'Apple Car' Project Lead Steve Zadesky to Leave Apple

[AxoNeuron]

Apple making a self driving car would be an absolute disaster. An incredibly expensive disaster that would take years to recover from if it were even possible.

What a truly horrendous idea.

Apple is great at consumer electronics. It's what they've always done. They have literally zero experience in the automotive industry, which is an entirely different beast. Worst of all, several other companies are already working on it, and since Google has SO much more data about users driving habits, they will have an enormous advantage over Apple.

It seems to me like a bunch of clueless MBA executive drones at Apple have no idea what they should do next, so they read about self driving cars on some website and decided it sounded like a great idea. This is precisely the reason you should never let bean counters run a company that requires creativity and original thought. There are real areas that Apple could invest and make a difference in, and make iPhone-level profits in the process. Fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing enabled cloud services, etc. are the future of technology and it's a shame to see Apple completely miss the boat.

Self driving cars are a fantastic idea, but NOT for Apple. Companies like Google and Tesla have a natural advantage in this field that will be impossible for Apple to catch up with.

 

[handsome pete]

"true phone"? Like rotary dial desk phones? Or the Tommorowland picture phones of 50 years ago? Yup, people don't want those. Neither will they want today's ancient technology in the shape of an iPhone 6s in the future. Those will be in grandpa's (that's you!) attic.

The basic cell phone shape/size hasn't radically changed over the past 15 or so years. The watch is not the next phone in 5 years.

 

[dk001]

Battery technology has almost not advanced in the last 7 years. Apple Watch as a 200mAh battery, iPhone 6S is 1700. We'd need battery technology to improve by 8.5X to get the same level of performance. (and if that did happen, the iPhone would have a 1 week battery life and everyone would want that instead).

With items like microsupercapacitors, Formula E, loads of new battery tech coming out of universities globally, the next couple of years will likely bring about some serious battery improvements. Instant charge? Over the air charge?
This aspect is set to break wide open and soon.

 

[ipedro]

Personal reasons: He's a multimillionaire and doesn't have to work.

16 years at Apple, I'm sure that he's (deservedly) loaded.

 

[djlythium]

Am I the only person who has a problem with the creepy pic? [shudder]

That's got to be a meme somewhere...

 

[oneMadRssn]

Your description of the market makes it seem more likely they are going to release their own car. When they released the iPhone, they made a lots of demands in order to control the entire experience. No carrier apps, no carrier branding. Control the entire experience. They control software updates. The carriers don't get in the way.

To think Apple would create a flagship-type product and expect them to rely on 3rd party dealerships, repair, and experience to the end user? It's not going to happen.

Demanding accomodations of AT&T is one thing. Demanding accomodations of the US goverment, states, agencies, and several unions is a whole other matter.
[doublepost=1453517598][/doublepost]

There's no reason to think Apple is secretly licensing substantial technology to anyone.

They do plenty of licensing in public... for *accessories*, apps and other products that support their products. And they seems to exert as much control as they can get away with over these licensees.

You can believe it if you want, but it's with no evidence and it seems out of character.

It would also be legally tricky for them -- as a publically traded company -- to run a licensing business of any size without disclosing it in some way.

I know from professional experience that most such deals are confidential, even with public companies. For example, look at that billion google paid Apple for the search engine preference. You would think it would be difficult to hide a whole billion in shareholder reports, but here it happened.

I am sure Apple has a huge tech transfer and licensing arm - look at their job postings in that area. Its not sexy or newsworthy, but its there. Like i said, when it comes to autonomous cars and such tech, way more money there than manufacturing.

 

[JimmyHook]

One guy isn't a blow to a project... if it were they shouldn't proceed at all. I'm willing to bet they have multiple talented leaders with the experience they need. Besides, sometimes fresh thinking is better than established thinking. Maybe an outsider will be better. Maybe Apple will finally pony up 30 billion for Tesla with a stake in SpaceX (my personal recommendation if I could deliver one)
[doublepost=1453519643][/doublepost]

I agree but Apple is a consumer electronics brand, not a car manufacturer.

