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What does Apple need to do in 2017 to win you back over
- Thread starter w4rm
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Drop spinning drives, or at least make Fusion the minimum. Update Mac Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini. Quad core Mini BTO hopefully. Try not to upsell by making entry models have HDDs, as it only contributes to an intolerable user experience. And finally try to introduce frequent silent refreshes into the more powerful products.
The main issue is that people looking to dip their toes into the Apple ecosystem for the first time will have a terrible experience with the entry level (cheapest) products. Similarly, Pros looking for more power on macOS to help their workflow will have to pay 2017 prices for a 2013 machine that could use a quicker CPU, better GPUs, and faster/larger Flash storage options.
Other than that, it's really not all bad. They make some fabulous products and have unparalleled build quality/aftercare support.
The main issue is that people looking to dip their toes into the Apple ecosystem for the first time will have a terrible experience with the entry level (cheapest) products. Similarly, Pros looking for more power on macOS to help their workflow will have to pay 2017 prices for a 2013 machine that could use a quicker CPU, better GPUs, and faster/larger Flash storage options.
Other than that, it's really not all bad. They make some fabulous products and have unparalleled build quality/aftercare support.
Some kind of addition/refresh for the Mac lineup would be really nice. And an iPhone that really knocks the socks off (and if possible a 4" version). And less recalls / long strings of problems! Better QA is a must.
Here's my list.
Well, stop being so petty with the configurations. 5400 rpm drives in their stock configurations - really apple. You charge a premium price, please provide premium components.
Stop with the thinness, I don't need a wafer thin computer with a battery life of 3 hours, but rather a computer that can last all day.
Am not sure Apple need to 'win me back', per se'. Are there improvements I'd like to see, certainly...
- SSD or newer in all hardware that needs a hard drive.
- Build computers that ALLOW the customer to easily upgrade memory and even the SSD, if they choose. Similar to the iMac, where one can add more memory, there should be a similar 'port' per se', to allow an SSD replacement (yes, I know they'd lose money, but...)
- Possibly offer multiple releases of the same unit. Example, an upgraded MacBook, some moving to USB C, etc. and the others with still the usual ports. Highly unlikely this would ever happen. But, you asked
- SSD or newer in all hardware that needs a hard drive.
- Build computers that ALLOW the customer to easily upgrade memory and even the SSD, if they choose. Similar to the iMac, where one can add more memory, there should be a similar 'port' per se', to allow an SSD replacement (yes, I know they'd lose money, but...)
- Possibly offer multiple releases of the same unit. Example, an upgraded MacBook, some moving to USB C, etc. and the others with still the usual ports. Highly unlikely this would ever happen. But, you asked
• SSDs across the line.
• Stop with the obsessive thinness. Fine with the Macbook and Apple Watch, but who cares at this point for every single other product they are releasing?
• Release a proper upgradeable Mac Pro and not a 3 year old trash can which was clearly more of a "Look, we can design stuff!"-statement than an end user product.
• Start focusing on their software again from a productivity point of view. macOS is bug ridden. iOS is bug ridden. They are killing off their productivity apps and neutering the rest. Emojis and bling bling software has clearly taken the front seat, to focus short term sales down in Cooks pocket. The software is the only reason I am here and the current direction is pushing me to other platforms.
• Stop with the ******** courage/media PR and start catering to the customers.
My top pick is the software part, with the Mac Pro in the second row.
• Stop with the obsessive thinness. Fine with the Macbook and Apple Watch, but who cares at this point for every single other product they are releasing?
• Release a proper upgradeable Mac Pro and not a 3 year old trash can which was clearly more of a "Look, we can design stuff!"-statement than an end user product.
• Start focusing on their software again from a productivity point of view. macOS is bug ridden. iOS is bug ridden. They are killing off their productivity apps and neutering the rest. Emojis and bling bling software has clearly taken the front seat, to focus short term sales down in Cooks pocket. The software is the only reason I am here and the current direction is pushing me to other platforms.
• Stop with the ******** courage/media PR and start catering to the customers.
My top pick is the software part, with the Mac Pro in the second row.
They need to do something that has folks queueing-up round the block again. Something new and innovative.
They're still producing good, solid products, for sure. But their old "sparkle" has gone completely flat.
