If Huberty is correct then it won't be the Apple we've known even the past ten years, and certainly not before then.
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Apple's Services Category Set to Be the Company's Main Revenue Driver Over the Next Five Years
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You really ever "raved" about iMessage?
Yes. It works well, syncs well, and is enecrypted end to end without worrying about what they’re doing with my user information.
You’re making it painfully clear that you have no idea what you’re talking about. Okay at best? It’s the best in terms of software and hardware. You’re also babbling about how iPads have hardware that make it impossible to replace a computer. Ask Federico Viticci. I’m sure he’d disagree with you on that one. Then we talk about the HomePod, which does everything they promised it would, aside from the one thing they said was “coming later”.
Agree would be nice if I could use it cross platform, but it syncs well across devices and I don’t have to worry about what they’re doing with my information. From a UI and stability perspective I prefer it over telegram.
iPhones eventually will plateau. Even the iPhone X led to lackluster sales and I see more 7+, and even 6s plus still out there being used. Yet all of those phones have Apple Music, etc which are services people gladly pay for.
Well, Apple also has a mountain of cash so large they don't need to worry about cash-flow.
But you're right - services are vital. I feel that Apple still lags behind Amazon in this. Amazon Prime gives incredible value for money by bundling a variety of services under one umbrella. Even if you just bought it for unlimited next-day delivery and exclusive content on Prime Video, it's still good value and you're likely to try things like Prime Music and more likely to buy a Kindle (if you're interested in an e-reader at all).
Apple should create a single subscription which brings together all of their strengths - Apple Music, extra iCloud storage, iBooks, and some free iTunes Movie Store rentals (1 or 2 viewings per month, but include newer releases). The Apple Store clearly doesn't have the same breadth as Amazon, but maybe Apple could add some hardware discounts as well - on Apple and Beats products, or discounts AppStore purchases coming from Apple's 30%.
I think they could put together a really good package, and it would allow their services to more easily expand in to areas like original movies/tv shows without clumping it in to Apple Music.
Agreed. iCloud.com gets you into a bunch of stuff pretty nicely (Calendar, Notes, Contacts, Photos, iWork apps all work impressively well) but it's definitely not a native solution. I still default to more platform-neutral tools like Dropbox when I know I'm going to be collaborating with people on PC and/or Android.
I wouldn't hold my breath, though, Apple seems to really be using tight integration with services as a way to keep users on their hardware.
You're wrong again.
I haven't met a single Watch user in my professional environment who actually LOVES their Watch (the response Apple is aiming for), other than tolerating it as a notification proxy and waterproof fitness tracker. I'm still trying to come up with reasons to take advantage of the duty free lounges in the airports I frequent due to work and grab one, but it's nigh impossible.
Sure, I can ask Federico how a screen that mostly runs lite apps and sports a keyboard that doesn't even have an Esc, F-row, fn button, Capslock indicator or support custom keyboard shortcuts on software level can suffice to replace an actual workstation. (speaking as a 10'5 iPad Pro owner which I generally like, just find it lacking, and I didn't say the hardware is bad, the software/accessories are - don't twist my points please)
Did HomePod promise it would not connect to any device other than an iPhone, ignore other streaming services than Apple Music, or soil your furniture?
I'm also curious to hear what you will come up with next to defend the Mac slump.
The rumored modular Mac Pro what supposed to come out this year is 4 years too late. About every professional needing the raw power have been forced to other brands by Apple 4 years ago. Apple neglected them and made the Mac Pro a bad investment. I’m wondering who’s the main target group for Apple if the new modular Mac Pro will ever see the light of day. Can’t believe people will burn themselves twice and reinvest in a new Mac Pro again. Apple has lost the faith of their loyal pro users years ago and it will cost them lots of goodwill and top of the notch offering to bring trust back again. That seems very ‘unapple’ lately.
You are absolutely right!
The new Mac Pro will be infinitely modular! All modules available as add on services to your Mac Pro subscription. No one will be able to complain its not upgradeable!
AND as a bonus, its the thinnest Mac ever!
So your personal anecdote counters facts like it being the most accurate heart rate sensor on a smartwatch? And it’s okay at best because the people you know don’t love it? Talk about a skewed idea of how to judge a product.
And your personal judgment on whether or not it can replace a computer is whether or not it can replace a workstation? Neither can most ultraportables, really, but I don’t see people arguing about the validity of the LG Gram as a computer.
