Android has 39% share in the US, iOS is at 28%. Pretty big change from the data you showed. The market has shifted quite a bit in the last 10 months!
Posted on 08/27/2011 1:05:29 PM PDT by TomServo
Earlier this month I sold my 11.6-inch MacBook Air (using Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now) and iPhone 4 (switched back to Google Nexus S). I don't miss either Apple product. Not the least bit. In reflecting, I realize that the spell is broken. Without Apple Chairman Steve Jobs driving innovation or inspiring passion -- the oft-called "reality distortion field" -- my Apple enthusiasm is gone. Perhaps it's return to sanity.
I should have connected the dots sooner, but often people don't easily apply even basic math to emotional matters, because the nuances move swiftly on the surface with many slower currents and fast-churning eddies below. The ocean is an excellent analogy. Yesterday, in viewing Nate Mook's slideshow of 20 products introduced by Jobs, and resurfacing emotions about the different launches, I had an epiphany. I could see how much Jobs' passion infected mine -- his ability to inspire about what Apple products offered. I used to joke about the Steve Jobs spell: During one of the product launch speeches, if he was having an off day, people left feeling like: If I buy this thing my life will be better for it. If Jobs was in the zone giving the preso, people left feeling if they didn't buy the new thing their lives would be worse.
Jobs' cast a big spell, but it was more than the pitch -- there are aspirational qualities built into Apple products. Jobs is the rarest of business leaders: He has good taste and the ability to inspire people working with him to put it into high-tech stuff. Related: Design priorities put features that are most useful at the top, packaged such that there is balance among them -- none takes away from overall functionality. Additionally: Simplicity is a defining Apple design characteristic, or was.
As I explained here at BetaNews in February 2005 post "iPod Shuffle: Apple understated": "The company has turned a knack for the understated into a marketing machine that touches virtually every Mac product, including iPod Shuffle...Understated often means uncomplicated. And sometimes that means cutting back consumer choices, as Apple did with iPod Shuffle. Less really can be more...Competitors really need to study what Apple is doing right and how to incorporate a similar approach into their product designs and marketing".
Complication Creep
But on reflection, I now see how much simplicity, one of Apple products' best attributes, is giving way to complication creep. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and iTunes 9 and 10 are glaring examples of increased complexity, as are iOS 4 (and soon v5), Safari 5.1, iLife `11 and most other Apple software.
Even Apple Store. I wrote in 2005: "Apple retail stores are remarkably understated. The only bright colors are found on marketing material placed throughout the store. Otherwise, the tasteful stores are quite stark, so that the shoppers' eyes are drawn either to the colorful marketing posters and signs or to the products on sale". The stores are no longer as tasteful, and the new iPad product information displays create clutter and complexity.
Still, where Steve Jobs' influence still touched so did simplicity remain, which iPad 2, MacBook Air and Mac App Store imbue. But other recent attempts at simplicity have failed, with Final Cut Pro X example of increased complexity coming from an attempt to make video production simpler. Many of Apple's elite customers complained about the product, and there was even a petition to bring back the old version! Could such a thing really have happened with Steve Jobs hands-on at Apple?
When Passion Fades
Steve Jobs unexpectedly resigned as Apple CEO two days ago, and the Board of Directors immediately chose Tim Cook, then chief operating officer, as replacement. Much of the punditry about the transition is similar: Apple will remain the same Apple under Cook. This is misguided, wishful thinking.
Apple will change under Cook's leadership. Actually Apple already has changed. For about three years now, Jobs' influence on product development and marketing is less than it once was. The Apple faithful will slam me in comments or elsewhere for speaking such blasphemy. But, c`mon. The man is terribly ill -- clearly fighting for his life throughout much of 2009 and 2011.
As I more seriously review the 2.8 years since Jobs' January 2009 medical leave started, it's clear the aforementioned qualities are missing and other less-desirable ones present in Apple products. This reflects the limits of Jobs' involvement in the process -- at least the way he was able to be when in more robust health. There is a vitality gone from Apple's cofounder that many recent Apple products reflect, even as the company reaches its highest pinnacle of success ever. It's a cruel circumstance that a man who has had so much positive influence should be ravaged from the effects of cancer while still in his prime.
