Apple's current direction

[Glaucus]

IMO, they're doing what the need to make money.
It's just in those inbetween years, where products are just getting small bumps in specs.

It will tell in a few years if they have not released a new gadget. When new technology gets to mass production status. If they aren't first to market or change public opinion on a new device. Then we know they are slipping badly.
Be it a device with a flexible screen or something else, as above Apple TV in the short term.

 

[Housey]

IBM were the gods when I started in business, Microsoft took over for some years, Google have had a stab and Apple took over in the last couple of years. I promise you one thing, someone will take over from Apple in the next 2 or 3 years and of late Apple's lack of quality control and over hype that relies on 'the people' sucking it up is a road to losing their mantle as the best out there.

They still market well, the produce incredibly aesthetically pleasing stuff and the whole Apple experience is generally a nice one, but they are going to have to become innovators again soon and innovation needs to be more than a nicer screen, bit quicker loading times and an extra half inch or so. There is an obvious change since Jobs left, I can't see them releasing the current Maps on his watch for example, not based on the last 2 or 3 years but then he did release a phone that didn't work when you held it a certain way, my way it would seem, so who knows.

No point quoting how profitable they are, Tim Cooke will not be taking that as anything more than a bigger challenge.

 

[slinxy]

Just watched Steve Jobs' lost interview.. Very intresting as it shows his view on business and direction/vision of computing. It was made at the time when he was the MD of NeXT.

Its a shame that some of the aspects that he sees as weakneses in business is now enabeded in Apple.

 

[itsallaboutyou]

Apple's lack of quality control and over hype that relies on 'the people' sucking it up is a road to losing their mantle as the best out there.

Are you specifically referring to the maps debacle? 'cos in all honesty - I'm yet to be disappointed by any piece of apple technology I've owned, certainly not the physical build quality anyway!

 

[theheyes]

Are you specifically referring to the maps debacle? 'cos in all honesty - I'm yet to be disappointed by any piece of apple technology I've owned, certainly not the physical build quality anyway!

The problem is that expectations are relative. I've had issues with MOST Apple products I've owned and I wouldn't say I was necessarily picky. Faulty wifi modules, cracks in MacBooks, screen backlight failures, batteries that won't wake up etc.

On average they are no better or worse than comparable products - they just ride the wave of an immense brand and perception of quality.

 

[HEADRAT]

Just having a further think about it and here is why Apple doesn't have to worry (if taking 70+% of global phone profits is anything to worry about):

I'm sure Nokia thought the same at one point.

Apple need to carry on innovating, they have some fabulous cash cows now but they can't rest on the laurels, we need more new products in new markets as well as compelling updates to their existing portfolio

HEADRAT

 

[itsallaboutyou]

snip
On average they are no better or worse than comparable products - they just ride the wave of an immense brand and perception of quality.

It might just be me then. And I'm by no means an apple fanboy! The only issue I've had has been wireless keyboard / magic mouse issue. My mac mini was replaced the same day as my appt. No issues with my iMac - except the sparking thing - and i'm reliably informed that there's naff all one can do about that!

I honestly don't think that it is a perception of quality, I believe that the quality is inherent within the brand. You're always going to get little niggles. These things are mass produced, and that's not to let quality control off the hook.

Headrat is right, however - they do need to keep innovating - Jony Ive may have the design genius, but it was clear that Jobs was the driver behind every product..

/my 2p

 

[Housey]

Are you specifically referring to the maps debacle? 'cos in all honesty - I'm yet to be disappointed by any piece of apple technology I've owned, certainly not the physical build quality anyway!

Maps
A phone that drops a signal when you hold it
iTunes

I'd agree that they make some nicely built technology that to most people's eyes is aesthetically pleasing but the maps proclamations followed by the weak delivery has meant they do it again it will bite them hard. I'm looking at it from a business perspective more than a user perspective having worked in commercial tech since the mid 80's I've got a feel for the various comings and goings of brands, such as IBM, Xerox, Microsoft and others.

The great brand of today will eventually become the former great and that usually is signalled by complacency or direction and I am seeing some indicators of this at Apple.

 

[itsallaboutyou]

snip...

I think the maps thing has been done to death. It's extremely disappointing and it is quite clear that this would NOT have happened had Jobs been orchestrating the release of iPhone 5 and iOS 6...but nonetheless it has happened - it's hardly the end of the world

Apple, have, in my opinion quite cleverly turned it around and invited us, the users - the people who put them where they are today - to be part of the solution and provide corrections. Not ideal I know....

I'm a consumer, I've only ever been a consumer, and I know nothing of the business side of things. It's clear that mistakes have been made, and perhaps - the complacency being shown is alarming, and potentially the biggest problem facing successful businesses/people today and we can only hope that some of the bigger issues are solved or in the least, addressed soon.

