Why the stagnation of innovation in Apple - is a myth
Makradar Technologies / / December 19, 2019
From the memoirs of a beta tester of early Apple products Gene Steinberg
Some people believe that the pace of innovation at Apple slowed down considerably after the death of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook longer focused on a minor update of the product line with a few exceptions. But is it really is and whether it is under a any reason? Let's go back in history and try to figure it out.
Well, let's start from the facts. Up until the release of iPod in 2001, Apple (and formerly Apple Computer), was first and foremost company producing personal computers. Yes, it also produces printers and other related equipment, but by and large, when Steve Jobs became CEO in 1997, a large part of Apple's revenue accounted for sales Mac.
So when they began to appear the illusion of constant release of new product categories?
In August 1998, Apple introduced the original iMac. I remember it well, because at that time was a member of the program Apple consumer estimation of quality and tested both software hardvarnogo products company. I had a chance to try out and the first generation of the iMac, and if he has passed all testing stages, including the final firmware update - I could keep it. But, alas, did not happen. The most updated computer turned into a brick and I had to bring him back (which possibly expect my supervisor from me).
The first iMac was not similar to any of the Mac, goes up to him, as for a single PC - however, his concept originates from another Macintosh first candy bar from the distant 1984,. It was conceived as a computational device, easy to set up and just as easy to use. Instead of being sprayed to support the diversity of ports, Apple focused on the USB and Ethernet. Apart from the components CRT-display, the rest of the iMac equipped with the same details as the PowerBook, including the same processor and memory. All this, of course, able to reduce production costs.
In addition to the unusual appearance in the iMac could hardly have been more innovation. It was not a new category of products, but also helped her to increase sales and then brought out of the crisis. Later Apple played with different colorings body, releasing minor refreshing update internal components and taking advantage of the same basic design.
Indeed a new product category for Apple was the iPod, Burst like a bolt from the blue with "1000 songs in your pocket." The player cost $ 399 and seemed overpriced, but its sales skyrocketed. Apple sprained it fun for years, releasing later Windows-version of the iTunes, further expanding the audience of potential customers.
The same year, Apple introduced the first version of OS X, the operating system has become a new trend of development to a Mac. But then again, remove the top layer is beautiful and you will see that it is not much different from the original NeXT OS, which appeared in the 1980s.
In 2000, Apple has not introduced any new product category. In fact, it took six years from the creation of the iPod first, before the iPhone release. Yes, the iPod became better and more popular, has been amended to conform to the needs of customers with different levels of budgets and needs. iPod has become a household name to refer to a digital music player, and he has not changed even at the peak of sales.
In 2007 he debuted the iPhone, which was an exclusive product only works on AT & T network, although later, hackers have found ways to unlock it. At first there was no App Store. The developer proposes to build web applications, but in the end, Steve Jobs decided to store the creation, became the most formidable storefront, offering millions of applications.
Also in 2007, I saw the release of another new product, the first generation of Apple TV. However, the modern look of a small box with a minimum of storage has become so only in 2010, but the modern version with support for 1080p appeared only in 2012. Now it can not be called a "hobby" and still ongoing speculation about whether Apple TV will launch under its own brand or extended version Aple TV, or both products.
While the iPhone is not cured of the "children's sores" and gained popularity, Apple has not released new products, until 2010, the. In that year, the company introduced the world's first tablet computer, which has earned a massive success in the market. Microsoft has tried to promote the "pill" for many years, but they were nothing more than a clumsy laptops with touch screens on hinges.
Rather than presenting a new category of devices weekly, monthly or yearly, Apple mainly produces refreshing updates, supporting existing products. The company's revenues continue to grow, so what's the reason for the attacks in the Cook?
Apple Pay presented in October was perceived quite positively. Banks and sellers, there were some difficulties, but when compared with the existing payment CurrentC more complex system, Apple Pay is very good.
In 2015 m Watch expected output that should capture emerging market smart hours. The current development model has not disappeared, but perhaps we will see from Apple «variations on a theme." Do not forget that the iPod, the iPhone, iPad, and brushed aside the skeptics who said that they will never find success. Everything goes to the fact that such skeptics once again utrut nose and prove that he is wrong.
Going back to the history of Apple, clearly shows that Tim Cook adheres roughly the same development model as its predecessor. Critics and skeptics may think otherwise, but the fact remains.
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