Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple's Biggest Challenge to Innovation in Recent Years Has Been Software

[Zorn]

I'm really not sure if AR on a cell phone is the place to hang the "lost innovation" hat here. I personally can't imagine AR on a cell phone screen to be anything more than a throwaway novelty.

"Oh, neato, those little monsters are fighting on my coffee table/kitchen bar. Ha. I'll screenshot this and send it to someone once, then never bother with it again because it's stupid and I don't want to be pointing my phone at random objects when I play a game."

I think if AR is going to actually be impactful, it has to be via some type of mounted display, such as HoloLens or even Google Glass. Things that Microsoft demonstrated, like having the install support person in a little window in your vision, looking at what you are doing and helping to direct you, or projecting directions onto wiring, I think those are some game changers. Pointing my cell phone at my couch just so I can see Mario jumping on it is worth one half chuckle and then a never-do-again.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Apple hires the worst software developers and UX/UI designers.

While it sure seems that way, I'm betting the reality is totally different. It's more likely that Apple has an amazing group of engineers, developers, designers and thought leaders... all hampered by the control freaks at the top end of the company. And yes... this includes the internal need for compartmentalization, lack of centralized / core functionality (e.g. "why do I have to login with my Apple account on every single app... particularly given that I've already logged into the device AND at least one Apple app?"), and the need for yearly updates that "wow" rather than frequent small updates.

 

[Rogifan]

I wonder how much OPPO paid for this research note.

 

[Cosmosent]

RE "Apple's Biggest Challenge to Innovation in Recent Years Has Been Software"

I disagree 100 % ! ... the main problem is "Decision Making" by Tim Cook & his Upper Mgmt Team ... specifically, they suck @ Product Planning !

 

[now i see it]

Ever since Apple switched to "Free OS Software", it's quality has gone down the tubes. Not only is it free and full of bugs, it's forced down our throats with endless nagging to install the latest bug fest.
If we had to purchase the OS software like we did from Snow Leopard back, I'm sure the quality would be better. Because how it stands now, it's doubtful anyone would purchase new OS versions. And if they did, they would likely demand a refund.

 

[tkukoc]

lol talk about the obvious from these guys, just go to one WWDC or pick a random programming keynote/workshop. Same thing mentioned since IOS 9 when it comes to innovation in software development. Apple got lazy and gave up trying to be at the forefront. Siri is a prime example.. so amazing at the beginning, then other assistants have come up and Siri looks nearly the same as before. Other assistants are simply better. IOS needs an extreme makeover, pronto!

 

[hawkeye_a]

Apple software (apps, macOS, iOS) has been "stale" for 5 years.

With success, i feel Apple has become lazy and bloated. IMHO

 

[zubikov]

Apple has been betting their future on three killer features: Siri, Homekit and AR.

Siri is a disgrace and a total loss of credibility. Homekit is so onerous to adopt that vast majority flee to Google/Amazon. AR is a pie in the sky idea with no proven mass market appeal; there is very little real need for it. All other aspects of their software have sort of been getting by.

Apple has however been kept afloat by one person: Johny Sroudji. His team is the reason why iPads are faster, iPhones are more power efficient every year, and why the market now expects Apple to switch to in-house chips in a few years.

 

[kaneda]

Hardware is lagging too. Pro version is not getting any love. I love to switch, but seeing my wife using Surface Pro from her work. It is horrible to see how bad Windows really is.

 

[Rogifan]

Right? Kuo actually has a pretty solid track record.

A solid track record predicting non obvious things? This sounds like OPPO PR not a research note. And why just a comparison to Apple? Or did he just come up with a narrative he wanted to push and then had to find an example to fit that narrative?

 

[9081094]

For once, I agree with him. I also think that the year-to-year OS release badly damaged sw quality.

For a company the size of Apple it must be able to do both. It’s their core business. Even other companies where hard- and software aren’t their core business are on the same level or able to surpass Apple on many fronts. We saw this in the mid nineties when they had no money and were relatively small. Now they’re big and have billions to spend there isn’t an other excuse as bad management.

If Apple doesn’t want to focus on Macs they should buy from HP, put it in an Apple enclosure, make it a bit more expensive and viola... everybody happy.

Don’t sell ancient hardware as if it was new. It’s bad for the brand and it’s bad for the customers.

