Goodbye, Apple

[CrashX]

I've bought my last computer and my last phone. I'm out.

I was lucky enough to snag an "SE" - and I own a rMPB late-2013.

Innovation is dead. I could have bought into 3-D "touch" - but given I bought the smaller phone, not included

If it happens, I'll certainly know about it. But innovation is dead in the water.

I truly miss Steve Jobs. It was his constant innovation that kept me on the edge of my seat - what AWESOME new innovation will come next?

Sadly, now Apple is just another tech company. They can phase me out with their free "updates" - but they're so f'n buggy, I can wait. And dispense with all of them - as they all wish to take me to the "cloud" with a monthly subscription to "share" my data "privately" with them.

I'll wait... and wait. And wait some more. And then some more.

In the meantime - I'll strap on a Polar chest band - that MUCH more accurately measures what the os/Apple Watch will never do.

And yes, I do blame Apple. They innovated - they excited us. Now we have a bean-counter.

Sorry, bud. But, lacking the innovation, you will be counting less beans.

But some people refuse to learn from history. And bean-counters are certainly among them.

So I hope the Chinese communist-slave lackeys made me a good computer and phone. I'll rest in that hope.

But, apparently - goodbye to Apple innovation. How long did digital watches survive as a fad?

And, even if you trust Apple with your life, what dimwits are installing devices that control their home?

I'm old school. My opinions don't matter. Until my current devices implode - I'm done with Apple.

The excitement is gone. Seriously... completely.

Sadly, if I were to have an iWatch on my wrist, I'd miss out on the HUGE opportunity to touch it to activate the laptop I'm opening. I'd easily spend... NOTHING... on that.

So now, that Steve is officially "dead" as far as innovation - what's the next FUN innovative tech company to watch?

 

[smirking]

Yeah, goodbye cruel world.

I really have a nit with these lame boo hoo innovation rants like it's supposed to be easy to innovate or that Steve Jobs never had a single failure in his life or even just his tenures at Apple... or that Apple didn't suck at times even when he was the returning king.

I'm no fanboy, but I just don't dig it when people grandstand and whine. Bean counting is as much a part of innovation as stagecraft. One of the first things Steve Jobs had to do when he returned to Apple was to kill off distracting pet projects that weren't going anywhere and were just bleeding the budget. One of those things was the Newton... you know, the thing that kind of was like a small iPad before there were iPads.

There's a reason why people used the term "reality distortion field" with Steve Jobs so often and that's because for most of his history with the company, the products weren't as great as advertised, but he was so slick that he was able to convince a lot of poorly informed people that his company's products were revolutionary and unsurpassable.

Look, I enjoyed my Macs all the way up from my Quadra running OS9. I loved those machines, but they were always several steps behind Windows PCs no matter what fanboys would tell you. If I didn't already own tons of OS9 software, I would have bolted to Windows.

I just want an upgraded MacBook Pro and a display that works flawlessly. I have my own innovation to chase. I just want better work tools. Give me improved work tools at a better price point, I'm a happy camper.

 

[Kebabselector]

So what innovation are you moving to?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Innovation that works takes time and the parts that Apple believes are needed for some innovation, GPU's, maybe Kabylake for proper display and ddr4 ram support, oled screens in decent numbers etc etc are yet to be available.

What you are really saying is that you are ignorant enough to want a new machine with little real innovation now rather than wait for one with real innovation

 

[Hellhammer]

So how are Apple devices not fulfilling your needs? It's easy to complain about the lack of innovation, but unless you have some concrete ideas of what Apple should do it's just a pointless rant. If anything, people should be happy that they don't need to spend thousands on new Apple gear every year.

 

[Strider64]

I always wonder do people who are so concerned about "innovations" use their computers / mobile devices for anything useful? By the way I never really thought of Apple as being very innovative, but rather very smart in letting innovations be known to the general public faster and easier than other companies. Take the Apple watch or even the iPad, both of these aren't very innovative in my opinion, no they were "stylized", made simple to use and the quality top notch. Just my .02 cents and opinion.

