'Apple Computer Incorporated' Becomes 'Apple, Incorporated'

[apfhex]

Or does this imply that Apple will get out of the Hardware game?

I don't see it happening. Apple is a hardware company foremost, I don't think that will change anytime soon. Macs play a huge role. Sure we may like them for the OS/software, but that only exists to get us to buy the hardware.

Apple's just expanding its hardware business.

Honestly I've only seen them referred to as "Apple", sans the "Computer", for so long that I forgot they hadn't officially changed their name.

However, I do wish they would focus on Mac stuff at MacWorld and leave the other devices for their own special events.

 

[alexf]

Sad, very sad...

This inconspicuous name change really sums it up.

Once apon a time, Apple used to make very innovative computer products. Then along came the iPod and iTunes, and the enormous profits that came with Apple's entertainment sector.

Unfortunately (and this lame Keynote only confirms this), the only place where innovation seems to be happening any more at Apple is with anything iPod/iTunes/iPhone/Apple TV related.

Steve, I understand that you're at that midlife-crisis stage of life and need your fix of small, sleek, mesmerizing gadgets, but enough already! Let's finally see some of that innovation spill over into what Apple used to be about: computers.

 

[mmzplanet]

Everyone needs to chill. The name change reflects the fact that its not about just the computers anymore. Apple is getting into it all.

As for no mention of Leopard.... it will get its own dedicated keynote later this spring along with Mac product updates too.

 

[Counter]

Well...at least they didn't change the fruit in their name.

Trying to think of something positive here...

 

[tirerim]

Hmm... I don't see too many people complaining that Apple has stopped making computers as a result of the iPod. In fact, the iPod business has supported the computer business by making more people aware of Apple as a company that makes quality products and producing more switchers. This will do the same thing. And as long as the computer business remains profitable, Apple will keep it going, which will happen as long as there aren't vast numbers of idiots who decide that Apple has betrayed them and start buying Dells instead (which is unlikely, despite the comments on this thread). Apple is doing what any sensible company does, pursuing avenues for profit that it thinks will pay off.

 

[Mgkwho]

Steve Jobs said that they were dropping the 'computer' part because they make Computers, iPods, AppleTVs, and Apple iPhones.




What happened to software?

-=|Mgkwho

 

[Queso]

If I were in charge of Apple I would milk the Mac for all it's worth and move on to the next big thing

I think we're glimpsing the next big thing now. The more I think about this the more depressing it gets.

 

[EagerDragon]

This is a very SAD day, the MAC relegated to just another product we make. I am with Apple due to the MAC and the OS, no matter how clever the new devices are, they are just that..... devices.

Very SAD day.

Next step is to license OSX and let others make computers that runs it. Not sufficiently profitable when you can instead go after the electronic comsumer market. Did you see the chart? They are going where they can sell the most units of anything.

Im sure some of you would be glad for Apple to license the OS, some of us are not, I am afraid this is now a pausable option.

 

[Evangelion]

It's all about focus... There doesn't seem to be much drive to perfect the Mac, if they don't even mention it at all in the Macworld keynote... And if there is not much drive from management, there won't be the resources, etc...

they just spet 1.5 hours talking about new and exiting products. kind of products they havent had before. maybe they simply didn't have the time? maybe they had to decide between showcasing brand new products, as opposed to talking about upgrades to an existing product? update that had already been showcased earlier?

 

[Antares]

However, I do wish they would focus on Mac stuff at MacWorld and leave the other devices for their own special events.

Soon to be called AppleWorld

 

[EagerDragon]

they just spet 1.5 hours talking about new and exiting products. kind of products they havent had before. maybe they simply didn't have the time? maybe they had to decide between showcasing brand new products, as opposed to talking about upgrades to an existing product? update that had already been showcased earlier?

This was MacWorld not CES. The place for this anouncement was CES not Macworld. At MacWorld we want to hear about the Mac. There are a lot of people there that payed good money to see the new and improved MAC products and listen to Steve show those MAC products in the best of light.

To me this was sacriligious or how ever you spell it, you can easily see the point.

 

[digitalbiker]

However, I do wish they would focus on Mac stuff at MacWorld and leave the other devices for their own special events.

This was the worst keynote presentation in company history.

This is MacWorld not Electronics Inc. Apple needs to keep them seperate. If they want to show off phones and tv devices why don't they just do it at CES like everyone else is this week.

I'm sure the phone will be another great device for collecting face grease and fingerprints and it will probably interest a lot of Japanese and Euro buyers. However this is MacWorld. It is where we see new Mac products. Computers and Software.

