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Apple Sold Fewer iPads Year Over Year for 13th Straight Quarter as Tablet Market Shrinks to Five-Year Low
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Tablets are consumption devices, you can't do much else with them. They were supposed to replace laptops, but with laptops gaining all the benefits of tablets (better efficiency, more battery life, lightweight, touch-input), I don't see a lot of reason for spending $600 just to read the news, do some emails, and watch videos.
I also think touch-input was overhyped, for tablets and laptops. Unless you're writing notes or doing creative work, there's really not much of a point for a touch screen. You're just going to obstruct your view, be less precise with your input, and it doesn't allow to you do anything more than a mouse could unless you do creative work. Even then, the creative work industry uses professional products that can use desktop apps and are better for professional work in general, like Wacom products. There are Wacom tablets available for $75 that allow you to draw on the computer too, much cheaper than an iPad.
I understand some people do love tablets for consumption, and I think cheaper tablets, like the new iPad for $329, are more reasonable than spending $600 on the Pro models, since you can't really be productive with iPads. However, I think the whole "tablets are the future" and touch becoming the future of input was very overhyped. It's nice for people to have the option to buy tablets, touch screen laptops, and 2-in-1s now, but I definitely don't see them being the future anymore.
I also think touch-input was overhyped, for tablets and laptops. Unless you're writing notes or doing creative work, there's really not much of a point for a touch screen. You're just going to obstruct your view, be less precise with your input, and it doesn't allow to you do anything more than a mouse could unless you do creative work. Even then, the creative work industry uses professional products that can use desktop apps and are better for professional work in general, like Wacom products. There are Wacom tablets available for $75 that allow you to draw on the computer too, much cheaper than an iPad.
I understand some people do love tablets for consumption, and I think cheaper tablets, like the new iPad for $329, are more reasonable than spending $600 on the Pro models, since you can't really be productive with iPads. However, I think the whole "tablets are the future" and touch becoming the future of input was very overhyped. It's nice for people to have the option to buy tablets, touch screen laptops, and 2-in-1s now, but I definitely don't see them being the future anymore.
Probably because a phone is much more personal. It's with you, in your pocket, a large percentage of the day. You receive and make phone calls with it. It's a very compact and handy camera. It's much more of a tool, with greater utility, than a tablet.
Because of the above it makes a lot more sense to upgrade more frequently than a tablet. That said, I'm still using a 6+ simply because it meets my needs and works well.
I wonder if Apple have thought of or tested a 12-13 inch touchscreen device that could run Mac OS & iOS and comes with a detachable keyboard accessory.
As much as they want to build one. It would cannibalize macbook sales. They wont do that.
I really thought they were going to improve iOS drastically with iOS 10...then we got split screen Safari tabs...
The fact that they changed so little for the iPad in iOS 10 makes me wonder if they've been preparing something big (separate iPad OS? macOS?). I kind of hope that have been, but I doubt it at this point.
I think if they would create an iPad that could dual boot iOS and macOS, it would be amazing. Like if it had a desktop mode and a tablet mode like Windows 10. You could use iOS by default and use the desktop/macOS mode when you really need to accomplish certain tasks (with a keyboard and mouse attached). I think a lot more people would be willing to go tablet only if they had that safety net. And iOS makes for a much better tablet experience than Windows 10.
My set up from August to January was a tablet (iPad Pro 9.7) and desktop (Mac mini). I would bring the iPad to work (teaching). Even though I had the desktop at home there were still several times when was annoying to accomplish certain task on iOS. Or sometimes I just would wait until I got home to do something because I knew it would be tedious on the iPad.
Once again, I can certainly understand that point. However, I suppose it ties back into my original comment; iOS is not for tablets, at least anymore. Obviously, for reasons you described above, it's a very different product than the iPhone. For this reason, I think it's fair to say that the OS needs to be catered to provide more utility to the iPad that differs from the way people use their iPhones. I'm not asking to port OS X to iPad, but clearly people use these products very different ly and as such, an OS that can prove to people the usefulness of a tablet, I truly believe will change people's minds.
My only complaint is that iOS cannot run multiple, simultaneous instances of same app. For example, I need two Word documents open, yet iPad does not do this yet.
Also, I would like to be able to run more than two apps open at once... But this is rather a minor thing.
Also, I would like to be able to run more than two apps open at once... But this is rather a minor thing.
I could see improvement with defined release patterns like an iPhone. And simplify the line up a bit more. I think its cannibalizing itself and making it uninteresting to say the least.
Apple needs to find the roots of the iPad again, instead of trying to turn into what its not (a PC/Notebook/Mac replacement).
