Tesla Design Chief on Apple Products: 'There's Nothing to Look Forward To'

[Iconoclysm]

didn't say software exclusively, their hardware is also way ahead of the competition,

More Details On Tesla's Innovative Carbon-Wrapped Motor - CleanTechnica

Tesla is always coming up with innovative solutions to solve problems large or small, and one such example was revealed at the Model S Plaid delivery event last week. Elon Musk spoke about this achievement briefly during the presentation. “Something we’re really proud of is the new...

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toyota will lose out when they make the transition in EV cause they don't have the infrastructure to build that many batteries to supply the fleet. it took tesla years to build up the supply chain and mining contracts at a break neck speed to get to where they can sell 1m cars annual, and you're telling me legacy auto who just got their toes wet, is gonna do everything tesla did in half the time or even less? whos out of their mind now ?

You really think an Asian company is going to have issues building up a supply chain to other Asian companies as compared to Tesla? Tesla's even looking at Japanese batteries these days. Now, if Telsa had actually invented a new type of battery, say Graphene Salt Water Gel batteries or something, then they'd be ahead. All it takes for a behemoth like Toyota to create a supply chain is the wave of a finger, like so: https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/6/...ry-factory-north-carolina-electric-vehicle-ev

 

[Massy1989]

I really like Apple, but not all products are great or considered Apple worthy. I was kind of dissapointed when I got my first Apple Watch, which was the 5. The menu and fitness was OK. But overall UX it sucks and lot of developers have abandoned it. Pretty sure it will be amazing if the health tech gets further expanded.

Next best thing? All glass sheet iPhone / AR UX. That’s all design wise. Hardware they are rockin it with their A/M chips!

Try getting the S0 at launch. Apple Watch was pretty lackluster performance until the S4, which I still have because I see no major reason to upgrade yet.

The reality is it’s okay for the Watch to stay workout focused. It doesn’t “need” a camera or any other thing someone can think up. It does a damn good job at tracking workouts compared to the competition and is super responsive.

It would be nice if Apple offered more products that aren’t just for “Pro” users or consumers broadly, especially on the IOT front. Something like a Raspberry Pi from Apple would be super cool.

 

[Wildkraut]

Geez. Talk about glass houses.

Aren't we talking about glass houses, too? ?

 

[barkingsheltie]

You might be right. The problem I have, wonder whether this is truly his feelings, or due to internal pressures has to castigate whatever situation or things might offer competition. Corporate speak.

Haven't there been times in industrial history when people could admire their competition?

 

[Tempor_aka]

My Tesla has no 360 camera, my tesla has no rear Reverse cross traffic warning, my tesla phantom brakes more than an apprentice driver, my tesla has more interior squeak than an old rocking chair, when it freezes my mirrors do not unfold, when I drive on the highway, people hardly understand me when I use the car kit, I could go on, my wife’s 6 year old Audi is way better in all of this, compared to my 2020 Model X … And don’t get me started on the 11 release … you need to go into menu’s to get to the seat heating … The only thing they had was the SC network, but now that they opened up some on my distant travels in Europe I finally can enjoy the German quality again, Porsche Taycan here we come.

 

[Texasfight]

I use my OnePlus watch more than my Apple watch. Does a lot of the same stuff. But has a two week battery.
I'd even go with charging my AW once every 4-5 days and be happy. Sigh....

The last Apple Watch before the first always on display was the sweet spot. I'd take it off before I shower and it would be ready to go for 24 hours in time for the Key's\Wallet\Watch\Phone check before I go out the door. Charging times on the newer ones are not quite as fast (I'm one generation behind because the wife got this year's update). I don't mind the daily charging but I wish it went much faster. I think they will get back there soon.

 

[ilikewhey]

You really think an Asian company is going to have issues building up a supply chain to other Asian companies as compared to Tesla? Tesla's even looking at Japanese batteries these days. Now, if Telsa had actually invented a new type of battery, say Graphene Salt Water Gel batteries or something, then they'd be ahead. All it takes for a behemoth like Toyota to create a supply chain is the wave of a finger, like so: https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/6/...ry-factory-north-carolina-electric-vehicle-ev

"production at the facility is scheduled to begin in 2025" ? snap of a finger you say? they can snap how often they want still can't beat logistics and mining a finite resource.

as for battery tech, next step is solid state, but for now the new tesla 4860 is more than enough to keep the competitions behind.

