Tim Cook: New Product Categories Still Coming in 2014

[macs4nw]

What's your secret?

We've been over this. It's the no life part

Whilst you have opened + supposedly read the article and then posted a reply all in the same minute. Clearly he is alone...

Maybe Michael is retired.

If those rumored large-screen AppleTVs are actually going to materialize, I'm really hoping for Apple to collaborate with Sony, and use their X-Reality PRO processors, as well as their Motionflow™ XR 960 Technology, the finest consumer grade video processing technology out there, imho.

 

[kenwk]

This news seems to have brought AAPL back above water in after hours trading.

I believe it was the explanation on Gross Margin that caused the stock to bounce back. GM is lowered due to increase in deferred revenue.

 

[keigo]

Apple will make iShoe, the shoe that you not only wear it but also able to answer phone call and watch movie...

 

[Bibbler]

If Apple plans on selling an Apple Branded TV set, I suspect the problem is negotiating agreements with the content providers. I can't imagine that an Apple TV will be that much different than any Smart TV on the market (most likely they will dumb down the software to accommodate those who can't figure out how to change channels)...

This is the area where Jobs shined. It's not going to be easy for Apple to get agreements for good packages that provide a great variety of content at a price (recurring) that's going to be much different than cable, sat, etc...

We'll see... I believe it's coming though. The rumor mill has that late 2006 iPhone feel to it....

 

[o0smoothies0o]

I'm with you, but I think the smart watch will be a sleeper hit. Like a fad that comes and goes, but then comes back in a big way. It depends what Apple does with the platform; it has to stand alone, such that it might possibly create its own halo effect.

Apples smart watch will be absolutely amazing because they actually know what would make a device like this incredibly useful, and almost vital to have (unlike the galaxy gear which is honestly an embarrassment). That of course is biometrics, health sensors galore, I can't possibly explain how overwhelmingly amazing and important technology like this would be if it is highly accurate and widely purchased.

Most people don't understand or can't grasp the usefulness of this, or all of the possible uses for it. If they can put highly accurate health sensors in this product that one will wear almost 24/7, which can graph and analyze health data attained by it, it will not only make life much better for millions of people, but it could save lives. Just as a random off the top of my head example, an elderly person could be wearing it and if they went into cardiac arrest it could instantly send an alert to family members devices so they can call 911, or contact health services itself if possible.

If they were to have highly accurate non-invasive glucose monitoring, it could augment or possibly even take the place of invasive glucose monitors for the millions of type 2 diabetics (which is growing all the time). Glucose monitoring wouldn't just be useful for diabetics, it would be useful for any smart human to test their blood glucose and get an understanding of what their bodies can and cannot handle, carbohydrate wise. Beyond that there are so many possible applications I can't go into them all in one post.

 

[edtechguru]

Well they called it iPad Air for a reason right? I'll look out for the regular iPad or iPad Pro....

^^This^^

There is a reason it is the iPad Air; it makes room for another device, and has already distinguished itself as being the ultra light portable. There is room in the market for a 'power-user' oriented iPad. The surface pro was Microsoft's acknowledgement. Unfortunately for them the hardware wasn't quite right (battery life, mostly), and the software hasn't made anyone fall in love. As Mac sales continue to decrease, Apple might be looking at other ways to reach that $1000 - $3000 market that was it's bread and butter for so long.

What excites me is what apple might do with a higher end iPad. Sure, larger screen, more storage. Possibly a beefed up processor and GPU (or multiple processors). But what about the software? I think there is a lot of potential to build apps, such as Final Cut and Logic, in a 'lite' version for the ultra-mobile device.

 

[28monkeys]

iWaiting

 

[wikiverse]

^^This^^

There is room in the market for a 'power-user' oriented iPad.

A new iPad isn't really a 'new product category' though is it?

It will be an Apple TV gaming console.

 

[o0smoothies0o]

^^This^^

There is a reason it is the iPad Air; it makes room for another device, and has already distinguished itself as being the ultra light portable. There is room in the market for a 'power-user' oriented iPad. The surface pro was Microsoft's acknowledgement. Unfortunately for them the hardware wasn't quite right (battery life, mostly), and the software hasn't made anyone fall in love. As Mac sales continue to decrease, Apple might be looking at other ways to reach that $1000 - $3000 market that was it's bread and butter for so long.

