Perhaps they didn't want people using the wireless mouse in a wired scenario (as in while it was plugged in), and thus potentially designed it that way on purpose to effectively prevent such usage.
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When do you think the decline of Apple started?
- Thread starter retta283
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For me, I could make a pretty good argument for why Apple products were more upfront cost compared to PC products, up to about 2015. With the latest MBP with touchbar, I feel they made compromises no one was asking for. I understood the compromises with the Retina MBP: removing the optical drive, going to all Flash, even soldering the RAM. But they kept the ports, battery life, and price within Apple expectations. These were all things customers wanted and understood would reduce the weight. With the Touchbar MBP, they reduced size and weight, when no one was complaining, removed critical ports too soon, sacrificed cooling, typing, and battery life, all to get thinner. It really came to be apparent when Phil said they couldn't put 32gb of RAM in it because it would use too much power. Imagine what a Touchbar MBP would be like if it were more in line with the Retina MBP size: Ample battery capacity, cooling, ports, etc.
They put their own obsession with thin and light, charging customers to pay for upgrades at purchase, forcing us to buy adapters, ahead of their customers needs. Up to then it all felt justified to me.
Since 2015/2016, every Apple computer has made the same sacrifices. Pretty much all the latest models of their computers do not appeal to me. I'll hold onto my 2012 cMBP for as long as I can, and after that I'll upgrade to the 2015 Retina MBP. I don't see myself going to the latest model for a long time.
They put their own obsession with thin and light, charging customers to pay for upgrades at purchase, forcing us to buy adapters, ahead of their customers needs. Up to then it all felt justified to me.
Since 2015/2016, every Apple computer has made the same sacrifices. Pretty much all the latest models of their computers do not appeal to me. I'll hold onto my 2012 cMBP for as long as I can, and after that I'll upgrade to the 2015 Retina MBP. I don't see myself going to the latest model for a long time.
Not from a 'products guy' perspective, but from a 'decision making' perspective. Steve was always the one who really 'led' Apple.
Except for most of the time when he wasn't....
https://blog.insideview.com/2011/08/25/the-history-of-apple-ceos/
The decline started in different times for different devices. I mean in the Apple used to be all about ”usable innovations". You know, not just an innovation for innovation, but a real consumer-focused innovation.
The decline might started in 2011 but from a consumer point of view it started to be noticable in 2014-2015.
The decline might started in 2011 but from a consumer point of view it started to be noticable in 2014-2015.
Nonsense. Total nonsense. Still one of the most successful companies in history. Still makes great products that people love. Apple products have always been expensive. They're worth it.
The decline began whenever you wish it to have begun, based on whatever criteria you choose. This thread is just reflecting standard human nature - there will always be a part of the population that believes the past was always better than the present, and that everything goes downhill.
I don't share this worldview, so I don't think there's been a decline. Life has its ups and downs, so while there may be times when the past was better than the present, it doesn't mean the future will be even worse.
I don't share this worldview, so I don't think there's been a decline. Life has its ups and downs, so while there may be times when the past was better than the present, it doesn't mean the future will be even worse.
The obvious saturation of the smartphone market poses a huge problem, not only but especially for Apple
Being heavily reliant on iPhone sales Apple will feel the pain more deeply than other not so smartphone centric companies
The iPhone has been Apple's greatest success but since its inception and despite some effort Apple has not been able to grow adequate revenue elsewhere
You can raise iPhone prices only so far to make up for slowing sales ...
Being heavily reliant on iPhone sales Apple will feel the pain more deeply than other not so smartphone centric companies
The iPhone has been Apple's greatest success but since its inception and despite some effort Apple has not been able to grow adequate revenue elsewhere
You can raise iPhone prices only so far to make up for slowing sales ...
Most people answers are focused on what Apple did or did not do but part of the answer can be found if you look at the competition.
Back in the day there was a huge quality difference between what Apple had to offer and what the competition had:
- There was a time Mac OS was much better than Windows Vista
- There was a time where the original iPhone provided a much better experience than Nokia Symbian or Blackberry phones
The thing is that nowadays the latest Android versions and a number of Android phones offer a perfectly acceptable experience for the vast majority of the users at a much lower cost.
Despite some hiccups, most people are probably happy enough with their current Windows 7 or Windows 10 machine to feel the need to pay extra and try to move to another OS.
My feeling is that today is much harder for the average Joe to justify to himself paying the premium to go Apple. In addition, while in the USA or in the UK, the Apple brand is quite strong, in a lot of other countries while recognized as a good brand most of the consumers are not that faithful to it.
Back in the day there was a huge quality difference between what Apple had to offer and what the competition had:
- There was a time Mac OS was much better than Windows Vista
- There was a time where the original iPhone provided a much better experience than Nokia Symbian or Blackberry phones
The thing is that nowadays the latest Android versions and a number of Android phones offer a perfectly acceptable experience for the vast majority of the users at a much lower cost.
