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Apple’s Social Network

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Re: Apple’s Social Network

#131

Post by jimbokun »

johnchristopher wrote: post #66
ComputerGuru wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Units sold is down across the market and Apple is no exception, but Apple’s revenue is at record highs.

Okay, thanks. So in the end, when a consumer wants to replace his iphone 6s that is finally too much out of date he'll have to pay more than if everyone (him included) had bought the iphone that came after the iphone 6s, right ? So basically selling a product that last too long is a problem for Apple (who has to report to shareholders why revenue is growing less than before) and the consumers (who pays basically more…

The one thing I would add is that everyone on the planet has a smart phone now, more or less.

So it's very difficult for Apple to find more customers (just Android switchers, mostly), so they raise prices for their existing customers instead.

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#132

Post by roymurdock »

kristianc wrote: post #119
piokoch wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think becoming a bank was a big hassle and being a bank is less profitable than core Microsoft or Google activity. Having said that, PSD2 regulation in EU might change all of this - any institution will be able to do banking operations on behalf of the customer. There are some requirement too, but the bar is significantly lowered.

The banking and payments infrastructure is such that most of it is handled by intermediaries and other companies anyway. Most banks, for instance, do not issue their own cards or process their own payments - this is done by an intermediary. It's probably easier for Apple to break into banking by making the right partnerships than you think.

They already have the partnerships in place with ApplePay, I don't think they would every want to open themselves up to the type of scrutiny/regulation chartered banks face

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#133

Post by GeekyBear »

Given that Apple just reported a .4% unit sales increase I find the sheer volume of gloom and doom interesting.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13540/apple-announces-q4-fy-2...

IDC just reported that during the same period the overall smartphone market shrank by 6%.

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44425818

Samsung just reported a 33% year on year smartphone sales drop.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/10/31/samsung-re...

Growing unit sales while the market is contracting doesn't really scream "doom" to me.

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#134

Post by pertymcpert »

toyg wrote: post #78
macintux wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple are just reacting to Google building a similar network of physical locations for outreach and training last year You know Apple has been offering free classes at their retail stores for years, right?

Yeah but they’ve mostly been basic tutorials. The idea of “Today”, if i remember correctly, is to go beyond that, both in terms of volume and audience. Are you suggesting “today” is just a coat of paint over the existing stuff?

I think so, they were definitely doing this first before anything Google did. Seems like they're just expanding it further logically.

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#135

Post by cvwright »

bunnycorn wrote: post #73
brobdingnagians wrote: post #16

I think Apple has some serious issues with growth; they have expanded a huge amount based on a few key and impressive products and ideas at the right time and in the right way, but I think they've ridden that pony almost as far as it can go [but they've done a better job than most at it]. They have done very well with it, but like most corporations who do that, they usually miss the next big thing, because it is some…

> I think Apple has some serious issues with growth Apple has just announced a 20% year over year growth. > but I think they've ridden that pony almost as far as it can go 17% growth in the services division that is now bigger than the Mac or iPad, and bigger than Facebook and Netflix (combined) 31% growth over year for the small accessories. Apple Watch, HomePods and AirPods cathegory. The cathegories that poundits…

> > They've lost some of the key risk-takers and creatives

> Who are those?

Well, there was this guy Steve, for one...

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#136

Post by ethagknight »

piokoch wrote: post #95
basch wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree. Apple needs to move into full banking. Mint, 401k Management, Bill Pay, TAXES, Yahoo Finance, Student Loans, the old Manilla (collecting ALL aggregate statements in one place forever.) They should buy Schwab, Envestnet, Personal Capital, YNAB, and Motif and slap a Robinhood/Monzo coat of paint on a new frontend. They could go from Apple Pay to Best Banking Experience in the World, in no time. As f…

I think becoming a bank was a big hassle and being a bank is less profitable than core Microsoft or Google activity. Having said that, PSD2 regulation in EU might change all of this - any institution will be able to do banking operations on behalf of the customer. There are some requirement too, but the bar is significantly lowered.

Apple doesn't need to be the bank, just control what the banks have access to. Apple could parse out what it means to actually be a bank. Working Capital (or day to day bill paying) is different than long term savings, lending, investment accounts, and all the other retail products they are trying to invent. Each is a commodity service, but billing has a significant streamlining/comptroller opportunity that could be helpful to Apple's profitability.

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#137

Post by mkirklions »

dasil003 wrote: post #84
mkirklions wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ib4 apple downvote storm. Dev here, I actively campaign against Apple (and FAAG) products. They seem like a danger to our capitalistic system as they have enough power to sway politics. Apple has always been anti-dev from my point of view, forcing users to use their hardware and pay to produce apps. While there doesnt seem to be many 'good guys', Apple has used their weight to constantly do unpopular things for their…

What about the fact that Apple is the only big guy not profiting off the mass harvesting of personal data? I think the market is significantly worse off without their influence (although this article does raise alarm bells).

They have hostile business tactics, does that wash that they use your data internally at Apple only?

For someone that doesnt mind getting tailored ads, the privacy argument is a non-issue. I am curious how long this will last at Apple as well, they don't strike me as a company that wouldnt sell your data.

EDIT: HN is very weak when it comes to critical thinking on Apple products...

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#138

Post by roymurdock »

ethagknight wrote: post #114
moolcool wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Imagine if those “luxury” expenses were intermixed with a dozen other large, more legitimate bills? Apple could be processing $1000s a month per household, taking a hefty fee from some of them. That's what we need-- another middle man taking a even more off the top of every transaction.

Ha, I'm speaking from Apple's perspective thinking through how they could double in value. I don't think the current method of bills coming from everywhere with different payment requirements is all that great. If this new "middleman" provides value and protects me, then what's the problem? I wouldn't see direct integration with my apple device as a middleman but an endpoint. Furthermore, there are loads of whitelabe…

I don't fully understand your problem, or how Apple could provide a solution.

Are you saying that the current system of having a checking/saving account, and setting up autopay/direct payments for your various bills (mortgage, utilities, gym, etc.) is cumbersome?

And proposing that instead, Apple should add up all your bills and provide you with a $amount to pay each month, and you just pay that amount into your Apple checking account?

The example you gave above, overpaying for a music subscription because it didn't auto cancel, wouldn't be solved by this system, Apple would just add it into the bill and if anything, reduce your visibility into what you're paying for and why. I'm not sure how they would know to "protect" you from a music streaming service you signed up for.

The method that works best for me is to use an app like Personal Capital/Mint to centralize financial info and get notifications on what I'm paying for, and when. It also summarizes what buckets you are spending into, so if any look odd you can dig down and investigate further.

Re: Apple’s Social Network

#140

Post by aetherson »

GeekyBear wrote: post #133

Given that Apple just reported a .4% unit sales increase I find the sheer volume of gloom and doom interesting. https://www.anandtech.com/show/13540/apple-announces-q4-fy-2... IDC just reported that during the same period the overall smartphone market shrank by 6%. https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44425818 Samsung just reported a 33% year on year smartphone sales drop. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/techno…

Relative success can still mean absolute stagnation.
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