What excites me is what apple might do with a higher end iPad. Sure, larger screen, more storage. Possibly a beefed up processor and GPU (or multiple processors). But what about the software? I think there is a lot of potential to build apps, such as Final Cut and Logic, in a 'lite' version for the ultra-mobile device.

First of all it is called iPad Air strictly for marketing purposes. If you just name it iPad or 'the new iPad' which was also purely about marketing, you are losing the perfect opportunity to draw people's attention to the fact that it is radically changed with respect to the size and weight (hence 'air'). iPad > iPad 2 > iPad with retina display > the new iPad > iPad Air. iPad Mini > iPad Mini with retina display. Marketing is a huge driver in the naming scheme of all of their devices. I don't understand why people don't grasp this fact.

iPad 'Pro' isn't happening. It's just an awful idea really. Also Apple wouldn't make a bigger screen (at least not the rumored 12 or 13" screen whatever BS it was), even if they reduced the bezel to zero on all sides, (which isn't happening) because it would look ridiculous, and it would weigh far too much.

 

[dampfnudel]

Microsoft are a software company.

Apple are a hardware company.

Apple creates software - but only software that works with Apple's hardware (with the exception of iTunes).

Microsoft and Apple have never really been competitors and they are really only competitors now because Microsoft have bought Nokia and because they released the Surface. But that is Microsoft's choice to expand their business because they already own 95% of the desktop/laptop market.

They were never 'falling behind' or 'catching up' in a race against Apple because they were never in the hardware race. They are just starting up as a hardware company.

----------

There wont be a TV.

There will be an iWatch, but I think Apple are going to get into gaming.

They will be using the Apple TV/iTunes/Game Centre as their hardware/sales/social/synced saving gateway and the iWatch/iPhone as the controller - using 3rd party controllers as well.

They already have thousands of retina quality games waiting to be played on an HD TV. Even the graphics demo at the iPhone 5s launch was of a high-end 3d graphics game and then there was the intro of the M7 motion coprocessor.

All signs point to gaming.

I also think gaming is the new category for 2014 that Tim mentioned. Gaming, through a new enhanced Apple TV box, is something Apple knows will bring the cash in if they do it right.

 

[BarryL]

My guess is a watch. Something to,keep up with Same-song.

 

[TrollToddington]

Sign me up for a 12" iPad Pro

 

[MacMulti]

Love to see Apple do more in the web arena such as search engine, better location service, office online etc, take on google and MS, unseat them

 

[iabacus]

iWatch. Pedometer, tv remote, home automation device

If there is a watch it will most likely have a strong focus on health and finess. They have been hiring advanced sensor experts. If a big "IF" they can some how measure blood sugar levels through non invasive sensors. It would be the most important piece of tech ever released.

Not just for diabetics. Most of the first world is over weight (the market that can afford this watch). Companies making apps that track exercise, calories etc would be able to make very specific life style coaching software. The watch would be prescribed by doctors, it would seem less a fashion piece and more of a necessity.

If possible it could have mind blowing universal adoption. As common 10 years from now as cell phones are.

 

[ad1815]

iCar, please!

----------

iPad 'Pro' isn't happening. It's just an awful idea really. Also Apple wouldn't make a bigger screen (at least not the rumored 12 or 13" screen whatever BS it was), even if they reduced the bezel to zero on all sides, (which isn't happening) because it would look ridiculous, and it would weigh far too much.

Pro does not have to be bigger, probably some pro level feature such as finger-ID, or a keyboard and stylus? I agree a larger iPad looks ridiculous in the current form of factor, but we know Apple has some knowledge about design.

 

[Winni]

... to an iHouse.

Seriously, imagine if the hardware, software, and service were applied to apartment life or a house and all the things we have there. It would be the ultimate in integration, something out of... well, ... those utopian futures that turn out to be slightly dystopian, but still.

Dystopian, indeed. A house that only accepts electricity, water and even the milk from the iTunes store... That would be a real nightmare to live in.

 

[hydr]

Tim Cook pretty much laid out the exact time for "new categories" by denying he meant this fall, 2013 or first half of 2014. Which basically means they will release a new category in the fall of 2014.

Most likely an iWatch and maybe a 4K display.

 

[olowott]

New market, damn my salary can't keep up

 

[NachoGrande]

I hear this is just going to be a hobby...

 

[Belly-laughs]

I just want a touchID button in my car.

 

[o0smoothies0o]

I hear this is just going to be a hobby...

