How can Apple become "sexy" again?

[crab0]

Re: petty reason...

Just start all your apps on page 2?

Lol never thought of that, thanks! I still prefer my one empty page on my Android phone but that's definitely helped my OCD calm down a bit

 

[Anteaus]

They need a new killer piece of hardware that hits an untapped market. There is nothing that can be done with the iPhone that can make it feel new and unique anymore. Android can do everything iOS does and in some cases better. Apple still wins with hardware, but that isn't going to prob the profit margin up for much longer.

Myself, I believe that Apple needs to get back into the iMac market and bring a machine that can compete at the $500-$700 level. For the past 10 years Apple has priced themselves out of the mainstream, and getting rid of the regular Macbook only made it worse. I think a new OS and a back to basics attitude with the mac they can remind people why Apple is here in the first place.

Apple can't complain about all the Windows users when they pretty much force everyone who can't speed 1K on a computer to use Windows. Apple made a mint on the iPod and iPhone, but it's time to diversify again. If they keep focusing on just the mobility market they will stay viable, but as their own products get lost in the sea of similarity they are just going to become just another brand.

 

[crab0]

They need a new killer piece of hardware that hits an untapped market. There is nothing that can be done with the iPhone that can make it feel new and unique anymore. Android can do everything iOS does and in some cases better. Apple still wins with hardware, but that isn't going to prob the profit margin up for much longer.

Myself, I believe that Apple needs to get back into the iMac market and bring a machine that can compete at the $500-$700 level. For the past 10 years Apple has priced themselves out of the mainstream, and getting rid of the regular Macbook only made it worse. I think a new OS and a back to basics attitude with the mac they can remind people why Apple is here in the first place.

Apple can't complain about all the Windows users when they pretty much force everyone who can't speed 1K on a computer to use Windows. Apple made a mint on the iPod and iPhone, but it's time to diversify again. If they keep focusing on just the mobility market they will stay viable, but as their own products get lost in the sea of similarity they are just going to become just another brand.

Mac Mini...? Or more importantly, iPad? Their competitor for Best Buy laptops is the iPad not a $500 Macbook.

http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-apple-revenue-product-2012-10

They make the lion share of their money of the mobile market (even within Mac sales). I don't see how they would be better off moving towards a declining market that they are seeking to shrink (and self-canablize) with iOS.

 

[Anteaus]

They make the lion share of their money of the mobile market (even within Mac sales). I don't see how they would be better off moving towards a declining market that they are seeking to shrink (and self-canablize) with iOS.

I agree that they make most of their money in mobile, but that's only because much of their business for the past decade has been in that field. Nothing stays the same, and it would be stupid for Apple to just keep going forward as if their marketshare will never change.

Anyway, the question isn't about whether Apple will make money because they are very competent and will stay relevant. The question is whether there is another spark of innovation left in them. My point was that Apple can't repeat the iPhone because the cat is out of the bag so to speak, so all they can do to stay ahead is refine an aging design.

They need another breakthrough design to stay way ahead of the curve. If not an iMac, what about a touch senstive television that not only can use conventional TV and streaming, but can also second as a two-way video communication device and home meda center. I'm just throwing ideas out there lol.

 

[crab0]

I agree that they make most of their money in mobile, but that's only because much of their business for the past decade has been in that field. Nothing stays the same, and it would be stupid for Apple to just keep going forward as if their marketshare will never change.

Anyway, the question isn't about whether Apple will make money because they are very competent and will stay relevant. The question is whether there is another spark of innovation left in them. My point was that Apple can't repeat the iPhone because the cat is out of the bag so to speak, so all they can do to stay ahead is refine an aging design.

They need another breakthrough design to stay way ahead of the curve. If not an iMac, what about a touch senstive television that not only can use conventional TV and streaming, but can also second as a two-way video communication device and home meda center. I'm just throwing ideas out there lol.

I was merely questioning why the return to an old market like desktop PCs, while they've skyrocketed up enough they probably could rest on their laurels (they're worth more than Google and MS combined IIRC), it would be good to move into another sector like TV. Question is where the balance is as the core philosophy seems to NOT be a Samsung and flood every market with tons of similar products.

