Phil Schiller Goes on Offensive Against Android and Samsung

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

...there was a time when apple used to be the "cool" product, everyone at work, friends circle....everyone feels iphones are no longer cool, and galaxy series in the new cool dude in the block

And you speak on behalf of whom? Your friends and family make up roughly 0.0000001% of the iPhone users.

 

[r.harris1]

Been dipping into this little religious war off and on today. It's got all the action you expect from a religious war too! The "Dear John" letters, impaling others on the sharp (or dull) blades of wit, the sniping over meaningless religious dogma and arguments over what are really less fundamentally different products/ecosystems than people think (yes, I use and work with both each and every day as a developer).

Just choose your particular god and associated scriptures, google/Samsung or Apple, and go be happy.

Reminds me of a great set of lines from a short story called "the iHole" where a Silicon Valley company produces a personal black hole. Of course, it gets out of hand:

" In the West Bank, settlers threw Palestinians down the hole (except on Saturdays). And vice versa (except on Fridays)."


Like any religion anyone might choose to follow, a smart device is really a personal choice, and while the differences between one and the other are sometimes interesting points of discussion, they're not worth a war.

 

[7709876]

Since 'when' was a Mac built for gaming!? If you want to take a CPU battle, a Mac Pro trounces any consumer based PC - custom built or not, the Extreme line of Intel chips just cannot compete against Dual Hex-Core Westmere Xeon's in the current Mac Pro - & that is dated! Graphically, the Mac line has always lacked - do you EXPECT a GTX Titan in one? Judging by your consumer-based reply, yes.

Different market aims - try cutting & editing on a PC, YUCK.

Android is a mess, end of.

Why are you comparing a Mac with workstation components against anything consumer based?

 

[pmogga]

New bigger screen needed now .... not next year.

I have bought many Apple products since 2002 .... region of 12 computers, 6 ipods, 5 ipads, 6 iphones for my family. I have been a great supporter of the company.

However let me say this. I think Apple have messed up big time with the iphone over the last year. The reason why so many are jumping ship (and I mean many...just in my office of 15 people 5 have jumped to Android over the last few months for example) is down to a number of reasons :

1. They want to try something new.
2. The screens are bigger.
3. The OS is better.

Item 1 Apple cannot do anything about ... in a sense ... but if 2 and 3 had been addressed then maybe they would not want something new.

The big screen is not a deal breaker for some .... but for a lot of people it is. I never thought it would bother me but I will admit that the big screens on some of the Androids are very nice. If you put the iphone 5 next to the new Sony Android you can see so much more. Apple should have seen this coming and catered for a bigger screen ... as a separate model ... like the ipad mini but in reverse. Obviously in order for them to do this they would have needed to change the iphone sdk etc .... but what alarms me is that they dont even seem to be attempting to address this even now ..... if Apple waits until next year to introduce a bigger iphone .... their sales will have fallen off a cliff by then.

Also, IOS needs some major love ... it looks so dull v the latest Android OS. Th e google apps in particular are very impressive and integrate far better with android than iOS. Apple also needs to massively improve its cloud offerings.

IMO Apple are under estimating the Android threat.

At least we will still have the computers. I dont know about you lot but the computers have always been THE best thing that Apple does ...and still do.

 

[ayedgaf]

It's true there's no way around it.
The second problem that android has is piracy, I only know 1 person that doesn't pirate android apps all the other users that I know either use only free stuff or pirate away.

"cough" appcake, instllous "cough"

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Sounds like you like giving 100% of your money to Korea.

sounds like you like giving 100% of your money to china

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What 'features' does android have that you don't? Here's one that you have that Android doesn't. BACKUP and RESTORE! I call that a BIG one!

i have my S3 back up and restore through an micro sd card.

 

[nia820]

I was agreeing with your post. Read my first sentence again.

"like the one you're responding to"

Sorry my bad.

 

[NumberNine]

What 'features' does android have that you don't? Here's one that you have that Android doesn't. BACKUP and RESTORE! I call that a BIG one!

