Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course at one point they had no domain expertise with phones...
They're really good at rectangular screens!
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Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
91–100 of 174 posts
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#92Might explain Musk weird press conference earlier this week. Said he would need massive amounts of cash soon. Maybe he knew what's going on with Apple. Or just that he needs money for the battery factory.
He was asked in an interview not too long ago if he'd recommend to Apple that they get into the car business, and he said, "Yes, they should!" Odd response if he's expecting competition. I think an acquisition is much more likely, and it would also fall under the explanation of "we need a ton of money". I.e. we agreed to get bought by Apple because of their massive cash engine and operational expertise. http://www.bl…
He wants competition because he's positioning himself/Tesla to be a major supplier and as a platform for EVs to use.
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#93Might explain Musk weird press conference earlier this week. Said he would need massive amounts of cash soon. Maybe he knew what's going on with Apple. Or just that he needs money for the battery factory.
Do you have a link?
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#94It's probably 10 years off, but I bet it will be a self-driving one. That isn't a car anymore, but a moving computer, which makes it a natural fit for Apple.
I'm skeptical. Self-driving systems are extremely software heavy, and Apple is not a software house. It just doesn't make sense.
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
The only domain expertise they had on phones was the itunes phone with motorola. And then they launched the iphone. Same goes for the ipod. Only thing they had expertise in was computers. And with computers becoming extremely important for cars, they might just have a chance. Just as much as google, and they don't have any particular domain knowledge either (ie. they have never sold a car before).
Computers aren't that important for cars. I'll gladly believe that Apple will produce a car with a completely amazing user experience for its center console. But I'll take a car with a less amazing user experience for its center console if it drives better, gets better mileage, has lower maintenance, costs tens of thousands of dollars less, and looks good on the outside. Apple has no expertise there, and it's a compl…
>drives better, gets better mileage, has lower maintenance, costs tens of thousands of dollars less, and looks good on the outside
Except these are improved with improved software now...for example battery technology isn't anything without good software, same with maintenance (software is the reason why the F-35 is orders of magnitude cheaper to maintain over the lifecycle)
>We like to sort of claim Tesla as our own, but it's not a computer company
Except it is...
At its heart, Tesla is a software developer dressed in a carmaker's robes. The Silicon Valley company has focused on developing its software to be the primary component behind its fleet's sophisticated safety and battery systems, not to mention its infotainment console[1]
Tesla is closer to being a technology company than a traditional automobile maker.[2]
[1]http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/11/is-tesla-mo... [2]https://www.ihs.com/articles/features/tesla-motors.html
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#96Might explain Musk weird press conference earlier this week. Said he would need massive amounts of cash soon. Maybe he knew what's going on with Apple. Or just that he needs money for the battery factory.
Do you have a link?
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#97Apple hardware is generally beautiful and feels extremely well built, but usually makes a few key compromises of function for the sake of form, with the result that some of their gear is prone to failure after a surprisingly short period of time. Take pretty much every Apple cable ever made for example. They lack stress relief and, hence, tend to fall apart where they are stressed. Some of this can be blamed on Steve…
I respect this sentiment and am not completely dismissing the analogy, but there are certainly more safety regulations and checks on cars than on low-voltage DC power cables.
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#98Apple hardware is generally beautiful and feels extremely well built, but usually makes a few key compromises of function for the sake of form, with the result that some of their gear is prone to failure after a surprisingly short period of time. Take pretty much every Apple cable ever made for example. They lack stress relief and, hence, tend to fall apart where they are stressed. Some of this can be blamed on Steve…
...be wary. Hell yes. This is a product that, with a hidden bug or quirk, will kill, maim or hurt you and others around you.
On the other hand, Apple has the capital to do this correctly. Even if they later decide to limit the scope of the project, it will pay dividends with their existing automotive control group. A project like this will take many years. But, with their best project managers, there's no doubt that they can do it. Who knows, with the kind of money they have now, I'd say even 5 years is doable.
But, be mindful that the existing existing players such as BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Nissan, Tesla, Toyota and VW are all getting better too. Electric cars aren't rocket science, but with all the regulations and bureaucratic red tape surrounding the automotive industry, it may as well be.
Here's another kicker--Apple may be thinking about integrating some new thing(s) that are novel. It could be that Apple engineers have thought of some great way to combine X (and Y...) in some novel way with the automobile that will revolutionize the industry. If that's the case, you can expect even greater and more fanatical secrecy than the existing wall of silence.
Here's the nice thing about a project like this as I see it. Cars are fun. They're sexy and lots of kids dream about driving, building, fixing and/or designing them. This is the type of thing that gets the public eye and can rally existing employees and potential employees. Who wouldn't want to work on a car?
Lastly, just like the moonshot project of the 60's, you never know what technologies and ancillary benefits will come about because of something as complex and far-reaching as this appears to be.
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#99Possible downside: Apple could end up bidding against Tesla for employees, factories, and rare materials; increasing the price of electric cars and slowing Tesla's production and growth, while not producing many cars itself for some time.
Musk mentioned the other day that Apple frequently tries to poach Tesla employees, but hasn't been very successful.
Yeah, isn't it the other way around? I remember reading somewhere that Tesla poaches a good number of employees from Apple.
Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
Who would you rather buy from though? The innovator, or the imitator? Price may be the differentiating factor, but I think most ppl would choose the innovator.
Are you kidding me? Almost Apple's entire product line has been very polished, stylish imitations (Xerox Alto -> Apple PC, Diamond Rio -> iPod, Blackberry -> iPhone, Microsoft Tablet PC -> iPad) with some incremental improvements, and they've been extremely popular. I think history has shown that most people will choose the imitator, if the imitation is a good one.
Ah, the old "incremental improvements" canard.