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I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

morrick.me

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Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#61

Post by Gigachad »

zeristor wrote: post #20
DecoPerson wrote: post #16

Some small carriers in Australia don't support eSIMs, even though they're required for Apple Watches and other devices, and also second phone numbers in phones without dual SIM card trays. I'm hoping that the iPhone Air will make them prioritise eSIM support!

Some carriers in the UK have been on the brink of providing eSIM support for several years, maybe Apple as often is the case can drive this forward. I’m not sure what the issue is though, could it be a standards issue? Government tracking phone users? Someone being cut out of the money? Answers please on a postcard.

Australia has like 100 reseller phone networks. There are only 3 real network providers and these as well as the majority of the resellers support esim, but when every single retail brand and supermarket has it's own mobile network offering, there's always going to be a couple that haven't put in even the smallest amount of work to support it until it's absolutely forced.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#62

Post by Dylan16807 »

Analemma_ wrote: post #11
danpalmer wrote: post #3

This pretty much sums up my feeling on the new generation. I too don't understand what's "awe dropping" about it, and have finally switched from an iPhone 15 Pro to the Android ecosystem, where a flip phone is somewhat "awe dropping". I'm not fully convinced about it, but it's different, it's fun, it's clever, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The only thing I disagree with here is about the Air. I think Apple's strate…

These are my thoughts exactly. I've seen a bunch of people who don't value thinness or lightness in a phone getting dismissive or outright angry at the existence of the Air, and I want to grab them and shake them until they get it. I don't want the Air at all, and that's exactly why I'm thrilled it exists: it will split the Pro buyers into form-valuers and function-valuers, so the function-valuers like me can get an…

I appreciate that idea, but in this case the thinness is half-fake and it's still not all that light.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#63

Post by astrange »

avidiax wrote: post #15
daemonologist wrote: post #7

The title is appropriate, in that it feels to me that most of the awe has gone out of these products/keynotes. This is maybe down more to the maturity of the category(/ies) than any fault of Apple's though. Perhaps they can be blamed for failing to introduce exciting products in new categories. I do find that wireless earbuds actually last much longer than the wired variety, despite the non-replaceable batteries. Bac…

Apple is a hostage of its own marketing. A modular iphone that has an easy to replace battery, easy to replace screen and is maybe 2mm thicker to account for it? That would be a sellout. A convertible Macbook Air with a touch screen? It would be sold out. Neckband-style airpods with all-day battery life? Might not sell out, but would be popular. A best-in-class TV powered by Apple TV? Would probably sell well. But al…

Apple doesn't care about self-cannibalization. That's how you stay alive and avoid innovator's dilemma.

All of your solutions are bulky and difficult to manufacture compared to current products though.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#64

Post by SoftTalker »

AIorNot wrote: post #39

As a counterpoint: Apples has gotten so big that its user and customer base is not techies, they have moved into supporting our mainstream society as it operates today. They don't care about techies (at least primarily)

Apple has never cared about techies. They have always been consumer-focused, at least since the original candy-colored iMac days.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#65

Post by Gigachad »

SoftTalker wrote: post #54
Gigachad wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The price of replacing the screen is mostly the part itself. It’s extremely easy for any random shopping center phone store to replace in like 5 minutes. But the part itself costs more than an old phone is even worth.

Every time a family member has had a cracked iPhone screen replaced it has never really worked properly again. It may be easy but it’s apparently not easy to do it well.

That's because most of the screens on the market are fake and significantly lower quality than the genuine ones.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#66

Post by raw_anon_1111 »

The part about AirPods is just…dumb. If you have seen the teardown of how AirPods are made…

https://nebula.tv/videos/realengineering-the-hidden-design-o...

There isn’t any way that you could have replaceable batteries and still make them as lightweight and comfortable in your ear without other tradeoffs. We can argue about the case - maybe.

The AppleTV is by far the most responsive set top box and the least slimy as far as privacy and invasive ads [1].

If you like classical watches, the Apple Watch isn’t for you. But there are enough people that disagree that they sell like crazy.

The iPhone Air is probably going to sell like crazy in places with low iPhone adoption where it’s only affordable by the wealthy minority like China where it will be seen as a status symbol. Ben Thompson of Stratechery has been documenting for a decade about the biggest driver of iPhone sells is models that look new.

But if you already have an iPhone 16, Apple doesn’t expect many to upgrade. The replacement cycle has been around 3 years for awhile now.

[1] yes I realize the default Home Screen of the AppleTV has Apple’s apps in the top navigation bar and when you are on the icons it is advertising for Apple services. But you can put any apps up there and those apps control the hero image when you on them. They usually show what you have been watching

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#67

Post by arcanemachiner »

SoftTalker wrote: post #54
Gigachad wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The price of replacing the screen is mostly the part itself. It’s extremely easy for any random shopping center phone store to replace in like 5 minutes. But the part itself costs more than an old phone is even worth.

Every time a family member has had a cracked iPhone screen replaced it has never really worked properly again. It may be easy but it’s apparently not easy to do it well.

Did they get it replaced by Apple, or some guy in a mall kiosk?

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#68

Post by nemothekid »

avidiax wrote: post #15
daemonologist wrote: post #7

The title is appropriate, in that it feels to me that most of the awe has gone out of these products/keynotes. This is maybe down more to the maturity of the category(/ies) than any fault of Apple's though. Perhaps they can be blamed for failing to introduce exciting products in new categories. I do find that wireless earbuds actually last much longer than the wired variety, despite the non-replaceable batteries. Bac…

Apple is a hostage of its own marketing. A modular iphone that has an easy to replace battery, easy to replace screen and is maybe 2mm thicker to account for it? That would be a sellout. A convertible Macbook Air with a touch screen? It would be sold out. Neckband-style airpods with all-day battery life? Might not sell out, but would be popular. A best-in-class TV powered by Apple TV? Would probably sell well. But al…

1. All these devices would sell out, because these are all of Apple's best sellers. I'm willing to bet a replacable battery iPhone will sell as much as the iPhone 6e. Replacable batteries aren't a strong feature.

2. "Current Apple Product" + "My own personal tweak" isn't a product strategy. "A convertible Macbook Air with a touch screen?" wouldn't move the needle sales wise, and would just be a headache for developers. If, for some strange reason, you need a 19inch touch screen, the iPad pro already exists and has better developer support.

Most Apple products are locally maximized. The last great new Apple product was the AirPods in 2016. Neither the Apple Watch or Apple Vision Pro seems like they will define a new product space.

Re: I feel Apple has lost its alignment with me and other long-time customers

#70

Post by astrange »

piskov wrote: post #12
daemonologist wrote: post #7

The title is appropriate, in that it feels to me that most of the awe has gone out of these products/keynotes. This is maybe down more to the maturity of the category(/ies) than any fault of Apple's though. Perhaps they can be blamed for failing to introduce exciting products in new categories. I do find that wireless earbuds actually last much longer than the wired variety, despite the non-replaceable batteries. Bac…

Any decent earbuds have replaceable cables with standard two-pin connectors

Not good for exercise, it's heavy and has telephonic effects (walking/running sound transmit through the cable). Also ties you to the audio source.

Does anyone actually make wired headphones with ANC?

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