I'm not sure I agree with this. All companies reach their climax and then experience slowed or negative growth. I'm not convinced either way that Apple hasn't reached the point of decelerating growth and a reduction in new, exciting and innovative products. It is a much different and harder challenge to develop -> test -> iterate with hardware products as compared with software products. It is also much easier for growth of software startups that can be bought, and overpaid for, by large software companies in order to continue their growth and innovation. That's why I think that Google may be a better long-term prospect than Apple.
Apple is a closed ecology while Google is a fully open one. Apple has grown tremendously with long product cycles. People were willing to upgrade their iPad1 to iPad2 to iPad3, etc. I think their real issue is vision. They had it with Jobs leading the way. Not so sure they have it anymore. I think they could score big with a new Apple TV that features an HDMI IN connection. Ideally, you could connect your DirectTV, Dish, or Cable box in and have the Apple TV do the guide, channel selection, recording management, etc.
Well apple isn't just another microsoft or RIM company. They are really a damn good marketing company. The products haven't really been innovative for at least 6 years; but they figured the marketing strategy to stay ahead of the game. They make the consumer feel "cool" about owning their products. It's like someone buying a porsche. Yeah it has nice attributes like fast as fuck and german engineering; but the reality is people buy porsche because they want people to think they are cool. Well at least the majority of people owning porsches. The biggest advantage for apple is their niché of the MP3 or online music purchases. They make things easy to purchase a song on your phone and it automatically syncs to all your computers and other devices connected to the account. The convienence is another niché. And let's take a look at samsung. They haven't really innovated anything, but just copy the marketing strategy of apple and use their platform and basic fundementals. If Samsung was actually making new devices that are nothing like the iphone or ipad; then we would be onto something.
Google already has this. It is a good device, but it doesn't change the game unless you get buy-in from the content providers. Otherwise you've just created a box that turns your tv into a monitor, which you can already do with any PC.
You're partially right. Apple has done a great job marketing but to compare electronics that need high turnover rates and huge volumes to owning a Porsche is going down the wrong path. Apple can't continue to grow with low volume and high prices like a Porsche. And their advantage of having an ecosystem of products is being challenged by Google. It will be difficult for a hardware company to stay ahead of a powerful software company because software is so much easier and faster to try, fail and move on. Your example of Samsung is odd. You say that Apple can continue to be successful without innovative products, but Samsung can't because they aren't making innovative products. The fact is that Samsung is really starting to cut into Apple's dominance whether Samsung's products are innovative or not.
They have content for Apple TV. You can purchase shows and movies and music. You can also watch Hulu and Netflix. I'm suggesting an Apple TV device that unifies all that with whatever your normal TV content provider gets you. So your Apple TV would do the entire program guide. "Apple TV recommends... X from DirectTV, Y from Netflix, etc." Your "DVR" like playlist might include stuff you've recorded mixed with stuff you've bookmarked to watch later. Like your weekly 2 1/2 men and Big Bang Theory episodes on the playlist along with your netflix instant queue. It could even do picture in picture with DirectTV (or cable, or whatever) in one window and Netflix video in another. In fact, the technology is pretty much there now. They have remote control apps for DirectTV on iPad/iPhone that talk to your box over WiFi and control it. An Apple TV on the same WiFi could similarly control things.
Yes, I understand. But without the buy-in from the providers, it ain't happening and it won't be game changing.
Because otherwise they've just created an Apple version of Tivo with some slight advances like Apple's own content.
I'm not seeing any good rumors about new products like in previous launch cycles. More like, "apple released a smaller iPad because there was demand for it." That's not innovating.
Apple has issues; they suck at services, and have garnered a reputation that makes people expect crazy ass unicorns every year. Apple's done plenty of innovating in the last 10 years. None in the last 2 years though so punish the stock. Let's invest in Amazon with it's nutso P/E ratio instead.
There is going to be something launched that will innovate. I have this feeling. Jobs was a great man, but he was just good at finding the talent to help innovate. Those players are still at apple.
This year is a "tock" year in a tick/tock cycle. Software update for iOS which will be pretty big (Jony Ive took over from Forstall there, so less skeumorphism); retina iPad mini that I've been waiting for; new desktop Mac Pro powerhouse; streaming music service; 4k res monitor possibly; retina-res Macbook Airs possibly... iWatch (ehn, whatever) ...not an Apple TV solution, though. That's kind of the last big hardware/media space Apple doesn't have a major stake in. Next year... next year. Even the Yankees didn't win a title every year.
