“Shares of Apple were slightly higher in early-afternoon trading today, as the tech giant offers gift cards for certain products, including the iPhone, iPads, Apple Watch Series 1, Macs or Apple TV, rather than discounts for Black Friday.,” Natalie Walters repots for TheStreet.
“Recode senior retail editor Lauren Goode said on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Alley”‘ on Friday morning… [that] these gift cards can help Apple move products off the shelves,” Walters reports. “The gift cards will also help encourage customers to come into the stores as they consider buying a product or products that they were previously hesitant about purchasing due to price, Goode said.”
“While Apple is trying to push products off the shelves, it has still not released its bluetooth headphones called Air Pods that were due out at the end of October,” Walters reports. “They are to be paired with the iPhone 7, which is the first model missing a headphone jack, Goode noted. The company is ‘missing out’ because bluetooth headphones have been on the upward trend even before the new iPhones came out and is a ‘hot gadget’ this season.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Unfortunately, this is certainly not a new issue with Apple.
As we wrote a year ago:
Sometimes Apple, the world’s most profitable and most valuable company, still operates as if they only have five guys from NeXT working around the clock trying to do all the work on a shoestring budget.
Can’t manage to have a compatible Remote app or Apple Music-capable Siri for the Apple TV launch… Can’t have enough Pencils and Keyboards for the iPad Pro launch. Seriously? Can’t have any stock on hand for two months after the so-called the Apple Watch launch date. Can’t update their professional Mac for nearly two years and counting?
Why are these amateurish mistakes and lapses happening with startling regularity? You know, besides mismanagement?
Oh, you say, but Apple is making tons of money! Why, yes, they certainly are!
Listen, let’s be honest, Steve Ballmer could’ve generated the same kind of money “running” Apple Inc. given the massive momentum Steve Jobs handed over at his death. Sometimes, in fact, it looks like Steve Ballmer is running Apple. Although, no, it doesn’t really, because even Ballmer would have updated the Mac Pro by now, made sure he had enough Apple Watches ready so as not to pretty much totally kill launch momentum, and also had enough Pencils and Keyboards on hand for the iPad Pro launch. Of course, Ballmer would have never had the handle on the big picture that Tim Cook has – our issues with launches under Cook have to do solely with launch supplies and software polish.
We’re coming up on two years now (this December 19th) since the Mac Pro debuted with no updates which, along with the rest of the string of snafus (going back to John Browett, Apple Maps, no iMacs for Christmas 2012, no iPad 2 units for launch, etc.), is what understandably prompts this sort of “joke” and “failure” talk and the feeling that Apple is a bit sloppy in recent years.
We hold Apple to a high standard and we expect the company to execute better than they have of late. (read more) — MacDailyNews, November 27, 2015
Yup. The thing I wanted today and it’s still not available.
Same here, I patiently waited for 6 weeks until the end of October and…dud, nothing. It’s probably a spurious rumor based on those mockups some designer did, but it’d be great if they at least released black ones when they finally do.
It would be interesting for MDN to run a post-Christmas shopping poll to ascertain if readers bought more or less Apple products as gifts this year over last.
Not sure why your post was downvoted, it’s a legit question. It’s probably less this year. Apple is such a behemoth though that a billion $ in lost sales here and there doesn’t really move the needle, they’ll make it up over time. Long term the sloppy execution will come back to bite them when superior alternatives appear at better prices and in a timely manner.
…one of the bitter clinger libtards has a downvote app…it means nothing.
Sounds like a sore loser, but shitlibs are like that. I’ll gladly suffer a million 1 star votes for 1 Trump presidency 🙂
well, you know how libtards like to try to defraud voting when they lose.
Not before it’s ready for Prime Time
Was looking for Apple Watch 2, Black, Stainless Steel, 42mm. Could not find. Pink ones would pop up here and there. Finally opted for a much better looking better functionality watch for less money. And you can take and make calls with the watch.
I came close to ordering an Apple Watch 2, but changed my mind due to the case design. I’ve always worn a watch and can’t stand one that looks like it’s a lump laying there. As much as I detest Samsung I liked the Gear S2, but of course it didn’t integrate with iOS and no way am I buying one of their phones. This S3 Classic is lovely in a conventional way, and the rotating bezel is the perfect control in my mind. But at 46mm it’s just way too big for many people, including me.
What phone are you using, or does it really matter?
Melvin bought all the pink ones.
And…the first of many to follow.
#entitlement_crybabies_with_the_patience_of_a_fruitfly
Tim Cook needs to study Steve’s reality distortion field, which merely means disagreeing with common conceptions of what is possible. All great artist distort reality — it’s what makes them great. A dose of this would do wonder for today’s Apple, at least in terms of delivering products in a timely fashion.
“…Steve Ballmer could’ve generated the same kind of money running Apple Inc…”
and without breaking a sweat.
