5 things product managers can learn from Apple launch events

People are your superpower.
Apple launches are highly anticipated events. For days, even weeks, tech insiders begin the speculation and giddiness reaches levels of tweendom. In other words, Apple needn鈥檛 worry about enthusiastic coverage. And yet. Today鈥檚 level of crowd excitement could have rivalled a Taylor Swift concert at times, stacked as it was with Apple employees. These are the ultimate ambassadors 鈥� the ones whose blood, sweat and tears are up on those screens. Your team is the most important asset you have 鈥� never forget it.

Re-styl-us. Everything old is new again.聽

Channel nostalgia and mob emotion.聽The new Apple Pencil is the long-awaited answer to appeals for an iPad stylus tool. It鈥檚 introduction accompanied the new iPad Pro. It鈥檚 a great reminder that everything old can be new again if you just follow a simple formula:

  1. Take a basic tool, fancy it up
  2. Give it a quaint, old-timey name for the right amount of hipster appeal. Hearts swell. Eyes brim.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 a 鈥encil.鈥�
  3. Charge $100

Strategic Partners. Making nice and making millions.聽

When everyone plays nice, good things can happen. That鈥檚 what great collaborations teach us. Today鈥檚 event saw presentations from Adobe and Microsoft (!), MLB and Gilt,聽to name just a few. Not only do we see amazing new features from these brand giants, but it allows Apple to cross all kinds of demographic lines: business, fanboys, gamers, dudes, dads,聽moms and pretty much everyone else will find something here that appeals.

It鈥檚聽important to track rivals,聽but it can be just as advantageous to watch the horizon for potential partners.

Making all the people happy all the time.聽

At the end of the day, we all just want to go home, pour a glass of wine, sit on the sofa and be entertained. Whether that catharsis comes from TV, movies, gaming or shopping, it鈥檚 all yours on the new Apple TV. The potential of this something-for-everyone approach sets Apple TV up as your at-home entertainment hub. A true 鈥淭rojan Horse鈥�, according to , with unlimited potential.

I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what鈥檚 next. Steve Jobs

This is how you become one of the family, that ubiquitous influence that is comfortably just there in daily life.

The BIG One: Is that your features list or are you just happy to see me?聽

Though today鈥檚 Apple event showcased some cool new product developments, it鈥檚 always about the iPhone in the end. Today was no different. The 6S and 6S Plus are faster, smarter and bigger. Some of the many attention-grabbing product features include live photos, 3D touch and a 12MP camera.

And then, Apple announced it鈥檚 iPhone Upgrade Program. Mic drop.