“I suspect that this article will not be very popular with Apple (AAPL) fanatics but I feel it is time to highlight some of the differences between the management capabilities of Tim Cook and Steve Jobs,” Steve Auger opines via Seeking Alpha. “The differences are striking, and will likely lead to an eventual crumbling of Apple’s pie.”
“Simply put, vision was Steve Jobs’ secret to success,” Auger writes. “His talent didn’t lie with inventions as most of Apple’s products were not original. Steve Jobs didn’t invent Windows, nor did he invent hand-held devices, music players or smart phones.”
MacDailyNews Take: Windows? Did you mean “the GUI?” And, in effect, Steve Jobs did invent “Windows,” simply by releasing the Mac.
Auger continues, “But he did come out with the right products, the right design, at the right time. He demonstrated an uncanny sense of what consumers would buy… With Tim Cook at the helm, a new but not necessarily improved Apple has emerged. Apple is no longer providing the market-dominating vision and leadership it once did. Instead of flying higher and faster as investors are accustomed to, Apple is instead embroiled in patent wars.”
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, as directed by Steve Jobs. When people steal your patented IP, you have the right to sue.
Auger continues, “What innovations is Apple bringing to the table? The recent iPhone 5 release included the much desired LTE, but this is simple catch-up with other Smart Phone manufacturers. Other initiatives such as Siri and Apple Maps have been a flop, acknowledged by the recent departure of senior vice president Scott Forstall.”
MacDailyNews Take: What? How does Cook axing Forstall make Maps and Siri “flops?” Neither is a flop.
Auger continues, “With Tim Cook leading the company, product releases have been sliding and seem to be stumbling out the door. The iPhone 4S didn’t occur in June as would normally be the case. The product announcement came on October 4 2011, one day before Steve Jobs’ passing. The iPhone 5 was released in September 2012 but was beset by manufacturing and parts supply issues, resulting in a shortage of iPhones. The iPhone 5 came with Apple Maps has been a complete flop with Tim Cook finding it necessary to write an apology to Apple customers.”
MacDailyNews Take: Oh, so now Apple’s Maps are a “complete flop.” Idiocy.
Further stupidity – Think Before You Click™ – here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Carl H.” for the heads up.]
When the first line in an article contains the words “Apple fanatics”, I know it’s been written by an ignoramus and I need read no further.
When the source is given as “Seeking Alpha” you know you’re tuning in to amateur hour.
Yep. Seeking Alpha and Business Insider are two of the worst out there. I won’t read anything at either. They are small time wannabe stock manipulators that always seem to be on the wrong side of right with their positions, and actually think that the drivel they write will help them.
If you really want a good laugh read the reply I got to a comment I submitted over there:
“We have deleted your comment because it contains insults, obscenities or abusive language about the topic under discussion. In an effort to encourage high-quality discussion of articles, we encourage you to avoid such language. We still welcome your post if it contains a strong and polite disagreement about the issues under discussion, but we ask you to resubmit it in a form that is more appropriate for the **serious tone** (emphasis mine) we aim to encourage on the site.”
I thought the comment was rather restrained about the author starting to resort to name calling when answering comments:
“This answer exposes your bias and your lack of information. You attribute waiting times for iPhone 5s to a screw-up in manufacturing and delivery, and apparently completely discount huge demand when you, nor anyone else, have any idea what current sales actually are. That’s bigotry, my friend. And apparently you missed the conference call and the projected 36% margins in the coming quarter? This is precisely the level of margins that Apple has averaged over the last several years. Recent higher margins were an aberration. You ignore the fact that Apple continues to set records for revenue and profits Y/Y every quarter. Again, willful distortion. Apple has no competition, only copiers. What has Google or Samsung invented…ever? If Apple invents nothing over the next 3 years the “competition” will be exactly where it is now. Proof? What did the Samsung cellphone look like before the iPhone was produced? Hint: It looked EXACTLY like the Blackberry. And Microsoft? Poor Microsoft, led by an idiot, producing ever more complicated and frustrating software, and offering products nobody wants. Apple should fear anything from Microsoft? Not in this universe.”
Seriously???? Where are the obscenities?
I read some good things at Seeking Alpha, but some bad things too. I don’t think there is a ‘party line’ because I see articles both optimistic about Apple’s future and others that are pessimistic. (Not everything written here at MDN is great, either.)
