Apple Board of Directors 'Concerned' About the Speed of Innovation?

MacRumors · Aug 8, 2013

Apple's Board of Directors has expressed concern about the company's "pace of innovation" according to a report from Fox Business Network's Charlie Gasparino. The board is normally extremely secretive and, if accurate, this report is unlike anything we've heard from inside the company in recent years.

From what we understand, there is concern at the board level, sources are telling the Fox Business Network, about the pace of innovation over at Apple. What have they had lately? They had the iPad and a few other things, but they don't have anything innovating from what came from Steve Jobs and that concern is basically manifesting into pressure on Tim Cook to innovate, and to do something fast.

We should point out, this is an interesting boardroom drama. It does not mean that Tim Cook is out of a job or that there is a job search out there, we don't know that and I don't believe that is happening. In fact, sources inside Apple are saying that's not the case.

What we are able to confirm is that the board is worried about what is in the pipeline. Do they have the right stuff in the pipeline? Do they have innovative stuff in the pipeline? Do they have stuff to keep the momentum going?

Apple's stock is currently down 35% from its all-time highs earlier this year, though the stock has made a bit of a run recently. Tim Cook's two-year anniversary as CEO of Apple is coming up on August 24th, and the company is expected to introduce new models of the iPhone and iPad this fall.

Thanks Scott!

Article Link: Apple Board of Directors 'Concerned' About the Speed of Innovation?

komodrone · Aug 8, 2013

Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking Steve Jobs to run Worldwide Operations.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking Dexter to not suck this final season.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking Breaking Bad to suck this final season.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking Twitter for 141 characters.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking Jony Ive to change the newsstand icon.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking OS X installation screen to print the correct estimated amount of time left.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking for Ocean's 14.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking for a bag of cookies where all cookies are intact.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking for Lay's to make Lay's Ketchup for USA.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking for NBC to do the Tonight Show right.
Asking Tim Cook to innovate is like asking that dude that's texting while crossing the street to walk faster.

Klae17 · Aug 8, 2013

We are all concerned. Stockholders, employees, and customers.

eagandale4114 · Aug 8, 2013

Here come the arm chair CEOs.

Slinkington · Aug 8, 2013

They mustn't rush. Innovation takes time. I feel like there's a bit of a lack of innovation in the technology industry as a whole right now, but if hey think about it long and hard they'll come up with something decent.

Jack97 · Aug 8, 2013

I'm not surprised. For the past two years it's felt like we've been waiting and waiting for the next innovation... apple tv set, iwatch etc. I think we've been waiting too long...

keysofanxiety · Aug 8, 2013

"sources are telling the Fox Business Network, about the pace of innovation over at Apple."

I'm gonna call shenanigans on this rumour.

impulse462 · Aug 8, 2013

Innovation is not something that you just do. It takes time, and is better if it's "organic" than forced.

Diastro · Aug 8, 2013

I kindly refer Fox Bizzle Netwizzle to my signature.

Dulcimer · Aug 8, 2013

eagandale4114 said:
Here come the arm chair CEOs.

I vote this as the best, most accurate comment on these forums ever.

rmwebs · Aug 8, 2013

World: "Apple please come up with something new, something great, something everyone will want"

Apple: "Want a watch, or an XBMC clone..uh...I mean Apple TV?"

eagandale4114 said:
Here come the arm chair CEOs.

(As a CEO currently sitting on an Armchair I hereby take that title

)

Quu · Aug 8, 2013

Bit overreacting I think. iOS 7 is coming out soon and mavericks, Haswell refresh, the new Mac Pro.

And Apple has low-hanging fruit they can pick, the Apple Television. And if they want to "innovate" they could bring out an iWatch.

They have a lot of products coming and they have avenues to create entirely new categories.

Just for myself I'd like to buy an Apple 4K Display if they can get 4K content distribution and perhaps use a bandwidth saving codec like h.265 to deliver acceptable 4K quality within the confines of residential internet access.

Benjamins · Aug 8, 2013

lol looks like they want Apple to change the world every 3 years.

macjonny1 · Aug 8, 2013

iPhone 2007

iPad 2010

Where was all the screaming and gnashing of teeth between those years?

