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Apple probably has the most experience creating top-notch interfaces of any company in the world. Added to this their experience creating leading edge consumer

Apple probably has the most experience creating top-notch interfaces of any company in the world. Added to this their experience creating leading edge consumer hardware, and how can Google or Microsoft, even less so Samsung, Motorola, RIM, hope to compete? Apple has at least one big advantage over any company I can think of. They do it all, and do it better than everyone else. Apple is really hitting their stride, after almost 30 years, and the state of the market is perfect for a company just like them. With how closed they are, though, I don't think they'll dominate. That seems to be fine with Apple, though - they're not after the next Windows. I think the momentum behind Android, and the wide variety of companies using it, is going to keep it at the #1 mobile OS spot. The future of the ones other than Android and iOS doesn't look great for phones. Tablet are still so new, that it's difficult to predict what will happen.

pedalpete 15y ago
I think Apple's strength is more that 'they do it all' then 'they do it better'. We used to think that trying to do everything was harmful, and that you should stick to what you're good at and partner for the rest. I think what we are seeing is that Apple's ability to develop hardware and software in lock-step gives them the ability to release earlier than anybody else. Think about something like Windows 8. Microsoft develops it, shows it to manufacturers as it gets closer and closer to being completed, gets feedback and makes adjustments while manufacturers start designing for the new platform, then they finally get a 'release candidate' and finish of the hardware. Then who is responsible for marketing? Of course, RIM is also an end-to-end provider, but they haven't had the vision to lead. Lets not forget that all the manufacturers were showing tablets before Apple launched the iPad, but it took another year for non-Apple tablets to hit the market en-masse.
- code_duck 15y ago
  They do seem particularly good at what they do, to me. Marketing, style of hardware design, hardware technical design and quality, user interface, stability, distribution, product timing, marketing strategy...

pedalpete 15y ago

I think Apple's strength is more that 'they do it all' then 'they do it better'. We used to think that trying to do everything was harmful, and that you should stick to what you're good at and partner for the rest. I think what we are seeing is that Apple's ability to develop hardware and software in lock-step gives them the ability to release earlier than anybody else. Think about something like Windows 8. Microsoft develops it, shows it to manufacturers as it gets closer and closer to being completed, gets feedback and makes adjustments while manufacturers start designing for the new platform, then they finally get a 'release candidate' and finish of the hardware. Then who is responsible for marketing? Of course, RIM is also an end-to-end provider, but they haven't had the vision to lead. Lets not forget that all the manufacturers were showing tablets before Apple launched the iPad, but it took another year for non-Apple tablets to hit the market en-masse.

code_duck 15y ago
They do seem particularly good at what they do, to me. Marketing, style of hardware design, hardware technical design and quality, user interface, stability, distribution, product timing, marketing strategy...