… Having said that, this particular article is really stupid! And the writer is an idiot.
I hate the term fanatics and fanboys. Really? Those are the only people buying Apple products? Then that makes 90% of the population also fanatics of air, food, water and sex.
I admit… I’m a fanatic of all of the above.
And 10% of the population could go either way with air, food, water and sex?
Can I get an iSex without a two year contract?
No Commitment!!!!!!!
After reading the author’s replies to the comments it can be confirmed that he’s a complete idiot.
I stopped reading at “Steve didn’t invent windows.”
Yeah, that did it for me. How do stupid people breathe?….
I stopped reading the moment i saw Apple Crumble.
I too went straight to the MDN response, then straight to the comments. Seeking Alpha should seek other employment.
But Steve Jobs did invent windows. Doors, however, were created by Jim Morrison et.al.
… “invent windows”. Maybe Bill Gates? Based on the work Steve Jobs did, based (partly) on work done by Xerox. I’ll happily give Jobs the majority of the credit for the GUI, but not for “windows”. Depending on your usage, that was either Xerox or Gates. One is important, the other … enh.
Actually, Jobs’s Macintosh team (particularly Bill Atkinson) did invent “windows,” as most people think of them. The Xerox GUI didn’t have tiled windows, simply fixed graphic screens. Mac was the first to have overlapping and adjustable sizes. Mac did it first. Microsoft then copied.
To the apple cynic, everything that goes on at apple is failure, even it’s succes. These are delusional people. This part of the population will always exist… Unfortuately.
Why would anyone want to publicly want to show such dimwitedness and absolute ignorance.
More stock manipulation.
+1,000,000!
Here come the big losses in stock price due to the short trading. Apple should be at $481 in a month if not quicker.
Not just from this article but from all the FUD out there. This is what the traders want in order to make money on apple.
Up or down they make money.
Numbers, numbers, NUMBERS! Look at the numbers! iPads, iPhones, even Macs. In hospitals, schools, government and business — around the world! I don’t see crumbling. I see a tsunami of change still gathering steam.
Really a shortage of iPhones – how about increased demand all this talk about problems and supply issues are all made up and none have been proven – just more ways to keep the stock down..
Sounds like Auger came up with a catchy metaphor for a headline (Apple Crumb Pie) and then looked for any excuse to write a story in order to fill the space under it.
These breathless morons are looking for an imperfect edge under which they can jam a lever arm of illogic. Why not choose the shoddy construction seam from any of Apple’s plastic competitors?
The only point of this is that we have yet to see a totally new product out from under Tim Cook’s reign. Nearly every other move, aside from letting maps out in that state, has been a positive one, including recognizing a market for an iPad mini and the staff changes.
So I think it’s a little early to be calling for Apple’s demise because they supposedly can’t innovate. Certainly not while record sales numbers are coming in.
Personally I have more faith in Cook since the announcement of Forstall’s “dismissal”, and the executive streamlining with Ive in controll of HI is brilliant. Well Done!!!
This guys is correct, as evidenced by the recent and precipitous decline in revenue and profit … Whoops, he’s right because no one wants the flop-ridden iPhone 5, iPad (3/4), or iPad mini. OK, so he’s right because … at some point he thinks that these unbelievable results, despite “flops” and shortages, will disappear based on his theory of … [crickets]
Look, I agree that analysts (every last one of them) are a bunch of cockless dolts when it comes to Apple. But you’re completely in denial with the counter-points you’ve made.
#1 Any idiot can see what he was saying, so your “Windows” comment is complete asshattery.
#2 He was commenting on Cook’s (Apple’s) vision & leadership, a perception I’ll grant you. He’s talking about the way people see the company, and where Cook sees the company going with its products. He’s saying that average people perceive Cook & Apple to lack the vision & leadership since Jobs left, and in its place only patent lawsuits to fill the headlines. You’ve simplified it down to only the patent statement. You took the easy way out.
#3 Again you’ve ignored the main point of what he was saying and chosen to focus on the easy example – which also fails the smell test. Siri and Maps ARE a complete flop in the court of public opinion.
Few people use Siri beyond the first few day of owning the latest iPhones. And when put up against expectations, Maps has flopped as well (again, in the public’s opinion anyway — I don’t see any problems with it, but that’s just me.) When the “hero feature” fizzles, it’s a flop, even if they work as well as can be expected. And Forstall was in charge of both of these projects, contributing to (though not entirely) to his firing. These are facts.
