Other Why has apple yielded the innovation high ground?

[throAU]

Apple does that retrofitting most years

So does everybody, because innovation is HARD and often requires some new breakthrough technological development.

It simply doesn't happen every year, no matter how much talent, money and time you throw at it. Some of it is chance - you can improve your chances by throwing the above at it, but there is no guarantee!
[automerge]1591329567[/automerge]

Day 1 perfect performance almost 3 years and thousands of hours worth of use is not something that is easy to achieve, nor pull away from. Apples competition isn’t Samsung. It’s them selves. They make a good product THAT LASTS. That’s not something that them other guys using the other guys’s OS can brag about. They don’t know what that’s like.

And this is why apple are focused on services.

At some point (until the next major leap) devices are "good enough".

I would argue that in terms of phones, my iPhone 7 reached that point. Certainly a 2020 SE is there already until some new feature that demands far more of the device is revealed (like wireless AR glasses for example).

Eventually the cost of all hardware heads towards zero and the incentive to upgrade diminishes. The long term money is in content and services.

 

[forestinjersey]

The ship seems fine to me. I look at my iPhone 8+ and think, wow, this is kinda awesome, and I came to it via an iPhone 11 and Samsung S10. So yeah. All is good.

 

[lkalliance]

Eventually the cost of all hardware heads towards zero and the incentive to upgrade diminishes. The long term money is in content and services.

This makes me sad. One of the benefits of using Apple products is that they made their money on the hardware I buy. Unlike Google and Facebook and many other smaller companies, Apple doesn't need to monetize me beyond that, their business model doesn't depend on it (and recently with privacy concerns becoming more mainstream, Apple is incentivized to preserve privacy). That's not a dig per se at Google or Facebook...it's just the reality of their business.

But as the hardware becomes more commoditized, as Apple relies more and more on selling services...I fear the gradual erosion of that benefit. We'll see how it goes.

 

[EM2013]

Bigger Ipad with Micro LED (15-17 inches)
Foldable Iphone
Macbook Pro with Micro LED
For Iphone SE users, give more features (double camera, headphone jack as option)

None of that is innovation.

Micro led is coming soon.

 

[44267547]

None of that is innovation.

Micro led is coming soon.

Coming? Yes. Soon?I wouldn’t say that. I think Micro-LED will debut first on the Apple Watch first, then transition to the iPhone. I’d say were at least two, maybe three years from Micro-LED on iPhone display panels. My concern isn’t the technology itself, does Apple have enough suppliers on board to produce micro LED? (That’s rhetorical), and even if they do, they’ll probably just reserve it for the most expensive/‘Pro’ model.

 

[compwiz1202]

iPod was thoroughly panned by reviewers when it first arrived as just another mp3 player which had several brands already on the market.

iPhone was unusual for the fact there was no carrier subsidies, you paid on full for the phone and it was not cheap - for the time. Many people did not expect the iPhone to sell well.

Go back and look at was being written, it's hard to believe how the products were received.

The no subsidy was really the only reason I passed on Original iPhone. I jumped 3G once I found out it was subsidized. And back then with AT&T you got no benefit financially for buying outright except you weren't ETFed if you canceled service. Didn't get any sort of discount on your service for passing on the subsidy. T-Mo was the first one I knew that started doing that eventually. AT&T didn't start until Mobile Share launched.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Cook's business tactics are clearly working out for now, but one has to worry about the long-term health of Apple when it seems like they are stagnating in the ideas department.

Apple Glass is supposed to be the next big product, so I guess we will have to see how that goes. Also if Apple makes ARM-based laptops a thing, I would consider that to be a significant innovation in computing. It doesn't matter that they would not be the first to ever try such a thing, but to believe in it enough to say "this is the future" would be a very Apple, Jobs-like move to me that could have significant impact on the industry.

I bet there is some tension among designers/executives at Apple right now. If someone proposes a radical innovation, it's hard to imagine there isn't some inherent backlash towards the potential risk such an innovation would bring along the lines of, "What, do you think you're the next Steve Jobs?"

As much as we say that those companies that are pushing the envelope and innovating aren’t being rewarded for their efforts. Samsung et al are not selling like Apple. It seems the general public aren’t interested in innovation. What they want is something reliable and functional.
[automerge]1591391433[/automerge]

It is like the IPhone 6s and just making a Jobs innovation bigger. I use the Pro but DO NOT use the pencil.
Ipad as you well aware, was a Jobs product.
I agree on the Airpods and Watch. Looking forward to Apple’s Airpod overears.
The HomePod didn’t revolutionize the speaker market.
Samsung is going to get the foldable market, that would be a great selling point for a smart phone market that is close to plateauing
The MacBook line was long neglected

Apple will turn up late to the foldable market just as they did to larger screens and smart watches. However somehow they will manage to dominate the market after everyone else has done all the ground work.

