This is the road that IBM and HP went down, isn't it?
Stop making things and start providing services around the things you used to make.
Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
31–39 of 39 posts
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple Services could be sold to very different customers - those on Android and Windows devices.
This assumes Apple can get their iCloud working properly. I've avoided pings from them in the past because their is no leadership in this area. ICloud has been a failure for multiple years. I'm not comparing management, but iCloud reminds me of the non-dropcam part of Nest - basically unable to deliver. I've been contacted by both for roles and just think why would one want to be part of a dysfunctional after thought…
I agree that the iCloud brand has generally been a failure. Does anyone ever proudly use their @icloud.com address anywhere? MobileMe is considered an embarrassing failure by many, but I still see @me.com email addresses from time to time.
But technically, iCloud is not really one "thing". iCal, Reminders, Notes and Photos work pretty well, whereas iCloud Core Data is an unsalvageable afterthought. Working on some parts might still be fun.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#33This article makes the case Apple should have a dedicated Services division. Pretty sure Eddy Cue runs a division called "Internet Software and Services" which is iCloud/Maps/Siri etc: http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/eddy-cue.html Article: 0 Fact: 1
Yes, but what Ben is proposing is that instead of being a functional division, it would be it's own business unit reporting it's own profit-and-loss. That might even mean having it's own engineering team, it's own design team, it's own sales, etc, etc. Maybe not all of those, but certainly some of them.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#34Well argued rebuttal and counter by John Kirk at Techpinions https://techpinions.com/apple-shouldnt-cross-that-road-till-...
Great read. The big risk that Kirk doesn't mention is that Apple's hardware offerings could start to falter if they don't at least keep up with the service offerings of their competitors. Apple has been famous for creating the whole widget, the software and hardware. These days that software is services.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#35Well argued rebuttal and counter by John Kirk at Techpinions https://techpinions.com/apple-shouldnt-cross-that-road-till-...
Thanks, I hadn't seen that. For what it's worth, I think the rebuttal misses that Thompson wasn't actually arguing for a Services division - he was arguing that if Apple is serious about creating better services, as they are currently claiming to be, then that's what they should do. But that doesn't mean that they should be serious about services! That's basically the same conclusion that is drawn by the article you…
For what it's worth, the author of the rebuttal does address your point (from "Conclusion"):
> But I don’t think Ben Thompson is actually arguing that it would be great if Apple created a new services division. I think he’s arguing that Apple should create a new services division if they want Services to be great. Ben Thompson is doing what good analysts do. He’s not giving us the right answer. He’s asking us the right question.
The rebuttal does a nice job of expanding the discussion around that question.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
The comment was marked as "dupe" but I don't see why so I vouch it. Is it a bug ?
Check the guys comments to see the dupe. He posted the same comment to a separate submission of this article. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11559781
Yeah, I didn't realize you couldn't do that. Next time I'll just put a link to the comment versus pasting it verbatim.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks, I hadn't seen that. For what it's worth, I think the rebuttal misses that Thompson wasn't actually arguing for a Services division - he was arguing that if Apple is serious about creating better services, as they are currently claiming to be, then that's what they should do. But that doesn't mean that they should be serious about services! That's basically the same conclusion that is drawn by the article you…
For what it's worth, the author of the rebuttal does address your point (from "Conclusion"): > But I don’t think Ben Thompson is actually arguing that it would be great if Apple created a new services division. I think he’s arguing that Apple should create a new services division if they want Services to be great. Ben Thompson is doing what good analysts do. He’s not giving us the right answer. He’s asking us the rig…
I think Thompson is walking back from his blog. His blog and podcast do not align. I would expect him to use the givens (Apple product culture) and come up with a strong theory around why Apple should not venture into Services.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#38Well argued rebuttal and counter by John Kirk at Techpinions https://techpinions.com/apple-shouldnt-cross-that-road-till-...
Great read. The big risk that Kirk doesn't mention is that Apple's hardware offerings could start to falter if they don't at least keep up with the service offerings of their competitors. Apple has been famous for creating the whole widget, the software and hardware. These days that software is services.
The question is can they compete with Amazon Prime and Microsoft OneDrive and Google Photos, etc or should they instead focus on building a great electric car to compete with Tesla.
Re: Apple’s Organizational Crossroads
#39Nah. DuPont was selling gunpowder and paint to completely different customers. Apple sells devices and services to the same customers. Furthermore what they are selling needs to be tightly integrated.
Great Point.