What Modesh did next

After seven years as the mascot/face/cartoon embodiment of Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai Shopping Festival says Modesh will now become a year-round feature. DSF describes the yellow worm/spring as ‘the Mickey Mouse of Dubai’.

There has been talk for a number of years of how to extend the Modesh brand. DSF’s announcement seems more centered on having Modesh merchandise available year round. A theme park and animated TV cartoon series have been mentioned; as yet there are no firm plans. Both would make sense. Modesh has already taken to road on Gulf meet-and-greets, a TV series, made out of media central Dubai, would extend the reach. And a theme park, not necessarily on the scale of Disney World, would be a sensible next step for the already popular Modesh Fun City.

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Apple: winning friends, influencing people

As Apple has fans, it also has its detractors. Last week’s $200 price cut on the price of the 8MB iPhone (from $599 at launch two months ago, to $399 today) was seen by critics as a cynical gouging of early adopters. Price reductions on new technology are commonplace, but usually phase in after a year, six months at worst. ‘Taxing’ the first wave of buyers could undermine the brand’s fan base, sniped analysts.

That doesn’t seem to be being born out, judging from bloggers’ responses. ‘The wages of early adoption,’ is how one buyer explained it. They understand prices fall, and were well aware they were paying top dollar for getting an iPhone on day one, what they don’t appreciate is Apple’s high-handed attitude towards the cut. After receiving hundreds of emails complaining about the cut, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has since apologized and offered $100 credit vouchers for anyone who bought the phone in the past two weeks.

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