 

[Ryguy18]

Apple will turn up late to the foldable market just as they did to larger screens and smart watches. However somehow they will manage to dominate the market after everyone else has done all the ground work.

Press hasn't been kind to the first wave which arrived with plastic screens, hinge issues, and film that we should wait shouldn't wait do we take off that protective film ? 😁

Motorola first is arguably worse due to mediocre specs and launching with the prior generation Android OS.

If anything the Samsung Z-flip has been the best late model folding phone (IMO) because it has the wow neat factor that social media influencer types want in a smartphone.

When the foldable from Apple comes along it will very likely be free from the early wave issues and neatly fit into the Apple ecosystem.

 

[Nozuka]

Since Cook took over his innovations are I Pad Pro (a Jobs innovation), Apple Watch, and Air Pods. I Phones make 60+ % of Apple’s revenue.

Apple Watch and AirPods do a great job at binding people to the iPhone.

 

[mrochester]

Apple Watch and AirPods do a great job at binding people to the iPhone.

They certainly do. It’s about making an ecosystem of devices that work better together than apart.

 

[throAU]

Press hasn't been kind to the first wave which arrived with plastic screens, hinge issues, and film that we should wait shouldn't wait do we take off that protective film ? 😁

Or the second wave.

I don't think Apple will EVER do a foldable screen.

Why? the fold always looks like garbage with a visible defect (crease) in the display. Apple don't do "device that looks like garbage".

Apple won't play that game, they'll change the game and sell Apple Glasses instead. Your phone be less used, and the trend of using devices hand/screen free via Siri will continue so you can do what you actually want to be doing in the real world.

I could be wrong, but as far as foldable devices and Apple go - I just simply don't see it. Even IF they stop breaking all the time.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Apple Watch and AirPods do a great job at binding people to the iPhone.

It certainly sealed the deal for me back in 2014. I had been on android for 2 and a half years. The iPhone 6 Plus played a big role because Apple finally had big screens and I’d had enough of android. However after I saw the Apple Watch unveiled at the 2014 September keynote. It sealed the deal. I had to have the Apple Watch. So I came back to the iPhone.

 

[throAU]

This makes me sad. One of the benefits of using Apple products is that they made their money on the hardware I buy. Unlike Google and Facebook and many other smaller companies, Apple doesn't need to monetize me beyond that, their business model doesn't depend on it (and recently with privacy concerns becoming more mainstream, Apple is incentivized to preserve privacy). That's not a dig per se at Google or Facebook...it's just the reality of their business.

But as the hardware becomes more commoditized, as Apple relies more and more on selling services...I fear the gradual erosion of that benefit. We'll see how it goes.

By 'heads toward zero' I mean that it gets so cheap for enough power than you end up getting way more power than you need for little money and unless you break it or whatever there's no need to upgrade for a LONG time.

As above, I'd argue that for most people, phones reached that point several years ago, until the next big thing happens (AR). And even when AR is a big thing, it won't be too long after that where phones are more than powerful enough again.

It doesn't mean Apple devices go away, it just means people keep them for longer and Apple needs to make money some other way - and this is why they are focused on the subscription model for TV+ (including their own exclusive content), Music, iCloud, etc.

They aren't alone.

Microsoft are pushing subscription model with Azure and 365.
Google are pushing subscriptions to Youtube, etc.
Netflix and Amazon are creating their own subscription content, etc.

For the same reasons.

 

[Mr.Bigglesworth]

As much as we say that those companies that are pushing the envelope and innovating aren’t being rewarded for their efforts. Samsung et al are not selling like Apple. It seems the general public aren’t interested in innovation. What they want is something reliable and functional.
[automerge]1591391433[/automerge]

Apple will turn up late to the foldable market just as they did to larger screens and smart watches. However somehow they will manage to dominate the market after everyone else has done all the ground work.

Apple will never do a foldable phone. Are we going to forget about the mid 2000’s ? Foldable phones don’t work and apple knows it.

