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Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

nytimes.com

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Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#331

Post by skygazer »

october_sky wrote: post #323
david-cako wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a commoditized market and Apple’s success blueprint is out for everyone to see, yet no one else can adapt mid century design principles and “high fashion” style marketing to technology. This sounds like shilling (and I do own Apple stock) but I’m serious. Compare the Apple remote (with the iOS “emulator”), Apple TV, and Airplay to Chromecast’s UX, for instance. Apple does have special sauce. They make tools that…

Apple TV (and accompanying remote) is by far one of the worst UI/UX experiences I've seen.

I hear that constantly, but it's my favorite remote. I did, however, buy a sub 10 dollar silicone case for it, with a strap. It's easy to grip, comfortable, doesn't slide, and it is always obvious which way is up/forward both visually and tactilely. I think the shortcomings are well addressed with such a simple fix. But, I also use a case on my phone to fix it's same shortcomings, so perhaps that's why it doesn't feel like such a leap to me.

On the other hand, it might just be that I can get used to anything. (Err, I also think the Apple TV UI is fine, too. But, perhaps I lack the imagination to envision a better UI.)

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#332

Post by delfinom »

october_sky wrote: post #323
david-cako wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a commoditized market and Apple’s success blueprint is out for everyone to see, yet no one else can adapt mid century design principles and “high fashion” style marketing to technology. This sounds like shilling (and I do own Apple stock) but I’m serious. Compare the Apple remote (with the iOS “emulator”), Apple TV, and Airplay to Chromecast’s UX, for instance. Apple does have special sauce. They make tools that…

Apple TV (and accompanying remote) is by far one of the worst UI/UX experiences I've seen.

Try Carplay, it's an absolute fucking disaster to use compared to Android Auto.

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#334

Post by rhacker »

The iPhone costs too much now.

People are realizing they can buy a OnePlus 6T or Samsung 9 for half the price.

My wife has been fed up with our older Android phone and said - we're going back to the iphone. We looked up the prices for the latest, second latest, third latest iphone models and then she said - why don't we get another OnePlus.

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#335

Post by petra »

david-cako wrote: post #302
ajross wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stock values aren't only about earnings. Amazon continues to be a growth bet, and their low earnings are because their income has historically been reinvested productively to access new markets. A quick google shows their 2018 revenue was up 31% over 2017, which was up 31% over 2016, which was up 27% over 2015. You don't buy Amazon for a share of the amount they're making today, you buy them for a share of the much b…

It’s a commoditized market and Apple’s success blueprint is out for everyone to see, yet no one else can adapt mid century design principles and “high fashion” style marketing to technology. This sounds like shilling (and I do own Apple stock) but I’m serious. Compare the Apple remote (with the iOS “emulator”), Apple TV, and Airplay to Chromecast’s UX, for instance. Apple does have special sauce. They make tools that…

Apple's main value is it's brand. Being a status symbol.

Second is their customer lock-in.

Those can carry lots of value. And even strength, maybe. But growth ?

And design ? Google can design well enough. Their interfaces are easy and fun to use. Beyond that, regular people don't care.

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#336

Post by theturtletalks »

ajross wrote: post #325
mort96 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When are we going to stop expecting exponential growth though? Or should the exponential growth just continue indefinitely? Is there no value in having a nice S-curve, ending up as one of the most profitable companies in history, and then just staying insanely profitable for a long time in a sustainable way?

We have stopped expecting exponential growth, that's what the linked article is about. "Slowing Growth" is literally in the title! And that means things, like for example the stock has to decline and/or dividends increase because it becomes more productive to put that money into companies that are growing. Investors care about news like this. It seems like a lot (a lot ) of readers here are looking at the article as…

Yes but many people fail to realize that the company's stock price is future valuation and growth.

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#337

Post by [deleted] »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #221
imagetic wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's always the argument from the business standpoint. How much of their ecosystem is on a foundation of professional Mac users? A majority of the professionals I know won't buy the current touchbar model MacBook Pro. Does that market even matter anymore?

I would think a company with the resources Apple has would be willing to invest more in loss leaders that keep users fully in the Apple ecosystem, or in products which may contribute in small ways to their bottom line, like Macs. They can afford to make their primary metric market share, rather than profit. iOS can't replace Mac OS (yet) for serious work. So instead of letting Macs atrophy, they should invest in maki…

[deleted]

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#338

Post by Roboprog »

rimliu wrote: post #177
mffnbs wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For most people it goes something like: Take off the earbuds and never worry about charging them because the case they go in does it for you and continue on your day without thinking about it or being concerned about imaginary scenarios where one of your random products fell down a gutter/drain in the middle of the office because who has the time or energy to worry about storm drains stealing from you?

And if you got the new model with the wireless charging case and have a charging pad you may even forget they need to be charged at all.

So, I just imagined one side of my earbuds falling out of my ear and dangling from the wire while I’m walking around the neighborhood at home sometimes? (Which I do frequently- walking or jogging around outside)

Downvoters gonna downvote, I guess.

Re: Apple Reports Declining Profits and Slowing Growth Again

#339

Post by Roboprog »

etchalon wrote: post #91
onemoresoop wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also part of the nobody group, never buy the latest because I am frugal with my earnings. But I've noticed lots and lots of people with AirPods, latest Iphones, etc. I think you're underestimating the status value that Apple has managed to create for themselves. A large number of people view Apple as a status symbol.

… they're also good products. It's not just the status symbol thing. People like their products.

Some of their products are very good. Some, not so much. That’s the weird thing.

I guess AirPods work for some, but I wouldn’t touch them.

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