Loved the take on our post, Stone! - I think the arguments you made here capture the full essence of your perspective: "There have been very few - if any - high-value innovations during his leadership. Honestly, aside from maybe ‘Apple Pay,’ I cannot think of one."
My two cents here: I guess this was Steve Jobs plan when he hired Tim Cooks in '98. Tim Cooks is a veteran at Operations and was hired to lead Sales & Operations far from the fruits of innovation and design reaped by Steve Jobs era. I'd say Tim Cooks has managed to navigate the company well by leaning on his skills in Operations. But that has also sort of put Apple in the Innovation Gulf.
Thanks so much, Uttam! I appreciate the feedback, especially coming from someone with your obvious expertise. You and Amrita post such insightful AND accessible articles, you both encourage neophytes like myself to dig deeper.
Thanx Stone. I have been a Mac owner since 1995 and an iPhone owner since 2010, and my current devices (MacBookAir & iPhone SE, both 2017) are victims of Apple's ~7 year built-in obsolesence - they will not run the latest OS, and security updates will end soon.
For various reasons, I have decided not to buy further Apple products, and am searching for alternatives. As a 19th Century Refugee, I'm proud of my neo-Ludditeism and wish I had the freedom to replace neither. Alas, modern life requires me to, so I'm exploring Linux devices, which are not user-friendly, and Linux phones aren't even ready for primary device usage yet. Someone suggested getting a used Lenovo ThinkPad 700 series (apparently one of the most secure devices ever made), wiping the HD and installing Linux. Just thinking about that process makes my palms sweaty!
I first bought in after the iPhone 5C was released in 2013; I was finally able to afford one LOL Since then I have been committed to Apple, except for computers - I am a PC loyalist, due to familiarity. iPhones, iPads, iPods (both Touch and Nano - man, I loved the Nano), I have had them all.
With that noted, I am pretty much where you are. I refuse to buy in to Android - no fan of Google, either - but aside from going old-school with a flip-phone the options are very challenging. But - like you - I am done with Apple once my current devices die off, which, as you noted, they will soon.
I read that article and reading yours, I can only say you’re right. The iPod had such potential (I think) but as is often the case, once there’s this aura of invincibility, the usual hubris follows. ‘People will buy our products because, you know, we’re Apple!’
Well, that was once but not anymore.
Of course, Steve Jobs can never be replaced but the current CEO doesn’t even come close.
And if I’m not mistaken, several designers have left the company over the years.
Well said, Joyce! Such hubris has brought down entire empires - which would, apparently, include the corporate variety. And you're correct - they have suffered a major drain of talented employees. It seems they have become addicted to bad choices.
Things from Apple I still like: Macbook Air, base model Ipad.....maybe iphone.
Things from Apple I don't like: Airpods, Apple Watch.....maybe iphone.
I like the Macbook Air base model because it's a really good computer for office work. Long battery life and doesn't bog down over time like every single Windows laptop I've ever had did. When the new model came out in 2022 I was able to buy the base model 2020 Macbook Air for $899, making it a good deal.
I like the base model ipad because my 7-year-old just got a new one after using and abusing one for four years. That's a great deal for $329. It doesn't slow down over time, and it's pretty tough. I had two different Android tablets a few years ago and both either started slow and laggy, or became slow and laggy soon afterwards.
Apple Airpods are garbage. I have the pro version and I hate them so much. The sound while listening to music is okay, but using them for zoom calls has been unworkable because the quality of the microphone is trash, and they often give distortion and feedback. And when it comes to connecting, they're a big pain in the ass.
Iphone I'm somewhat ambivalent about. They work well, but the camera isn't particularly fast and honestly Samsung does way more innovating than Apple does.
As I mentioned in the article, never have been a Mac user; I started with computers in 1994 working with PCs exclusively, and I just kind of got used to them. Also, much MUCH cheaper LOL And I honestly still love my base-model iPad, had a Samsung tablet that was wretched.
I have used both Android and iOS phones, and still think the latter is superior overall, although I do not love it like I used to. And - like you - I do not relish giving ANY data to the biggest purveyor on data on the planet (meaning Google, natch).
Glad to hear I am not the only one less-than-enchanted with AirPods; seriously, what a cluster-mess of a product!
