Those 'normal people' with no particular brand loyalty used to buy Nokia in years gone by.
Apple survived their close shave by engendering loyalty and evangelism in creative pros.
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Apple's Profit Downturn and Negative Customer Opinions Threaten 'Decade-Long Malaise' for Company
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Those 'normal people' with no particular brand loyalty used to buy Nokia in years gone by.
Apple survived their close shave by engendering loyalty and evangelism in creative pros.
Not surprised. Theres a point where stuff just cant get any thinner or more expensive.
Their lack of support within its own ecosystem is redic. You cannot even plug in your new iPhone into your new macbook. Some devices support 3D Touch but not all etc
Their lack of support within its own ecosystem is redic. You cannot even plug in your new iPhone into your new macbook. Some devices support 3D Touch but not all etc
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I remember when IBM was on top, then peaked. Next Microsoft was on top, then peaked. Seems like now it could be Apple's turn.
There is so much they could do to at least upgrade existing, neglected products. Certainly they aren't short people or resources.
There is so much they could do to at least upgrade existing, neglected products. Certainly they aren't short people or resources.
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Well this article should please the MR Apple is doomed crowd.
I'll just sit back and read the apocalyptic posts.
I'll just sit back and read the apocalyptic posts.
When will people stop being in denial that Apple isn't the same anymore they are all about profit and that is turning people away now. Apple was about customer service and products and they aren't doing too well in that anymore with no MacPros etc
This isn't surprising. Tim tells us about all these amazing products in the pipeline, then when they are released, we are 
. Seriously, Apple needs some innovation. They are always lagging behind. Their "get it right the first time" approach isn't quite effective anymore. "Courageous" for them is taking away ports, raising raises and forcing consumers to purchase a crap load of dongles.
. Seriously, Apple needs some innovation. They are always lagging behind. Their "get it right the first time" approach isn't quite effective anymore. "Courageous" for them is taking away ports, raising raises and forcing consumers to purchase a crap load of dongles.They are still looking for that next big thing, well they seem to have given up on that.
But they aren't doing anything at knocking out a new phone every two years! A laptop every four or so years?
Cook wants Apple to be a services company which means services and iOS devices only. No room for any other products.
They are no where near as exciting as they were five years ago, no where near it.
But they aren't doing anything at knocking out a new phone every two years! A laptop every four or so years?
Cook wants Apple to be a services company which means services and iOS devices only. No room for any other products.
They are no where near as exciting as they were five years ago, no where near it.
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I switched to Macs in 2006 and up until this year swore by them. This is the first time where I've actually made up my mind that my next computer will be a Windows machine. Windows 10 is actually pretty amazing and I never ever thought I'd think that of Windows again.
Tim Cook seems to be solely focused on profits rather than actual innovation or anything useful for that matter.
And the creative pros have been told we're no longer wanted.
I didn't leave Apple; Apple left me.
Anyone who legitimately believes that iPads are the future of computing are fooling themselves. Just because Apple says so, doesn't mean it's reality.
I wouldn't say that Apple's bright spots are it's services. iCloud? Really?
It has to be said that if Apple turned their innovation towards Pro Specced industry standards computers they might just circumnavigate this predicted decade of pain.
Here's a scenario:
Apple produce a 17inch MacBook Pro Retina Latop with desktop class power and resources. It's perhaps a little heavy, what with all of the battery power, quad core CPU, connectivity, etc. but it's the pro laptop that ends all pro laptops. Give it a baby 15" sister and get rid of the 13" MBP altogether. You know - a computer for Pros.
Sure, you won't sell that many of them (though I think Apple may be surprised by just how many people would go for it) but what you would gain in respect and awe from the Pro community would end the nervousness that in rife in the professional Market and re-establish that benchmark that is so important when addressing your loyal customers. It would also attract the cheaper 13" Macbook as they buy into just a little of that Pro Glory.