Apple’s Sales Motto: Average Keeps Everybody (mostly) Happy. If we miss this opportunity we might get the next.
Or, Tim’s favorite Christmas song: Miss the Season….
In a conversation with Tim last week, he told me that it’s important to remember that superiority in business is of a form of bigotry. Also, when somebody wins, somebody always loses and that’s very painful. With that in mind, Apple wants to be at peace with all of its neighbors to make the world a better place-especially during this holiday time. We don’t want to inflict pain on any individual or business with a startling new product or outrageous sales numbers…people are still recovering from the election and many need a safe space during this time of reflection.
Bullshit
…and the flipside Dongle Bells.
“and without breaking a sweat.”
Clever and underrated.
I’m sorry everyone is against you. I don’t always agree with you, Bot, but you do care for Apple unlike “real” fans.
This is America, you don’t have to agree with anyone. 🙂
Thank you for the kind words.
Did I nail it… or what?
Sorry, you don’t get credit for it because credit accrues only to an identifiable individual. I’d have thought that obvious even to an idiot.
yes.. sign this – https://www.change.org/p/apple-board-of-directors-remove-tim-cook-as-ceo-of-apple
But Steve Ballmer never would have helped organize the world to let men, including people like Ted Bundy, into the Ladies Rooms of America. Tim Cook has a different idea of “one more thing”.
Kindly refrain from using women’s vulnerability as an excuse to condemn Tim Cook for his beliefs. I dare say, most of us are not as helpless as you seem to assume, and do not require special government regulations to protect us. Our Constitutional rights, including the Second Amendment, already armour us against such predators. If you don’t believe me, test us by entering a crowded ladies’ room today, and report back.
No one gives a shit about “women’s vulnerability” you ignorant jackass. Parents are pissed about 50 year old men who espouse being “women” so they can tinkle next to your 8 year old daughter.
fuck you.
fuck you x infinity +1.
A gentleman cares about protecting a girl’s virtue, and your sentiments in that regard are well-placed. As an older woman, on the other hand, I feel capable of protecting myself and wish to assert that fact. The central point of the whole bathroom debate is the vulnerability of children to predators, and I would like to think we all agree on that.
yes we agree on that, but that is not what you originally stated.
Did you get caught again Eugene?
Timber must go! The sooner the better.
Missing the sales season is the Tim Cook way.
However, in all fairness to Tim Cook, he did get a MacBook Pro out in time for the holiday season. It is a half-ass MacBook Pro but it is here for the season.
If you can’t do the little things…..
“The company is ‘missing out’ because bluetooth headphones have been on the upward trend even before the new iPhones came out and is a ‘hot gadget’ this season.”
Sorry, that simply cannot be true. The Internet says so.
(Refer to the risible uproar over the “missing” analog jack on the iPhone 7.)
The new acronym for Apple: ADC
(Apple don’t care)
Or, ADC: Apple’s Dithering Continues
How much money did Pipeline Timmy siphon, er make last year off Apple?
further, how does the board of directors justify that siphonage to its stockholders?
i am more curious as to how the b.o.d. justifies the stock buy backs that do not seem to be having the intended, or at least the desired, effect.
lest not forget what a fool carl icahn made apple look as he lured cook into buybacks then dumped $4.5 billion overnight, cook has continued this program to save face while overpaying, it’s major mismanagement imho. btw jobs was adamantly against such use of apple treasury.
great point.. its why i want him gone – https://www.change.org/p/apple-board-of-directors-remove-tim-cook-as-ceo-of-apple
Awesome! Apples first piece of VaporWare.
That’s nothing. Mac users are still waiting for a real mac Book Pro with 64GB of RAM. Y’all will probably get your wireless earphones first.
#AppleDontCare
BOSE makes great wireless earbuds, headphones, wireless speaker systems etc etc….
Shame on Apple for not partnering with Bose to crankout some earbuds…..My iPhone 7 earbuds stayed in the box because I knew they would get lost at some point……
The negative press on this is simply these business tech guys who generally have no idea what they’re talking about, they’re simply spewing out the cheap journalism of “Where’s the excitement, where’s the next home run?”
It’s part of Apple’s DNA to avoid this noise from the peanut gallery, and to patiently produce products that are not rushed to market, but to simply work at a high level upon first release.
This is what makes Apple radically different from the Samsungs of the world, they do no bow to market or tech media pressure, but work on their own schedule in getting quality products to market.
Heck, Apple doesn’t even bow to its customer desires.
I do agree with you, but a vocal minority are pissed. This isn’t about reality, about detailed business models and design philosophies, about technological constraints and supply-chain management, about the cresting state of the art overtaking people’s imaginations. It’s political! People develop heightened, or lowered, expectations after being manipulated by media. Public Relations has never been closer to becoming an actual Science than it is right now. Apple would do better to pay attention to that
agree
sign this
https://www.change.org/p/apple-board-of-directors-remove-tim-cook-as-ceo-of-apple
Again… please offer an alternative… or are you suggesting that just dropping Tim and leaving the position open is better than the status quo?..
bah, you either get it done or you do not. Tim Cook has no legitimate defense for his gross negligence and pathetic stewardship of Apple.