Thanks for the great comment, sorry it took so long to reply.
It’s happening. Apple is going down the drain. There I said it. I have 3 Apple TV’s I use very little. I have an Apple watch I almost never wear. I have Apple Airpods Pro I never use. I have an Ipad Pro collecting dust. They’re rapidly being relegated to expensive paper weights.
I so hear you here! I'm now down to my iPhone SE 2 (which I have to use regularly for the 'job' job), and a standard iPad which I only use occasionally. Pretty much all of my online activities (which are now primarily based here on Substack) I have switched over to doing on my PC.
I can agree with some of the comments, but I think declaring Apple's demise is a bit early. Tim Cook has been a steady business CEO. Do not forget that he brought the company to be the first trillion-dollar company in the world (although they are second behind NVIDIA currently). One positive aspect of his leadership has been that Apple's Mac market share has grown steadily and last time I checked they were leading the laptop market.
As for the apparent lag in AI-related developments, wait for June's Developer Conference. They dropped enough hints and published enough papers to imply that they will have a grand entrance into the AI field. Admittedly, their AI venture will not be similar to Google or Microsoft/OpenAI, but I do not doubt they will both make money and turn out some cool AI-related products. Apple's "innovation" consists of taking technologies (which they did not necessarily invent, such as Touch technology, a currently expensive AR gadget etc.) and tying it to their eco-system so that all services work together seamlessly in the ecosystem. If you look at their position from this perspective, it is not a very negative one. 10% drop in share price... Well, let us check the record: 862% growth in the last 10 years, 253% in the last 5 years, not the best in the market but pretty good.
Tim Cook was smart to get his macbook product team to put in several features that made it attractive to IT departments. Primary one was cost of ownership. When factoring in Apple's built-in encryption and security, it lowered the cost of ownership for base model macbook pros and macbook airs to be around $200 less per year compared to windows laptops for our organization.
Prior to that, making your organization a Macbook organization was largely a vanity metric for high-profit tech companies. By making Macbook adoption a smart business choice, Apple opened the door to exposing many more casual users to Macbooks, leading to additional consumer sales from those previous PC users who decided they liked their work macbook enough to get one for their home use.
Well done sir. As a fellow Apple iPhone user, I can see and agree that nothing new or special has been introduced that hasn’t already taken the Android world by storm. I have used both android and Apple products and still have my favor leaning towards Apple. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment in the long run🤷🏼♂️. (Love the disclaimer!)
The main thing keeping me away from Android is that the amount of effort you have to go through to keep it from reporting way too much information back to the mothership at Google HQ.
LOL Thanks, brother. I may have to edit it down, pretty lengthy for a 'disclaimer' 😉
I too have been in both markets, and if I had to choose between the two I'd still take Apple every day 🤷🏻 Since my primary involvement is here on Substack now, I've been switching back to mostly working on my PC. Not as many bells and whistles, but I am getting used to it 😁
Great topic, where do we vote? Here's my humble take on this topic.
If y'all weren't PC literate by 2000 and we're a yuppie. Then you pretty much had to get Apple. It's kinda interesting looking back on this because coincidentally the online onboarding was in full effect so there was no choice in not complying. Next thing you know we're sucked into the www by sheer unwarranted necessity, correct?
The "simplicity" of the Apple vs PC was not only expensive and stylish. It made tech-illeterate people apear tech-intelligent. The rest is history.
Excellent observations, Orion! I had to work PCs for a job starting in 1994 (Microsoft 3.1 - mercy! LOL), so I got experienced with them pretty quickly due to that. Since I was never exposed to the Macs until after I was firmly embedded in Microsoft culture... I became a PC dude :-)
I can only IMAGINE how well it has worked out for you LOL
I am curious, though, due to your obvious foresight; considering the current trends, are you still bullish on Apple? I'd find your insights on this illuminating.
As I mentioned on your travel post - great to have you back, good sir! :-)
Thanks Stone. I have been out of Apple since near the peak in summer 2023. That decision was less about the stock itself and more about my retirement and desire to be in more of a cash position.
