Don't Say I Didn't Warn You: Apple iPhone Keynote 2019

-

Apple is moving on, regardless of if you are coming with them or catch up later.

Ladies and gentlemen! I have my new AppleWatch series 5 on its way!!! I could not be happier about this important moment for my Apple Loving Life! I will keep you guys updated on my thoughts as I enjoy this new always on screen life. BUT, there were also other things to talk about…

The new phones are good if not great. They are not "innovating" massively and taking a leap into the unknown; they are betting on a more incrementally significant upgrade. Enough to excite but not too much as to take a big risk that could backfire. How is that a good thing? Well, because the iPhone is slowly winding down, and services and Apple Watch are exploding up.


Apple has known for a couple of years now that the iPhone’s power in the market has been set, that people have great phones made by them and have now become a victim of their own success. Older models are still performing strong and steady, PLUS the resale value is WAY higher than any other brand of phone. The result is what is currently happening: a transformation towards the balance that the market demands in terms of services vs products. The iPad is being revived with great pricing and laptop replacement capabilities in iPadOS, the Mac has a strong niche market, and the iPhone has reached a saturation point.

In comes the Apple Watch and demolishes the smart watch and the everyday watch market, Apple Music has proven to be amazing and second to none, Apple TV only has its price and remote to improve, AppleCare has now become a subscription service, that leaves two “unknowns” Apple TV+ and AppleCard. It does not matter what you think about the iPhone, it will sell and either stagnate of decrease in sales, and you will see the change from the product being Apple's goal, to it being the means to the NEW goal: services.


The more iPhones that have the latest iOS, the more Apple Credit Cards, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Care, iCloud Storage, App Store, iTunes/Books, Apple News and Apple Arcade (I hope I am not forgetting any). The strategy became evident during this week’s keynote when an Apple TV+ full year subscription is given to all customers that purchase a new Apple device that has the service (TV, phone, iPad, Mac). Not only is it clear that debuting the trailer to the Jason Momoa series “See” was a grab of attention towards the service, but they also are starting with a competitive $5 price per family.

I saw a LOT of people talking about this keynote like any other keynote: recapping the new iPhones and Apple Watch. Talking about should you buy, should you not; what was missing from the new iPhone and of course, what is to come for next year’s iPhone and why you should wait for that new generation. When really, what they should be focusing on is the Apple Watch Series 5 and its “S-year” being such a great one, the fact that it is the last product that still has that much room to grow in sales and services simultaneously. On how the new iPad is cheap and improved in order to break into the cheap PC market as an almost touted-manner to show that their iPads are SO far ahead in the tablet market that they don’t compare themselves in that market.


Services are gaining ground on the Apple keynotes, specifically this time with TV+ and Arcade. But I invite everyone to think about the change that is upon us, and by “us” I don’t just mean Apple, I mean the entire smartphone market: 5G, WiFi 6, everyday AR, digital photography, battery life vs thinness and weight, inductive/wireless charging from and to device, etc. etc. Now we have to truly see keynotes and product announcements for what they are: a change towards a Service-Driven future of the companies in a saturated market. Apple and Amazon got to a trillion dollars, growth does not seem to be a worry

What priorities do they tackle now that they have the time and money?
Don't say I didn't warn you that big changes are coming...

Popular posts from this blog

Let the tech year unfold...

-
Image
The new Apple event was announced a couple of days back. And my last tech-episode on the podcast got me thinking about this year and the current "trends" in tech. I believe that Apple has one of the biggest challenges you could ever hear in front of them: adapt to survive WHILE BEING ON TOP. Steve Jobs was an amazing underdog, a creative mastermind that rose to the top of the tech community at his time and shot Apple like a rocket to the summit of the world as one of the most influential and prosperous companies ever... However, that IS NOT the company that Tim Cook has had to deal with. Apple is now working in saturated laptop and smartphone markets and is trying to maintain its innovation and creativity. People think it is easy to stay on top... Amazon has had to get all kinds of creative by entering product line, new services offers and buying pieces of the market they compete in as they did with Whole Foods. Facebook is saved by the quality of companies like In
Read more

What does Captain Marvel MEAN to the MCU?

-
Image
So, here's the deal. I did a podcast entry about captain marvel and my thoughts on the movie and how unimpressed I was about some things and how glad and proud other parts of the movie made me. And that’s when it came to me: the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Captain Marvel was not the best movie, it was a necessary one. Clearly, the end of an era approaches quickly as April is almost here with Endgame. Do you think for a minute that Kevin Feige is done with his plan for the MCU? Do you think that they introduced the world to such great successful Black Panther, Spiderman, Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy AND Dr. Strange just because? Well if you do, you have something else coming your way… And that is the only thing I fear in the MCU. You see, the success story of Marvel has been with a great formula and an expansive universe that has great comedy, range and plot; that same amazing formula has been leading up this very important and climatic movie call
Read more

Apple's Endgame

-
Image
So, here we are. Apple announced hardware via internet and called everyone in for services… Was the latter part of the presentation awkward? Yes. Could it have been planned in a more effective way? Probably. However, we got what we got and we must understand that Apple does not act without a plan. Here is my analysis of the true importance behind the event this past Monday: The Mac, the iPod, the MacBook Air, the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch these are all attempts at products to drive the business. Some way more successful than others, they all have made what Apple is and will continue to be today. You see, there is a commonality amongst those products… They are not services. And THAT is exactly what Apple told the world on Monday: services are the future. Does this mean that it is THE END for iPhone, Apple Watch, etc. etc.? HELL NO! It means that the market is the market! And the iPhone is stagnating and decreasing in sales, the Mac, iPad and even Apple Watch cannot sus
Read more