I don't think that Apple has mastered the algorithm

[desura]

If you compare Apple vs several other "premiere" technology companies, like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, Apple seems to be lacking in the software department.

For instance, Apple doesn't appear capable of creating something like Bing, not to mention Google. Every attempt at creating some sort of smart algorithm like Ping or Maps has been a pretty big failure.

There is OS X, but (no flame) I'm actually more impressed with Win8 right now, and OS X never had to deal with a lot of the technical issues that Windows does such as a wide array of hardware compatibility or constant virus attacks.

They seem to be good at aesthetics, industrial design and engineering, and supply chain mastery, meaning that basically, they're Sony.

So won't this hurt them in the long run? Why aren't they using their cash pile to say acquire software startups in order to inject some new creativity into their culture?

 

[BrightCandle]

Pulling in new companies with DIFFERENT cultures normally doesn't work out well. If you look at the companies that have done that alot you find they often don't perform very well, the guys that don't fit often leave crippling the organisation they left. Its not simple to just acquire another company and get it to work within your completely different culture. Besides if you culture is all about supply chain and design and you hire a load of CS search experts your company culture will roll over them saying how the search page looks is what matters, and so their perspective on how to search will be rolled over by the existing company.

Its not that simple. Apple has its core skills and it should probably stick with it or risk loosing what it has just like all the other companies that used to dominate in shifting PC hardware.

 

[desura]

Pulling in new companies with DIFFERENT cultures normally doesn't work out well. If you look at the companies that have done that alot you find they often don't perform very well, the guys that don't fit often leave crippling the organisation they left. Its not simple to just acquire another company and get it to work within your completely different culture. Besides if you culture is all about supply chain and design and you hire a load of CS search experts your company culture will roll over them saying how the search page looks is what matters, and so their perspective on how to search will be rolled over by the existing company.

Its not that simple. Apple has its core skills and it should probably stick with it or risk loosing what it has just like all the other companies that used to dominate in shifting PC hardware.

Well, you have to take risks or else you risk being destroyed. I also feel that having pure mathematical brilliance is necessary and it lends your company a sort of mystique that Wall St. would appreciate.

Last I heard, Tim Cook was considering partner with like Yahoo of all companies.

 

[JAG87]

I guess having the largest digital software and media delivery platforms doesn't count? I mean the App Store and iTunes serve digital goods to what, maybe over a billion people? Their operating systems revolve around these two things...

 

[Rakehellion]

Bing is pretty shitty. If that's your best example of a great software algorithm, I'm unimpressed.

 

[desura]

Bing is pretty shitty. If that's your best example of a great software algorithm, I'm unimpressed.

Bing is good enough, and decent competitor to Google.

There are other "skunkworks" projects from MS which impress. Surface and Kinect I would point to.

Apple I see lots of refinement of products, but I don't see anything really as ambitious as Kinect.

 

[desura]

I guess having the largest digital software and media delivery platforms doesn't count? I mean the App Store and iTunes serve digital goods to what, maybe over a billion people? Their operating systems revolve around these two things...

First mover advantage + big moat of iOS lock-in.

 

[wirednuts]

doesnt apple design their own processors for their phones and tablets? or is that basically just "this is the specs i want, build it for me samsung"?

 

[JAG87]

First mover advantage + big moat of iOS lock-in.

Yea and? They were successful at developing a fantastic platform for revenue, while delivering a great end-user experience, we should frown upon that?

Your premise was that they didn't master the algorithm... I think it is quite the contrary. They mastered it a lot better than Google and MS.

 

[Tegeril]

If you compare Apple vs several other "premiere" technology companies, like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, Apple seems to be lacking in the software department.

For instance, Apple doesn't appear capable of creating something like Bing, not to mention Google. Every attempt at creating some sort of smart algorithm like Ping or Maps has been a pretty big failure.

There is OS X, but (no flame) I'm actually more impressed with Win8 right now, and OS X never had to deal with a lot of the technical issues that Windows does such as a wide array of hardware compatibility or constant virus attacks.

They seem to be good at aesthetics, industrial design and engineering, and supply chain mastery, meaning that basically, they're Sony.

So won't this hurt them in the long run? Why aren't they using their cash pile to say acquire software startups in order to inject some new creativity into their culture?

Maps is certainly not a failure at this point. There were issues during the initial launch - as it stands now many of the data related issues have been quietly resolved. Please find me a Google or Microsoft product that hasn't had any. How many Facebook changes have been rife with difficulties, bad decisions, and even direction changes after backlash? And seriously, the disdain for Win8 for the regular user is immense. Have you seen Amazon's Prime Video pilots? They're all trash. Bing is far from good enough (and is 16% to Googles 67%).

Ping was a bad idea that somehow got greenlit. I can't excuse that at all, but it's gone as it should be.

I think you're just a little bit blind...and I didn't even have to mention the dramatic success that is iOS and its impact on the iPhone, iPad and mobile Internet as we know it today, the iPod's original software, and excellent software integration for high DPI displays...

