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Apple Reports Strong Third-Quarter Results (cnbc.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the uphill-climb dept.

Apple reported strong third-quarter results Tuesday, posting big beats on earnings per share and average iPhone selling price. CNBC highlights how Apple did compared with Wall Street projections: EPS: $2.34 vs. $2.18, according to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates
Revenue: $53.3 billion vs. $52.34 billion, according to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates
iPhone sales: 41.3 million vs. 41.79 million, according to StreetAccount Apple reportedly sold 41.3 million iPhones in the last quarter and 11.55 million iPads, both beating estimates. The average selling price of iPhones last quarter was $724, versus the expected $693.59. Apple also sold 3.7 million Mac computers.

Apple's services revenue accounted for just 15 percent of Apple's total revenue for the second quarter, but CNBC notes that it's "been outpacing iPhone revenue growth for several quarters." The company hopes to double services revenue to more than $14 billion a quarter by 2020. Looking forward, all eyes will be on the next iPhone. Apple is expected to launch new iPhone models at the end of the quarter, in mid-September.

65 comments

  1. I report... by datavirtue · · Score: 0, Troll

    I report not giving a fuck.

    --
    I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    1. Re:I report... by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      I report not giving a fuck.

      And yet you felt compelled to waste all our time and bandwidth with your useless comment.

    2. Re:I report... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I report that "That's a shitload of dumb people."

    3. Re:I report... by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      And THAT is why you're still a virgin!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    4. Re:I report... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Id like to report your stupid comment. I found the original to be of some value; yours of none.

  2. Not sure why this is a surprise by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Apple beats earrings most quarters, because while other phone makers focus on adding more notches to phones or producing big budget ads to mock the iPhone, Apple keeps quietly incrementally improving products across the board and making devices better and better... even older devices people already own.

    Apples strategy of constantly improving even old devices is finally starting to pay off as after several years users are bound to update anyway, so if you keep them happy that whole time they will naturally move on to another Apple product.

    Of course the results are helped a lot by the iPhone X which is currently way more usable than other phones thanks to FaceID and removing the home button. Really looking forward to seeing iPad sales surge again when those technologies reach the iPad.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure sure... it couldn't possibly be that Apple has consistently sand bagged their projections every quarter. They had a miss on the raw # of iPhones sold so your little theory is kind of a giant ball of BS.

    2. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Improving. LOL

    3. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Apples strategy of constantly improving even old devices is finally starting to pay off as after several years users are bound to update anyway, so if you keep them happy that whole time they will naturally move on to another Apple product.

      Or, as the Slashtards spin it: Vendor Lock-in.

      (rolls eyes)

    4. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 0

      Winning the battle but losing the war? iPhone market share continues to slide, and that WILL eventually catch up with them. We already see companies dropping support for Macs because the user base is too small to justify development costs. As the iPhone heads towards single-digit market share, it will start to suffer the same thing.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    5. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      Sure sure... it couldn't possibly be that Apple has consistently sand bagged their projections every quarter. They had a miss on the raw # of iPhones sold so your little theory is kind of a giant ball of BS.

      Oh, you mean like Slamdung (or was it Macroshaft?) that counted units they force-fed to their Distribution channel (and still sitting there on their shelves) as "Sales"?

      Sorry, Apple don't play those games, homey.

    6. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Clearly bullshit. Market share hasn't meant anything. Apple takes most of the mobile profit. Android phones have such low margins and Android owners rarely pay for apps.

      So - fuck off with you cheap analysis made without any knowledge of the market or the players.

    7. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People are still making the marketshare argument?

      The "companies dropping support for the Mac" linked story says ONE company dropped support for ONE extremely niche product.

      LOL

       

    8. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      citation needed

    9. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What are you a 12 year old. Grow up.Most people just dont give a shit about apple.

      And where is your proof apple doesn't play those games because "those games" are exactly the kind of shit I would expect a lying cheating and stealing company like apple would do. Most of these iphones are probably "sold" to apple stores and stilling there collecting dust.