Despite some hiccups, most people are probably happy enough with their current Windows 7 or Windows 10 machine to feel the need to pay extra and try to move to another OS.
My feeling is that today is much harder for the average Joe to justify to himself paying the premium to go Apple. In addition, while in the USA or in the UK, the Apple brand is quite strong, in a lot of other countries while recognized as a good brand most of the consumers are not that faithful to it.
Apple once was a company that provided tools for professionals. More or less with the introduction of the iPod and later the iPhone it turned into a company that provided tools for professionals and the best consumer grade hardware/software in the business. Soon after that (I'd say 2011/2012) it obviously lost it's interest in professionals.
I was at a software development conference in 2008, you could see 90%+ MacBook Pros there.
6 months ago it was more or less 25%.
Apple is losing the people who actually create stuff on Mac OS. Additionally Apple is losing the markets with the biggest future growth potentials (India, China, African continent).
It's still a very, very successful company, but #imho reached it's peak a year ago.
I was at a software development conference in 2008, you could see 90%+ MacBook Pros there.
6 months ago it was more or less 25%.
Apple is losing the people who actually create stuff on Mac OS. Additionally Apple is losing the markets with the biggest future growth potentials (India, China, African continent).
It's still a very, very successful company, but #imho reached it's peak a year ago.
No Apple is not in decline, nor is it soulless.
But the Apple that existed when Steve was alive has slowly died with him.
I think it's important to process those both deaths to be able to see and like the new Apple today.
They are in an inevitable change, and it's not the Apple that existed when Steve were alive, and will never be again.
I had my grieving period, disappointments and even anger in where Apple was going a period, for sure.
But after that I still love Apple, the products, the software, for what it is today, and will continue to buy Apple products.
I am not sure the prices have gone up so much more then inflation either actually. It's still worth my money anyway.
And I'm happy with the new products I bought 2018
But the Apple that existed when Steve was alive has slowly died with him.
I think it's important to process those both deaths to be able to see and like the new Apple today.
They are in an inevitable change, and it's not the Apple that existed when Steve were alive, and will never be again.
I had my grieving period, disappointments and even anger in where Apple was going a period, for sure.
But after that I still love Apple, the products, the software, for what it is today, and will continue to buy Apple products.
I am not sure the prices have gone up so much more then inflation either actually. It's still worth my money anyway.
And I'm happy with the new products I bought 2018
Think they are at decision. What kind of company do they want to be. Maybe already decided or too late.
you're so right about the Magic Mouse 2 - that annoys the hell out of me! in some ways I think I should go back to the V1 model.
I couldn't agree more.
Over the years, Apple has become a company with no vision but increasing their revenues. As a user, I can feel that, I can feel mistreated and I've seriously considered alternatives for the last few years.
Apple needs to focus again on innovations and stop mocking users with ridiculous prices. All this situation serves them right.
As a longtime Apple products user since 1995 I have tried to always be a cheerleader for Apple. At the time they were different which made for interesting times versus the mass of the workforce using Windows machines. Almost 35 years later it seems that Apple has not necessarily turned for the worse but seems to have changed their ethos into a profit ahead of purpose firm. As I’m getting older and perhaps a little more frugal, I decided my late 2013 iMac and 2012 Mini would be my last Mac desktops. I wondered how the transition would be to the Win 10 world as a full-time work computer. Two months ago, I placed the Mini out of service and instead of sucking it up and buying a mid-level 2018 Mini purchased a PC. When the smoke cleared, I had a very nice desktop with Office for less than half the cost of the Mini with 3 years of on-site service should it be needed. The experience has been very good and using Mailbird has made my iCloud e-mail account a non-issue. The iTunes app is great so no problems there either. Overall, I’m very happy with the switch and will continue to use my 3 iPhones and iPads until they are no longer useable and then who knows?
When it hit 1 trillion dollars in value.
Since then, I suspected from there, things are going to go downhill.
Oh, you do not mean financially? You want me to agree with you that Apple of today is somewhat worse than Apple from 8-9 years ago?
No way, because it's better.
In 2018, Apple got:
Best phones money can buy, in three options.
One of the best laptops out there, with finally very good graphics, for the first time in the history of portable Macs.
Mac Mini got upgraded, and is now the most powerful Mac Mini there ever was.
iPad Pro, I am not gonna use any words, as that beast speaks for itself.
In 2019 we are going to finally see new Mac Pro.
Apple is the absolute leader when it comes to development of ARM chips, Qualcomm and Samsung, which are their only competitors are left so far behind in the dust, that they are not even visible anymore in the mirror...
The iOS has been brought to near perfection. There has no been new features for a long time, that is true, but when it comes to performance and security, nothing can come close to it.
Apple is better than ever, IMHO.
Since then, I suspected from there, things are going to go downhill.
Oh, you do not mean financially? You want me to agree with you that Apple of today is somewhat worse than Apple from 8-9 years ago?