Finally, we get the HomePod thing. Yes, it actually did. Apple advertised it as a speaker that you can ask for Apple Music or AirPlay other things to. The whole furniture thing is the only major problem with it from a perspective of the unknown.
There is no real defense for them screwing up the Mac, though. Once again, I feel I have to remind you that I’m not saying that Apple can’t do anything wrong. I’m simply saying they’re doing things right and you seem incapable of admitting that anything they do is worth anything at all.
Apple services are still tied very heavily to Apple devices, unless there is a big strategy shift towards cross platform in the coming months and years, the intermarriage is going to still require Apple to be putting a lot of emphasis on creating, marketing and selling devices. Being realistic, by 2022, the iPhone will still be king, iPad will still be bulking out the iOS market, the mac will still be there in some capacity. This isn't describing a shift in priorities, just that services potentially have more room left to grow going forward.
They might have to be the driving source of revenue, if people continue holding onto older devices instead of upgrading every year like they used to
The only thing Apple is doing right as of late is creating a nice revenue stream for their shareholders.
On the hardware side of things, they are starting to plateau. It only makes sense for them to focus on growing services. But I think one of their largest problem is that their services are tied to their hardware. You could arguably say that their service sector might be close to plateauing as well.
On the hardware side of things, they are starting to plateau. It only makes sense for them to focus on growing services. But I think one of their largest problem is that their services are tied to their hardware. You could arguably say that their service sector might be close to plateauing as well.
If I put more trust on the testimonials of professionals who create world class digital/physical products over cherry picking a statistic from an article as a metric of product satisfaction? Yes I do.
If I'd compare the iPad Pro to a competitor device I'd pick the latest Surface Pro, not the LG Gram. And in terms of power, the iPad is getting kicked in the shin as a workstation replacement. (I insist on the word workstation because that's what apple promises)
And speaking of promises, if that's what Apple PROMISED with the HomePod, then talk about a lame duck of a product indeed. That walled garden has become a miserable quarantine.
I’m not saying that Apple should make iOS open source. I’m not saying that Apple should become Google. Why would you not want Apple to charge less for hardware if they decided it would help them push more services?
It does because everything good they do is harder to access through the phone when the UI is glitching out and lagging down to 10% speed. And iOS is the main thing they do.
This is very true. I can, however, see Apple Pro workstations used in an ad hoc kind of way. Budgeted for and hired in for niche tasks like movie production, photo shoots, that kind of thing, but as for singular small business creatives (like me, for example) - forget it. We’re getting to the stage that a PC running the same software and performance is costing 2 thirds of an equivalent Mac, safely, securely, and efficiently.
It’s just not good business sense to be locked in to Apple hardware and services any more. It’s a consumer brand now - I’m not even sure why they would build a (true) pro machine from now.
The constant trashing helps some people to feel good about themselves giving them a sense of power, filling deep voids in their lives. For a minute or so, anyway.
Because then they'll try forcing their services that people don't necessarily want to use (otherwise they can't charge less for the phone), and it incentivizes them more to spy on users. Also, I don't think it makes sense to do the service-pushing approach with the OS restricted only to their hardware anyway.
Oh, why bring up Federico Viticci? That guy went way, way out of his way to do everything on an iPad. What would take him 1 step and a few minutes on a Mac took him like 10 steps and a half hour on an iPad. Lol. He’s admitted this and does it anyway. Not smart!
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BUT DID get him invites to Apple events.
This is not surprising. At one point, Cook was fairly transparent about generating consistent (albeit smaller) revenue growth for Apple instead of relying on the occasional “blockbuster” product.
The iPad, for instance, was a revolutionary product and is still the category leader. Yet, iPad revenue declined for years and has only stabilized due to higher ASP of the Pro line.
Say what you want about the hardware coming out of Cook’s Apple, but he’s always been looking to the services for future growth: Apple Pay, Apple Music, healthcare, etc.
The iPad, for instance, was a revolutionary product and is still the category leader. Yet, iPad revenue declined for years and has only stabilized due to higher ASP of the Pro line.
Say what you want about the hardware coming out of Cook’s Apple, but he’s always been looking to the services for future growth: Apple Pay, Apple Music, healthcare, etc.
Or, you know, we want to see Apple get better again so that we can at least justify our ecosystem lockdown.
-written from my iPhone.