The Incredible Shrinking Apple

[Rogifan]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/opinion/apple-steve-jobs.html#click=https://t.co/icXwbtbAYG

I don’t agree with everything in this Farhad Manjoo opinion piece but this line stood out to me:

So now, instead of selling better stuff to more people, Apple’s new plan is to sell more stuff to the same people.

I’m confused by the thinking that because iPhone growth has stalled the only thing Apple can do now is launch me-too so-called services targeted to existing customers. What’s exciting about that? Is Apple imitating the competition just to get a cut of other people’s revenues really putting the customer front and center? It seems like most of this is for the benefit of Wall Street not Apple customers.

 

[maflynn]

I would agree with the author's assessment of selling more stuff to the same people.

I'm not sure what to say about apple's foray into services, but it reminds me of IBM, and even Microsoft, where their once proud products have matured to a degree that they were no long cash cows, so they moved on to a different business model.

I guess if I ruminate on this more, I feel like its distracting apple from what used to be its core business.

 

[FFR]

I don’t really agree with the author either.

If apple were in real trouble they would have opened up IMessage and FaceTime to android for a fee, that would establish a new revenue stream for non apple customers and would appease Wall Street and their investors. But that did not happen, instead apple decided to focus on apple customers and offer services they might be interested in offering added value through various subscriptions. That’s partly why I purchase apple products, It’s due to their focus on current customers, after sales support and now services.

The services being offered are not mandatory. I haven’t signed up to apple news, but I have signed to up to one or two channels in the new Tv app, it’s actually great. I don’t think I’m going to subscribe to apples streaming tv service, but I’m very interested In the apple card because of the integration it will offer with iOS and the iPhone.

 

[maflynn]

Let me add some perspective on my post.

I'm not saying Apple shouldn't look to diversify, but rather does its align with its business. In terms of the new services, news, and tv shows, I'm not sure its designed to grow the business with new customers, as much as charging existing customers with the service. In other words, unlike other apple products, it will not entice others to go out and spend money on apple products.

 

[Adam Warlock]

This is gonna turn into a Cook-bashing thread, but it's not like he doesn't deserve it. ;-)

The problem is simply Cook and the rest of the top leadership at Apple seem to have no vision, or perhaps no shared vision they can all work toward. Their personal passions seem to be completely absent from the company and it shows in their lacklustre product line.

For example, Steve Jobs loved music and thus iTunes and the iPod were born. What are some of Cook's passions? Immigration, LGBT and... I dunno. (Frankly I'n not convinced these aren't simply expedient but I digress.) Nothing wrong with either, but what has he brought to the company as a result of these things? Some flowery speeches and letters and not much else.

I know Eddie loves Ferrari. Great! Is there anything remotely related to them in his purview other than high prices? On it goes with the rest although perhaps Ahrendts' love for fashion was a notable exception although I don't think it was a good fit for a technology company. At least she tried and I give her credit for that even though I despise the direction she wanted to take Apple.

In short one of the things that made Apple great was the idea of intersecting art and technology, and what is art if not passion? Today's Apple is simply about making money and while there isn't anything wrong with that goal itself there is a problem when it's the only goal.

 

[smoledman]

My favorite Tim Cook phrase is 'toxic hellstew'.
[doublepost=1554775576][/doublepost]

This is gonna turn into a Cook-bashing thread, but it's not like he doesn't deserve it. ;-)

The problem is simply Cook and the rest of the top leadership at Apple seem to have no vision, or perhaps no shared vision they can all work toward. Their personal passions seem to be completely absent from the company and it shows in their lacklustre product line.

For example, Steve Jobs loved music and thus iTunes and the iPod were born. What are some of Cook's passions? Immigration, LGBT and... I dunno. (Frankly I'n not convinced these aren't simply expedient but I digress.) Nothing wrong with either, but what has he brought to the company as a result of these things? Some flowery speeches and letters and not much else.

I know Eddie loves Ferrari. Great! Is there anything remotely related to them in his purview other than high prices? On it goes with the rest although perhaps Ahrendts' love for fashion was a notable exception although I don't think it was a good fit for a technology company. At least she tried and I give her credit for that even though I despise the direction she wanted to take Apple.

In short one of the things that made Apple great was the idea of intersecting art and technology, and what is art if not passion? Today's Apple is simply about making money and while there isn't anything wrong with that goal itself there is a problem when it's the only goal.

Intersection of art & technology, that's just so 80s man.