#4 When the uneducated public, including every news reporter I saw report on the iPhone 5 announcements, proclaim Maps as a “problem” – it’s a complete flop. Again, I think Maps works fine (for my needs). But everyone I talk to who is not a tech-enthusiast asks about the Maps problem, and if they should get an iPhone at all. Most of these idiots have no need to even use a map, but the (undeserved) dark cloud of perception over Maps is that it’s a complete failure.
It’s not that I completely disagree with your opinions, but I feel like you’ve taken the low road of flicking boogers at the back of the schoolyard bully’s head with these comments.
You could have spent a little more time and thoughtfully explained why everything this asshat wrote is complete bullsh¡t (because it is), but instead you’ve come across like a 15 year-old fanboy.
U mad bro?
Why should MDN repeat the same thing about these issues they’ve already commented on. Since the “uneducated public” doesn’t propagate sites like this there is no need for it. Experts like you surely don’t need enlightened, now do you?
“#4 When the uneducated public, including every news reporter I saw report on the iPhone 5 announcements, proclaim Maps as a “problem” – it’s a complete flop.”
Only in a world where all opinions have equal value, and the facts (the actual truth) are established by popular vote instead of experience and logic. This kind of thinking has been taught in our schools for about the last 20 years, which explains why most 20-somethings and younger can’t reason their way through the average fast food menu.
Apple will be fine. Cook is an excellent CEO. The talking heads will yammer about investing in Apple and Paris Hilton’s lack of underwear with the same uncomprehending, but authoritative tone until people stop paying attention (advertising revenue) to them. Buy and hold.
“… most 20-somethings and younger can’t reason their way through the average fast food menu.”
Yeah, but they’re just chock full of self-esteem.
I have a 17 year old and an 18 year old in my household. A typical conversation goes like this:
Me: Interesting…spectrographic analysis reveals that the moon is made mostly of silica.
1st Teenager: Yes, but I think it might be made of green cheese.
2nd Teenager: Nah, that’s an old meme. I think it’s really a holographic projection created by the military-industrial complex to sustain funding for the space program.
1st Teenager: Wow, that’s a cool idea! I can’t wait to post it on Facebook.
Me:
Should be:
Me: (FACEPALM)
That sounds like an episode from The Simpsons. Not that I’m inferring you are the equivalent of Homer Simpson. Doh!
What makes The Simpsons funny is the truth it contains.
you say:
1. average people perceive Cook & Apple to lack the vision & leadership since Jobs left…on what basis can you agree “average people” believe ANYTHING? Because you say so?
2.” Siri and Maps ARE a complete flop in the court of public opinion.”…where are the stats for the court of public opinion that you are quoting, please?
3. “Few people use Siri beyond the first few day of owning the latest iPhones.”…source, please?
4. “Maps has flopped as well (again, in the public’s opinion anyway”..this is really getting boring, you quoting people who are making up stats, then you claiming them as fact.
5. “including every news reporter I saw report on the iPhone 5 announcements, proclaim Maps as a “problem” – it’s a complete flop.” …Ahh, now it’s clear. The court of public opinion is actually what reporters on stations you saw said.
6. “but instead you’ve come across like a 15 year-old fanboy.”…Well, one might say your comments come across as ill informed, lacking any factual statistical effect in sales impact, the true determinant of “flop”, unless news reports are more truthful than factual market results. And I won’t stoop to comparing this post to a particular grade level of education. That would be stooping lower than booger throwing.
I’ll go public: I’m one of your “few” who use Siri and Maps beyond the initial day. I use both every day and rely upon them. Maps is accurate for me in ways my TomTom never was, and Siri understands me more often than my famy members do. So please, continue to express your opinion but don’t use sweeping generalities about others which you have no way of backing up.
1. I disagree with you on this. Windows could either mean OS or an OS with a GUI, and in neither situation would anyone claim Windows are the first. This was in the context of “invention”, so those are relevant points.
2. Does the “average person” actually believe that? I’m not sure the average person even knows who Tim Cook is. Also, give than Apple products still sell incredibly well, there is no evidence of a crisis of consumer confidence.