 

[I7guy]

Innovation is a different twist that adds value. IMO Apple does this very well. Of course this a discussion in and of itself of where every bodies yardstick is different.

 

[maflynn]

I've bought my last computer and my last phone. I'm out.

So what computer company has the innovation you want, and that's missing from Apple?

I'm also curious to know what that innovation is missing from Apple that others have.

Innovation is dead.

I've been critical of Apple with their innovation, but I wouldn't say its dead. I'd say its going in a direction that you disagree wth. Take the retina MacBook, it took a lot of innovation to create a touchpad, and keyboard to fit the form factor that they were shooting for.

Personally, Apple's focus on thin designs, and gluing their computers together is not something I like and I may look somewhere else for my next laptop, but then I try to fit the best tool for my need, not something based on which has the coolest logo on the back

The excitement is gone. Seriously... completely.

Seriously, Apple is a multibillion dollar company that makes electronics. I don't know why people need to be emotionally involved. If you are emotionally tied to a company (any company) you will be disappointed. iPhones, Macs, iPads, they're all tools to get a job done, not something to fawn over.
[doublepost=1465990815][/doublepost]I'd also like to add this thought.
Innovation is not something that you can flip on like a switch. Apple, Google, Microsoft, expend billions in looking for the next big thing. Sometimes they swing and miss, sometimes they hit it out of the park. Apple has a number of guiding principles, and a lot of smart people, but that doesn't mean they're rolling out a product that you like. That doesn't mean innovation is dead, it just means what they produced isn't something you want.

I will say, that Steve Jobs represented a charismatic salesman, able to make things sound extremely exciting. Time Cook is the polar opposite, but then he is Job's hand picked replacement and if Jobs thinks Cook is up to the task...

Believe me, I'm not a fan of Tim Cook, but he has managed to run apple in a very measured manner that has increased revenue, sales and marketshare.

Back to the innovation, back when Apple was "exciting", they were a smaller company, and at times had to risk it all, to survive. Now they're the market leader, and a much larger company. Those transistions mean they don't always operate as quickly as they used too. More bureaucracy, more to lose etc etc.

 

[theluggage]

So what computer company has the innovation you want, and that's missing from Apple?

Yes, that's the $64000 question. There isn't a lot of innovation floating around in the PC or phone market right now*.

I'm not sure that the lack of the latest Skylake chip in a MacBook Pro (with the marginal performance boost that brings) represents "lack of innovation" even if it is frustrating for those waiting to upgrade.

The big thing in laptops should be USB-C/TB3 - Apple did make an early foray into USB-C with the MacBook, but haven't followed through. Given Apple's past enthusiasm for such things, over a year after their first toe-in-the-water you'd expect the entire Mac range would be TB3-or-die now, and fuelling demand for TB3/USB-C peripherals. However, that may be waiting for Kaby lake (which "include" Thunderbolt and USB3.1) of for Intel to fix TB3's bonehead limitation of not supporting DisplayPort 1.3.

The other big thing is XPoint/Optane - superfast non-volatile memory for SSDs or as part of some sort of tiered-storage system - but that's possibly still a year away.

I think Intel have been part of the problem, with Kaby Lake announced while Skylake chips have still been trickling out (I'm still not clear if the Skylake models with the right combination of power consumption & Iris Pro GPUs for the 13" rMBP are out yet).

(*...but then, since 1984 - apart from a brief drought at the end of the 90s - Apple has been one of the main sources of innovation in the industry, esp. in driving the design of laptops and committing to new interfaces, so maybe that's another aspect of the problem?)

 

[Miguel Cunha]

One of the first things Steve Jobs had to do when he returned to Apple was to kill off distracting pet projects that weren't going anywhere and were just bleeding the budget.

You are quite right.
I wonder if, now, that kind of projects isn't flourishing again

he was able to convince a lot of poorly informed people that his company's products were revolutionary and unsurpassable.

He didn't have to convince me then.
Now, Apple does and they are not succeeding.

 

[lowendlinux]

I was lucky enough to snag an "SE" - and I own a rMPB late-2013.


I'll wait... and wait. And wait some more. And then some more.