To some extent, Apple has always been a conspicuous consumption choice. Girls (some of them) wouldn't date you if you don't carry an iPhone, any «serious journalist» also needs to use Apple to signal their seriousness, etc., etc.
Well, as fewer young men are actively dating and mainstream journalism goes down the drain... at least some bastions of demand are eroded. Perhaps on the grand scale this doesn't mean much, just a few per cent, but still.
(Disclosure: had to use Apple products at work a long time ago, didn't like them. Never bought any myself.)
I hadn't really considered that angle, Rat, but I can see your point. Perhaps it IS only 'a few percent' but - at least with the 'journalists' - a once-influential percentage. As such, I think you might be onto something.
Insight and analysis are important. Apple 🍎 (Tim Cook it seems has neither). Though I also am an early adopter of the Apple user experience I am sorely disappointed and frustrated by much of this deterioration of a former key promulgator of “quality” in computing and communications devices. I miss the excitement of the period.
So do I, JRC. Me personally, I used to look forward to those Apple events like a kid waiting for Christmas. Before they streamed live, I'd watch CNet's (before it was bought by CBS) live coverage, and couldn't wait to see what was coming next. Now, I'm like, 'Meh.' In fact, I cannot remember the last time I actually got invested in one of their gatherings.
A shame, but when a company puts profits before innovation, they will eventually have neither.
I believe there are people who are born innovators and then there are people who are innovators as a result of their creativity and interests being encouraged and facilitated. As we hurtle into the future we really need to get on the 'nurturing innovator train'.
aka: "Why I won't upgrade my iPhone 6" Stock droops, innovation doesn't, products get more expensive. None of that matters. CEO "gay". End of discussion. Go ahead. Shoot me.
Loved the take on our post, Stone! - I think the arguments you made here capture the full essence of your perspective: "There have been very few - if any - high-value innovations during his leadership. Honestly, aside from maybe ‘Apple Pay,’ I cannot think of one."
My two cents here: I guess this was Steve Jobs plan when he hired Tim Cooks in '98. Tim Cooks is a veteran at Operations and was hired to lead Sales & Operations far from the fruits of innovation and design reaped by Steve Jobs era. I'd say Tim Cooks has managed to navigate the company well by leaning on his skills in Operations. But that has also sort of put Apple in the Innovation Gulf.
Thanks so much, Uttam! I appreciate the feedback, especially coming from someone with your obvious expertise. You and Amrita post such insightful AND accessible articles, you both encourage neophytes like myself to dig deeper.
And I agree with you 100% on Cook :-)
Thanx Stone. I have been a Mac owner since 1995 and an iPhone owner since 2010, and my current devices (MacBookAir & iPhone SE, both 2017) are victims of Apple's ~7 year built-in obsolesence - they will not run the latest OS, and security updates will end soon.
For various reasons, I have decided not to buy further Apple products, and am searching for alternatives. As a 19th Century Refugee, I'm proud of my neo-Ludditeism and wish I had the freedom to replace neither. Alas, modern life requires me to, so I'm exploring Linux devices, which are not user-friendly, and Linux phones aren't even ready for primary device usage yet. Someone suggested getting a used Lenovo ThinkPad 700 series (apparently one of the most secure devices ever made), wiping the HD and installing Linux. Just thinking about that process makes my palms sweaty!
Woe is me!
I first bought in after the iPhone 5C was released in 2013; I was finally able to afford one LOL Since then I have been committed to Apple, except for computers - I am a PC loyalist, due to familiarity. iPhones, iPads, iPods (both Touch and Nano - man, I loved the Nano), I have had them all.
With that noted, I am pretty much where you are. I refuse to buy in to Android - no fan of Google, either - but aside from going old-school with a flip-phone the options are very challenging. But - like you - I am done with Apple once my current devices die off, which, as you noted, they will soon.
Great comment, Doc - thanks!
I read that article and reading yours, I can only say you’re right. The iPod had such potential (I think) but as is often the case, once there’s this aura of invincibility, the usual hubris follows. ‘People will buy our products because, you know, we’re Apple!’
Well, that was once but not anymore.
Of course, Steve Jobs can never be replaced but the current CEO doesn’t even come close.
And if I’m not mistaken, several designers have left the company over the years.
