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Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the p

by exodust 10y ago

Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? In other industries like cars, the manufacturers don't necessarily create hugely different models every year, but only small improvements on last year's model, and they seem to do okay. Personally I think the touch-bar thing on the Mac is unremarkable, even a gimmick. Why would anyone want the furniture moving around on their keyboard? I could be wrong, I suppose if it's highly customizable then it will be handy for programmable shortcuts.

PerryCox 10y ago
> Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? Apple cannot rest on their laurels because if they stop innovating Android manufactures will implement all of their features and sell the phones for cheaper than an iPhone. The Google Pixel is a killer phone and could easily steal some iPhone market share if a new iPhone does not keep iterating with new features. If Apple keeps removing two features for every new one that they add, that's going to upset some customers.
- pjc50 10y ago
  Phone markets aren't really about features; Android phones already out-feature (although not out-perform) iPhones all over the place. It's the usability and image that Apple sells on. And Apple believe - sometimes correctly - that removing features improves usability. Or at least keeping them coherent.
Someone1234 10y ago
To rephrase what you said to make a point: > Aren't they allowed to sit on the Apple II? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? Last time Apple built the entire company around a single product (Apple II) they almost went bankrupt.
- exodust 10y ago
  Not quite the same thing. iPhone gets updated. The Apple II didn't release "Apple II v2,v3 etc" (as far as I know anyway). And the iPhone isn't a single product, but has all sorts of dependencies via the app store and iTunes. Not to mention the built-in features like the camera, maps, AI, and whatever else it can do natively. In fact, modern smartphones can do so much, consumers probably find it hard to keep up with it all. And finally, if I were Apple, I'd release an advertisement along the lines of "fire-proof gloves not required" or something clever with a subtle dig at the Samsung disaster which undoubtedly strengthened iPhone sales.
zeveb 10y ago
> Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? If you're not growing, you're stagnating or declining. If Apple don't continue to innovate, then someone else will pick up the baton. Android continues to get better and better as a mobile OS, and the Android ecosystem continues to get better too. Linux and Windows both have some improvements over macOS, although macOS is better than them in other ways; if Apple continues to under-invest here then there won't be much reason to run its software, meaning there won't be much reason to buy its hardware. We've already seen that Apple's hardware itself is not as good as it could be, which means that offerings from other companies are comparatively more competitive. > In other industries like cars, the manufacturers don't necessarily create hugely different models every year, but only small improvements on last year's model, and they seem to do okay. I don't know if I'd go that far. On the one hand, cars haven't radically changed in decades (they still have four tyres, a steering wheel, windows, seats; most use internal-combustion engines), but OTOH they have changed: roll cages, crush zones, airbags, infotainment systems, heated & cooled seats, more intelligence, electric engines. And indeed it's the models which do offer the most innovation which get the most attention. I don't know if they're the most profitable though.
- exodust 10y ago
  When built in sat-navs came on the scene, apparently many people still preferred to use their dedicated satnav devices such as Garmins because the built-in varieties in their fancy new car were prone to bad UX, inferior performance, and difficulties with updating the maps and so on. No doubt sorted out in many cases, but this was a widespread problem, an example of the pitfalls of eager innovation. I'm sure Apple will be fine. Their first attempt at the iPad Pro wasn't received that well, but they'll fix that and deliver something good next year. I'm actually on the lookout for a tablet I can draw on, but I'm hesitant to buy a Surface Pro because I don't trust Windows 10. I don't want my OS to be a service with mandatory updates and whatever other control they take away, but then again that's where Apple are headed too. I prefer the OS to be in the background, out of sight, not pushing itself to the foreground, desperate for attention and relevance.
Malic 10y ago
Why not sit on the iPhone? Because I think (IMHO) the smartphone industry is about to hit the same problem that Microsoft hit with Office. How do you impress your customer base year after year? Do you hit a point were adding more features to your product is making it more complicated and worse off because of it? Has your competition caught up just enough that in the eyes of the consumer, the difference between best and second best in your product category is small - and price becomes the most important item on the feature list? Product category churn is something all companies need to keep their finger on. Eventually, everything becomes a commodity and price is the only thing you can improve on. And profit margins become the casualty. And yes, I do think the auto industry is about to hit the foothills of this curve.
ianai 10y ago
I disagree on the point that there's not more room for growth on mobile hardware. They're still miles below desktop performance. I still can't plop them into a desktop dock. The camera can definitely be upgraded continuously (not that I use it much). Otherwise I agree, the form factor feels pretty solidified. I doubt we'll see truly game changing innovation in mobile for some time to come.
vermontdevil 10y ago
See Microsoft as an example. They sat on Office which was making them money. Then the market shifted and Microsoft had to scramble, change the leadership team, their structure, their goals, etc. Took a while. Not saying Apple has to come up with amazing stuff all the time. Just need to look for opportunities outside of iPhone. Or even with the smartphone segment. They are doing fine right now. But what about in 5 years?