 

[Wildkraut]

My Tesla has no 360 camera, my tesla has no rear Reverse cross traffic warning, my tesla phantom brakes more than an apprentice driver, my tesla has more interior squeak than an old rocking chair, when it freezes my mirrors do not unfold, when I drive on the highway, people hardly understand me when I use the car kit, I could go on, my wife’s 6 year old Audi is way better in all of this, compared to my 2020 Model X … And don’t get me started on the 11 release … you need to go into menu’s to get to the seat heating … The only thing they had was the SC network, but now that they opened up some on my distant travels in Europe I finally can enjoy the German quality again, Porsche Taycan here we come.

Dunno, but i find the Porsche Taycan super ugly, it looks like the design wasn't completely finished.
Specially at the front lights area, round front lights would have been better.
It also looks like it's crying, because of the clown tears.

 

[usagora]

Yeah we got spoiled. But your comment actually ties into something Steve Jobs famously said, "people don't know what they want until you show it to them".

Something we don’t even know we want.

And since no other companies have filled that void in the meantime, it appears it's not an issue of a lack of vision (because surely one of these other tech companies could come up with this mystery product, right?). In the meantime, people seem to be pretty pleased with what Apple is already offering, since they're buying up all their products. But for all we know, Apple may have been working on such a product for some years now.

 

[antnythr]

The last Apple Watch before the first always on display was the sweet spot. I'd take it off before I shower and it would be ready to go for 24 hours in time for the Key's\Wallet\Watch\Phone check before I go out the door. Charging times on the newer ones are not quite as fast (I'm one generation behind because the wife got this year's update). I don't mind the daily charging but I wish it went much faster. I think they will get back there soon.

The Series 4 is the last one that was a big jump. If you've got a 4, there's been little reason to update to the 5/6/7 series. This is pretty obvious when you see that Apple is keeping the 3 as their low end model. If they bumped that up to the 4, it would have cannibalized sales of the 5/6/7.

 

[Iconoclysm]

My Tesla has no 360 camera, my tesla has no rear Reverse cross traffic warning, my tesla phantom brakes more than an apprentice driver, my tesla has more interior squeak than an old rocking chair, when it freezes my mirrors do not unfold, when I drive on the highway, people hardly understand me when I use the car kit, I could go on, my wife’s 6 year old Audi is way better in all of this, compared to my 2020 Model X … And don’t get me started on the 11 release … you need to go into menu’s to get to the seat heating … The only thing they had was the SC network, but now that they opened up some on my distant travels in Europe I finally can enjoy the German quality again, Porsche Taycan here we come.

My 6 year old Volvo has all of that, and the "software" that CarPlay provides is continually updated. And sound quality is phenomenal and lossless. It's amazing how Tesla fans have buried their heads in the sand since 2015.

 

[sirdir]

Great comment, coming from a company that still sells a car that looks 99% the same as it did 2012. And who's new designs are just stupid (yoke, no blinker stalk, burying important functions in submenus). Not to talk about build quality, Model 3 and Y turning into a biotope once you drive through rain because water gets in through the wheel wells etc.

 

[Tempor_aka]

Dunno, but i find the Porsche Taycan super ugly, it looks like the design wasn't completely finished.
Specially at the front lights area, round front lights would have been better.

It’s not like the Tesla’s are so nice looking, Model 3 barf, Model y soso, Molde S really dated, Model X OK, but nobody I know likes my X. I’m still thorn between the Taycan and it’s sister car the E-Tron GT … but I prefer the Cross tourismo for the moment … and they charge really really fast and have a flat charging curve, not like my Model X that only charges 130kW for like the first 15%, another issue … And the driving experience … man I forgot how German cars have that feel on the road, nothing compares

 

[minik]

Hold on, Tesla has a design chief?

 

[isdsms]

My 6 year old Volvo has all of that, and the "software" that CarPlay provides is continually updated. And sound quality is phenomenal and lossless. It's amazing how Tesla fans have buried their heads in the sand since 2015.

My Tesla Y is damn near perfect! Had it for 1 year now with no complaints.

 

[mrWONERFUL]

Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen recently commented on Apple's design principles and product launches, lamenting that Apple doesn't deliver something "to look forward to."

