They are working on touchscreen Macs, or something that blurs the lines between iPad and Mac. They don’t really care about being the first on everything.
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Leaked Apple Memo Warns Employees About Leaking Info to Media
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They are working on touchscreen Macs, or something that blurs the lines between iPad and Mac. They don’t really care about being the first on everything.
Perhaps it would help Apple if they took the time to understand why people are leaking in the first place.
It is unlikely for financial reward, or Gurman and co. would have been done for bribery a long time ago. It is unlikely to be incidental or on a whim - the leakers are acting in a pre-meditated and brazen fashion, going so far as to leak an anti-leaking memo. It's not for the fame because we never find out who the leakers are. And so these "cautionary memos" are going to be ineffectual against this driven demographic - as reflected by the fact that the memo itself was leaked.
Strangely, Apple's obsession with stopping leaks doesn't really have a rational underpinning aside from "it's what we've always done". It is hard to demonstrate how the leaks we've had over the last few years have been damaging to Apple's business. The information that has leaked has been interesting, but not valuable.
Apple might pretend that it is valuable - and Tim Cook now blames mid-cycle slumps in iPhone sales on leaks and rumours - but in reality such slumps are simply due to the fact that release cycles are becoming predictable and consumers know that every September will see a new iPhone. Whether it is called iPhone X, has an OLED screen, has Face ID or Touch ID on the back, or has software that is going to be optimised for stability over features isn't going to impact that consumer's decision of putting off buying a new phone - it is simply the knowledge that 'a new iPhone is coming' that will.
Apple's obsession is worse than just pointless though - it is also damaging to their ability to keep employees happy, it makes life difficult for institutional buyers, and actually it just sets people up for disappointment.
People working on cool things want to tell their friends and relatives what cool things they're working on. Secrecy is not a state most people enjoy and Apple's ability to function as one unit is compromised as a result.
Large-scale buyers want transparency on release cycles so they can plan their budgets and not be taken by surprise when Apple takes a sharp turn in what they offer - whether that be new software, or MacBooks that are IT admin-unfriendly, or an unexpected lack of updates to an important product for years.
And when we have leaks we know what to expect. Honestly, if Apple's last three years of keynotes had happened completely without leaks I would have been really disappointed every time because they consistently defied what would have been my expectation.
It's time to grow up, Apple. You aren't the all-seeing, all-powerful game changer that you once were. You are the world's biggest technology company and with that comes a degree of attention, iteration, and boringness. We aren't impressed with the secrecy anymore, especially when you're consistently incapable of delivering it and don't have the capacity of self-reflection to understand why.
Do what you did for the iMac Pro and Mac Pro - be upfront, be candid, and tell us what to expect - tell us what you're thinking, long term. We'll all be the better for it. And the leakers know this, want this, and so they will keep on leaking.
It is unlikely for financial reward, or Gurman and co. would have been done for bribery a long time ago. It is unlikely to be incidental or on a whim - the leakers are acting in a pre-meditated and brazen fashion, going so far as to leak an anti-leaking memo. It's not for the fame because we never find out who the leakers are. And so these "cautionary memos" are going to be ineffectual against this driven demographic - as reflected by the fact that the memo itself was leaked.
Strangely, Apple's obsession with stopping leaks doesn't really have a rational underpinning aside from "it's what we've always done". It is hard to demonstrate how the leaks we've had over the last few years have been damaging to Apple's business. The information that has leaked has been interesting, but not valuable.
Apple might pretend that it is valuable - and Tim Cook now blames mid-cycle slumps in iPhone sales on leaks and rumours - but in reality such slumps are simply due to the fact that release cycles are becoming predictable and consumers know that every September will see a new iPhone. Whether it is called iPhone X, has an OLED screen, has Face ID or Touch ID on the back, or has software that is going to be optimised for stability over features isn't going to impact that consumer's decision of putting off buying a new phone - it is simply the knowledge that 'a new iPhone is coming' that will.
Apple's obsession is worse than just pointless though - it is also damaging to their ability to keep employees happy, it makes life difficult for institutional buyers, and actually it just sets people up for disappointment.
People working on cool things want to tell their friends and relatives what cool things they're working on. Secrecy is not a state most people enjoy and Apple's ability to function as one unit is compromised as a result.
Large-scale buyers want transparency on release cycles so they can plan their budgets and not be taken by surprise when Apple takes a sharp turn in what they offer - whether that be new software, or MacBooks that are IT admin-unfriendly, or an unexpected lack of updates to an important product for years.
And when we have leaks we know what to expect. Honestly, if Apple's last three years of keynotes had happened completely without leaks I would have been really disappointed every time because they consistently defied what would have been my expectation.
It's time to grow up, Apple. You aren't the all-seeing, all-powerful game changer that you once were. You are the world's biggest technology company and with that comes a degree of attention, iteration, and boringness. We aren't impressed with the secrecy anymore, especially when you're consistently incapable of delivering it and don't have the capacity of self-reflection to understand why.
Do what you did for the iMac Pro and Mac Pro - be upfront, be candid, and tell us what to expect - tell us what you're thinking, long term. We'll all be the better for it. And the leakers know this, want this, and so they will keep on leaking.
All the leaks have generated so much interest in the company that they probably gained way more money than they lost
Perhaps if this was February. That leak came out in January... and it's nearly May.
