4 ms·

This is par for the course for RIM, Microsoft, so no surprises. I get the sense lately that Apple is unraveling. They're starting to make decisions based on fea

by tomlin 15y ago

This is par for the course for RIM, Microsoft, so no surprises. I get the sense lately that Apple is unraveling. They're starting to make decisions based on fear, not evolution.

JoeBracken 15y ago
As Apple the hardware company continues to invest in their software ecosystem and begins to count on non-hardware revenue the threat from Google increases. I believe that Apple has proven that they are playing the long game while enjoying successes of the short game. Given what apple has done with just iTunes alone shows they are easily looking out 10 years and beyond. I don't think it's fear. In the battle of who's ecosystem a consumer will select for their desktop/laptop/mobile/web/music/video experience, snagging these patents could serve as a very nice speed-bump for Google. Every consumer who buys an iPhone or iPad over an Android device, is one more consumer that is more likely to commit to Apples ecosystem of software and services over Google's.
matwood 15y ago
Not sure if it's out of fear or just good business sense. When they entered the cell phone market they had nearly zero phone related patents. This opened them up to litigation and licensing issues around basic phone functionality where they have no leverage because they have no patents to cross license. After getting a taste of what it takes to play in the cell phone market they know they have to have cell phone related patents for leverage when setting up cross licensing deals.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
podperson 15y ago
Yes, it's sad to watch Apple thrash around, hastily releasing half-assed new versions of Mac OS X and iOS while its competitors produce superior, polished products at their own pace. (That was sarcasm and ridicule, in case it wasn't clear.) I'd say the fact that Apple is simultaneously releasing the best stuff in all the categories it competes in, making huge profits, increasing or maintaining market share, and aggressively suing the heck out of everyone, while not having anything approaching a monopoly in any market except perhaps audio downloads is a pretty good sign (for Apple).
- rospaya 15y ago
  John Gruber, is that you?
- funkah 15y ago
  Just once, I'd like to see someone making "Apple is doomed" prognostications actually put their money where their mouth is and short the stock. That would be fun to see. People will just say anything when it comes to Apple. It's crazy.
  - pyre 15y ago
    A business can be in decline well before the stock price reflects that. Also, the stock market isn't a reasonable reflection of how stable a business will be into the future. If this was the case, then stock market crashes would be pure fiction.
    - kaffiene 15y ago
      Good point. Stock prices are absolute bullshit when it comes to telling you whether a company is good in real business terms. I used to work for a company in the Telco space when Telcos had a stock crash. Now, our company made 40% profit year on year and had done so for the seven preceding years, yet our stock price crashed (and we continued making 40% growth year after year). Actual value was ignored, stupid sound bites from commentators were believed. It's a fucking trading card game played by morons.
    - podperson 15y ago
      Absolutely true. In what way do you think Apple's business is in decline right now?
- tomlin 15y ago
  I think you took it too far, perhaps in completely other directions. Apple's products are brilliant, innovative and fun to use. iOS is a great ecosystem for developers and users alike. Apple continues to make incredible gains in profits and pleasing it's customers. (That was me agreeing with you, despite the fact that these points have nothing to do with what we're discussing, in case it wasn't clear.) Dissension of Apple is valid in this case. Apple has a history of doing things different. Innovative. Progressive, even. The approach they are taking is none of those. We expect better.

by tomlin 15y ago

This is par for the course for RIM, Microsoft, so no surprises. I get the sense lately that Apple is unraveling. They're starting to make decisions based on fear, not evolution.

JoeBracken 15y ago

As Apple the hardware company continues to invest in their software ecosystem and begins to count on non-hardware revenue the threat from Google increases. I believe that Apple has proven that they are playing the long game while enjoying successes of the short game. Given what apple has done with just iTunes alone shows they are easily looking out 10 years and beyond. I don't think it's fear. In the battle of who's ecosystem a consumer will select for their desktop/laptop/mobile/web/music/video experience, snagging these patents could serve as a very nice speed-bump for Google. Every consumer who buys an iPhone or iPad over an Android device, is one more consumer that is more likely to commit to Apples ecosystem of software and services over Google's.

matwood 15y ago

Not sure if it's out of fear or just good business sense. When they entered the cell phone market they had nearly zero phone related patents. This opened them up to litigation and licensing issues around basic phone functionality where they have no leverage because they have no patents to cross license. After getting a taste of what it takes to play in the cell phone market they know they have to have cell phone related patents for leverage when setting up cross licensing deals.

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

podperson 15y ago

Yes, it's sad to watch Apple thrash around, hastily releasing half-assed new versions of Mac OS X and iOS while its competitors produce superior, polished products at their own pace. (That was sarcasm and ridicule, in case it wasn't clear.) I'd say the fact that Apple is simultaneously releasing the best stuff in all the categories it competes in, making huge profits, increasing or maintaining market share, and aggressively suing the heck out of everyone, while not having anything approaching a monopoly in any market except perhaps audio downloads is a pretty good sign (for Apple).

rospaya 15y ago
John Gruber, is that you?
funkah 15y ago
Just once, I'd like to see someone making "Apple is doomed" prognostications actually put their money where their mouth is and short the stock. That would be fun to see. People will just say anything when it comes to Apple. It's crazy.
- pyre 15y ago
  A business can be in decline well before the stock price reflects that. Also, the stock market isn't a reasonable reflection of how stable a business will be into the future. If this was the case, then stock market crashes would be pure fiction.
  - kaffiene 15y ago
    Good point. Stock prices are absolute bullshit when it comes to telling you whether a company is good in real business terms. I used to work for a company in the Telco space when Telcos had a stock crash. Now, our company made 40% profit year on year and had done so for the seven preceding years, yet our stock price crashed (and we continued making 40% growth year after year). Actual value was ignored, stupid sound bites from commentators were believed. It's a fucking trading card game played by morons.
  - podperson 15y ago
    Absolutely true. In what way do you think Apple's business is in decline right now?
tomlin 15y ago
I think you took it too far, perhaps in completely other directions. Apple's products are brilliant, innovative and fun to use. iOS is a great ecosystem for developers and users alike. Apple continues to make incredible gains in profits and pleasing it's customers. (That was me agreeing with you, despite the fact that these points have nothing to do with what we're discussing, in case it wasn't clear.) Dissension of Apple is valid in this case. Apple has a history of doing things different. Innovative. Progressive, even. The approach they are taking is none of those. We expect better.