Schiller on Apple's Yearly Product Timelines

MacRumors · Jan 9, 2009, 01:20 PM

Pogue questioned Phil Schiller about Apple's withdrawal from Macworld Expo. Schiller, of course, repeated what was said in the original press release: that trade shows had become less important and not worth the effort or money involved.

Schiller, however, also admitted that having to come up with a "dazzling" show each January was unsustainable. He also admits that January does not fit into the Apple's natural product timelines, which he specifically spelled out:

Quote:

He noted that Apple marches to certain annual product cycles: the holiday season (Novemberish), the educational buying season (late summer), the iPod product cycle (October), the iLife development cycle (usually March), the iPhone cycle (June).

Article Link: Schiller on Apple's Yearly Product Timelines

Mykbibby · Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM

Finally... the truth!

I have to say though, they could have just moved Macworld to a different month. IMG would have agreed, so that's obviously not the issue. I guess it really is that trade shows dont matter anymore...

kjs862 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM

Agreed, nice to hear some truth on the matter.

Unspeaked · Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM

But people have been saying this for years...

acvball92 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:22 PM

I like this Schiller guy, he's very informative.
Makes sense.
It is good to hear the truth for once.

SkippyThorson · Jan 9, 2009, 01:23 PM

My opinion - Good for Apple. Set your own timelines. Don't go by what some expo organizers want year after year. Release the big stuff at self-made big events. When forced, things just don't seem as good. I like the surprise Apple events much more, because they warranted the reason for a surprise in the first place.

Kwill · Jan 9, 2009, 01:23 PM

Move Macworld to "Novemberish!"

Moof1904 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:24 PM

While I support Apple's position that they shouldn't be constrained by the timing of the MacWorld show to unveil products that they would otherwise wish to unveil at a different time, I have to ask isn't there some middle ground? Does Apple have to pull out altogether? Why not just have a nice yummy Apple booth at MacWorld like any other vendor and still have a presence there? It doesn't have to be all or nothing...

OCraised · Jan 9, 2009, 01:25 PM

So where do the Computers list in this timeline???

Tallest Skil · Jan 9, 2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unspeaked

But people have been saying this for years...

The people were us... older users who know Apple's release cycles.

chuckiej · Jan 9, 2009, 01:25 PM

I can't believe he got that specific. Wow.

Ted13 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:26 PM

Well that includes one HUGE tidbit: iPhone 3.0 will be out in June.

phlavor · Jan 9, 2009, 01:26 PM

Awesome! Now, where's my freaking updated mini?

jessica. · Jan 9, 2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCraised

So where do the Computers list in this timeline???

They will no longer be making computers. Sorry.

miggitymac · Jan 9, 2009, 01:27 PM

iPhone cycle in June...I'm hoping that I don't have to wait for June to see the rumored 32 GB iPhone come out.

My phone contract just expired and I'm wanting to negotiate a deal on an iPhone before I sign another one.

I figure that when the 32s come out, the 16s will drop in price and I can get a better deal...

wonderbread57 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessica.

They will no longer be making computers. Sorry.

But I like computers!

PeckhamBog · Jan 9, 2009, 01:29 PM

I remember reading accounts from former Apple employees how Macworld ruined their holidays with the necessity of working to an early January release.

For the current staff I'm pleased with this decision.

Also, I was toying with the idea of going over to iphone, but will now wait until the June refresh with all these noise about chip advances. I know they may still come much later, but as the MacRumors guide suggests, unless essential, do not buy now.

Morky · Jan 9, 2009, 01:30 PM

Wow, that was pretty forthcoming for an Apple executive. He just basically told us to expect the announcement of iPhone III in June. Before this statement, we couldn't yet assume that the summer releases of the first two iterations were more than a coincidence, as opposed to a future heartbeat we should expect going forward.

voodoofish · Jan 9, 2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted13

Well that includes one HUGE tidbit: iPhone 3.0 will be out in June.

yeah but updating a phone only once a year seems a bit infrequent.... for example the iphone 3g has been out over 6 months now and is still the same price... i'm so used to phones coming down in price so quickly it really puts me off buying one now, even if it's going to be another 6 months till the next one, and i think lots of people will think the same way.... i hope they update it before june!

centauratlas · Jan 9, 2009, 01:31 PM

So, I guess there are no imminent iPhone updates at the moment? (I hope there are, but perhaps this is a message).

I guess things like Mac Pro, Mac Books, Mac Book Pros etc fall whenever needed. And I would imagine that if something truly needs to bypass the timelines, they'll do so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Pogue questioned Phil Schiller about Apple's withdrawal from Macworld Expo. Schiller, of course, repeated what was said in the original press release: that trade shows had become less important and not worth the effort or money involved.

Schiller, however, also admitted that having to come up with a "dazzling" show each January was unsustainable. He also admits that January does not fit into the Apple's natural product timelines, which he specifically spelled out:

Article Link: Schiller on Apple's Yearly Product Timelines

jrougeux · Jan 9, 2009, 01:32 PM

This may be the reason I need to go out and get the 16GB now.

arkitect · Jan 9, 2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckiej

I can't believe he got that specific. Wow.