Umm how much waiting have you done?

Your phone is maybe six months old and you computer will be celebrating is 3rd anniversary this year

 

[imanidiot]

I've bought my last computer and my last phone. I'm out.

I was lucky enough to snag an "SE" - and I own a rMPB late-2013.

Innovation is dead. I could have bought into 3-D "touch" - but given I bought the smaller phone, not included

If it happens, I'll certainly know about it. But innovation is dead in the water.

I truly miss Steve Jobs. It was his constant innovation that kept me on the edge of my seat - what AWESOME new innovation will come next?

Sadly, now Apple is just another tech company. They can phase me out with their free "updates" - but they're so f'n buggy, I can wait. And dispense with all of them - as they all wish to take me to the "cloud" with a monthly subscription to "share" my data "privately" with them.

I'll wait... and wait. And wait some more. And then some more.

In the meantime - I'll strap on a Polar chest band - that MUCH more accurately measures what the os/Apple Watch will never do.

And yes, I do blame Apple. They innovated - they excited us. Now we have a bean-counter.

Sorry, bud. But, lacking the innovation, you will be counting less beans.

But some people refuse to learn from history. And bean-counters are certainly among them.

So I hope the Chinese communist-slave lackeys made me a good computer and phone. I'll rest in that hope.

But, apparently - goodbye to Apple innovation. How long did digital watches survive as a fad?

And, even if you trust Apple with your life, what dimwits are installing devices that control their home?

I'm old school. My opinions don't matter. Until my current devices implode - I'm done with Apple.

The excitement is gone. Seriously... completely.

Sadly, if I were to have an iWatch on my wrist, I'd miss out on the HUGE opportunity to touch it to activate the laptop I'm opening. I'd easily spend... NOTHING... on that.

So now, that Steve is officially "dead" as far as innovation - what's the next FUN innovative tech company to watch?

Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[willmtaylor]

I'll bet the folks around at the introduction of the Model T said the same thing when Ford rolled out the Model A.

We're a winey, petulant, entitled breed, aren't we?

 

[maflynn]

Yes, that's the $64000 question. There isn't a lot of innovation floating around in the PC or phone market right now*.

I think we are at a point in the computer industry that there's not much that can be done (other then thinner designs). This is why I mentioned what other innovation is the OP looking for.

I think people are buying less computers overall, and while Apple has weathered that storm the best, they are now incurring a 40% drop.

What I have a difficult time, is spending close to 2k for a laptop that offers nothing more then the prior version I had (other then a faster process) Basically if I purchase a 2015 MBP today, its going to be exact same machine as my 2012 MBP, but with some added niceties like the trackpad and a new chipset. To me that's a little too much money
[doublepost=1465999856][/doublepost]

I'll bet the folks around at the introduction of the Model T said the same thing when Ford rolled out the Model A.

No I think its totally different. The Model A came out when the auto industry was new. Now (with the exception of electric vehicles) there is no new innovation. The industry has matured to the point where there's not much else you can do. The computer sector, I postulate is in a similar situation.

 

[willmtaylor]

I think we are at a point in the computer industry that there's not much that can be done (other then thinner designs). This is why I mentioned what other innovation is the OP looking for.

I think people are buying less computers overall, and while Apple has weathered that storm the best, they are now incurring a 40% drop.

What I have a difficult time, is spending close to 2k for a laptop that offers nothing more then the prior version I had (other then a faster process) Basically if I purchase a 2015 MBP today, its going to be exact same machine as my 2012 MBP, but with some added niceties like the trackpad and a new chipset. To me that's a little too much money
[doublepost=1465999856][/doublepost]
No I think its totally different. The Model A came out when the auto industry was new. Now (with the exception of electric vehicles) there is no new innovation. The industry has matured to the point where there's not much else you can do. The computer sector, I postulate is in a similar situation.

Regarding the comparison of smartphones and the auto industry:
While I see your point and somewhat agree, when the iPhone debuted, the smartphone sector was new. Look at "smartphones" before and after 2007. Different enough, methinks, to claim they didn't really exist prior to 2007.