No way, because it's better.
In 2018, Apple got:
Best phones money can buy, in three options.
One of the best laptops out there, with finally very good graphics, for the first time in the history of portable Macs.
Mac Mini got upgraded, and is now the most powerful Mac Mini there ever was.
iPad Pro, I am not gonna use any words, as that beast speaks for itself.
In 2019 we are going to finally see new Mac Pro.
Apple is the absolute leader when it comes to development of ARM chips, Qualcomm and Samsung, which are their only competitors are left so far behind in the dust, that they are not even visible anymore in the mirror...
The iOS has been brought to near perfection. There has no been new features for a long time, that is true, but when it comes to performance and security, nothing can come close to it.
Apple is better than ever, IMHO.
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For me, when they released iMovie 08. I was a big fan of iMovie 06 and the iLife Suite of apps, but this rewrite was a giant red flag. It was terrible and unnecessary. It was "thinking differently" for the sake of thinking differently. It solved no problems, but rather created many. Since then, I've consistently found myself asking "why would they do that?" Before iMovie 08, the majority of the time I asked myself that, the answer was simple: they solved a problem. Has everything they've release since been a failure? Absolutely not. They've solved many problems since. BUT, like I said, since then, I've noticed a steady decline in my personal satisfaction with their products, and a consistent confusion as to "why would they do that?"
I agree entirely. The transformation from a tech company that charged slightly more for great products, into a luxury brand was the point of turning.
Being a luxury brand is fine, but they have now missed out on selling to emerging markets, and make no mistake , that market has the potential to double their revenue.
I think the decline started when Social media became Judge Jury and executioner
And a lot of companies have suffered because of Social media, not because they were outed for doing something wrong or stupid, but because it could be used to easily spread exaggerated and also fabricated disinformation.
MacRumors is a prime example, I have never seen a site so full of trolls, jumping on every tiny bit of problem, and do their best to make it into a huge problem.
And the great ability of people to forget any correct information posted 2 mins ago is astounding, and I really believe a lot don't want to see the correct information, because it is not in line with their grievances and strong anti Apple feeling
And a lot of companies have suffered because of Social media, not because they were outed for doing something wrong or stupid, but because it could be used to easily spread exaggerated and also fabricated disinformation.
MacRumors is a prime example, I have never seen a site so full of trolls, jumping on every tiny bit of problem, and do their best to make it into a huge problem.
And the great ability of people to forget any correct information posted 2 mins ago is astounding, and I really believe a lot don't want to see the correct information, because it is not in line with their grievances and strong anti Apple feeling
I think the decline started when Social media became Judge Jury and executioner
This is very true for social media and a good portion of the internet and TV media at large. Opinion is not necessarily fact - although it could be. I’m old enough to recall a time without a lot of the technology we have today. (Anyone recall landline phones that were party lines? The kind where you picked up the phone to see if your neighbor was talking to someone. ) I’ve also been in IT longer than a few of my colleagues have been alive and have seen the proliferation of social media. Allowing people to share with one another is a wonderful thing. But it has been turned into a weapon in a lot of places to dox, shame and humiliate anyone who does not subscribe to the cause of day. That’s a shame.
I agree with the thought that Apple could see a visible decline with the smartphone market slowing. Perhaps this is due to increased pricing and upgrade fatigue. Again all of this is just my opinion though.
And it started when internet became more mainstream, and users found out they were pretty anonymous behind their keyboards, and they could scream their worst thoughts, and not be judged or held accountable.
The milestones, which changed how I saw Apple are....
1. Buying beats for $3bn(!!!!)
2. Music streaming (but mostly how bad the Music app on the iPhone got cause of it).
3. The camera-bulge on the iPhone 6.
4. Firing Scott Forstall
And it seems to have gotten worse since then....
1. How long it has taken them to replace/upgrade the MacPro
2. Pretty much lost all interest in their 'Pro' market (image/sound/video editing and publishing).
3. Notch
4. macOS and iOS(the secret sauce) going stale.
Apple, to me, has lost a lot of its 'geek appeal', they have almost completely transformed into a marketing/fashion-driven company. Put another way..... just another technology company. (I suppose one of the reasons I used to like them, was because they were 'special'.)
1. Buying beats for $3bn(!!!!)
2. Music streaming (but mostly how bad the Music app on the iPhone got cause of it).
3. The camera-bulge on the iPhone 6.
4. Firing Scott Forstall
And it seems to have gotten worse since then....
1. How long it has taken them to replace/upgrade the MacPro
2. Pretty much lost all interest in their 'Pro' market (image/sound/video editing and publishing).
3. Notch
4. macOS and iOS(the secret sauce) going stale.
Apple, to me, has lost a lot of its 'geek appeal', they have almost completely transformed into a marketing/fashion-driven company. Put another way..... just another technology company. (I suppose one of the reasons I used to like them, was because they were 'special'.)