“Like the rest of the business world, Apple is embarking on treacherous times in 2009. But Apple faces special challenges: It sells boutique products that cost more than the competition,” Mitch Wagner writes for InformationWeek. “However, Apple also has special strengths: Those same products cost more because they’re better, and Apple has a fiercely loyal customer base.”
Wagner writes, “To help Apple successfully navigate the turbulent financial waters, here are 10 pieces of advice on what the company needs to do with its operating system, iPhone, App Store, hardware, marketing, and more.”
1. Build A Moat Around Apple Headquarters, Fill It With Crocodiles
2. Give Users Something Shiny In Snow Leopard
3. Add Basic Features To The iPhone
4. Come Out With A Netbook
5. Establish A Clear Path Of Succession
6. Develop Low-power, High-performance Processors For Portable Devices
7. Clarify Policies In The App Store
8. Improve Enterprise Support
9. Continue The Fight Against DRM
10. Stay Classy, Apple
Full article, a somewhat mixed bag (we do not agree with #1 at all, for example), but of interest nonetheless, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention for the heads up.]
The “vetting” of any potential Steve Jobs successors, that is- the same type of obsessive-compulsive scrutiny that Jobs gets over his health issues, would simply add to the chaos and uncertainty and help no one. What is Microsoft’s “Plan of Succession?” Dell’s? Do people really believe there isn’t one for Apple? Do we all have to know?
If you’re that paranoid about the company, don’t invest in it. Better yet- shut up already!!!
auramac, right you are. Enough of Steve’s bile and saliva problems. Quick! a wide moat around his private castle, and let us build a wall of confidence in the company. All the rest is speculations and innuendos likely to profit some greedy investors and financial experts, of the kind that is driving our economic system down to the dogs.
1. Build A Moat Around Apple Headquarters, Fill It With Crocodiles
What for? To keep the press out?
If a moat is a problem with snow leopards, build a new HQ in northern Siberia (or Minneapolis). Let the cats prowl on the ice.
5. Establish A Clear Path Of Succession
Why? Don’t give the pundits credibility by acknowledging them.
6. Develop Low-power, High-performance Processors For Portable Devices
No! No! NO!!! Apple, there’s a reason you’ve always used others’ chips. Focus on what you do best: integration, experience, design. Leave the master alchemy of processors to those who do that best.
“Clear line of succession” is actually a BAD idea. Especially if SJ plans to be around for some time (which I believe he does).
LOS tells everyone who wants to be CEO but will not be that they should start taking the recruiter calls and be CEO elsewhere. It’s the end of Camelot.
SJ is right… the point is to have lots of bench strength and lots of execs who can take over. And let ’em all think they have a shot.
Besides, we all know Tim Cook can run Apple. And nobody can be SJ. And the pundits said (year ago) that Apple needed to lower its prices, retail would never work, etc. etc.
Fog
There’s a little child
Running round this house
And he never leaves
He will never leave
And the fog comes up from the sewers
And glows in the dark
Baby alligators in the sewers grow up fast
Grow up fast
Anything you want it can be done
How did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Somethings will never wash away
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Enjoy.
5. Establish A Clear Path Of Succession
Hell, yeah! Who replaces Ballmer?
Yeah, i disagree with #1 too.
I’d just put some hippos (males and females) in the moat. Way more alert, more aggressive, more territorial and packs a bite more powerful than crocs!
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Suggestion that iPhone/iPod touch needs task list that syncs with iCal, +1.
Comparing iCal with Outlook is the only comparison with Windows that makes me jealous.
What is Microsoft’s “Plan of Succession?” Dell’s?
None needed, as these companies are unsustainable.
Ballmer and M. Dell are gonna ride their ships to the bottom.
I like the croc idea. I think it’s something that has a point, of getting rid of spies.
Their NO 1 priority is to fix the mighty mouse
I’d just put some hippos (males and females) in the moat. Way more alert, more aggressive, more territorial and packs a bite more powerful than crocs!
Just put the members of this forum in that moat (well there’s Zune Tang, but we can eat him).
Give us Apple’s latest twice a year, and access to the Stevenotes. NOBODY will get through!
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@ munch
On second thought, i think your idea’s much better than mine!
1. Forget it, stupid comment
2. Snow Leopard will be a fine tune performance boost
3. Copy/Paste for iPhone
4. Netbook is worthless, Macbook Air can do more already.
5. Steve Jobs is not leaving or going anywhere.
6. Intel is already doing low power processors
7. App store is fine.
8. Enterprise is moving forward
9. DRM is already DEAD, announced at Macworld 2009
10. Apple is classy and isn’t changing period.
4. Come Out With A Netbook
Better yet – redefine the Netbook…
“Me Too” products always suck. Apple should bring out a morphed iPod Touch that can run full out iLife/iWork and other Mac apps.
Give it a 6×3.5 inch screen so it can fit in a shirt pocket, a slot for memory cards and dock connector including FireWire 800.
If Apple were to do this, priced competitively, I think Apple could destroy the nascent netbook market, redefine it and create a new market.
Apple has such powerful mindshare today that they could remake that segment.
In addition to needing a much more powerful antiperspirant (do they make tampons for the underarms?), Monkey Boy would need to change his pants.
There is no (MDN MagicWord) “doubt” in my mind.
I call foul. Point #1 has two actions in it, and neither make any sense. So #1 should be replaced by these two:
– Double the drive space on all iPods and iPhones.
– Offer a definitive guide to iPod and iPhone accessories so that compatibility can be easily understood.
Since the term “netbook” means different things to different people, we can only assume that the author expects a portable computer even more stripped of features than the minimalistic MacBook Air. We all know how popular that would be. Bad idea. A good idea would be a new rugged enterprise-oriented upsized iPod Touch with bulletproof security.
Two more:
– Offer a new line of desktops: a new Mini, a new mid-level machine, and the top dog Pro line.
– In the mid-level desktops and Pro desktops, offer Blu-Ray read/write drive options but completely shun HDMI ouputs altogether. Use firmware to prevent direct copy of discs. Offer full-resolution video (NOT audio) output via DisplayPort and/or DVI, and offer full-resolution audio only through audio card connections. Offer DRM-capable adapters for those who need an HDMI handshake for their big-screen TVs. For everyone who wants to watch Blu-Ray on their DVI-enabled high resolution monitors, they will simply plug and play.