I do not see ios 7 being ready in time by June 26. There is no chance that the iPhone 5s releases with ios 6. No chance.
I fully expect ios7 to be late, given all of the major reworking that needs to be done.
let's just say that interapp communication was the right horse to bet on, and you're already seeing the limits of Apple's design decision to sandbox every app from each other. It does limit creativity.
Oh, devs are still plenty creative given the constraints, but they could be even more creative.
The Android system was written from the ground up to have more potential, and up until now, it hasn't been realized, but it's starting to be.
But before you say that Android is king, history says that no one, no matter how powerful, is ever on top forever. Someone will come and knock them off.
I fully expect the iphone 5s to be basically the same thing as the iPhone 5, with an upgraded processor and an upgraded camera, and that is it. Maybe they made a change to use higher quality aluminum, etc . But no major changes will be put forth. Apple needs to add new sensors to do anything truly game changing, otherwise these smartphone are all being manufactured to nearly the same spec. People are competing around the edges now, everyone has figured out how to make a competent smartphone now.
The next interesting thing for Apple watchers will be the iWatch. Even Apple can't defeat the TV execs, and mark my words the TV execs will be left behind. Google, again, has the right idea. They've been investing in internet video forever and laying the foundation. Netflix has proven to be a clever company as well, since they are making their own content. Apple's tactic usually lies in saying we're Apple, give us a great deal. But honestly there is not as much substance there. Whereas if you're creating content, building your own pipes, etc that's actual substance with which to negotiate or bypass the traditional channels altogether. If the TV execs don't change their ways, and they won't, they'll get left behind. But Google has a lead in the race for the living room with Google TV and Google fiber, etc. Their gen 1 and probably up to gen 5 will kind of suck, but they are not afraid of failing. And the stock market does not really punish them for failures, b/c they have the benefit of the doubt from the public that they really do game-changing stuff. Apple has more of a polished and proper image, and if they stumble even a little, people are really sensitive to that, b/c they release so few products and take so long to refine products, that if these products aren't smoothly launched and near flawless, you're going to see them punished. It's part of the game that they've willingly engaged in. When you deliver, it's a feast. But if you hit a lull, boy will you pay for it. Apple is at $452 and google is at $814 today. You see Apple focus and focus and only put out a few products, b/c that is what it takes to be great, and that's the kind of attention the iphone 5s will demand (that'll be the party line). The problem is, the gap between their products and competitor's products is very, very small and you have to be wondering, what are they doing with all their time? Their competitors are able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously, with smaller budgets and smaller number of employees. I think that you're seeing people wondering, is their latest product really that much better to warrant the hype?
To Apple's credit, going after the Chinese and India markets, if successful, could easily be the strategy for the next 10 years. If I want to keep the investors happy and keep showing nice financials and balance sheets, this is the only viable solution unless they invent a time machine. I for one do not believe that they have anything miraculous up their sleeve in development...at all. If I'm betting on a company, it's Google #1 and then Microsoft #2. I see Apple as a tweaker at this point rather than a trailblazer. The pebble smartwatch shows a pretty nice demand, the sensor based fitness bands start taking off, and then Apple says, we can do that...we'll produce a super polished product and we'll tie it in tightly with itunes. We'll start a personal health app store or whatever. And they'll sell alot of stuff. But, point be known that they followed rather than led. They tweaked rather than tried something full of risk. Then again, that's how large companies operate--don't deviate from the tried and true formula, which is why the iPhone 5s is going to be an even more minor upgrade than the SIII was to the SIV.
