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Apple innovated a lot post-Steve Jobs. The development line of the A CPUs that led to the M1 is definitely not ‘a new bottle every 1-2 years’. The M1 out-innov

Apple innovated a lot post-Steve Jobs. The development line of the A CPUs that led to the M1 is definitely not ‘a new bottle every 1-2 years’. The M1 out-innovated Intel, Qualcomm and to a lesser extend AMD. Apple also branched out to other categories with the Apple Watch and AirPods. Apple is most definitely still innovating.

kator 5y ago
While the nerd in me wants to agree with you, aren't all of these just great examples of deeper vertical integration? When I started in computing most major players had their own CPU's, and over time everything converged on mostly Intel with AMD/ARM in there to mix it up. Now we see companies swinging back to the old days where each will have their own CPU's. To me its a return to vertical integration and exposes all of us to a new era of lock-in.
- Cyberdog 5y ago
  > While the nerd in me wants to agree with you, aren't all of these just great examples of deeper vertical integration? Okay. And? You still need innovation to make something like the M1.
meowface 5y ago
True. That's why I said "kind of". However, I'd argue the CPU change is considered a black box vertical improvement by the vast majority of end users. It's a big innovation, but it's still just an improvement to an existing product. And AirPods aren't really groundbreaking. Apple Watch counts, but is also just a nicer version of something available to people for almost a decade, whereas the iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, and early Macintoshes really offered something very different from anything else you could reasonably get at the time. A modern equivalent would be, say, "just works" AR glasses, or something no one even knew they might want (faster horses vs. cars, etc.). It's a lot to ask for, but that is the reputation they're trying to maintain, and they are worth over $2 trillion.

kator 5y ago

While the nerd in me wants to agree with you, aren't all of these just great examples of deeper vertical integration? When I started in computing most major players had their own CPU's, and over time everything converged on mostly Intel with AMD/ARM in there to mix it up. Now we see companies swinging back to the old days where each will have their own CPU's. To me its a return to vertical integration and exposes all of us to a new era of lock-in.

Cyberdog 5y ago
> While the nerd in me wants to agree with you, aren't all of these just great examples of deeper vertical integration? Okay. And? You still need innovation to make something like the M1.

meowface 5y ago

True. That's why I said "kind of". However, I'd argue the CPU change is considered a black box vertical improvement by the vast majority of end users. It's a big innovation, but it's still just an improvement to an existing product. And AirPods aren't really groundbreaking. Apple Watch counts, but is also just a nicer version of something available to people for almost a decade, whereas the iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, and early Macintoshes really offered something very different from anything else you could reasonably get at the time. A modern equivalent would be, say, "just works" AR glasses, or something no one even knew they might want (faster horses vs. cars, etc.). It's a lot to ask for, but that is the reputation they're trying to maintain, and they are worth over $2 trillion.