Then you could get to work sorting out iCloud so that it's airtight, watertight, and 'Just Works'. Sharing, collaboration, live continuity. Just make it work, and make it better than anyone else (rather than being third in line behind Microsoft and Google, and soon Amazon. Heck, even Dropbox does the cloud better than iCloud Drive). Make it usable by the Pro's who want more than content sharing.
Once you're good with iCloud under way (properly this time, tut tut) you can continue with the thinner, better, faster, cloud, software, IOS, TVOS, MACOS, consumer, wireless, home integrated lifestyle stuff. And guess what? Every time you logically update and innovate into the future, with more of a road map and less EOLing, and with updates that are relevant and important to Pros in a way that they can stand by, you will be able to keep selling, and keep more customers from jacking you in.
If you have to move away from Intel Architecture, then get on with designing your own silicon. But do it quickly. Make it happen.
Currently, everything looks like a neutered version of what we had before and with no certainty that whatever software (let alone hardware) Apple delivers today won't just be killed off tomorrow, or at the very least, dumbed down.
Courage, my ass.
It has to be said that if Apple turned their innovation towards Pro Specced industry standards computers they might just circumnavigate this predicted decade of pain.
Here's a scenario:
Apple produce a 17inch MacBook Pro Retina Latop with desktop class power and resources. It's perhaps a little heavy, what with all of the battery power, quad core CPU, connectivity, etc. but it's the pro laptop that ends all pro laptops. Give it a baby 15" sister and get rid of the 13" MBP altogether. You know - a computer for Pros.
Sure, you won't sell that many of them (though I think Apple may be surprised by just how many people would go for it) but what you would gain in respect and awe from the Pro community would end the nervousness that in rife in the professional Market and re-establish that benchmark that is so important when addressing your loyal customers. It would also attract the cheaper 13" Macbook as they buy into just a little of that Pro Glory.
Then you could get to work sorting out iCloud so that it's airtight, watertight, and 'Just Works'. Sharing, collaboration, live continuity. Just make it work, and make it better than anyone else (rather than being third in line behind Microsoft and Google, and soon Amazon. Heck, even Dropbox does the cloud better than iCloud Drive). Make it usable by the Pro's who want more than content sharing.
Once you're good with iCloud under way (properly this time, tut tut) you can continue with the thinner, better, faster, cloud, software, IOS, TVOS, MACOS, consumer, wireless, home integrated lifestyle stuff. And guess what? Every time you logically update and innovate into the future, with more of a road map and less EOLing, and with updates that are relevant and important to Pros in a way that they can stand by, you will be able to keep selling, and keep more customers from jacking you in.
If you have to move away from Intel Architecture, then get on with designing your own silicon. But do it quickly. Make it happen.
Currently, everything looks like a neutered version of what we had before and with no certainty that whatever software (let alone hardware) Apple delivers today won't just be killed off tomorrow, or at the very least, dumbed down.
Courage, my ass.
The criticism by the financial firm Oppenheimer adds to the complaints about where Apple is headed. I wouldn't count them out yet, but they really need to take stock of themselves. Profits from high prices won't continue if people go elsewhere.
They lost the magic. Tim made some poor staffing choices (like getting rid of Scott Forstall), and then decided to put all the eggs in the iPhone basket. They have no idea what the next big thing is. This administration thinks it's a touch bar and gold watches. They drifted away from the core idea of Apple....tools for the mind, for everyone. Once you loose the mission statement, you fall apart. I can only hope the board sees what we see and gets all new blood. It's time for most everyone to go.
I bought my SurfaceBook and when I opened the box and saw how amazingly well it works, it was like
when I bought my first iPhone. This kind of experience. I wish it was a Mac and was running OS X, but I lost
my hope. So I bought a Microsoft laptop. It sounds weird to me, but yes, I did.
I can definitely relate to your situation. I personally have influenced over a dozen (probably a lot more, but that was off the top of my head) people to buy Macs in the 2000's. Sometimes it was them simply visiting my home and seeing my Apple products in action, and sometimes it was advice. It was so easy to "sell" Apple back then, as I really believed them to be the better product.
