Everyone’s been reading and hearing a lot about how Apple is losing ground to Android, it isn’t innovative anymore, it has lost its touch without Steve Jobs, etc. Those are simply unfair statements to make, and I believe it has a lot to do, plain and simple, with impatience and dare I say, ignorance. Let’s not forget who we’re talking about here-this is the company that has been consistently innovating for the last 30+ years, from the GUI and early Apple computers, to the iPod, iPhone, and most recently, the iPad. Apple literally created the smartphone and tablet markets, and they revolutionized the digital media player with the original iPod. Heck, even their keynote speeches for new product launches can almost be considered innovative. Has Apple made some stumbles along the path to worldwide success? Of course they have (cough….iTunes). Just like any company, they’re not perfect.
Now obviously, the Android platform has had a huge impact on the smartphone and tablet markets since Apple introduced the iPhone and iPad in 2007 and 2010, respectively. There are hundreds of Android devices out there in all kinds of sizes and form factors, most notably the Samsung Galaxy line. There’s nothing wrong with Android products, but Android is by no means a perfect OS. Nor is iOS flawless software either. The difference between the two platforms is that iOS stems from truly innovative, market-creating products, whereas Android stems from good products created by copying Apple and making it their own. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But it is not accurate to call Google an innovative company as far as smartphones and tablets go. Google and Samsung can release 100 different phones and tablets in all different screen sizes, colors, etc. to appeal to a broader spectrum of customers, and that’s just fine, but that’s not innovation. I challenge anyone to name one thing that Google, Samsung, or any other Android-based company has created that has had the same impact, from a true innovation standpoint, that the iPhone and iPad had when they were introduced. These Android companies have been putting out products in response to Apple’s obvious success, and that’s great-competition is good for consumers and companies alike. But none of those Android products are actual innovations. Look at the recently-released Chromecast. Now that’s a fine product and I’m sure it works well, but there’s no denying it is Google’s answer to Apple TV (a great product by the way).
Google is trying to change that me-too perspective by releasing Google Glass this year, and other companies (including Apple) are starting to develop smartwatches and other wearable computing devices. That’s all well and good, but in order for something to be considered an innovation, it needs to not only be new, but also be widely accepted and used. And I’m not at all convinced that wearable computing is the next step. The difference here is that not only does the technology need to be user-friendly and just work, but it also needs to look good, which of course is not an issue with phones and tablets. Many people are fashion-conscious, and I while I wouldn’t put myself in that bucket necessarily, I certainly don’t want to walk around all day with a plastic piece of tech on my face, or a giant, odd-looking watch on my wrist. The application of those products is another aspect entirely-would either of those products actually make life more efficient in any way? I’m not so sure.
So if and when Apple believes the technology and the world are ready, they will release the iWatch, or whatever they’ll call it, and then everyone will probably think Apple is innovative again. And that’s just a silly way to look at it. For a company like Apple, innovation is ongoing and never-ending. It all takes time. It’s easy to forget that it’s only been a little over THREE years since the iPad was introduced, and only six since the iPhone was introduced. That may be a long time for a typical tech product lifespan, like a PC, but that’s no time at all when we’re talking about innovation. So sit back, relax, be patient, and stop complaining.
Apple will deliver.
Hello there! Thanks for visiting our blog. My name is Greg Walker. I am a lover of all things technology, but I do have a soft spot for Apple, Nintendo (hang in there!), and Xbox. I also enjoy writing, so I figured blogging would be a natural cohesion of the two.