Why does yahoo news have at least three articles a day prophesying Apples end?

It seems like a pretty obvious prediction. They're at the top. The top of any company, ever. There's simply nowhere to go from there.

But specifically, I think it has to do with jealousy! Everyone hates on Apple because they are the shit right now. And Yahoo particularly is not what it was, and probably hates to see Apple shine so bright. They probably hate Facebook, too.

It's actually pretty interesting how quickly it happened. It seems like yesterday that Apple was the cool alternative, and now they're the corporate leviathan

NDRU said:

It seems like a pretty obvious prediction. They're at the top. The top of any company, ever. There's simply nowhere to go from there.

end at the top or end of the company?

Cuddles said:

NDRU said:

It seems like a pretty obvious prediction. They're at the top. The top of any company, ever. There's simply nowhere to go from there.

end at the top or end of the company?

End at the top. I don't think Apple will end. I doubt Yahoo does either, but they are probably predicting that Apple will fall from its throne, and history says that is true.

Are Yahoo really predicting its end, or just the end of this domination?

[Edited 3/11/13 18:08pm]

NDRU said:

But specifically, I think it has to do with jealousy! Everyone hates on Apple because they are the shit right now. And Yahoo particularly is not what it was, and probably hates to see Apple shine so bright. They probably hate Facebook, too.

It's actually pretty interesting how quickly it happened. It seems like yesterday that Apple was the cool alternative, and now they're the corporate leviathan

I can see how technology has hit a plateau. People are tired of usless apps. It makes me think of car companies. Everything is pretty much standard and universal. All the componets for all the cars are pretty much provided by one manufacturer for that particular part.

NDRU said:

Cuddles said:

end at the top or end of the company?

End at the top. I don't think Apple will end. I doubt Yahoo does either, but they are probably predicting that Apple will fall from its throne, and history says that is true.

Are Yahoo really predicting its end, or just the end of this domination?

[Edited 3/11/13 18:08pm]

Everyday there are at least three articles about how Apple is having money troubles and people are selling off all their stock because it's the end for them. (in so many words)

To be honest, they always write the "doom" of some things...

I think Apple's days at the top are numbered for a few reasons.

1. It's a hardware company, making higher end products to a consumer base that is extremely loyal; however, not everyone wants to buy a higher end product. The premiums you pay for an Apple product are the main reason some people actually hate (and I use that word deliberately) the company. They feel like they're being scammed. Hardware is getting cheaper and cheaper, and It's not unreasonable to imagine a day when everyone can own a smartphone for relative pennies ( everyone in the world that is ). Nobody is going to want to shell out $500 bucks for something they can get for less in the end, even if it runs a top class OS.

2. They're at the top now. Where can they go from here? Emerging markets appear to be geared towards consumers who want lower end products (or at leaste cheaper products). Steve Jobs' philosophy that you build premium products witha 'cool' factor as your top priority, and the business will take care of itself, simply doesn't work for a company at the top of the heapstack. To go into emerging markets, Tim Cook has to consider product marketability first, then how to build the product to suit that need second. It's the opposite of how Jobs approached his products the previous 10 years. You could put a 'cool' iPod on the market in 2003 and it would sell like hotcakes. Today, you can't introduce a $300 device with a 'cool' factor like that and expect it to just sell like crazy anymore--it has competition.

3. Microsoft's one OS , multiple platforms is correct. Apples OS-per-device is not. However, Mircosoft paradigm can't be realized for at least 5 to 10 years--hardware has to catchup. Plus their stupid OS still has all the problems that damned Windows NT & 2000 had (dll hell, registry issues, etc.)!!! But, the overall concept or idea is correct. Look, Microsoft was right back when the first iPod came out--people don't want dedicated devices...they want a cellphone that can do mp3 playback, video, etc....Apple just beat them to the punch. I think Microsoft is correct this time too---Apple is just doing what they're doing better for now...that may not be true in 10 years.

4. Apple reminds me of Volskwagen....VW makes great, fun, nice cars with a loyal fanbase. The problem is if Apple were VW they'd be chargin Auidi prices..... this isn't sustainable without something that shows benefit. iOS is the most popular mobile operating system on the market (whe you count iPads along with phones and iPods). Yet, it receives a fraction of the security issues that Android has. The issue is that toughting this and promoting it isn't exactly sexy, nor why folks buy iOS devices.

Unfortunately Wallstreet (shareholders) will pressure Cook to come up with every increasing ways to expand into emerging markets and demographics. This may make them happy and grow the brand, but I don't Apple should be in ever market. It's a premium brand that had a great run.

