5 ms·

Apple at $3tn: the enigma of Tim Cook

9 points by arkj 5y ago

arkj 5y ago
Archived link - https://archive.fo/4kWHs https://archive.fo/4kWHs
Kye 5y ago
As much as I like my iPad and iPhone, sooner or later someone will catch up, and I haven't seen any evidence Tim Cook knows how to do more than make more money from the current business. He's a numbers guy, not an innovator. I'm not surprised Financial Times is focused on the money, but it's a myopic focus. Microsoft was putting away huge stacks too, right up until the web and mobile hit.
- Mountain_Skies 5y ago
  Cook's main strength has been that of a stable caretaker. He isn't going to lead Apple into new territory but he's been able to guide the company through the rising tide for the tech sector. Meanwhile Mark Zuckerberg is leading Facebook into the Metaverse, which might kill the company or might bring untold riches. Tim Cook would never take such a risk. Given the circumstances, he's probably been the right person to lead Apple but at some point their product line will become stale and need to move into completely new territory. That's what Steve Jobs was good at and Cook isn't going to be able to deliver on.
- wodenokoto 5y ago
  Apple Watch and AirPods were released under Tim Cook. It's not like they've stopped making new, successful products. > Analysts estimate AirPods make up 60% of the global wireless headphone market and that Apple's entire Wearables products (Apple Watch, AirPods, and AirPods Pro) “is now bigger than 60% of the companies in the Fortune 500”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods#Sales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods#Sales
  - Kye 5y ago
    You're focusing on money, like the article. Yes, they sell well. Neither have revolutionized their markets or shown any sign that they will. The iPhone wasn't just a premium smartphone. It was such an obvious improvement on what came before that all the previous market leaders tried to copy it. Samsung settled a lawsuit over it. There were already premium earbuds and smartwatches. Apple's earbuds fall out, run out of power too quickly, and lose connection constantly just like the rest. Apple under Jobs followed the market by taking the little bits each competitor got right to put it in one device. AirPods and the iWatch are fine. They're just not any better than what came before. I would instantly jump ship to Samsung if they promised 5 (or more) years of updates post-launch for all phones and tablets. Right now, that's all Apple has.
    - wodenokoto 5y ago
      Those products are still new markets and new markets where Apple is doing significantly better than anyone before or after Apple entered that market - to the point where that market would have been a fraction of its current size, had Apple not entered. You were saying that Tim Cook only knew how to make more money from the current business. That’s not true. Now you’re complaining that they don’t make as big technological revolutions as their absolutely biggest tech revolution ever. That is moving the goal post tremendously.

9 points by arkj 5y ago

arkj 5y ago

Archived link - https://archive.fo/4kWHs https://archive.fo/4kWHs

Kye 5y ago

As much as I like my iPad and iPhone, sooner or later someone will catch up, and I haven't seen any evidence Tim Cook knows how to do more than make more money from the current business. He's a numbers guy, not an innovator. I'm not surprised Financial Times is focused on the money, but it's a myopic focus. Microsoft was putting away huge stacks too, right up until the web and mobile hit.

Mountain_Skies 5y ago
Cook's main strength has been that of a stable caretaker. He isn't going to lead Apple into new territory but he's been able to guide the company through the rising tide for the tech sector. Meanwhile Mark Zuckerberg is leading Facebook into the Metaverse, which might kill the company or might bring untold riches. Tim Cook would never take such a risk. Given the circumstances, he's probably been the right person to lead Apple but at some point their product line will become stale and need to move into completely new territory. That's what Steve Jobs was good at and Cook isn't going to be able to deliver on.
wodenokoto 5y ago
Apple Watch and AirPods were released under Tim Cook. It's not like they've stopped making new, successful products. > Analysts estimate AirPods make up 60% of the global wireless headphone market and that Apple's entire Wearables products (Apple Watch, AirPods, and AirPods Pro) “is now bigger than 60% of the companies in the Fortune 500”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods#Sales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods#Sales
- Kye 5y ago
  You're focusing on money, like the article. Yes, they sell well. Neither have revolutionized their markets or shown any sign that they will. The iPhone wasn't just a premium smartphone. It was such an obvious improvement on what came before that all the previous market leaders tried to copy it. Samsung settled a lawsuit over it. There were already premium earbuds and smartwatches. Apple's earbuds fall out, run out of power too quickly, and lose connection constantly just like the rest. Apple under Jobs followed the market by taking the little bits each competitor got right to put it in one device. AirPods and the iWatch are fine. They're just not any better than what came before. I would instantly jump ship to Samsung if they promised 5 (or more) years of updates post-launch for all phones and tablets. Right now, that's all Apple has.
  - wodenokoto 5y ago
    Those products are still new markets and new markets where Apple is doing significantly better than anyone before or after Apple entered that market - to the point where that market would have been a fraction of its current size, had Apple not entered. You were saying that Tim Cook only knew how to make more money from the current business. That’s not true. Now you’re complaining that they don’t make as big technological revolutions as their absolutely biggest tech revolution ever. That is moving the goal post tremendously.