3 ms·

I know Apple is relevant because they have a lot of money. But when was the last time their products were relevant? 2008 w/ the iPhone? 2010 with the iPad?

I know Apple is relevant because they have a lot of money. But when was the last time their products were relevant? 2008 w/ the iPhone? 2010 with the iPad? 2002 w/ the iPod? MacBooks in 1998? Most of my family uses iPhones and it's painful to watch them struggle with basic tasks. My mom tries to find out how to access gmail instead of me.com. My brother downloads yet another app to add metadata to pictures. No one at work seems to know how to upload pictures as JPEGs (I think they default to AVIFs now. Not a problem, but it was a super-secret change to the defaults, and easy to support on the server, but we didn't hear about it until our users started complaining. I know there are people who positively love their iPhone and the status it apparently confers in their friends group. But I've never understood why a device from a secretive developer-hostile company is supposed to be some amazing tool. It's a miniature computer with built-in wireless network and a poorly integrated phone app. It's innovation seemed to me to be how well they were able to convince Verizon to finance the phone so users wouldn't have sticker-shock. So "apple intelligence" is just repackaging other people's stuff in a way that their users can digest? That's not a surprise. I'm just waiting for my family to start yammering on about how Steve Jobs just added AI to their phones and no one else has such features even though Steve Jobs is dead and LLMs have been a thing for YEARS.

mrkramer 2y ago
Apple is iPhone company but they accumulated so much cash and talent that they can take a swing at anything they want.
- retrocryptid 2y ago
  Except cars and second gen vr headsets.
pjc50 2y ago
> So "apple intelligence" is just repackaging other people's stuff in a way that their users can digest? HN really underestimates how important this is to billions of consumers. Having said that, last year someone I knew went from following every Apple event to buying a Nothing phone (Android), because Apple were offering nothing new for unreasonable prices. The iPhone diminishing returns era is here. Even the US might fix the "wrong colour in chat" problem.
etrvic 2y ago
>But when was the last time their products were relevant? You can't neglect the fact that, despite their lack of innovation while sitting on a huge pile of money, Apple has brought a few good things in the last decade. For example, their use of ARM chips in Macs has influenced other companies to adopt this architecture, which in some ways is better than x86. Another product market they opened up with their "innovation" is the AirPods, which are, in my opinion, better for daily tasks than bulky headphones as they are easier to carry around and more discreet. >But I've never understood why a device from a secretive, developer-hostile company is supposed to be some amazing tool. An iPhone may lack some basic features, but I find the overall experience more polished than Android. >I know there are people who positively love their iPhone and the status it apparently confers in their friends group. My 2021 iPhone SE doesn't confer me any status, but I agree that some people just buy iPhones because they are expensive. Anyway, in the end, it's about everyone's opinion. But Apple’s AI seems like overkill. I definitely don't want AI spilled into every app that is on my phone. I'm happy using the phone app, taking photos whenever I feel like it, and keeping in touch with my friends over WhatsApp/Discord/Messages.
rty32 2y ago
I have to point out that the new M series macbook and Apple watch are immensely popular (and just to name two of them), to the point they change the established market -- Windows market share dropped below 90% despite being at around 95% for many years, and people who never wore a watch are wearing an Apple watch every day.
- retrocryptid 2y ago
  Yes. They are popular among people who buy arm-based macs.

mrkramer 2y ago

Apple is iPhone company but they accumulated so much cash and talent that they can take a swing at anything they want.

retrocryptid 2y ago
Except cars and second gen vr headsets.

pjc50 2y ago

> So "apple intelligence" is just repackaging other people's stuff in a way that their users can digest? HN really underestimates how important this is to billions of consumers. Having said that, last year someone I knew went from following every Apple event to buying a Nothing phone (Android), because Apple were offering nothing new for unreasonable prices. The iPhone diminishing returns era is here. Even the US might fix the "wrong colour in chat" problem.

etrvic 2y ago

>But when was the last time their products were relevant? You can't neglect the fact that, despite their lack of innovation while sitting on a huge pile of money, Apple has brought a few good things in the last decade. For example, their use of ARM chips in Macs has influenced other companies to adopt this architecture, which in some ways is better than x86. Another product market they opened up with their "innovation" is the AirPods, which are, in my opinion, better for daily tasks than bulky headphones as they are easier to carry around and more discreet. >But I've never understood why a device from a secretive, developer-hostile company is supposed to be some amazing tool. An iPhone may lack some basic features, but I find the overall experience more polished than Android. >I know there are people who positively love their iPhone and the status it apparently confers in their friends group. My 2021 iPhone SE doesn't confer me any status, but I agree that some people just buy iPhones because they are expensive. Anyway, in the end, it's about everyone's opinion. But Apple’s AI seems like overkill. I definitely don't want AI spilled into every app that is on my phone. I'm happy using the phone app, taking photos whenever I feel like it, and keeping in touch with my friends over WhatsApp/Discord/Messages.

rty32 2y ago

I have to point out that the new M series macbook and Apple watch are immensely popular (and just to name two of them), to the point they change the established market -- Windows market share dropped below 90% despite being at around 95% for many years, and people who never wore a watch are wearing an Apple watch every day.

retrocryptid 2y ago
Yes. They are popular among people who buy arm-based macs.