I’m Not Locked Out…I Never Wanted to be In
We Tech Bloggers, Tech Enthusiast, Fan Boys and the like love to argue about everything. So in epic fashion this is a response to my fellow writers Jeff P’s I’m not locked in to Apple. You’re just locked out article posted on this very publication.
First off lets start with some basics. Just because you and some significant portion of the public believes something to be trues doesn’t make them facts. Apple iPad the best tablet..ok valid opinion. Apple Watch the best wearable? Arguable but I will give him that. However the rest? It’s a bit of a stretch.
Mac Outperforming PC sales? Really lets look at the data
Sure Apple Outperformed Dell, Acer, and Asus, Lenovo, and HP but what does that mean with Apple still at a paltry market share of 7.6%. HP is killing everyone on growth and on sales…so does that mean everyone wants to be in HP’s Ecosystem? No this data proves absolutely nothing.
Also point of correction to the article. There is 1.3 Billion iOS users, not devices in the wild. In addition, there is over 2 Billion Android users in the wild. Is there a point here? As the data proves nothing.
Best Mobile apps? When is the last time a user installed a new app on their device? Outside of SnapChat, mobile apps on both platforms are at par. Sure you may have some niche apps on iOS not found on Android…but when has that been a deciding point for a significant swath of users.
The iMessage Effect
iMessage is the only service I would agree users outside of the Apple Ecosystem are locked out of and additionally feel locked out of, but even with that, for most people that one thing is not driving their purchasing decisions.
Apple knows this so while they could would never allow iMessage on another platform….even Windows desktop as that would immediately mean that someone can get iMessage without having to purchase Apple hardware. That right there is a sign of someone being locked in, and not by choice.
About those Other Services…
If we are talking about being locked out of an ecosystem, using the notion that better services from Google’s ecosystem on iOS ultimately makes Apple’s better, defies logic. If you want to compare ecosystems, than lets compare ecosystems. Simple point, Apples Ecosystem is Apples services. That’s Apple Maps, Apple Mail, Apple Pod Cast, Apple News, Apple Photos…etc etc etc.. I would argue people don’t want to use these services, they want to use services from another ecosystem, ultimately the Google Ecosystem. I would argue more people choose Google Search, Google Maps, Waze, YouTube, Chrome, Photos…then the iOS counterparts which are forced on the user due to those apps being the default. I would argue that’s being locked in, when you actually want out. Sure iOS services are “Good Enough,” but why have good enough when you can have the best…right?
If you want to talk ecosystem my question is simple. Would you prefer to use All Apple services and All apple hardware void of any other ecosystem? Yes it can easily be done, but is that the preference of the typical user?
The Other Things we Forget
Let’s talk about the fact purchasing things through services like Amazon Kindle and Spotify on the iPhones is simply user hostile due to Apple’s requirement for services to use Apple’s payment system.
Let’s talk about the fact that Apple did not allow for Apple approved USB-C to Lightning cables for fast charging your new iPhone. And is only now 1 year later releasing the specs.
Let’s talk about how the HomePod does not include bluetooth and can get all the real features only through using Apple Music
Let’s talk about the best camera phones not coming from Apple
Let’s talk about laptops that still do not have touch screens
Let’s talk about gaming on a Mac
Let’s talk about iCloud….
I can go on and on and on. You see ecosystems are the sum of it’s parts, all of it’s parts, not the parts that make it seem so great. So while some people might be enjoying themselves fully baked into Apple’s ecosystem, we should be aware many folks are not.
Most people with iPhone’s use Windows more than Mac
Most people with iPhone’s listen to Spotify more than Apple Music
Most people with iPhone’s use Google Search more than well…
Most people with iPhone’s use Facebook or it’s properties more than iMessage
Most people with iPhone’s use Google Maps more than Apple Maps
Most people with iPhones use GMail
Most people with iPhones use Youtube
Take a moment and think
Look at all of the above. If people are off using services from other ecosystems, when in many cases they can clearly use the default choices on iOS or Mac, are those on the outside truly locked out?
Nah, I’m not locked out. I never wanted to be locked in, in the first place.
Image Courtesy of https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com
