5 ms·

Saw someone else comment on a different TechCrunch article here on HN about how these articles about Apple read like press releases. I really feel that now.

ndynan 8y ago
As a PM, this article is what I would write as sample press coverage I'd like for a product release. Interesting to see that the author is a former PR member of http://my.workflow.is/ http://my.workflow.is/ + has one recent article for TechCrunch. Oh hey looks they were purchased by Apple: https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/apple-has-acquired-workflow-a-powerful-automation-tool-for-ipad-and-iphone/ https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/apple-has-acquired-workflo... Quick Edit: I'm not saying that this isn't good technology, rather I'm more concerned that TechCrunch is taking contributors who have ties to products being reported on and may have interests that are not being communicated to readers.
- ianlevesque 8y ago
  Yeah, this is native advertising and it's Everywhere.
  - ibeckermayer 8y ago
    "Native advertising" sounds very much like the MBA-term for what I would call "deception". (I'm not accusing you of anything, just making commentary)
- codezero 8y ago
  TechCrunch does this all the time, most of the "news" blogs do – I worked at a company that employed a PR firm that basically put our product release collateral directly onto a bunch of those blogs – it made me very uncomfortable.
- dwaite 8y ago
  Workflow is the technology which is becoming the Siri Shortcuts editor.
  - saagarjha 8y ago
    Shortcuts is basically Workflow with private API access.
- staz 8y ago
  The suite is back! http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
minimaxir 8y ago
It should be noted that this is a Contributor article (common on weekends), not an article from the main TechCrunch staff. It should also be noted that post-acquisition Workflow (where the author worked at and is noted in the author blurb) was the precursor team to Shortcuts.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
drb91 8y ago
To be honest, I don’t feel like these sites even know what to ask. This may be the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect in action.
avip 8y ago
Where else did you think Tech content comes from?
- erikpukinskis 8y ago
  Much of it is independent enthusiasts dissecting public information.
simonh 8y ago
Company issues press release on new product. News companies relay information to readers. Readers complain the info just looks like a press release. But as a reader, I do want to know this stuff.
- fauigerzigerk 8y ago
  You can get it from the source. No deceptive marketing tactics required. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/
- RankingMember 8y ago
  It's fine if they make clear it's just a press release, but this is a press release masquerading as journalism.
ralfn 8y ago
Specifically because this is an announcement that is a copy of functionality shown for Android already. It's Apple catching up.. which if this was a journalistic article would be mentioned. "Apple announces same feature Google announced 6 months ago"

ndynan 8y ago

As a PM, this article is what I would write as sample press coverage I'd like for a product release. Interesting to see that the author is a former PR member of http://my.workflow.is/ http://my.workflow.is/ + has one recent article for TechCrunch. Oh hey looks they were purchased by Apple: https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/apple-has-acquired-workflow-a-powerful-automation-tool-for-ipad-and-iphone/ https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/22/apple-has-acquired-workflo... Quick Edit: I'm not saying that this isn't good technology, rather I'm more concerned that TechCrunch is taking contributors who have ties to products being reported on and may have interests that are not being communicated to readers.

ianlevesque 8y ago
Yeah, this is native advertising and it's Everywhere.
- ibeckermayer 8y ago
  "Native advertising" sounds very much like the MBA-term for what I would call "deception". (I'm not accusing you of anything, just making commentary)
codezero 8y ago
TechCrunch does this all the time, most of the "news" blogs do – I worked at a company that employed a PR firm that basically put our product release collateral directly onto a bunch of those blogs – it made me very uncomfortable.
dwaite 8y ago
Workflow is the technology which is becoming the Siri Shortcuts editor.
- saagarjha 8y ago
  Shortcuts is basically Workflow with private API access.
staz 8y ago
The suite is back! http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

minimaxir 8y ago

It should be noted that this is a Contributor article (common on weekends), not an article from the main TechCrunch staff. It should also be noted that post-acquisition Workflow (where the author worked at and is noted in the author blurb) was the precursor team to Shortcuts.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

drb91 8y ago

To be honest, I don’t feel like these sites even know what to ask. This may be the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect in action.

avip 8y ago

Where else did you think Tech content comes from?

erikpukinskis 8y ago
Much of it is independent enthusiasts dissecting public information.

simonh 8y ago

Company issues press release on new product. News companies relay information to readers. Readers complain the info just looks like a press release. But as a reader, I do want to know this stuff.

fauigerzigerk 8y ago
You can get it from the source. No deceptive marketing tactics required. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/
RankingMember 8y ago
It's fine if they make clear it's just a press release, but this is a press release masquerading as journalism.

ralfn 8y ago

Specifically because this is an announcement that is a copy of functionality shown for Android already. It's Apple catching up.. which if this was a journalistic article would be mentioned. "Apple announces same feature Google announced 6 months ago"