Smartphones before and after the iPhone:


We were around to experience that. Then we also happened to be around for the inception of the tablet. To expect this kind of once-in-a-lifetime innovation is madness.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

So long. Take care, maybe Samsung has what you crave.

 

[I7guy]

I think we are at a point in the computer industry that there's not much that can be done (other then thinner designs). This is why I mentioned what other innovation is the OP looking for.

I think people are buying less computers overall, and while Apple has weathered that storm the best, they are now incurring a 40% drop.

What I have a difficult time, is spending close to 2k for a laptop that offers nothing more then the prior version I had (other then a faster process) Basically if I purchase a 2015 MBP today, its going to be exact same machine as my 2012 MBP, but with some added niceties like the trackpad and a new chipset. To me that's a little too much money
[doublepost=1465999856][/doublepost]
No I think its totally different. The Model A came out when the auto industry was new. Now (with the exception of electric vehicles) there is no new innovation. The industry has matured to the point where there's not much else you can do. The computer sector, I postulate is in a similar situation.

Led headlights, self driving cars, lane departure, preloaded brakes, heads up display, oled instrument clusters, gdi etc and on and on are all innovations in the auto industry over the last few years.

 

[willmtaylor]

Led headlights, self driving cars, lane departure, preloaded brakes, heads up display, oled instrument clusters, gdi etc and on and on are all innovations in the auto industry over the last few years.

Don't forget all of the hybrid innovations as well: batteries, kinetic energy recovery systems, etc.

 

[JoeInMilwaukee]

I've bought my last computer and my last phone. I'm out.

So you're going back to slide rules and telegraphs?

 

[pat.b]

In my opinion the lack of hardware upgrades within iPhones is making the software upgrades seem stale. I mean sure we're getting better processors every year but they're not significant enough to be utilized in way that provides something new and exciting.

We've gotten a larger screen twice, but once again, not much of a "wow" factor. I would say the jump from the 4 to the 5 was more intuitive than the 5 to 6. Apple tackled the problem of more screen space in their own way on the 5. I'd like to see that happen again.

I'd like to see an iPhone that folds or slides open like an old slider phone or a nintendo DS to provide more screen space. This would be innovation.

They really need to concentrate on adding significant hardware changes to the iPhone. This will provide the framework for more cutting edge software. I'm not talking about a better camera either. Force touch was an interesting idea, but it hasn't been utilized in a way that makes me want to upgrade. They should have gone all out in finding ways to utilize force touch in iOS 9.

 

[mildocjr]

what's the next FUN innovative tech company to watch?

When you find it let me know, I've been searching for years and still haven't found it.
[doublepost=1466006451][/doublepost]

In the meantime - I'll strap on a Polar chest band - that MUCH more accurately measures what the os/Apple Watch will never do.

http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/08/apple-watch-heart-rate-monitor-accuracy/

just sayin...

I also hate to break it to you but we have left the Information Age and have entered the Infrastructure Age. This means everything eventually will connect to the cloud. Your hospital already does using a private cloud and Citrix. So you have fun with your rage against the machine, the machine will keep on moving and leave you behind.

You are left with two choices
1. Become Amish, quit all Social Media, including MacRumors, do no online shopping because they collect your personal data, quit the Internet because ad companies track where you go and what you do in order to provide you ads you might be interested in, don't ever use a cell phone and toss all of your computers. Don't work at a company where they use computers, so essentially a 25 cent lemonade stand, although they count profits on their phones.
2. Accept it that everything is moving to the cloud and do things to protect your data. I won't say Apple is safest company out there, but I'm happier to take my chances with them as they prevent a lot of my data from leaking where as Microsoft just goes around collecting it all. You could always try Linux but have fun with that if you have these kinds of concerns about crappy software and going to the cloud.

I hate to say it but everything that we've been enjoying since the early days of personal computers is changing, instead of worrying about drive space and ensuring we have a solid backup in case of a crash, all of that is being handled by the Cloud. You want to know what the Cloud is, it's the Internet. It is a networked datacenter backed up with another networked datacenter provided to you with private storage for all your cat pictures securely delivered to you through a network of devices. Essentially the Internet.

