Tim Cook To Investors: Apple is Working on Future Products That Will 'Blow You Away' (macrumors.com) 218
Speaking to investors on Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he has "never been more optimistic" about where the company is today and where it's heading. He said the company is "planting seeds" and "rolling the dice" on future products that will just "blow you away." A story adds: Cook went on to say that Apple's eventual goal is to be able reduce the price of the 2018 Retina MacBook Air, which currently starts at $1,200. In reference to the Apple Watch and the AirPods, Cook said there's a "long, great roadmap" of "fantastic" products on the horizon. [...] On the topic of services, Cook said Apple is well on its way towards meeting the goal it set in 2016, which was to double its $25 billion revenue by 2020.
Really? (Score:5, Insightful)
He's been saying basically the same thing for years: "We have amazing products in the pipeline".
But all I see is more expensive laptops with unreliable keyboards and a problematic T2 chip.
Hell, when they released the 2018 MacBook Air, they kept the 2017 model, which is really the 2015 model, at the same fucking price it has been for years.
Re: Really? (Score:1)
Not this time.
Now introducing the Apple iGun. 9 millimeters of action will blow you away! Each bullet features custom engraved emojis! Don't like how that shit head is driving? Tell him how you really feel with a full mag of poop emoji bullets!
Re: Really? (Score:2)
MFGA! (Score:1)
"Really terrific products coming, believe me! Everyone will love 'em; even the Jetsons will be stunned how futuristic they are. Boy Elroy is still floored from the greatness of the prototypes. Bing bing, bong bong, Wham! bigly shocked. I and I alone can invent the future, and #MakeFutureGreatAgain!"
(sorry, couldn't resist)
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We have products, we have the best products.
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Re:Really? (Score:5, Funny)
What I heard was a futuristic way of dialing a number. A circle area with numbers that you touch and and drag in a circle. The further you drag, the higher the number that is entered. It'll also have feedback in the form of clicks, just go a little way, one click, a bit further, 2 clicks, right up to 10 clicks, which will bravely represent zero.
Users will eat it up as it's modern compared to the old fashioned square number pad.
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Re:Really? (Score:5, Insightful)
Hey Apple, let me give you an example of courage. 'Courage' is huddling on a barge, wet, cold, trembling, sick to your stomach with fear, knowing that you are about to land on a beach filled to the brim with blood thirsty Nazis ready to pump a barrage of hot lead into your body, knowing that your chances of survival are about 40% or less and still somehow finding the will to off that boat and charge the beach.
Sorry, I digress. I guess it is a pretty courageous thing to do to remove a analog headphone jack on an iPhone.
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I saw a film of that in a museum. It was hell. War is terrible. Those people all were heroes.
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The only thing that will "blow you away" will be the insanely high prices!
They have had successes, and more to come (Score:3, Insightful)
They don't have a new amazing thing every year.
But the Apple Watch has turned out to be quite a hit.
The AirPods, possibly even a bigger hit.
The iMac Pro was a great update to the Mac, as was the new Mac mini...
It's really easy to claim someone is not successful, if you simply define away anything they were successful at.
I agree that some of what he is saying is hype... but I also think, some is probably not. They have a lot of money and a lot of long term R&D at work.
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People joke about the "distortion field", but it seems to me that there's an even stronger one in reverse. Some people are incapable of seeing anything Apple does as anything but a failure. Take the Apple Watch for instance. Not only did Apple go from zero to the biggest watchmaker in the world in under two years, but they now outsell the entire Swiss watchmaking industry combined. And yet there are hordes of people who consider it prime evidence of how badly Apple are failing. You know, that Apple tha
Re:They have had successes, and more to come (Score:4, Interesting)
Not only did Apple go from zero to the biggest watchmaker in the world in under two years, but they now outsell the entire Swiss watchmaking industry combined.
You should realize that the Swiss watchmaking industry is not very big. The watch industry is not very big, having been destroyed by the cell phone industry. It's an impressive sounding fact, but a number would give more concreteness and clarity.