Indeed.

Bloody hell! Phil comes clean.

There's going to be hell to pay once Stevo gets back from R&R…

fendol · Jan 9, 2009, 01:34 PM

If not on January then when? They have 5 main natural periods that fit into their natural cycles you would think they'd find a common ground to those

Ted13 · Jan 9, 2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCraised

So where do the Computers list in this timeline???

"Late Summer", "Novemberish" plus whenever they are ready we hope.

drlunanerd · Jan 9, 2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessica.

They will no longer be making computers. Sorry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderbread57

But I like computers!

In breaking news: Steve Jobs fires Phil Schiller for "leaking from the top"

Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM	#2
Mykbibby macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Palm Springs, CA	Finally... the truth! I have to say though, they could have just moved Macworld to a different month. IMG would have agreed, so that's obviously not the issue. I guess it really is that trade shows dont matter anymore... __________________ Mac Soda: Quenching Your Thirst for Everything Apple

Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM	#3
kjs862 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long Island	Agreed, nice to hear some truth on the matter. __________________ Power Mac G5 Dual 2.0Ghz (1 Gen), 6.5GB Ram, X800XT, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Jan 9, 2009, 01:21 PM	#4
Unspeaked macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: West Coast	But people have been saying this for years... __________________ How could so pitiful a wretch throw so vast a shadow?

Jan 9, 2009, 01:22 PM	#5
acvball92 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Fairfield County, CT	I like this Schiller guy, he's very informative. Makes sense. It is good to hear the truth for once. __________________ 2.1 GHz MacBook White 16 GB iPhone 8 GB iPod Touch

Jan 9, 2009, 01:23 PM	#6
SkippyThorson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	My opinion - Good for Apple. Set your own timelines. Don't go by what some expo organizers want year after year. Release the big stuff at self-made big events. When forced, things just don't seem as good. I like the surprise Apple events much more, because they warranted the reason for a surprise in the first place. __________________ http://skippythorson.blogspot.com/ v1 iPhone ~ v5.5 iPod ~ v3 Nano ~ v1 Shuffle ~ 1.25ghz iMac G4 ~ 1.33ghz iBook G4 ~ Airport Extreme

Jan 9, 2009, 01:23 PM	#7
Kwill macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2003	Change the date Move Macworld to "Novemberish!" __________________ Reactive Imaging Environment-Friendly Printing & Graphics

Jan 9, 2009, 01:24 PM	#8
Moof1904 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2004	While I support Apple's position that they shouldn't be constrained by the timing of the MacWorld show to unveil products that they would otherwise wish to unveil at a different time, I have to ask isn't there some middle ground? Does Apple have to pull out altogether? Why not just have a nice yummy Apple booth at MacWorld like any other vendor and still have a presence there? It doesn't have to be all or nothing...

Jan 9, 2009, 01:25 PM	#9
OCraised macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2007	So where do the Computers list in this timeline???

Jan 9, 2009, 01:25 PM	#11
chuckiej macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2003	I can't believe he got that specific. Wow. __________________ (Work) iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (Home) MacBook Pro (15-INCH, LATE 2008), Quicksilver G4, Mac Mini G4 iPhone 3G, iPod Nano (square) 8GB, iPod 5.5G 80GB

Jan 9, 2009, 01:26 PM	#12
Ted13 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NYC	Well that includes one HUGE tidbit: iPhone 3.0 will be out in June.

Jan 9, 2009, 01:26 PM	#13
phlavor macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2002	Awesome! Now, where's my freaking updated mini?

Jan 9, 2009, 01:27 PM	#15
miggitymac macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2009	iPhone cycle in June...I'm hoping that I don't have to wait for June to see the rumored 32 GB iPhone come out. My phone contract just expired and I'm wanting to negotiate a deal on an iPhone before I sign another one. I figure that when the 32s come out, the 16s will drop in price and I can get a better deal...

Jan 9, 2009, 01:29 PM	#17
PeckhamBog macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London	I remember reading accounts from former Apple employees how Macworld ruined their holidays with the necessity of working to an early January release. For the current staff I'm pleased with this decision. Also, I was toying with the idea of going over to iphone, but will now wait until the June refresh with all these noise about chip advances. I know they may still come much later, but as the MacRumors guide suggests, unless essential, do not buy now.

Jan 9, 2009, 01:30 PM	#18
Morky macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NYC	Wow, that was pretty forthcoming for an Apple executive. He just basically told us to expect the announcement of iPhone III in June. Before this statement, we couldn't yet assume that the summer releases of the first two iterations were more than a coincidence, as opposed to a future heartbeat we should expect going forward.

Jan 9, 2009, 01:32 PM	#21
jrougeux macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2009	So this means no iPhone update unlikely until June? This may be the reason I need to go out and get the 16GB now.

Jan 9, 2009, 01:34 PM	#23
fendol macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2008	If not on January then when? They have 5 main natural periods that fit into their natural cycles you would think they'd find a common ground to those __________________ [...] the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. - Steve Jobs

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