As far as a buggy OS goes, the problems I've had with my late 2012 27" iMac pales in comparison to the number of problems I've had in GUI programs on Linux as well as driver problems I've had on my Windows PC. My Windows PC recently burned an 8 GB stick of RAM, never had that problem on Mac or Linux.

Like I said, have fun trying to find another company to do your bidding, let me know if you find one where the hardware and software is handled more gracefully than a Mac running macOS.

#onemorething - don't drive any car newer than 2006, they all connect to the Cloud.

 

[theluggage]

Basically if I purchase a 2015 MBP today, its going to be exact same machine as my 2012 MBP, but with some added niceties like the trackpad and a new chipset.

...and if you replaced the fridge you bought in 1995 (or whenever auto-defrost came out), you might get little more than a slight reduction in power consumption - but some companies still find it worthwhile to make fridges. The question is, whether Apple are prepared to adapt to a world in which PCs are mature and you can't make people upgrade every 2 years - or if they'll release Xcode for Linux, take their ball and go in search of the next crazy exponential growth area.

I think the rMBP and MacBook Air have it in them to become "classic" designs (keep the 15" as is, and take advantage of newer chipsets to put 13" rMBP guts into Air-style case) - but that still means keeping the chipset somewhat up to date.

Look at "smartphones" before and after 2007. Different enough, methinks, to claim they didn't really exist prior to 2007.

The iPhone innovation was (a) to go capacitive touchscreen-only and (b) design the UX from the ground up and not to try and make iOS "Our desktop OS, but for Phones" (Microsoft) or "DumbPhone OS with more features" (everybody else). The other smart move was to see the impending end of the iPod boom and get the iPhone out in time.

I had a pre-iPhone Windows Mobile smartphone and it sucked: it had a slide-out keyboard, a (resistive) touch screen, a toothpick stylus (because the icons were too small), a joypad, a jog wheel and so many other buttons that you couldn't pick it up without pressing something... and software that was optimised for precisely none of those input methods. Only Apple really had the guts to say "no: you get a touchscreen, a home button, a power button, a volume rocker and that's it". Not sure how the volume rocker got past Jobs, either...

 

[mildocjr]

Also need to look at innovation timelines too, looking at the course of mainstream tech companies from the 80s to today.
Mainframe 1950s
DOS - 1981
Mac OS - 1984
Windows 1.0 - 1985
System 7 and today's Linux - 1991
Windows 3.1 (Windows NT) 1993
Laptops started becoming more common in this decade
Windows 95 - 1995
Palm Pilot - 1997
Mac OS X 10.0.0 - 2001
iPod - 2001
Windows XP - 2001
Tablet PCs - 2001
The Cloud was developed in early 2000s
iPhone - 2007
Windows 8 (yes it was innovative in UI but terrible implementation) - 2012

Sorry there hasn't been enough innovation to please you. Just think about how things were between 1958 and 1981 (~20 years)

I wouldn't expect anything super innovative for a while, the technology requirements for futuristic devices just hasn't been met yet.

 

[ardchoille50]

It is much more efficient to work toward meeting your needs than to complain about failure. Complaining without offering solutions is inevitably a waste of time, while focusing on exploring your options will almost always result in finding something that will meet your needs.

 

[Osty]

Constantly seeking innovation just leads to disappointment, status anxiety and less money in your wallet. It's as though people are addicted to it and need the dopamine hit of something new.

With that said, for better of worse, Apple has hitched their desktop platform to Intel's bandwagon. That was fine when PowerPC chips were too hot and were languishing but now that we've reached the point where Intel themselves have started to hit the limits of what they can do with silicon lithography. Couple that with a general shift away from what has traditionally been Intel's bread and butter and they are looking more and more like an unreliable partner that can't meet Apple's needs.

Personally, I'd like to see Apple introduce Arm-powered consumer laptops. I don't give a toss about Windows compatibility and all the legacy cruft in X86 processors. I do care about battery life, reduced heat output, having a machine that's light and portable.