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The Swiss watchmaking industry is actually quite big. People imagine most of the Swiss watches are made with people putting gears in by hand in some cabin, but the low and middle end Omegas and Rolexes and of course Swatch are all mass produced products on automated
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The Swiss watchmaking industry is actually quite big.
How big?
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>>It's really easy to claim someone is not successful, if you simply define away anything they were successful at.
And it is easy to be successful if you claim everything they do is a success.
FInancially, of course Apple is fine. What you described were iterative improvements on their own (iMac Pro, Mac mini) or other people's (Watch, AirPods) products. That isn't to say these improvements aren't good. But they aren't very innovative, either.
I share the sentiment of an earlier commenter that their lapt
No they were not iterative (Score:3)
iterative improvements on their own (iMac Pro, Mac mini) or other people's (Watch, AirPods) products.
I'll grant the Mac improvements were more iterative.
But AirPods and the Apple Watch were not at all iterative. AirPods had quite a lot of innovation all in one, from the charging case to the custom pairing method that was WAY easier than any other bluetooth device I had ever set up before.
The Apple Watch even moreso - just like with the iPhone, it seems like no-one can remember what a horrible piece of cr
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The wealthiest tech company in the world's biggest product for more than a year is a marginally better pair of wireless headphones? This is the company that was playing "Knowledge Navigator" at Epcot in the 80's.
The Watch is only popular among people who didn't mind wearing the Casio calculator. People who insist on fashion aren't even in the market and that would have killed Jobs's soul. Even Motorola's watches are more stylish.
If anything Apple should be praised for ongoing software improvements to enab
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People who insist on fashion aren't even in the market
There has actually so much publicity around this all I can assume is that you are a liar [google.com].
Didn't even read the rest of your post, nor will I read a response as I find it pointless to discuss anything with people who simply lie outright to try and "win".
Straighten up buddy.
Re:They have had successes, and more to come (Score:5, Insightful)
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It blew my wallet away.
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The next model will have the biggest notch. It will go all the way across to hide the cameras into the bezel.
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A bigger notch. 8K iMac.
Picture this... an 8K iMac WITH A NOTCH.
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I think his "amazing products" will probably be gold plated iPhones with encrusted diamonds or some shit like that.
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its the new macbook laptop that doesn't require any dongles, thats the blow away product.
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What I find unbelievable is that Apple needs investors. They have the yearly budget of a small country in their pockets.
Courage... (Score:1)
Let me guess (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple will make a PC (not laptop) which has hardware which isn't five years old, which the user is able to swap out parts as needed, AND doesn't cost a kidney to buy.
That would be mind blowing.
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+1. You can't get the desktop hardware you actually want, and the Apple tax on the outdated mid to low end stuff you have to settle for is just insulting.
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Please keep your fantasies at least somewhat close to reality.
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They have such a PC already, I believe it is called a Mac Pro.
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They have such a PC already, I believe it is called a Mac Pro.
The Mac Pro is grossly overpriced, had an outdated CPU even at launch and never did have a current one, and some parts are extremely nonstandard. The last time they had a Mac Pro with all standard parts and a competitive CPU, it was PowerPC-based. Of course, that was horribly overpriced as well, and some of them came with a defective cooling system...
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So I suppose once... (Score:2)
... people started lining up outside Apple stores with tents and sleeping bags to be sure they're the first to be "blown away"?
Hey... I thought it was Microsoft working with the military that was working on products that will blow us away.
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future products that will just "blow you away."
I was thinking quite the same, more products that turn out to be "bombs" (double entendre intentional).
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Apple Rocket Launcher confirmed. They had to one-up the Boring Company Not-A-Flamethrower.
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If so, I have two of those in the basement, junk as far as I'm concerned. They only took out a small mailbox, and the re-fill cartridge was 5 times the cost of the whole unit.
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That's easy. Just talk to islamists about them in appropriate tone.
"reduce the price" (Score:2)
Tim Cook: "We'll reduce the price of the MacBook Air by a certain percentage"
Investors: "What percentage?"
