Other "We heard you" - said Apple never

[AppleHaterLover]

Apple is perceived as the leader of privacy in consumer electronics. I want them to stay. Good thing they now have so much cash on hand they can weather the time it takes to course correct.

They're perceived as the leader of privacy because we're paying through the nose so they don't need to sell our data.

 

[Jimmy James]

I’d rather pay more and not deal with ads, data mining, and OS bundled with unwanted software. How much more is the market willing to pay? I think we’re going to find out.

 

[spacebro]

What even is your criticism? I feel like Tim Cook is listening, which is why the Mac mini was refreshed into a powerful macOS device, why the MacBook Pro was given 32gb ram even though "we can't because intel isn't letting us". Apple is delivering what the fanboys want, which is different than what apple execs want. Apple execs would love to kill macOS and have iOS on everything. They would have refreshed the Mac mini into some iOS device that's like the Apple TV but with keyboard support. Think about it, that's enough computer for most people, but apple isn't doing it yet because the fanboys would cry hard and kill themselves.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I disagree. The iPhone has been my choice for the past 11 years. Mobile technology advancement has kind of grinded to a slow meander in the past few years so if the iPhone is in its early stages of death, I don't see anything groundbreaking replacing it in the few years it'll take to croak. Especially this "foldable phone" fad. Sounds absolutely nonsensical to me.

My whole work flow revolves around the Apple ecosystem and it’s product so I would find it hard to use another phone/OS.

 

[trekkie604]

Carriers are now offering 3 year contracts to give consumers the impression the phones are cheaper too. They are starting to react and it’s only going to be more positive in the consumers eyes soon I’d say.

Speaking as a Canadian whose government recently mandated all 3 year contracts be abolished: that is not a good thing.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Speaking as a Canadian whose government recently mandated all 3 year contracts be abolished: that is not a good thing.

I would never opt for one personally but people are simply not attracted by 2 year contracts which are demanding £80 a month for these new more expensive iPhones. They have no choice but to try and tempt people in. Before this year I was not even aware a 3 year contract existed.

 

[Starship67]

The only reason iPhone and smartphones sales in general are falling, is if and I say if, is beacause the market is saturated everyone and their brother has one already. The general public doesn’t upgrade every year or even every 2 years for some.

 

[PeteS1963]

I would never opt for one personally but people are simply not attracted by 2 year contracts which are demanding £80 a month for these new more expensive iPhones. They have no choice but to try and tempt people in. Before this year I was not even aware a 3 year contract existed.

I would never go with a 3 yr contract. But I hate contracts. However, there are some very good deals out there.

The XR might not be classed as a “new more expensive iphone”, although it’s not cheap, but my wife got an outstanding deal for an XR on 2 yr contract with Vodafone via a well known mobile shop. It’s £29 per month over 2 yrs for 80GB data, unlimited calls, unlimited text... that’s cheaper than buying an XR! It looked too good to be true and I thought it would be some sort of scam. She had to wait almost 3 weeks for the phone but it all seems to be legit. What do people want!!!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I would never go with a 3 yr contract. But I hate contracts. However, there are some very good deals out there.

The XR might not be classed as a “new more expensive iphone”, although it’s not cheap, but my wife got an outstanding deal for an XR on 2 yr contract with Vodafone via a well known mobile shop. It’s £29 per month over 2 yrs for 80GB data, unlimited calls, unlimited text... that’s cheaper than buying an XR! It looked too good to be true and I thought it would be some sort of scam. She had to wait almost 3 weeks for the phone but it all seems to be legit. What do people want!!!

The way it’s going we are going to be back to the days when we could negotiate contract plans. I used to love telling the carrier what I wanted and how much I wanted to pay lol. I saw the Vodafone deals and if they had good signal where I am I would have had one too.

 

[PeteS1963]

The way it’s going we are going to be back to the days when we could negotiate contract plans. I used to love telling the carrier what I wanted and how much I wanted to pay lol. I saw the Vodafone deals and if they had good signal where I am I would have had one too.

Yes, those were the days! And personally I’m not a fan of Vodafone. In the past (it was a while ago) I’ve had some terrible customer service from them, but maybe they’ve got better.

 

[Ebok]

Head. Sand.

