So it looks like I’m not the only one saying that Apple is changing recently. Now the LA Times ran a story in the business section entitled Is Apple Losing Some of its Shine…Recent moves to impose control risk alienating loyalists" where I got a brief mention after speaking to reporter Michelle Quinn twice last week. It was also picked up on Newsday.com Even my new buddy Fake Steve Jobs referenced it yesterday (his book is available from Amazon on the right margin of this blog, BTW.)
All in all, even while Apple’s stock is making meteoric gains (remind me, why DID I leave Apple?) they seem to be losing ground with the faithful, or at least the historically faithful. With Apple now serving as the protector of their platform rather than providing an open playground, they are bound to ruffle a few feathers. I think we’re just at the beginning of Apple’s transformation from computer company to consumer electronics juggernaut with lots more growing pains ahead.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple introducing products first for Windows or playing to their strength as the only provider of the Universal PC their Intel-powered platform now offers.
Time will tell.
I’m aware that you worked for Apple, and that you are trying to build a consultancy career on that basis, but with the greatest respect, I don’t see how your past history gives you any unique insight into Apple’s current strategy (or their difficulties).
As possibly the most disruptive company in history, Apple are trying to change several huge, entrenched, industries. The negative PR that they’re currently encountering is arising from the conflict between consumer interest and that of the corporations, content providers, and networks with whom they now have to deal. It’s a fascinating marketing conundrum – hugely worthy of analysis – but one you seem to have missed.
There’s a really perceptive analysis of this at:
http://counternotions.com/2007/10/09/patience-for-apple
If you were really up to speed with Steve Jobs’ thinking, I’d have expected you to produce something similar.
A Seattle paper ran a story today headlining… “Is Starbucks Losing Its Steam”
John,
You are entitled to your opinion. But Apple is really a company executing Steve’s vision. I feel that working next to the man, competing against him, knowing that he isn’t always thinking 3 moves ahead and that there are things he won’t or can’t do gives me a unique position to know a bit more than most about Apple’s strategies. Regardless, they don’t look at markets as something they can disrupt, rather how they look for opportunities to improve where others already tread.
“Regardless, they don’t look at markets as something they can disrupt, rather how they look for opportunities to improve where others already tread.”
How can you possibly say that?
Who disrupted the music and phone industries in just six years? What company was able to get all four majors to agree on a comprehensive digital music service ($0.99 songs, individual songs, liberal DRM, etc)? Who stood up to the labels when they wanted to backslide and jack up prices? Which company took away carriers’ leverage in the phone business? What company utterly changed UI paradigms for mobile devices?
You’re being unreasonably harsh on Apple, as is the fad right now. Be patient. It takes time to transform markets. I couldn’t possibly recommend you read the counternotions.com article John mentions above, ’cause I wrote it. 😉
Apple is definately losing some of it’s shine with me. They are a great company but they are starting to become greedy! Greed can only breed disloyalty. I am absolutely frustrated with how the iPhone has become the platform to close out the creative people who have helped build Apple. You can’t even add a self-created or previously purchased ringtone to the phone! It is certainly the least customizable phone on the market. If you agree, sign this petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/custom-ringtones-for-the-iphone
Free the iPhone!
I am not trying to be harsh on Apple. If you read my posts and quotes you’ll see I almost always defend them. I have my own reasons and they are:
1. They make things better.
2. Their products improve my life.
The insider perspective I have to offer is this: they don’t (always) have a master plan to disrupt markets. People lavish brilliance of strategy and flawlessness of tactics on Apple and Steve Jobs when often times they don’t deserve it. Apple had no master plan to disrupt the music business. They dip a toe in, test the water, then move. The iPhone took 3 years of swimming in the mobile market to figure it out. Remember iTunes on a mobile phone? Check this out: http://www.apple.com/itunes/mobile/
And they still are learning. That’s the point of this blog. While they are learning, we can help direct them. They listen. Few other companies do.
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