Where's Apple Inc. going?

[Tiuno]

Hello guys,

I am a mac enthousiast, I own a MacBook Pro 13" because I needed mobility and stability otherwise I'd have build a hackintosh. I've been using mac for around nineteen years now and great experience, absolutely great. Time has passed on, new technologies had been found and gone cheap but where's now Apple going?​

I mean when I first heard this sentence : "Apple's philosophy of not what you want, but Apple knows what's best for you" I started to think. I've been searching, now for a while, comparing my old computers, phones, with actuals and competitors and I can not say that the above sentence is absolutely false. What I'm trying to say is that whoever want the Mac experience, be it on your computer, phone or tablet is going to be forced to do what Apple wants, here's an example. I bought an iPhone 4S and it's battery is gone bad now and since it's under warranty I went my local Apple Genius bar. They tested the battery and told they could change the phone free of charge, I thought that's was great, but the Genius noticed I still have iOS 5 and he told that the new handset would have iOS 6 preinstalled. Since I'm avoiding iOS 6 because of it's amazing maps app, and I must say, this is a potential magnificent mobile OS but it's unfinished, I asked for the battery to be replaced and guess what they said! No, their answer was no because it was under warranty and the procedure was to replace the handset so I'm supposed to wait until the warranty finishes and pay for a battery replacement! Come on what's that???

And it's the same OS X ML is great but unfinished! Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display is poorly designed as well as all of Apple's new product! They sued Samsung for copying the iPad well, but what's with new iPod's nano resemblance with Nokia's Lumia 900 or older Samsung's first touch MP3 player? So where is our dear "Apple, think different" going, what I first liked of Apple was that it worked no matter what happened and there was an amazing manufacturing quality. Everything of that is now gone.

The ethics are now a problem too, Foxconn, please who can be ok with that! Plus it's not free software we're talking about here, it's a choice, and it's my choice because Apple gives me a solution I like that free software doesn't gives me, I must clear out that I'm not talking of free as price but as free of expression. So we are now forced to use Apple's products the way Apple wants or use alternatives that do not work properly.

To conclude, here are my problems, Apple Inc.'s quality is going to waste, with bad ethics, so what would you do, think or have to say. Perhaps I'm just too old fashioned to evolve at Apple Inc.'s rhythm or the this is really going to waste!

 

[Tuscarora]

Well I always used to like Apple and their OS is still my system of choice.

That being said their mobile devices and hardware do nothing for me any more. All pants and no knickers, they're overpriced rubbish with crippled feature set. I don't like the direction the company's been headed in since they started to cater to iDiots, and they've become the poster child for mindless consumerism... unfortunately I don't see myself running Mac OS in ten years time - hopefully there'll be something by then that'll act as a decent replacement.

Where are they going? Locked down, disposable toys, exorbitantly priced symbols of desire and status. They're selling a lifestyle and it's not one that appeals to me. I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for hackintosh. Linux?

 

[corvaxmuzzy]

And...is there an "Introduce Yourself" thread hidden somewhere here?

 

[kiyyto]

Apple is still the best, but I hear what you are saying.

I am the LAST person to agree with the sentiment that Steve Jobs was the mojo of Apple and without him there is nothing but ashes...

but I am seeing problems that I didn't see when he was directing the products.

For one, I don't think that the iPhone 5 is as aesthetically pleasing as the iPhone 4.
iPhone is probably the most important thing to Apple and I really am not impressed with the iPhone 5.
It is not a bad phone, not at all, it just isn't any better than the 4 imho.

Steve Jobs was not a God, and he was not even unique.
He ruled his company with vision and authority. They need to find a guy who can do the same. A lot of Apple's shine (to me) comes from their old mantra, think different (especially when different = better).

All I see happening at Apple right now is riding the success they've created... no real innovation or "cool" if you will.

OS X is still great
iOS and iPhone are still great

but... where are they going?
I really haven't seen the need to upgrade anything Apple since the iPhone 4 and my 2007 Macbook Pro.

I hope that there is more "amazing" coming down the pipeline soon because my eyes are straying.

 

[Tiuno]

Sadly, I believe that Apple's new destination is commercial success, and now they're there, they want to keep their position. Is it something good? Well I'm afraid not, because Apple is willing to do anything for this, and forgetting what they're selling and creating. Just sell. No matter is they have to wreck all their products just to work fine with Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, you may expect that from an iPod or even an iPhone all the mobile devices but not a computer, a computer is a working tool, not a procrastinating one. Why would a developer, engineer, scientist, designer would want all of this? Of course you can a add it as a plus but not make it it's main purpose!

