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

[rmwebs]

You are the perfect example because is hard to "innovate", you describe new awesome tech like Hamswell and Mavericks as normal, you take only a little part of the new things they bring and mark them as normal.

Thats because we see a OS and CPU update yearly, you cant seriously compare a yearly refresh to a new major product release.

Mavericks is incredible

It's top feature is something that should have been a Bugfix for Snow Leopard: Proper multi-display support. Hardly something that can, or should be touted as a key feature - its a fantastic feature, but something that should have existed from the start, not half assed, then fixed 3 OS revisions later.

Other than that its other key features are fixing the UI (I.E removing Skeuomorphic elements introduced in the last 2-3 years), content tagging and finder tabs. Other things like Maps really are not core OS features. The same happened with Mountain Lion - it was a very mediocre update, only bringing a couple of features everyone would want (iCloud saves and file revisions).

the new CPU are incredible fast and power efficient.

I'm not suggesting it isn't powerful. At no point have I said that. I hardly think a CPU update is considered on par with innovation like the iPad or iPhone though.

Apple ecosystem is unmatched, iPhone 5 after 1 year it is still the best overall smartphone ever...

Again, never said it wasn't, so no idea why you're bringing that up...

Probably you expect Apple to invent "infinite battery" or "anti gravity iPad"... Ten yes they are not innovating right now.

Yes, thats exactly what I said

----------

That's the kind of BS I hear at my job all the time. I really don't think Apple works like that.

Normally I'd agree. But in this case, I dont believe even Apple can 'fix' the TV industry.

Right now we have hundreds of thousands of TV stations, with content from tens of thousands of networks, each with their own policies, standards and practices.

As it stands, the TV industry is crap from a consumers perspective. The idea of 'stations' is stupid. It'd be way better for content providers to simply upload content and let you watch it from X time on X day. That way you aren't fixed to one time, on a 'channel'.

I'd propose a global media network that stores all content. The content providers can add/remove content as they see fit, restrict it to locations, embed adverts, etc. The big difference here is there is no limits on channels or messing around with any cable networks.

Just essentially a content distribution service.

It'd mean that, for example a US content producer could add adverts for Australia, UK, France, Germany, etc and have said adverts show for customers in those areas, and because it'd be embedded, the adverts could be tailored to be a hell of a lot more relevant. Your local Pizza shop could upload an advert and have it show only in your town for example.

Theoretically it all sounds great - the problem is, NOBODY can make it happen. It's bugger all to do with money either. Its just not gong to happen, for a huge number of reasons, such as:

1) TV Networks would never risk switching to it as they will have to control their own adspace
2) Cable providers will lock networks in to prevent it happening
3) Some ******* will block any and all content showing in your country if it isn't making them enough cash
4) Nobody would trust anyone to run it.

Simply slapping a bunch of streaming channels on an Apple TV isn't the answer - hence why Apple hasn't done it. Channels are archaic and need to die before anything can really change.

 

[beeh]

These are no innovations. A better camera in an ugly design? Google glass will be innovative when people actually start using it and you see millions of people with it. NFC is no google innovation just a given technology implemented in a phone that actually no one uses. You are mostly a feature whore, just like people prior to the first iPhone.

That's true, since they weren't done by Apple, they aren't innovations.

 

[Rocketman]

They just formed a new area or division in Apple with Mansfield, etc. for new product development. This story is misguided and wrong.

 

[maxosx]

It's nothing more than one story which may or may not convey the exact position of the board. If there's anything to it, there's bound to be follow up articles posted.

Contrary to popular belief the earth does not revolve around Apple.

 

[TouchMint.com]

Hell, I am concerned about product releases. Have they even released anything this year? new macbook air? yay?

 

[SusanK]

My point is that nobody really knows why Foratall was ousted, including Apple Store employees. Speculation is that Frostall had a hard time working with others. If his presence caused others to be less productive and innovative or to leave Apple, then, perhaps, Cook decided it was time for him to go. But, of course, I have no idea of what really happened as well!

