Apple CEO Tim Cook: Apple's 'Ecosystem Has Never Been Stronger' and Long-Term Health Has 'Never Been Better'

[kazmac]

What content are you going to create without services attached to the software therein?

Service as code:
AirDrop (sharing or receiving)
iCloud Drive (online secure storage; accessible between all your Apple devices)
iCloud Services - W1 chip in AirPods, BeatsSolo3 or BeatsStudio3 for rapid paring 1x and use many Apple devices.
Apple iOS Lookup (this goes to the built in dictionary and is accessible over 90% of iOS devices screens (native or 3rd party)

Services:
Apple Trailers
Apple U (if you haven't tried this you better start training your brain to learn a LOT more)
Apple Books
Apple iTunes (Music, Movies, TV Shows) we'll see a LOT more of the latter becoming available.
^ case in point about this. How many TV's do you think Disney creates and distributes? Over 20!
Apple iCloud (we may soon see this as an online TimeMachine backup)!
Apple iMessage ... yes it's just THAT kind of wonderful!
Apple Files
- Sure we had Box, Dropbox, MegaNZ, and Sugarsync ... yet NONE of those offered a great UI and capability to move content from your iPhone/iPad to their servers and THEN be able to copy from one service to another!!

There is a LOT more out there to do what you want, very few are that seemless and painless with implementation. Yet you still think you do not want services by Apple? really? I want what you want from Apple too in terms of hardware but I do want services that are well thoughtout and seemlessly implemented with proper support.

Of all you listed, things haven’t changed much for me in the last decade: I only buy movies, the occasional tv show and a song here or there from iTunes, or an app from the App Store. The loss of the headphone jack on the phone has cut my music purchases down to 1/4 of what it was, and now with having to be online to initially see content on iDevices (to say nothing of iTunes now automatically booting to sports - really?!?), I am buying & using even less digital and going back to physical media on local storage. Everything is saved and done locally. I reluctantly use iMessage, but prefer email and phone calls.

Not into iCloud, or anything else you listed. I am one of those rare folks whose usage has NOT changed in the last decade, and thanks to the ridiculous bloat and increasingly annoying aspects of iTunes, my usage has dropped instead of expanded to services you mention.

I love the Apple Pencil, so I will probably always have one of those and the cheapest iPad that works with the pencil. Everything else that hasn’t been listed is up-in-the-air at this point. I am not Apple’s best example of a customer regarding where they are headed. The Apple specialist was horrified I did not use iCloud and had no interest in setting up my 8+ at the store last month.

Plus, I learned a work around for Handoff not using iCloud: simply use the same email address across iDevices, and Notes will sync with WiFi when the devices are in proximity to each other.

I control the way I use my Apple stuff, not the other way around. Simple as that.

 

[sunapple]

Because the iPhone was a one in a million scenario. What do you think was the last thing before the “iPhone” that had such a huge impact and reach?

Of course Apple's history is not short of market-defining products, but I understand how much bigger iPhone is in total because that market is simply much bigger. iPad may still be the best selling tablet since its launch 9 years ago, but that never became quite the PC replacement it was dreamed to be (there is still potential in my opinion though).

Maybe "the next iPhone" is another iPhone, or maybe it's the ecosystem as a whole which has become much bigger than it just to be. No idea.

 

[Michael Goff]

Of course Apple's history is not short of market-defining products, but I understand how much bigger iPhone is in total because that market is simply much bigger. iPad may still be the best selling tablet since its launch 9 years ago, but that never became quite the PC replacement it was dreamed to be (there is still potential in my opinion though).

Maybe "the next iPhone" is another iPhone, or maybe it's the ecosystem as a whole which has become much bigger than it just to be. No idea.

Or maybe Apple becomes a company with a lot of very profitable and influencial but not iPhone level items.

 

[HacKage]

But, you guys voted for Brexit. If you have issues with it, then address the Brexit supporters.

Yes, the people of the UK voted for it by a tiny majority.

But it's a bit like being told if you leave your partner of 46 years, that you've stuck with through thick and thin, that it will be better because then you can make all the decisions for yourself, and you won't have to have their friends round every so often. But then after you've told them it's over, you have to try work out the divorce, the house, the pets etc and you realise that maybe it's not such a good idea anyway, that's it's going to cause a lot of grief for all involved and having your partners friends over isn't really worth ending a great relationship over. What use is making your own decisions about money and rules if after the breakup you have no money, or friends. Yes, you can be a successful, single person, but life is infinitely better with good relationships with others.

 

[9081094]

Apple made lower cost iPhones - the SE and 5C. They just didn't sell well. We showed Apple with our buying that we wanted the expensive phones. There's plenty to desire in Apple's current products. The AirPods offer a wireless experience like nothing else on the market. What's happening now in no way mirrors what was happening when Steve was fired.