Nothing about this will be a hobby if they have extensive, accurate health sensors. It will literally change the world just as the iPhone or iPad did really. The invention of a wearable tech that accurately measures bio markers is absolutely the next game changing thing. When I think of all the possibilities for it, it is astounding. When I see people say there is no use for it I laugh hysterically at their ignorance. I just picture Star Trek when I think of Apple really because they are making it all a reality and this is pretty much the next step, when you think tricorder it is essentially that (aside from the obvious scanning for alien life forms), if they can get the health sensors to be highly accurate, it will be amazing.

I'm not saying this as an Apple fan either, I'm saying it as a statement of fact, if Google is working on similar tech, it could be amazing as well. I am just highly excited for this to be released. Of course it will not be very useful unless they can get highly accurate bio sensors in it, which has to be a profound feat I would think.

 

[BaldiMac]

Microsoft are a software company.

Apple are a hardware company.

Apple creates software - but only software that works with Apple's hardware (with the exception of iTunes).

Microsoft and Apple have never really been competitors and they are really only competitors now because Microsoft have bought Nokia and because they released the Surface. But that is Microsoft's choice to expand their business because they already own 95% of the desktop/laptop market.

Congratulations. Your ability to ignore all the facts that contradict your argument is truly outstanding. And that's saying something in these forums.

 

[scupking]

I would love a 65" 8k iTV to replace my 55" Panasonic LED TV.

 

[bpcookson]

Apples smart watch will be absolutely amazing because they actually know what would make a device like this incredibly useful, and almost vital to have (unlike the galaxy gear which is honestly an embarrassment). That of course is biometrics, health sensors galore, I can't possibly explain how overwhelmingly amazing and important technology like this would be if it is highly accurate and widely purchased.

Most people don't understand or can't grasp the usefulness of this, or all of the possible uses for it. If they can put highly accurate health sensors in this product that one will wear almost 24/7, which can graph and analyze health data attained by it, it will not only make life much better for millions of people, but it could save lives. Just as a random off the top of my head example, an elderly person could be wearing it and if they went into cardiac arrest it could instantly send an alert to family members devices so they can call 911, or contact health services itself if possible.

If they were to have highly accurate non-invasive glucose monitoring, it could augment or possibly even take the place of invasive glucose monitors for the millions of type 2 diabetics (which is growing all the time). Glucose monitoring wouldn't just be useful for diabetics, it would be useful for any smart human to test their blood glucose and get an understanding of what their bodies can and cannot handle, carbohydrate wise. Beyond that there are so many possible applications I can't go into them all in one post.

Great post. Now you've even got me excited. But given all those great applications, I still stand by my final statement: the iWatch has to stand on its own.

This is important because it will go a long way to improve Apple's iDevice marketshare. It is critical that they leverage the iCloud.com web platform to accomplish this, thus reducing or even removing barriers to entry for non-iOS/OS X users. To that end, whatever gets implemented via iCloud.com should carry complete feature parity with native iOS and OS X equivalents (see iWork '13).

 

[edtechguru]

A new iPad isn't really a 'new product category' though is it?

It will be an Apple TV gaming console.

Maybe you're right. But given that there is no tablet-form factor 'pro' level computing device, then maybe it is a new category. I mean the iPad is a different category from iPod Touch...

----------

First of all it is called iPad Air strictly for marketing purposes. If you just name it iPad or 'the new iPad' which was also purely about marketing, you are losing the perfect opportunity to draw people's attention to the fact that it is radically changed with respect to the size and weight (hence 'air'). iPad > iPad 2 > iPad with retina display > the new iPad > iPad Air. iPad Mini > iPad Mini with retina display. Marketing is a huge driver in the naming scheme of all of their devices. I don't understand why people don't grasp this fact.

iPad 'Pro' isn't happening. It's just an awful idea really. Also Apple wouldn't make a bigger screen (at least not the rumored 12 or 13" screen whatever BS it was), even if they reduced the bezel to zero on all sides, (which isn't happening) because it would look ridiculous, and it would weigh far too much.

Lots of people said a blown up iPod Touch wash an awful idea. Jobs seemed to think that a tablet form factor device would eventually replace almost all computers.

http://youtu.be/O9rSzcN2lDM?t=49m6s

As far as marketing...of course it is marketing. Isn't everything a company says some sort of marketing?

Mac Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, Macbook Pro....all names that are more to do with marketing then the actual end user (arguably).