A WSJ item at that time indicated the dismissal resulted from Forstall's refusal to cosign a public apology with Cook. The apology did appear on apple.com from Cook.

There are other sources with the same info. Cook speaking of the dismissal mentioned "collaboration" many times. Video is on You Tube.

The Apple store employee never claimed to be in the boardroom or exec offices. News reports were available at that time. Dismissal of a high ranking executive who was with Steve back in the days of Next was newsworthy.

 

[thekev]

Every product that exists is built off purchased or licensed ip isn't it?

I was referring to things like soundjam ---> itunes, chomp--->siri, and fingerworks----> iOS multitouch inputs in response to someone who said Apple is now like Microsoft in that they buy their "innovation". That is always the case to some degree with large companies, and I suspect it's just well tuned marketing that leads people to claim Apple is the exception.

 

[cmichaelb]

Cook is a disaster waiting to happen.

He should have stayed as COO and that's it; his intellectual bandwidth is great for supply-chain optimization and NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING else.

That is why Apple is losing share on all fronts now - his vision is as foggy as a bad day in the Alps.

So I guess this is why Steve said:

"As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple."

Jobs is also quoted in Isaacson's book saying Tim Cook "..is not a product guy."

But I think Tim is smart enough, and savvy enough. to recognize his weaknesses and turn to others to round out what is needed at the top it terms of vision.

Steve actually caused some of the issues regarding innovation himself. Under his watch, iOS stagnated with Forstall at the helm and Android caught up quickly. Just like Steve said happened with Windows. They let the competition catch up instead of setting the pace.

 

[ElTorro]

I was referring to things like soundjam ---> itunes, chomp--->siri, and fingerworks----> iOS multitouch inputs in response to someone who said Apple is now like Microsoft in that they buy their "innovation". That is always the case to some degree with large companies, and I suspect it's just well tuned marketing that leads people to claim Apple is the exception.

I think it's more like people talking without knowing the background and the history, or just a simple case of short/selective memory.

 

[Yojimbo007]

This idea that apple is not innovating under time cook leadership is complete bogus.
What most consider to be appl innovation has occurrd 3 times in the last 12/15 years.
Ipod, iphone , ipad...
That is one innovation /4 years or so..


Plus inovation is not just having a revolutianary product.
Every step forward takes innovation.. Like making something lightest - thinnest- fastest. Etc.

Plus i completely distrust reports with unamed sources... Anyone can say anything to benifit their personl agenda with zero accpuntability !
It should be againt the law to report without accountability!

 

[cocacolakid]

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.

Exactly what "groundbreaking products" have other manufacturer's put out? I see only Mac/iPhone/iPad clones. Some have features Apple doesn't offer, but that doesn't make them "groundbreaking."

 

[beeh]

I must say that I am shocked at peoples attitude toward Apple right now...
"really Apple, you've only created 2 devices and an ecosystem which changed the world forever"... and now people dare ask "what else ya got?"
How many companies really ever create anything with the magnitude of the ipad and iphone? prior to that Apple mainly created new OS and laptops, that used to be enough to please the masses... now, if their not recreating world with changing magic, you've all given up?????

That's because people are more interested in what they have rather than what they do with it...

 

[unobtainium]

People who don't make voice calls anymore and just use apps maybe? Do you have kids or someone younger to see how they use their smartphones?

I am in my 20s and I don't make voice calls either. It still isn't "innovative" because first, it's been done before 1000 times already (by every phone manufacturer except Apple) and secondly, adding a larger screen isn't new, creative, revolutionary or different. It's not "innovative."

 

[Rogifan]

They just formed a new area or division in Apple with Mansfield, etc. for new product development. This story is misguided and wrong.

Basically Mansfield decided he wanted to be an independent contractor /individual contributor instead of an executive managing people. Since Apple hasn't said anything about the future of the "technologies" group my guess is their work was folded in to the hardware engineering group.

 

[MacVault]

I hate to say it but Apple is done.
Steve Jobs was Apple.
Steve Jobs' death was Apple's death.

 

[NOV]

Personally I'm a bit shocked by how things went from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion and from iTunes 10 to iTunes 11.