 

[Tiuno]

I wonder what do Tony and MacMan thinks about this topic.

 

[Catahula]

It's interesting. Hackintoshes are not perceived as "Cool" by the public at large, or even the tech set. Those (us) that think they are cool are a very, very small minority.

On the other hand, the MBP is a (fashion) necessity for so many people. And in certain circles, the MP Is a must have accessory.

You can argue the other brands are ugly, that you are used to OSX, but think about it- If you were running SL two years ago, you probably had to update (read: Buy new software) everything when you updated to ML. Did you really want to pay money to change everything up (that was already functional)? IF your answer is "yes", Apple loves YOU.

All I know is, when the towers were made in the USA (or Singapore), they lasted for more than 5 years. Now, they are made in china with a one year warranty. I don't trust a company that won't warranty its products properly. When you spend upwards of $1k on a product, you would hope to get a few good years of service from it.

The thing I've noticed most about my hacks is (the little dell excepted, though it still works pretty well) they tend to be more stable than my recent Apple products; fewer kernel panics, etc. And we know that you can make a more powerful machine for less $ if you put it together (and we all know it ain't hard to do). But faster and cheaper isn't want people want: they want the style and status of Apple.

I'm not upgrading anything past SL. IF I get a new operating system, it'll be Linux, probably Fedora. The walled garden my be beautiful, but I don't care for walls.

 

[Tiuno]

I agree with you! Snow Leopard is the latest really acceptable OS X version! And Fedora would be my a Linux alternative as well. We sure have an alternative as far as desktop computers are concerned but what can we say for laptops? We don't seem to have so stable portable hackintoshses. I need desperately to move all the time but there are no mobile alternatives for OS X.

Update : I believe that is up to us users to change this, the business world is never gonna help us. Tonymacx86 has started a great job and we couldn't go any further as far as installing the OS. Laptops are so variable that we'd need to focus on a particular compatible model. Then I'm starting to think what can we possibly do to change this whole thing. What's going to waste here is the OS and I wonder how can we work on it.

 

[Einsteiniac]

Hello guys,

I am a mac enthousiast, I own a MacBook Pro 13" because I needed mobility and stability otherwise I'd have build a hackintosh. I've been using mac for around nineteen years now and great experience, absolutely great. Time has passed on, new technologies had been found and gone cheap but where's now Apple going?​

I mean when I first heard this sentence : "Apple's philosophy of not what you want, but Apple knows what's best for you" I started to think. I've been searching, now for a while, comparing my old computers, phones, with actuals and competitors and I can not say that the above sentence is absolutely false. What I'm trying to say is that whoever want the Mac experience, be it on your computer, phone or tablet is going to be forced to do what Apple wants, here's an example. I bought an iPhone 4S and it's battery is gone bad now and since it's under warranty I went my local Apple Genius bar. They tested the battery and told they could change the phone free of charge, I thought that's was great, but the Genius noticed I still have iOS 5 and he told that the new handset would have iOS 6 preinstalled. Since I'm avoiding iOS 6 because of it's amazing maps app, and I must say, this is a potential magnificent mobile OS but it's unfinished, I asked for the battery to be replaced and guess what they said! No, their answer was no because it was under warranty and the procedure was to replace the handset so I'm supposed to wait until the warranty finishes and pay for a battery replacement! Come on what's that???

And it's the same OS X ML is great but unfinished! Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display is poorly designed as well as all of Apple's new product! They sued Samsung for copying the iPad well, but what's with new iPod's nano resemblance with Nokia's Lumia 900 or older Samsung's first touch MP3 player? So where is our dear "Apple, think different" going, what I first liked of Apple was that it worked no matter what happened and there was an amazing manufacturing quality. Everything of that is now gone.

The ethics are now a problem too, Foxconn, please who can be ok with that! Plus it's not free software we're talking about here, it's a choice, and it's my choice because Apple gives me a solution I like that free software doesn't gives me, I must clear out that I'm not talking of free as price but as free of expression. So we are now forced to use Apple's products the way Apple wants or use alternatives that do not work properly.

To conclude, here are my problems, Apple Inc.'s quality is going to waste, with bad ethics, so what would you do, think or have to say. Perhaps I'm just too old fashioned to evolve at Apple Inc.'s rhythm or the this is really going to waste!

Even when Apple does a "Battery Replacement" they still just issue you a new phone. The Genius doesn't actually ever take-apart your product and install a battery. It is cheaper and easier to send things out and get refurbished then it is to repair them in-house.