You know why they didn’t sell well? Maybe the competition offered same features as the high end iPhones below the cost of the “affordable” SE and 5C.

 

[sunapple]

Or maybe Apple becomes a company with a lot of very profitable and influencial but not iPhone level items.

Which would not be a bad thing. My point with saying that they should find 'the next iPhone' was that they currently rely too much on a single product and that they have to be able to keep growing when iPhone stagnates. And like I said, it doesn't have to be a single product taking over the world. Although that is what Apple's been all about in the past, so they kind of have to keep doing that to satisfy people's expectations.

 

[slineaudi]

You know why they didn’t sell well? Maybe the competition offered same features as the high end iPhones below the cost of the “affordable” SE and 5C.

Maybe. But they didn't. Especially back then. Today the competition is much better, no doubt.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Oh, ok. That’s a rather immature response.

So...How much does Cook donate every year? Cook’s a modest guy, and not the type to talk about what are private matters for most people.

My response is not immature at all.

The immaturity is stating he’s a standup guy by waiting until he’s dead to contribute (to me that’s a cop out), and then when challenged by those even richer and alive that are actually doing something to help the world with their funds, you come up with “privacy” or being “modest”. He doesn’t seem that private about his preference or too private when he announced it. He did say that maybe it could help others feel empowered which is a great thing he did. But he’s too modest or private about spending his massive earnings when he’s alive to help others? And I’m being immature to state this?

Ooookaaaay.

 

[dogslobber]

No it is very much exactly like SJ cared. He specifically and repeatedly talked about it. Apple has not had cost-cutting layoffs in this century because of him.

Because there was no deadwood more like. The hatchet fell in 1997 and 98.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

We are looking for "the next iPhone"...

I'd say they probably are working on something completely new and possibly great, but it's impossible to tell.

It's been 12 years. They're not working on something completely new and great. There's way too much churn that happens for a product to take that long. The original iPhone took under 3 years to go from a concept to a product.

Then again, I think the iPad actually took around 7 years, since it was started before the iPhone but didn't come out until a few years later...

Still, it feels rather safe to say little is happening at Apple anymore. The Apple Watch and AirPods happened under Tim Cook... and those are okay and doing better than the iPod did, evidently, but they're no successor to the iPhone.

 

[citysnaps]

My response is not immature at all.

The immaturity is stating he’s a standup guy by waiting until he’s dead to contribute (to me that’s a cop out), and then when challenged by those even richer and alive that are actually doing something to help the world with their funds, you come up with “privacy” or being “modest”. He doesn’t seem that private about his preference or too private when he announced it. He did say that maybe it could help others feel empowered which is a great thing he did. But he’s too modest or private about spending his massive earnings when he’s alive to help others? And I’m being immature to state this?

Ooookaaaay.

Not a cop-out at all.

You probably don't understand that being CEO of one of the most valuable companies in the world does not give him the time or luxury to take on philanthropic endeavors that retired billionaires like Bill Gates are able to take on. As far as him announcing his plan, it was something he was questioned about after it was divulged in 2015 (not by him).

"But he’s too modest or private about spending his massive earnings when he’s alive to help others? And I’m being immature to state this?"

Again, tell me how much money he's donating every year? Yes, you're being immature trying to cast him in a negative light not knowing anything about the man and the causes he supports.

And he is indeed modest. Up until a couple years ago, he rented a modest townhouse in the Bay Area before finally purchasing one. You can often see him walking by himself in the downtown or sitting in a Starbucks with his iPad. Without an entourage of security people and handlers; unlike other large company CEOs in the Bay Area such as Zuckerberg or Jobs in the past.

 

[Baymowe335]

Siri is absolute garbage and that's because Apple has neglected it for years. It's embarrassingly poor compared to literally all rival services from Google, Microsoft, Amazon etc.

Care to provide a source and data to back up your position as I did?

 

[sunapple]

It's been 12 years. They're not working on something completely new and great. There's way too much churn that happens for a product to take that long. The original iPhone took under 3 years to go from a concept to a product.

Then again, I think the iPad actually took around 7 years, since it was started before the iPhone but didn't come out until a few years later...

Still, it feels rather safe to say little is happening at Apple anymore. The Apple Watch and AirPods happened under Tim Cook... and those are okay and doing better than the iPod did, evidently, but they're no successor to the iPhone.

Development time is one thing, but when you can launch a product depends a great deal on available technology as well. They had plans for a tablet in the early 80s, but it apparently wasn't quite possible to launch iPad until 2010 (iPhone delayed development, but the products are quite related). They could very well have ideas on the shelf that are way into the future. I don't think it's that easy to tell what's going on behind the scenes.

