In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest Apple news and rumors at MacRumors, this
Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
Thursday, March 15
1.
Fitbit's financial chief knocks the Apple Watch: "I have yet to meet anyone who owns an Apple Watch who's passionate about the product," said Fitbit's chief financial officer Bill Zerella. "If you don't have an Apple phone, you're not buying an Apple Watch... 80% of the world is Android, not Apple."
Commentary: Not only is the Apple Watch the
world's most popular smartwatch, but it's the best-selling wearable, ahead of Fitbit. Apple Watch also has a customer satisfaction rate well above 90 percent.
2.
iHeartMedia has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: The company operates Apple Music rival
iHeartRadio, which provides free streaming of thousands of live radio stations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The move will allow the company to restructure more than $20 billion in debt.
Commentary: iHeartMedia's day-to-day operations of its businesses are not expected to be dramatically affected, according to reports, so iHeartRadio should remain available for at least the foreseeable future.
3.
What the HomePod should become:
MacStories' Ryan Christoffel argues that the HomePod isn't a bad product today, but could evolve into a great one by becoming a true hub for all Apple-centric needs.Commentary: While the HomePod has received
rave reviews about how it sounds, the consensus is that the speaker isn't as smart as the Amazon Echo or Google Home. Being able to complete these tasks would be a huge step forward.
4.
Siri co-founder Dag Kittlaus responds to claim that Siri was a "disaster" when it first launched on iPhone 4s: "This statement, wholly false, was made by the architect and head of the biggest launch disaster in Apple history, Apple Maps. In reality Siri worked great at launch but, like any new platform under unexpectedly massive load, required scaling adjustments and 24 hour workdays."
Commentary: "After launch, Siri was a disaster," said former Apple executive Richard Williamson, who was
reportedly fired in 2012 following the botched launch of Apple Maps. "It was slow, when it worked at all. The software was riddled with serious bugs. Those problems lie entirely with the original Siri team, certainly not me."
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Article Link:
Quick Takes: Fitbit Executive Says He Hasn't Met Anyone Passionate About Owning an Apple Watch