Secondly this Foxconn debate is a debate for EVERYONE. There isn't a single major electronics manufacturer that doesn't use some sort of this labor. These practices took place when Jobs was at the helm as well nothing has changed here and I doubt anything will. Apple gets placed with all the blame because Apple is Foxconn's biggest client plain and simple. At the end of the day Apple has no control on how a third party will treat their employees other than to move their business elsewhere. Foxconn knows that that won't happen so they have little incentive to give up their massive profits. Sure Apple can and has subsidized some of these workers pay but again this isn't an Apple problem it's a Chinese government problem.(Withstanding Apple leaving to yet another factory that practices the same behaviors.)

Long story short spend $30 bucks on a battery and replace it yourself it takes all of 5 minutes. Either that or Apple replace your phone. Also the reason they can't give you one with iOS 5 is because of the aforementioned refurbishing process. That said the vast majority of people I know that actually USE the maps app have had ZERO issues. The biggest thing I have personally noticed is if I am somewhere and am looking for something the results aren't as good as they were. For instance the other day I wanted kfc. I typed kfc into the app. It only found 2 really far away. Did it again typing kentucky fried chicken and it found the ones closer to me. A nuance yes but things that will change. I have NEVER been failed by actually typing an address though. My job involves me driving to 5-8 different locations a day only by address as well. So yes you can say I live by the maps app.

Be very weary of the crap you read in the blogosphere. These outlets have only one goal and that is viewership. If they can run controversial stories and show the industry giant has somehow failed then they will as it get eyes. The real indicator in my mind of the health of a company is only by quarterly reports and stock market performance. Those have done nothing but go up since Jobs.

 

[Einsteiniac]

I like Apple generally speaking, but I too am very concerned about the new direction the company has gone since Tim Cook has taken the helm.

Here is the problem, In my opinion, Apple has a duty to make a professional line of updated products, not just flashy and useless like they currently are. Apple stands on the brink of becoming another B&O (Bang and Oulfsen), while releasing an overpriced MacBook Pro with a moderately dated Kepler Graphics card and a complete failure to update their line of MacPros and iMacs. Waiting around for 2013 is NOT what they should be doing. Get the new line out, and out quickly.
It seems that Apple rather focus on the trendy, hip prosumer than the cutting edge professional. Who needs a 2880x1600 screen at 15.4", when a person doing pro video editing will want more graphics real-estate like on the 17" model Apple just canned. There was nothing wrong with the previous i7, 17" MacBook pro!
As if the fiery response by director Peter Jackson wasn't enough to Tim Cook.... :-o

After listening to many workers who currently work alongside Apple here in South Korea, it is readily apparent that
Apple has become EXTREMELY arrogant as a company, to the point that it now refuses to listen to any of it's employees including the app developers.

Something has got to change, and change fast!

First and foremost you contradict yourself in the above quote. First you say they have a duty to make profession and updated products. Then you go on say that there was nothing wrong with the previous 17" laptop.

People like to armchair quarterback all day and don't know the actual reasoning behind why a certain decision is made. As you probably know Apple doesn't manufacture anything except cases and motherboard designs. EVERYTHING else Apple uses are technologies other companies create. That said Apple is very good at making a product someone else makes and making it something that the original manufacturer only dreamed of.

You mention the kepler graphics. That is still a great video card. Apple has NEVER put in top of the line mobile GPU's and I am not sure why you would expect them to. They aren't creating gaming laptops they create professional laptops and that card is just fine for mobile professionals. If it isn't then your job requires a laptop that is 3" thick or a desktop plain and simple.

The lack of a MacPro is mainly because there honestly is no reason to rev them. Intel's current lineup of Xeon's aren't a huge change from what exists. Sure they have cooler stuff but it is designed for Server markets not high end desktop markets. So that said for them to invest such a large cost in a machine that will yield an end-user only USB3 and SATA3 and newer graphics cards it makes no sense for a refresh until Intel has something that is worth it. The MacPro is a very low volume machine, I think they made the right choice by dumping the prices and thats it. Even by todays standards it is still a fast machine a little spendy sure but Apple has a placed a value for what a machine of that caliber costs and they need to stick by it. If they dump the entry levels way down it lowers the perceived value of the MacPro brand and that ISN'T good for business. This is the longest they have ever gone without a refresh to this product line and it needs a refresh the problem again lies in vendors ability to supply new technology for Apple to package.

The iMac's in my opinion have been kept back in anticipation of a new display from a vendor. We shall see though. The mac mini won't get refreshed until the iMac does as they don't want those to have better features than the iMac.