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Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

reuters.com

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Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#641

Post by starfallg »

ska wrote: post #416
vel0city wrote: post #391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're talking about the Apple Watch, right? That's peanuts of regulatory compliance stuff compared to the amount of regulations related to building a car in the US market. The FDA requires this big fat disclaimer: > The ECG app is intended for over-the-counter (OTC)use. The ECG data displayed by the ECG app is intended for informational use only. The user is not intended to interpret or take clinical action based on…

That's not a disclaimer. That's (part of) the indications for use, which is a term of art. These are inherently narrowing statements, and they are in place to constrain what the company can market a device as, and gives the FDA a stick to beat you with if you aren't careful about this. If you follow the submission you'll also see they were granted approval to market as a de-novo filing as a class II device, so it's n…

>Even for a smallish software only project like this, it means they had to set up all the basic infrastructure and have it audited. They also wrote a ton of formal engineering process documentation, a full design history file, etc. These skills at least are pretty transferable.

That's like saying English is a transferable skill. Domain knowledge is what counts here. It's the same reason medical device makers don't try their luck in the automotive market and vice-versa.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#642

Post by HPsquared »

WalterBright wrote: post #555
ogre_codes wrote: post #486

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A touch screen requires looking at it, buttons do not. While there are things on my car I use instinctively without looking—wipers/ lights come to mind—there are plenty of other pieces which are frustratingly difficult to find in the dark. Turning on the window defroster when the window starts to fog up at night comes to mind. Likewise many of the climate control nobs. While they do have nice physical manifestation…

These problems have long been solved. Then, 20 years ago, it was all forgotten. Behold my 1989 Bronco II: ----------[++]----------------------------------- MAX A/C PANEL PNL/FLR FLOOR FLR/DEF DEFROST -----------------[++]---------------------------- COOL WARM OFF * * * HI PUSH FOR A/C It has two sliders with positions as labeled above, then a rotating knob with 5 detented positions for the fan, and the label PUSH FOR…

And then, the "AUTO" button was invented.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#643

Post by sbuk »

pantalaimon wrote: post #371
onethought wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Hard to see them doing better than car companies that have been building cars for decades. I'm sure Nokia had the same confidence in 2005.

A phone can be viewed as a small computer for your pocket. But a car is hardly just a large phone.

“We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,” he said. “PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.”

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#644

Post by m-ee »

briandw wrote: post #552
m-ee wrote: post #382

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've worked with ex Apple supply chain people, and they were very used to operating at massive scale and the leverage that came with it. This led to some some unhappy suppliers some of which walked because they felt we were being too demanding. I don't want to overgeneralize, some of the issue was likely the culture of this particular team, but I could definitely see growing pains as they move into a new vertical wit…

Same here. I have vivid memories of the supply chain guy yelling into the phone, and this gem of a quote. "What's my target price? It's zero, now what can you do for me?!"

Company I used to work at was approached by Tesla years ago. They tried very, very hard to convince our CEO that selling Tesla parts at cost (or preferably less) was a great money making decision. Just think of the scale!

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#645

Post by coldtea »

foxtr0t wrote: post #251
finnh wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple is fundamentally now a company that can move immense amounts of capital into new industries with the underlying ethos of user experience. Also: insane supply-chain management chops, a skill that is more and more transferable - especially for electric cars.

Despite becoming more similar in recent years, the cell phone supply chain is still very different than the automotive supply chain. The number of parts/unit differs by an order of magnitude and so does the size and weight, not to mention manufacturing techniques and materials. These are capabilities, not so much skills, and they aren't as transferable as you may think. For instance, logistically things are very diff…

>Despite becoming more similar in recent years, the cell phone supply chain is still very different than the automotive supply chain.

“We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,” he said. “PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.”

(Palm CEO Ed Colligan, regarding Apple’s prospects in the mobile phone market)

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#646

Post by _ph_ »

davidrm wrote: post #2

Apple has been in and out of the car game for a few years now, with executives coming and going. What I'm about to say will be as meaningful as this hear-say article, but I feel that Apple management, and its shareholders, have no idea what it means to build a car. Things like this need 100% commitment from the management, Cook just doesn't seem like the guy to do it.

I think most of all this shows how serious they are about the project that they keep pushing it despite potential setbacks. I don't think it says anything about the ability to build "a car" but rather, that they are still experimenting with finding the right product. Apple doesn't release a product until they think it is "right".

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#647

Post by coldtea »

the_arun wrote: post #531
m-ee wrote: post #382

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've worked with ex Apple supply chain people, and they were very used to operating at massive scale and the leverage that came with it. This led to some some unhappy suppliers some of which walked because they felt we were being too demanding. I don't want to overgeneralize, some of the issue was likely the culture of this particular team, but I could definitely see growing pains as they move into a new vertical wit…

We need smart electric appliances from Apple at home - lights, washer/dryer, refrigerator, etc.,. We'll be controlled by Apple wherever we go :) Apple eyewear could even track how many times we flip our eyelids.

Apple would be the only major FAANG company that doesn't need to do that, because they don't make their profits through ads.

Google and Nest on the other hand...

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#648

Post by coldtea »

pxtail wrote: post #635
the_arun wrote: post #598

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They may not need maps for this. They could use geolocation or “findMyDevice” service which may be collecting this data already. Right?

No no no, stop it, it's Apple and this word is the synonym to "privacy", you are not buying a device, it's like second mother, caring about you and protecting your privacy with angel wings.

That seems like a reasonable argument, and not hysterical snark.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#649

Post by _ph_ »

Niksko wrote: post #450
_ph_ wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, but so far under his lead, Apple managed very well selling the new products they bring to the market.

Have they? The Apple Watch is selling well now after a few iterations. Have any other products launched that have sold well? M1 looks good, but it's on the back of several years of lackluster laptops and things nobody wants like the touchbar. The pro video and audio community is increasingly alienated by $700 wheels and are switching to Windows or Linux. Earpods have been a success but has the Homepod? Iphones have b…

I was talking from the business side and if you look at Apples ernings, they are excellent. So excellent that Apple has become the most valuable company of the world. It is the sum of all the products launched and marketed. The Macs had a few bad years, mostly because of the keyboards and the lack of a Mac Pro. They fixed the keyboards and the 16" MB Pro is selling like hotcakes, wait times are often long. And so far their switch to Apple Silicon exceends every expectations. I don't think the pro video and audio community is switching because of those wheels, which certainly are overpriced, but because Apple waited too long for a new Mac Pro and the current machine is extremely expensive. This all might change a lot with Apple Silicon though.

Edit: after using the touchbar for a while, I love it. For a lot of tasks it is a great addition to their laptops, especially when you don't have a mouse around.

Re: Apple targets car production by 2024, eyes ‘next level’ battery tech: sources

#650

Post by _ph_ »

cglong wrote: post #533
_ph_ wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, but so far under his lead, Apple managed very well selling the new products they bring to the market.

How much of that is driven by his own success vs. inertia from the success of his predecessor? I've heard many people say that they don't want to leave the ecosystem because they're already so invested into it.

The finances? Most of his own success. Even with Steve Jobs still at the helm, it was Tim Cook who managed the supply chain and operations. Tim Cook probably isn't the product manager Steve Jobs was, though Jobs sometimes went badly astray with his decisions too. But from a business point of view, Apple is doing greater than ever.

And yes, I was also someone who got unhappy with the Mac ecosystem and partially stayed because of being too much dependent on the eco system, but also because of the lack of true alternatives for my requirements. However, this has changed drastically with the switch to Apple Silicon, now it looks like a strong technical choice again.

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