Tim Cook: "North America was a challenge. We had no growth"

[jamezr]

You keep forgetting one important aspect. Apple has never released something upfront that the consumers wanted. After all, it was Steve's and Apple's motto that the consumer doesn't know what they want; and they'd be right. There is always someone who is never satisfied.

So going bigger, while it makes sense due to sales of larger devices, is not the way to go.

I can see mobile payments as an area that would bring to the iPhone much more features than just a a screen increase.

So why would a larger screen not be the way to go if the market is moving that way? Why increase from the original 3.5 inch screen to begin with then?
The bolded above is the reason why Apple is perceived to be snobbish....
You are right......you will never please everyone with a product release......but to say there is no growth in the US....when you are not giving the consumer what they want is not truthful. What he should have said is there is no growth in the US market because we are not willing to give the consumer what they want.....because we know what is best for them....despite the data to prove otherwise.........
What is your position going to be when Apple releases a larger screen iPhone later this year?

 

[chabig]

So why would a larger screen not be the way to go if the market is moving that way?

You can't just assume the market is moving that way. Apple sold almost 200 million iPhones last year and I'm sure they have better data than we do on where the market is. Could it be the real reason Android makers are putting out big phones is to differentiate from Apple and cover up their other shortcomings?

 

[jamezr]

You can't just assume the market is moving that way. Apple sold almost 200 million iPhones last year and I'm sure they have better data than we do on where the market is. Could it be the real Android makers are putting out big phones is to differentiate from Apple and cover up their other shortcomings?

Great point....but then would those offerings sell just because they were released? By all data Samsung sold about 40 million large screen phones. Is that not growth? If there wasn't a demand would they sell?

 

[gnasher729]

Would TouchID also not be an innovation? There's wasn't something like it on smartphones before this to make "better;" it's a "different" approach to authentication.

The rule is: If Apple does it then we will dig deep into the history books to show that it was done before, even if it wasn't. If Samsung or Google does it, then it is the height of innovation.

----------

Great point....but then would those offerings sell just because they were released? By all data Samsung sold about 40 million large screen phones. Is that not growth? If there wasn't a demand would they sell?

Did you know that Samsung spends three times as much on marketing as Apple does? On the other hand, at least in the UK, Samsung has actually abandoned the PC market. Sales drop of 88 percent, so they seem to be just selling off any existing stock.

 

[jamezr]

Did you know that Samsung spends three times as much on marketing as Apple does? On the other hand, at least in the UK, Samsung has actually abandoned the PC market. Sales drop of 88 percent, so they seem to be just selling off any existing stock.

I was talking about mobile phones just by themselves.........

 

[jav6454]

Great point....but then would those offerings sell just because they were released? By all data Samsung sold about 40 million large screen phones. Is that not growth? If there wasn't a demand would they sell?

Samsung sold 40 million large screen phones. Let's assume that number would change with the number of iPhones sold. Wouldn't that be a better market measurement of what people truly want?

Let's see, 210 Million vs 40 Million. There is a larger market for 4" devices or less.

 

[jamezr]

Samsung sold 40 million large screen phones. Let's assume that number would change with the number of iPhones sold. Wouldn't that be a better market measurement of what people truly want?

Let's see, 210 Million vs 40 Million. There is a larger market for 4" devices or less.

So 210 million in just the US? I don't think so....maybe world wide. But the context of the thread was US sales.The 40 million for Samsung is just for the S4 and Note 3 in the US.
But if we do go global......according to Reuters

"For the entire 2013, global smartphone shipments grew 41 percent to reach a record 990 million. Samsung sold 319.8 million units to take 32.2 percent, up from 30.4 percent in 2012.

Apple sold 153.5 million iPhones with a 15.5 percent market share."


That is just Samsung and the over 4 inch screens sold by them......throw in the rest of the vendors that sell over 4 inch screens and the number spread get even larger. While the iPhone is the single best selling phone in the world........the larger screen phone sales dwarf it.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/us-samsung-sales-idUSBREA0R00S20140128

 

[jav6454]

So 210 million in just the US? I don't think so....maybe world wide. But the context of the thread was US sales.The 40 million for Samsung is just for the S4 and Note 3 in the US.
But if we do go global......according to Reuters

"For the entire 2013, global smartphone shipments grew 41 percent to reach a record 990 million. Samsung sold 319.8 million units to take 32.2 percent, up from 30.4 percent in 2012.

Apple sold 153.5 million iPhones with a 15.5 percent market share."


That is just Samsung and the over 4 inch screens sold by them......throw in the rest of the vendors that sell over 4 inch screens and the number spread get even larger. While the iPhone is the single best selling phone in the world........the larger screen phone sales dwarf it.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/us-samsung-sales-idUSBREA0R00S20140128

By your own account you made my argument. If a single phone can sell so well, comparably so to the other bigger screen phones, then something is being done right by Apple in the screen department, wouldn't you say?

