Apple’s Errors
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Apple’s Errors
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Re: Apple’s Errors
#2I agree with absolutely everything he says, but I think a big factor not covered is that I don't think it's only about N versus NS version popularity. How different those major releases with new form factors are from past models really matters and particularly in China. The 7 was in theory a form factor update, but it wasn't different enough. The 5 was a major update, but as the article pointed out it was a particularly bad cycle.
I think the problem is there aren't that many different distinctive shapes you can make a phone. Apple has done extremely well in this regard. The jewel case design and the X design with notch are both outstanding examples. The 6 sold so well because it was, for an Apple phone, huge. But the jewel case lasted 4 years (more including the CS). Dramatically increasing the screen size works once. If they stick with the X form factor another few years they will lose the distinctiveness factor. However major form factor updates aren't something you can pull off every year indefinitely, for technical reasons sure, but especially when you have a huge accessories market.
It's really amazing how successfully Apple has maintained their design lead and distinctiveness, but there's no way they can pull the most unique, most amazing new rabbits out of the hat every single year.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#3> Apple seems to have underestimated iPhone SE demand to a significant degree
I would love to purchase a new iPhone (or Android) if they were to make a new device with a comparable form factor to the SE. Instead, everything has progressed to these two-handed monstrosities that have resulted in fanny packs [1] becoming fashionable again simply to hold the damn things.
[1] https://www.today.com/style/fanny-packs-are-so-popular-they-...
Re: Apple’s Errors
#4> Apple seems to have underestimated iPhone SE demand to a significant degree I would love to purchase a new iPhone (or Android) if they were to make a new device with a comparable form factor to the SE. Instead, everything has progressed to these two-handed monstrosities that have resulted in fanny packs [1] becoming fashionable again simply to hold the damn things. [1] https://www.today.com/style/fanny-packs-are-so…
I don't know what phone I am going to get after my iPhone SE no longer works after OS bloat kicks in. It's the perfect phone pretty much. I like android better but I can't find a phone this size that works in the android universe. Surely there must be others like me that want a capable phone that isn't the size of a tablet?
Re: Apple’s Errors
#5This is essentially a long way of saying, "Phones are now seeing marginal improvements, just like PCs. The market is saturated." Or nearing saturation.
I wrote this in another thread, but when my iPhone 6 or 6s seemed to be failing a couple months ago, I just bought an iPhone 7 instead of the Xs or whatever the new hotness is. I can afford it but find it too expensive and the improvements marginal. Seemingly a lot of people are doing what I'm doing.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#6I was already skeptical in general of articles about Apple doom -- we've seen those for decades. This year, I'm extra suspicious of any articles that lead with a chart of Apple stock, without showing for comparison the stock market overall.
Every company is suffering right now. AMZN, MSFT, FB, NFLX, and GOOG are all down 20-40% from their respective peaks 3 months ago, yet nobody seems to see reason to write articles saying that, say, Amazon's latest offerings are strategic errors.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#7Is the psychology really that people prefer having last years “best” than this year’s “good”? This has not been my experience with close relatives, but the data seems to show it is in general.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#8> Apple seems to have underestimated iPhone SE demand to a significant degree I would love to purchase a new iPhone (or Android) if they were to make a new device with a comparable form factor to the SE. Instead, everything has progressed to these two-handed monstrosities that have resulted in fanny packs [1] becoming fashionable again simply to hold the damn things. [1] https://www.today.com/style/fanny-packs-are-so…
I know two people who said they won’t buy another phone until the day their SE won’t turn on. I agree, SE form factor solves a great problem for some people. Not everyone wants a big screen!
Apple either isn’t making enough money on the SE, not listening to their survey group, or an executive doesn’t care. They need to fix this.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#9These hot takes have really been blaming the consumer lately. Maybe because it sounds more intellectual to make broad stroke economic observations rather than talk about personal experiences with iOS versus Android phones, which often sound like flame wars.
I think people should be honest. Instead of suggesting that Chinese consumers have this or that idiosyncratic (implied stupid) preference, for which they have only broad market evidence, commentators should just say what they actually know from personal experience: that Android phones really, truly suck. That WeChat is an ecosystem of jank. That most Chinese consumers are actually smart people and agree with that premise, to the tune of the billions they spent on iOS devices every year anyhow.
Re: Apple’s Errors
#10I was already skeptical in general of articles about Apple doom -- we've seen those for decades. This year, I'm extra suspicious of any articles that lead with a chart of Apple stock, without showing for comparison the stock market overall. Every company is suffering right now. AMZN, MSFT, FB, NFLX, and GOOG are all down 20-40% from their respective peaks 3 months ago, yet nobody seems to see reason to write articles…
I suspect you haven't read the article and stopped after glancing at the first graph. While the graph was, as you say, without context, the point was to illustrate numerous other stock hits due to iPhone misses.