Not one mention of Leopard, no products available immediately, no new software. Just more electronic CR@P. Who needs it? I don't even get cell coverage to my house and I sure as H3LL am not going to be downloading mp3 and movie files with slow and expensive Cingular Edge.

I was floored by how boring this event turned out to be. Even if you are a phone addict you can't even buy this product until June. Why show it now? Aren't there any other computer goodies or OS innovations to show that will take place before June?

 

[thequicksilver]

This was MacWorld not CES. The place for this anouncement was CES not Macworld. At MacWorld we want to hear about the Mac. There are a lot of people there that payed good money to see the new and improved MAC products and listen to Steve show those MAC products in the best of light.

To me this was sacriligious or how ever you spell it, you can easily see the point.

That sums up my feelings pretty well. Thanks for saving me the need to express them.

 

[Queso]

Well, someone liked the keynote anyway...

 

[Yvan256]

Let me get this straight: Apple puts OS X in an iPod/phone, and some of you are scared that this is the death of the Mac?

If anything, that's going to mean an incredibly bigger combined marketshare for OS X world-wide. Also, from what the Apple TV seems to be able to do, I'd bet OS X is in there too.

Also, don't forget the part about "making the hardware to run your own software".

 

[digitalbiker]

Well, someone liked the keynote anyway...

View attachment 65931

Friggin Bean Counters! Jobs could have barfed the word "phone" and they would have been on the floor snatching up shares of stock.The iPhone has been a wall street darling for over a year now.

But this is MacWorld, Not CES.

 

[Evangelion]

This was MacWorld not CES. The place for this anouncement was CES not Macworld. At MacWorld we want to hear about the Mac. There are a lot of people there that payed good money to see the new and improved MAC products and listen to Steve show those MAC products in the best of light.

To me this was sacriligious or how ever you spell it, you can easily see the point.

so they should only talk about macs because the name of the event hast the word "mac" in it? well, maybe they will rename it to somthing else, then they could spend their time talking about anything they want.

like it or not, this was one of the most important product-launches apple has done. ces is not an apple-event, really, so launching at macworld made sense

 

[thejadedmonkey]

they just spet 1.5 hours talking about new and exiting products. kind of products they havent had before. maybe they simply didn't have the time? maybe they had to decide between showcasing brand new products, as opposed to talking about upgrades to an existing product? update that had already been showcased earlier?

Their "brand new" product won't be available for 1/2 a year, while iLife and iWorks will be available much much sooner, one would hope

 

[alexf]

Hmm... I don't see too many people complaining that Apple has stopped making computers as a result of the iPod. In fact, the iPod business has supported the computer business by making more people aware of Apple as a company that makes quality products and producing more switchers. This will do the same thing. And as long as the computer business remains profitable, Apple will keep it going, which will happen as long as there aren't vast numbers of idiots who decide that Apple has betrayed them and start buying Dells instead (which is unlikely, despite the comments on this thread). Apple is doing what any sensible company does, pursuing avenues for profit that it thinks will pay off.

Right, but what I am saying is that the innovation factor seems to be truly suffering lately as far as computers go. For one thing, form factors have hardly changed on some products for nearly four years.

It is time for Apple to "wow" us once again with something other than a bloody cell phone (however cool that may be) or entertainment console.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I bet the iPhone OSX is as much as the Mac's OSX like Windows Mobile is like Windows XP. It might look similar, use some similar technologies, but in the end it's different. Don't expect to be able to run any Mac apps on the iPhone.

Which is not a bad thing in itself, people have been trying to cram desktop OS'es into portable devices, and it was a disaster on the useability side. Think Windows CE.

OS X was built to run on a 300mhz PPC with an 8mb graphics card. Most handhelds (also called PPC's for confusion) have at least a 300mhz CPU, and if you put a 500mhz PPC chip in, I'm sure the battery life would be pretty descent. Plus, that would be a sign from apple that support for the PPC chips aren't going anywhere, anytime soon.

