Apple's in over their head, they simply haven't accepted that yet.
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Apple Car Development Reportedly Stalls as Apple Implements Hiring Freeze
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The car project stalled because Apple wanted to make something that must be driven to an Apple Store for repairs or service. No removable battery, not user serviceable.
You forgot about the exclusive version of OBDII. You will have to go to Apple just to read the code!! Also, first gen will be missing something obvious. Don't worry, you can trade in your car the next year for the latest and greatest under Apple Car Plan.
Why doesn't Apple just drop the car project, fix what they already have, and refocus on their core products? Simplify, simplify, simplify!
This can only be a good thing. If you try to fast track a project like this, it's only going to reach a compromised product.
Not that I know ANYTHING, but the vastness of designing a car will likely see Apple start with an existing drivetrain supplied by another auto manufacturer and just design their hardware/software vision around it, hence the previous rumors surrounding the BMW i3 being a basis for this machine. Plus the whole issue of whether Apple try the Tesla method of controlling the entire purchasing experience, or partner with BMW to rent a space in their showrooms has major consequences.
The problem is you already start with a restriction in design. In 10 years time, perhaps they'll have they'll have the experience and maturity to actually design the whole product end-to-end, but certainly not yet. I assume that this project was drifting way off base to hit deadlines and just becoming a shallow re-skin of an i3 and Jony thought it's just not good enough.
But more importantly if Jony "expressed his displeasure" with this, why didn't he do that with the infamous camera bump
?
Not that I know ANYTHING, but the vastness of designing a car will likely see Apple start with an existing drivetrain supplied by another auto manufacturer and just design their hardware/software vision around it, hence the previous rumors surrounding the BMW i3 being a basis for this machine. Plus the whole issue of whether Apple try the Tesla method of controlling the entire purchasing experience, or partner with BMW to rent a space in their showrooms has major consequences.
The problem is you already start with a restriction in design. In 10 years time, perhaps they'll have they'll have the experience and maturity to actually design the whole product end-to-end, but certainly not yet. I assume that this project was drifting way off base to hit deadlines and just becoming a shallow re-skin of an i3 and Jony thought it's just not good enough.
But more importantly if Jony "expressed his displeasure" with this, why didn't he do that with the infamous camera bump
?Though that car out drives 85% of new cars today, it complies with zero of the hundreds of thousands of safety, efficiency, and pollution regulations. That's the problem. The 1968 emission and safety regulations destroyed dozens of auto manufacturers overnight in one swoop.
Making a good, yet affordable car within the giant government web of laws that have been written since 1968 is nearly impossible unless you've been in the game all along.
Because they're thinking about what comes next? Unless you think Apple engineers are satisfied making slightly better versions of iPhones and Macs every year. I'm not sure what major innovation/change is coming to either of those products at this point. They're both pretty mature.
watch? if it needed to be pretty, it would have been circular. Apple designed a rectangular shape so that text can be more legible.
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I personally think that there are many other better things that Apple could be working on instead of the car. The car is a project that I think is something that won't take off compared to something else they could come up with. It will be very expensive, lack many features from other cars, and most likely put Apple one step closer to becoming the "fashion-oriented" luxury brand they want to become.
I personally think that there are many other better things that Apple could be working on instead of the car. The car is a project that I think is something that won't take off compared to something else they could come up with. It will be very expensive, lack many features from other cars, and most likely put Apple one step closer to becoming the "fashion-oriented" luxury brand they want to become.
For example? What could Apple be working on that would bring in iPhone like revenues? Should they get into the appliance business and start making smart refrigerators and washer and dryers? I don't see VR headsets taking off outside of certain verticals markets and gaming. I certainly don't see it driving iPhone like revenues. Last year at the Code conference Jeff Williams said the car was the ultimate mobile device. If the cars of the future are considered computers on wheels why wouldn't Apple want to be in that market? Heck even Uber is apparently working on their own autonomous vehicle. Maybe that's what we'll eventually see from Apple - an uber like service using their own fleet of vehicles. Who knows.
I'm sure there's some people here who would love it if Apple went back to being Apple Computer and only making Macs too.Brilliant idea
For example? What could Apple be working on that would bring in iPhone like revenues? Should they get into the appliance business and start making smart refrigerators and washer and dryers? I don't see VR headsets taking off outside of certain verticals markets and gaming. I certainly don't see it driving iPhone like revenues. Last year at the Code conference Jeff Williams said the car was the ultimate mobile device. If the cars of the future are considered computers on wheels why wouldn't Apple want to be in that market? Heck even Uber is apparently working on their own autonomous vehicle. Maybe that's what we'll eventually see from Apple - an uber like service using their own fleet of vehicles. Who knows. I'm sure there's some people here who would love it if Apple went back to being Apple Computer and only making Macs too.
Quad/Octo automatic self flying car. The tech is finally here to give us flying cars. THAT would stand the world on its head. Bring THAT to the commoner and the world is changed forever.
