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Tim Cook: Innovation 'Deeply Embedded' In Apple, Company Has 'No Issue' Coming Up With New Ideas

I think the expectation to create groundbreaking products every year is a tad overrated. Regardless of how superb Apple's R&D is, some factors still need to fall in to place such as timing and price. I don't believe there is a magic wand for this. If anything, Apple is much stronger today than in the volatile years of Steve's return.
 
richman555 said:
If anything, Apple is much stronger today than in the volatile years of Steve's return.
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Apple had about 90 days of operating capital left when Steve returned. I doubt anyone could have done what he did. Without Steve there may not have been an Apple Inc.
 
Coming up with new ideas is not the main issue. Coming up with another hit product like the iPhone is not going to be easy. They seriously need to rebalance their business model to become less reliant on iPhone sales.

I can't see the iWatch or iTV doing that. A revamped AppleTV intended to take on the PS4 and Xbox would be my bet as the most likely to generate big revenues - both in hardware and software (iTunes store sales).
 
Been thinking about the iWatch.

I'm not a watch wearer. They're big, clunky and would get destroyed in my work and life environment (farming). The ones I've had only lasted a year to few at best. They also get in the way and can catch on things. To get them out of the way you have to take them off (can't reach inside a vagina with a watch on...)

What I would want would be something that is basically a second skin which wraps completely around and is fairly wide, like a cuff.
 
Shaun said:
A revamped AppleTV intended to take on the PS4 and Xbox would be my bet as the most likely to generate big revenues - both in hardware and software (iTunes store sales).
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I couldn't agree more. Apple also needs to help people transition from DVD / Blu-Ray to products in their store. Sorta like iTunes Match but for video. (Amazon looks like they are going that way). I would suggest that Apple also look into buying down on it's luck Nintendo. It would be a gaming boon for Apple if they became to only mobile platform to own Mario and Link.
 
AnalyzeThis said:
Really? So this is why Apple did not came up with anything new since Jobs departure. Really, really sad, just sad. It is not exactly a break-through to make things wider, smaller, longer, lighter or add colors.
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Easy to say outside looking in. But none of us knows Apple's product plan. How many years was it between the original iPod and the iPhone? 6. How many between the iPhone and the iPad? 3. How many years has the iPad been out? 4. How many years has Steve Jobs been deceased and Cook literally the head of Apple? 2.4 years.

Seems to me, given past history, Apple is doing what it always does... bleeds a product dry before it moves on to the next big thing. I agree something all new is due soon, but I think it's a bit off track to be critical because Apple hasn't launched a new concept in the past 2.4 years.

Also, lets not forget under Cook (and I'm not a huge Cook fan but reality is what it is) Apple launched the iPad mini, the updated iMac, & the all new Mac Pro. I suspect Steve Jobs had a hand some way in those ideas too. It takes years, not a year or even two, to go from concept to prototype to actual product, be it consumer electronics, a car, or a new fabric.
 
I'm still waiting for the tabletop touch surface computers, the interactive iTV sets, the venerable iWatch that will let you surf the internet on your wrist...

As well as a 32" antiglare matte Retina display.

Add to that the expandable MiniPro/Mac Pro that we have been wanting....

And a matte Retina MacBook Pro...

As well as the return of the 17" MacBook Pro --(WHAT were you THINKING?!?!)
 
I think the writing is on the wall for the iPod line after the latest numbers. That could mean the transition to a new product line since Apple keeps a tight focus.

My best guesstimate for 2014 and 2015:

- iPod line will be shrunk to an absolute minimum of configurations, most models will be axed

- Wearables with fitness and medical sensors will replace the current iPod line

- Apple TV box will get games/apps and controller support, no Apple TV (set)

- Bigger iPhones will finally be announced (but probably not larger than 5'')

- iBeacon and TouchID will become mainstream for mobile payments and shop/venue interactions

It took Apple several years in the past too to launch new product lines, Apple is not late. They have a lot of time left.

For example, I prefer waiting for an iWatch instead of getting a horrible, rushed product like the Samsung Gear.
 
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gnasher729 said:
In other words, nothing new except the new stuff that Apple produced :rolleyes:
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Stuff the rest of the market has a hard time matching. Some people think that somebody at Apple just snaps their fingers and say here is the new Mac Pro.
In other words, nothing new except the new stuff, and lots more new stuff.
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The A7 alone is a huge step forward for Apple and the industry. If people can't grasp the advancement seen in this device alone they are either out of touch, not honest with themselves or just can't grasp technology.