Sic transit gloria mundi
Well said, Joyce! Such hubris has brought down entire empires - which would, apparently, include the corporate variety. And you're correct - they have suffered a major drain of talented employees. It seems they have become addicted to bad choices.
Some innovators, artists and creators just can’t be replaced.
That is so very true, Charlotte - and I think Jobs qualifies for that distinction. :-)
When we lost Jobs we lost a world. 😢
Things from Apple I still like: Macbook Air, base model Ipad.....maybe iphone.
Things from Apple I don't like: Airpods, Apple Watch.....maybe iphone.
I like the Macbook Air base model because it's a really good computer for office work. Long battery life and doesn't bog down over time like every single Windows laptop I've ever had did. When the new model came out in 2022 I was able to buy the base model 2020 Macbook Air for $899, making it a good deal.
I like the base model ipad because my 7-year-old just got a new one after using and abusing one for four years. That's a great deal for $329. It doesn't slow down over time, and it's pretty tough. I had two different Android tablets a few years ago and both either started slow and laggy, or became slow and laggy soon afterwards.
Apple Airpods are garbage. I have the pro version and I hate them so much. The sound while listening to music is okay, but using them for zoom calls has been unworkable because the quality of the microphone is trash, and they often give distortion and feedback. And when it comes to connecting, they're a big pain in the ass.
Iphone I'm somewhat ambivalent about. They work well, but the camera isn't particularly fast and honestly Samsung does way more innovating than Apple does.
As I mentioned in the article, never have been a Mac user; I started with computers in 1994 working with PCs exclusively, and I just kind of got used to them. Also, much MUCH cheaper LOL And I honestly still love my base-model iPad, had a Samsung tablet that was wretched.
I have used both Android and iOS phones, and still think the latter is superior overall, although I do not love it like I used to. And - like you - I do not relish giving ANY data to the biggest purveyor on data on the planet (meaning Google, natch).
Glad to hear I am not the only one less-than-enchanted with AirPods; seriously, what a cluster-mess of a product!
Thanks for the great comment, sorry it took so long to reply.
It’s happening. Apple is going down the drain. There I said it. I have 3 Apple TV’s I use very little. I have an Apple watch I almost never wear. I have Apple Airpods Pro I never use. I have an Ipad Pro collecting dust. They’re rapidly being relegated to expensive paper weights.
I so hear you here! I'm now down to my iPhone SE 2 (which I have to use regularly for the 'job' job), and a standard iPad which I only use occasionally. Pretty much all of my online activities (which are now primarily based here on Substack) I have switched over to doing on my PC.
Liberating, like 1997 all over again ;-)
I can agree with some of the comments, but I think declaring Apple's demise is a bit early. Tim Cook has been a steady business CEO. Do not forget that he brought the company to be the first trillion-dollar company in the world (although they are second behind NVIDIA currently). One positive aspect of his leadership has been that Apple's Mac market share has grown steadily and last time I checked they were leading the laptop market.
As for the apparent lag in AI-related developments, wait for June's Developer Conference. They dropped enough hints and published enough papers to imply that they will have a grand entrance into the AI field. Admittedly, their AI venture will not be similar to Google or Microsoft/OpenAI, but I do not doubt they will both make money and turn out some cool AI-related products. Apple's "innovation" consists of taking technologies (which they did not necessarily invent, such as Touch technology, a currently expensive AR gadget etc.) and tying it to their eco-system so that all services work together seamlessly in the ecosystem. If you look at their position from this perspective, it is not a very negative one. 10% drop in share price... Well, let us check the record: 862% growth in the last 10 years, 253% in the last 5 years, not the best in the market but pretty good.
Tim Cook was smart to get his macbook product team to put in several features that made it attractive to IT departments. Primary one was cost of ownership. When factoring in Apple's built-in encryption and security, it lowered the cost of ownership for base model macbook pros and macbook airs to be around $200 less per year compared to windows laptops for our organization.
Prior to that, making your organization a Macbook organization was largely a vanity metric for high-profit tech companies. By making Macbook adoption a smart business choice, Apple opened the door to exposing many more casual users to Macbooks, leading to additional consumer sales from those previous PC users who decided they liked their work macbook enough to get one for their home use.
