Apple CEO Tim Cook: Drop in iPad Sales Just a 'Speed Bump'

[Menopause]

Ok...so what would do that?

A product like the iPad, hardware wise, where do you go?

Faster
Smaller
Better performance
Better battery life

Ideas?

What would be an acceptable evolution to you? On the last earnings call Cook said Apple has exciting things planned for iPad. We've heard rumors about split screen multitasking. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple announces something like that this fall.

Battery life is great already, given its form factor I don't see it changing except for maybe software tweaks. I definitely don't want to see it getting even thinner at the expense of battery life either dropping or remaining the same.

My wish list (one or more of the following):

1. Start the tier from 32GB at the current price of 16GB. Flash space is extremely cheap now; the OEM price difference between 16GB & 32GB for a company as wealthy as Apple would be negligible. More and more apps are becoming universal binaries = larger in size: which is why I'd love some more space without having to shell out a (ridiculous) 100€/$ more for it.

2. Some sort of anti-reflection coating, like they did with the recent MacBook lineup. I can not see anything on the screen under a bright sun without pumping up the display brightness to 100%. Glossy display but 75% less reflection would be great.

3. More RAM to promote efficient multitasking. I can name at least 3 heavy duty apps that lag or crash on my iPad Air after using them in a bundle for sometime.

4. A mild haptic feedback on the keyboard using the inbuilt motor to give it a natural "clicking" feel.

5. 802.11ac Wi-Fi to go with my Time Capsule (although I think this will be included by default in the next one).

 

[Traverse]

I can fit that many on my Air too, but they reload when you switch.

But mine usually don't reload unless I leave Safari for a long time or play a memory intensive game.

 

[Technarchy]

Not much need to upgrade unless something more capable is introduced.

 

[CEmajr]

Only in your experience. Ask a pilot if tablets haven't become more than just a nice and convenient thing for them. I think they'd tell you to a man and woman that going back to the old way is unthinkable. That's just the thing about (dare I use the cliche) "disruptive" products -- they create needs that nobody knew they had. The potential for tablets to continue to disrupt other markets has hardly hit its limits. In fact this is what Mossberg is saying his piece. (Not that anyone reads source articles on MR, but once again they buried the lead.)

Oh, and I notice that hardly everyone seems to need a smartphone.

Again that's a very niche usage you've cited there. Note that I didn't say that they aren't ANY situations where people can find a tablet essential, I'm saying they aren't as essential as having a phone. Maybe in the future as they get closer to replacing laptops that will be the case but it certainly isn't right now. Most people still don't own tablets yet and don't feel like they need to. The iPad certainly did create a market for a product we didn't think we needed I totally agree. It just hasn't reached the level yet where "everyone" in the general sense has one like smartphones have.

As far as smartphones go, yes I'll say they're pretty much essential. Visit your favorite carrier's retail store and see how many non smartphones they now offer in their lineup.

 

[69Mustang]

I don't take umbrage, I just don't agree. What the "majority" can get along without is hardly relevant to what I am saying. In fact I was not talking only about airline pilots but anyone who flies. Whether this particular market is huge or not totally misses the point. The point being, fours years ago nobody used a tablet in aviation. Now everybody does. The significance of this almost instantaneous total market penetration is not lost on me. It isn't lost on Walt Mossberg. And, thankfully, it isn't missed by Tim Cook.

Please correct me if I am reading this incorrectly (I've been known to do so). If so apologies. It sounds as if you knew what he was talking about - the majority of people, but decided to change the narrative to what you're focusing on. If that's the case, you're arguing two unrelated points. You could be 100% right about pilots and flying. I have no idea since I know nothing of their needs. I'll just take your word since you seem to be pretty passionate about it. You're also right in that what he was saying is hardly relevant to what you're saying. To be fair though, what you're saying is hardly relevant to what he was saying since he started the dialogue.

Agree or disagree it's all good. That's what forums are for right?

 

[cdmoore74]

this image pretty much sums up the problem with the iPad and its current iOS optimization

Image

utterly redic

I thought my home screen look pathetic. How do you get anything done? And the screen shots are from a Note 3; a phone with a smaller screen.

 

[PlainviewX]

I bought a 64GB WiFi original iPad in 2010; kept it 2 years and gave it away as a wedding gift because the 2 was such a powerful upgrade.

You gave a two year old used iPad as a wedding gift?

 

[ChrisTX]

Better multitasking would be a bonus for the iPad however I like the iPas is. I just think the iPad is a product that people tend to hold on for a longer period of time. The iPad isn't subsidized like the iPhone therefore the upfront cost is much greater to the consumer. Plus it makes no sense to upgrade the iPad every year or every other year when each iPad essentially does the same thing with a free iOS update.

 

[AppleScruff1]

But mine usually don't reload unless I leave Safari for a long time or play a memory intensive game.

The Air does it literally constantly. It is the only major complaint I have, and it is annoying.

 

[Nothingfaced]

You gave a two year old used iPad as a wedding gift?

LOL no... not an "official gift". When I found out he was getting married, without me mentioning that, I gave it to him just "to have" a few months before the ceremony.

I didn't get a chance to go to the wedding; I had to work that day.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Again that's a very niche usage you've cited there. Note that I didn't say that they aren't ANY situations where people can find a tablet essential, I'm saying they aren't as essential as having a phone. Maybe in the future as they get closer to replacing laptops that will be the case but it certainly isn't right now. Most people still don't own tablets yet and don't feel like they need to. The iPad certainly did create a market for a product we didn't think we needed I totally agree. It just hasn't reached the level yet where "everyone" in the general sense has one like smartphones have.

As far as smartphones go, yes I'll say they're pretty much essential. Visit your favorite carrier's retail store and see how many non smartphones they now offer in their lineup.