Think about it. It does state much about what people want.

 

[jamezr]

By your own account you made my argument. If a single phone can sell so well, comparably so to the other bigger screen phones, then something is being done right by Apple in the screen department, wouldn't you say?

Think about it. It does state much about what people want.

I guess you right…….the overwhelming majority prefer larger screen phones…..
Apple is the minority phone maker world wide…...

 

[tjl3]

So 210 million in just the US? I don't think so....maybe world wide. But the context of the thread was US sales.The 40 million for Samsung is just for the S4 and Note 3 in the US.
But if we do go global......according to Reuters

"For the entire 2013, global smartphone shipments grew 41 percent to reach a record 990 million. Samsung sold 319.8 million units to take 32.2 percent, up from 30.4 percent in 2012.

Apple sold 153.5 million iPhones with a 15.5 percent market share."


That is just Samsung and the over 4 inch screens sold by them......throw in the rest of the vendors that sell over 4 inch screens and the number spread get even larger. While the iPhone is the single best selling phone in the world........the larger screen phone sales dwarf it.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/us-samsung-sales-idUSBREA0R00S20140128

I missed the part where 100% of Samsung's smartphone sales were over 4". B/c they had a handful of 4" smartphones and some less than 4"... As well as other Android OEMs.

Also, this is such a dumb argument. If given the choice between a 5" GS4 with industry leading hardware or a 4" copy w/ it's specs dialed down, the average consumer will go with the bigger numbers. This is why it will be interesting to watch Apple release a larger iPhone in tandem w/ a 4" iPhone. Because they would likely be spec'd exactly the same, otherwise you are giving more incentive for people to buy the larger one.

 

[Fanaticalism]

Would TouchID also not be an innovation? There's wasn't something like it on smartphones before this to make "better;" it's a "different" approach to authentication.

.

No. It was an evolution of an existing product with a different approach to its implementation. The Moto Atrix HD had a fingerprint scanner that was poorly implemented which resulted in a low successful authentication rate. The iPhone has a much higher success rate, albeit not where it needs to be (should always work).

 

[Breaking Good]

The more I use Android devices, the more I realize Apple has nothing to worry about.

I don't have to reset my work issued iPhone 4 once I week like I do my personal HTC One to make sure my battery lasts longer than 18 hours.

I own an iPad 4 and a 2013 Google Nexus 7. Apple just works better.

 

[Rogifan]

Sensationalist dreck, meant to attract link clicks rather than actually inform anyone with facts.

this is business insider's MO. Nothing from that site should be taken seriously. Even more ridiculous is that cnbc has Henry Blodget on their network as if he's some expert on the markets/technology.

 

[roadbloc]

Let me say it before someone says it, "IF the iPhone screen was bigger then sales would pick up." Smh. I can't stand hearing that. Something like that would be a top comment on BGR by Android fan boys.

But I bet that if they do release a bigger screened iPhone, sales will pick up. It happened last time.

 

[the8thark]

I love the 3.5" form factor. Don't get me wrong. I think Steve got it right off the bat and a bigger screen (even today's iPhones) is a mistake.

Well said. I'm glad someone else out there gets it.

 

[dan110]

Wake Up Apple

Apple,

Five Things to Do ... Now!

1) More choices. For example, Americans, just like the Chinese, want bigger screens. The iPhone 6 better be "bigger". But we expected that in the iPhone 5 series.

2) Why would you not allow Bitcoin apps for iOS? It's stuff like this why people are frustrated.

3) Stop insulting your customers' intelligence. Still selling iPad 2 and the most recent iPad offerings were not in line with price, features, and performance expectations. Start with higher storage options and a lower price point.

4) Update the iPod Classic. Many music lovers just want a digital music device. The Classic still sells very well.

5) Make developing for OS X as easy as it is for iOS. Figure out a way to do storyboard for the computer platform.

A Longtime Customer

 

[Renzatic]

After all, it was Steve's and Apple's motto that the consumer doesn't know what they want; and they'd be right.

This is one of the most misinterpreted quotes I've seen around here.

Steve Jobs wasn't saying "only Apple knows what you truly want". If you were walk up to Jobs and say you want a larger screen iPhone, and he replied that you actually don't, and only he knows what's better for you, all that would do is make you want to backhand the smug smile off his face.

What he was saying that it's Apple's job to introduce great new products that people didn't know they wanted until they saw them. Like no one wanted an iPad until Apple released an iPad, then everyone wanted an iPad.

It's the difference between "I know want you want" and "...let me show you something better". A lot of people here think Jobs meant the former, when he actually meant the latter.