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Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

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Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#91

Post by [deleted] »

Daneel_ wrote: post #79
emdowling wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does. It has two of them in fact.

...via dongle, at US$29 each, thank you very much. Want to connect an external screen at the same time? Too bad. I'll take built in ethernet and two display connectors on my lenovo instead. Want to add another network port? Well, there's USB3 gigabit, or simply USB-C. If you need native PCIe adaptors, then Dell XPS range comes with Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Sorry, I have to agree with the parent that the port war is g…

[deleted]

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#93

Post by VonGuard »

darawk wrote: post #16

Is this a surprise? Isn't it well known that Apple is working on a car? I think the big question here is not are they working on a car, but can they deliver a car that represents a significant improvement over what's out there. And that i'm highly skeptical of, unless they deliver full autonomy. But there is just no way Apple is going to beat Google to market with that technology. So, I agree they're working on a car…

As with most Apple-related rumors, the truth is probably something a lot less exciting in the end. If Apple is working on a "Car" you can bet it's just s creep of it's current offerings, so, a car that includes iOS and links to your iPhone, has navigation info in the dash provided by Apple Maps, and has iTunes integration in the dashboard.

A self driving car is not just going to magically appear from Apple. It'll take years, and offering a branded in-car experience with someone like Ford or VW would be a lot more Apple's style.

But then, I've been repeatedly wrong about Apple for years. Still, I feel like when they introduce something these days it's evolutionary, not revolutionary.

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#94

Post by nl »

ProAm wrote: post #51
whoiskevin wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But still loses money

I wouldnt be surprised if Apple is working with Tesla for the model 3. They have the money to invest and help, I can see them owning 25% of Tesla for it. But the fact they are hiring away Tesla engineers argues against this point.

Tesla is a public company. Apple would have to disclose a buying significant stake, plus it is publicly available information.

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#95

Post by Daneel_ »

realityking wrote: post #90
Daneel_ wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...via dongle, at US$29 each, thank you very much. Want to connect an external screen at the same time? Too bad. I'll take built in ethernet and two display connectors on my lenovo instead. Want to add another network port? Well, there's USB3 gigabit, or simply USB-C. If you need native PCIe adaptors, then Dell XPS range comes with Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C. Sorry, I have to agree with the parent that the port war is g…

Are you thinking of MacBooks? Because the grandparent talked about the Mac Pro who has two normal RJ45 ports: http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/specs/

...yes. Yes I am. Egg on face.

The point still stands though, it's such a shame seeing the minimisation of ports on all systems these days. I can understand using standard ports (usb-c) for peripherals, but essentials such as Ethernet, display and several USB ports (whichever format) should remain built in.

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#96

Post by varjag »

boznz wrote: post #89

Assuming its a car.. Cars are not phones and I don't see the massive factory/production line being prepared to build the cars nor the investment in battery production that would be required (assuming an EV not an ICE) so unless they buy BMW (LOL!) or another car manufacturer then it will be 3 years minimum from them showing a car to us being able to buy it.

Apple definitely can tear apart the status quo in dashboard/driver UI/entertainment console automotive market. They don't have to make a complete vehicle. Even with semi/fully autonomous cars there's a huge potential for a quality OEM software/sensors package.

Remember aside from the biggest car conglomerates there's a dozen smaller 2nd tier makes who can't afford building self driving car from the ground up. Even the biggest ones invest into it more out of necessity than internal motivation.

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#97

Post by [deleted] »

iLoch wrote: post #60
astrodust wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just imagine how much fun Ive would have designing an orbital space station. What's interesting is how aggressively they're moving into the car space if that's what's happening. The phone people had no idea, they got blindsided thinking Apple wouldn't have the guts, would never commit the money.

Not nearly as much fun as he'd have talking about how he designed it.

[deleted]

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#98

Post by agumonkey »

VonGuard wrote: post #93
darawk wrote: post #16

Is this a surprise? Isn't it well known that Apple is working on a car? I think the big question here is not are they working on a car, but can they deliver a car that represents a significant improvement over what's out there. And that i'm highly skeptical of, unless they deliver full autonomy. But there is just no way Apple is going to beat Google to market with that technology. So, I agree they're working on a car…

As with most Apple-related rumors, the truth is probably something a lot less exciting in the end. If Apple is working on a "Car" you can bet it's just s creep of it's current offerings, so, a car that includes iOS and links to your iPhone, has navigation info in the dash provided by Apple Maps, and has iTunes integration in the dashboard. A self driving car is not just going to magically appear from Apple. It'll tak…

So more like an Apple Watch than an iPhone. They don't have the nice systemic headstart ipod and imacs gave them in electronic devices that made the iPhone possible 'all of a sudden'.

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#99

Post by petra »

abalone wrote: post #81
petra wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, Apple's historic design advantage is probably gone - since the competition has greatly improved. For example, the watch didn't offer something significantly different(10x) than other smartwatches. But i can see your second point being true, maybe full-autonomy will take a long time. So even if Apple will design a great interface, it would probably be copied by competitors fast enough, unless there's some big b…

No, think the fundamental cockpit driving control interface. Not just the entertainment system (although that will be a nice synergistic element). Btw I agree about the watch, but it's also early days. The iPod might not have seemed as radical an improvement on other MP3 players either, at first. In retrospect the details made the difference between the product category working for people and not, and blew the catego…

OK, let's talk about interface. The major problem such interface has to solve - is how keep the driver aware enough of the road at times he needs to(legally, at all times) , while making it more FUN for him than regular driving, otherwise, why bother ?

That's why i believe entertainment in some form, is critical.

So maybe that siri personality is also built in such a way to enable all-time awareness by the driver, effortlessly ?

Or another option: maybe they use some kind of brain monitoring machine like eeg, and together with music put you in some kind of meditative state fit for driving, yet very enjoyable ? but doing so in a subtle way ?

Re: Apple R&D Reveals a Pivot Is Coming

#100

Post by mozumder »

bjelkeman-again wrote: post #80
whoiskevin wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But still loses money

There is a big difference between loosing money because you build and sell individual cars at a loss, and investing in further capacity. They make money on the cars they build and sell, the overall loss comes from investing in the new factories and product lines. This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with startups.

You're supposed to include capital expenses and depreciation in margins. Just because they're building factories doesn't mean they have higher margins.

This is why startups underestimate their expenses.

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