Tim Cook: "Zero"
Investors: ......
Tim Cook: "What? Zero is a percent! [youtu.be]"
blow us away? (Score:5, Funny)
iFan
'Blow You Away' priceing!!!!!!!!!! (Score:2)
'Blow You Away' priceing!!!!!!!!!!
Mac pro 2020 DUAL CPU DUAL GPU 4TB SSD BASE only $9999
Re: 'Blow You Away' priceing!!!!!!!!!! (Score:1)
I think the Lisa was ten grand when it came out.
Sounds a bit desperate (Score:5, Insightful)
The only reason to make a statement like this, which effectively boils down to "Apple's value is going increase, but you have to take it on pure faith because I just can't give you any concrete reasons why", is if you're desperately trying to uphold investor confidence in light of Apple's image fading as a premium technology leader. No doubt this was attempt was fueled by all the announcements from the rest of the industry about the foldable devices, which look so much "cooler and leading edge" than Apple products.
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Apple probably has a foldable in the pipeline. The problem is, they will either release it too soon to try and ride the wave while dealing with people 'unfolding it wrong', or they will try to make it perfect and miss the boat. Tim Cook seems to be content to talk about innovation while watching the competition do the actual innovation.
Re: Sounds a bit desperate (Score:2)
He doesn't sound so content, if he is resorting to empty platitudes, rather than concrete data, to prop up investor confidence.
There is money to be made in the "me too" products, but that is not the same business model Steve Jobs used.
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Apple was frequently a late-mover:
The iPods with flash like Nano were ripoffs of existing MP3 players.
Wireless Charging
Fingerprint sensor
High-end mobile screen resolutions after Retina.
Tablet Stylus
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They were putting a lot of effort into automotive, but it failed. No iCar or self driving tech, and Android is close to being entrenched in automotive infotainment systems.
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Every CEO says this fluff at regular intervals, doesn't matter if the arrows are going up, down or sideways they always speak up the future at least in public. The only difference is that Apple is clickbait-worthy enough that someone will write an article about it. Plus I mean as CEO he's the one picking the direction R&D is going, you're basically asking him to write his own performance review. But I also think the expectation that Apple is supposed to do something new and revolutionary will let them d
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The foldable devices aren't ready yet for Apple to steal and put the Apple logo on.
Then they'll act like they invented it like they always do.
In other words (Score:3)
Uh oh (Score:2)
"planting seeds" and "rolling the dice" on future products that will just "blow you away."
Sure hope we don't see them mustering more "courage", next thing you know they'll be removing the keyboard and telling us to type with our credit cards.
Removing Keyboards (Score:2)
You all have phones right?
You can also use an iPad as a bigger keyboard.
Blow you away? (Score:2)
So far, batteries only catch fire. I guess they have more... interesting chemistry in the works.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
After all these years apple still does not get it (Score:3, Insightful)
Technology for the masses not the classes
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Hi Tramiel, how are you doing? :)
Wait... what happened to the famous pipeline? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: Wait... what happened to the famous pipeline? (Score:2)
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Some universities ran supercomputers build out of rack mounted Macs ...
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Couldn't have looked that hard.
Virginia Tech in 2004 upgraded their PowerMac G5s to Xserve G5s .
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles... [vt.edu]
Feb 01, 2005 - University of Illinois preps 640-node Apple Xserve G5 cluster
https://appleinsider.com/artic... [appleinsider.com]
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1. Sound booths in performance venues where there is already a rack mount for amplifiers.
2. Home theater installations (though to be fair that might be more Apple TV territory).
3. OSX Server was pretty damn simple to set up in its heydey; it was great for centralized management of Macs.
4. Computing clusters.
5. Some media production houses have custom desks that can fit a 2U rackmount computer in them (or at least, they did)
6. Because it's definitely more serviceable than the current soldered/glued/fused tog
Getting into the defense contracting business, eh? (Score:2)
You have it all wrong! Announcing iRobot (Score:2)
Announcing the iRobot. This is not for home use. They have repurposed their self-driving car unit to make a military robot with iGuns that will blow away enemies.
