Year in Review: Everything Apple Introduced in 2018

[The Game 161]

Very dissapointed in apples product releases this year.

I’ve been a long time Apple fan but think they are being totally out flanked by both Amazon and Google.

They are also raising their prices beyond what I’m prepared to pay.

For such a supposedly innovative company they seem to be re hashing tired old product lines and not keeping up with the latest trends.

I’ve resisted getting a google or Alexa smart speaker as I am an Apple supporter ( thinking they offer the best tech) but my wife was given a google home mini this Christmas.

And what a revelation- I love this thing - it was only $49 but it’s amaxing. What is really clever is we have paired a better {KEF } Bluetooth speaker to it. This is a genius move as I know the HomePod has great sound but you can use your own speaker or multiple speakers on a $49 device:

Where is Apple in this ? The HomePod is all they have and from reviews Siri is not up to it and it costs $400. Shame as they announced it years ago had Siri before the others but just squandered the lead.

Apple need a sub $100 smart speaker and fast- this is the new battle ground now.

Never thought I’d say this but seriously thinking of switching to google eco system as Apple is just not keeping up

As somebody who has two HomePods and a google mini I don’t use them other then basic tasks/ sport scores/lights/music and podcasts

So while google is smarter apart from at the start you won’t use the mini for anything then the HomePods

 

[technole]

Very dissapointed in apples product releases this year.

I’ve been a long time Apple fan but think they are being totally out flanked by both Amazon and Google.

They are also raising their prices beyond what I’m prepared to pay.

For such a supposedly innovative company they seem to be re hashing tired old product lines and not keeping up with the latest trends.

I’ve resisted getting a google or Alexa smart speaker as I am an Apple supporter ( thinking they offer the best tech) but my wife was given a google home mini this Christmas.

And what a revelation- I love this thing - it was only $49 but it’s amaxing. What is really clever is we have paired a better {KEF } Bluetooth speaker to it. This is a genius move as I know the HomePod has great sound but you can use your own speaker or multiple speakers on a $49 device:

Where is Apple in this ? The HomePod is all they have and from reviews Siri is not up to it and it costs $400. Shame as they announced it years ago had Siri before the others but just squandered the lead.

Apple need a sub $100 smart speaker and fast- this is the new battle ground now.

Never thought I’d say this but seriously thinking of switching to google eco system as Apple is just not keeping up

They chose wrong, amazon echo supports Apple music.

 

[kentsydney]

Well that's fine, but the whole data harvesting thing keeps me from embracing the Amazon or Google ecosystems and makes me leery of smart speakers in general.

Yes very good point- I was cautious but this was a gift and I am blown away by how good it is.

If Apple had a sub $100 smart speaker I’d get that as I trust them more than google- I’d never get the Amazon ones thought as I dis trust them more than google.

But this is a whole rapidly growing area where Apple just aren’t really present in - the HomePod has just 4% of smart speaker sales.

Practically everyone we know has a google Home speaker and they were flying off the shelves this Christmas

It’s all about the battle of the eco system which apple usually are leading - for example I really want to use Apple Music. Apple TV but obviously they are not an option with google- didn’t realise amazon supported Apple Music but they just want me to buy stuff as I just am very wary of amazon ( rightly or wrongly )

Also you can get chrome cast audio again for only $49 so you can hook up your favourite speaker or speakers - Apple discontinued the airport express this year just as they realised airplay 2 on them. There is also chrome cast for tv again $49.

What does an Apple TV go for these days starting at $210!!

For me Apple have gone backwards this year

Apple come on get into this with a low cost speaker

 

[LordVic]

I really want to use Apple Music. Apple TV but obviously they are not an option with google-

As an FYI: Apple Music is available cross platform (I know, shocking). it's one of their only services that are. You can install the Apple music App on your Android phone, or iTunes on windows desktop to have access to it even if you aren't using any other Apple products/services.

 

[Peperino]

Again... If you do not need the high performance ports or if the Mini's price is too expensive for you that's fine. There are plenty of other lower-cost options out there that don't have the features you don't need. Simply pick one that meets your needs and move on rather than whine.

