Apple's new strategic direction

[NickFitz]

Apples success is down to marketing, not innovation...worst case they've probably got the cash to buy Microsoft by now so they're going nowhere

Apple's innovation is that they make stuff that normal people want and will pay for. There were plenty of portable digital music players before the iPod, but they were all a pain to use unless you were a geek who likes playing with technology rather than just using it. The iPhone wasn't the first handheld computer, but it was the first one that normal, non-geeky people found so easy to use it didn't even have to ship with a manual. The iPad wasn't the first tablet computer, but let's face it, Microsoft may have "innovated" in that field but their products didn't sell because they were crap and no normal person would want one.

It's a pretty damning indictment of the tech industry's attitudes over the last thirty years or so that making products that delight ordinary people is seen as innovation. But it is, and Apple does it better than their competitors. That's why Apple has all that money, and outfits like Samsung that sell cheap knock-offs of Apple products are barely scraping a profit in comparison, even with good sales figures.

[NickFitz]

Because since Jobs died that's what they have done. Tim Cook has a innovation vacuum field.

iPod: 2001. iPhone: 2007. iPad: 2010.

Steve Jobs died two years ago. How frequently do you think they need to produce a groundbreaking new product, given that they got where they are by doing so every three to six years?

[amcdonald]

What makes you think all Apple will ever do henceforth is produce new models of iPhone?

The iWatch will not be first to market, Samsung have got their first

Apple stopped making decent servers

Macbooks are fast enough to not need to upgrade for years, same for the newer iPads

The only real market is iPhones, and they're fast approaching being fast enough to run anything and new features are just gimmicks...as soon as they stop being status symbols (Hello Blackberry this used to be you) sales will flatline

I don't think trying to sell iOvens and iLightfittings of the back of the iWatch will be enough

[NickFitz]

The iWatch will not be first to marker, Samsung have got their first

There's still never been a shred of evidence that Apple is even planning to make a watch. It'd be pretty funny if Samsung spent all that money making one and Apple turned out - as is often the case - to be moving in a completely different direction.

Apple stopped making decent servers

Being prepared to give up on a market when it's clear there's no long-term business there is sensible. Linux owns the server OS market, and the hardware is commodity stuff, and very often virtual.

Macbooks are fast enough to not need to upgrade for years, same for the newer iPads

Well, they've all got at least 640K, and that should be enough for anybody, right?

The only real market is iPhones, and they're fast approaching being fast enough to run anything and new features are just gimmicks...as soon as they stop being status symbols (Hello Blackberry this used to be you) sales will flatline

I don't think trying to sell iOvens and iLightfittings of the back of the iWatch will be enough

What would you have said was Apple's next big thing in 2000? In 2006? In 2009? Would you have been correct?

[scooterscot]

There's still never been a shred of evidence that Apple is even planning to make a watch. It'd be pretty funny if Samsung spent all that money making one and Apple turned out - as is often the case - to be moving in a completely different direction.

I thought that myself a few months ago.

[amcdonald]

What would you have said was Apple's next big thing in 2000? In 2006? In 2009? Would you have been correct?

No, but I wouldn't have imagined Blackberry becoming extinct either and their sole existence depended on being a status symbol as well

Who in 2000 who'd have thought that you wouldn't be able to buy an IBM PC anymore ?

They will survive, but they're glory days aren't exactly guaranteed.. Any major transistion like that is a big gamble

[amcdonald]

You think they will start making iHoovers?

I can imagine plebs paying a fortune for a hoover just because it's got rounded corners and white paint job

[NickFitz]

Who in 2000 who'd have thought that you wouldn't be able to buy an IBM PC anymore ?

I thought the writing was on the wall once EISA had trounced MCA in the Nineties, TBH.

[russell]

Isn't there a Apple conference this month? Maybe we will see something new.

[Platypus]

The iWatch will not be first to market, Samsung have got their first

Being first isn't the point, being actually useful is the point. The Samsung basically doesn't do anything:
the Galaxy Gear's main use is to notify you of happenings on your phone

Apple stopped making decent servers

IBM sensibly sold its laptop division to Lenovo when it became clear that it couldn't make money / compete. Seems they might do the same with their Intel server line too. What's the point in trying to compete in a market where you know you'll lose / are losing? Apple sensibly decided to focus on its core strengths instead of competing with HP/Dell.

The only real market is iPhones, and they're fast approaching being fast enough to run anything and new features are just gimmicks...as soon as they stop being status symbols (Hello Blackberry this used to be you) sales will flatline

Several flawed premises in there. Stick do the day job. Poor analysis.

I don't think trying to sell iOvens and iLightfittings of the back of the iWatch will be enough

In your opinion. While it's unlikely (in my opinion) that Apple would go into those markets, if they could produce a top-end innovative and easy to use product, why not? Have you seen this:
Apple iPod creator releases smoke alarm | Associated News



My advice to anyone who doesn't like their products, thinks their strategy is bad or says they are overpriced is simple: don't buy Apple. What's the problem? What's the constant need to say "yours in crap therefore mine is better".