations has asked about him, and he mentions proudly that senior VP Phil Schiller knows who he is. It turns out that a few months ago, someone (not Gurman) called Schiller claiming to be Mark Gurman and asking for information about future Apple products. I'm told that Gurman got a call the next day from Apple PR saying that if he wanted any information about the company, he should go through their department. ????Yeah, right. As if that would work. |
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