Connect with us

Apple! What The HELL Happened In 2016!?

Featured

Apple! What The HELL Happened In 2016!?


Michael Grothaus

17/12/2016 – 5:47pm

Dull iPhones. Problematic MacBooks. Nothing-New-Here Wearables… Apple’s 2016 definitely wasn’t one for the record books

I’ve been an Apple fanboy for ages. I bought my first Mac almost 17 years ago and since then I’ve bought at least one piece of Apple hardware every year. It started with a G4 Cube, then a PowerMac G4 and Cinema Display, followed every year by the new desktop. When Apple began making iPods, I started buying the new one every year too. Then around 2004 I switched from Power Macs to iMacs for the amazing design and bought the new one every year. After that it was the new PowerBook every year, along with an iPod, then the new iPhone and even iPad every year. And yep, when the Apple TV came out, I added the newest one to my yearly lineup.

As little as a few years ago, I was buying five to six pieces of hardware from Apple each year. This year I bought none. That’s right: for the first time in 17 years, I didn’t by a single piece of hardware Apple made in the last 12 months. And it’s because 2016 is the year the company lost its magic. It’s the year all the hype about its rumored upcoming new products was finally just that – hype. It’s the year Apple’s “innovations” ceased being must haves and the year your current Apple products became good enough to hang on to for a few more years. In short 2016 is the year Apple became a disappointment. Here’s why.

iPhone 7

The last time I felt Apple introduced something on the iPhone that I couldn’t live without was the iPhone 6. Yes, that iPhone finally brought up larger screen sizes, but more importantly Apple had innovated its way into the contactless payment market. It was a feature that really solved a problem: the time-consuming task of paying for goods at tills. But Apple hasn’t innovated with the iPhone since then. The 3D Touch display of the iPhone 6s was more gimmick than anything and this year’s iPhone 7 – or as I like to call it, the “iPhone 6ss” – was hardly worth a press conference.

What problem has the iPhone 7 solved? None. It’s marginally faster than the 6s; it’s got a few new colors, but besides that looks almost exactly the same as the 6s; and, worse, its “revolutionary” dual lens camera on the iPhone 7 is restricted to just the Plus model–meaning fans of the 4.7-inch screen size had even less of a reason to upgrade than normal. In the end, Apple’s flagship product didn’t deserve its status as the flagship smartphone in 2016.

MacBook “Pro”

Apple’s newest laptop for professionals was an even bigger disappointment than the lackluster iPhone 7. Pros waited four years for a redesigned MacBook Pro and when it was finally released it became evident it was no longer a “Pro” laptop. “MacBook Premium” might be a better moniker. Again, the main feature, the TouchBar is mostly a gimmick. Pros already know most keyboard shortcuts my heart and they are much easier to implement than have to look down at the tiny LED display. But let’s not waste time getting caught up on a gimmick.

The real problem with the Pro was that Apple has finally, utterly, and completely abandoned functionality in favor of design. All ports but USB-C were jettisoned so they could make the Pro just 17%t thinner. Pros didn’t want thinness, they wanted a powerhouse portable workstation that meets their needs with both the standard USB ports, the new USB-C, SD card slots, and HDMI out. To top it off, the chipset in the new MBPs are already outdated and the RAM maxes out at 16GB.

If Apple wanted to create a beautiful, minimalist, thin, 15-inch laptop, they should make a 15-inch MacBook to go along with their 12-inch model. Pros need more than beautiful design. They need functionality over form–and at that, Apple has failed them.

Apple Watch Series 2

Apple, the Apple Watch isn’t going to happen. Yes, it’s neat that the Series 2 is waterproof and has GPS, but it’s still a niche product and is never going to achieve mass appeal. All you need to do to prove my point is to walk into Europe’s flagship Apple Store in Covent Garden in London on a busy Saturday afternoon. The three Apple Watch display tables they have almost always have ZERO people buy them (and on a good day, maybe about 2) looking at the device, while the rest of the store is packed.

I’m not suggesting Apple was a disappointment for even trying to continue to breathe life into this non-product for the second year in a row, but they were a disappointment for pouring so many of their resources into it (and a book that solely exists to massage Jony Ive’s ego) that they neglected giving proper attention to their core products–the Mac and iPhone.