    10. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple beats earrings most quarters, because while other phone makers focus on adding more notches to phones or producing big budget ads to mock the iPhone, Apple keeps quietly incrementally improving products across the board and making devices better and better... even older devices people already own.

      Apples strategy of constantly improving even old devices is finally starting to pay off as after several years users are bound to update anyway, so if you keep them happy that whole time they will naturally move on to another Apple product.

      Of course the results are helped a lot by the iPhone X which is currently way more usable than other phones thanks to FaceID and removing the home button. Really looking forward to seeing iPad sales surge again when those technologies reach the iPad.

      Those pom-poms of yours officially blessed by Apple?

    11. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Sure sure... it couldn't possibly be that Apple has consistently sand bagged their projections every quarter. They had a miss on the raw # of iPhones sold so your little theory is kind of a giant ball of BS.

      Units sold up 1% against year ago quarter, revenue up 20% against year ago quarter

    12. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that the iPhoneâ(TM)a market share increased due to the Samsung galaxy s9 selling poorly, and the iPhone X selling well.

    13. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Tough+Love · · Score: 0

      Apple beats earrings most quarters, because blah blah blah

      No. Apple beat earnings this quarter for exactly one reason: The 41.3 million iPhones shipped during the third quarter is basically flat from the year-ago period, but the ASP of $724 is a notable jump from the year-ago period. In otherwords, squeezed more money from each brain-damaged Apple cultist. with only one possible result: Apple's 17% slice of the smartphone pie will get smaller.

      Not that I can really think of any other way for AAPL to keep its share price flying high. But anybody who isn't high on Apple Kookaid can see where it goes.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    14. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 0

      From my link above, June 2017 saw iOS with a 19.5% market share. In June 2018 it was 18.9%. I don't think that qualifies as increasing market share, but then I am outside the reality distortion field.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    15. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Apple keeps quietly incrementally improving products across the board and making devices better and better..

      Is that what you call the bar that replaced the escape key? An improvement?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    16. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

      What are you a 12 year old. Grow up.Most people just dont give a shit about apple.

      He wasn't talking to "most people", he was talking to you morons who care enough to actually not just open a Slashdot story on Apple but to also posting to it, just to whine when somebody rips it apart.

      Fuck, you could care less - just do it, and stop clicking on Apple stories, you moron.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    17. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Winning the battle but losing the war? iPhone market share continues to slide,

      Upwards. You are dumb as shit as always, Slimewood Cockchoke. Marketshare means sales, not usage share on a few selected sites, you shithead. Words have meanings, your name means eternal moronic shitheel.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    18. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      The economy is currently still strong, so people are able to buy things they wanted but couldn't afford. Heck I just got myself a new laptop (not a mac though) But I was living with an under powered laptop for a while now so I needed an upgrade, my personal economy is currently in good position so I got myself one. Being that the economy is currently good, I expect other people made the decision to upgrade the tech.
      Apple like it or not, is really the standard that others compare themselves too. So my new laptop I compared it against the Mac Pro I got features that are better then it and decided to trade off features I didn't care about. Then I did a month of research and made my decision. However I am a tech guy who doesn't worry about things like default OS, or ease of use. However Apple is the baseline, and normally if you get yourself an Apple device you are not going to regret it. You probable not going to get the best you need, but probably something good enough.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    19. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      I don't think Sarbanes Oxley law has been repealed. This type of stuff of counting pre-sales and shifted inventory doesn't fly anymore. They may count if they are sold to Best Buy for resell. But not the Apple Store.

      The lower sales of phones, is in part that Apple Released two phones at the same time the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X. The iPhone X didn't sell as much as expected because the 8 was in "competition" with it. So they sold a little more 8 then expected and less of the X. Being the 8 and the X have been sold over the a few quarters. The This initial sales number and stories of lagging sales from early on are not so much valid anymore, as the excess inventory is sold off and production is adjusted to meet current demand.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    20. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      And of course Autodesk isn't getting out of the Mac software business because the Mac user base is too small (it's much bigger then when they got in), it's because Mac user don't buy their overpriced and overrated products (unlike morons with a PC), going for better alternatives instead.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    21. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      From my link above, June 2017 saw iOS with a 19.5% market share. In June 2018 it was 18.9%. I don't think that qualifies as increasing market share, but then I am outside the reality distortion field.

