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What do the iPhone and Pixar's Ratatouille have in common?

Posted by: Peter Burrows on June 27

A launch date! Both debut on June 29. Go figure. What are the odds?

Now, it could be a coincidence. The Friday before July 4 is a natural day to premier a summer flick. And while launching a tech product on such a day goes against conventional wisdom (why launch a product just before the press and most shoppers head off for vacation), this is the iPhone we’re talking about. It’s not like Apple needed the extra press—and some have suggested the pre-holiday launch might have been chosen to buffer any over-reaction by Wall Street, should the launch not go as mind-boggingly well as investors seem to expect.

But I’m not buying the coincidence thing. Apple or Disney may never fess up, but my guess is Steve Jobs, or someone close to him, thought it would be neat to go for a blockbuster two-fer. Apple’s expert at this sort of manipulation. It doesn’t even require a press release. Just put it out there, and wait for the media (me, in this case) to take note and comment on the remarkable impact this guy and his companies are having on our culture.

So I’ve done my part. Let the tie-ins begin. My guess is we’ll be seeing an awful lot of Remy the Rat in Apple and AT&T stores in a few days.

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Reader Comments

Peter

June 27, 2007 01:11 PM

Actually, I was chuckling about this yesterday with a friend.

I'm wondering if attendance will be down this weekend as all the Apple fanboys are running around frantically trying to get an iPhone and, therefore, not waiting in line for Ratatouille?

Of course, to be extra cool, you need to be watching the trailer and preview of Ratatouille in your iPhone while standing in line at the theatre... :^)

Sharpe

June 27, 2007 05:35 PM

However, if you are waiting in line for iPhone at 6 p.m. on Friday the 29th, how are you going to watch the movie? By the time you get the iPhone, it's probably late and you are tired, plus you may want to play with your new iPhone.

If anything, releasing iPhone and Ratatouille on the same day doesn't help Jobs getting "a blockbuster two-fer."

Geniver

June 27, 2007 06:13 PM

I've heard of the iPhone. What is Ratatouille? Who is Remy the Rat?

Thomas Huxley

June 28, 2007 12:32 AM

Ratatouille is the new Disney/Pixar flick. And it's brilliant from what I hear. Remy the rat is the star of the film.

Chris

June 28, 2007 12:57 AM

My girlfriend and I long ago planned to see Ratatouille on opening day, but now that the iPhone is coming... :/

Robin Perez

June 28, 2007 11:26 PM

I thought of the same thing too! Steve's wallet is going to swell over this weekend! Not everyone can afford or justify a $500 phone, but lots can afford to spend $6 to $9 to watch Ratatouille (myself included) -- first since it's a Pixar movie, and second, there's nothing else worthy out this time... I agree, June 29th. is not a coincidence. Yep, this will be Mr. Jobs's weekend for the history books.

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A blog on the daily doings of Apple and the many companies in its orbit, with insight and analysis by two longtime Apple-watchers BusinessWeek Senior Writer Peter Burrows and BusinessWeek.com Senior Technology Writer Arik Hesseldahl.

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