Yeah that does make sense. I just don't like when those two things mesh I guess as it puts the smaller players out of business when the giants try to put their hand in every pot available.
It's called 'capitalism'.
Cisco was once as earnest (greedy) as Apple seems to be. Cisco even bought a handheld camera company, only to admit defeat sometime later and pull out of the business. Prior to that, their CEO declared that they would move into every market they felt they could dominate. Obviously the handheld video camera market was a flop for them. I think that tempered their overreach. They changed that market as they left. Apple will move into markets that they *think* they can control. They will effect those markets long after they succeed or fail. Hopefully the many niche companies out there that are effected will be able to survive.
There is a plucky mom and pop hardware store almost in the literal parking lot of a Menards store. No one expected them to survive, and yet they are still there. Pretty amazing. Surviving in a predatory market is hard, but not impossible.
It would be interesting if Apple goes on a buying spree for hardware they can rename and sell. Who would they buy?
Hmm...
Wahoo? Peloton? Garmin? Stages? Torque? Zwift? TrainerRoad? Gaia? Spinning? The choices are endless...
EDIT: SRAM? SRAM seems like an unlikely choice, but they have a nice spread of products, and are kind of like Apple in their draw. *shrug*
Thinking about it after this original post, I doubt that Apple would go on a huge merger jag. It wouldn't make sense because it would tie them down to an industry they don't have much experience playing hard ball in. But, who knows. A Wahoo purchase would get them into a pretty interesting market. Bike computers, a watch, and several trainer models, and the Kickr Bike. The later is definitely a niche product, priced higher than any other competitors. Apple should feel at home there...
crazy