by exodust 10y ago

PerryCox 10y ago

> Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? Apple cannot rest on their laurels because if they stop innovating Android manufactures will implement all of their features and sell the phones for cheaper than an iPhone. The Google Pixel is a killer phone and could easily steal some iPhone market share if a new iPhone does not keep iterating with new features. If Apple keeps removing two features for every new one that they add, that's going to upset some customers.

pjc50 10y ago
Phone markets aren't really about features; Android phones already out-feature (although not out-perform) iPhones all over the place. It's the usability and image that Apple sells on. And Apple believe - sometimes correctly - that removing features improves usability. Or at least keeping them coherent.

Someone1234 10y ago

To rephrase what you said to make a point: > Aren't they allowed to sit on the Apple II? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? Last time Apple built the entire company around a single product (Apple II) they almost went bankrupt.

exodust 10y ago
Not quite the same thing. iPhone gets updated. The Apple II didn't release "Apple II v2,v3 etc" (as far as I know anyway). And the iPhone isn't a single product, but has all sorts of dependencies via the app store and iTunes. Not to mention the built-in features like the camera, maps, AI, and whatever else it can do natively. In fact, modern smartphones can do so much, consumers probably find it hard to keep up with it all. And finally, if I were Apple, I'd release an advertisement along the lines of "fire-proof gloves not required" or something clever with a subtle dig at the Samsung disaster which undoubtedly strengthened iPhone sales.

zeveb 10y ago

> Aren't they allowed to sit on the iPhone? Why must they come up with amazing new stuff when they've already got a mountain of cash and loyal fans who love the point release updates? If you're not growing, you're stagnating or declining. If Apple don't continue to innovate, then someone else will pick up the baton. Android continues to get better and better as a mobile OS, and the Android ecosystem continues to get better too. Linux and Windows both have some improvements over macOS, although macOS is better than them in other ways; if Apple continues to under-invest here then there won't be much reason to run its software, meaning there won't be much reason to buy its hardware. We've already seen that Apple's hardware itself is not as good as it could be, which means that offerings from other companies are comparatively more competitive. > In other industries like cars, the manufacturers don't necessarily create hugely different models every year, but only small improvements on last year's model, and they seem to do okay. I don't know if I'd go that far. On the one hand, cars haven't radically changed in decades (they still have four tyres, a steering wheel, windows, seats; most use internal-combustion engines), but OTOH they have changed: roll cages, crush zones, airbags, infotainment systems, heated & cooled seats, more intelligence, electric engines. And indeed it's the models which do offer the most innovation which get the most attention. I don't know if they're the most profitable though.

exodust 10y ago
When built in sat-navs came on the scene, apparently many people still preferred to use their dedicated satnav devices such as Garmins because the built-in varieties in their fancy new car were prone to bad UX, inferior performance, and difficulties with updating the maps and so on. No doubt sorted out in many cases, but this was a widespread problem, an example of the pitfalls of eager innovation. I'm sure Apple will be fine. Their first attempt at the iPad Pro wasn't received that well, but they'll fix that and deliver something good next year. I'm actually on the lookout for a tablet I can draw on, but I'm hesitant to buy a Surface Pro because I don't trust Windows 10. I don't want my OS to be a service with mandatory updates and whatever other control they take away, but then again that's where Apple are headed too. I prefer the OS to be in the background, out of sight, not pushing itself to the foreground, desperate for attention and relevance.

Malic 10y ago

Why not sit on the iPhone? Because I think (IMHO) the smartphone industry is about to hit the same problem that Microsoft hit with Office. How do you impress your customer base year after year? Do you hit a point were adding more features to your product is making it more complicated and worse off because of it? Has your competition caught up just enough that in the eyes of the consumer, the difference between best and second best in your product category is small - and price becomes the most important item on the feature list? Product category churn is something all companies need to keep their finger on. Eventually, everything becomes a commodity and price is the only thing you can improve on. And profit margins become the casualty. And yes, I do think the auto industry is about to hit the foothills of this curve.

ianai 10y ago

I disagree on the point that there's not more room for growth on mobile hardware. They're still miles below desktop performance. I still can't plop them into a desktop dock. The camera can definitely be upgraded continuously (not that I use it much). Otherwise I agree, the form factor feels pretty solidified. I doubt we'll see truly game changing innovation in mobile for some time to come.

vermontdevil 10y ago

See Microsoft as an example. They sat on Office which was making them money. Then the market shifted and Microsoft had to scramble, change the leadership team, their structure, their goals, etc. Took a while. Not saying Apple has to come up with amazing stuff all the time. Just need to look for opportunities outside of iPhone. Or even with the smartphone segment. They are doing fine right now. But what about in 5 years?