 

[flir67]

I think the name change has something to do with the back dating stock options. like jobs would have to leave apple computer inc. so they just change names their by jobs is still in charge of the new company. any pausiblity to this idea??? along with on macrumors a few days ago there was post of him maybe taking a leave of absence.

the new pc/mac ad is odd.I don't think there going to be anymore ads. pc upgrading to vista and if he doesn't come back????? that just didn't sound right.


and how the he** did apple get the patent for the iphone from linksys... it was proven weeks ago at the linksys release that they owned the patent since the 1996 wasn't it??? linksys get bought out by apple for out???? how..


this keynote I will admit sucked. he released a product not yet approved by the fcc??? for 599.00 with 2year contract.... geez...

hope the fcc doesn't deny it , because of privacy concerns of gps/accelorometer/etc... that would destory them

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Insanity

Next step is to license OSX and let others make computers that runs it. Not sufficiently profitable when you can instead go after the electronic comsumer market. Did you see the chart? They are going where they can sell the most units of anything.

Im sure some of you would be glad for Apple to license the OS, some of us are not, I am afraid this is now a pausable option.

Has nearly everyone in this forum gone completely insane?

The idea that Apple is going to stop building Macs is laughable. What was the Intel switch for? Was it just a whim? Did Steve Jobs wake up a few days ago and say "Nah, let's stop making computers"?

Is the "Get a Mac" campaign over now? What about Leopard?

The Intel switch, the aggressive marketing tactics for OS X - they're all for one reason - to make the Mac so appealing to an even broader segment of the market. There's really no excuse now - they will run Windows if you need them to, and the chip technology will stay in lock step with the PCs and never get left behind because of IBM again. These were big moves, and they were done for a reason, and that reason was not to say "goodbye" to the Mac platform.

MacWorld was used today because of its high profile. This was a huge announcement for Apple. They want everyone to know they are revolutionary innovators in the field of TV over IP, and telecommunications as well. The implications for both products are huge.

It simply doesn't make sense for a company in Apple's current position to retain the name "Apple Computer, Inc." This isn't anything new. Did Nabisco keep the name "National Biscuit Company" after diversifying into other product lines? If they had, it would seem nostalgic and off-target today.

They haven't even been calling themselves Apple for years and years - it stopped making sense the day the iPod was released. It's just official now. Just like the Macintosh has almost always been called a Mac, almost since they day it was released in 1984 - and it's only officially been named the "Mac" for the last couple years.

You should all be excited. Macs are the future of mainstream computing on the desktop, Apple TV and future products are going to change the way you watch television, and the iPhone looks like it might be the fulfillment of the long running promise of convergence, and it just happens to be a tiny, elegant, handheld Mac.

So quit whining and just enjoy the ride!

 

[m-dogg]

I had this weird thought this morning that Apple was going to annouce that they were splitting into two companies - Macintosh for computers and Apple for other stuff. That isn't quite what happened, but I guess I prefer they stay togother vs. spliting into separate companies...

 

[Earendil]

I'm aware this post is going to get buried in very short order, however some things need to be said...

Who in their right mind thought Apple was going to spend time talking about the Macs? Thing about it, with the switch to Intel everyone was saying "Good, now they have no excuses for releasing new computers as soon as the tech hits the market, instead of waiting months on end"

Do you see a conflict here? Apple can't both release technology asap AND save everything in the last 6 months for a big release at a conference. The Intel chip, as most hopped, is a dawning of an entirely new release schedule and style for Apple. Y'all need to get the knot out of your panties.
We all b*tch about other products and how their interface sucks, and if Apple made it it would be so much better. And then when Apple diversifies (A very good idea for a company!) people whine, b*tch and moan! wtf? A smart phone is a logical next time for those companies on the cutting edge. Look a few decades into the future. The average consumer with the need for portable computing power won't be lugging around something the size of a laptop.

And as for the name change.... please!!
Companies change their name all the time, it happens, it's logical, it makes sense. Get over it. You all have been watching too many reality TV shows or something

And as for OSX not being talked about... Let the hype build! The were secretive about it before, and now even more so. They want it to be announced with a fan fair to make everyone forget about Vista. Yes, Vista has been released, but it will start hitting more and more news sites as Vista has "News" in it's opening weeks/months, both good and bad. When Apple reaches the front pages of the average consumer with OSX, I want them to be able to go out right then and there and do some research on it, and purchase it. Not go out and find out it is either a few months out, or doesn't even have a release date.
Yes, I want to know all there is to know about 10.5 right now. But I can wait, and I'm sure the lack of any talk was not because it was canceled and "Apple Inc" is moving all the Mac hardware and OSX software developers and engineers over to the iPod department

Guys need to relax... Go for a jog or something.

 

[ortuno2k]

Yea I was also very dissapointed at the name change and a bit concerned.
As far as the keynote was concerned, I was also SHOCKED when I saw it was the end and there were no announcements made about iLife, iWork and Leopard.
What the hell?