If Cook continues Jobs' legacy, the company will churn out great products, but I don't think

it will do it at the top of the heapstack. It needs competition--Look at how slowly the iPods are

improving now that Microsoft's doomed iPod Killer, the laughable Zune, is no longer in play. Apple

needs a swift kick in the ass from time to time. It's healthy.

(btw, I only own Apple products right now, other than an Android phone that I really dislike).

People don't want to really pay for anything anymore.

They prefer getting their kicks out of things they can get for free from the Internet (Youtube and Facebook, mainly). The only things they're really willing to put a considerable amount of money into are connected to their social lives. That's why drinks in bars are so stupidly expensive - everybody's expected to "show their wealth" when someone else sees them do it. In some sense, I can see Apple products surviving in the contemporary setting as you can still show them off to your friends (if they don't know of anything better, that is). But, other than that, pricing your products out of a reasonable range is not going to work in the long run.

I just read about the iWatch concept that they're exploring.

They're looking to put out the next product that we "don't know we need yet" (like the iPad).

I love watches, but I don't know that I would get an iWatch.

If they can't come up with something innovative again, then they may be done.

imago said:

(btw, I only own Apple products right now, other than an Android phone that I really dislike).

I have only know how to operate Mac/Apple thats thats what I started on in grade school I don't know anything about PC's.

I didnt want to upgrade my iPhone to the current one.

One because I don't need to, two I think the new iPhone feels cheap, similar to how the interiors of new VWs feel cheap.

PurpleJedi said:

I just read about the iWatch concept that they're exploring.

They're looking to put out the next product that we "don't know we need yet" (like the iPad).

I love watches, but I don't know that I would get an iWatch.

If they can't come up with something innovative again, then they may be done.

I think it's a good idea, if only for the strap! Carrying a phone is not always convenient, but watches have been proven design winners for years.

They've actually done DOOM for Spectrum ZX.

[/geek off]

that's not Doom but Wolfenstein

Nope, it's Doom. Yeah, I know it looks more like Wolfenstein due to the scaled down engine. I thought the same at first.

PurpleJedi said:

I just read about the iWatch concept that they're exploring.

They're looking to put out the next product that we "don't know we need yet" (like the iPad).

I love watches, but I don't know that I would get an iWatch.

If they can't come up with something innovative again, then they may be done.

Most Apple products weren't innovative. They just made existing ideas sexy. Such smart-watches are already available from other companies. It's nothing innovative.

The 3 scientist who invented the transistor were innovative but the didn't have a clue how to develop their invention into a product(s).

I think everyone knew this day was coming so it seems silly for competitor's and journalist to scream the sky is falling! Apple Inc have hit their plateau, how many MacBooks, Ipads, and iPods can anyone continue purchase are upgrade to? For what? They'll be fine as long as the continued the giving their customers products that work, well.

TD3 said:

Cuddles said:

TD3 said:

The 3 scientist who invented the transistor were innovative but the didn't have a clue how to develop their invention into a product(s).

I think everyone knew this day was coming so it seems silly for competitor's and journalist to scream the sky is falling! Apple Inc have hit their plateau, how many MacBooks, Ipads, and iPods can anyone continue purchase are upgrade to? For what? They'll be fine as long as they continue the giving their customers products that work, well.

But the point is we don't need new stuff all the time. Just reliable things that last a long time.

As competitor's nip at Apple's heels, I think they'll have to rethink their marketing/product strategy. That was fine when they were the only game in-town (sort of speak) and they were pulling customers who never owned an Apple product. But this minor /insignificant upgrades hype shows need to cease. When Apple upgrades or introduces a product they need to stop giving you the minimum hardware standards but give you close to the maximum... bang for your actual buck. The iPod Touch 5g should have really been the iPod Touch 4g for example.

Maybe they should see if a 36 month product shelf-life would be more plausible. Still, I'm sure their goal is to continue to pull in first time customers. I think the need to understand some of thier customer's don't have deep pockets to reach in everytime to purchase an upgraded product; if and when their customer's purchase a product it's an investment they've saved up for. I seldom buy anything Apple makes the first go around and I usally skip generations.

TD3 said:

The 3 scientist who invented the transistor were innovative but the didn't have a clue how to develop their invention into a product(s).

I think everyone knew this day was coming so it seems silly for competitor's and journalist to scream the sky is falling! Apple Inc have hit their plateau, how many MacBooks, Ipads, and iPods can anyone continue purchase are upgrade to? For what? They'll be fine as long as the continued the giving their customers products that work, well.

I beg to differ with folks who think Apple isn't innovative.

They don't always come up with their own ideas, but very few technology companies do.

But underestimating how the iphone changed the phone industry is just silly.

Screan swipes, how you access messages, desktop class apps, an application store, extremely tight integration with a desktop and entire ecosystem--these are Apple innovations. Companies actually have to distribute memos about how to NOT get sued for blatantly copying Apple.

