Apple in 10 years, then and now, and the future?

[i0Nic]

The 'halo' device 10 years ago was the bondi blue iMac, and now the iPhone is the new halo device and it's specs are superior in every way to the original iMac, and it's a lot cheaper.

I've posted an interesting pic highlighting this evolution - This Is How Much Apple Has Changed In a Decade

Where do you see Apple moving in the next 10 years? Is Apple going to be a primarily mobile company rather than a computer company?

 

[*LTD*]

We'll eventually see mobiles become as powerful, nimble, and as usable (if not more so) as "computers."

For instance, the iPad is already displacing notebook sales to a degree significant enough that it made news.

In fact, your pic answers your question. Well done, by the way.

 

[Hellhammer]

10 years is long time in technology, it's more or less impossible to predict what's coming. Apple is becoming more and more a mobile company but Macs have got solid updates as well.

I think there will be more mobile products with greater features etc but I doubt Apple will discontinue Macs. Apple isn't always the pioneer of things so it's up to what other manufacturers do as well.

 

[saltyzoo]

The power is there to make apps flashy, but with tiny screens and the lack of true multitasking (can't see what one app is doing while another is in focus), they will never be as useful as a full computer.

The power is used to make some extremely good interfaces for very specific applications, but for day-to-day business use, I still find myself going back to the laptop to do anything that can't be done with a few swipes or taps.

I believe the next 10 years will largely be focused on new interface paradigms that will bring the small size into the "functional" realm. Coming up with better ways to interface with the computer than a full-size keyboard (or it's miniature equivalent on mobile devices) and physical video displays.

 

[KirkL]

I think the small screens will limit phones from truly taking over computers but it will very interesting for sure

 

[roadbloc]

I care not for Mobile phones and iPad's. Computers and Laptops is where it is at for me. More than likely, I think Apple will find their profit come from the iToys and drop Macs. Not in the next 10 years though. I'm thinking more 15-20.

 

[G4er?]

In 10 years a Steve Jobs clone will personally implant the Apple iBrain into your head. And people like me will still be waiting for a mini tower.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Where do you see Apple moving in the next 10 years? Is Apple going to be a primarily mobile company rather than a computer company?

Apple is already a mobile entertainment company.

This transition was completed years ago, when they changed the name of the company from Apple Computer to Apple Inc. That signaled their intentions to push computers aside, and while still offering them, they are very much a second thought at Apple. Witness the incredibly long delays refreshing or upgrading models as of the last few years. Also look at the MacBook Pro's for example. They lack many of the common features of today's laptops. For example, I upgrade at every refresh cycle. My last three MacBook Pros did not have 3g connectivity. In that same time frame, all of my ThinkPads did. A simple and inexpensive chip, yet Apple placed no value on remaining current.

Fast forward to today where the sole focus is on cheap consumer products like the iPhone and iPad. The good news is Apple is selling massive quantities of these which assures their cash cow status. The iTunes model is brilliant and produced yet another huge revenue stream for them. At the end of the day Apple's priority is all about making money the easy way, and they have the formula down pat.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

That was a cool comparison - however I agree with what's already been mentioned - the human/hardware interface is the biggest speed bump - and it's a doozy.

Data into the device needs huge improvement, and data output, too - in order to be able to sidestep the laptop / PC.

If they could put an actual retina display in the device - as in a micro projector with a focus point to actually "project" itself onto your retina - you could have a VERY large (and immersive) display. With these face and eye tracking algorithms already available - this could become a reality. It'd also go a long way in making your experience "private" when amongst others (both great - and creepy). Find a clever way to integrate an "on-screen keyboard" that you can focus on and perform a gesture to click. For example look across a projected keyboard and glance at the letters t-h-a-t and then raise an eyebrow and that gesture turns to text. You could even have a full-on 3d GUI.

Then again.... this is likely going to be a little longer than 10 years time.... Good thing I don't work for Apple - they'd fire me for being crazy...

 

[RawBert]

I would love to see devices with 3D, holographic, touch sensitive (pretend touch ), projected displays/interfaces.

If done right, it could be the next big thing. I'm pretty sure more that a few companies are investing their recources into how well this could be pulled off. I believe Apple is one of them.

I hope it happens within the next ten to twenty years.

 

[i0Nic]

OSX is a mature product, I think iOS will continue to gain feature parity with OSX until they eventually merge or iOS simply replaces OSX on desktop/laptop macs.

 

[R94N]

It's sad that all the focus has been taken away from the desktop, but for consumers the more mobile products are easier to use, don't break as much, and are more portable and useful. It's just where all the innovation is happening at the moment, but the desktop machines will still be there, even if it's just for the power users.

I'm still waiting for a smartphone Here's hoping something for Christmas, or I'll have to earn it myself

 

[0007776]

I think mobile devices will have gotten enough power to work as a main computer for most people, and Apple will continue to make a few destops to support development of software for iOS. I would not be surprised if those destops were based on some variant of iOS though.

 

[brbubba]

It is kind of a shame that Apple is taking the focus off of their computing products, but I think that's where they could see significant growth. I don't see their cell phone market share growing due to the hurdle of data costs. Consumers that don't want or can't afford an iPhone now aren't going to suddenly jump ship in two years unless carriers reduce prices. Not to mention the competition in the cell market is heating up considerably.

In 10 years I think the Apple culture will actually lead to it's own demise. Sure, there will always be people that drink the Kool Aid, but eventually it's not going to taste so sweet. They will, like Microsoft, eventually become a victim of their own success. Sure people will still use their products, but there will be a serious wave of discontent. And that's way before 10 years, but the 10 year mark may signal a decline in dominance.

 

[Ttownbeast]

Digital self installing suppositories! Whether you want them or not they'll clear your colon and connect you to the web at blazing fast speeds blue tooth connectivity and stimulate your prostate.

The ad campaign will be: Shove an Apple where the sun don't shine!

 

[(marc)]

I hope iOS and OS X won't merge. They day that happens, I leave the Apple ecosystem.

 

[*LTD*]

I hope iOS and OS X won't merge. They day that happens, I leave the Apple ecosystem.

Start packing your bags.

The future:

New UI paradigm centered around multitouch and the development of a fully database-driven modal OS.

It's already happening. Note that Apple is pushing multitouch everywhere especially in the desktop space: Magic Trackpad (I own one, and it's spectacular.)

 

[sushi]

I hope iOS and OS X won't merge. They day that happens, I leave the Apple ecosystem.

With the way hardware is evolving, I would expect iOS and Mac OS to become more similar with each iteration.

My guess is within 2-3 years we'll see our first multi-touch based iMac.

 

[Ttownbeast]

In 10 years a Steve Jobs clone will personally implant the Apple iBrain into your head. And people like me will still be waiting for a mini tower.

That reminded me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUa3np4CKC4