"Under Tim Cook"... isn't that synonymous for "without Steve Jobs"? He was a genius, don't get me wrong, but I think the design team that's still around, 20+ years and counting, deserves a little more credit. There're still Apple products coming out every year *cough*iPad Pro*cough* that are unreasonably thin, despite the fact that Steve isn't around anymore.

Evidently, the next iPhone isn't here right now. We're stuck with a dumb HomePod and AirPods that you're just going to loose (oh wait, we're already over that). I do think though that more has happened since the iPhone launch until now, than in the period 2001 (iPod) - 2007.

 

[blacktape242]

and your innovation has never been weaker.

 

[progx]

I don't agree their ecosystem has never been stronger. Right now, I'm seeing shades of the 1990s with too many models of iPhones and iPads available for purchase. MacBooks stepping over each other. Mac desktops being left out in the cold. Their garden could use some cultivating, trimming and care.

The Mac line could use a clean-up. For instance, the MacBook and MacBook Air has turned into a debacle since they released the former and upgraded the latter. The original MacBook should have been the Air, the previous Air should have been the MacBook. The marketing team is getting lazy in its messaging and handling these products as sloppy as I've seen it. Only the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini make sense in their messaging, the others, I leave a red mark on my forehead from my face palm.

 

[weup togo]

Because there was no deadwood more like. The hatchet fell in 1997 and 98.

I don't think you understand what "cost-cutting layoffs" means.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Not a cop-out at all.

You probably don't understand that being CEO of one of the most valuable companies in the world does not give him the time or luxury to take on philanthropic endeavors that retired billionaires like Bill Gates are able to take on. As far as him announcing his plan, it was something he was questioned about after it was divulged in 2015 (not by him).

"But he’s too modest or private about spending his massive earnings when he’s alive to help others? And I’m being immature to state this?"

Again, tell me how much money he's donating every year? Yes, you're being immature trying to cast him in a negative light not knowing anything about the man and the causes he supports.

And he is indeed modest. Up until a couple years ago, he rented a modest townhouse in the Bay Area before finally purchasing one. You can often see him walking by himself in the downtown or sitting in a Starbucks with his iPad. Without an entourage of security people and handlers; unlike other large company CEOs in the Bay Area such as Zuckerberg or Jobs in the past.

Firstly it was you that stated he’s a stand up guy and I’ve rebuttalled that very well. Now you’re on this immature chant (lol) because you cannot debate the other statements I’ve made.

No I don’t know how much he’s “going” to contribute and it doesn’t matter in our debate. Why? Cause he’s not donated those funds supposedly “earmarked” when he retires. So he’s being “modest” in the topic we’re debating here.

He seems not to busy in 2018 for his philanthropic endeavors when it comes to equal rights movement or to attend gay pride parade. He can make time for maybe 3 times a year doesn’t have to be more than 3hrs long. Many people such as myself having 50hr work week still manage time to bring food to, talk to, and serve homeless in shelters EVEN if I’m not able to eat myself for 2 days.

I’ve stated estimates of those that have already contributed, 2 of Cooks peers, 1 is fully retired while the other works full time on philanthropic efforts and travels as well as working to see his funds go to those that require what those funds can provide.

You stated Cook has money earmarked for donation it should be you to state how much. Instead you just want to use imature to get a rise out of someone as you’ve no have no meaningful content to my debate.

Peace.

 

[sunapple]

Uh, I don't agree their ecosystem has never been stronger. Right now, I'm seeing shades of the 1990s with too many models of iPhones and iPads available for purchase. MacBooks stepping over each other. Mac desktops being left out in the cold. Their garden could use some cultivating, trimming and care.

The Mac line could use a clean-up. For instance, the MacBook and MacBook Air has turned into a debacle since they released the former and upgraded the latter. The original MacBook should have been the Air, the previous Air should have been the MacBook. The marketing team is getting lazy in its messaging and handling these products as sloppy as I've seen it. Only the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini make sense in their messaging, the others, I leave a red mark on my forehead from my face palm.

The real problem in the 90s in their product lineup were not just too many models, but mostly too many types of product. Printers, cameras, Newton etc.

A MacBook Air too many is not such a big problem in that regard. Maybe some confusion for customers.

The real strength lies with the software tying all of those products together.

 

[citysnaps]

No I don’t know how much he’s “going” to contribute and it doesn’t matter in our debate. Why? Cause he’s not donated those funds supposedly “earmarked” when he retires. So he’s being “modest” in the topic we’re debating here.

No, not "going to." Has been. How much has he been donating every year since he's been CEO?
[doublepost=1547052052][/doublepost]

He seems not to busy in 2018 for his philanthropic endeavors when it comes to equal rights movement or to attend gay pride parade.

