I am so tired of hearing Cook claim the pipeline is incredible and/or innovative. He's in essence been saying "stay tuned" for so long now that I'm beginning to think the emperor has no clothes.
Either admit that "innovation" now amounts to generational enhancements to existing products and stop with the hype or actually start delivering new products. I can't think of a single new Apple device the company has launched since Jobs died.
Stay tired. Or realign your understanding.
Cook is refers to products which are new and innovative, Of which IMO we've seen a few since Jobs passed. Off the top of my head...
- Mac Pro
- TouchID implementation on the 5s
- M7 in the 5s (might seem minor, but as a runner it is superb having this little chip, saves so much battery on longer runs)
- Alignment of of iWork across mobile, desktop and web
- Continuinty + Handoff between OS X and iOS
- Retina MacBook Pro
- Final Cut Pro X
The emperor certainly has clothes. They are nice. They are innovative.
But... what you are after is new 'product lines'. And Cook has alluded to these too, but much more infrequently. The only one we've had so far is a the iPad mini, more of a fork of the the larger iPad, but a new product nonetheless.
I think you and many others are after the next big hit such as an iWatch, and throw the the baby out with the bath water suggesting Apple isn't releasing new or innovative products and services. Even the 5s was both new and innovative.
Not everything has to be iPod, iPhone or iPad level of new and innovative.
Actually the only thing I do nowadays with my ipad is reading books and newspapers. But you have to admit that it's a waste to use it for that, I mean, it's a 500+ USD device...
If that's all anyone intends to do with an iPad then:
1. Do not buy the latest model iPad - pick up up a cheap older one (I still use a 3rd Gen and it works fine for browsing the web, reading, music, notes, iTunes U, reminders calendar etc. all light tasks).
2. Buy a cheap Android tablet. Preferably not a 16:9 as I don't think that aspect ratio is as good for reading.
On the other hand, many other people use their iPads for much much more. It's like me saying there's no need to buy a Ferrari all I do is drive to the grocery store in it, I mean it's a $300,000+ vehicle...