      No that qualifies as dropping web usage share on some selected websites we know jack shit about. And you qualify as a know-nothing asshole.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    22. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Apple beats earrings most quarters, because blah blah blah

      No. Apple beat earnings this quarter for exactly one reason: The 41.3 million iPhones shipped during the third quarter is basically flat from the year-ago period, but the ASP of $724 is a notable jump from the year-ago period. In otherwords, squeezed more money from each brain-damaged Apple cultist. with only one possible result: Apple's 17% slice of the smartphone pie will get smaller.

      Not that I can really think of any other way for AAPL to keep its share price flying high. But anybody who isn't high on Apple Kookaid can see where it goes.

      While the Android makers continue to lose money, selling less and less of their crappy phones, instead of staying flat. That's the wrong kind of winning, you dumbass.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    23. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Being that most of the critical software nowadays is actually on the Web. There isn't much vendor lock in anymore. There may be some titles which are too expensive to move to a different platform, and custom stuff that a business may need. But for much of it now. There is much less vendor lockin then their was 20 years ago.
      Apple has not pulled a Microsoft. They may be bigger but, we don't feel like we are stuck on their products. There are active competitors out there, And we can switch if we feel like it. It isn't like in the Bad Old days with Crashy Windows, and people like, what else am I going to use, I have all this software I want to run.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    24. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by countach · · Score: 1

      Depends what kind of user you are. For simpleton users, there is no lock-in. For me, I have quite a bit of lock in because I rely on quite a few important apps. I'm also locked in by iTunes, Macs, iPads, AirPods, AppleTV and other things. Sure I could move, but the number of comfortable things I'd have to replace is painful to think about once I start thinking about all of it.

    25. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by countach · · Score: 1

      Growing the market by selling $20 android phones in the Congo is not meaningful market share gains. It's imaginary gains.

    26. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

      So you have statistics that show iPhone is gaining market share? According to their own data in this very article, iPhone shipments are down. And now Huawei ships more phones than Apple, bumping them down to 3rd place...

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    27. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      So you have statistics that show iPhone is gaining market share? According to their own data in this very article, iPhone shipments are down.

      God, you are too stupid to understand TFS. FOAD, you pompous moron.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    28. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Learn what market share actually means . we already told you a couple of times.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    29. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

      While the Android makers continue to lose money, selling less and less of their crappy phones, instead of staying flat. That's the wrong kind of winning

      Why would an Apple asshole care what kind of winning the Android phone makers are doing? (Rhetorical question.)

      Even if it were true that Android makers are losing money, which it isn't. High end Android phones have big fat margins just like Apple's products. Low end Android phones like the ones that are flooding India are certainly not loss leaders. The makers make them because it makes them make money, see? Even an Apple asshole like you should be able to see that. (BTW, if you don't want to be called an asshole then consider keeping that dumbass word to yourself.)

      Then there is the fantastic amount of money that flows through the entire Android engineering, manufacturing and distribution ecosystem. And the Android app ecosystem, now far larger than Apple's walled garden. So many companies benefiting, so many employees taking home good salaries. The Android industry is actually a significant portion of the world economy now, regardless of how much it infuriates an Apple asshole.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    30. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Depends what kind of user you are. For simpleton users, there is no lock-in. For me, I have quite a bit of lock in because I rely on quite a few important apps. I'm also locked in by iTunes, Macs, iPads, AirPods, AppleTV and other things. Sure I could move, but the number of comfortable things I'd have to replace is painful to think about once I start thinking about all of it.

      That's not "Lock-In" you stupid toad! That's liking a better product!

      Jeezus.

    31. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awww someones cranky.

    32. Re: Not sure why this is a surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I take it thats a 'No" to actual facts and 'Yes' to anger management issues and possibly Tourettes.