Some people need the ports/performance of the Mini. Try not to project your needs/feelings/requirements on others who have different requirements.

Whining about the price is frankly embarrassing.

WHat is embarrassing is your reply.
You are missing the point. The whole idea of the Mac mini was to put a basic entry level machine to gain market share.
Although it is a different machine, it is 60% more expensive, which it is ridiculous for an entry level price.
Furthermore, after 4 years, they kept the same design running into heating issues and glue the SSD to the logic board, forcing users to upgrade to uber expensive ridiculous SSD prices.
That is embarrassing, to say the least.

 

[InuNacho]

Again... If you do not need the high performance ports or if the Mini's price is too expensive for you that's fine. There are plenty of other lower-cost options out there that don't have the features you don't need. Simply pick one that meets your needs and move on rather than whine.

Where are the other low price entry level desktop Macs you speak of? I do not see any.

 

[Mainsail]

WHat is embarrassing is your reply.
You are missing the point. The whole idea of the Mac mini was to put a basic entry level machine to gain market share.
Although it is a different machine, it is 60% more expensive, which it is ridiculous for an entry level price.
Furthermore, after 4 years, they kept the same design running into heating issues and glue the SSD to the logic board, forcing users to upgrade to uber expensive ridiculous SSD prices.
That is embarrassing, to say the least.

I assume you arrived at the 60% price increase by comparing the prior base Mac Mini $500 to the new entry Mac Mini $800. Of course, there are differences between these two computers. The prior Mac Mini had 4 GB of RAM, so you were basically forced to pay for the $100 upgrade for 8 GB......really, this was a $600 computer. Also, it came with a slow 500 GB HD, that was very old tech. You could upgrade to a Fusion Drive, but that was an additional $100 or $200...I don't remember. So, to just get the old Mac Mini to decent specs would cost you about $700.

Personally, I would prefer the 128 SSD because I use iCloud storage and don't keep a lot of local data. If I need more, I can buy inexpensive external storage and connect via one of the USB-C ports. I suspect there are a lot of entry level users in my boat. There were other spec and connectivity improvements in the 2018 Mac Mini that will be useful to entry level users.

Like you, I would have preferred that the 2018 Mac Mini had a lower starting price. But, in fairness, you really can't compare the 2018 price to the older base Mac Mini model, since the older Model with base configuration was really not viable without spending a couple of hundred bucks more on upgrades.

 

[chucker23n1]

The whole idea of the Mac mini was to put a basic entry level machine to gain market share.

That may have been a goal 15 years ago, but it’s not as important now. Apple is much larger, and the desktop PC market has been shrinking.

If they do a low-cost entry model, it’ll be portable. But really, the answer is the $329 iPad.

 

[Mainsail]

That may have been a goal 15 years ago, but it’s not as important now. Apple is much larger, and the desktop PC market has been shrinking.

If they do a low-cost entry model, it’ll be portable. But really, the answer is the $329 iPad.

Great point. An entry computer of the past was a Desktop that people used for web, mail, light productivity, and maybe music and photo storage. All of this stuff can easily be done on a 2018 base iPad that you can buy on sale for $229.

 

[citysnaps]

Where are the other low price entry level desktop Macs you speak of? I do not see any.

I didn't speak of other low price entry level desktop Macs. There are loads of low priced computers from other manufacturers, though. Simply pick one and be happy.
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WHat is embarrassing is your reply.
You are missing the point. The whole idea of the Mac mini was to put a basic entry level machine to gain market share.
Although it is a different machine, it is 60% more expensive, which it is ridiculous for an entry level price.
Furthermore, after 4 years, they kept the same design running into heating issues and glue the SSD to the logic board, forcing users to upgrade to uber expensive ridiculous SSD prices.
That is embarrassing, to say the least.

Sounds like you have a direct connection with Apple executives. Is that what they told you?

Or are you just making stuff up? Again. Or...maybe just stuck in the past. Or both.



"Although it is a different machine, ..."

Well...now there's a clue. Have a think about it for a bit...