The tablets that are now ubiquitous, the day before the iPad dropped, were considered niche at the very most--and a pipe dream to most ciritics. It was believed that tablets may never have taken off. Today, tablets are canabalizing other devices.

Spotlight, Timemachine, multigesture trackpads---Mac brought these to us in mature forms.

I'm not saying that Apple is the only innovative company and that everyone is always copying Apple. But what I am saying that notion that Apple isn't innovative is a stretch. It achieved it's success through innovation.

That being said, I don't see it going very far after today. I think it's peaked for the next 10 years or so. I could be wrong though---I really thought Steve Jobs refusing to put Flash on the first iPhone was insane--today, I get what he was aiming for.

imago said:

TD3 said:

The 3 scientist who invented the transistor were innovative but the didn't have a clue how to develop their invention into a product(s).

I think everyone knew this day was coming so it seems silly for competitor's and journalist to scream the sky is falling! Apple Inc have hit their plateau, how many MacBooks, Ipads, and iPods can anyone continue purchase are upgrade to? For what? They'll be fine as long as the continued the giving their customers products that work, well.

I beg to differ with folks who think Apple isn't innovative.

They don't always come up with their own ideas, but very few technology companies do.

But underestimating how the iphone changed the phone industry is just silly.

Screan swipes, how you access messages, desktop class apps, an application store, extremely tight integration with a desktop and entire ecosystem--these are Apple innovations. Companies actually have to distribute memos about how to NOT get sued for blatantly copying Apple.

The tablets that are now ubiquitous, the day before the iPad dropped, were considered niche at the very most--and a pipe dream to most ciritics. It was believed that tablets may never have taken off. Today, tablets are canabalizing other devices.

Spotlight, Timemachine, multigesture trackpads---Mac brought these to us in mature forms.

I'm not saying that Apple is the only innovative company and that everyone is always copying Apple. But what I am saying that notion that Apple isn't innovative is a stretch. It achieved it's success through innovation.

That being said, I don't see it going very far after today. I think it's peaked for the next 10 years or so. I could be wrong though---I really thought Steve Jobs refusing to put Flash on the first iPhone was insane--today, I get what he was aiming for.

That also means it's pretty much peaked for all companys, because the technology has hit a peak and is now going to plateau. No one is going to get to the point of where Apples position is, they might just feed off of some of the client the company currently has. right/wrong?

Cuddles said:

imago said:

I beg to differ with folks who think Apple isn't innovative.

They don't always come up with their own ideas, but very few technology companies do.

But underestimating how the iphone changed the phone industry is just silly.

Screan swipes, how you access messages, desktop class apps, an application store, extremely tight integration with a desktop and entire ecosystem--these are Apple innovations. Companies actually have to distribute memos about how to NOT get sued for blatantly copying Apple.

The tablets that are now ubiquitous, the day before the iPad dropped, were considered niche at the very most--and a pipe dream to most ciritics. It was believed that tablets may never have taken off. Today, tablets are canabalizing other devices.

Spotlight, Timemachine, multigesture trackpads---Mac brought these to us in mature forms.

I'm not saying that Apple is the only innovative company and that everyone is always copying Apple. But what I am saying that notion that Apple isn't innovative is a stretch. It achieved it's success through innovation.

That being said, I don't see it going very far after today. I think it's peaked for the next 10 years or so. I could be wrong though---I really thought Steve Jobs refusing to put Flash on the first iPhone was insane--today, I get what he was aiming for.

That also means it's pretty much peaked for all companys, because the technology has hit a peak and is now going to plateau. No one is going to get to the point of where Apples position is, they might just feed off of some of the client the company currently has. right/wrong?

I think the true revolution in technology will be about 10 or 15 years out.

It'll come in the form of either hybrid chips (light/electric or chemical/electric, or even organic), but they will be so incomprehensibly faster than what we have today, and at electricity sipping power-consumption levels inconceivable today. THAT's when you're going to start seeing the really amazing stuff, and companies will not care how bloated their software is--the hardware will just be able to handle it.

This is why I think ultimately Microsoft's methods may win out in the end--the hardware will more than catch to the software.

But, to echo your sentiment. (your hot, by the way): There will be no clearly dominant player in all of the hardware that we use, and this is as it should be. Apple performed best when it was hungry, and Microsoft is pumping out better software now that it is sobered up (Better, but not stellar).

A race between Apple Maps and Google Maps will either end up in Apple throwing in the towel, or it will end up with really innovative features for both.

This is one of the reasons I wish Creative or some other company can create their own 'ipod killer'---the iPod is nowhere near where it could be right now simply because it no longer has competition. It's being canabalized---by the iPhone.