Special discounts will be given for companies that want to purchase them for deployment in the following cities:
Mountain View, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
Atlanta, GA
Austin, TX
Boulder, CO
Cambridge, MA
Chicago, IL
Irvine, CA
New York, NY
Pittsburgh, PA
Reston
Is this another "Funding secured"? (Score:2)
Was Any Really Disappointed Last Time? (Score:2)
WHen they blew everyone away with MacOS Themes... I mean Dark Mode?
Since he promised (Score:1)
Away? (Score:3)
As much as they charge, they should just work on a product that will blow me.
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I was thinking it's going to be either a vacuum cleaner or an onahole. Possibly a combination of the two.
In-no-way-vation. (Score:5, Interesting)
I read the article.
I can't wait for the future.
" Cook said that Apple is "rolling the dice" on some future products that will "blow you away "
Thank goodness they are just rolling the dice, and not betting the farm, because the following are all too ho-hum. Yawn.
" eventual goal is to be able reduce the price of the 2018 Retina MacBook Air "
That would be nice. Hardly revolutionary. The only minds to be blown are those who cannot believe that Apple would make a budget minded model, and I think their heads are safe for now.
" in reference to the Apple Watch and the AirPods, there's a long, great roadmap of fantastic products on the horizon "
They have already risen over the horizon. In the past, Apple moved the industry and society when they founded new concepts, not spinning what's already in the barn.
" while Cook did not go into more detail "
There's your sign.
" rumors have suggested that AirPods coming in the near future will be available in new colors (black) and support and the ability to be wirelessly charged "
Thank goodness, lack of black is the only thing that has kept me from buying into the Apple ecosystem. And don't all you cynics be discounting the wireless charger - less chance of scratching that beautiful new finish. Now, if they gave you a jar of Turtle Wax with the phone, that would indeed be revolutionary.
" more ambitious products are also rumored, including a pair of augmented reality smart glasses and perhaps even a full self-driving vehicle "
AR and VR are certainly hot topics, but that is because everyone else is already making geek goggles (e.g. MS), or already gave it up (Google). Self driving cars - now there's an idea - why didn't anyone think of that before?
" on the topic of services, goal to double its $25 billion revenue by 2020 "
Thank goodness, I was starting to think that this was a fabricated story, fake news, but there it is, the real Apple.
" two new products in the services category, including a new streaming TV service with original shows and a new Apple News service with subscription for a monthly fee "
Perhaps they should ask Amazon, Google, Netflix, Hulu, MS, and the others for some brotherly advice.
" Cook also said that Apple is pushing for regulation against tech companies like Facebook and Google that build data profiles of their users. Apple has long been an advocate for customer privacy "
Okay, good for them. We pay our respects.
Innovation can be hard, and for every million products made, only one comes along that changes everything. Apple and Jobs used to do that. Now, the Cook in the kitchen is just making re-hash. Why is this even news? (Trick question see above, 2 times $25 billion).
Rolling the dice on future products (Score:2)
"rolling the dice" on future products that will just "blow you away."
"Rolling the dice on future products" is not exactly confidence inspiring.
I'd translate that to "We haven't got a clue what we're going to pull out of our ass next, but you'll be blown away by the insanely high price that we'll have the gall to charge for it!"
Double service revenue... (Score:2)
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Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)
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Not "blown away" (Score:2)
Seems like incremental improvements to already decent products.
Nothing wrong with that. But I am not "blown away."
Bye Apple. (Score:4, Informative)
Riiight (Score:2)
Apple has lost most of is appeal ... (Score:3)
... to me.
No viable affordable low end models anymore. MS style hoops to jump through to get xcode. Flaky OS lately. Obscenely priced mobile hardware - although I have to admit that people lap that shit up like it's no tomorrow.
This is why Apple is making such obscene amounts of money. Apple its first and foremost a fashion brand these days. They really don't need to care what experts think.