Apple is an experience company. They sell experiences, not electronics.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

The consumer car sales industry right now is very unApple like. Think of how many components in a car are shared and standardized, and how many must be this way due to various regulations. Apple using off-the-shelf tires, for example, seems very unApple like to me. Also, unless Tesla succeeds at taking down the dealerships, I doubt Apple would be willing to start franchised dealers for their cars.

Tesla is going to bring down the dealerships. The FTC is already solidly on Tesla's side. It's just a matter of time before the FTC starts dismantling the power that dealerships have.

Also, there's no reason Apple has to use off the shelf tires or anything else. BMW is notorious for using their own parts throughout their cars. My parent's 2004 Honda Odyssey came with special run-flat tires and wasn't compatible with any other tires without adapters.

Also, it's not like Apple is completely against using standard disposable things. The previous generations of the wireless mouse, keyboard, and trackpad all just took standard AA batteries. The media remotes took standard watch batteries (not sure about the Siri remote... Does it charge over USB or just use standard batteries?)

 

[Zirel]

Does Apple really need to make a car? I mean, it already feels like Apple is starting to spread itself a bit too thin trying to everything under the sun. They need to take some steps back and improve their existing products (especially iOS and OS X).

Apple is not spreading itself, they are much bigger now than just a few years before.

Why is Apple making a car? Simple, anyone can make a 4 wheel vehicle, but making what this century needs in terms of automotive is not in the competences of most car manufacturers. Battery technology, self-driving systems, etc.

Also, Apple is very competent in design and metal works.

 

[iPadCary]

"The project's experiencing problems because of a lack of clear goals ...."
As a stockholder, I am outraged by this statement!
Steve was the 180° antithesis of this:
it's what he said Apple's NUMBER ONE problem was upon his return.
Dear God, could the BOD please get Cook out of there and back in "Supply" where he belongs??

 

[Rogifan]

"The project's experiencing problems because of a lack of clear goals ...."
As a stockholder, I am outraged by this statement!
Steve was the 180° antithesis of this:
it's what he said Apple's NUMBER ONE problem was upon his return.
Dear God, could the BOD please get Cook out of there and back in "Supply" where he belongs??

Right because if it's reported in the WSJ that makes it fact.

 

[wikiverse]

It's only one person, they probably have 20,000 people working on it and they don't pin all their hopes on one... I'm sure they have plenty of smart people capable of taking over. Apple also have the money to pay anyone to join their project, I bet anyone would for the sort of money they could offer.

20,000? There are only 80,000 employees working at Apple in total - including all of their Retail operations. They probably have less than 50 people working on it.
[doublepost=1453526029][/doublepost]

That's 100% unApple like. Apple created a cell phone and decieded to compete directly with Motorola and RIMM. Why would they go the Google route now and simply focus on software for smartcars?

Because a smartphone is just a small computer - which they already made. A car is an entirely different engineering process, industry and skill set.

 

[2010mini]

.....

How about MR waits for a confirmation from Apple before pushing that headline?

This website is called mac RUMORS isn't it? Otherwise it would be mac FACTS

 

[Zirel]

20,000? There are only 80,000 employees working at Apple in total - including all of their Retail operations. They probably have less than 50 people working on it.

Less than 50 people? LMAO! Elon Musk said that they have hired more than 1000 engineers.

Because a smartphone is just a small computer - which they already made. A car is an entirely different engineering process, industry and skill set.

You talk like a car was some kind of lost art.

 

[wikiverse]

"true phone"? Like rotary dial desk phones? Or the Tommorowland picture phones of 50 years ago? Yup, people don't want those. Neither will they want today's ancient technology in the shape of an iPhone 6s in the future. Those will be in grandpa's (that's you!) attic.

Almost everything you do on your phone is visual. Games, internet, text, books. Pretty much no one uses the phone as a phone, and very few people use siri - because talking to machines isn't something people want to do - especially in public.

