Apple’s audacity isn’t justified any longer

So in short Chris Messina is saying that Apple does not care about each of their user’s expectations or needs and that Apple is a fashion brand and somehow they have figured out where the future is headed or as audacious as they always are, they don’t care.

I am tempted to call him disillusioned, but I will settle with calling him a fanboi. I think of those who are so faithful and religious in their convictions that Occam’s Razor does not seem to apply. I am fairly uneducated to call him anything really, but I do fear for Apple.

I agree with his premise. It has been my opinion for a while that Apple is diligently making showcase items. Items that look beautiful to gawk at. If one of your friends have it, you tend to take it for a spin and return it unscathed after the initial surge of newness has worn out.

Apple was very successful despite (or because of) their audacity to dictate the industry terms because they never competed. Steve had a vision and the engineering department, including Jony Ive, helped him bring that vision to life. Let us not talk more about Jobs. That era is gone along with the shrewdness and the capability of being audacious. The trait of audacity pisses off a lot of people and so long as you have money to put where your mouth is, all is fine.

This is where my fears with Apple need to be expressed. I think Apple has since lost the spark plug of their engine. That does not mean the car will stop instantly. The momentum will carry it for a while and the slope of popularity may create an impression that they are gaining speed.

Even if I agree that Apple is a fashion brand, and I have no problems accepting that, I do not see any compelling reason to attach any value to that brand any longer. Because under the fluff, I see a lot of borrowed stuff. User experience needs that your functionalities are robust (and I am a UX specialist by profession). A good sales pitch can only make the initial impression. The robust innovation is seriously lacking. The Airpods are already old and yesterday’s innovation.

There was a time when someone could boast a latest Apple gadget and people would see him with some awe. Because under the hood, they had something new to offer at every release. When countered or questioned, they could give some sensible answers. That edge is long since gone. I guess terms like Apple Sheep have successfully started labeling anything apple as herd mentality. There is absolutely no novelty in it. The premium touch is gone. Now if you see someone spending a fortune on an Apple device it is not uncommon to see that person ridiculed or just ignored like yesterday’s news.

That is an important factor. Without the X factor, you can not last in technology. I guess that is the same for the fashion industry. Apple has long lost the technical supremacy which was their core. It won’t be long till veneer cracks.

Yet for a selfish reason, I do not want that veneer to crack. A downfall of Apple means the slickness in technology is gone. The likes of HP won’t make something like Envy. I want someone to teach the tech giants ‘how’ to build. We are quite good with what to build, we don’t need Apple for that.

For the record, I have absolutely no problem the way Chris Hemsworth is looking with that Bluetooth earpiece. In comparison, Airpods look inverted sperms hanging from my ears. Not a big fan. If I wish for something, that would be the almost invisible earpieces Mr Reese uses in Person of Interest.