This company is losing out on all fronts now, it’s sad to see this happening.

Please Apple don’t make the new MacPro an obseen glitterbox. Rebrand something from HP and price it accordingly. You have done this before with printers. Do it with the MacPro and macmini.

And focus on what software you want and keep investing in it. There are so many samples of once great software from Apple that doesn’t get attention.

All management decisions!

Focus, be eager and nimble again. Profits are good, loyal and happy customers are even better. A bit less profits and more and better products would be a better balance.

 

[mrgraff]

Not too surprising; what's the old adage? Apple is a hardware company and Microsoft is a software company.

 

[Rogifan]

Might want to replace Johnny Ive on the iOS side of things.

Johnny [sic] Ive isn’t responsible for software engineering.

 

[d5aqoëp]

What was the burning need to have 1 year development cycle? Unnecessarily accelerating iOS and macOS development for useless fart features like animoji really hurt the real development. Now this POS iOS 11 is so full of random bugs even at 11.3 version. We should be on a rock stable version by now.
I am not buying into gospels that VR and Siri voice assistant are the future. I believe it has to be something else all-together.

 

[zephonic]

This is hardly news. If marketing prioritizes predicable release cycles and new features over stability, quality will always suffer.

 

[alex2792]

Is it a coincidence that iOS quality took a nose dive after Forstall’s departure?

 

[harriska2]

Yeah, my son’s mbp has some ok software. Wish ms office were as good on mac as on pc, it isn’t. I hate the photo library, can’t we just keep pictures in folders? And I can’t move to mac because it doesn’t support twain scanners. Oh, and the hardware costs 2-4x more and is severely out-dated. Big fat nope. But you’ll have to pry my 12.9 ipad and iphone se from my cold dead ...

 

[mi7chy]

Fully agree. iOS is so stale and limited and also buggy as of late.

Apple need to focus more on making software catch up with hardware.

 

[blackcrayon]

Although for me Apple wins my business right now because of the integration of the platform with mobile/desktop/homekit... I do believe they need to really innovate or they will lose the next generation to Windows and Android.

Apple is using the model of Siemens PLM Teamcenter. Once locked into their ecosystem it is very hard to leave even if there is better tech out there.

I hear that really often, but not really seeing it. I'm as "locked into" their ecosystem as it gets, I have more Macs and iOS devices than anyone I know. But I can't think of anything "locking me in" other than I have family members who use FaceTime. Unless you mean just a fewer number of absolute hardware choices (but in real choice, there are only a few Windows laptops I would own, or a few Android phones worth owning).

 

[ersan191]

Is AR really the yardstick we’re using to measure Apple’s software prowess? AR is barely more than a gimmick right now... When AR glasses start coming out it will be relevant, then everyone can start judging Apple’s AR capabilities. They have hundreds of software projects going at once, I don’t think judging Apple’s entire software development arm based solely on ARKit is reasonable...

Also I barely knew OPPO existed before this. Working together with tencent to develop some AR game most people don’t care about so it will work on their platform is hardly a reflection on Apple...

 

[yoak]

At least FCPX has turned into a really great app. Took a few years though

 

[sbailey4]

For once, I agree with him. I also think that the year-to-year OS release badly damaged sw quality.

I disagree with that statement. Look at Microsoft, they have 2 per year of rolling updates to their OS and for the most part each one gets better not worse. Apple could adopt that model instead of an entirely new rewrite that takes the entire year to squash the bugs they created just before its time for the next years version and starting the process over again.

 

[hawkeye_a]

Is it a coincidence that iOS quality took a nose dive after Forstall’s departure?

You said it. It's a strange coincidence to say the least. I suppose it coincided with the "new" direction the new CEO wanted to take with, not only WHAT the company was doing but the WAY in which it did it. IMHO

 

[dominiongamma]

Apple software (apps, macOS, iOS) has been "stale" for 5 years.

With success, i feel Apple has become lazy and bloated. IMHO

I agree and it’s sad people defending apple still

 

[prasand]

For once, I agree with him. I also think that the year-to-year OS release badly damaged sw quality.

“For once” lol

Those are just from last year

Kuo's track record doesn't necessarily have anything to do with agreeing with him. For example, I know his predictions are usually accurate, but that doesn't mean I agree with his opinions about what Apple should do, his perception of "heavyweight", etc.