Discussion
I have a lot of apple products (mac book pro, iphone 6, apple tv, ipad and ipod classic) and I think they have almost become a victim of their own success.
for example- ipod classic- so good, they actually had to kill it off. offered so much storage the normal user never filled it, great battery life, pretty indestructible..... so people bought it, and it lasted for years, never needed replaced.
MacBook pro- mine is now 4/5years old, still fires up in 30secs, no bloatware, or pop ups, does exactly what I need, I process some photos in lightroom etc... and it does all that fairly easily. now it was a decent cost when I bought it, but until it dies or my photo processing software doesn't run- why would I replace it?
ipad- even my ipad is a few years old now, no idea which one it actually is, but it still is just there, always on, ready to go with Netflix/ videos/ sky go/ internet etc..... with out needing the full laptop. i'll only replace it, if its broken or if it no longer runs what I need it to.
ok the high-end user- proper cad work/ rendering/ video editing/ people who need superfast machines and RAM etc.... will always need/want the latest specs, to the middle of the road user (like myself) my machines last so long that I don't need to update every couple of years like their product cycles do.
so now apple have had to focus on more fashion items- phones, ipads, headphones..... 'cheaper' (ok they're not cheap)but almost consumer items, people always want it to look new/ be the latest model. I think apple are currently in the same situation as Porsche were when they released the cayenne/ boxster, they need the mass product/mass production cash, to hopefully achieve the 918/911r/911 gt3rs........
only problem is- are apple still able to create the top of the line, industry leading product?
for example- ipod classic- so good, they actually had to kill it off. offered so much storage the normal user never filled it, great battery life, pretty indestructible..... so people bought it, and it lasted for years, never needed replaced.
MacBook pro- mine is now 4/5years old, still fires up in 30secs, no bloatware, or pop ups, does exactly what I need, I process some photos in lightroom etc... and it does all that fairly easily. now it was a decent cost when I bought it, but until it dies or my photo processing software doesn't run- why would I replace it?
ipad- even my ipad is a few years old now, no idea which one it actually is, but it still is just there, always on, ready to go with Netflix/ videos/ sky go/ internet etc..... with out needing the full laptop. i'll only replace it, if its broken or if it no longer runs what I need it to.
ok the high-end user- proper cad work/ rendering/ video editing/ people who need superfast machines and RAM etc.... will always need/want the latest specs, to the middle of the road user (like myself) my machines last so long that I don't need to update every couple of years like their product cycles do.
so now apple have had to focus on more fashion items- phones, ipads, headphones..... 'cheaper' (ok they're not cheap)but almost consumer items, people always want it to look new/ be the latest model. I think apple are currently in the same situation as Porsche were when they released the cayenne/ boxster, they need the mass product/mass production cash, to hopefully achieve the 918/911r/911 gt3rs........
only problem is- are apple still able to create the top of the line, industry leading product?
Evolved said:
Apple as a company are falling into a rut and even as a die hard Apple user, I welcome it as it may cause their crown to fall and push them to start innovating and moving things forward. I fear without someone like Jobs in control of the rudder, it won't happen though as he basically handed Cook and Ive his roadmap which has just about played out now.
They've become complacent with regard their die hard user base and focus more on the throw away toy market now. The last Mac Pro was a joke tbh and it shows with sales for the previous gen pushing prices up as they're not the go too machine for expand ability, the air cooled of the Mac world... I coined it first
I still have my 5S and until they make it obselete with OS updates and force the change, I've no reason to swap.
This^^They've become complacent with regard their die hard user base and focus more on the throw away toy market now. The last Mac Pro was a joke tbh and it shows with sales for the previous gen pushing prices up as they're not the go too machine for expand ability, the air cooled of the Mac world... I coined it first
I still have my 5S and until they make it obselete with OS updates and force the change, I've no reason to swap.
I'd like a new phone, I currently have an iPhone 5 that last week decided to get a dodgy screen/digitizer. However I would rather save the money (fix it) and buy a 2010 dual CPU cheese grater Mac Pro to replace my ageing 2009 MacBook Pro.
hyperblue said:
The new MacBook Pro launch is looking likely for October according to a few sources. Been waiting long enough!
I've also been reading this...which is very disappointing. I'm currently down to using about 7in of the screen on my 11in 2011 Macbook Air due to a couple of accidents, and it needs replacing. Was hoping for something in March, then September. Now October. If it's any longer, I think I may end up back on a Windows machine for the first time in 17yrs.
As for the phone, this will be partially driven by the laptop. I haven't been on the iPhone platform since the 4. Have been very tempted to move back (I like many things about my Galaxy S5, however there are an increasing list of things that irritate me about it/Android) but if I ditch the Apple laptop, there'll be less reason to do so.
