Other There is no lack of innovation

[Markgnyc2]

I've been reading a lot in these forums the past few weeks since the latest iPhones were announced, many complaining about Apple's lack of innovation in this years releases. I think its time we all take a ride in a tech time machine.

Let's go back just ten short years. Some were on their latest model iPhone 3GS, if you had AT&T. Others like me were using either other smartphones (I was using a Blackberry Pearl, followed by a Blackberry Tour), or even different variants of basic dumb phones. The iPad didn't exist. Having a powerful computer was a must, since you needed it to do any work, sync your phone, sync your iPod, etc. You still carried around a digital camera, since the pics taken with our phones were not great to say the least. I could possibly go on all night but you all get my point.

Today, iPhones are available with any carrier. They feature more powerful processors than most computers. I'd go so far as to say they have essentially replaced computers for 90% of home use. We can command Siri to complete most functions. We put our wireless AirPods (or Beats) in our ear and they connect. The iPhone cameras take phenomenal photos. Our iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs all connect and sync seamlessly and wirelessly. The technology that is in our pockets and on our wrists is unprecedented. And its getting better all the time, day after day with new apps and new uses, and year after year with new hardware and processors.

I am 46 years old and I am amazed every single day by the advancements and innovation in technology as a whole and by Apple in particular. I can only imagine the amount of innovation being perfected in Cupertino before we even get a peek at it. What they are working on today won't get released for possibly 5 years. This world is amazing folks. Innovation is happening every day. Don't blink or you may miss it.

 

[internetrando]

All valid. This website tends to be an echo chamber of stupidity.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Yeah it’s amazing how quickly people forget how far technology has come in a very short time. It seems to also be quite fashionable these days to decry lack of innovation, no matter what Apple releases.

 

[revmacian]

Well said @Markgnyc2
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, we didn’t have mobile phones. Who’d have thought that we could check the weather simply by saying “Hey Siri, what’s the weather today?” Or start an email on your phone and pick up where you left off when you move over to your desktop computer. I’m grateful for the tech we now have.

 

[Jmik4]

As someone born in 90 and still young with much more to experience even I find it incredible how far technology has come and I’m also very intrigued as to what the future has to offer. Just imagine what tech has done over the past 5-10 years and what the next 5-10 will bring. Sometimes I can’t fathom what else they can actually do. Flying cars? Boeing and Porsche? Self driving? AR? I’m not saying it’s all apple but I feel spoiled and life now is taken for granted with all of the perks we have. My parents rode horses in the desert in Africa to communicate when they were 12 (that’s a true statement). My parents. Imagine what the next generation will get to experience. Unbelievable If you really sit back and think about it. At least from my perspective.

 

[eyoungren]

They feature more powerful processors than most computers. I'd go so far as to say they have essentially replaced computers for 90% of home use. We can command Siri to complete most functions. We put our wireless AirPods (or Beats) in our ear and they connect. The iPhone cameras take phenomenal photos. Our iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs all connect and sync seamlessly and wirelessly. The technology that is in our pockets and on our wrists is unprecedented. And its getting better all the time, day after day with new apps and new uses, and year after year with new hardware and processors.

Just want to speak to this part. I will start out by saying that I recognize the fact that I probably represent a minority, so my comments are in light of that.

First off, replacing computers. Possibly true. But not in my house and not in my job. This sounds to me like the type of thing that someone who only hooks up a computer to one monitor and uses various Apple apps that cross over into iOS would think.

Currently, no iPhone that I am aware of can connect six monitors, such as I have with my 2006 era PowerMac G5 Quad at home. None, I am aware of can connect three displays at work.

I'm a Graphic Designer. I work in QuarkXPress, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat Pro all day. So far only Photoshop and Illustrator (or programs like them) are making any kind of inroads on this. So right now, the iPhone replacing my work Mac or my home Macs is a pipe dream.

And quite frankly, when I have 20" and larger displays (a 55" HDTV too) I'm not interested in using the dinky small screens on an iPhone for work. No thanks.

Siri: Don't use it, not interested. If I could switch Siri for Cortana I might start using an assistant, but really not interested.

Don't have AirPods (do have EarPods and Beats). But mostly I listen to audio from speakers connected to my Macs. My iTunes library sits on my headless server (a PowerMac G3, BTW, running iOS 10.4.11 Server) and streams to all my other computers. And oh yeah, because I use iTunes 4.0 on my PowerPC Macs I can stream anywhere over the internet. You need your iPhone to be on a network on WiFi for that.

Photos: Again, minority. 99% of my pictures are of the product that sits on Walmart's shelves so my wife can choose what she wants me to bring home for her. The rest are mostly screencaps. We don't take a lot of photos so any phenomenalness is lost on me.