 

[theheyes]

I honestly don't think that it is a perception of quality, I believe that the quality is inherent within the brand. You're always going to get little niggles. These things are mass produced, and that's not to let quality control off the hook.

Apple, have, in my opinion quite cleverly turned it around and invited us, the users - the people who put them where they are today - to be part of the solution and provide corrections. Not ideal I know....

Don't take it personally because I'm just making an observation - but this is a great example of what I'm talking about. Apple get a free pass for things other companies would get absolutely slated for. The maps thing is probably the first time the criticism has matched the crime and they've actually admitted its a bad product in a straightforward manner. But even then they can't help re-framing it as the consumers problem. The little niggles that Apple have given us over the years would have put lesser companies out of business.

The Apple brand is pretty much synonymous with design perfection and premuim quality products. Yet, in the real world, I can't say they are any better than the Samsungs, the Sonys et al.

I've bought batches of Apple gear and the defect rate is in the 5-10% range in my personal experience. I opened up an iPad2 last week and the dock connector wouldn't even fit in the port properly. I had to force it a few times and it will more than likely wear in over time. That's not enough for me to send it back but at the same time I really shouldn't be grinding accessories into the port they were designed for.

 

[DIABLO]

Don't take it personally because I'm just making an observation - but this is a great example of what I'm talking about. Apple get a free pass for things other companies would get absolutely slated for. The maps thing is probably the first time the criticism has matched the crime and they've actually admitted its a bad product in a straightforward manner. But even then they can't help re-framing it as the consumers problem. The little niggles that Apple have given us over the years would have put lesser companies out of business.

The Apple brand is pretty much synonymous with design perfection and premuim quality products. Yet, in the real world, I can't say they are any better than the Samsungs, the Sonys et al.

I've bought batches of Apple gear and the defect rate is in the 5-10% range in my personal experience. I opened up an iPad2 last week and the dock connector wouldn't even fit in the port properly. I had to force it a few times and it will more than likely wear in over time. That's not enough for me to send it back but at the same time I really shouldn't be grinding accessories into the port they were designed for.

I agree, Apple products are designed well and use premium materials but at the end of the day it is mass produced product so has no better "build quality" then any other comparable product from the likes of Samsung etc.

 

[slinxy]

jezz surprised that no one posted in this thread after all the announcement last night..
so what are people thinking about apples direction now?

 

[spoffle]

I'm sure Nokia thought the same at one point.

Apple need to carry on innovating, they have some fabulous cash cows now but they can't rest on the laurels, we need more new products in new markets as well as compelling updates to their existing portfolio

HEADRAT

They'd have to start innovating before they could carry on.

I think the maps thing has been done to death. It's extremely disappointing and it is quite clear that this would NOT have happened had Jobs been orchestrating the release of iPhone 5 and iOS 6...but nonetheless it has happened - it's hardly the end of the world

It's not clear at all that this wouldn't have happened if Steve Jobs was still there.

What would have happened is that Steve Jobs would have convinced enough mindless people that there is no problem with the maps, and that it's just another case of user error (you're holding it wrong).

Apple's always had issues like this, it's just that people have largely ignored them because of how Steve Jobs talked them away.

Apple, have, in my opinion quite cleverly turned it around and invited us, the users - the people who put them where they are today - to be part of the solution and provide corrections. Not ideal I know....

It's not clever at all, what else could they do? Essentially they've went "We know based on the massive backlash that we received, that we wanted all along to get our customers involved on making our products better and give a sense of community to our customers". What else did you really expect them to say? It's Apple, they NEVER admit any wrong doing, they blame everyone else for everything. They steal ideas from others, brag about it then accuse everyone else of stealing their ideas. They're an insane company held up by a very very good marketing department.

I'm a consumer, I've only ever been a consumer, and I know nothing of the business side of things. It's clear that mistakes have been made, and perhaps - the complacency being shown is alarming, and potentially the biggest problem facing successful businesses/people today and we can only hope that some of the bigger issues are solved or in the least, addressed soon.

As above, it's generally normal of Apple to be like this, they just don't have the luxury of being able to rely on Steve Jobs and his "reality distortion field" to convince people that there are no problems except user error.

 

[spoffle]

I agree, Apple products are designed well and use premium materials but at the end of the day it is mass produced product so has no better "build quality" then any other comparable product from the likes of Samsung etc.

I'd argue that they actually have lesser build quality because of how fragile they are. Look at how the glass fronted and backed iPhones cave when dropped. They can be written off from a single drop.

They hide lacking build quality behind what they've called "premium" build materials. The actual build materials aren't even that more expensive anyway, but it's done to convince people that anything less than heavy glass and metal is cheap and tacky, and it's worked.