Last week in tech:
Main Topic: pApple
Source
Yesterday, Apple had its September Event where it generally reveals new products, almost certainly a new iPhone is expected every year and maybe a new iPad, Watch or Mac(book).
This time we've had the iPhone and the Watch (oh and some wireless EarPod headsets that are 159$ a pair).
I won't go into details about what Apple revealed, you can see it here. I listed Apple as the main topic for today from a debate reason not to repeat what has been mentioned on hundreds of other websites.
Apple is going down
There may be many things good about Apple and I really don't want to emphasize the Steve Jobs wagon, but i really think he's turning in his grave right now seeing what has come of his company. The momentum he created until 2011 is starting to fade away as no real innovation exists in Apple anymore. Apple is no longer special in my books.
Think Different has become Milk the cow (differently)
Let me put things a bit into perspective. I've had an iPhone since the 3G. Yes, I jumped in from the 2nd iPhone as I waited to see what is coming out of it and not jump on board head first. Ever since, I've had almost every iphone there was (3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 6, 6Plus), I have an iPad and a macbook. You can call me an Apple fanboy, it's OK as there were a few good reasons why I had them so far:
- Apple has(had) good build quality products. Up until the iPhone 6, no iPhone broke on me or my friends or family. As of the iPhone 6 and on, we've had to warranty them as they would go dark out of the blue, home button would break, case bent, etc. at least twice every phone we have.
- All of my family and friends have iPhones and since we're spread all over the world, it's very convenient for us to keep in touch via iMessage, Facetime etc. with just a touch of a button. This lingers from the early days when no other reliable video call apps existed (pre-facebook/watsapp/skype etc.).
- The ecosystem created (stuff syncs to each other) and OS features. iOS is(was) a great OS, packed with superb GUI, simple to use and sh!tloads of apps.
I've started to reconsider my fan craze position from the moment they launched the 5c back in 2013. I was looking forward to new hardware but didn't really want to spend all that money on a new one. And I got shut down. The iPhone 5c was a mere 100$ off the main, flagship phone, at the time of the launch. That was just crazy money to pay for a plastic phone and that's when I started to realize that Apple is beginning it's decline, from a company that is focused on innovation, on creating products with the customer in mind to a company that needs to keep its stockholders happy and make as much money as possible.
I still have an iPhone, I still like their products, but I'm no longer super excited about them, i don't love them anymore. I remember an article a couple years back that described the Apple Events like this:
Open scene: applause. We get Tim Cook on the stage. He starts with some stats that x million iPhones were sold, then x billion apps were downloaded, then he invites someone to introduce the new iPhone, or iPad, or Macbook. Then we get a live demo of the iPhone or iPad or Macbook. Then we get Tim Cook again inviting someone else to introduce the new iPhone, or iPad, or Macbook. Repeat.
Then we have Tim ending with a standard praise that this is the best iPhone or iPad or Macbook yet, and the most powerful iPhone or iPad or Macbook that ever existed and the best iPhone or iPad or Macbook anyone can want.
Are you seeing it? It's the same thing over and over, year after year. Madness. But they are taking it one step further.
Here's a list of things that really blow it for me:
- Up until this year's new iPhone, 16Gb was the memory of the first iteration, literally forcing you to pay 100$ for the 32/64 Gb. version
- They only refresh products that sell a lot (to make money a lot) like iPhones. Macbooks haven't seen a revamp in years, iPads are almost dead too, the AppleTV had to wait like what, 5 years for an iteration?
- Accessories cost a fortune. Does Apple really expect us to pay 20$ for an original charging cable? Not to mention that this year they've done it again. First they remove the 3.5mm jack (I can't say I'm a fan of that but still) then they decide to sell a pair of wireless headphones that cost 159$. Really Apple? It's either I listen to music without being able to charge my phone (through the lightning port) or pay 160 bucks for some tiny headphones that I will surely lose in the first week (they so tiny)?
"The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus dramatically improve every aspect of the iPhone experience, reaching a new level of innovation and precision."
No it doesn't, it's the same form factor, aspect and 98% of the functionality of the previous iPhone. Little has changed to call it dramatic improvement. Being able to play Mario is a dramatic improvement? Pokemon Go on the Watch is a dramatic improvement?
All in all, to end today's main Tech Thursday topic, I'm saying this:
I believe Apple has lost its innovation spirit and no longer focuses on me, the consumer, but on my money, cornering my wallet. Typical milking the cash cow attitude that will kill the company over time. Time to get the oldies box out and look for my old Nokia :)
Other Tech news from the past week:
Google is shutting down the Ara modular phone project. Link
Tesla gets $300 million lease credit line from Deutsche Bank. Link
Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 worldwide due to exploding battery fears. Link
BRAZZERS sees leak that leaves 800,000 users exposed. Link
Cuba is blocking text messages that contain words like 'democracy'.Link
Rocket explodes on launch pad in blow to Elon Musk's SpaceX.Link
Microsoft working on Skype Teams, its own Slack competitor.Link
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