Tim Cook Says Apple is Always Focused on 'Products and People' Over Wall Street Expectations

[Juicy Box]

I had the first Macintosh and thought it was VERY cool, and so did everyone else. When was Apple NOT considered cool?

Shortly after Windows 95.
I would say in between the mid 90s to the mid 2000s. It was like a counter-culture thing to use Macs/Apple products. Macs had a stigma about them, they were considered weird or odd, especially when talking to other tech people.

Other than the people I talked into getting Macs (family, some friends), hardly anyone else would use them. I would tell people that I used Macs, and sometimes I would get laughs.

I am not saying that the people that were not interested in Apple products had rational reasons for it, and many of the reasons were just plain dumb.

In my experience, the perception of Apple product becoming cool changed about the time that Macs switched in Intel. People might point out the iPod, but even with that, Macs still had that stigma about them. By the time that the iPhone and iPad were a success, Apple products, including Macs seemed to have lost the stigma it once had.

 

[Lab4Us]

Man....there are some seriously cynical/angry people here. I don't really understand why this site gets so much traffic from people who really don't seem to like the company that is the subject of the site. Seems like a better use of your time would be reading about/discussing things that you actually enjoy.

Is everything perfect? No. Could Apple as a whole be better? Sure. Do they deserve constructive criticism when they have issues with software or hardware they release? Absolutely.

But the over-the-top torch and pitchfork routine is just a sign that some here need a new hobby.

Kind of makes you wonder if Google, Amazon, Sonos, Samsung, et. al., aren’t paying for that service!

 

[fairuz]

Is this news? Every CEO with any public audience says this every few months.

 

[44267547]

Tim is an extraordinary CEO, and I believe he really believes in what he is saying. Having said that, perhaps a little more attention to consumer trends as evidenced by what competitors are doing might not be such a bad thing. On the other hand, with few exceptions, Apple typically becomes the best at what they are trying to do. All in all, there is no other company more committed to producing the best, most innovative products possible than Apple.

Well said. I think when you read the negative comments, it’s usually those who don’t agree with Apples current path from Where they used to be And the changes they have made as a company over the last five or six years. I think consumers expect Apple to stay the same, when in fact, they should not. They should be dynamic and move forward with technology that will change the experience. Where Apple has always remained the same is they still continue to release excellent hardware and they have the customer service quality standards to support Their product line.

 

[fairuz]

I had the first Macintosh and thought it was VERY cool, and so did everyone else. When was Apple NOT considered cool?

The 1990s.

 

[otternonsense]

“Would be” tells me you never actually took a phone in for service. My iPhone 6 was shutting down at 40% charge. I took it to an Apple store and they changed the battery for free in an hour. THAT’S what a normal owner is supposed to do.

Assumptions, assumptions. I've taken in my iPhone 6 and 6S twice respectively. The 6 was replaced. The 6S not, even though it performed like oop:. I wanted to opt for the battery replacement, but apparently in Berlin you have to wait >5 weeks for that.

 

[Labeno]

Just like all politicians, CEOs are required to lie to sound like are out to help the people, but it’s always about the money.

 

[Peperino]

Repeat with me: Mac Pro and Mac mini don't sell well, so they don't get updated that frequently.


Sorry.

iMac has been regularly updated (2013, 2015, 2017), in line with significant-enough jumps in processors which is due to Intel.

They didn't cheat anyone with the phone- they tried to increase stability and phone life with a small hit to performance. And as an AASP I can say that phones that actually ran into this issue are less than 20% of the people who show up wanting a cheap battery.

Repeat with me, Mac Pro was a disaster from the start. I wonder why they did not sell many.

They only updated the iMacs internals. The outside design has not been updated in 7 years.

 

[LeCroqueMitaine]

Not using the users as a laboratory? Yeah, tell that to the thousands of people that need a keyboard replacement for that horrible butterfly keyboard, Tim. It's a damn shame.

 

[fairuz]

Didn't even read half and I can already say "Yeah right"



Examples:

• No Aux on HomePod.
• iPhone X price.
• Always opening store in Appstore on Mac even when you click on a notification which announces new software can be downloaded, hell you have to click twice on Updates if you click on it right after opening Appstore.
• Dongles
• ....

Yeah, there's definitely a lot going into directing users to their digital stores at an obvious cost to the usability of the device. I don't normally blame problems with Apple's stuff (or anyone else's) on them trying to grab some money, but I can't think of any other reason in those cases. But at least it's only a few cases, and they aren't too annoying.

Also, yo, screw the dongles.
[doublepost=1519236782][/doublepost]

They didn't cheat anyone with the phone- they tried to increase stability and phone life with a small hit to performance. And as an AASP I can say that phones that actually ran into this issue are less than 20% of the people who show up wanting a cheap battery.