Until Apple start losing money massively nothing will change.

in theory they are losing out on potential money right now.

they would have made more money by selling more units had the iPhone's been priced reasonably.

$649 XR
$799 XS
$899 XS Max
[doublepost=1545159585][/doublepost]

I’d rather pay more and not deal with ads, data mining, and OS bundled with unwanted software. How much more is the market willing to pay? I think we’re going to find out.

we just found out with this cycle what the market is willing to pay.

 

[stafil]

Just because he is not listening to YOU or ME doesn’t mean he is not listening to customers.

Probably YOU and ME are not listening to the rest of the customers.
[doublepost=1545163128][/doublepost]

in theory they are losing out on potential money right now.

they would have made more money by selling more units had the iPhone's been priced reasonably.

$649 XR
$799 XS
$899 XS Max

And you know that how?

 

[thadoggfather]

I think Apple are already listening to a degree. They are plugging the XR like crazy on TV and in store and offering more money for trade ins. My local Apple store even has a wooden billboard outside asking people to come in and check out the XR!! Never seen that before.

Carriers are now offering 3 year contracts to give consumers the impression the phones are cheaper too. They are starting to react and it’s only going to be more positive in the consumers eyes soon I’d say.

Impression is the operative word here. Nothing is really being done.

Even Steve dropped his pants on price on the FIRST GENERATION iPhone from $599 to $399 in the fall of 07

 

[ET iPhone Home]

I'm not going to get into a discussion about falling iPhone sales, it's all over the tech media and on this site.

My question is, will Apple finally start listening to its customers and the market in general or is Tim Cook going to keep being the ostrich that he is and keep his head in the sand? The days of small upgrades and exorbitantly priced iPhones are surely over. There is only so much you can milk a cow before it says moo and gallops off. If this is not a wake up call to Tim Cook that the iPhone is not immune to declining interest then I don't know what is. But, if Cook doesn't take stock now, the iPhone's days are numbered.

Phones are going to be like cars where people will finance them, hence lease.

 

[QCassidy352]

in theory they are losing out on potential money right now.

they would have made more money by selling more units had the iPhone's been priced reasonably.

$649 XR
$799 XS
$899 XS Max.

I have to assume that Apple has a market research dept that does actual research to project sales at different price points and that they concluded that the current price points strike the best possible balance between unit sales and profit per unit.

Doesn’t mean they are always going to be right, but I’d wager they approached the problem a lot more scientifically than your post just did.

 

[willmtaylor]

Phones are going to be like cars where people will finance them, hence lease.

Are they not already there? The vast majority of customers do not pay the full amount up front; instead they add $30/mo. to their bill.

 

[VMMan]

I’m more than okay with CEOs such as Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk keeping their heads in sand and doing or having done what they think or thought is/was best.

Tim Cook, however, is not like those tech leaders. There is no cohesive “vision” or direction for Apple currently.

 

[C DM]

I’m more than okay with CEOs such as Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk keeping their heads in sand and doing or having done what they think or thought is/was best.

Tim Cook, however, is not like those tech leaders. There is no cohesive “vision” or direction for Apple currently.

And yet Apple has done quite well with him as the CEO.

 

[akash.nu]

I’m more than okay with CEOs such as Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk keeping their heads in sand and doing or having done what they think or thought is/was best.

Tim Cook, however, is not like those tech leaders. There is no cohesive “vision” or direction for Apple currently.

They’re not just CEOs, they’re founders of the companies. There’s a huge difference.

And yet Apple has done quite well with him as the CEO.

Exactly!

 

[Shanghaichica]

They’re not just CEOs, they’re founders of the companies. There’s a huge difference.



Exactly!

Let’s put it this way. When jobs was alive the iPhone was just a good phone to me. When it was stolen in 2012 I switched to android. I switched back in 2014 and Cook has managed to upsell me to an Apple Watch, MacBook, several iPads, Apple TV, AirPods, HomePods, Apple Music and iCloud subscriptions. I’m now pretty locked into the Apple ecosystem. If my phone was stolen again (I have insurance). However if it were stolen again I’d have to get another iPhone. I’d say Tim is doing a good job!