 

[TheStu]

doesnt apple design their own processors for their phones and tablets? or is that basically just "this is the specs i want, build it for me samsung"?

As time goes on, the A(x) processors are getting increasingly more custom designed by Apple. So, they aren't fabbing them themselves, but they are doing the layout and design work.

 

[Rakehellion]

Bing is good enough, and decent competitor to Google.

There are other "skunkworks" projects from MS which impress. Surface and Kinect I would point to.

Apple I see lots of refinement of products, but I don't see anything really as ambitious as Kinect.

Kinect has been surprisingly good. It's imitatable, but hasn't really been done so far. Next iPhone, maybe?

Surface, I don't see the appeal for at all. And that isn't really an algorithm, it's a computer, something Apple is king at designing.

 

[Rakehellion]

Maps is certainly not a failure at this point. There were issues during the initial launch - as it stands now many of the data related issues have been quietly resolved.

The iOS 6 beta came out over a year ago and I've still got a few Maps bugs that I submitted to Apple that are still in "open" status. Google Maps for iPhone is a better choice in a lot of ways, but I don't care for the interface.

Nothing really beats Maps for iOS 5.

 

[Barpanda]

Bing is pretty decent, you do not supersede Google in a day or do you?

 

[Tegeril]

Bing is pretty decent, you do not supersede Google in a day or do you?

Well it's pretty much been 4 years. It's certainly not on the same playing field yet...

 

[smackababy]

The iOS 6 beta came out over a year ago and I've still got a few Maps bugs that I submitted to Apple that are still in "open" status. Google Maps for iPhone is a better choice in a lot of ways, but I don't care for the interface.

Nothing really beats Maps for iOS 5.

Maps for iOS 5 was not feature complete. Google Maps on Andriod is leaps ahead of any free maps on iOS. I switched from an Andriod phone to an iPhone when the iPhone 4 came out on Verizon and that was the only thing that I was disappointed with. I was used to Google offering a complete navigation app with turn by turn and Apple was not doing that. Maps on iOS 6 still doesn't show the distance from current location to the next turn and that feature was on navigation units in like 2002.

 

[GoSharks]

Maps on iOS 6 still doesn't show the distance from current location to the next turn and that feature was on navigation units in like 2002.

Maps in iOS has never offered a scale bar. WTF?

 

[TheStu]

Maps on iOS 6 still doesn't show the distance from current location to the next turn and that feature was on navigation units in like 2002.

I thought that it did, but I mostly just use google maps for my nav. I got used to it on my iPhone 4 with iOS 6, and then once I got my 5 I found that Siri is much more annoying than Google's lady.

I have my phone hooked up to the AUX port in my car, so I can listen to music while I drive. Siri doesn't modulate the volume at all, so it just yells at me, it is very disconcerting, especially if she hasn't talked in a while. Google's voiceover is much quieter, but still loud enough to be heard.

 

[Zaap]

If you compare Apple vs several other "premiere" technology companies, like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, Apple seems to be lacking in the software department.

I dont see this at all, and in fact mostly the other way around. Most of those companies wish they were Apple in many ways : Amazon in competing in tablet hardware and digital music sales, Google in mobile devices, Facebook in mobile OSes, Microsoft in continued relevance on the desktop, mobile OSes and hardware etc.

Software wise, Apple is better accomplished than all of them except perhaps Microsoft.

For instance, Apple doesn't appear capable of creating something like Bing, not to mention Google.

Personally I'm glad Apple doesn't waste resources reinventing the wheel. The world wasn't clamoring for Google-wanna-be, and it certainly isn't clamoring for Bing-wanna-be/Google-wanna-be.

And saying Apple isn't capable of recreating another giant like Google's entire business model is akin to faulting Ford for not being able to recreate Exxon Mobil.

 

[smackababy]

I dont see this at all, and in fact mostly the other way around. Most of those companies wish they were Apple in many ways : Amazon in competing in tablet hardware and digital music sales, Google in mobile devices, Facebook in mobile OSes, Microsoft in continued relevance on the desktop, mobile OSes and hardware etc.

Software wise, Apple is better accomplished than all of them except perhaps Microsoft.

Personally I'm glad Apple doesn't waste resources reinventing the wheel. The world wasn't clamoring for Google-wanna-be, and it certainly isn't clamoring for Bing-wanna-be/Google-wanna-be.

And saying Apple isn't capable of recreating another giant like Google's entire business model is akin to faulting Ford for not being able to recreate Exxon Mobil.

It is funny because all the Google-wanna-be's still haven't figured out Google's success was the revolutionary thing they did at the start. They did not clutter their page and try and give you tons of information. They just had a search input and a logo. The rest was up to you. It was a revolutionary idea (a webpage that directs people off the page was unheard of before Google). Yahoo is still awful and Bing is a bit better, but still has a lot of distractions.

Apple already innovated in the smartphone industry. They don't have to go chasing other companies success in areas they don't know about. They've expanded a little, but all of their devices are connected.