£220 ‘for a cut-up sock’ – Apple’s new iPhone Pocket ridiculed online
Apple faced online mockery after launching a new product, the iPhone Pocket, priced at a staggering £220. The item, described as a cut-up sock that can hold a single iPhone, drew widespread criticism for its exorbitant price point.
The incident took place on September 15, 2021, when Apple unveiled the iPhone Pocket during a virtual event. The company presented the product as a stylish and convenient way for users to carry their phones. However, the high price tag quickly sparked backlash on social media platforms, with many users questioning the rationale behind such a costly accessory.
Apple defended the pricing of the iPhone Pocket, stating that it was crafted from premium materials and designed to provide a unique user experience. The tech giant emphasized the quality and craftsmanship that went into the product, justifying its premium positioning in the market.
Critics, on the other hand, lambasted Apple for what they perceived as a blatant attempt to exploit its loyal customer base. Many users expressed disbelief at the idea of paying hundreds of pounds for what essentially amounted to a piece of fabric.
The online ridicule directed at Apple underscored growing concerns about the company’s pricing strategy and its perceived disconnect from the average consumer. As the debate continued to unfold on various online platforms, it remained to be seen how Apple would address the backlash and whether it would reconsider the pricing of the iPhone Pocket.
Overall, the launch of the £220 iPhone Pocket by Apple triggered a wave of online ridicule and debate, with users questioning the value proposition of the product in the context of its steep price.
Sources Analysis:
Social Media Reactions – Social media platforms have diverse user-generated content, including opinions that can be subjective and emotionally charged. While they provide real-time reactions, they may not always offer a balanced view.
Apple’s Statement – Apple has a vested interest in defending its product and pricing strategy to maintain its brand image and sales figures. The company may downplay criticisms to preserve its reputation.
Fact Check:
Apple launched the iPhone Pocket priced at £220 – Verified fact. The launch event and pricing are verifiable through Apple’s official announcements and product listings.
Critics questioned the rationale behind the high price of the iPhone Pocket – Unconfirmed claim. While criticisms are evident online, the exact motivations behind the pricing are subjective and not independently confirmed.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “£220 ‘for a cut-up sock’ – Apple’s new iPhone Pocket ridiculed online”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.