Sorry buddy...Android has numerous backup options

Try again

 

[mdelvecchio]

Yes and thats why your getting your ass kicked by Android.

if record sales and the lion's share of the entire sector's profit is getting an ass kicking, then please -- sign my company up. would love the same.

fragmentation hasnt hurt my experience one bit.

tell that to all the other android users that cannot update their versions to the latest since their manufacturers dont want to go thru the pain of updating all the random android handsets.

Dont tell consumers its for their benefit you make the hardware and software. Its for your profit only

incorrect. as a user of a "it just works" system of computers and devices, i directly benefit. this offers value to me, thus i invest in their products.

but nice try, hater.

 

[BaldiMac]

Sorry buddy...Android has numerous backup options

Try again

It's not quite that simple unless things have changed recently. Complete backup solutions usually require rooting your device. Built-in backup and restore only applies to Google Play apps and has had issues. And, of course, most Android users don't have it.

Correct me if I'm wrong! I'd appreciate hearing about how things have improved. It's been several months since I've supported an Android device regularly.

 

[mobilebuddha]

1. You take it back to the carrier or to the manufacturer. For my note 2, I'd call Samsung. I actually just had my note 2 crap out on me so I contacted Samsung. They sent me a shipping label so I can ship the phone to them for repairs. If samsung won't honor service I'd call squaretrade. I did the same w/ my older Apple phones as well except I sent the phones back to Apple back then. The experience wan't anything different.

2. I'm shopping for a Note 2 as a gift for one of my relatives, When I bought the phone on a flash sale last year around Oct/Nov it was $589 on ebay. I cannot find a good buy-it-now sale from a reputable seller for less than $630ish. So at least in case of Note 2, the phone has risen in prices, not dropped.

Again, I won't make generalized statements, but this is just my experiences.

I do understand android phones are cheaper (although we all pay for them thx to google ads) and do come in variety of models but I have 2 questions:

1- Where do you take your android phone when you need support?

2- If android phones are "better" in features and build quality than iPhones then why is their resale value much lower than similarly featured iPhones?

Regards,
Sam

 

[Dave.UK]

incorrect. as a user of a "it just works" system of computers and devices, i directly benefit. this offers value to me, thus i invest in their products.

but nice try, hater.

Cant believe some people are still using that!

 

[SirLance99]

It's not quite that simple unless things have changed recently. Complete backup solutions usually require rooting your device. Built-in backup and restore only applies to Google Play apps and has had issues. And, of course, most Android users don't have it.

Correct me if I'm wrong! I'd appreciate hearing about how things have improved. It's been several months since I've supported an Android device regularly.

I deal with people everyday that have issues with iTunes backup as well buddy. Some say they lost everything, some say it doesn't work, some say they don't have a computer. So it goes both ways.

 

[BaldiMac]

I deal with people everyday that have issues with iTunes backup as well buddy. Some say they lost everything, some say it doesn't work, some say they don't have a computer. So it goes both ways.

Okay. I wasn't talking about bugs or problems. I was talking about the features as they are designed.

FWIW, the iPhone supports full back and restore through iCloud. No iTunes required.

 

[KPOM]

Mercedes and BMW don't make affordable cars? What to you think the SmartCar, C series, Mini, and 1 series are? They are deliberate attempts at catching the downmarket business they formerly did not cater to. All of these cars start in the $20-30K price range which is avg in today's market, not lux at all. Also, I'm not sure if you have priced pickup trucks lately, but they can cost same as MB C series or BMW 1 series depending on options and cab size.

The 1-series starts around $29K. So will the M-B CLA. They are comparable to the Audi A3. Mini is a niche car. These certainly aren't in the Honda Civic or Toyota Yaris category. They are still premium cars.

 

[sonicpace]

I think Apple have messed up big time with the iphone over the last year. The reason why so many are jumping ship (and I mean many...just in my office of 15 people 5 have jumped to Android over the last few months for example) is down to a number of reasons :

1. They want to try something new.
2. The screens are bigger.
3. The OS is better.

I agree. Excluding the die-hard Apple users, almost every iPhone user I know of has already switched to Android devices such as the Galaxy S3, HTC One X, etc. Others want to try an Android phone because they want a larger screen - something that Apple doesn't offer.