 

[akash.nu]

Let’s put it this way. When jobs was alive the iPhone was just a good phone to me. When it was stolen in 2012 I switched to android. I switched back in 2014 and Cook has managed to upsell me to an Apple Watch, MacBook, several iPads, Apple TV, AirPods, HomePods, Apple Music and iCloud subscriptions. I’m now pretty locked into the Apple ecosystem. If my phone was stolen again (I have insurance). However if it were stolen again I’d have to get another iPhone. I’d say Tim is doing a good job!

Well said, and that’s exactly what the difference is between a founder and a CEO.

Most of the times a founder has a preconceived idea of why he / she’s starting the company to begin with. This is one of the main reasons for their success. Without a solid focus and goals businesses do not make it in the real world. Success stories in the business world are always below 1% for a reason.

A veteran CEO, however, steps up to the position of an already successful/ established business and their goal is completely different in terms of running the day to day operations of the business. Especially if the founder passes away / steps down then the CEO naturally drives the trajectory of the business towards more success in terms of revenue and growth as the main focus, because that’s what their job is and I’d say Tim Cook has done it much better than any other CEO in any of these big tech companies. Sundar Pichai is a close second.

 

[44267547]

I’m more than okay with CEOs such as Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk keeping their heads in sand and doing or having done what they think or thought is/was best.

Tim Cook, however, is not like those tech leaders. There is no cohesive “vision” or direction for Apple currently.

To many times, others like yourself compare other CEO’s to Cook, and it’s not always appropriate. Keeping this related to the iPhone, Cook has been successful and the iPhone X set the new biometric standard with Face ID and that’s not a vision? Or the success with the iPhone 6 under Cook wasn’t something he should be recognized for? Maybe you’re ignoring the positive’s under his leadership.

 

[kasakka]

Well said, and that’s exactly what the difference is between a founder and a CEO.

Most of the times a founder has a preconceived idea of why he / she’s starting the company to begin with. This is one of the main reasons for their success. Without a solid focus and goals businesses do not make it in the real world. Success stories in the business world are always below 1% for a reason.

A veteran CEO, however, steps up to the position of an already successful/ established business and their goal is completely different in terms of running the day to day operations of the business. Especially if the founder passes away / steps down then the CEO naturally drives the trajectory of the business towards more success in terms of revenue and growth as the main focus, because that’s what their job is and I’d say Tim Cook has done it much better than any other CEO in any of these big tech companies. Sundar Pichai is a close second.

You have to also remember that Steve Jobs came back to Apple because Apple was failing. He managed to steer the company back by improving their products and pivoting to new areas like the iPod and iPhone. By comparison Cook is the kind of CEO who isn't a visionary. He's probably a great CEO when it comes to making Apple more profitable but everything Apple does at the moment is logical iteration. It's individual engineers or groups of them who are driving the innovation train with stuff like FaceID. The iPhone and iPad lines are the best they've ever been while the Mac lineup is generally staying stagnant or even becoming worse than past models while commanding higher prices.

At the moment I feel Apple's value proposition is off. They have always been more expensive than the competition, but that usually came with a product that warranted that extra cost. As much as I like my iPhone XS, it is not a 1200 euro phone. I still feel salty about the price and the bad accessory bundle and have no interest in upgrading in the next 3 years. Likewise paying about 50% more for the 12.9 iPad Pro doesn't entice me when I have the 2nd gen model, especially since Apple just decided to stop supporting the 1st gen Pencil on the new models even though there isn't an apparent technical limitation to just hooking it up to an adapter to pair it. I loathe my work 2016 MBP and have to think really hard about my next machine - they've really ruined a good thing with the current design. I feel Apple is nickle and diming the consumers with everything they can while charging far more than a premium.

 

[Ploki]

They're perceived as the leader of privacy because we're paying through the nose so they don't need to sell our data.

I'm fine with that tho. I'd rather pay for privacy then be infringed for free.
This free market huh, and all the options. incredible eh?

Are they not already there? The vast majority of customers do not pay the full amount up front; instead they add $30/mo. to their bill.

That's been the case since mobile phones existed, I didn't own a single Nokia/Ericsson without a mobile plan. I dont even know how much they cost...

The "let's buy a device without a plan" happened with smartphones.

 

[The Game 161]

Apple do listen. Look what they have brought in recent years. They just take longer than other companies. Nothing will change much until they start losing loads of money