Kirk and Spock
Jobs and Cook couldn't be more different leaders. They're complimentary: The inspired visionary looking to bring good taste and understated design to otherwise complex products and the man responsible for getting them to market. Like James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock from "Star Trek". Kirk is the leader, the charismatic one. Spock is the empowering sidekick but not as effective leader. That's how I see Jobs and Cook.
Cook will competently lead Apple, as he has done for the better part of two years. He's honed Apple's supply chain to a science. Apple is a self-propelling machine now. But like Spock, Cook won't have the passion of Kirk. This will affect his ability to hold onto the team core to Jobs, such as product design genius Jony Ive.
Apple won't find feature compromises -- the kind good for keeping them in balance -- as easy in the post-Jobs-CEO world, either. Response to Final Cut Pro X is one example of that. Jobs had a knack for making people believe in his company's products, for clearly calling on real-world passion while making anyone and everyone willing to listen to feel good about Apple stuff. Apple products evoke emotional response, like few others in techdom. They are imbued by Jobs' passion and his ability to inspire others to design greatness or to give someone like Jony Ive freedom to bring true design genius to market.
Apple feels quite different to me now in 2011 than it did in 2008. It's all corporate now. Just dollars and cents on a ledger. What Jobs imbued already is gone, at least for me. I predict it will fade for many technophiles. But not anytime soon for the mass market of buyers, who are more influenced by what their friends and family use than by the aura of Steve Jobs.
His legendary "one more thing" was one last thing long ago.
Android has 39% share in the US, iOS is at 28%. Pretty big change from the data you showed. The market has shifted quite a bit in the last 10 months!
Android is larger - no question. We have 4 vendors, each with numerous models - all competing with Apple’s 3 iPhones. And each of Apple’s iPhones are at least 18 months old - I’d say that ain’t too shabby.
I agree, according to RUMORs (that’s all we have, until a ‘rumored’ Sept 7th announcement) is that pre-orders for the iPhone 5 will be Sept 30th, with release for Oct. 7th.
Personally, I suspect that Apple has some tricks up their sleeve. I expect the iPhone5 will be a World-Phone (same phone, any network), in addition to LTE. LTE was installed in the Apple retail stores for both Verizon and AT&T. Timing is everything .... why install LTE in your retail stores, if you have no products that will use it? Why install it now, if the ‘rumored’ iPad 3 will have it; but that won’t be released until 2012.
Apple is very good at keeping things under wraps. Too bad no Apple intern has gone to a bar and gotten drunk, and left their proto-type iPhone5 on a bar stool, like last year.
I do know that in the tablet space; Apple is totally kicking butt, which is unexpected. I didn’t expect Blackberry and HP to fold so quickly - and I don’t understand how Apple can have the margins they do - and HP can’t make an Android tablet that undercuts the iPad in price. This was a total cluster-muck.
One of the problems that Android is going to have going forward, is the plethora of processors that it’s required to support. Apple has the ARM platform - and that’s it. Each device is known and streamlined in the OS. Android supports over a dozen processors, and a plethora of displays, Wi-Fi chipsets, memory, USB, Bluetooth, et. al. chipsets. There is no reference design base that is published by Google. I suspect this is one of the reasons they bought Motorola Mobile.
Quote all the nonsense you want, the reality is people buy because they have to, or they have disposable income to buy something they want. It would be a rare person that had to buy an Apple product, so what do you suppose is the reason they would?
Greater acceptance in the gay community.
You really want to play that card?
No one is forced to buy anything they make. Your life is not affected in any way by what Apple does or does not produce, unless you voluntarily buy that product.
Your hating Apple does not make your favorite product work one bit better. So give up the baggage and just live the life God gave you. You may find that the Sun still shines after a rain.
unless you voluntarily buy that product>>>>>>
I voluntarily buy no ridiculous overpriced products
Just wanted to update on this... Today at BGR they're reporting that "the iPhone 5 display is expected to be between 3.5 and 3.7 inches". As we get closer to real release, the actual size of the screen really doesn't change much from what it is now.
It will be interesting to see what really happens, though!
Saw that too. My understanding is that there will be 2 phones released. A stripped down, 8 Gig iPhone 4 which will sell for $99 WITHOUT a contract; and the iPhone 5. I suspect that the screens that BGR (9to5Mac and Appleinsider) are aluding to, are the cheap iPhone screens.
Lots of various news reports.
