I don’t think anybody who knows me would accuse me of being an Apple detractor (i.e. people have called me a “fanboi” from time to time…) , but yesterdays announcements left a bad taste in my mouth. There are plenty of things that are not like the Apple I’ve been used to.
I can (sort-of, grudgingly) live with the fact that the iPhone just dropped $200 in price. Although I do believe this is a fairly steep drop. There are rumors Apple is offering a $100 credit to early adopters. If it’s true, that’s certainly taking a bit of the sting out of this. (Although the fact that it’s only announced today seems to indicate it’s a reaction to backlash, not a pre-planned move.)
What worries me more is that Apple seems to be losing its customer and design focus.
Exhibit 1: The new iPod nano. It’s the first Apple device that I ever considered ugly. Well, OK, the second – the Performas weren’t design hits, either. The box-ish shape of the nano is just bad, though.
Exhibit 2: Apple used to care what their customers need. Their deal with Starbucks, though, only benefits Starbucks and Apple. What good is wireless to me if I can only use it to buy things? Now, if Starbucks opened up all Internet access for iPhones, that would be a different deal. But as it is, Apple treats iPhones as a mobile billboard outlet without any actual benefits for the users. (No, being able to buy more stuff from you is not a benefit.)
It reaches a bit further back, though. When Leopard was first announced, it was distinctively underwhelming. It trampled over design sensibilities (transparent menu bar, shadowed dock), and Time Machine is by far the corniest UI Apple ever created. I was willing to write it off to iPhone-consumed resources, but it looks like the beginning of a trend.
From my point of view, it looks like Apple is becoming just another mega-company, losing what made it unique. I may be wrong, but the fact that Apple stock dropped 5% after yesterday’s announcement is a good sign that others aren’t happy with Apple’s direction, either.
I also cringed when I first saw the iPod Fatty, but I hear that it’s very nice in-hand. So, I’ll reserve judgement until I hold one.
Also, I wouldn’t worry about the $100 credit not being premeditated. At least they’re responding to voiced customer dissatisfaction, which is good business. I also love Apple products, but I got over the thought that Apple really cared when it ruthlessly killed the IIgs.
As for the stock price… it did drop, but so did most of the other stocks I watch. It’s still up almost 50% since last year, so I’m still happy holding onto my investment.
It is a bit disappointing that the first iPhone software update only includes software to drive iTunes Store sales. But I don’t see how else Apple could have designed a nano that plays video.
And I think Time Machine is pretty user-focused: corny UI or no, it might mean that people actually have back-ups.
Off topic: Hello! iCalFix lives? New version…???