The Mac and macOS

Speaking of the Mac…Not only was the 2016 MacBook Pro a huge disappointment, it was disappointing that Apple gave virtually no attention to the rest of the Mac lineup. The MacBook line got a slight spec upgrade, the Mac Pro (haha-not) still hasn’t had an update in three years. Neither has the Mac mini. The iMac basically looks the same and has the same features it has had for seven years. Apple even decided to get out of the display and Time Capsule and wireless router market. When Microsoft is out-innovating in the desktop market (with the Surface Studio) you know Apple has lost it.

And besides rebranding OS X to “macOS” and giving it Siri, nothing exciting happened for Apple’s computer OS. Matter of fact, nothing exciting or unique or revolutionary has been added to macOS/OS X in years. Perhaps that’s because–as is completely obvious after this year–Apple does not care about the Mac any longer.

Apple’s Media Services

Finally, Apple was a disappointment in 2016 because they still don’t have a streaming video service. I know it’s hard to compete with Netflix, but surely if everyone else is trying, and doing so pretty successfully, surely the richest tech company on the planet can give it a go. From HBO GO to Hulu every other company on the planet is getting into the streaming game–but Apple falls flat on offering such content. I mean, if Amazon–the company I buy my socks from–can offer a kick ass streaming video service, how is it Apple cannot?

And make no mistake–this is a serious problem for Apple. If my cloud storage is from Dropbox and my online documents are in Google Drive and my music is from Spotify and my movies are from Netflix, there’s very little reason for me to keep buying into the Apple ecosystem, especially when their smartphones, laptops, and OSes, are frequently becoming chronic disappointments.

Michael Grothaus 17/12/2016 - 5:47pm

Uninteresting iPhones. Problematic MacBooks. Not anything-New-Right here Wearables... Apple's 2016 no doubt wasn't one for the report books

I’ve been an Apple fanboy for ages. I purchased my first Mac virtually 17 years in the past and because then I’ve purchased no less than one piece of Apple hardware annually. It began with a G4 Dice, then a PowerMac G4 and Cinema Show, adopted once a year by way of the brand new desktop. When Apple started making iPods, I began purchasing the brand new one annually too. Then round 2004 I switched from Energy Macs to iMacs for the fantastic design and purchased the brand new one once a year. After that it used to be the brand new PowerBook annually, at the side of an iPod, then the brand new iPhone or even iPad once a year. And yep, when the Apple TV got here out, I added the most recent one to my every year lineup.

As low as a couple of years in the past, I used to be purchasing 5 to 6 items of hardware from Apple each and every yr. This yr I purchased none. That’s proper: for the primary time in 17 years, I didn’t via a unmarried piece of hardware Apple made within the remaining 12 months. And it’s as a result of 2016 is the yr the corporate misplaced its magic. It’s the yr all of the hype about its rumored upcoming new merchandise used to be after all simply that – hype. It’s the yr Apple’s “inventions” ceased being will have to haves and the yr your present Apple merchandise was just right sufficient to hold directly to for a couple of extra years. In brief 2016 is the yr Apple was a sadness. Right here’s why.

iPhone 7

The remaining time I felt Apple presented one thing at the iPhone that I couldn’t are living with out used to be the iPhone 6. Sure, that iPhone in any case introduced up higher display sizes, however extra importantly Apple had innovated its approach into the contactless cost marketplace. It used to be a function that actually solved an issue: the time-consuming activity of paying for items at tills. However Apple hasn’t innovated with the iPhone since then. The 3-d Contact show of the iPhone 6s used to be extra gimmick than anything else and this yr’s iPhone 7 – or as I love to name it, the “iPhone 6ss” – used to be hardly ever value a press convention.

What drawback has the iPhone 7 solved? None. It’s marginally quicker than the 6s; it’s were given a couple of new colours, however but even so that appears virtually precisely the similar because the 6s; and, worse, its “progressive” twin lens digital camera at the iPhone 7 is specific to only the Plus type–that means lovers of the 4.7-inch display measurement had even much less of a explanation why to improve than commonplace. In the top, Apple’s flagship product didn’t deserve its standing because the flagship smartphone in 2016.