Credit where credit is due; Apple has fantastic security. Unless some poor employee leaves another phone in a bar; we won’t know anything for certain until Sept 7th.
Proving my point. You are just here to stir the angry pot, so have fun.
I often wonder if that employee still works at Apple...;)
The iPhone4 is Corning Gorilla Glass... both the screen and the back glass. Apple and Corning have both stated that it is. . . Steve Jobs stated it as a fact in the introduction of the iPhone4. The glass is made by several manufacturers under license from Corning.
As for your link to the scratched iPhone: Again, you find the stuff from the fringes and post it as fact. I have many friend with iPhone4s and none of them, including myself, have succeeded in scratching our phones.
That was my call, too. That was why I did not post a link to it on FR. I know that Steve Jobs would never wear shorts or a shirt that was not a black turtleneck. He had worked a full day at Apple on the day he resigned as well. Had he looked that bad, he would not have allowed himself to be re-elected as chairman of the board... and I saw a video of him taken just three weeks ago and he was no where near that appearance. I called fake as soon as I saw it. There was a suspicious line across the neck too.
It is. Confirmed by both Corning and Apple. Made under license from Corning Glass.
No, they are not. We have gone around and around about this before. You make your assertions that Apple does not do the engineering, just buying off the shelf generic stuff and tweaks it... without knowing what you are talking about. And then blather about "Jesse Jobs Gang" and over priced junk. I'd suggest the others just not bother engaging you on this. It's a waste of time... after several years of repeatedly engaging you in the SAME OLD, SAME OLD, I know.
Great, I’m sure you can provide a reference? I haven’t been able to find anything other than Apple saying it’s an aluminosilicate screen...
I'm not going to bother. My word should be good enough... it is for the 540 members of the Apple Ping list. They know I am to be trusted. The information is available on FR from back when the iPhone4 was first introduced and PugetsoundSoldier tried this same tactic then... and I think you know that. You are not worth the time or the effort. I've wasted enough time on you. You wouldn't read it anyway. Go to Apple and watch the Keynote address where the iPhone4 was revealed by Steve Jobs... there's a slide on there where they make the announcement and Steve Jobs talks about it. Do your own damn research for once.
Quanta first gained notice in the '80s for cleverly cramming new components into notebooks. Then, in 2001, Apple contracted with the company to design its G4 notebook from top to bottom.
Quanta still builds for Apple, too... If you go and look at Barry Lam's bio, the founder and chairman of Quanta, you'll find the following REFERENCED statement:
Quanta designs and manufactures for clients such as Apple Inc.
Notice: designs AND manufactures. Do you think Quanta provides industrial design or user interface design for Apple? Or perhaps it provides electrical/PCB design and power supply design? Huh - what was claimed - someone else designs Apple's motherboards. Here are a couple references that seem to back that assertion up.
What makes you think that Quanta doesn't do a significant part of the design work for Apple? They were doing it all in 2001 - ODM, Original Design Manufacturer (design and build to spec). What makes you think it's changed much since then? Especially since Quanta lists Apple as an ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) client - meaning design AND build?
What source do you have that Apple designs their own motherboards in-house, at Apple? Or their own power supplies in-house, at Apple? What source do you have that says Apple doesn't use a tweaked version of Intel's reference motherboard?
You make the claim, here's some references that run counter to your claim. So can you refute them with anything solid, other than your personal beliefs?
FromTheSidelines knows what he is talking about. You can dismiss me if you want, what do I care. But FromTheSidelines has your number.
Such as -— “What evidence do you have that Apple (employees) designs it’s motherboards in Cupertino California?” You can reply to FromTheSidelines
So, I guess we'll chalk this up to a Swordmaker belief, not a fact.
I remember when Quanta sold computers and laptops here in America. HQ in New Jersey if I remember right. They obviously decided being a CM was a better idea
Quanta is Steve Jobs big Mac Daddy. His Intel savior and why Apple moved to Intel and ditched IBM/Motorola chips. Quanta is the brains behind the operation. The Wiki entries on Quanta and its owner Barry Lam are revealing as far as Apple goes. My guess is Quanta is serious partners with FoxConn. Quanta does the brain work for Apple, then FoxxConn does manufacturing and assembly. The Cupertino gang does the hype, the marketing and distribution. They go to the beach while the Chinese and Taiwanese do all the heavy lifting.
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