Really, I don't see where Apple goes from here

[intogamer]

I feel apps are pushing the limits with each release. Each transition, the new release is tuned at quick speed - until the end of the generation - where the next reiteration makes the former, in contrast, seem very slow.

 

[SNC]

And that is why you are a poster on an Internet forum and not the CEO of Americas most wealthy company. But you didn't really need me to tell you that.

 

[Spineshank]

I dont know why every one feels Apple needs to keep introducing something revolutionary hardware wise. The iPhone/iPad/Air are all relatively new. I get to play with iPhones/Android phones at work and while Android is coming along its still not as good as iOs in my opinion. Though my biggest gripe is battery life. I know a guy with a Note who was going on about his big screen..then his phone died. While I still had plenty of battery life after a whole day.

 

[runawayprisoner]

iPhone 4S and the ipad 3 probably will be the last time that Apple convincingly has a lead over android. Especially with smartphones showing up on prepaid networks, the cost difference will be noticeable. My brother for instance got a smartphone on Virgin mobile. The android phone was like $300 cheaper than the iPhone.

Macbook air was revolutionary, but again, where do you go from there? You can't really go any thinner, and windows ultrabooks are now convincingly cheaper + better lcd screens.

The prototypes for the iphone 5 look kinda lackluster so far. And the redesigned dock connector might actually be a big enough deal to turn people off of the typical apple upgrade cycle.

Also, it seems like since Steve passed away, leaks have gotten worse and worse for apple.

The thing with Android phone is that... it's a huge beta test. I have followed it since 1.5... and now I'm on 4.1, and it's still a huge beta test.

Now with Flash gone, the Android browser (that's all of them) actually got worse (a lot worse) in utility than Mobile Safari... For instance, I can navigate to http://www.engadget.com on my iPad and watch any video clip on there, but on my Nexus 7, I can't watch anything because... there is no Flash!

It's really a "you get what you pay for" situation there with regard to Android.

Also from another perspective, you can also say that Apple can thrive to reduce the prices of their products next, or introduce new products to fill in pricing tiers that are still vacant. I think a $299 iPad Mini is a good logical next step.

As for whether we can go thinner with hardware, well, that's up to whether Apple can engineer it, but I can assure you... laptops right now can still go much, much, much thinner. Until you see a 0.25" thin MacBook Air, there is still room for improvement.

Windows Ultrabooks are convincingly cheaper? I don't think so. I think the more likely statement is that they are convincingly higher spec'ed than MacBook Air counterparts. But then you are not guaranteed the same user experience on the MacBook Air. For instance, I wouldn't trade the ability to switch back and forth between Windows 7 and OS X instantly with... just Windows 7.

 

[dlock13]

Windows Ultrabooks are convincingly cheaper? I don't think so. I think the more likely statement is that they are convincingly higher spec'ed than MacBook Air counterparts. But then you are not guaranteed the same user experience on the MacBook Air. For instance, I wouldn't trade the ability to switch back and forth between Windows 7 and OS X instantly with... just Windows 7.

Also, with regards to this, with any Windows laptop/ultrabook, you have to deal with that manufacturer's customer support with any issues you're having. You have to deal with build quality issues of other manufacturers and hope that it matches the same quality you can get on every Apple product.

Think about that for a second there.. Lenovo's line up is good, but it varies so much when it comes to their consumer line and business line. Apple's products are for every kind of user, and they're built as if they are business quality. You can argue that other manufacturer's have great build quality, but once again, it depends on what you pick and choose from the other companies and maybe spend more than you need to.. etc... I can go on about this topic, but I should probably get back to work...



I'm not sure what the next step Apple should take. I like to be surprised by the greatness that comes from companies so I haven't really given it much thought.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, I think the next step they can take is make carbon fiber the main material for their computers. Aluminum right now doesn't seem to hold itself well for thin computers. I can easily bend and flex a MacBook Air 13"... and that terrifies me.

It's kinda interesting, though, that the MacBook Pro Retina 15", despite being thinner than the MacBook Air 13" overall, doesn't flex as much. But it still flexes.

 

[MrX8503]

For instance, I can navigate to http://www.engadget.com on my iPad and watch any video clip on there, but on my Nexus 7, I can't watch anything because... there is no Flash!

Wow. I never thought about that scenario happening. That sucks a big one, especially since Android fans have been touting Flash for years.

I think Apple's next revolution is their AppleTV project. Not sure if that'll be successful though.

With the rMBP, I think we'll start seeing that technology migrate to all of their computers. I'm really excited about that and it'll push the PC industry forward.

 

[TheStu]

Wow. I never thought about that scenario happening. That sucks a big one, especially since Android fans have been touting Flash for years.

I think Apple's next revolution is their AppleTV project. Not sure if that'll be successful though.

With the rMBP, I think we'll start seeing that technology migrate to all of their computers. I'm really excited about that and it'll push the PC industry forward.

I think that I would be interested in an rMBP13 to replace my gen1 MBA11, assuming it isn't too much money.

 

[MrX8503]

I think that I would be interested in an rMBP13 to replace my gen1 MBA11, assuming it isn't too much money.

Same here. Although, my dream laptop would be a rMBA. I work on a MBA13 now and even though its really light and thin, I still prefer my MBP13 because its so much faster. A future MBA will surely be powerful enough though and it being retina would be icing on the cake.

 

[Dug]

Just touched an iPhone for the first time friday, i got two of them (a 3Gs and a 4s) handed to me at work for testing / debugging of iOS5 apps; had to set up accounts on every single app - the Apple ID account, market account, games account, iTunes ID, etc ... my first thought was "wow, if you buy this £400 phone, you better have another couple hundred just to make it run".

OTOH my £50 / free skype always / free apps Android isn't nearly as good, but well worth the savings; i simply cannot see myself spending 20% of my income on phone bills.

That is strange. I have one account and it works for everything. Why do you need so many Apple accounts?

 

[Spicedaddy]

The thing with Android phone is that... it's a huge beta test. I have followed it since 1.5... and now I'm on 4.1, and it's still a huge beta test.

LOL, that's the feeling I get every time I try one.

 

[dlock13]

LOL, that's the feeling I get every time I try one.

That's definitely the truth. However, I feel as though 4.1 is a lot better in that aspect. It has most, if not all the features one would strive for in an iOS device except you can still add functionality via the Play Store instead of how you would need to jailbreak for iOS.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's a Google product. So just like everything Google, it's going to be in perpetual beta. Remember Gmail? That was beta for 6 years or what have you.

Android's modular design is what gives you that feeling, too. Since you can't customize one thing or don't have the settings for something else. You go to the store and try and find an application that will suffice or customize it how you want, etc.. Plus, the fact that manufacturers add their own software tweaks changes the perception of every Android device. I think it would be smart for someone to start with a pure Android phone, and then look at what other devices are out there, then proceed to the one they think is innovative to themselves.

Anyway, off-topic.. Sorry!