MacBook "Professional"

Apple’s latest pc for pros used to be a good larger sadness than the lackluster iPhone 7. Execs waited 4 years for a redesigned MacBook Professional and when it used to be in any case launched it become obvious it used to be now not a “Professional” pc. “MacBook Top class” may well be a greater moniker. Once more, the primary function, the TouchBar is really a gimmick. Execs already know maximum keyboard shortcuts my center and they're much more uncomplicated to enforce than have to seem down on the tiny LED show. However let’s no longer waste time getting stuck up on a gimmick.

The actual drawback with the Professional used to be that Apple has after all, completely, and entirely deserted capability in want of design. All ports however USB-C have been jettisoned so they may make the Professional simply 17%t thinner. Execs didn’t need thinness, they sought after a powerhouse moveable workstation that meets their wishes with each the usual USB ports, the brand new USB-C, SD card slots, and HDMI out. To most sensible it off, the chipset within the new MBPs are already out of date and the RAM maxes out at 16GB.

If Apple sought after to create a fantastic, minimalist, skinny, 15-inch pc, they will have to make a 15-inch MacBook to head in conjunction with their 12-inch style. Execs want greater than stunning design. They want capability over shape–and at that, Apple has failed them.

Apple Watch Collection 2

Apple, the Apple Watch isn’t going to occur. Sure, it’s neat that the Collection 2 is water-proof and has GPS, however it’s nonetheless a distinct segment product and is rarely going to succeed in mass attraction. All you wish to have to do to turn out my level is to stroll into Europe’s flagship Apple Retailer in Covent Lawn in London on a hectic Saturday afternoon. The 3 Apple Watch show tables they have got virtually all the time have ZERO other folks purchase them (and on a just right day, perhaps about 2) taking a look on the software, whilst the remainder of the shop is packed.

I’m no longer suggesting Apple used to be a sadness for even looking to proceed to respire lifestyles into this non-product for the second one yr in a row, however they have been a sadness for pouring such a lot of in their assets into it (and a guide that only exists to therapeutic massage Jony Ive’s ego) that they overlooked giving right kind consideration to their core merchandise–the Mac and iPhone.

The Mac and macOS

Talking of the Mac…Now not best used to be the 2016 MacBook Professional an enormous sadness, it used to be disappointing that Apple gave nearly no consideration to the remainder of the Mac lineup. The MacBook line were given a slight spec improve, the Mac Professional (haha-not) nonetheless hasn’t had an update in 3 years. Neither has the Mac mini. The iMac principally appears the similar and has the similar options it has had for seven years. Apple even made up our minds to get out of the show and Time Pill and wireless router marketplace. When Microsoft is out-innovating within the desktop marketplace (with the Floor Studio) you recognize Apple has misplaced it.

And but even so rebranding OS X to “macOS” and giving it Siri, not anything thrilling came about for Apple’s pc OS. Topic of reality, not anything thrilling or distinctive or progressive has been added to macOS/OS X in years. Most likely that’s as a result of–as is totally glaring after this yr–Apple does no longer care concerning the Mac any more.

Apple’s Media Products and services

In any case, Apple used to be a sadness in 2016 as a result of they nonetheless don’t have a streaming video carrier. I are aware of it’s onerous to compete with Netflix, however without a doubt if everybody else is making an attempt, and doing so lovely effectively, certainly the richest tech corporate on the earth may give it a pass. From HBO GO to Hulu each and every different corporate on the earth is entering the streaming recreation–however Apple falls flat on providing such content material. I imply, if Amazon–the corporate I purchase my socks from–can be offering a kick ass streaming video carrier, how is it Apple can not?

And make no mistake–this can be a significant issue for Apple. If my cloud garage is from Dropbox and my on-line paperwork are in Google Force and my track is from Spotify and my films are from Netflix, there’s little or no explanation why for me to stay purchasing into the Apple ecosystem, particularly when their smartphones, laptops, and OSes, are often changing into continual disappointments.

Comments

More in Featured

Popular

Featured

Advertisement
To Top