Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing • Hacker News Board

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#401

Post by primax » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 1:27 AM UTC

dailen wrote: post #296

Ok, while an author's journey will inevitably influence their opinions, and I think Steve Jobs was a revolutionary visionary, the evidence of objective blinders is staggering. I almost deferred to the classic jab about their being a member of the "cult of Steve Jobs" but then I read their comment about being an intern at Apple University and realized the author was simply institutionally indoctrinated. Clearly I jest…

Yes I would say any honest reading of Apple's position in the last 30 years is they are not a zero to one company, they are a 0.5 to 1 company.

They take great ideas, cut half the functionality out, put it in a shiny white and aluminium case and make it fashionable.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#402

Post by dwd » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 2:32 AM UTC

tsunamifury wrote: post #393

Supermancho wrote: post #388

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> HN has truly become one of the most toxically stupid places on the web Stupid and uninformed are different things. The constant stream of personal attacks and handwaving about abstract difficulty is not compelling.

Sure, but when you have people claiming Newton was overrated and everything invented was just easy, I think the term "stupid" does apply.

It could also be a case that there are malicious actors (human or bots) trolling and seeking to destroy conversations (and HN), rather than stupidity.

Someone raised the idea of flagging new accounts. That would make it easier to simply ignore them.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#403

Post by andreime » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 2:35 AM UTC

Aeroi wrote: post #366

davedx wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh, if you don't own the models then you don't own the ecosystem end to end though?

If you're using an apple phone to download the chatgpt app on the apple app store. That's still pretty much owning the ecosystem.

neah, that's like saying because ie was used to download chrome you own the ecosystem.

llms will be the new search and you'll delegate to them a lot, because it's so convenient (not saying it will be great!).

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#404

Post by bmitc » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 3:10 AM UTC

chongli wrote: post #259

foobarian wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of missteps, there was a period in late 2010s where MacBook Pros really took a bad turn IMO chasing some "thinness" fetish, but recovered nicely afterwards. My M4 is a glorious device built like a tank

Yeah my only complaint with Apple hardware these days is all the sharp edges. I miss the soft, rounded sides of touchID based iPhones.

Apple has had sharp edges for like 15 years now on their MacBooks.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#405

Post by surcap526 » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 4:57 AM UTC

[dead]

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#406

Post by YmiYugy » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:22 AM UTC

foobarian wrote: post #96

HarHarVeryFunny wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know anything about Ternus other than WikiPedia saying he was VP of hardware engineering. Jobs of course (in addition to being an asshole) really was a product guy - he wanted to build seamless appliances that just worked, blending hardware, software and design into a beautiful thing that just did what you wanted (or what Jobs thought you wanted, which he was well attuned to). I think Apple took some missteps…

Speaking of missteps, there was a period in late 2010s where MacBook Pros really took a bad turn IMO chasing some "thinness" fetish, but recovered nicely afterwards. My M4 is a glorious device built like a tank

The missteps of those intel MacBooks are undeniable, but I also feel like the new design feels very safe and unambitious. There is the huge notch. The 16" model is (given screen and battery size) 35% heavier than competitors and not exactly a joy to lug around. The keycaps continue to be made of subpar ABS getting a oily look within mere month of usage. The use of space inside is not very efficient compared to previous models.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#407

Post by spectraldrift » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:28 AM UTC

judah wrote: post #274

spectraldrift wrote: post #205

The author lost me when they quoted Thiel.

The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides once said, "You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes." This runs counter to today's tribalism which says we must reject truth if it comes from someone who voted for our political opponents.

Yes a broken clock might be right twice a day, but I also have limited time in my day. I've read enough of his opinions already and would like to make time for some others!

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#408

Post by YmiYugy » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:36 AM UTC

happyopossum wrote: post #371

michelb wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I think so too. I'm just wondering if the people on software are still the right people. Mac OS has quite a few regressions, and seems to just chug along instead of really using the power of the chips, or massively improving file i/o. Apple still has a chance to do some cool stuff with AI integrations, but they have had interesting local models 3 years ago and apparently nowhere, or no vision, to use it. We're a…

> but they're doubling down on it now Nahh, they're backing off liquid glass as fast as they can without just rolling back to macOS 15... Tons of people inside apple hate it, and have been very critical of the design leadership. Alan Dye was the design king behind liquid glass, and he was pushed out (or just left, stories vary). His replacement, Stephen Lemay, is widely praised by the folks who hate liquid glass. iOS…

I think it's fair to say there are plenty of people in Apple's leadership that would have had the authority to tell Alan Dye "no". They didn't. I think it's fair to say that the company leadership likes liquid glass. The reaction to it was about as divided when they presented it as it is now. If they thought the backlash warranted a change in direction they could have pulled it before it ever made it to users in the fall, like they did with numerous attempts at shipping AI features. A major reversal in the next version would make a lot of people look really really bad.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#409

Post by YmiYugy » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:42 AM UTC

Aeroi wrote: post #49

Apple owns the hardware, they own the ecosystem, and as mathematics and compression prevail, smaller param models will live on device via purpose built chips. The lack of action will in the end be apples saving grace. Even if they don't go that route, the data from icloud, cash on hand, and partnerships with sota labs, still position them as a frontier competitor that just hasn't launched yet. Anyway you shake it str…

There is a place for local models. Typing prediction, speech to text, etc. But I have yet to see uses of local LLMs that are all that compelling.

Re: Tim Cook's Impeccable Timing

#410

Post by sersi » Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 5:43 AM UTC

alex7o wrote: post #129

a012 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And dont forget the scissor keyboard and the fucking touchbar

Fight me but I miss the touchbar, it was customizable to be super useful with better touch tool

Yeah, I hated the keyboard but really did like the touchbar. Apple really dropped the ball there though. We shouldn't have needed Better Touch Tool to make it useful.