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For whatever reason, Apple seems to be struggling across the board when it comes to software engineering. They are slow to execute new features and when they do

For whatever reason, Apple seems to be struggling across the board when it comes to software engineering. They are slow to execute new features and when they do they are often buggy. With each release cycle they fall farther and farther behind their competition. I'm having a hard time thinking of any Apple applications that are better than their competition. I don't know if they're having trouble attracting top talent or if there's something off in their culture but they need to fix it. Swift is a good foundation to build on but it won't be enough on its own. They're lucky Microsoft has been asleep at the wheel for the last few years or actively shooting itself in the foot (Windows 8). But MS seems to be getting its act together lately.

tallanvor 10y ago
The answer is pretty simple: Apple is a hardware company. As much as they'd like to claim otherwise, their software is simply there to support hardware sales. Microsoft had an identity crisis for a number of years where they weren't quite sure where they should go, but their move back to being a platform (with regards to Azure) and making sure that the rest of their lines support that work is starting to pay off. Of course, they do need to tighten things up, especially around Windows... That division in particular seems to be trying to move too quickly and it's showing.
- FussyZeus 10y ago
  I don't think it's that cut and dry, Apple's always been a hardware company but they've had excellent software to match their excellent hardware. I'd argue the hardware is still more or less on point, it's the software that's been struggling lately. Even as a relatively new developer to the Apple space, in the time I've worked in iOS/OSX the quality has taken a stark dip in terms of stability and functionality, and seems to coincide with Jobs no longer being at the company. I think having one guy who is in a position to yell at literally anyone for doing less then stellar work is an asset no company appreciates until it's gone, and we all know that Tim Cook is in no fashion at all a Steve Jobs, he can't put people to task like that.
  - radiowave 10y ago
    Apple produced software, yes, but 10 or more years ago it was well understood that many of their users were buying Macs to run third party software, such as Logic (which Apple now own), or Final Cut Pro (ditto), so maybe that goes some way to explaining the change in Apple's software focus.

tallanvor 10y ago

The answer is pretty simple: Apple is a hardware company. As much as they'd like to claim otherwise, their software is simply there to support hardware sales. Microsoft had an identity crisis for a number of years where they weren't quite sure where they should go, but their move back to being a platform (with regards to Azure) and making sure that the rest of their lines support that work is starting to pay off. Of course, they do need to tighten things up, especially around Windows... That division in particular seems to be trying to move too quickly and it's showing.

FussyZeus 10y ago
I don't think it's that cut and dry, Apple's always been a hardware company but they've had excellent software to match their excellent hardware. I'd argue the hardware is still more or less on point, it's the software that's been struggling lately. Even as a relatively new developer to the Apple space, in the time I've worked in iOS/OSX the quality has taken a stark dip in terms of stability and functionality, and seems to coincide with Jobs no longer being at the company. I think having one guy who is in a position to yell at literally anyone for doing less then stellar work is an asset no company appreciates until it's gone, and we all know that Tim Cook is in no fashion at all a Steve Jobs, he can't put people to task like that.
- radiowave 10y ago
  Apple produced software, yes, but 10 or more years ago it was well understood that many of their users were buying Macs to run third party software, such as Logic (which Apple now own), or Final Cut Pro (ditto), so maybe that goes some way to explaining the change in Apple's software focus.