But now, they are just a hair above the competition, maybe below for some things.
I really hope Apple turns it around. Stop going crazy with the thinness on everything, stop with the form over function, start thinking about the user experience, and maybe have some QA/QC with your products.
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People paid the "Apple Tax" because they released products no one else could offer. Times have changed. Everyone offers products of nearly equal quality and performance. So the weird quirks like no headphone jack or USB C ports are no longer palatable as they might have been in the 2000s. Mostly because the 2000s ushered in new technologies. Nobody is hooking up hard disks and all this other jazz anymore. It's all networked. So when you do have to connect a peripheral, you have to attach a frigging dongle?
Apple needs to stop pretending they're the moral force for good in the world because 1) not everyone agrees with them 2) somewhere along the line, their practices aren't always squeaky clean.
I still didn't make the full jump to Windows 10 since I like the integration of iOS/macOS, but it's honestly a fine operating system. Works great.
Except tablet mode. Death to tablet mode.
Maybe apple just had a bad year (with people not liking iPhone 7 and the new MacBook Pros)...but I hope they get their s**t toguether, this article makes me sad...i want apple to be number 1 forever
But I do think there is stuff they need to work on...we NEED a dedicated iPad OS!(when will they understand)
I love apple, just hope they'll bounce back
But I do think there is stuff they need to work on...we NEED a dedicated iPad OS!(when will they understand)
I love apple, just hope they'll bounce back
I think this article signals the gloomy future of MacRumors.com - you have become an obvious Apple detractor which continuously demonstrates an obvious bias and actually a "reality distortion field" of a whole new paradigme.
It's so pathetic it's not even worth commenting on directly, nor is it necessary to point out the ludicrous and glaring #FakeNews aspects of this so called analytics firm.
Make a dent in the universe people. Apple fans will not go quietly into the night
It's so pathetic it's not even worth commenting on directly, nor is it necessary to point out the ludicrous and glaring #FakeNews aspects of this so called analytics firm.
Make a dent in the universe people. Apple fans will not go quietly into the night
This is a completely normal thing. Just Google for lists of massive global brands arranged in decades; none of them are the same. ITT, Kodak and Pan Am are just a few mega corps that went bankrupt while everyone thought of them as 'too big to fail'.
Then the products Apple makes: almost all of them have become a commodity, especially phones. It's very hard to earn a profit on a commodity, that's why Apple tries to lure/lock people with the App Store, macOS etc. But people are willing to pay a premium for a limited time only. When the competition is equal or even better at half the price, lots of people will jump ship. And the loyal customers will suffer as wel as the development community will follow the bulk of consumers, leaving Apple with fewer and fewer third party devs.
Lately I have a feeling that Apple lives in a bubble. They produce products that people view as limited and not matching their use cases. Some will buy it anyway, but the bulk of people will vote with their wallet, the only way of communication that the current Apple seems to listen to.
Then the products Apple makes: almost all of them have become a commodity, especially phones. It's very hard to earn a profit on a commodity, that's why Apple tries to lure/lock people with the App Store, macOS etc. But people are willing to pay a premium for a limited time only. When the competition is equal or even better at half the price, lots of people will jump ship. And the loyal customers will suffer as wel as the development community will follow the bulk of consumers, leaving Apple with fewer and fewer third party devs.
Lately I have a feeling that Apple lives in a bubble. They produce products that people view as limited and not matching their use cases. Some will buy it anyway, but the bulk of people will vote with their wallet, the only way of communication that the current Apple seems to listen to.
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For the majority the versatile form factor is. Detach keyboard, use a stylus (pencil, pen or whatever you want to call it). It is not the fault of the form factor if iOS doesn't move on and become a desktop OS replacement.