    33. Re:Not sure why this is a surprise by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      I don't think Sarbanes Oxley law has been repealed. This type of stuff of counting pre-sales and shifted inventory doesn't fly anymore. They may count if they are sold to Best Buy for resell. But not the Apple Store.

      The lower sales of phones, is in part that Apple Released two phones at the same time the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X. The iPhone X didn't sell as much as expected because the 8 was in "competition" with it. So they sold a little more 8 then expected and less of the X. Being the 8 and the X have been sold over the a few quarters. The This initial sales number and stories of lagging sales from early on are not so much valid anymore, as the excess inventory is sold off and production is adjusted to meet current demand.

      OMG! Can it be? And actual, considered, erudite response on Slashdot?!?

      Mods: Please Mod Parent WAY up!!!

      Ok, assuming that this article from 2013 is still accurate, it appears that Apple counts retail sales (like from Best Buy) when the customer actually buys the phone; but sales to Carriers are counted when they are sold to the Carrier. But, as that article also points out, Apple does NOT actually deliberately "channel stuff" to artificially inflate sales figures.

      https://www.businessinsider.co...

  3. Re:If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm never wrong. I've been shorting AAPL since 1993. When it goes to zero I'm gonna be the biggest winner.

  4. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Never give a sucker an even break. If people will pay the huge margins, let them.

    It would be impossible for Apple to gain the majority market share. They can ONLY succeed as a minority player.

  5. Services by sit1963nz · · Score: 1

    Of course while Apple continues to charge outrageous prices for larger SSDs , people will opt for smaller cheaper machines. This encourages users to pay a few $$ a month for larger iCloud Storage

    1. Re:Services by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Of course while Apple continues to charge outrageous prices for larger SSDs , people will opt for smaller cheaper machines.
      This encourages users to pay a few $$ a month for larger iCloud Storage

      I wouldn't use iCloud for Backup of a Mac with lots o' storage (I would personally use a local Time Machine drive IN ADDITION TO a $5/mo UNLIMITED BackBlaze account as a redundant, always available everwhere/everywhen OFFSITE backup for a Mac); but for sharing photos, media files, and other stuff (including auto-backup of your iOS devices), $10/mo for 2 TB that you can share with your family (only $3/mo for 200 GB shareable) is not onerous at all.

    2. Re:Services by sexconker · · Score: 1

      $5 per month for unlimited sounds pretty good, actually.

      I currently backup to a network drive and periodically sync that to an offline drive.

      How long do they maintain backups? Can I store other things (not just their backups)? For example, can I use my current software and just point it at BlackBlaze?

    3. Re:Services by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      A better solution is to use Amazon Glacier for backups. $0.004 per gigabyte per month.

    4. Re:Services by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      $5 per month for unlimited sounds pretty good, actually.

      I currently backup to a network drive and periodically sync that to an offline drive.

      How long do they maintain backups? Can I store other things (not just their backups)? For example, can I use my current software and just point it at BlackBlaze?

      And if you pop for a year, it's $50, and $95 for 2 years, which works out to a measly $3.95/mo for UNLIMITED storage!
      I am not sure about data retention. I assume it is perpetual. They advertise on their site that you can even retrieve VERSIONS of Files for up to 30 days, which is kind of cool (like a temporary Time Machine thing!). Plus there is a mobile app to access files on iOS or Android. And a Web Client for remote access, too. So, in a way, you could certainly use that as a type of "Cloud Storage". Just save the file Locally, and have BackBlaze (which runs CONTINUOUSLY) "back it up" to its Server. Then use the web/mobile portal to Retrieve the file. And if you have your computer with you; then BackBlaze IS backing it up, regardless. Don't have to be hooked to your TM Drive (it will "catch up" when you get back home). Oh, and BackBlaze DOES include External USB (don't know about TB)-connected drives in its Backups. But I don't think it will include a Networked NAS (see Cloud Storage, below).

      They also have a Free Trial.

      Plus, if you're in a hurry, they can send you your Backup on a USB Stick or HDD for faster Restore.