I won't argue the last bit about tech on wrists and such. That's all true. I'll just say, I don't use an Apple watch. Since I have multiple computers around me at work or home 24/7 and I can usually be found sitting in front of one I generally just look at the menubar for the time. My phone's right next to me too usually so notifications are right there.

I agree about your take on innovation. I just had a few points I don't see eye to eye with you on.
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Flying cars?

This is something I have a real issue with. We have enough problems right now on our roads and freeways with distracted driving and driving under the influence. Phoenix, Arizona has a very big problem with people driving on the wrong side of the freeway and running red lights. And all of these problems are in two-dimensions

You get distracted drivers and drunks in the air where there are three dimensions, what's going to happen?

There's no place to just pull over and park in the air.

 

[revmacian]

Flying cars? We are going to need a lot of infrastructure in place (designated roadways, flying markers, traffic control and signage, driver safety, mass pilot certification, etc) before we ever see flying cars become a widespread thing. I don’t see that happening this century. Oh, and I don’t think the airlines are going to sit still for any of that 😉

 

[Shirasaki]

While there is no lack of innovation if we time travel a few years back and review the technology development process as a whole, what I believe is people keeping complaining about is the wow factor in maybe next year of smartphone release.

Take smartphone as an example. Outside of a better Siri, better camera, greater performance SoC, the way people are doing daily stuff are more or less the same. It’s not like the first generation iPhone forever changing the way people use smartphone with mainly touch control and sometimes voice control. There are hardly any innovations like that nowadays.

 

[akash.nu]

While there is no lack of innovation if we time travel a few years back and review the technology development process as a whole, what I believe is people keeping complaining about is the wow factor in maybe next year of smartphone release.

Take smartphone as an example. Outside of a better Siri, better camera, greater performance SoC, the way people are doing daily stuff are more or less the same. It’s not like the first generation iPhone forever changing the way people use smartphone with mainly touch control and sometimes voice control. There are hardly any innovations like that nowadays.

This is simply because every product / technology space comes to a saturation point and smartphones have reached that point faster than anything else thanks to the rapid advancements of technology in the last few years. Only a few years ago, having a TV or a radio used to be a status symbol and you had to pay extra tax for the license. We still do in the UK. Facepalm .

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I don’t think that the question is whether Apple is lacking in innovation - your post quite clearly makes it clear that it is.

rather maybe we could ask ourselves if it’s actually innovation that we want - I mean, I can’t find anything on my Pro Max to bitch about - I complained about the battery for 10 years and they fixed that last year with the XR. What else do you want your phone to do, what standalone device needs to be replaced by it?

I think we’re in for a few more years of bigger batteries and faster processors before another major breakthrough.

Personally I think the future is in health-monitoring wearables. I was hugely disappointed when Apple spent 300 hours speaking about how the Apple Watch monitors your health only to introduce a grand total of 0 new health-related features. And that’s where we could use some innovation.

 

[Drak3]

There is a huge lack of innovation in the smartphone market in general the past few years. A somewhat faster processor, RAM increase, or improved camera is not innovation. That's what we've been getting for years from every player in the market. Incremental updates.

There's no need for innovation either. Consumers aren't facing some kind of problem outside of their devices feeling slower over time.

 

[Markgnyc2]

Just want to speak to this part. I will start out by saying that I recognize the fact that I probably represent a minority, so my comments are in light of that.

First off, replacing computers. Possibly true. But not in my house and not in my job. This sounds to me like the type of thing that someone who only hooks up a computer to one monitor and uses various Apple apps that cross over into iOS would think.

Currently, no iPhone that I am aware of can connect six monitors, such as I have with my 2006 era PowerMac G5 Quad at home. None, I am aware of can connect three displays at work.

I'm a Graphic Designer. I work in QuarkXPress, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat Pro all day. So far only Photoshop and Illustrator (or programs like them) are making any kind of inroads on this. So right now, the iPhone replacing my work Mac or my home Macs is a pipe dream.

And quite frankly, when I have 20" and larger displays (a 55" HDTV too) I'm not interested in using the dinky small screens on an iPhone for work. No thanks.

Siri: Don't use it, not interested. If I could switch Siri for Cortana I might start using an assistant, but really not interested.

Don't have AirPods (do have EarPods and Beats). But mostly I listen to audio from speakers connected to my Macs. My iTunes library sits on my headless server (a PowerMac G3, BTW, running iOS 10.4.11 Server) and streams to all my other computers. And oh yeah, because I use iTunes 4.0 on my PowerPC Macs I can stream anywhere over the internet. You need your iPhone to be on a network on WiFi for that.