They're still producing good, solid products, for sure. But their old "sparkle" has gone completely flat.
I think the horse has already smashed down the barn door ... It's done...... but edge to edge iPhone if true would look good, Apple's trying. Maybie they can try harder and re-vamp the Mac mini and update the Mac Pro at the same time.
I really don't have a problem with Apple, i still think they make great products. But for 2017 there are a couple of things they could do to keep me happy
1. Release a new iMac (let's have a Fusion Drive as standard)
2. Release more Pro features for the iPad Pro
3. Carry on making great iPhone's
4. Release a 3rd series of the Apple Watch
If the iPhone 8 is released with a redesign i think a lot of people would upgrade, i probably will upgrade from my 7 Plus. I also think Apple could redesign the iMac (last redesign was 2012). But overall i'm happy with the Apple products that i've brought this year so no complaints
1. Release a new iMac (let's have a Fusion Drive as standard)
2. Release more Pro features for the iPad Pro
3. Carry on making great iPhone's
4. Release a 3rd series of the Apple Watch
If the iPhone 8 is released with a redesign i think a lot of people would upgrade, i probably will upgrade from my 7 Plus. I also think Apple could redesign the iMac (last redesign was 2012). But overall i'm happy with the Apple products that i've brought this year so no complaints
1. Stop nerfing their software (too late).
2. Lower their prices (currently prices will drive the less devoted away or keep others still into Windows away).
3. Come up with some new great thing better than a fancy watch. How about brain implants for accessing the net?
2. Lower their prices (currently prices will drive the less devoted away or keep others still into Windows away).
3. Come up with some new great thing better than a fancy watch. How about brain implants for accessing the net?
I don't think many wishes wil come true with Tim Cook in charge.
My new job will probably have me buying a Mac next year. I'm going from a one man operation where I decide (within reason) what I want to use. I had planned on switching from Macs to PC's after the Apple care had expired on my current Mac Pro. The new shop is all Mac and they don't have portables for us to use and I don't control the IT. If I'm going to be on Macs at work I want to have a Mac at home JIC whether I take my wifes 2011 MBP with me and get her a new computer or I just pick up a Mac when I get there I'm not sure regardless I want to have something that runs OSX at home.
I think they were hoping the watch was going to be that product.
None of Apple's products will produce that phenomenon (outside of the iPhone of course), and so we need to wait and see what apple rolls out next. I think that waiting and seeing is what is bothering most people, including the folks on wall street.
Don't try and amaze us with Macs - PCs are a mature technology - just keep the hardware up to date and fix flaws. If you truly come up with a genius idea fine, but, otherwise, don't fall back on "make it thinner and add gimmicks" - at the expense of functionality.
Economy: MacBook Air (nonretina). Its a classic design, just bump the specs and maybe replace the TB2 socket with TB3/USB-C (keep the rest!)
Ultra Mobility: 12" retina MacBook and a 13" retina MacBook (that might look suspiciously like the new non-touchbar MBP, who's major design fault is simply the "Pro" on the label). When Intel do a suitable chip, maybe add a thin'n'crispy 15" to the range.
13" Pro: Lets just pretend that the 2016 model was a bad dream. Take the 2015 rMBP, add Skylake processor, add wide-gamut screen, swap the 2xTB2 ports with 2xTB3/USB-C leave the rest and you're done. If you're in love with the touchbar, roll it out across the whole range (including an external option) - don't use the user interface as a way to distinguish models. Duh!
15" Pro: as above but add the best GPU that will fit the thermal profile.
iMac: GPU update and TB2->TB3 available ASAP. Don't try to make it thinner. Don't remove other ports. Fusion as standard.
Mac Mini: Look at Intel NUC. Then do it better.
Mac Pro: Replace with a small range of mini-tower systems built from off-the-shelf PC components in a nicer-than-average micro-ATX case. Development cost: Mom'n'Pop's PC and Ink jet Refill Emporium in the old video hire shop could build it. Sales: low, but see "development cost". Effect on sales of other products: might have been an issue 5-10 years ago - today it will only appeal to the pro/power user customers Apple are losing because of their thin'n'crispy obsession.
(I mean, if there's a market for a trashcan-shaped dedicated dual-GPU OpenCL video workstation that's so dependent on Intel & AMD releasing specific CPU and GPU models that it never gets updated... fine...)
