Skip to main content

The Meaning of Headlines: 'sleeper' - technology




The Tech section of USA Today published an article on March 17, 2016, with the headline: ‘Apple Watch isn’t a smash hit, but it could be a sleeper.’ What does ‘a sleeper’ mean?

Oxford Dictionaries defines ‘sleeper’ as ‘a person who is asleep’ or ‘a thing used for or connected with sleeping’ or ‘a film, book, play, etc. that eventually achieves unexpected success after initially attracting very little attention.’ The latter is the definition used in this article. In this case, the subject is technology – the Apple Watch.

The article commences by stating that the ‘Nearly a year ago, Apple Watch was released to great fanfare, with many in the tech press expecting the digital smartwatch to become the next must-have gadget’ – which means that it, indeed, the watch was expected to sell well. However, this seems to contradict the definition, which states that initially the item attracts little attention.

But, the article states that ‘the sea-change in public behaviour—say everyone tethered to their wrist rather than bending over their phone—just hasn’t happened.’ The article provided a quote from technology analyst with Piper Jaffray, Gene Munster, saying that ‘it’s taken time for people to understand how to get the most of it.’ This confirms the definition – the watch has attracted little attention initially.

After it was released in April 2015, the Apple Watch still hasn’t gained much interest. Apple has not released sales figures, which is an indicator that it hasn’t sold as well as its iPhone, iPad, and computers (Apple regularly publishes these sales figures).

The article continues by stating that Gene Munster thinks ‘over time, it will be a sleeper.’ The author concludes with: ‘Just like the iPad and iPhone, which grew substantially in the years after its launch, analysts say the watch will see pickup in the coming years.’

Scorecard for the USA Today headline is 100%. The author reinforces the word ‘sleeper’ in the article – and interestingly adds that the watch will ‘take time’ to gain sales. It’s all about give and take. Of course, all watches give time, but this one will take time.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/03/17/apple-watch-isnt-smash-hit-but-could-sleeper/81832694/


MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...
Post a Comment
Read more

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...
1 comment
Read more

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...
2 comments
Read more