Photos: Again, minority. 99% of my pictures are of the product that sits on Walmart's shelves so my wife can choose what she wants me to bring home for her. The rest are mostly screencaps. We don't take a lot of photos so any phenomenalness is lost on me.

I won't argue the last bit about tech on wrists and such. That's all true. I'll just say, I don't use an Apple watch. Since I have multiple computers around me at work or home 24/7 and I can usually be found sitting in front of one I generally just look at the menubar for the time. My phone's right next to me too usually so notifications are right there.

I agree about your take on innovation. I just had a few points I don't see eye to eye with you on.
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This is something I have a real issue with. We have enough problems right now on our roads and freeways with distracted driving and driving under the influence. Phoenix, Arizona has a very big problem with people driving on the wrong side of the freeway and running red lights. And all of these problems are in two-dimensions

You get distracted drivers and drunks in the air where there are three dimensions, what's going to happen?

There's no place to just pull over and park in the air.

Thats why I said it will replace computers for 90% of home use. Business use is a different case entirely and of course full fledged powerful computers are necessary. Im just saying for people reading Macrumors, checking email, maybe typing a document etc, then iPhones or iPads can do the job brilliantly. I have to use a windows laptop for work, no choice there, the software that I need to use is simply not available on the Mac. However, my entire home life is in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[oVerboost]

As others have said, innovation slows when the devices on sale already do so much! You’ve got a fast web browser, mobile phone, calculator, portable media watching device, the most portable camera with excellent quality results, the ability to view and talk to family the other side of the world at any time day or night, a portable music device which with almost any of the major subscription services gives you access to almost any song or album ever recorded as well as numerous apps to help your day to day routine.

It’s all slowed down because it’s got to where it needed to be.

 

[decafjava]

This is something I have a real issue with. We have enough problems right now on our roads and freeways with distracted driving and driving under the influence. Phoenix, Arizona has a very big problem with people driving on the wrong side of the freeway and running red lights. And all of these problems are in two-dimensions

You get distracted drivers and drunks in the air where there are three dimensions, what's going to happen?

There's no place to just pull over and park in the air.

Flying cars? We are going to need a lot of infrastructure in place (designated roadways, flying markers, traffic control and signage, driver safety, mass pilot certification, etc) before we ever see flying cars become a widespread thing. I don’t see that happening this century. Oh, and I don’t think the airlines are going to sit still for any of that 😉

I agree with the OP but also find eyoungren's post spot on too. I can't replace everything my iMac (or my HP work laptop running Win 8.1 which I am posting from now 🥴 ) does with my iPhone but am amazed with how far the tech has gone now especially from when I was 20-21 like my students.

 

[eyoungren]

However, my entire home life is in the Apple ecosystem.

I was never able to break into the Apple ecosystem, especially with my first brand new iPhone purchase (the iPhone 5). Apple chose that year to terminate support for PowerPC Macs (which I use and continue to use) with devices that use lightning ports.

 

[naturalstar]

Apple continues to innovate.

They just introduced a credit card tied to your iPhone as a measure of privacy and security plus daily cash back - what other credit card does this? This may not be exactly what people may want right now because other cards currently offer better rewards, but do you think Apple is stopping at just the introduction of their digital card? The additional incentive/rewards are coming.

Deep Fusion and the ability to capture video on multiple lenses simultaneously are big smartphone camera innovations.

FaceID was an innovation. How quickly it has been dismissed. The polarizing notch can be thanked for that.

Does anyone use any of the AR apps?

Just because an innovation isn’t what you personally are looking for or implemented in the way you think it should be implemented, it doesn’t make it any less of an innovation. I guess my question for those who cry lack of innovation is what are you looking for from Apple? What innovation is missing from our smartphones that you desperately need? 5G? That’s just another improvement when you review telecommunications standards. I’d argue that Siri is overdue for a major upgrade. I’ve been waiting for Siri to become the awesome AI I want her to be. I’m also holding out for an interactive holographic interface that extends the use of my device because I find a folding smartphone phone to be silly.

 

[Markgnyc2]

Apple continues to innovate.

They just introduced a credit card tied to your iPhone as a measure of privacy and security plus daily cash back - what other credit card does this? This may not be exactly what people may want right now because other cards currently offer better rewards, but do you think Apple is stopping at just the introduction of their digital card? The additional incentive/rewards are coming.

Deep Fusion and the ability to capture video on multiple lenses simultaneously are big smartphone camera innovations.

FaceID was an innovation. How quickly it has been dismissed. The polarizing notch can be thanked for that.

Does anyone use any of the AR apps?