Well done sir. As a fellow Apple iPhone user, I can see and agree that nothing new or special has been introduced that hasn’t already taken the Android world by storm. I have used both android and Apple products and still have my favor leaning towards Apple. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment in the long run🤷🏼♂️. (Love the disclaimer!)
The main thing keeping me away from Android is that the amount of effort you have to go through to keep it from reporting way too much information back to the mothership at Google HQ.
LOL Thanks, brother. I may have to edit it down, pretty lengthy for a 'disclaimer' 😉
I too have been in both markets, and if I had to choose between the two I'd still take Apple every day 🤷🏻 Since my primary involvement is here on Substack now, I've been switching back to mostly working on my PC. Not as many bells and whistles, but I am getting used to it 😁
Always great to see you here, thanks so much!
Great topic, where do we vote? Here's my humble take on this topic.
If y'all weren't PC literate by 2000 and we're a yuppie. Then you pretty much had to get Apple. It's kinda interesting looking back on this because coincidentally the online onboarding was in full effect so there was no choice in not complying. Next thing you know we're sucked into the www by sheer unwarranted necessity, correct?
The "simplicity" of the Apple vs PC was not only expensive and stylish. It made tech-illeterate people apear tech-intelligent. The rest is history.
Excellent observations, Orion! I had to work PCs for a job starting in 1994 (Microsoft 3.1 - mercy! LOL), so I got experienced with them pretty quickly due to that. Since I was never exposed to the Macs until after I was firmly embedded in Microsoft culture... I became a PC dude :-)
Thanks, yep, you get it.
see this a lot, after a Visionary dies or retires the quality of the establishment as the whole goes with him.
Indeed, Rex - far too often it occurs. Appreciate the observation 🫡
Apple—best stock I ever bought—bar none. Thanks Stone for an epic one.
I can only IMAGINE how well it has worked out for you LOL
I am curious, though, due to your obvious foresight; considering the current trends, are you still bullish on Apple? I'd find your insights on this illuminating.
As I mentioned on your travel post - great to have you back, good sir! :-)
Thanks Stone. I have been out of Apple since near the peak in summer 2023. That decision was less about the stock itself and more about my retirement and desire to be in more of a cash position.
Do I need to buy an accessory for that?
LOL!
To some extent, Apple has always been a conspicuous consumption choice. Girls (some of them) wouldn't date you if you don't carry an iPhone, any «serious journalist» also needs to use Apple to signal their seriousness, etc., etc.
Well, as fewer young men are actively dating and mainstream journalism goes down the drain... at least some bastions of demand are eroded. Perhaps on the grand scale this doesn't mean much, just a few per cent, but still.
(Disclosure: had to use Apple products at work a long time ago, didn't like them. Never bought any myself.)
I hadn't really considered that angle, Rat, but I can see your point. Perhaps it IS only 'a few percent' but - at least with the 'journalists' - a once-influential percentage. As such, I think you might be onto something.
Thanks for the sharp observation!
Insight and analysis are important. Apple 🍎 (Tim Cook it seems has neither). Though I also am an early adopter of the Apple user experience I am sorely disappointed and frustrated by much of this deterioration of a former key promulgator of “quality” in computing and communications devices. I miss the excitement of the period.
So do I, JRC. Me personally, I used to look forward to those Apple events like a kid waiting for Christmas. Before they streamed live, I'd watch CNet's (before it was bought by CBS) live coverage, and couldn't wait to see what was coming next. Now, I'm like, 'Meh.' In fact, I cannot remember the last time I actually got invested in one of their gatherings.
A shame, but when a company puts profits before innovation, they will eventually have neither.
Historical evidence abounds.
Great post Stone - thank you!
I believe there are people who are born innovators and then there are people who are innovators as a result of their creativity and interests being encouraged and facilitated. As we hurtle into the future we really need to get on the 'nurturing innovator train'.
'Nurturing innovator train...' Oh, I like that, Janet! ☺️
Thanks for the great comment, appreciate you!
aka: "Why I won't upgrade my iPhone 6" Stock droops, innovation doesn't, products get more expensive. None of that matters. CEO "gay". End of discussion. Go ahead. Shoot me.