Absolutely. More evidence of being a stand-up guy. Apparently not in your mind, though.

 

[jscooper22]

My problem with their "ecosystem" is the problem I have all ecosystems of the past decade: they want all our data so they can set the terms for accessing it. Apple had dumped OSX and Xserve. Microsoft has dropped Small Business Services and will likely start pushing larger and larger networks to their cloud. Google and Amazon of course want everything on their machines. I hated when a server in the next building started being called "the cloud" and everyone got all dreamy-eyed about it. You can't make an "ecosystem" work for every business or type of business. We need control of our devices, networks, and most importantly, data.

 

[citysnaps]

I’ve stated estimates of those that have already contributed, 2 of Cooks peers, 1 is fully retired while the other works full time on philanthropic efforts and travels as well as working to see his funds go to those that require what those funds can provide.

And Cook will retire someday; guessing within five years. Any idea what his plans are, when he has time to pursue such efforts?
[doublepost=1547052395][/doublepost]

Many people such as myself having 50hr work week still manage time to bring food to, talk to, and serve homeless in shelters EVEN if I’m not able to eat myself for 2 days.

And yet you criticize Cook for talking about his donations, when asked.

 

[DeepIn2U]

It's been 12 years. They're not working on something completely new and great. There's way too much churn that happens for a product to take that long. The original iPhone took under 3 years to go from a concept to a product.

Then again, I think the iPad actually took around 7 years, since it was started before the iPhone but didn't come out until a few years later...

Still, it feels rather safe to say little is happening at Apple anymore. The Apple Watch and AirPods happened under Tim Cook... and those are okay and doing better than the iPod did, evidently, but they're no successor to the iPhone.

The Apple Watch + AirPods + AR glasses in a few short years actually can succeed the iPhone. Especially with a very advanced Siri.

The ability to have a computing device that intimately knows you, privately and securely updates health records to your doctor and hospital when you’re admitted, has a camera pointed to wherever your looking vs having to manually point the camera, and can be always on and readily usable or full privacy mode enabled can work a lot better than today’s smartphone.
[doublepost=1547052705][/doublepost]

No, not "going to." Has been. How much has he been donating every year since he's been CEO?
[doublepost=1547052052][/doublepost]

Absolutely. More evidence of being a stand-up guy. Apparently not in your mind, though.

Being a stand up guy ONLY to matters that are important to your lifestyle is NOT being a stand-up guy. Doing something that doesn’t directly benefit you or your favourite company or the company you work for is being a stand-up guy.

Still you’re acting childish and will not backup your stance about how much he contributes. Sure I can look this up yet it’s on you since you’ve brought up contributions by Cook as rebuttal to numbers I’ve guesstimated but not far off the ballpark.

Seems this cat and mouse game entertains you far too much but hey, you enjoy.

 

[freshh20]

Apple CEO Tim Cook will appear on CNBC's "Mad Money" show this evening, where he will speak with host Jim Cramer, and ahead of the interview, CNBC has shared some of what was discussed.

The topic was, of course, Apple's recent guidance downgrade, where Cook said that factors like poor sales in China, a strong U.S. dollar, and cheap battery replacements impacted Q1 2019 earnings.

According to Cook, Apple's ecosystem of devices and services is "probably underappreciated" by naysayers, which is something that he's heard over and over again over the years.Cook went on to say that he wasn't surprised at the drop in Apple stock following the news, because the market is "quite emotional in the short term." Cook says that Apple "looks through all of that" and focuses more on the longer term.

​

Apple's long-term health has "never been better," the product pipeline has "never been better" and the "ecosystem has never been stronger," especially when it comes to services, according to Cook.

​

Cook's full interview on "Mad Money" with further commentary on Apple's upcoming earnings is set to air tonight at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook: Apple's 'Ecosystem Has Never Been Stronger' and Long-Term Health Has 'Never Been Better'

[doublepost=1547054400][/doublepost]Provide customers with repairable products (outside Apple umbrella), and you will increase your 'services' income.

 

[oldwatery]

He sounds more like Trump every day.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

The Apple Watch + AirPods + AR glasses in a few short years actually can succeed the iPhone. Especially with a very advanced Siri.

I think you're right, but I'm not sure Apple can pull that off. Google tried and flopped - the software on the Glass was just completely incorrect - they just took apps straight from Android and tried to run it on the Glass instead of building new stuff from the ground up that was actually appropriate for the platform.

Siri and the HomePod is what makes me doubt Apple can pull it off. Siri turns 8 this year. She was a joke then, and she's still a joke now. Virtually no progress has been made on this front.