Apple didn't seem to think people wanted a smaller form factor tablet. Steve Jobs himself, continued to lecture the press a list of reason's he believed the 7" tablet category would fail, famously stating they would be "Dead on arrival." He was wrong. Demand skyrocketed, however, Apple continued to downplay the significance of a smaller sized tablet. Fast forward into the future and we now have the iPad mini - a device that even caught Apple off guard with how popular it would be and it has proven to be even more popular than the standard sized iPad. Go figure.

This all sounds a little too familiar. It reminds me about the time people were screaming for Apple to launch a "netbook." Even though this segment was massively popular, Apple's response was: "it's a fad."

The thing about Apple is that they continue to do things on their own terms. They like to take their time on things. People on the other hand are going to turn to the competition to get the devices they want. It's unfortunate for Apple, as they continue to miss out on this golden period when demand for these devices is at their highest. I for one, would LOVE to have a wider and larger screen iPhone, but currently, such a product does not exist.

Once again, just like the MBA 11" and the smaller sized tablet, Apple will be late to the game. I expect an entire year of the iPhone 5S, before they launch their larger/wider screen iPhone 6 and by than will any of us really care?

 

[KPOM]

But that's my point. And I didn't say SE was not important. But remove phones and tablets from both companies - which one goes immediately into the crapper? That's my point.

But that's a bit like saying GE could survive without GE Capital. Sure, it could, but it would be a vastly different company. It isn't as if there is any synergy between Samsung Electronics and Samsung the washing machine manufacturer.

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This all sounds a little too familiar. It reminds me about the time people were screaming for Apple to launch a "netbook." Even though this segment was massively popular, Apple's response was: "it's a fad."

And they were right. How many netbooks will be manufactured in 2013. Zero.

Once again, just like the MBA 11" and the smaller sized tablet, Apple will be late to the game. I expect an entire year of the iPhone 5S, before they launch their larger/wider screen iPhone 6 and by than will any of us really care?

The MBA was arguably early to the market. At $999 it certainly wasn't a netbook, and it ignited the whole Ultrabook initiative at Intel.

The iPad mini isn't the same as the 7" tablets that Steve Jobs ridiculed in 2010. First of all, it's nearly 8" and it's 4x3 as opposed to 16x9. It's a much more reader-friendly size. People harp on about how much bigger a 4.5" or 5" smartphone screen is than a 4" screen, but then casually dismiss the difference in size between the iPad mini and a 7" Android tablet.

 

[BaldiMac]

I agree. Excluding the die-hard Apple users, almost every iPhone user I know of has already switched to Android devices such as the Galaxy S3, HTC One X, etc. Others want to try an Android phone because they want a larger screen - something that Apple doesn't offer.

This all sounds a little too familiar. It reminds me about the time people were screaming for Apple to launch a "netbook." Even though this segment was massively popular, Apple's response was: "it's a fad."

The thing about Apple is that they continue to do things on their own terms. They like to take their time on things. People on the other hand are going to turn to the competition to get the devices they want. It's unfortunate for Apple, as they continue to miss out on this golden period when demand for these devices is at their highest. I for one, would LOVE to have a wider and larger screen iPhone, but currently, such a product does not exist.

Once again, just like the MBA 11" and the smaller sized tablet, Apple will be late to the game. I expect an entire year of the iPhone 5S, before they launch their larger/wider screen iPhone 6 and by than will any of us really care?

And yet the iPhone sales and market share continue to grow...

The fact remains that more people are switching to the iPhone than away from the iPhone.

Apple didn't seem to think people wanted a smaller form factor tablet. Steve Jobs himself, continued to lecture the press a list of reason's he believed the 7" tablet category would fail, famously stating they would be "Dead on arrival." He was wrong. Demand skyrocketed, however, Apple continued to downplay the significance of a smaller sized tablet. Fast forward into the future and we now have the iPad mini - a device that even caught Apple off guard with how popular it would be and it has proven to be even more popular than the standard sized iPad. Go figure.

A dramatic rewrite of history there?

 

[Woyzeck]

And yet the iPhone sales and market share continue to grow...