 

[dighn]

I think people are simply expecting too much from Apple. They need anther killer app to stay ahead of the curve like any other company needs one. The iPhone was a virtual miracle, but most of the tech giants have had their miracles that made the companies what they are today. While they search for the next iPhone, which might take many years, they should put down their arrogance and give users what they want in these rapidly saturating markets.

 

[Anteaus]

I think people are simply expecting too much from Apple.

Yep, but it's a reputation that Apple with Jobs has cultivated. Steve Jobs created a cash machine that continuously drove earnings into places that no ordinary company could sustain, yet he managed to keep the ball in the air for years longer than what would normally be reasonable.

The good news is that Apple is ridiculously powerful and has lots of money in the bank to invest in new tech, assuming Tim Cook has the guts to take some risks. I'm sure the time will come soon where investors are going to start asking what the next big thing will be. People are starting to get iFatigue so I hope he has something good.

 

[nerp]

Quantum computing with holographic displays.

 

[JavaMomma]

Why do people keep saying Apple needs to release cheaper products?

When has Apple ever released a "cheap" product. $250 iPads, $500 iMacs, $200 iPhones... really?
Half the reason Apple is where they are is because "they're cool" something isn't cool when everyone has it. Apple aims for the premium 20% of the market. They need to make sure their products are better then the competitors not worry about the cheap entry level market.

 

[amyklai]

There's no way for Apple to become as sexy as it used to be simply because it isn't the niche producer it used to be.

Simply by being ubiquitous, items like the iPod, iPhone & iPad have lost a lot of appeal.

Just look at any university campus: owning Apple stuff is a sign of conformity. If you want to be a sexy nonconformist and demonstrate that you "think different", you'll have to look for something non-Apple.

 

[dighn]

...

Most of these widgets came about because of the shortcomings of Android phones. Turn off things like WIFI and Blue Tooth? I don't have to worry about that because I don't need to find "features" to shut off to extend battery life.

Maybe I am in the minority that doesn't see all these extra features as useful.

Well everyone's needs (wants) are different. For me Android makes better sense for a tablet, while for a phone iOS is fine. I do hope Apple starts to lift its arbitrary restrictions on usability, as these mobile devices are becoming real computing devices.

 

[crab0]

Well everyone's needs (wants) are different. For me Android makes better sense for a tablet, while for a phone iOS is fine. I do hope Apple starts to lift its arbitrary restrictions on usability, as these mobile devices are becoming real computing devices.

Interesting as I'm the reverse, I find I need my phone to far more flexible as its always on my person, always connected and the the device of first and last resort while a tablet is more an appliance/fun toy that fits in between a phone and a laptop. Though I could see using an iPhone/Surface Pro type device if I was going for a 2 device paradigm.

 

[Aikouka]

Being able to change default app (I like Safari but Mail, Maps and Clock are awful)
Not having to wait for an OS wide update or "email it to myself" to share between apps (which also gets annoying when same PDF has to be copied over to multiple apps).

+

- Calendar and mail on your lock screen
- Install a file browser app and a media player app, and play files right from a file server. Pretty rudimentary right? Can't do that with stock iOS
- Being able to see and browse your library right on the desktop
- Switching between apps and closing apps is far easier
- More accessible shortcut for changing things like screen brightness, orientation lock etc.

I was talking more about the basic cosmetics of the mobile OS, and how some people simply want to see something different. I believe one thing my friend mentioned was some silly live wallpaper with his favorite SEC team.

As for some of the features that you mentioned, I do think that Apple should seriously look into implementing some of them. Although, I wonder if it comes down to how do you implement this properly? You can just haphazardly throw features into software, but that's not really a good idea.

I do own an Android tablet by the way, and my largest complaint is actually with "switching apps and closing apps" as I have to use another app to force most apps to stop running in the background. iOS may be limited in its implementation, but it just seems to work rather well... especially at ensuring modest battery life. Of course, that can also mean certain functionality just won't work unless an app is left open.

And for a "petty" personal reason, I hate having icons on top of my pretty wallpaper, I rather press an app drawer button to get icons (on blank black background!). I may only see it a minority of the time but it bugs me (I had similar thing with Windows as I used the show desktop button in 7 like crazy but now on OS X I like never see my desktop so I haven't even changed the picture).

I actually don't even look at my desktop much in Windows 7. The majority of the apps that I care about are pinned to my task bar.