Research Paper Freewrite

Emily Miller

Mr. Stowe

English 103

Section 20

September 25, 2011

Research Freewrite

            June 29, 2007, the first generation iPhone went on sale and changed the mobile-phone business forever. Apple is taking over the world, one iPhone at a time. Ever since the introduction of the iPhone, the idea of smartphones has been redefined. There is no other company that has produced any competition for the iPhone. The iPhone’s revolutionary design, incredible software, millions of apps, and ability to listen and download music with one touch is the reason why it is the most successful and innovative phone in the world. In my paper I will discuss the creation of the iPhone and how it began. I will also examine the different aspects of the iPhone that make it as successful as it is; this will include its software, applications, and iTunes availability. No phone can touch the iPhone’s fully functional media player; web surfing capabilities, camera, and innovative application settings. Other companies have tried, and failed. The iPhone has significantly changed the world of mobile phones and beat out all its competition with its incredible software and design, its groundbreaking applications, and its ability to take advantage of iTunes, proving it is the best mobile phone in the world.

            To research this topic, I hope to examine firsthand documentation of the beginning stages of the iPhone. I want to find articles from 2007 relating to the release and “blow up” of the iPhone and its profits. I would also like to find sources relating to each of the aspects I will be discussing in my paper. I want to find sources primarily about the software and design of the iPhone. I want to discover how both of these have impacted sales and reduced competition of other mobile phones. For these topics I intend to use websites and articles as well as reports from Apple Inc. to gather data to back up my argument that the iPhone is the best mobile phone ever. I also plan to use websites and articles to discuss the incredible applications of the iPhone and all they are used for. The apple website is a valuable source as well because it has the latest updates of all the applications available on the iPhone. The iTunes aspect which I intent to discuss can also be examined on the Apple website as well as articles and important press releases. These sources will hopefully give me an insight into the impact iTunes has had on the iPhone and its customers.

            The most difficult thing I anticipate to encounter will be staying focused on the elements I have chosen to discuss about the iPhone because there is clearly more to examine. I think it will be hard to not ramble about unrelated topics. I will also have to research data about the iPhone and Apple to support my argument as well as data about other companies that have tried to compete with the iPhone and failed. I hope to be aware of these possible issues and overcome them during the writing process.

Research Paper Links

http://www.apple.com/iphone/
The Apple website is useful for finding out about the different features of the current iPhone and how they differ from past iPhones. This also gives me knowledge about the different aspects I want to focus on in my paper. Each aspect, like iTunes/ music, texting, and the over a million apps the iPhone and Apple have to offer are represented well on this website and give evidence as to why the iPhone is the best.

http://www.macworld.com/article/54769/2007/01/iphone.html
This link describes in detail the first unveiling of the iPhone. It describes what the iPhone has in terms of applications and features that other phones of this time lack. This will help make my argument that the iPhone is the most successful and innovative phone.

http://mobile-review.com/articles/2010/iphone-history3-en.shtml
This article gives the history of the iPhone and the plan for how Apple developed it. It clearly states how Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, came up with the idea and originally pitched it to Cingular at the time. The "Purple 2 Project," as it is referred to, reveals that the technical design is focused around the touch-sensitive screen. This site also gives information about the initial debates about the iPhone's design and layout.

http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone
This article from Wired magazine describes the "untold story" of how the iPhone "blew up the wireless industry" as well as how the iPhone became so successful. This lengthy article details costs, applications, and reactions to the first generation iPhone.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1677329_1678542_1677891,00.html
This article from the Times displays five reasons why the iPhone is the best invention of the current year. This is exactly what I want to write my paper on (clearly not using the same examples though). This focuses on design and selling profits. Also, it talks about the fact that this is not just a phone, but rather a platform for all the software and applications that come with it. The iPhone uses the same software that is in Mac computers, therefore one can compare the iPhone to a computer you carry around with you.

Possible Research Topics

http://prezi.com/5gd9su6vm9b_/research-topics/

One possible research topic I would like to do would be how Apple has changed the world of technology for the better. I would explore the different aspects of Apple that have made it so successful. These aspects would be; the first mac computer and the new software that came with it. Another aspect would be the iPod, including the invention of iTunes. Another aspect would be the iPhone, including the millions of apps Apple provides its customers with. The last aspect would be the iPad, which exemplifies each of Apple’s previous accomplishments all into one machine. The argument I make would be that Apple is the most successful and innovative company ever. This topic is important and of interest to me because I find Apple products fascinating. I bought the first generation iPhone as soon as it came out and have been obsessed with iPhone’s ever since. I also own a mac, which is basically my life. Apple products have changed my life, which is why I would like to research them.

            Another possible research topic is the negative affect of the Salem, Massachusetts Power Plant. This is a Power Plant located roughly 5 miles from my house in Marblehead, Massachusetts. This is a very important topic to me because it affects my community as well as many communities around it. Not only is the plant not aesthetically pleasing, but it also affects the environment by polluting the air and causing health problems. It also costs a great deal to keep the plant running, money that could be spent on more useful things around the community. The argument I would make would be that the plant should be shut down immediately because of its negative health affects, pollution, and extremely high costs to keep it running. There is a lot of evidence to back all of this up, and that is why I would like to do more research about it and become more knowledgeable about something that affects me so closely.

Final Picture & Thesis Statement

Powerhouse Gym persuades potential customers to join and suggests that by joining you will look like this man through the ad's locality as well as its use of ethos, pathos, logos and kairos.

Fat Is an Advertising Issue

            Susie Orbach’s daunting task to persuade the makers of Dove beauty products to embrace the Campaign for Real Beauty was a challenge she was up for. She uses the same argument for Unilever that she does on the reader of this article. Not only is she trying to convince Unilever that this campaign is beneficial, but she is also trying to convince the reader that this campaign benefits them. I agree that this campaign was necessary for the attempt at changing the way young women view themselves, however it may be a bad marketing strategy. It is necessary to change the negative affect advertisements have on young women, however because of preconceived ideas and standards of beauty, it is impossible to permanently change that affect.

            For whatever reason, beauty is viewed a certain way in advertisements. Our society has set the standard of beauty extremely high because of the way models are portrayed. Orbach presents many alarming statistics and knowledge about the impact advertisements have on women and girls. In Fiji in 1995 after the introduction of TV, “11.9% of adolescent girls were puking into the toilet bowl trying to change their Fijian build into one that resembled the Western images they were imbibing via their TV sets.” Orbach also presents the astonishing fact that one in four college females has a serious eating problem. I agree with Orbach about the need for change and the need to open the eyes of so many companies’ leaders about the affect their advertisements have on their daughters, wives, sisters and nieces. I however think that it is nearly impossible to completely change the way companies advertise products through models and celebrities. Because that is impossible, it is impossible to completely alter the affect those advertisements have on the people viewing them. As long as the advertisements are the same, the possible negative affect will be the same; society has been sculpted that way. Society has an extremely narrow idea of beauty that is incredibly hard to transform.

            Susie Orbach argues that if Dove could perfect this tool of marketing, other companies would want to use the idea of ‘real beauty’ as well, as appose to the typical strategy of using the skinny, unrealistic models. The task to change all views of beauty is impossible. Companies will continue to use what society has everyone believing is ‘beautiful.’ The models that society tells us are attractive will continue to book jobs. The Dove team has made an important step in helping young women have self-esteem, however the other side of the argument Orbach makes is that not all companies will change. Many companies are close-minded and not able to make the positive change.