Peter Thiel Says The Age Of Apple Is Over

BI ^ | 1-12-2017 | Steve Kovach

[blam]

Steve Kovach
January 12, 2017

Silicon Valley investor and Donald Trump transition-team member Peter Thiel says Apple is past its peak.

Here's what he said in a Q&A with Maureen Dowd of The New York Times when he was asked to confirm or deny that "the age of Apple is over":

"Confirm. We know what a smartphone looks like and does. It's not the fault of Tim Cook, but it's not an area where there will be any more innovation."

Thiel is best known in Silicon Valley for his early investment in Facebook.

(snip)

[RegulatorCountry]

Apple may seem to be in a lull, but who else has driven the PC industry, then the cellphone industry, even remotely to the degree that Apple has? Name a highly successful form factor or an interface used in either, that does not owe a very deep debt to Apple for inspiration. There isn’t one.

[dp0622]

Yes. Surprised the whole boycott thing didn’t happen with PayPal.

Glad it didn’t.

And glad there’s one more site I can use without feeling guilty!!

[blam]

"Temporary lull in innovation, not a permanent stop. Major advances in intelligent agents through smart devices are already underway. "

I remember when IBM was at their peak and were viewed with this same respect.

[bgill]

Me neither. Don’t need one. Don’t want one. The only use the old flip phone has is when hubby calls to ask what kind of dog food to pick up.

[bgill]

If Apple died tomorrow, I wouldn’t be upset.

[PIF]

“... We know what a smartphone looks like and does ... it’s not an area where there will be any more innovation.”

Sounds like the proverbial Famous Last Words ...

[DannyTN]

I phone 6. Upgrade for $0.10. That $0.10 only cost me $200 after paying for a 2 year warranty, and a protective case and glass cover.

But the kicker was they left me on my dumb phone plan with 1GB for $30/month. Paying an extra $10 a month for eternity for a new data plan had been my objection to upgrading all along. I have computers almost everywhere I go. Why do I need a smart phone?

Now I'm busy cord cutting everything else.

• $100/month AT&T House phone gets replaced tomorrow by a $10/month Gtalk VoIP phone.
• Alarm system changed companies, replaced with a wireless system upgraded with a fire sensor and dropped $18/month.
• $88/month Dish Network has been replaced by Netflix, Roku and an antenna. May add a Tablo DVR later and/or SlingTV later.
• Local Paper cancelled. Maybe someday I'll subscribe to their online version for $10/year. Maybe.

[HamiltonJay]

I am not bashing Apple, like I said, they have enough cash on hand they could literally not make another dollar and keep operating full tilt for a decade without running out of cash.

Apple makes gobs of money, however the reality is the smart phone is now ubiquitous and slower refresh cycles and lower margins are the new reality.

The question is really what is next... that’s the real question for Apple is will they find the next big thing. My guess is they will... but no one really knows what that is yet.. wearables are pretty much a blah... cars? eh... What will be the next big thing? And no one would have told you smart phones in 2005... so fact no one knows what is is right now.. isn’t all that worrisome to me.

However, whatever the next thing is, Apple will need to recognize and develop it without Jobs... something it hasn’t done yet... well at least not since it came roaring back from the brink of failure.

I am not worried about Apple... when apple cuts its R&D budget, that’s when I’ll worry about Apple’s future.

[HamiltonJay]

The reality is, there likely won’t be any more MAJOR innovations... evolutionary vs revolutionary.. innovation will continue, but its not likely that the next phone from anyone is going to have something so unheard of and exciting that it will be a must have on that merit alone.

This is typical of any industry... the ball point pen revolutionized writing.... and there are still innovations that happen in the pen industry, but no one is clamoring for it.

Its typical product life cycle... the real question is,... what’s next? Wearables certainly aren’t it.... though they will continue to evolve and grow as well... cars??? Eh... more evolution vs innovation as tmore and more tech finds their way into it... Apple TV? Not really likely, just a another streaming service, and a pricier one at that... though I am sure with folks cutting the cord Apple TV will get Apple a revenue stream...

But whats the next big thing? Reality is, I don’t know, and I don’t think anyone knows... IOT? Again, more evolution than revolution... The fact my Refrigerator can tell me its 37 degrees inside it when I am 2000 miles away isn’t really a must have thing...

OF course in 2005 no one would have told you the next big thing was going to be the smart phone either... so fact no one knows what that next big thing is yet... not really worrisome... as long as Apple is spending good R&D money, I am sure eventually they will find another big hit... If they start to cut back there.. that’s when I’ll worry about Apple being yesterday’s news..

[Neidermeyer]

Beside that the complaint i hear from most people is they almost always pay more than the monthly contract price.
Due to extra data fees and so on.
So, $40 a month turns into $60 or $70 a month.
***********
MetroPCS is your friend.

[minnesota_bound]

#23 Be careful, your wife may want to upgrade the husband next! : )

I would like a phone that has great reception and also where I can hear the caller and they can hear me.

[sharkhawk]

I’ve chafed at their prices for years, but can say my iPad Air has been worth every penny and probably gives the most useful Apple bang for the buck. I find some aspects of iOS frustrating, but the cohesive whole of it lets you forget about flashiness and just USE it. Boring...in the way that Apple is known and loved for.

I love my IPAD air two, but it will probably be the last apple device I own. Bought it two years ago, having some charging issues, it charges but not until doing a full reboot. Went through apple support, no help, go to Apple store, they can't fix IPAD's, they only work on software, but they will sell me the same piece for 350.00. Can't stand anything that is unrepairable.

[Fresh Wind]

Yes, pains me to conceal a sleek polished lightweight device in a thick cheap (but effective!) plastic case.

My device is beautiful to behold, but slippery as a greased eel. A case is imperative.

[avenir]

Sorry to hear about that. I’ve been fortunate, no issues. I think they can replace the battery, right?

[A CA Guy]

My thoughts were the same as yours.

[truth_seeker]

Apple was NOT the first “smartphone.”

That might go equally to Blackberry and Palm Treo.

I had the latter, which had a name directory, could send emails, and do rudimentary web surfing.

There was a mechanical touchpad, and a touch screen using a stylus device.

[sharkhawk]

The Apple store wouldn’t do it. The battery checks out as fine according to them. It charges, it just doesnt recognize the plug until a hard reboot. Weird, seemed they just wanted me to buy a new Ipad.

[ConsCA]

“Apple’s innovation and imagination died with Jobs...................”

It really really really died when Jony Ive grabbed more power at Apple and some real innovation within the company was squashed. He has too much influence on products. Bottom line, he can’t fathom how people use technology. Nor do out of the box thinking such as Jobs did.

Example, the Apple watch came about because of Ive’s love for watches.

[TheNext]

Darn, I was just ready to buy my first Apple,
because “Google Android Samsung” SUCKS! bigly.

Will never by another Google product EVER!

[CommieCutter]

Paying an extra $10 a month for eternity for a new data plan had been my objection to upgrading all along.

Same here. I felt my phone bill was already expensive enough. I didn't move on to a smart phone until 2013 when I discovered Straight Talk and their "unlimited" plans.