Apple invented the fingerprint scanner that actually works.
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Also a 64 bit ARM processor that works years before anybody else has one.
 
dec. said:
Or completely revamped, like the Mac Pro. It's not a new "product category" but the entire concept to me is something that shows Apple at it's best.
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The Mac Pro is a "niche" product and is not mainstream. Even your above average consumer does not want to spend $3000 (minimum) on a computer they don't need.
 
wizard said:
Stuff the rest of the market has a hard time matching. Some people think that somebody at Apple just snaps their fingers and say here is the new Mac Pro.
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There are also computers that outperform the new Mac Pro. Perhaps it hasn't been matched in wow factor, but there are dual cpu setups out there that do perform better.
 
AnalyzeThis said:
Really? So this is why Apple did not came up with anything new since Jobs departure. Really, really sad, just sad. It is not exactly a break-through to make things wider, smaller, longer, lighter or add colors.
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And yet read these forums and people are crying over not having a bigger, wider, smaller, longer iphone yet, and will certainly move to competitor and never come back because iphone size is wrong.

Anyway, i think you need to be more patient. It was a long time between the ipod and iphone. Just because people want the newest thing quicker these days, doesnt mean its quicker to develop and perfect those things.
 
sammaffei said:
I would suggest that Apple also look into buying down on it's luck Nintendo. It would be a gaming boon for Apple if they became to only mobile platform to own Mario and Link.
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I don't think most Nintendo games work well without a physical controller, besides Nintendo will not sell itself. Even if they did, I doubt the two corporate cultures would blend. In general, Apple rarely buys large companies. They could buy many companies closer to home like Netflix, OnLive etc. if they wanted to. But Apple doesn't seem to care a lot about the living room.

I see Apple doing an updated Apple TV serving as a casual games console and wireless controller support thanks in iOS7 (MFi). Maybe also home control devices (similar to Nest, before Google bought them, but with more functionality rolled into one device).
 
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Well well Mr.Cook I know you are saying this for the Wall Street analysts to ****. But we all know you really never have to say what's second nature to you, right?
 
Gwonam said:
You know, this was my favorite company for a long time, not just because of their products but because of their stock. They seem to be losing it. Even though their products are still definitely the best (for the most part), I'm afraid that it won't be that way forever.
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All businesses, like kingdoms countries and entire civilizations, rise and fall. At best, businesses will have a cycle of rising and falling - sometimes the favourite child, sometimes the unloved. At worst, they may fall spectatularly and never recover. But all fall.

Do you think that somehow Apple will escape this certainty?
 
Apple Corps said:
SusanK,

I feel the same way. If you have the ideas and products - produce and ship them.

Lacking that, you repeat the same "I feel confident in our pipeline / innovation is embedded in Apple" corporate speak that Cook has been doing for quite some time now.
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And what do you do in the years between having an idea and shipping a product? Maybe that can take 5 years. Ideally you put your head down and do what you do best, but when you have wall street biting at your heels and when you are so big that you have armchair experts around the globe going onabout what you should be doing, what you will do, what they would do if they were you... I guess you need to say something.
 
gnasher729 said:
What did Samsung ever come up with on their own? Other than a watch that nobody wants?
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Samsung's curved display is not their innovation? Samsung is the first one brought phablet on the market. Samsung also had lots of innovation on home electronics. Samsung is also the first one combining the phone and camera. I am confused, how is Samsung not innovative?
 
lk400 said:
All businesses, like kingdoms countries and entire civilizations, rise and fall. At best, businesses will have a cycle of rising and falling - sometimes the favourite child, sometimes the unloved. At worst, they may fall spectatularly and never recover. But all fall.

Do you think that somehow Apple will escape this certainty?
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Um. A lot of people here think so, even though Apple nearly went to it's grave in the 90s. If you tell them this, they will bring up sales.

Here's the thing. Apple is a business, and right now they are in a bubble. That bubble will burst, and gloom/doom happens again. Knowing Apple, they will get back up, rethink and come back screaming.

I mean, even favorites like Toyota had recall issues (11 million cars or so)? Right now McDonalds is seeing LESS revenue per store as a steady decrease.

It's not about how you fall, but that you get backup.
 
wizard said:
Stuff the rest of the market has a hard time matching. Some people think that somebody at Apple just snaps their fingers and say here is the new Mac Pro.

The A7 alone is a huge step forward for Apple and the industry. If people can't grasp the advancement seen in this device alone they are either out of touch, not honest with themselves or just can't grasp technology.



Also a 64 bit ARM processor that works years before anybody else has one.
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Apple did not invent the 64 bit ARM processor, it based on ARMv8, which announced around 2011. Apple just happened to be the first company brought out 64 bit processor.
 
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