Lol, getting all technical. It was January 30, today is April 13. It’s closer to 2 months than 3.
Not aggressive scare tactics, just old-fashioned consequences for illegal behavior.
Serves them right, and I AM IN FULL SUPORT of this action because if I was a company I would be soo livid for leaks and sharing informatoin. I as a CEO have explicitdly said NO SHARING NOR LEAKS of any kind, not an iota of it I would want to punish those employees that do harm to the company. Or I would put the penalties to the fullest extent. Imprisonment would be awesome. If I was an employee, I LOVED to adhere to that rule. I won't give a flying you know what about what anyone will think of me because rules are rules and I follow them especially working for a prestigious company, why risk it. I'll live a little in different ways, but I'd never will spill the beans. Go ahead put a gun to my head might as well die so if the company finds out that I kept my mouth shut because I'm all in, well they will know that I was veyr loyal.
Apple isn't doing much that is innovative these days, anyway. So why would they worry about leaks?
It’s a bit embarrassing for a report to come out that says they’re delaying features to fix performance issues
"Everyone comes to Apple to do the best work of their lives...."
Do they really? That might apply to the top 0.1% but I can't see the whole 100,000+ employees being that motivated.
Do they really? That might apply to the top 0.1% but I can't see the whole 100,000+ employees being that motivated.
Wow!!!
“12 of those people were arrested” … are you serious, arrested, so you can be arrested by law enforcement for divulging Apple secrets. This is scary, but I remember a few years ago when an Apple employee misplaced a beta-test iPhone (I think he left it in a bar) and Apple convinced local law enforcement to “raid” a home in Silicone Valley to recover the phone. If I misplace my iPhone, can I get police to raid someone’s home to retrieve it.
"These people not only lose their jobs, they can face extreme difficulty finding employment elsewhere” … seriously, so Apple seeks retribution against a former employees by making it difficult for them to seek subsequent employment. In today’s climate, you can’t even give references any more, all you can say is if a person worked for you or not, but I guess Apple has a full-time “revenge” department.
"The employee who leaked the meeting to a reporter later told Apple investigators” … “Apple investigators” sounds like the Nazi Gestapo, so does Apple force you into an interrogation room and “sweat you” until you talk.
Listen, of course Apple employees leaking information is wrong, Apple is the aggrieved party here, but Apple is also an arrogant, self-absorbed company that receives specialized treatment from law enforcement not afforded to the rest of us. That too is unfair.
“12 of those people were arrested” … are you serious, arrested, so you can be arrested by law enforcement for divulging Apple secrets. This is scary, but I remember a few years ago when an Apple employee misplaced a beta-test iPhone (I think he left it in a bar) and Apple convinced local law enforcement to “raid” a home in Silicone Valley to recover the phone. If I misplace my iPhone, can I get police to raid someone’s home to retrieve it.
"These people not only lose their jobs, they can face extreme difficulty finding employment elsewhere” … seriously, so Apple seeks retribution against a former employees by making it difficult for them to seek subsequent employment. In today’s climate, you can’t even give references any more, all you can say is if a person worked for you or not, but I guess Apple has a full-time “revenge” department.
"The employee who leaked the meeting to a reporter later told Apple investigators” … “Apple investigators” sounds like the Nazi Gestapo, so does Apple force you into an interrogation room and “sweat you” until you talk.
Listen, of course Apple employees leaking information is wrong, Apple is the aggrieved party here, but Apple is also an arrogant, self-absorbed company that receives specialized treatment from law enforcement not afforded to the rest of us. That too is unfair.
you obviously don't have an iphone x. Animoji is not even close to the prime feature. Face ID, larger screen in small form factor, gorgeous glass body, wireless charging, incredible speeds, OLED super bright screen and dark blacks....animoji is barely on my top 10 list
Emulating last century, TC and crew have gone Nixonian, with a dedicated Plumbers Unit, a secretive, Special Investigations Unit trying to plug leaks.
With this memo, Apple has uncovered its Metropolis inner self.
What a warm and cuddly company! /s
With this memo, Apple has uncovered its Metropolis inner self.
What a warm and cuddly company! /s
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This is so entertaining they should make a movie with this story. Maybe in the next James Bond movie.
So pretty much every leak finds it’s way to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg (and they did when he was at 9to5Mac too). And that’s exactly where this memo landed.
https://daringfireball.net/2018/04/the_impact_of_leaks
https://daringfireball.net/2018/04/the_impact_of_leaks
Yes, these large companies are starting to behave like nation-states, replete with their own intelligence services, spies, 24/7 surveillance, etc., etc. It seems Apple's engineering and design employees might be outnumbered these days by people engaged in financial and security tasks.
Why are they so worried?
Who's going to copy a 16-year old Mac Pro or a Macbook Pro with a touchbar...?
NO one...Becuase no one copy badly designed products...
Are they so concerned that they will copy Animojis? Who cares about Animojis?
Actually, Apple might start copying Microsoft... Look at their Surface Studio. The design is way much better than the iMac (maybe not the components).
Who's going to copy a 16-year old Mac Pro or a Macbook Pro with a touchbar...?
NO one...Becuase no one copy badly designed products...
Are they so concerned that they will copy Animojis? Who cares about Animojis?
Actually, Apple might start copying Microsoft... Look at their Surface Studio. The design is way much better than the iMac (maybe not the components).