I used to work at Verizon and fun fact, back in the day when Apple had their contract with AT&T, I used to have people coming into my store incredibly pleased that there’s a phone that is all screen and didn’t fold. Everyone that I worked with wanted the iPhone or a phone just like it because they was sick of their flip phones. Although I had to turn them away because the iPhone was what everyone wanted, it was quickly evident that flip phones would make their exit in terms of popularity.

flip phones don’t work and Apple knows it.
[automerge]1591705231[/automerge]

Press hasn't been kind to the first wave which arrived with plastic screens, hinge issues, and film that we should wait shouldn't wait do we take off that protective film ? 😁

Motorola first is arguably worse due to mediocre specs and launching with the prior generation Android OS.

If anything the Samsung Z-flip has been the best late model folding phone (IMO) because it has the wow neat factor that social media influencer types want in a smartphone.

When the foldable from Apple comes along it will very likely be free from the early wave issues and neatly fit into the Apple ecosystem.

Yup. Apple also doesn’t release halfassed products to their customers which is why I give them my monies.

For Samsung and then other guys? You’re essentially paying them to be a BETA tester As they release these ******** “features” That in some cases brick the device.

finished products that get updates at the same time with everyone else and it’s a product that’s designed to last a few years.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Apple will never do a foldable phone. Are we going to forget about the mid 2000’s ? Foldable phones don’t work and apple knows it.

I used to work at Verizon and fun fact, back in the day when Apple had their contract with AT&T, I used to have people coming into my store incredibly pleased that there’s a phone that is all screen and didn’t fold. Everyone that I worked with wanted the iPhone or a phone just like it because they was sick of their flip phones. Although I had to turn them away because the iPhone was what everyone wanted, it was quickly evident that flip phones would make their exit in terms of popularity.

flip phones don’t work and Apple knows it.
[automerge]1591705231[/automerge]


Yup. Apple also doesn’t release halfassed products to their customers which is why I give them my monies.

For Samsung and then other guys? You’re essentially paying them to be a BETA tester As they release these ******** “features” That in some cases brick the device.

finished products that get updates at the same time with everyone else and it’s a product that’s designed to last a few years.

Brick the devices?

 

[jamezr]

Apple will never do a foldable phone. Are we going to forget about the mid 2000’s ? Foldable phones don’t work and apple knows it.

I used to work at Verizon and fun fact, back in the day when Apple had their contract with AT&T, I used to have people coming into my store incredibly pleased that there’s a phone that is all screen and didn’t fold. Everyone that I worked with wanted the iPhone or a phone just like it because they was sick of their flip phones. Although I had to turn them away because the iPhone was what everyone wanted, it was quickly evident that flip phones would make their exit in terms of popularity.

flip phones don’t work and Apple knows it.

I think you are missing the point that technology has evolved a great deal since the flip phones you mentioned from 20 years ago. Smartphones have evolved past what those phones were.
The functionality and user experience has grown immensely.
I think eventually as the tech evolves and pricing comes down....folding phones will be very popular.
When/if that happens Apple will make a folding phone.

 

[Jimmy James]

Someone should make a list of product categories Apple created. I think the list might be small or non-existent.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Someone should make a list of product categories Apple created. I think the list might be small or non-existent.

I’m not going to put my hand up for that fascinating exercise lol

 

[mrochester]

Someone should make a list of product categories Apple created. I think the list might be small or non-existent.

And contrasted to the list of categories Apple popularised it would look quite different!

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

Someone should make a list of product categories Apple created. I think the list might be small or non-existent.

They don’t create product categories, they improve new product categories and make them more useful to the mainstream public.

-Macintosh: easy to use, for the mainstream consumer
-iPod: small, easy to use and with a large storage capacity
-iPhone: multi-touch interface
-iPad: first ”usable” tablet (the PC tablet was unusable)
-Apple Watch: first useful smartwatch that really contributes to people's life
-AirPods: truly wireless headphones with a reliable connection and good battery life

 

[mrochester]

They don’t create product categories, they improve new product categories and make them more useful to the mainstream public.

-Macintosh: easy to use, for the mainstream consumer
-iPod: small, easy to use and with a large storage capacity
-iPhone: multi-touch interface
-iPad: first ”usable” tablet (the PC tablet was unusable)
-Apple Watch: first useful smartwatch that really contributes to people's life
-AirPods: truly wireless headphones with a reliable connection and good battery life

I'd agree that broadly they are all the areas where Apple pioneered the first consumer friendly devices even though they didn't invent the category themselves. The explosion in growth usually starts right after Apple have entered the market.

The other thing I would add is the App Store.