Apples Falling far from the Tree
Last month, Apple introduced a pair of new iPhones: the iPhone 6 and iPhones 6 Plus. Both models put on weight and girth as compared to their predecessor, the iPhone 5s. Apple, however, by changing so much from previous iterations of the iPhone, is now failing to differentiate its product from those of its competitors. Yes, Samsung, I’m looking at you.
The iPhone 6 has, unfortunately, drifted towards being only a “me too!” device. In the past, Apple was able to introduce some new features before competitors (e.g., advanced voice control via Siri) and simply deliver other features at least as well, even if a little late (e.g., the notification center). The iPhone 6, however, is all about catching up to Samsung: Touch ID across apps, health data, a full HD larger screen (finally!), NFC, and more are features that competitors have boasted for, in come cases, years. Critically, it is far from clear that Apple is delivering these features in more polished form.
Siri is falling behind Google Now and even Microsoft Cortana in her recognition of natural language. At least for now, Apple is locking down NFC for use only by Apple Pay. The 8MP camera, while good at its resolution, is not even close to the 16MP of the soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Apple was forced to pull the iOS 8.0.1 update shortly after its release due to reports of lost cellular connectivity and unresponsive Touch ID.
All of this means that, once the bugs are ironed out and features completed, Apple has little to show in the iPhone 6 to differentiate it from the Samsung-led mass of Android phones or Nokia-led Windows phones. For the iPhone, this lack of difference is a departure from the previous Apple method of going it online on some design choices, e.g., smaller screens. Apple still has a well-developed app ecosystem and integration with other Apple products like the Mac. Yet as the iPhone’s other advantages disappear, there is a real danger that the iPhone’s smartphone market share will converge on the Mac’s personal computer market share.
Aside from the iPhone 6, perhaps the most important item to come out of the Apple event was the Apple Watch. Apple is betting big on the Apple Watch, launching it in a variety of styles from the beginning.
The Apple Watch is essentially a wrist-wearable computer, an iPhone software base crammed onto hardware the size of a watch. Apple beat Blackberry by taking a Mac and stuffing it into a phone. It remains to be seen whether they can repeat that success with the Apple Watch, which debuts in early 2015.
The Apple Watch is not a standalone device; indeed, it specifically requires an iPhone 5 or newer. If Apple sees the Apple Watch as a must-have device that will boost iPhone sales, it may be in for a nasty surprise. When Blackberry was struggling with diminished smartphone market share, it introduced the Playbook tablet that worked only with Blackberry phones. The result was a massive failure.
If you have a newer iPhone, the Apple Watch is still worth a look. Just note that you’ll have to brave the iOS 8 update—a frightening prospect given the large number of problems affecting those who chose to upgrade. Aside from the potential problems (which appear to be affecting a limited number of users), iOS 8 does appear to be an improvement over iOS 7. Finally, if you’re a current Android user who has just been waiting for that larger screen to jump the Google ship for Apple, here’s a guide on how to make the switch with minimal hassle.