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Apple as a strictly a PC company was a $2 billion a year or so company when Jobs was ousted. As recently as 2004 the total yearly revenue was $8.2 billion. Apple makes more selling Macs than they ever have, but it is the iPhone that has made them a megacompany.
If Apple eventually falls back to being "just" a software company, there's no way that they can maintain $225+ billion a year of revenue or more...you are asking them to downsize 90% of their existing international operations. The perception will not allow for such downsizing.
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Really? Is this not hyperbole?
Yes. Apple's last fiscal year before iPhone they did $19B in revenue with profits of $2B. This past fiscal year revenues were $234B which is more revenue in one year than all revenue combined from 1998-2009. Last years holiday quarter Apple posted $18B in profit which in ONE QUARTER was more than the cumulative profits from 1998-2008. Even if Apple is no longer a growth company they still need to do $230B+ in revenue just to maintain. In 2014 Tim Cook said iPhone would be the main revenue driver for the next 5 years. So what comes after iPhone that will be able to maintain and or grow this huge revenue base? That's what Apple better be thinking about. And that's probably one reason the stock is in a funk, because others are thinking about that too and don't have a clue what that next thing is. Hence why they're gravitating towards subscription TV service or other ways to monetize the existing install base.
I don't know how much cash has been wasted on the iCar, I would think for the same money they could have given us all 1TB of iCloud storage and we'd all be happy.
I'm not arguing they don't have issues to fix and improve (now more than ever, actually) but they would not be Apple if they did not look ahead for future products that might not be what the company is selling today. Just like they hade issues with the Mac and OS X and they still spent years create a phone that was a new market for them, and now that product is their biggest source of revenue. I'm happy that they have no intention to stand still.
That said, they should be able to do that and still fix other stuff. Making the Mac App Store good instead of the current tragic mess should not interfere with another team developing a car.
And FFS, bring Aperture back!
Apple needs to manufacture microwaves, fridges and washing machines first.
Get some experience in heavy manufacturing with diverse materials. Also learn how to sell, ship, support and repair large electromechanical/hydraulic devices that have to operate in extremely hostile environments.
While Apple's commendable success with the iPhone may be feeding the hubris, it has to be said that an iPhone isn't a car. It's only the tiniest piece of a car. Optional at that.
Get some experience in heavy manufacturing with diverse materials. Also learn how to sell, ship, support and repair large electromechanical/hydraulic devices that have to operate in extremely hostile environments.
While Apple's commendable success with the iPhone may be feeding the hubris, it has to be said that an iPhone isn't a car. It's only the tiniest piece of a car. Optional at that.
And of course the people working on this car project are most likely not the same people overseeing the Mac App Store or Apple's professional software.I'm not arguing they don't have issues to fix and improve (now more than ever, actually) but they would not be Apple if they did not look ahead for future products that might not be what the company is selling today. Just like they hade issues with the Mac and OS X and they still spent years create a phone that was a new market for them, and now that product is their biggest source of revenue. I'm happy that they have no intention to stand still.
That said, they should be able to do that and still fix other stuff. Making the Mac App Store good instead of the current tragic mess should not interfere with another team developing a car.
And FFS, bring Aperture back!
Just curious what experience Elon Musk had in heavy manufacturing prior to Tesla.
The FTC is absolutely powerless to do anything. Those state laws you refer to must be repealed and changed by the respective state legislatures. It's not up to Tesla and the FTC.
This can only be a good thing. If you try to fast track a project like this, it's only going to reach a compromised product.
Not that I know ANYTHING, but the vastness of designing a car will likely see Apple start with an existing drivetrain supplied by another auto manufacturer and just design their hardware/software vision around it, hence the previous rumors surrounding the BMW i3 being a basis for this machine. Plus the whole issue of whether Apple try the Tesla method of controlling the entire purchasing experience, or partner with BMW to rent a space in their showrooms has major consequences.
The problem is you already start with a restriction in design. In 10 years time, perhaps they'll have they'll have the experience and maturity to actually design the whole product end-to-end, but certainly not yet. I assume that this project was drifting way off base to hit deadlines and just becoming a shallow re-skin of an i3 and Jony thought it's just not good enough.
But more importantly if Jony "expressed his displeasure" with this, why didn't he do that with the infamous camera bump
Apple would be absolutely STUPID to use a chassis like the i3. Nobody would buy the damn thing because it has a real world range of under 100 miles. Tesla plans to ship a 200+ mile range Model 3 next year for $35,000 (before tax credits) and Chevy is going to ship the Bolt this year with a 200 mile range. The i3 is already outdated by a large margin and BMW doesn't seem capable of increasing its range in any meaningful way.
no. you are 100% wrong. in the USA the total car market is about 17.5 million cars a year. world wide ~80. There is no way Tesla is going to make up 8% of world wide car sales in the next few years, with 3 models, all priced >$35k.