      One other thing: Their "Personal Backup" product is understandably (at that price) geared toward SINGLE Macs/PCs. There are other vendors that allow you to Backup multiple desktop and mobile clients on the same network; but those aren't nearly as inexpensive if you start getting above a few hundred GB. BackBlaze also has a "Business Backup" that allows centralized Administration/Provisioning of multiple devices; but I didn't look into the pricing. But a glance at their website makes it look like the pricing is the same as the Personal Backup; but with the addition of centralized Administration. Plus, I don't think they do any mobile-device backups. They also advertise "30-day rollback" of all backed-up machines and FREE loaner "Restore" Drive service (the Personal Backup charges $ to send you your Backup on physical media.

      And while BackBlaze Backup isn't a "Cloud Drive" (I don't think), they have a companion product, "B2 Cloud Storage", that is.

      Here's the site:

      https://www.backblaze.com/

    5. Re:Services by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      A better solution is to use Amazon Glacier for backups. $0.004 per gigabyte per month.

      So, at 1 TB, it is roughly equivalent to the cost of BackBlaze (which can go lower with a longer committment), with none of the other amenities (30-day versioning, mailed Restore drive, zero-conf backup s/w included, support, etc.). Not to mention the fact that Retrieval times SUUUUCK!

      "Amazon Glacier provides three retrieval options to fit your use case. Expedited retrievals typically return data in 1-5 minutes, and are great for Active Archive use cases. Standard retrievals typically complete between 3-5 hours work, and work well for less time-sensitive needs like backup data, media editing, or long-term analytics. Bulk retrievals are the lowest-cost retrieval option, returning large amounts of data within 5-12 hours."

      Oh, and did you notice that any significant Retrieval COSTS EXTRA!!!

      "Glacier offers a 10 GB retrieval free tier. You can retrieve 10 GB of your Amazon Glacier data per month for free. The free tier allowance can be used at any time during the month and applies to Standard retrievals."

      Hell, even DELETING Data can cost money!!!

      "Amazon Glacier is designed for use cases where data is retained for months, years, or decades. Deleting data from Amazon Glacier is free if the archive being deleted has been stored for three months or longer. If an archive is deleted within three months of being uploaded, you will be charged an early deletion fee. In the US East (Northern Virginia) Region, you would be charged a prorated early deletion fee of $0.012 per gigabyte deleted within three months. So if you deleted 1 gigabyte of data 1 month after uploading it, you would be charged a $0.008 early deletion fee. If, instead you deleted 1 gigabyte after 2 months, you would be charged a $0.004 early deletion fee."

      Oh, and that $0.004 figure you quoted was an "As low as..." rate. Obviously, that's if you dial-in EVERYTHING "just right"...

      And it STILL doesn't beat BackBlaze on large backups. Amazon Glacier will cost $16/mo to backup that 4 TB drive in your iMac Pro. BackBlaze will cost.... $5. AND provide INSTANTANEOUS (other than transfer-time) Retrieval!

      In short: No fucking thankyouverymuch, Amazon.

  6. Re:If you said the iPhone X would fail... by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

    I'm never wrong. I've been shorting AAPL since 1993. When it goes to zero I'm gonna be the biggest winner.

    Too bad the Earth will have crashed into the Sun by then...

  7. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

    Never give a sucker an even break. If people will pay the huge margins, let them.

    It would be impossible for Apple to gain the majority market share. They can ONLY succeed as a minority player.

    Nearly 600 Million ACTIVE Users and over a BILLION ACTIVE devices is a pretty damned big "minority".

  8. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's definitely a peak. They won't grow much more.

  9. No, they beat the adjusted estimates by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    Apple makes projections that are conservative (which they always tell you up front).

    Instead what they beat were estimates from people whose entire job it is to figure out how MUCH Apple has sand-bagged estimates, and produce a larger number.

    THAT is the number Apple beat, partially because a lot of the analysts for some reason listen to people like you instead of trying to understand Apple's market

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:No, they beat the adjusted estimates by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      The market likes it better when a company meets its projections vs going under or exceeding it.