Growth of market share (2011-2012):
Samsung 129.1%
Apple 46.9%

Unit shipments (2012):
Samsung 215.8M
Apple 136.8M

Yes, both are growing, yet Samsung at more than twice the rate of Apple. With regards to market share Samsung is totally outperforming Apple recently. And Samsung is just one Android manufacturer (albeit the most important one).

 

[MacDav]

Yep, so in your world if everyone wears the same clothes it must be a good thing. It just doesn´t matter how good it is if there´s no variety, anymore. And Apple is getting more and more boring every day, they just don´t want to change clothes. There is a pretty good reason why people like Schiller want to point out things Apple still has an advantage in, it´s because Apple lost everything else to their competition.

Apple lost Steve and no one else can sell dreams and new products better than him. Keynotes are not fun to listen to, anymore. It´s the same stuff just with better internals all the time. They are no new ideas about anything.

Apple lost it´s soul, which was Steve. They better have something in store fast that is going to change something radical (like a much improved iOS 7), because Apple needs to compete and not stand still.

The argument from Schiller "Seamless experience, hardware and software." is ridiculous, because the changes made since iOS 5.1.1 were rather insignificant, bugfixing or things like Facebook or Twitter integration, big deal Mr. Schiller. You deserve a raise for that!

Your thought for the day..."Newer is not better". Yes, Steve Jobs was irreplaceable for sure, one of kind. He was known for his "reality distortion field". The thing is, he created Apple in his own image. It's structure is unlike any other corporate giant. Steve Jobs didn't invent anything. He had uncommon vision in seeing a concept and knowing whether it was a great idea or not, and he knew how to hone an idea to it's fullest potential. That's what Apple is all about. We will see if he was able to instill the necessary ingredients in his company to have it fire on all cylinders without him. Time will tell. I wouldn't bet against him or Apple. It's apparent you are young and impatient. It was around 6 years after introduction of the iPod before they introduced the iPhone. Over 3 years from iPhone to iPad. Relax, if they haven't released a new and exiting product by 2016 then you can get all excited.

 

[BaldiMac]

Growth of market share (2011-2012):
Samsung 129.1%
Apple 46.9%

Unit shipments (2012):
Samsung 215.8M
Apple 136.8M

Yes, both are growing, yet Samsung at more than twice the rate of Apple. With regards to market share Samsung is totally outperforming Apple recently. And Samsung is just one Android manufacturer (albeit the most important one).

Absolutely. But the point I was making was the personal anecdotes of "almost every iPhone user I know of has already switched to Android" are not reflected in the overall market.

 

[LagunaSol]

Samsung is just one Android manufacturer (albeit the most important one).

More like the only one that is succeeding.

The rest are taking it in the shorts to build Google's kingdom for them. Just like Dell and HP did for Microsoft for years.

When will hardware makers learn?

 

[randomtask]

At this point I genuinely think that Apple only retains build quality and brand prestige in the mobile marketplace. Everything else is superior elsewhere.

I really want them to pull it back together, because I think apple is capable of making the best products in the technology arena. But something isn't working right at Apple at the moment and it's clear to everyone.

The brand prestige was built on the back of a simple fact - having the BEST products. This has been whittled away with overly frequent updates OR updates that aren't adequately tested OR updates that just aren't good enough.

The brand is stagnating. They can turn it around though.

 

[firestarter]

DUDE!

Apple OWNS FingerWorks!

They bought the company years ago.

Apple owns all of FingerWorks patents!

Read my post again newb.

Apple owns them, but they invalidated their own patent by publishing pinch-to-zoom details before patent application.

There's other prior art too.

 

[jhaggerty97]

Yes and thats why your getting your ass kicked by Android.

I have owned the S3, Nexus 4 and the Note 2 and i can tell you fragmentation hasnt hurt my experience one bit.

PC's are fragmented to hell and they dont suffer. In fact OSX cant perform a single benchmark better than PC in any games.

Dont tell consumers its for their benefit you make the hardware and software. Its for your profit only

Yes well considering Microsoft owns DX11 which nearly any game needs, I dont think apple will have access to it anytime soon.

 

[bozzykid]

So I guess Phil was wrong when he said the S4 would launch with year old software. It is shipping with the latest Android version 4.2.2.