Apple needs to find the roots of the iPad again, instead of trying to turn into what its not (a PC/Notebook/Mac replacement).
They can't replace something that they themselves are...
Definitely exaggerated. Looks like Samsung's shipments didn't fall at all. How's that possible?
This said, i hope they keep updating the mini. I actually prefer the 9.7" for most of my needs, but for a lot of people the mini is the perfect size. And I like picking up used minis for "utility" functions (i use one in my living room as a universal remote/temperature monitor). They should really have one with a modestly nice A9 chip in it.
Yeah, slowly I'm really getting really sick about that behavior. I guess Cook just want us to keep buying his stuff without him having all the trouble with designing new products. Hey, your iPad pro is a year old buy a new one, even if it's identical to the old ^^
Then what is the purpose of iPad? Bloated iOS?
But just Mac, not overall computer. Also, if Apple sells Mac at similar price point as iPad, people will buy even fewer iPad because Mac could just do more.
I sort of understand this and I sort of don't. iPad is my favourite Apple product, I asbolsutely adore it, but I rarely feel the need to upgrade it. I've had iPad, iPad with Retina Display and iPad Air 2. With iPhone I've had 3G, 4, 5, 5S and 7. I'm not sure how that compares govern how long iPhone has been out.
It just seems that the form factor changes in iPhone are more significant. I suppos because it's form is more important, as it's something you carry around?
It just seems that the form factor changes in iPhone are more significant. I suppos because it's form is more important, as it's something you carry around?
Only 3.8 billion in a down market, yeah clearly Apple is doomed. Though my 9.7 Ipad Pro does everything I need so I can't see what improvements would push me to replace it. A little lighter, little brighter screen, not enough. My concern is that Apple does some type of obsolescent move like multiple apps or another must have functionality only on new models. Not that they have a history of doing that
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For you, forgot that important qualifier.
Wow, and Apple's number of shipments decreased a lot more than the market's did, speaking in terms of percentages.
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For most of the people who can't already get everything done on a smartphone. It's like a laptop, only worse except in certain cases. Maybe makes sense for people who aren't used to computers, like my grandma, but that market is shrinking.
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It probably helps that phones are sold with contracts and upgrade plans.
Also, seems that everyone I know who originally bought an iPad got bored and stopped using it. At least that's among my family and friends, dunno about elsewhere.
An iPhone is still a daily status symbol you Carry at all times, having the latest = cooler. Well that is one reason. For many it's still the best ecosystem, many are deep in the ecosystem... there are many good reasons still to get an iPhone. Most getting the 7 are upgrading from pre 6....big upgrade, a lot of people are on plans...
The iPad could have been so much more than what it is today. Shame that Steve's creation is dying a slow death.
Apple is in the business of selling hardware. They make the software that runs on that hardware as an incentive to make the purchase of their hardware more attractive. They increase their profits when customers buy an iPad And Mac. They have no incentive to produce software that will compel a customer to buy fewer products.
Apple is in the business of developing ways to make more money (and of course, avoiding paying corporate taxes on their massive profits).
I see a lot of comments here saying iPads last a long time and don't need to be replaced very often.. or people don't really use the iPads they already own so they won't buy another one... etc.
So who did buy almost 9 million iPads over the last 3 months? (that's 98,000 iPads sold every day...)
Would that be mostly new iPad users then? Isn't that still a good thing for Apple?
So who did buy almost 9 million iPads over the last 3 months? (that's 98,000 iPads sold every day...)
Would that be mostly new iPad users then? Isn't that still a good thing for Apple?
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The iPad (pro) really does fill a niche for artists that nothing in Wacom's lineup does (I say this as a cintiq and intuos owner who loves Wacom's stuff) Even if it was marketed as a niche product for artists I'd want one. It really is a wonderful drawing tool with great battery and portability.
There's always going to be a lot of space in the market for variety in productivity machines. I've been making music on the iPad with a midi keyboard, painting in procreate, etc, it's a great productivity machine if you dont mind adapting to new workflows. Adobe are doing a great job at slowing rolling out modular CC apps too. (supporting photoshop's brush files etc!) It is lacking in some areas, software-wise - for sure, but there are other areas where the software is in one way or another subjectively better in certain circumstances than the more broad desktop style apps. (I'd take the simplicity and speed of procreate over PS for sketching.) It's not being the defacto industry standard for anything while also being decently supported makes it exciting as a creative who's into software in general, as you get weirder tools.. Reminds me of my time on the Amiga when almost everyone else had jumped ship to other platforms, making stuff regardless - not suitable for everyone, and certainly not going to replace everyone's laptops, or even be viable for many people - but definitely strong on it's own merits.