Computer: full and easy access to ram and drive.
Screen: matte option!
Price: get real!
Screen: matte option!
Price: get real!
Better value at the bottom end of the product line; 64gb min on cheapest phone, no hobbled performance on the cheapest phone etc and updating (and unifying connectors) the whole product range across the board.
I have been fed up with the double down secrecy for a while, i want to know more about apples direction without reams of uninformed speculation (sorry macrumors) competitors are going to copy anyway, so just get over it; the endless carousel of speculative marketting and witholding of features to upsell the next device has just got so old.
Equalise features internationally; recently, apple tv for instance, no tv app for the UK, lots of missing catchup services, far fewer apps available than the US and so on. No apple support app, yet. Theres always something missing in other territories.
Allow rollback to previous ios platforms. Everyone has old ipads/phones that they can pass on to relatives who wouldnt purchase new, but the older machines are crippled under the newer ios. Virtually unusable, if not an appalling UX in some cases. Just allow it - i mean what a huge waste of resources when you have to dispose of an old device and replace with a new one after 4 or so years because of the proprietary software.
Rethink icloud policy, why only 5gb (no matter how many apple devices you own) doesnt make sense, except for
making spare change - looks cheap to customers.
I have been fed up with the double down secrecy for a while, i want to know more about apples direction without reams of uninformed speculation (sorry macrumors) competitors are going to copy anyway, so just get over it; the endless carousel of speculative marketting and witholding of features to upsell the next device has just got so old.
Equalise features internationally; recently, apple tv for instance, no tv app for the UK, lots of missing catchup services, far fewer apps available than the US and so on. No apple support app, yet. Theres always something missing in other territories.
Allow rollback to previous ios platforms. Everyone has old ipads/phones that they can pass on to relatives who wouldnt purchase new, but the older machines are crippled under the newer ios. Virtually unusable, if not an appalling UX in some cases. Just allow it - i mean what a huge waste of resources when you have to dispose of an old device and replace with a new one after 4 or so years because of the proprietary software.
Rethink icloud policy, why only 5gb (no matter how many apple devices you own) doesnt make sense, except for
making spare change - looks cheap to customers.
2017 marks the 10th year anniversary for Apple's iPhone. They should come up with real innovation this time.
Wow, well...
1) Seriously up the quality control on software and hardware - test, test and test again. Slow the hell down before releasing product.
2) For the premium price provide worthy internals.
3) Jettison the current customer is wrong policy. Do everything to help a customer, especially when staff is at fault (2x this month alone).
4) Cut the elitist attitudes and greedy margin price hikes.
5)Be gracious and more forthcoming with products and delays.
6)Limit their product range.
7) Macs anyone?
And
8) Leave politics out of public eye unless absolutely necessary.
I could also say fire the top 3 (Cook, Schiller and Ive) but that would never happen.
1) Seriously up the quality control on software and hardware - test, test and test again. Slow the hell down before releasing product.
2) For the premium price provide worthy internals.
3) Jettison the current customer is wrong policy. Do everything to help a customer, especially when staff is at fault (2x this month alone).
4) Cut the elitist attitudes and greedy margin price hikes.
5)Be gracious and more forthcoming with products and delays.
6)Limit their product range.
7) Macs anyone?
And
8) Leave politics out of public eye unless absolutely necessary.
I could also say fire the top 3 (Cook, Schiller and Ive) but that would never happen.
I thought 2016 was amazing for me.
I got the 9.7” iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil and using it as a teacher in my classroom has been an amazing experience. The writing experience is sublime.
Apple Pay finally got released in my country.
I just bought an Apple Watch last week and am awaiting delivery of my airpods next week.
It's actually a pretty good year for someone who isn't in a rush to get a new Mac and who is increasingly looking at getting more done on an iPad.
I got the 9.7” iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil and using it as a teacher in my classroom has been an amazing experience. The writing experience is sublime.
Apple Pay finally got released in my country.
I just bought an Apple Watch last week and am awaiting delivery of my airpods next week.
It's actually a pretty good year for someone who isn't in a rush to get a new Mac and who is increasingly looking at getting more done on an iPad.