"Small hit?" Dude, I can't even spell things properly on my phone anymore. The keyboard lag is too intense. I find myself not even wanting to use it, pulling out an entire laptop instead. I never had a problem on my iPhone 1, 4, or 5. IDK if they're trying to make me buy a new device or what, but at the end of the day it sucks any way.

 

[cenetti]

lol....apple hasnt released anything exciting or new in years... IOS looks worse by each update ... yeah sure instead of inventing cool stuff (taking chances) they release 5 different versions of the 'old' iphone because they know they'll make money with it and make WST happy.

1 bold move in years ... notch ..LMFAO. And turned out to be a flop. Apple needs SJ more than ever.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

"I have never met an over-the-top adjective I dislike" aka. Tim Cook.

Apply some flow-control!

I know it is hard, and against your nature.

"Maybe someone at Apple should drill on me, hard, that actions always speak louder that endless rhetoric. I almost look angelical, don't I?"

 

[jonnysods]

If you're so focused on breaking into the China or India market, is that for the people there, or your shareholders?

 

[Breaking Good]

I have nothing against Mr. Cook or Apple. I'm critical when I believe either should be criticized and I praise when I believe praise is worthy.

However, if I were Tim Cook, I would not have wanted that picture to be published. It makes it look like he has his head in the clouds and is out of touch with his company.

Time will tell if that picture is an accurate one.

 

[nt5672]

I'm sure there will be a lot of negative post on this article but i still think Apple make great products, the iPhone X is easily the best iPhone yet (and the best smartphone on the market in my opinion) the iPad Pro is a great device that has evolved to become a more computer like device for a lot of people, the Apple Watch is easily the best smart watch on the market, the AirPods are great and the HomePod is a great sounding speaker that is worth the cost alone.

Ok i've posted my positive thoughts and agree with Tim Cook, it's now time for the negative ones to start flowing

Apple used to make great products with a few bugs. Today Apple makes products that could be great, but have too many bugs. Now those bugs don't seem to effect teenagers, pop music artists, and other people that just email, facebook, tweet, reddit, etc., but there are still too many bugs for any use of Apple devices beyond the most simple.

I know, I know, your device works perfectly. Just so you know, I feel good for you and respect you. But for my friends, who expect more, the story is not so rosy. Without complaints to Apple our use will never be rosy. So you are easy to please, good for you. The world is full of easy to please people. But all progress requires people that are willing to stand up and be heard. So, if you like Apple devices and want them to be the best in the world, then stand up and complain.

 

[fairuz]

Shortly after Windows 95.
I would say in between the mid 90s to the mid 2000s. It was like a counter-culture thing to use Macs/Apple products. Macs had a stigma about them, they were considered weird or odd, especially when talking to other tech people.

Probably the same tech people who thought PHP or Java, whichever they used, was the only language anyone will ever use.

 

[Naraxus]

Cook regurgitating from the same bs script he's been reading from for the last 7 years. Just more of the same blah blah blah with little to show for it.

 

[justperry]

And logical legitimate critical comments generally come with a logical way Apple could maybe make a product better. OMG ROFL THERE’S NO AUX INPUT ON THE HOMEPOD DOES NOT fit into that category.

This bolded sneer was directed at me I guess, well, maybe you should think about that statement a bit better.

 

[Krayzkat]

Apple DID tell people but people never bother reading the details in iOS upgrade notices. They need to be handheld at all times. Including being told to take their phone in for service before buying a new one.

FAKE NEWS

 

[RemE]

Dear Tim,

I so wish the things you said were true... But as I sat on the plane last week with a lap full of dongles and work-arounds for all of the customer focused decisions your teams have made to ruin my experience with my new X, I know it's just not the case.

There is always hope.

 

[Naraxus]

Apple DID tell people but people never bother reading the details in iOS upgrade notices.

No they didn't. They only told people after they were caught sneaking software onto your phone and having the chutzpah to call it a "feature"

 

[Altis]

Well that explains why they still sell, at the same price, a Mac Mini with 4-generation behind hardware as it goes on four years since last update.

I guess as long as the consumer doesn't know any better, Apple is just as happy.

 

[citysnaps]

I'm happy with all of the products they released in 2017, can't complain.

Same here. And Apple is off to an outstanding 2018 start with HomePod.

 

[ActionableMango]

• No Aux on HomePod.

Does any smart speaker have that? I would like Aux In, but Google Home, Amazon Echo, Sonos One, and Apple Homepod all don't have it. I think they don't want an audio source that cannot be controlled in any way, but it would be really useful to me even if the only control I had was volume.

 

[69Mustang]

Pictured: Tim Cook giving a nasty side-eye to a misaligned $100 bill atop his money pile.

/bill meekly gets back in place