The "killer" features for the new iPhone seem to be removal of the headphone jack - the thing everyone has been desperate to happen for years (?) and dual lens (on some models). Oh, and probably a new colour for the back, so owners can rest easy that it's obvious to the proles that you've got the new model.
The lack of innovation is rather jarring really... I remain mildly optimistic that there will be some big reveal - surely there must be for a new generation? - but we'll see.
The lack of innovation is rather jarring really... I remain mildly optimistic that there will be some big reveal - surely there must be for a new generation? - but we'll see.
The headphone jack is significant IMO, if they go to bluetooth, and if they can do it and get very good battery life for the earphones. I have heard/read that they have been working on their own very low powered wireless standard for this.
The way I can imagine this playing out is in the short term we can all go for a run with earphones without a pesky wire. In the medium term we can all go for a run without the heavy phone (wireless headphones will work with the watch). And in the long term the watch can replace the phone for the majority of tasks, maybe we would just have a watch and a MacBook or iPad and no phone.
The way I can imagine this playing out is in the short term we can all go for a run with earphones without a pesky wire. In the medium term we can all go for a run without the heavy phone (wireless headphones will work with the watch). And in the long term the watch can replace the phone for the majority of tasks, maybe we would just have a watch and a MacBook or iPad and no phone.
Dan_1981 said:
What's left to do with phones that will be such a big improvement though?
Well, that's the thing. Historically it's been Apple who have introduced things that consumers by and large didn't realise they were missing until they saw and experienced it. It's been a while since that's happened, I feel. Seems to be all about spec bumps and arbitrary thinness now. Is that innovation? Is it innovation when that's everyone elses roadmap too?
Dan_1981 said:
What's left to do with phones that will be such a big improvement though?
Are there any more game changers to be done?
Dunno, Augmented Reality, VR, built in projector, folding\bendy screens you know the stuff that's "been coming" since the smartphone was first invented and still not arrived. Have to agree with the poster above, Apple are not innovative anymore when they used to be. Are there any more game changers to be done?
Using other peoples generic parts is part of the problem as it's hard to differentiate when you are using the same Intel\Arm chips or displays as everyone else. Their other ace in the whole was the sleek design and ergonomics but everyone else has essentially caught up on that too so no unique components and no unique design anymore and yet they still charge the "Apple premium". They are living on past glories I think which will only get them so far.
Guvernator said:
Dan_1981 said:
What's left to do with phones that will be such a big improvement though?
Are there any more game changers to be done?
Dunno, Augmented Reality, VR, built in projector, folding\bendy screens you know the stuff that's "been coming" since the smartphone was first invented and still not arrived. Have to agree with the poster above, Apple are not innovative anymore when they used to be. Are there any more game changers to be done?
Using other peoples generic parts is part of the problem as it's hard to differentiate when you are using the same Intel\Arm chips or displays as everyone else. Their other ace in the whole was the sleek design and ergonomics but everyone else has essentially caught up on that too so no unique components and no unique design anymore and yet they still charge the "Apple premium". They are living on past glories I think which will only get them so far.
I have an upgrade due in January so I'll be upgrading then. I've only ever had apple phones so the 7 is the obvious choice..
I was given a Samsung Galaxy something or other as a works phone to replace an ageing 4s and I found android to be terrible, too many adverts and pop ups and too clunky and difficult to use. This is just my opinion but I won't be going back to android anytime soon.
Windows OS can suck a chode...
I was given a Samsung Galaxy something or other as a works phone to replace an ageing 4s and I found android to be terrible, too many adverts and pop ups and too clunky and difficult to use. This is just my opinion but I won't be going back to android anytime soon.
Windows OS can suck a chode...
Apple have been using their own Ax SoCs since iPhone 4 I think?
Their biggest problem nowadays is that Android has a far bigger marketshare, which is continually eating into Apples. Apple are - in my opinion - resting on their laurels, though with their however-many-hundred billion war chest you can see why they're playing it safe.
They also suffer I think from the fact that people are getting savvier & more demanding, and gone are the days where an Android phone would be a pale imitation of an iPhone, or flat out worse from a build quality, reliability or performance point of view. Samsung et al make some really exceptional quality phones now. The almost total lack of customisation feels more and more antiquated and parochial.
That said they are still very popular and the new one will sell like hot cakes.
Their biggest problem nowadays is that Android has a far bigger marketshare, which is continually eating into Apples. Apple are - in my opinion - resting on their laurels, though with their however-many-hundred billion war chest you can see why they're playing it safe.
They also suffer I think from the fact that people are getting savvier & more demanding, and gone are the days where an Android phone would be a pale imitation of an iPhone, or flat out worse from a build quality, reliability or performance point of view. Samsung et al make some really exceptional quality phones now. The almost total lack of customisation feels more and more antiquated and parochial.
That said they are still very popular and the new one will sell like hot cakes.