During a podcast interview with Spike Feresten of Spike's Car Radio (via iPhone in Canada and Sawyer Merritt), Holzhausen said that Apple's devices are "just a continuation" and a "slight refinement on the same thing."

He also said that he "hates to say it" but he wears an Apple Watch "just because of the fitness thing side to it. Otherwise I haven't really found much purpose to it, other than the fitness part."

Holzhausen is responsible for designing the Tesla Model S, the Model 3, the Model X, and the Model Y, along with the unreleased Cybertruck. He has been with Tesla since 2008, and before that, he was the chief of design at Mazda and led the design of the Mazda Kabura concept car.

Apple and Tesla have a long history of poaching employees from one another, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also publicly sniped at Apple. Back in 2015, Musk famously called Apple the "Tesla Graveyard," and claimed that "if you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple."

Article Link: Tesla Design Chief on Apple Products: 'There's Nothing to Look Forward To'

I'll take reliable M1 computers..

 

[GSWForever8]

Well, all devices are just refinements of the previous generation.

 

[smythey]

Fair enough. The guy doesn’t get excited about Apple products.

I do, and judging by the $1 Billion Apple rakes in EVERY DAY, so do a few others.

 

[NufSaid]

Agree but not complaining either. The products don't need to change the world...they already have.

Tesla is doing the same. They are only making small tweaks for the most part. The unreleased cybertruck is the only radical change.

 

[QCassidy352]

Interesting how many of the replies here are just attacking the messenger (or the messenger’s designs) instead of engaging with the actual point, which is valid.

The replies about Tesla doing iterative updates are also valid.

And I say this as a big fan of both companies. My personal electronics are apple, my car is a Tesla, and they are my two biggest stock positions. But it’s a valid point to make about both companies’ designs.

 

[starman111]

This is what Apple always does. They release big innovative products every 5-ish years or so, and then continually tweak and perfect them each year. Their customers seem to like this, and so do investors. It's a formula that has worked for decades, and I hope they never change.

 

[nastysailboat]

I mean he's not wrong. While Apple has really hit a home run with their new processors, they haven't really been anything to write home about other than minor iterations of existing products each year. There's always some money-grab asterisk attached to every release that requires users to purchase upgrades for things that should be in their base models. Removal of things like headphones and the charger really hammer home the point that they're stripping out all the value-add niceties. There really isn't much of anything that I've purchased lately that made me think "wow, what a great deal". I just buy what I need and cringe while I eat the cost to do what I need to do.

Time will tell whether the world at large cares at all about virtual reality or augmented reality or if it's just going to be the next 3D TV fad. Nobody really knows what Apple has cooking with their vehicle project. Governments around the world are going after the App Store for anti-trust issues which is likely going to lead to major reform and financial losses for Apple.

I think this is pretty much the peak for Apple.

I’d argue the processors are something to write home about.

 

[Iconoclysm]

"production at the facility is scheduled to begin in 2025" ? snap of a finger you say? they can snap how often they want still can't beat logistics and mining a finite resource.

as for battery tech, next step is solid state, but for now the new tesla 4860 is more than enough to keep the competitions behind.

Mind you that's only the US, and it's way less than 5 years out, and the scale of it will be about 10x that of Tesla's current sales.

The next step is cobalt free lithium ion, which Tesla will be sourcing from Japanese and Chinese companies who already have it - and that are already hand in hand with Toyota and Honda. Tesla has no leg up on technology here, they aren't the ones developing battery technologies to replace Lithium Ion, and they're going to have to bid on these things just like everyone else. If Toyota wanted to merely sell Tesla numbers of EVs, it would be a hell of a lot easier. Still wondering what Tesla has that's so far ahead if it's not the software. Is it the cybertruck? A supply chain is really, seriously not a big deal when you're that small of a company.

 

[allenvanhellen]

Yeah, I want Apple to redesign the iPhone every year. Make it triangular. Totally change the location of commonly used controls. Make me relearn everything with every iOS release. Make me explain it all to the older members of my family. I can only hope the same for my car. I’m so bored with reaching down and knowing exactly where the air conditioner and volume knobs are. Force me to take my eyes off the road and stab at a touch screen.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I’d argue the processors are something to write home about.

Not just the processors but Mac taking immediate advantage of them and Rosetta 2 working incredibly well right out of the gate.