I think Snow Leopard was the summum of what can be achieved with an OS. Beautiful design, colors and near optimal functionality.

In iTunes11 I see all irrationality and mistakes that MS makes in their software design updates, especially 'innovating' for 'innovation' sake and leaving the user behind in confusion. It worries me that Apple does not have a clear leader of software design and probably some sort of democratic processes are going on within the company where you get this sort of compromised and watered down products.

I'm not holding my breath for what iOS7 and OSX Mavericks offer. In both cases we need to think about new paradigms on how users interact with their OS and leave the icon-based design behind, but instead of this we get new color schemes and functionality that should have been implemented long ago (like the multi-monitor support). In that respect, despite all its shortcomings, is Windows Tiles much more innovative than what I see coming from Apple.

I think it is important for Apple to become active in new fields and define new far fetched visions. We solved the communication 'problem' now it becomes time to shift attention to space/time/dimension related issues. I think the field of nanotechnology offers many chances to build a new foundation of visions securing Apple's reason for existence. It's not that they don't have the financial resources to take such a direction.

 

[thekev]

I think it's more like people talking without knowing the background and the history, or just a simple case of short/selective memory.

That's possible. I definitely wasn't implying that there was no development from the time one company was required to the release of a finished product, just that no company of that size really builds everything from the ground up.

 

[MacVault]

Personal Air Transportation

Apple should forget computers and switch to transforming transportation. Ie. Personal VTOL aircraft without the need for pilot skills. Anyone can jump in and go safely to their destination. Airplanes as we know them would be a thing of the past. We need revolutionary innovation in this area.

 

[Vip]

Note to Tim

Fire the board. Bunch of W***ers...

They wouldn't know what is innovation and when to release it.

Better still lend them to Microsoft and Google as they seem to be doing what the board wants

 

[Razeus]

I've said it before, Tim Cook as nothing to release. Hence why he needs to make iOS 7 look different and pretend he's innovating. And now new product release so far this year? All product releases in the fall? What a joke.

 

[MacVault]

Jeff Bezos buys Apple Inc

Breaking News: Jeff Bezos buys Apple Inc

...for $250 Billion, wHa Hahahaha!!

 

[Vip]

Very odd story. Does this imply that the board doesn't know about Apple's product release schedule?

Bunch of Mushrooms - kept in the dark and fed BS.

Best kept that way, or else it would be the biggest source of leaks at Apple.

That should tell you something about the board

 

[MN7119]

Innovation for me is to create something that is new to the world and that nobody thought they needed and make almost every person in the globe buy one. That is what Apple did with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Those gadgets did not exist and everyone was happy and living without them. They were invented and now almost everyone has one (if not from Apple from someone that copied them) and nobody can live without them today. That is what I call INNOVATION!!!!

 

[Solomani]

You mean the device whose backer has 14 days to raise $23 million to move forward as of yesterday?

It's true that smaller companies are more agile and can get products to market more quickly. But selling products on the scale that Apple does takes more time.

But that doesn't mean that Apple shouldn't pick up the pace in making improvements to its existing product lines. For example, with hot competition in the smartphone market, Apple needs to do more with its iPhone updates.

And yet people that demand new features at lightning pace are the first ones to crucify Apple when they rush a new feature to market (e.g. Siri). Hypocrites.

Rushing new gimmicky features to market is just nasty. The customers suffer in the end. They "think" they are getting some new feature that will make life easier, when in fact the feature is half-arsed, rushed to market, and craptastic in execution, it only adds frustration more than anything else.

 

[Flood123]

They very well could be innovating right now and we just have no idea. Their culture of secrecy sees to that. It's a double edged sword. Their competition doesn't know what they are up against, but everyone else is in the dark as well. It only leads to speculation, and we all know how people like fixate on the worst case scenario.
I'm not saying anything other than, time will tell. Perseverating over it will get us nowhere. Given their history, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. How many people saw the iPhone coming? Let's be realistic. Game changing ideas don't happen all the time.
People really do like to topple the ones they built up. It seems to be in our very nature. Give them a chance.