      Running too hot, could cause a burn out. Because people will get what they want then stop buying. Then we are set with a company with a massive infrastructure to build millions of units without people wanting to buy it. Costing the company money. That is why often stock will go down if a company is beating its estimates. If everyone rushes to get their iPhone this quarter, then next quarter they will not want one, because nothing new is out, and what they have is probably good enough.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:No, they beat the adjusted estimates by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

      The market likes it better when a company meets its projections vs going under or exceeding it.

      "The Market" (which is actually individual people and companies) has increased the price of AAPL by $10 since yesterday...

      Gee, I guess they liked exceeding after all. Since shareholders get a portion of extra revenue via cash distributions each quarter...

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    3. Re:No, they beat the adjusted estimates by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      "Analysts less wrong than usual"

  10. Not lock in by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    Or, as the Slashtards spin it: Vendor Lock-in.

    The thing is it's not lock in. No amount of vendor lock-in will keep you buying new systems if you've had a bad experience.

    Yes Apple makes it pleasant to stay within their ecosystem but so does everyone, and it simply doesn't matter own a world where apps are dirt cheap and photos can be easily moved.

    The reason people go to Apple for new products is generally not because of lock-in, but because Apple has not pushed them away from making the natural choice to stay with a product line they have been using. How are non-technical people supposed to feel about a phone that doesn't receive updates any more after a year or so? Wouldn't they be more likely to consider some other brand?

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Not lock in by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Or, as the Slashtards spin it: Vendor Lock-in.

      The thing is it's not lock in. No amount of vendor lock-in will keep you buying new systems if you've had a bad experience.

      Yes Apple makes it pleasant to stay within their ecosystem but so does everyone, and it simply doesn't matter own a world where apps are dirt cheap and photos can be easily moved.

      The reason people go to Apple for new products is generally not because of lock-in, but because Apple has not pushed them away from making the natural choice to stay with a product line they have been using. How are non-technical people supposed to feel about a phone that doesn't receive updates any more after a year or so? Wouldn't they be more likely to consider some other brand?

      You're preachin' to the choir, man!

      But I like your Sermon... ;-)

  11. Re:If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL what a fucking delusional idiot. Yes apple will live forever. apple is eternal. Fucking cultists.

  12. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And 2.3 Billion Android Smartphones say "Awww thats so cute. Thanks for trying."

    At least apple will get a participation trophy.

  13. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple doesn't sell $99 privacy sieves, so I'm not sure what your point is.

  14. Re: If you said the iPhone X would fail... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe find someone who isnt an isheep and have them read the thread to you. That might help.

  15. no reason for change by sad_ · · Score: 1

    as long as these great results keep going, Apple isn't going to change their strategy and all you people complaining about connectivity options, the decrease in build quality and increase in buggy software are just ignored.

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
    1. Re:no reason for change by joh · · Score: 1

      as long as these great results keep going, Apple isn't going to change their strategy and all you people complaining about connectivity options, the decrease in build quality and increase in buggy software are just ignored.

      Just that hardly anyone of those people complaining would buy a Mac anyway. You can't blame Apple for making what the people buy who buy Apple devices instead.

      (And I agree that Apple has screwed up quite a bit in the last years, the drop in Mac sales is clearly due to them not offering what people want to buy, like reliable keyboards...)

  16. Why on slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't understand why this is a story on slashdot!

  17. There is not as much lock-in as you think... by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    I'm also locked in by iTunes, Macs, iPads, AirPods, AppleTV and other things

    How though?

    Most people just subscribe to music services now. So even if you subscribed to Appel Music, you could just move to Spotify. If you have audio files you can transfer them to anything.

    AirPods will work with any bluetooth device.

    AppleTV is pretty standalone, and you can AirPlay to it from a variety of sources, including PC's and Android devices.

    A lot of apps are not Apple only these days as well...

    I'm not sure there is as much lock-in as you are thinking. I have all those devices too but I *could* move if everything else didn't suck a lot more.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley