I'm not sure if there's anything to call Gruber on. Microsoft spent a pretty penny on the Win95 launch, as does Apple for their launches. Google and the hardware manufacturers who produce Android devices simply haven't run their launches the same way, and I don't see any reason for them to start.
Apple never paid for any hype or something else. Remember the days before iPhone 4 launched? Heck it was even on my local boulevard newspaper. And no Apple didn't pay anything for it.
I think people just care about what is coming next from Apple cause they are bringing amazing products. Each year when a new iPhone launches there is something no-one even thought about, how amazing this could be but Apple is just not thinking about it they are making it real and available.
To be honest I'm a happy Apple customer but I'm also a Android developer so I know both sides and both platforms well.
Not sure why you're getting down voted, as we seem to be of the same mind re: Apple's value. When it comes to my day-to-day utility of the device, I still find my iPhone 3GS unsurpassed (although I carry around an EVO for tethering & a Nexus S since launch to give Gingerbread a fair side-by-side with iOS4).
That said, while no one doubts Apple's mastery of getting free press is quite impressive (Jobs sitting on Disney's board might help; having been CEO of Pixar, as well), I imagine Apple still spends a lot of money on their product announcement events compared to Google, and much (much!) more for branding (e.g. product placement: Google it for examples, they're impressive).
That's exactly what I wanted to say: Apple is getting so much free press others can't even think of getting. Re-reading my comment I can understand why people down voted me but I just want to talk about a example how Apple is getting free press like it was on the iPhone 4 which was found by Gizmodo before it was launched.
Engadget had leaked photos from Google Nexus 2 too but did it show up in my local boulevard newspaper? No. That's what I'm trying to say. People care about what Apple is coming up with. I don't say this cause I think it's a good or I'm a fanboy, no I'm saying this cause it is a fact.
Have you never seen an Apple iPhone commercial. Between that and the iPad, they seem to be about 1 out of every three commercials that were on leading up to the launch of those products.