Just because an innovation isn’t what you personally are looking for or implemented in the way you think it should be implemented, it doesn’t make it any less of an innovation. I guess my question for those who cry lack of innovation is what are you looking for from Apple? What innovation is missing from our smartphones that you desperately need? 5G? That’s just another improvement when you review telecommunications standards. I’d argue that Siri is overdue for a major upgrade. I’ve been waiting for Siri to become the awesome AI I want her to be. I’m also holding out for an interactive holographic interface that extends the use of my device because I find a folding smartphone phone to be silly.

Thanks, I forgot to mention the Apple Card. More about differentiation than innovation but I find myself using it more and more for daily purchases because I like seeing the daily cash add up. I make payments every few days so the balance doesn't grow.

 

[Azathoth123]

People also tend to be myopic and only look at the iPhone. Apple wearables are the size of a Fortune 200 company. The iPad was as large as McDonald’s in under 3 years IIRC. The Apple Watch is the best selling watch period and sales were up about 50% YOY. It had an ECG with the S4, abnormal heart rhythm detection since early on, fall detection, etc. None of these existed a few years ago. This looks like a LOT of innovation to me.

 

[AustinIllini]

There are two new product categories in which Apple has no major competitors (Apple Watch and iPad). That's staggering. They're so far ahead at this point in those areas, no one can clearly claim they "don't innovate"

 

[44267547]

Thanks, I forgot to mention the Apple Card. More about differentiation than innovation but I find myself using it more and more for daily purchases because I like seeing the daily cash add up. I make payments every few days so the balance doesn't grow.

Yeah, to be honest, the Apple Card really is a nice feature that they introduced. I know others are ridiculing it, but Apple isn’t forcing anyone to apply for this specific card. Apple Pay has absolutely changed my complete payment history of anything I use for transactions. I don’t even use my debit card anymore, I literally leave it at home. The Apple Card/Apple Pay has put me on a new level where I probably will never leave Apple simply because of the convenience and security. Now, to me, that’s more important than ‘Innovation’ when they put the consumer first in that respect.

 

[akash.nu]

Yeah, to be honest, the Apple Card really is a nice feature that they introduced. I know others are ridiculing it, but Apple isn’t forcing anyone to apply for this specific card. Apple Pay has absolutely changed my complete payment history of anything I use for transactions. I don’t even use my debit card anymore, I literally leave it at home. The Apple Card/Apple Pay has put me on a new level where I probably will never leave Apple simply because of the convenience and security. Now, to me, that’s more important than ‘Innovation’ when they put the consumer first in that respect.

Ditto! Although I hope Apple releases Apple Card in the uk soon.

 

[eyoungren]

The Apple Card/Apple Pay has put me on a new level where I probably will never leave Apple simply because of the convenience and security. Now, to me, that’s more important than ‘Innovation’ when they put the consumer first in that respect.

This is something that frightens me.

I have never liked being locked into a company. I have been in the spot where the company turned and was no longer putting the customer first. Being locked in because I had voluntarily gone all in made it very difficult to get out because I didn't have the financial resources to do so.

There are certain areas where you can't. Your utilities for instance. You don't generally get to choose which of those you can use. But there are still alternatives.

I just don't trust companies to always put me first.

 

[Azathoth123]

Agree with the ideas that @Relentless Power and @eyoungren expressed, but in smartphones there are really only two viable choices, Apple and Google Android. There’s no question in my mind which is the better choice, it’s a hardware company vs an advertising/data company that’s notoriously opaque.

Probably Microsoft has the resources and chops to create it’s own phone OS and ecosystem, they did before, albeit half heartedly. If they really committed they could be a player, but I don’t believe that they’re interested. Bill Gates said in an interview that one of the biggest mistakes that they made was not competing with Android to be the ‘second phone operating system’. They could even do their own fork of Android independently of Google, I’m not anti-Android, it’s just an OS, but I am anti Google business model.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

There’s clearly been innovation. I think the majority of “complaints” are the minor increase to the iPhone 11 from the XS and the minor increase to the XS from the X. Ya, the technology is ****ing amazing. There just won’t be much reason to upgrade your iPhone for another year if you bought an iPhone in the autumn of 2017.
Computers used to be the same way. Every couple of years the leaps were HUGE. Nowadays, the technological improvements are minimal in comparison.

 

[Jimmy James]

Agree with OP completely.

Apple actually created this perceived dilemma with the iPod. They replaced it with an updated model when the existing one was still hugely popular. That was unheard of at the time. Now, people expect change every year. Even more, some annual unanticipated revolution. It’s not sustainable.

We’ve arrived at near perfection with regular smaller updates. And I love and appreciate the experience I get with a modern smartphone.