Again, the niche is not important to the point, and neither is your argument for smartphones.

----------

Please correct me if I am reading this incorrectly (I've been known to do so). If so apologies. It sounds as if you knew what he was talking about - the majority of people, but decided to change the narrative to what you're focusing on. If that's the case, you're arguing two unrelated points. You could be 100% right about pilots and flying. I have no idea since I know nothing of their needs. I'll just take your word since you seem to be pretty passionate about it. You're also right in that what he was saying is hardly relevant to what you're saying. To be fair though, what you're saying is hardly relevant to what he was saying since he started the dialogue.

Agree or disagree it's all good. That's what forums are for right?

I was making a different point, but one that is hardly unrelated. Forget about pilots entirely. It was just an example. Passion, have it or not, is also entirely unrelated to the point.

Focusing on the hardware, as nearly everyone here is doing, is not seeing the forest for the trees. Apple I am sure understands how the growth for this product has been, and will continue to be driven. Hardware is secondary.

 

[rei101]

I have my two iPads collecting dust, for music production they are useless.

iPads are like roller skates... a fashion.

 

[Trapezoid]

I have my two iPads collecting dust, for music production they are useless.

iPads are like roller skates... a fashion.

Why'd you get two?

 

[diegogaja]

btw

In case someone hasn't mentioned it...that option is in iOS 8.

just a convergence of phone-tablet-pc. good choices for consumer, education *and* business.

now if there was a way to force out of dumbed down mobile sites when i browse with my iPad i would have several more. I should NOT be penalized for browsing the web with my iPad. Tim you must know this, give me an option to browse in normal web mode.

 

[Big Dawg 23]

A pipe dream, but wouldn't it be great if a 13" iPad ran iOS and OS X?

My thoughts exactly. I would like it with Yosemite and stick it to MS. I own an iPad Air and Note Pro 12.2 LTE. I went to get an LTE iPad but need the insertion of multiple document son email replies among other iPad/iOS limitations. I prefer Apples store and tablet apps as Android sucks on that front.

 

[Col4bin]

According to Cook, the dip in iPad sales over the past two quarters is just a "speed bump" for Apple...


This is kind of like the Black Knight proclaiming that it's "only a flesh wound!"

 

[Traverse]

The Air does it literally constantly. It is the only major complaint I have, and it is annoying.

I just can't believe Apple would release such a sub par device. You know they had to notice that in testing.

 

[kdarling]

Besides the fact that people hang onto tablets for a long time --

Analysts are saying that phablets are cannibalizing tablet sales as well.

That could be yet another reason why Apple is interested in selling a phablet.

 

[69Mustang]

I was making a different point, but one that is hardly unrelated. Forget about pilots entirely. It was just an example. Passion, have it or not, is also entirely unrelated to the point.

Focusing on the hardware, as nearly everyone here is doing, is not seeing the forest for the trees. Apple I am sure understands how the growth for this product has been, and will continue to be driven. Hardware is secondary.

I get, and I think he gets as well, what you are/were focusing on; the OP. I don't think anyone is missing your point. What you seem to be missing is you hijacked the focus of his post to supplant it with yours. He was focusing on the hardware. His comments were directly related to the hardware. You say hardware is secondary. Secondary to the point you were trying to make. Hardware was primary to his point. Maybe there was a better post than his to posit your ideas.

By no means am I trying to tell you which posts to respond to. <- I hate prepostions at the end of sentences but I'm tired and my wife says I have to go to bed. But your response was not related to the subject he was talking about. You're talking about Apple's growth and he was focusing on Apple's hardware. Can we just say you win and call it a day?

All the best to you. There will be other subjects tomorrow and I look forward to the discourse.

 

[coolspot18]

The iPad is a very nice device, but it's become a bit stale. Next up - Multi-tasking please.

If you mean unrestricted Windows-Style Multitasking then don't wait, as it's never going to happen. I don't want a CPU fan on my tablet.

At the least, side-by-side applications - once you've used the feature it's actually quite hard to let it go.

Apple should also stop skimping on onboard storage - 32GB minimum!

I bought a 64GB WiFi original iPad in 2010; kept it 2 years and gave it away as a wedding gift because the 2 was such a powerful upgrade.

You gave away a used device as a wedding gift?!

 

[AppleScruff1]

I just can't believe Apple would release such a sub par device. You know they had to notice that in testing.

I don't think it's a sub par device, but it's not the picture of glimmering perfection either. I had hopes that it would be fixed in an update, but I don't think that is going to happen. They knew it reloaded when it was released and had no intentions of fixing it- I really don't think they considered it an issue. It will be interesting to see if the Air 2 gets more ram and if the page reloading goes away.

And before the first iOS 7 update, Safari crashed a few time a day. Ditto for the App store. Those were bugs that were obvious from the get go too.

 

[Jiz]

42", 46", 50"

Why not?

 

[Parasprite]

Why'd you get two?

One for each foot.

 

[Jiz]

The iPad is a very nice device, but it's become a bit stale. Next up - Multi-tasking please.



At the least, side-by-side applications - once you've used the feature it's actually quite hard to let it go.

Apple should also stop skimping on onboard storage - 32GB minimum!




You gave away a used device as a wedding gift?!

What's wrong with that. His wife will never notice the zirconium ring either.

 

[Fenez]

While I have an iPad 3 and its a great device... I notice more and more that I do just use my 5.5" phone for just about everything. It's actually quite funny that after awhile it doesn't even register that I should just walk the 10' to go grab it from the living room. When I hear people say that larger phones are cannibalizing tablet sales, I have to agree, the larger screen phone is a good enough device for most of what I use my iPad for..once the large iphones are released then you will really see a huge drop in iPad sales.