Hence I'm back to Linux as my main OS. I miss the hard and software integration, but that's the smaller price to pay right now. AFAIAC they need to really get back to 2003 form again if they want me interested again. 13 inch iBook g4 was their high point for me. MB air a close second.
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No viable affordable low end models anymore.
The only one they ever had was the original Mini. All the other ones were huge pains in the ass, or just garbage like Performas. Mac II series had cases that were works of art, especially the IIci. Performas had nasty cheap sharp metal like a budget PC. And of course, later minis have been castrated, yet not cheaper. All iMacs are torturous to service...
Tim Cook does not get it ... (Score:3)
We want a 17" (or more!) Mac Book Pro, call it Expert Book if you want. ... a Pro should have RAM
With:
o perhaps a touch screen
o build in iOS emulator, to run some apps
o enough ports, and not silly removal of ports so we need dozens of dongles, removing the SD card slot e.g. was just plain stupid, my old 17" even has a PCMCIA it is super useful
o RAM
o true function keys - if you want add a glowing touch bar on top of it, I don't mind
o a fullscreen mode that works again, not the silly one we have at the moment
o perhaps: display the content of one window on a external screen/projector (I have dozens of ideas like this and wonder why no one does that)
o oh, and a SIM card slot would be nice, it simply sucks to pair the Mac with a Phone to have mobile internet (yeah, not a priority, I bought a mobile hot spot long ago).
And as people are complaining about the non useable keyboards at the moment, perhaps you want to go back to the 2014/2013 keyboards?
I'm basically at the point joining the Hackintosh community ...
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perhaps a touch screen
Gimicky & would run up cost. There's no real advantage to a touch screen on a laptop, it is an inferior method of input compared to the keyboard & mouse.
true function keys - if you want add a glowing touch bar on top of it, I don't mind
I have a touchbar on my 2018 15" MacBook Pro at work, and don't find it useful at all. Just function keys without the touchbar would be pref
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It can already do that, unless I don't understand what you mean.
Have an icon on the window, so its contents is "streamed" to a second screen, but the window remains on the main screen, so you can continue using the other windows (even bring some to front etc.) without covering the stuff on the other screen. That way presentations etc. are much more easy.
Touch screens are extremely useful, especially if you one worked with one.
Correction (Score:3)
"Blow your wallet away."
There, fixed it for you
Military (Score:3)
Looks like the military has found a new partner after Google dropping out. Not really the 'blowing away' you were looking for, but certainly nice for the shareholders.
Blown away as... (Score:3)
Right to repair (Score:2)
I'm sure (Score:2)
Knowing Tim and how "innovative" and "courageous" he is, it's quite likely that it's gonna blow, all right...
innovations? 10 off the top of my head: (Score:2)
1) replaceable parts? like legos... now you can upgrade your RAM, easily! (but only with Apple RAM with it's special lego shape to make everything easier!)
2) remove all audio from apple computers. courageous new USB dongles!
3) wireless laptop charging stands-- no more charging cables! just buy a stand for everywhere you go!
4) Remember how Apple invented a way to tell time by putting a screen to your smart phone on your wrist?
Now you can do math with a tiny tablet the size of a pack of cards without havi
What's he supposed to say? "Put a fork in Apple... (Score:2)
As long as Tim Cook doesn't promise 'Magical' products I'm ok with it. However I'd like to ask him personally if he thinks having a shit-ton of dongles hanging off your products was Jonny Ive's best design.
Re: I hope they pull it off (Score:1)
They are lost in a sea of the kind of people who swarm to as successful a business as they have become.
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Re: Luv the Apple hate here (Score:1)
You mad, bro?
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But what about for women? Or for heterosexual men?
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Note that Apple has changed their focus from "unit sales" to "activated iphones" to mask the effect of flagging sales. And this happened because they jacked up the price of the flagship phone from $500 to $1500. Most people simply don't have that much disposable income, and even the "lower priced" $700 model is adequate for 3-5 years.
I wish Tim Cook would stop talking and do more:
1) listen to customers. the keyboard on the MacBook Pro is fucking unusable for anyone who needs to type for more than a couple o