'wearables' is a gimmick. It's the phone equivalent of 3D televisions. People have voted with their money and they want large phone screens.

 

[JimmyHook]

Especially since Apple's quality of software has declined immensely in recent years

Are you joking???? It's dramatically better. iCloud syncing and full device backup is still light years ahead of what Android can do.

The latest Garage Band and Music Memos apps are phenomenal by any measure.

OS X is still superior to windows by any reasonable measure

 

[wikiverse]

Less than 50 people? LMAO! Elon Musk said that they have hired more than 1000 engineers.

You talk like a car was some kind of lost art.

Well, if Elon Musk says so, then it MUST be true! They MUST be working on an actual car and not just technology to license to existing car manufacturers. You know, with Elon Musk being a loyal Apple employee and spokesperson.

Apple couldn't even develop Sapphire glass manufacturing. You think they're actually going to start manufacturing cars.

 

[JimmyHook]

Well, if Elon Musk says so, then it MUST be true! They MUST be working on an actual car and not just technology to license to existing car manufacturers. You know, with Elon Musk being a loyal Apple employee and spokesperson.

Apple couldn't even develop Sapphire glass manufacturing. You think they're actually going to start manufacturing cars.

You're right. They failed at making sapphire (stares at Apple Watch on wrist)

 

[Rogifan]

This website is called mac RUMORS isn't it? Otherwise it would be mac FACTS

Right but MR doesn't report only rumors. They could have included the world allegedly or reportedly just to be clear since it's not something Apple has confirmed.

 

[nfl46]

Lol @ people still thinking Apple isn't making a car.

 

[Bubba Satori]

His first prototype failed crash tests.

 

[Max(IT)]

I'm very puzzled about the reasons Apple is exploring this field....
I can't see an huge market for electric cars yet.
[doublepost=1453530838][/doublepost]

Apple making a self driving car would be an absolute disaster. An incredibly expensive disaster that would take years to recover from if it were even possible.

What a truly horrendous idea.

...

Self driving cars are a fantastic idea, but NOT for Apple. Companies like Google and Tesla have a natural advantage in this field that will be impossible for Apple to catch up with.

Google? Tell me how the are a credible car company?

 

[doelcm82]

They may see it as they see the bands in relation to the watch. I don't think Apple believes they can do electric, or body design substantially better than other companies. They do think they can disrupt the computing, and interfacing with the computer however. We've seen them do this with the TV as well. Why get into the LCD business when you can simply supply the computer for the dumb LCD.

When you put it that way...I agree. Apple will not produce the LCDs for the Apple Car displays. They'll almost certainly source the LCDs (or OLEDs) from one or more suppliers.

 

[iZac]

...The project has encountered some challenges internally due to a lack of clear goals...

This could apply to almost all projects that have been developed by Apple in the last few years.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Apple is great at consumer electronics. It's what they've always done. They have literally zero experience in the automotive industry, which is an entirely different beast. Worst of all, several other companies are already working on it, and since Google has SO much more data about users driving habits, they will have an enormous advantage over Apple.

Sounds like what people said about Apple getting into the Music business and into the cell phone business.

It seems to me like a bunch of clueless MBA executive drones at Apple have no idea what they should do next, so they read about self driving cars on some website and decided it sounded like a great idea. This is precisely the reason you should never let bean counters run a company that requires creativity and original thought. There are real areas that Apple could invest and make a difference in, and make iPhone-level profits in the process. Fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing enabled cloud services, etc. are the future of technology and it's a shame to see Apple completely miss the boat.

Self driving cars are a fantastic idea, but NOT for Apple. Companies like Google and Tesla have a natural advantage in this field that will be impossible for Apple to catch up with.

The irony in this is that Apple is far more suited to build a car than develop technologies such artificial intelligence or quantum computing. Apple is a consumer company and not a research firm.

You talk like a car was some kind of lost art.

It kinda is. Besides Telsa no one is innovating in the car industry.