I've been brand loyal to Apple since 1988.
tl;dr I'm happy with all my Apple products, but I've lost my upgrading obsession -- either because of increased price, or non-availability, or insufficient excitement about new products. Apple needs to sort its supply out, manage customer expectations better, and give much, much, much better keynotes.
I currently own
1. iMac -- one year old. Nothing to upgrade to, and nor would I want to. It's terrific. Though it was astonishing that the base model still had a spinning hard drive. Then there's the ridiculous fusion drive. I bought the one with a flash drive. It's 2016. And Apple is supposed to be a premium brand.
2. MacBook Pro (early 2015) -- one year old. Thanks in part to Brexit and the huge increases in pricing I can't justify upgrading it. Even if the new MacBooks were cheaper, it's not clear that a new keyboard (mixed reviews) and oversized trackpad are really worth upgrading to. The Touch Bar? Too early to tell. I'm sitting this one out.
3. iPad Pro 12.9 -- one year old. Nothing to upgrade to. It would be nice if it had 3D touch. But it's a pretty sweet device. Use it every day. Love it. Initial supply problems of Apple Pencil were embarrassing and didn't smack of competent leadership.
4. iPhone 7 -- couple of months old. Traded down from a 6S+ because I wanted the smaller size. Stunningly beautiful thing. Screen is phenomenal. Makes me smile every time I used it. Superb. Couldn't care less about 3.5mm port. Non existence of AirPods is embarrassing and incompetent. 6S+ was a replacement for a 6+ that got the flickering screen cancer. Zero support from Apple. Hugely unimpressed.
5. Apple Watch S0 -- 18 months old. Very happy with it, but have no desire to upgrade. For me it's basically a watch -- quite like the notifications and fitness. Will replace when it dies but not before.
6. Airport Extreme -- one year old. Solved all my home wifi problems. Why on earth are they giving up on it?
tl;dr I'm happy with all my Apple products, but I've lost my upgrading obsession -- either because of increased price, or non-availability, or insufficient excitement about new products. Apple needs to sort its supply out, manage customer expectations better, and give much, much, much better keynotes.
I currently own
1. iMac -- one year old. Nothing to upgrade to, and nor would I want to. It's terrific. Though it was astonishing that the base model still had a spinning hard drive. Then there's the ridiculous fusion drive. I bought the one with a flash drive. It's 2016. And Apple is supposed to be a premium brand.
2. MacBook Pro (early 2015) -- one year old. Thanks in part to Brexit and the huge increases in pricing I can't justify upgrading it. Even if the new MacBooks were cheaper, it's not clear that a new keyboard (mixed reviews) and oversized trackpad are really worth upgrading to. The Touch Bar? Too early to tell. I'm sitting this one out.
3. iPad Pro 12.9 -- one year old. Nothing to upgrade to. It would be nice if it had 3D touch. But it's a pretty sweet device. Use it every day. Love it. Initial supply problems of Apple Pencil were embarrassing and didn't smack of competent leadership.
4. iPhone 7 -- couple of months old. Traded down from a 6S+ because I wanted the smaller size. Stunningly beautiful thing. Screen is phenomenal. Makes me smile every time I used it. Superb. Couldn't care less about 3.5mm port. Non existence of AirPods is embarrassing and incompetent. 6S+ was a replacement for a 6+ that got the flickering screen cancer. Zero support from Apple. Hugely unimpressed.
5. Apple Watch S0 -- 18 months old. Very happy with it, but have no desire to upgrade. For me it's basically a watch -- quite like the notifications and fitness. Will replace when it dies but not before.
6. Airport Extreme -- one year old. Solved all my home wifi problems. Why on earth are they giving up on it?
Get rid of Tim and put in someone who gets it.
First off, you've both commented on it and pointed it out lol. Is anything that hurts our fee fees Fake News? Trust me, fake news didn't just start in 2016.
Apple is not immune to criticism. When Jobs was at the helm, criticisms bounced right off him, because he delivered. With Tim, not so much.