A mid-size Mac with INTERNAL expansion for HD/SSD and RAM AND PCI/PCIe slots. And keep it under 3K. I love the Mac Pro, but not the price nor the lack of internal expansion.
I love the Mac Pro, but not the price nor the lack of internal expansion.
Hardware:
-Update the MacPro (new procs & GPU, faster memory and ssd, tb3, etc)
-Updated MacMini (new procs & GPU options, smaller, tb3)
-everything on SSD
Software:
-macOS: no new features; performance, debugging and tuning update, HEVC support. And maybe put some personality/culture into it.
-iOS: complete overhaul of the UI/frontend. I want a better launcher, app switching, notifications, home screen, etc. A new paradigm (for me WebOS's cards metaphor is still the best i've ever seen). New Music app! And maybe put some personality/culture into it.
-iTunes: refactor and make the UI consistent
-iMovie needs to be simpler, i miss the UI from the first few versions.
-AFS (This is going to be a tough one.)
Services:
-Apple Maps should be publicly accessible on a website.
Other:
-Make an ergonomic mouse
-keyboard with touchbar+touchID and numeric keypad
Discontinue or completely revamp:
-AppleTV, watch
Not sure:
Having spent an obscene amount of money for a mediocre(at best) headphone company, maybe they should start leveraging that tech and putting it into their hardware? (no need to brand the speakers "beats", etc).
Summary:
In short Apple should *focus*, and not be distracted with whatever the latest buzz-word/fad is.
[doublepost=1481906825][/doublepost]
THIS!
-Update the MacPro (new procs & GPU, faster memory and ssd, tb3, etc)
-Updated MacMini (new procs & GPU options, smaller, tb3)
-everything on SSD
Software:
-macOS: no new features; performance, debugging and tuning update, HEVC support. And maybe put some personality/culture into it.
-iOS: complete overhaul of the UI/frontend. I want a better launcher, app switching, notifications, home screen, etc. A new paradigm (for me WebOS's cards metaphor is still the best i've ever seen). New Music app! And maybe put some personality/culture into it.
-iTunes: refactor and make the UI consistent
-iMovie needs to be simpler, i miss the UI from the first few versions.
-AFS (This is going to be a tough one.)
Services:
-Apple Maps should be publicly accessible on a website.
Other:
-Make an ergonomic mouse
-keyboard with touchbar+touchID and numeric keypad
Discontinue or completely revamp:
-AppleTV, watch
Not sure:
Having spent an obscene amount of money for a mediocre(at best) headphone company, maybe they should start leveraging that tech and putting it into their hardware? (no need to brand the speakers "beats", etc).
Summary:
In short Apple should *focus*, and not be distracted with whatever the latest buzz-word/fad is.
[doublepost=1481906825][/doublepost]
THIS!
When has Apple been involved in politics?
Or do you consider that standing up for basic human rights for your employees is "politics".
You'd have to be from somewhere like Iowa to not understand that the Silicon Valley job market is extremely competitive, and the best people tend to support basic human rights for everyone. If you want to hire the best here, a pro human rights stance is an important factor.
At my company, participation at Pride events and other LGBT outreach events are funded under "talent acquisition". Before marriage equality, my company not only treated domestic partners like spouses with full health and other benefits - but it add an equalization payment to cover the federal tax on the DP benefit. (For married people, partner benefits were not taxed. For unmarried, the value of the benefit was counted as income subject to tax. The company added a contribution to the paycheck so that it covered the unfair tax.)
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The AirPods might be it?
Watches are kind-of optional, but most people need a way to listen to music/phone calls. So I'm thinking there will be a bit of a frisson on Monday when the AirPods finally appear in stores with just 6 shopping days left to Christmas!
Heck, we might even see the return of the scalpers!
Yes, headphones that have to be recharged three times a day is surely a groundbreaking product.The AirPods might be it?
Watches are kind-of optional, but most people need a way to listen to music/phone calls. So I'm thinking there will be a bit of a frisson on Monday when the AirPods finally appear in stores with just 6 shopping days left to Christmas!
Heck, we might even see the return of the scalpers!
Groundbreaking stupidity.
You wear your headphones all day long. Wow. That's hardcore. Impressive
AirPods probably aren't for you then. What do you use, if I may ask?