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What happened to Apple Software?
- Thread starter dvoros
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I think first of Microsoft in the 1990s, and around the turn of the century. If I recall correctly, that type of doing away was amongst the motivations for things such as WinFS. Wikipedia might not support my recollection but the words and images in Microsoft's IWish Concept Video suggest anything/everything except Windows Explorer.
(Hint: if you'll watch the video, mute the music … it sounds like Steve Ballmer took base speed and decided to play the guitar, instead of jump, in celebration of Microsoft.)
Billionaire baron Bill Gates still mourns Vista's stillborn WinFS • The Register
I was thinking of this bit by Jobs in 2012:
http://oleb.net/blog/2012/06/steve-jobs-on-the-file-system/
First, Tim Cook's Apple is not bound by Steve Jobs' strategic decisions. Five years in, Tim Cook is the guy to blame. Second, I'm not sure a consumer focus really explains what has been happening. For example, the music app has lots of nice features but a number of design issues that make usability less than what it could be. Photos has some capable sharing features, but doesn't seem to be a direct hit for what customers are seeking. Many of Apple's other software-related issues (e.g., Apple TV 4, CarPlay, HomeKit) seem far less polished than Apple software once was. Things just seem lackluster.
Understanding that I'm just playing armchair strategist, I wish Apple would give better support to the pro/prosumer applications. I understand that the iPhone and iPad are larger revenue sources, but I would say that the apps for macOS can act as linchpins to support sales of those devices. Linchpins are a small part of the total device but they are critical.
In many companies I've seen the analysis made that certain products bring in most of the revenue so they should focus on that yet when they drop the supporting products and software sales of the main product also fall.
If Apple doesn't want to devote teams to provide yearly feature updates to iWork and other products perhaps they could spin these out like FileMaker?
In many companies I've seen the analysis made that certain products bring in most of the revenue so they should focus on that yet when they drop the supporting products and software sales of the main product also fall.
If Apple doesn't want to devote teams to provide yearly feature updates to iWork and other products perhaps they could spin these out like FileMaker?
Good thoughts! It is possible that Apple Corp. is entering middle age and taking on similar characteristics that mature companies like IBM and Microsoft have taken on. The only challenge greater than making money is keeping it.
I too had considered the idea of spinning off these apps to a company like FileMaker, but I suspect that those apps would share the same fate as Bento. Back-in-the-day "personal databases" were big. Yeah, they were flat-file databases (not relational) but some of the things we were able to do with them were pretty amazing. The database modules in Claris/AppleWorks, Microsoft Works, and other integrated applications essentially allowed end users to design their own custom "applications".
The demise of those flat-file database programs produced... a greater demand for commercial single-tasker apps for managing DVD collections and other data. It also drove people to more expensive (and more complicated) relational database packages.
A full-featured iWorks (at least to the '09 level) + Bento would be a powerhouse for most home and small business people. But it wouldn't provide the same opportunity for developers to make a living on the platform.
The death of Aperture is my pet peeve too. It may have had a smaller user base than Adobe Lightroom, but it makes a much better image organizer. Makes we wonder if Adobe didn't make some deal with Apple-- trade one market for another.
I don't really think spinning off these apps is the answer since part of their advantage is derived from having pull with the other divisions. They just need to keep in mind that though they might be money losers in themselves, pruning them erodes the whole Apple ecosystem.
Found this amusing-- Apple's only age 40, whereas Microsoft's a mature 41.
That's because Apple was the rebellious hippy child that refused to grow up right away.
the sad thing is Aperture came out before LR, it had the marketshare, excitement and photographers on board. Then Adobe updated LR, and they updated LR and so on and so forth, where as Apple just sat there on the sidelines
Google is Apple's software competitor, with Microsoft somewhat behind but accelerating. Next phone will be Andoid. I'll keep my MBP with VMWare Fusion but the next one will probably be a Chromebook with Crossover Android for the few Windows programs I need. ("Turn and face the change...")
I agree. Apple was setting the agenda for some categories of software with unique and engaging features. Pages, Keynote are great, but Photo Booth's introduction was particularly one of my favorites.
"Now, I'd like to show you Photo Booth."
All things end. Maybe with Apple not putting effort into Macs or Mac software anymore it is time to move on. I have given up hope of replacing my Mini and my 2012 Macbook air is still almost up to date but needs replacing it is time to leave. Apple has fallen way behind and fallen way behind on purpose so there is little long term incentive to stay.
I just purchased a cheap Chomebook, am adding Linux and seeing if that is the proper new way to go. Looks promising and sure saves a ton of money.
I just purchased a cheap Chomebook, am adding Linux and seeing if that is the proper new way to go. Looks promising and sure saves a ton of money.
Always seemed to me that iWork, iLife, Aperture, etc came out of necessity, not because Apple really wanted to create them - because there were no great or inexpensive solutions available at the time for OS X. Since then, we have great third party solutions, such as the latest MS Office, Lightroom, etc. Sure, I still prefer Aperture for photo editing and management, but I do understand how the market was cut to a fraction when Lightroom became really good - and I don't think it's worth Apple's time or money to compete against Adobe.
sracer wrote:
"The database modules in Claris/AppleWorks, Microsoft Works, and other integrated applications essentially allowed end users to design their own custom "applications"."
Both AppleWorks and MSWorks had excellent "flat file" databases for the end-user.
Easy to create, arrange, and maintain a simple database file.
These days, I use a small, simple app called "iData" for maintaining my flat-file db's from the past...
"The database modules in Claris/AppleWorks, Microsoft Works, and other integrated applications essentially allowed end users to design their own custom "applications"."
Both AppleWorks and MSWorks had excellent "flat file" databases for the end-user.
Easy to create, arrange, and maintain a simple database file.
These days, I use a small, simple app called "iData" for maintaining my flat-file db's from the past...
I'm not sure whether this is a problem that my personal setup brings along, however, while trying to share iWork documents for collaboration in iOS10, I continuously get a pop up window asking me to update iWork in order to use this feature...
Here'a me hoping that on the 7th we also see an update to iWork... *fingers crossed*
Here'a me hoping that on the 7th we also see an update to iWork... *fingers crossed*
Keynote for Mac was great...until they dumbed it down for iOS. Not to mention all of iWork is long overdue for real upgrades. Collaboration is fine, but maybe focus on giving us full featured apps for those who still use a computer for work, not a tablet or phone.
In fact, it's gotten to the point where I'm considering to use PowerPoint. The latest Office efforts from Microsoft at least show some kind of commitment to their products.
In fact, it's gotten to the point where I'm considering to use PowerPoint. The latest Office efforts from Microsoft at least show some kind of commitment to their products.
At last, iWork will be updated tomorrow. I'm hoping for the best. It has been a long time since we've seen a strong iWork update.
I keep both iWork '09 and the latest version of iWork around. iWork '09 still works on OSX El Cap and I use it when I need those capabilities that aren't available in the newer dumbed-down version. I bought a still-shrinkwrapped iWork '09 disc on ebay for $11.
I use the new version of iWork for files that I want to be able to work on across my Apple devices.
I have MS Office for Mac 2016 but only use it when I absolutely need to. So far there is nothing that is PowerPoint-exclusive that would cause me to switch from Keynote (either version).
If the iOS version is any indication, it is going to be a very weak/minor update.