3. I don’t agree that either are “flops”. Siri has not lived up to expectations, but can you cite evidence that the court of public opinion has ruled Siri a flop? Many tech bloggers may write so, but that does not speak to whether the average consumer thinks it is a “flop”. Maps has caused a lot of bad media, a lot of it deserved, but iPhone 5 sold better in the first weekend than any other iPhone before it. I think the court of consumer opinion is not what you think it is.
4. reporters vs consumers. Sales.
No news. Author has his market bets against Apple right now.
Newsflash to Steve Auger the Loser. Tim Cook’s Apple is not Steve Job’s Apple. If you haven’t figured that out, stop writing and get back to what you do best, which judging by your picture is stuffing your fat face every chance you get. Shit changes, adapt or get the flip out of the way!
“Yes, as directed by Steve Jobs. When people steal your patented IP, you have the right to sue.”
Shouldn’t that read as: “Yes, as directed by Steve Jobs. When people steal your patented IP, you have the DUTY to sue”?
Wow Tech Journalism hit a new low today with this FUD.
People actually make money and have a life writing stuff like this? Talk about leaching off society and not contributing anything back!
Well let’s just go back a few years and check the archives of the pundits, analysts, commentators, tech writers, and investment writers. Guess what? They all hated Steve Jobs. Oh he’s a loose cannon. Nobody can get along with him. He makes bad decisions. He’s a tyrant. His product ideas are too weird. He won’t license the OS. Nobody wants his computers. Anybody can do an iPod and iTunes. He’s leading the company to its doom.
They lightened up when they knew he was dying and sainted him post-mortem. Now it’s time to trash whoever follows him as Apple CEO.
Some did canonize him, but they did it for scurrilous reasons: acquiring a new weapon—the Unfair Comparison—with which to fire non sequiturs in an ongoing war of grudges.
Recent skirmishes in this battle shine a light on the unpleasantness of their lives: simmering resentment at a perceived inferior opponent’s success, alarm at a gradual devaluation of their arcane expertise, gnawing doubts about their champions’ competence, and a sociopathic disregard for human dignity.
Woah! A kindred soul!
If selling more than you can make of all of your products and shedding executives who are responsible for software that reaches the “silver” level of greatness rather than “gold” is a company crumbling, I wish my own business would go to piss in such a way.
I think we can see while Ballmer has a stainless steel ass now. A company which is doing better than ever with great if maturing products is doubted at every move while an old giant that is limping along and losing market share and value gets an easy ride. But hey while Billy Gates monkey mate is there well everything must be under control. I remember when Corporate America was confident in itself, now all I see is self doubt in innovators and a desperate hug of what they know rooted in the past in the shape of the old crumbling giants who they just cant imagine being without so ignore the truth of their failing relevance in this World. If Ballmer went, this delusion go with him but Apple never was one of these old school stalwarts.
Ignore this tripe, unless you’re looking for a trigger to buy. It’s all part of the big AAPL stock manipulation game. Nothing more.
I wonder why those who use Apple products love them and would never go to Windows? Why is it that Windows users are pulled into the Apple camp? Only Apple haters would try Apple products to find out that Windows needs to become more integrated and move back to try to make their machines more Mac like.
He’s right. Jobs was visionary and I hope there are people at Apple that can continue the vision. I dont think Cook will but I think Cook can find the visionary somewhere. i thought Forstall might be the guy. I’m not sure any of the remaining team is.
List the Apple products that have been revolutionary (or visionary) and I think you’ll have a list of UI revolutions (mac, imac, pod, phone, pad). What’s next? – I have no clue. Many think the TV. I think there could be more than TV but Steve is not here to tell us.
So far I think Apple is maintaining what they have (ie smaller, lighter, etc). I hope Apple has more in the pipeline.
I agree… Cook has no vision at all.
Ives has not controlled the look of the product line.
Phil has the enthusiasm required – it naturally seems enthralled to tell use the news. Cook is fake.
Now that Forstall is going – IOS is going to be in trouble.
IOS and the iDevice product line has been what re-invented Apple… Cook has done his last and most terrible mistake.
It is the LEADER whom should step down.
All I can say is Cook is Cooking Apple pie in deed.
As CEO who signs off on everything HE
is the one person who should have stepped down.
Rather than apologize for Maps and Siri…
and I agree with the notation that this shake up of
staff points to a failure of Maps and Siri.