No one had any clue about the iPhone and iPad before release date so all of you haven't a clue of what Apple has up it's sleeve.

Brandon263 · Aug 8, 2013

I agree with the Board of Directors. There has been nothing *phenomenal* from Apple recently, at least not at the pace other smartphone and PC manufacturers have put out groundbreaking products.

needfx · Aug 8, 2013

it's a fake rumour circulated by high-level fandroids

12vElectronics · Aug 8, 2013

Brandon263 said:
I agree with the Board of Directors. There has been nothing *phenomenal* from Apple recently, at least not at the pace other smartphone and PC manufacturers have put out groundbreaking products.

What other tech companies are revolutionizing the world with their products?

Rogifan · Aug 8, 2013

Hmm...seems a bit convenient that the boards alleged concerns are basically parroting the media meme on Apple for the last year or so. Call me skeptical.

bb426 · Aug 8, 2013

Honestly, what do we expect? This isn't just a problem for Apple. It's universal, and relating to all tech companies at the moment. But that doesn't mean innovation is dead and that it's up to any one company to revive it.

People expect too much.

There comes a point where there's a standstill for innovation until the rest of the world catches up. I think there are more important things to focus on than just revolutionary new products that aren't ready for their time.

claym24 · Aug 8, 2013

Get rid of the TV, make a Mac mini sized projector that projects an HD image that I can take anywhere and put anywhere in my house. That comes with the WatchEspn App. There's your innovation.

Dulcimer · Aug 8, 2013

Brandon263 said:
I agree with the Board of Directors. There has been nothing *phenomenal* from Apple recently, at least not at the pace other smartphone and PC manufacturers have put out groundbreaking products.

Example please?

Benjamins · Aug 8, 2013

Brandon263 said:
I agree with the Board of Directors. There has been nothing *phenomenal* from Apple recently, at least not at the pace other smartphone and PC manufacturers have put out groundbreaking products.

because iPad and iPhone clones are so groundbreaking.

Nickerbocker · Aug 8, 2013

I feel bad for Tim Cook. People have these wacky expectations for him to push Apple to bring something new and innovative to the table every year because they think if Jobs was still in charge he would.

I think folks need to really look at how quickly new innovations came out of Apple under Steve Jobs. The iPod came out in 2001 and really only saw relatively minor spec bumps and some casing redesigns all the way up to 2007 when the iPod Touch came out. None of those spec bumps or case redesigns were considered all that innovated (at least not by me). So then the iPhone also came out in 2007 and that was innovative. Then what? The iPad in 2009 was probably the next big "innovative" thing.

Steve Jobs is being idealized a bit too much, I think. Give poor Tim a break, everyone.

MH01 · Aug 8, 2013

Phil schiller, over to you again! Whats the view of your ass on this one?

rmwebs · Aug 8, 2013

Quu said:
Bit overreacting I think.

I completely agree with that but...

Quu said:
iOS 7 is coming out soon and mavericks

So? Hardly innovative, a much needed UI refresh and a fix for the bodged multi-display support in OS X.

Quu said:
Haswell refresh

Meh, we get CPU updates all the time, not really innovative or 'fresh'

Quu said:
the new Mac Pro.

This one I am happy about. I have no use for one anymore but am very excited to see the new design launch.

Quu said:
And Apple has low-hanging fruit they can pick, the Apple Television.

Still dont see this being a 'WOW' as its not going to be anywhere near as good as we'd all like - you cant get networks all over the globe to sign up to it, it wont happen. The Xbox One 'middle man' solution is about as good as its going to get.

Quu said:
And if they want to "innovate" they could bring out an iWatch.

Yay......Exciting....

Quu said:
They have a lot of products coming and they have avenues to create entirely new categories.

Sadly no compelling new products (that we know of) are in the pipeline. Nothing that will have a huge impact like the iPhone and iPad did.

Apple Board of Directors 'Concerned' About the Speed of Innovation?

macrumors bot

macrumors 6502

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors member

macrumors regular

macrumors G3

macrumors 68020

macrumors member

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68040

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502

Suspended

macrumors 68040

macrumors Penryn

macrumors 6502

macrumors newbie

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502

Suspended

macrumors 68040

Our Staff