I always go for the S version so I'll wait another year for the 7S before buying. I'm worried about the no jack though. I have wired B&W P5 headphones which I run into a headphone amp and then wire that to my 6S. Even if they do an adaptor for the lightning port, I'd still not be able to charge and listen at the same time.
I'm tied into Apple for now as I have a Zeppelin dock but I have been tempted away from iPhones recently. I'm really fed up with not being able to just easily Windows explorer music and pictures around. I don't even own a computer/laptop at home now for the more advanced iTunes stuff but the software has given me grey hairs in the past. I just can't get away with Android though so I'll be a sheep next year and complain about Apple but still shell out for the sexy shiny new 7S as usual.
I'm tied into Apple for now as I have a Zeppelin dock but I have been tempted away from iPhones recently. I'm really fed up with not being able to just easily Windows explorer music and pictures around. I don't even own a computer/laptop at home now for the more advanced iTunes stuff but the software has given me grey hairs in the past. I just can't get away with Android though so I'll be a sheep next year and complain about Apple but still shell out for the sexy shiny new 7S as usual.
Didn't know that about the phone processors but my point still stands, the rest of the world have caught up on phones, tablets and laptops, especially in the areas of design, build quality and ergonomics where Apple were traditionally strong so how do they justify the premium now? The phones\tablets aren't so bad as they are at least on a par with others but on the laptop and computer side you are paying a premium for hardware which is 2 generations behind now.
I think again the poster above hit the nail on the head, they seem to be concentrating on the easy wins of the iterative fashionable consumer gadgets over innovation but they can't even get that right. The Apple Watch was a terrible product IMO in an area which should be a their forte now.
IMO they desperately need to
1) Bring out a new iphone that does something different to the sea of other smartphones
2) Bring out a Macbook Pro with a next gen chipset ASAP, they've probably missed the boat on Skylake already so should just concentrate on being first to market with a Kaby Lake laptop.
3) Ditto on the Desktop side.
4) Bring out an Apple Watch 2 asap and make sure it doesn't suck this time.
They have the money, sitting on their laurels and just bringing out the same old crap isn't good enough for someone of Apples financial clout and history.
I think again the poster above hit the nail on the head, they seem to be concentrating on the easy wins of the iterative fashionable consumer gadgets over innovation but they can't even get that right. The Apple Watch was a terrible product IMO in an area which should be a their forte now.
IMO they desperately need to
1) Bring out a new iphone that does something different to the sea of other smartphones
2) Bring out a Macbook Pro with a next gen chipset ASAP, they've probably missed the boat on Skylake already so should just concentrate on being first to market with a Kaby Lake laptop.
3) Ditto on the Desktop side.
4) Bring out an Apple Watch 2 asap and make sure it doesn't suck this time.
They have the money, sitting on their laurels and just bringing out the same old crap isn't good enough for someone of Apples financial clout and history.
I've got a launch day iPhone 6 with an ageing battery, so will be jumping in. At the time, I did toy with the idea of the 6 Plus, but due to lack of stock and not being 100% about the larger size, I played it safe and went with the 6. I'm now completely sure I want the larger phone, so will be going for the 7 Plus, or whatever they decide to call it.
If the rumours are true, the improved camera system sounds like a worthwhile upgrade for me (the 6 camera is basically the same as what was in the 5s) and the 3GB of RAM that's rumoured to coincide with it will be useful for overall phone performance.
Should still get £200 - £240 for my unlocked 6.
If the rumours are true, the improved camera system sounds like a worthwhile upgrade for me (the 6 camera is basically the same as what was in the 5s) and the 3GB of RAM that's rumoured to coincide with it will be useful for overall phone performance.
Should still get £200 - £240 for my unlocked 6.
My iphone wishlist -
- A proper dedicated notification LED - not the bloody camera flash!
- Genuine functionality that allows you to move files about without hindrance
- Faster scrolling speeds - scrolling on an iOS device is *SUCH* a frustrating experience. You can actually tell, without seeing the phone, when someone is using an iPhone - just by the finger / hand movements in scrolling.
TheJimi said:
My iphone wishlist -
So not "no headphone jack"...?- A proper dedicated notification LED - not the bloody camera flash!
- Genuine functionality that allows you to move files about without hindrance
- Faster scrolling speeds - scrolling on an iOS device is *SUCH* a frustrating experience. You can actually tell, without seeing the phone, when someone is using an iPhone - just by the finger / hand movements in scrolling.
Altrezia said:
TheJimi said:
My iphone wishlist -
So not "no headphone jack"...?- A proper dedicated notification LED - not the bloody camera flash!
- Genuine functionality that allows you to move files about without hindrance
- Faster scrolling speeds - scrolling on an iOS device is *SUCH* a frustrating experience. You can actually tell, without seeing the phone, when someone is using an iPhone - just by the finger / hand movements in scrolling.
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