Thats TOTAL opposite of Cooks own statement that Apple will fix things.
Firing people pointing fingers is not fixing shit.
Rather than fire a few lead players…
and shift others into areas they have no business being in…
Hell iTunes is a freaking monster. And he appoints the wiener who made iTunes a monster to over see Siri and Maps?
The software is fine BUT since when is FINE good enough.
Most Apple software is bloated and ugly. The real thing the software has going is it works Just plain works.
However, graphically the styling is all messed up.
Be responsible Tim and say good bye –
BECAUSE honestly, it is his own leadership
and responsibility to LEAD and see that
everything is going as planned.
Not to fire when things go wrong.
I blame Maps totally on Cook.
I blame Siri totally on Cook.
I blame the supply chain on Cook.
I blame the negotiations with Samsung on Cook.
Cook does not deserve to be CEO and I don’t care
if Jobs personally trained him.
Cook was the ONLY choice at the time.
Unfortunately, NOW there will be no one.
IOS is totally where the money is
It is what Apple had reinvented it’s self to be Apple Inc.
The numbers have been there and so
the state of Apple is standing well still.
But the product line and design is very scattered.
Cook needs to go. No doubt in my mind.
However, there just doesn’t seem to be anyone left now.
I would lean towards Phil presently…
There definitely was so sort of RUSH and NERVOUSNESS from Phil during his last keynote showing off the hardware and iMac.
And hell not Jony Ives. The best thing about Ives is he understands
Apple is a Team. Jobs saw things that way too.
Cook cant control the Team and needs to destroy it.
This is not leadership this is dictatorship in the making,
to stay CEO longer.
From Apple TV to iPod Nano / From iMac to Macbook Pro
the look should all appear in unison – definite similarities – same styling and colours. But no, under Cooks vision the product line is messy and bloody scattered… wish to challenge me – bring it on!
From Plastics to Aluminum to coloured and rounded corners to square cheap toy looking garbage. All okayed by what you people believe is the most influential Designer of our times. Poppycock!
Either Cook is ffff-ing blind or a dim-witted fool.
And the chip set should all be available in the best and latest. Only offering a lower price level option – opting for last years chip – but sold with the newest styling and functions / connectors etc.
Fragmentation of processors and styling all across the product lines… total mess galore as I see it – this is Cooks vision?
The man has none. GO away Cook!
Nurse! NURSE! He’s off his meds. Again!
And which $500B corporation do you, or have you ever managed? Do you even own a single share of Apple? Obviously not. I’m sure Tim will take your comments under advisement and give them all the consideration they are due.
Apple dictates its own release dates and times.
iPhone 4S shipping in September is not an indicator. Why ship it if it isn’t ready?
Crazy Foams!
“MacDailyNews Take: What? How does Cook axing Forstall make Maps and Siri “flops?” Neither is a flop.”
Errr…really? They certainly didn’t work very well when first released and they still have issues leaving end users to be the testers…
“They certainly didn’t work very well when first released…”
And you got this where? From CNet? From MarketWatch? From the legions of Apple-hating fandroids who “heard from a friend”? Certainly not from the people who were actually using the applications.
I think you are all arguing your perceived merits of SIRI and MAPS and are ignoring and outright denying that they have a negative PUBLIC perception, when they DO. Of course longtime APple users are going to be more forgiving and show patience while they improve, however I see no reason to believe a first time iPhone buyer is going to feel that way.
I make my living from Apple kit, everyone who knows me, knows it and they ask me questions all the time, and ALL I am hearing lately about is siri and maps.
The customers Apple needs to maintain growth are hearing negative things, from places just like you listed and many more. That is a real problem, perception is reality and if the majority of phone buyers believe that maps and siri suck and that iPhone is playing catch-up they very well may buy something else.
I agree the hype is somewhat overblown, but Maps especially has some VERY real shortcomings right now, ESPECIALLY outside of the US where it is even worse.
I’ve used maps exclusively since it’s original debut, and with the exception of the improved map quality, load speed and the addition of turn by turn, maps sucks right now. Used to be I could type in food or restaurant and pins would drop and within a few taps I was browsing a menu or calling for reservations. Now, not so much because the data is incomplete. Yeah it works, but it doesn’t work nearly as good in this capacity for example.
And Siri, well it isn’t as nearly as useful as it should be by now. It seems more a novelty than a must have feature.