Tim Cook does have a legitimate defence of his stewardship of Apple, to wit, their dominance in industry profits. That’s what matters most in business. If he were truly negligent, the Board of Directors would have recalled him.
…dominance in industry profits…”
Apple is hardly immune from “Ballmerization” and you will see precisely that happen in upcoming quarterly reports. Cook’s ineffectual leadership is just beginning to manifest itself, Apple will become “Sony Redux.”
Herself Pros may be minority … but their opinion has a HUGE weight on credibilty of a computing platform .
I agree with your concern about the sensesionslized, irresponsible, agenda driven journalism with no accountabilty.. it is a sad state if affairs …
But a lot of these objections are not just fiction … they are real people, many very capable and informed, objecting to whats going on and showing their concern.
The Apple you speak of is the Apple of old, todays Apple in a lot of cases doesn’t just work. There are so many details being missed it isn’t even funny.
For instance My iPhone 6S that I paid nearly 1,500 for constantly turns on in my pocket, even though it has a proximity device that should be able to tell it that it is up against my body. Steve showed how the screen turns off when you hold it to your head but the current team does not pay any attention to such details.
It’s the little things that made Apple great, but no more.
Then you have a faulty device. My 6S is always in my pockets and never turns on by itself. If your phone is still under warranty then get it replaced.
Tsorry .. but not everyone vocal is “ignorant of whats up” or reacting to “cheap jurnalism …”
The Astute Apple image you describe held true a few years ago..
bRecently Apple is misfiring way too many times… and direction seems to be fundamentally problematic.. “negligence of the Pro community.. true pro.”
neither Ipad or Ios or icloud are anywhere near addressing the pro community… and The Mac is totally neglected.. leaving a huge hole ..
their clutter free design phylosopy seems to only Apply to their devices in a vacume .. not how they effect the actual User ‘s work space…
All the clutter has been transferd from their devices to users desks.. with dongles and external devices and hubs and mess of wires.
its wrong of Apple to overlook this !
Plus its not all about dollor and cents on every product… some items are meant to be iconic of a companies prowess.
in In Apples case .. Computing. They have to offer the best of the best in every category/front .. NO HOLES … to justify their premiums .
i hate to see increasing chatter that the best and most powerful computeing hardware are not Apple anymore. Thats damaging !
my intention is not to bash Apple but show my concern.
MDN… could not agree more…
“Sometimes Apple, the world’s most profitable and most valuable company, still operates as if they only have five guys from NeXT working around the clock trying to do all the work on a shoestring budget.’
Something is Amiss… too many botched launches and delays and some truly silly product decisions … now going on for 2 years. ….PERPLEXING
ps…. i hope the transition to the new space ship campus does not exacerbated the problems…. its already bad enough.
we need a clean and effective 2017/18
Duh to the title….. Apple should be ashamed of itself for offering a measly $150 gift card on obsolete product. One damn day a year and they can’t even offer the gift card on the newer technology there so pathetic
What’s pathetic is after so many years, people are still waiting for the holiday discounts and gift cards… Make the money, buy what you want, and stop whining.
They will sell like hot cakes whenever they come out.
The point, which you have missed badly, is that Apple cannot make money from a nonexistent product.
I don’t think Apple needs the sales of these AirPods as much as people think. The Apple stores were jam packed today with people purchasing iPhones, iPads and Macs. What do you think would of occurred if they starting selling the AirPods today? Those stores would of been bedlam and people purchasing the more expensive products might have decided to go elsewhere.
It was a smart move juding by how many iPhones were activated today:
– Thanksgiving night at 12:30 PM the iPhone 7/7 Plus was at 16.77% of the estimated base of 465M minus the 7 series sold in the September quarter = 60.4M.
– Black Friday night at 12:30 PM the iPhone 7/7 Plus was at 17.52% of the estimated base of 465M minus the 7 series sold in the September quarter = 63.9M sold in the December quarter so far.
So, it looks like something around 3.5M 7/7 Plus iPhones were activated on Black Friday. This is amazing.
Correction that’s AM, not PM. The Thanksgiving night percentage is actually on Friday at 12:30 AM Eastern time and the Black Friday percentage was recorded on Saturday at 12:30 AM Eastern.
real curious… where did you obtain your %numbers and base numbers and all?
thank you..
Bring back Scott Forstall who was Steve’s real protege. In a bay where my new Mac cannot connect out the box with my new iPhone 7 it shows that we are in trouble. Someone is not paying attention to detail.
Turn on your wifi and try to connect again. Problem solved.
.. and Bluetooth.
now you’re talkin’.
In re: the Air Pods, you guys just kill me.
I really wonder how many posters here understand the complexity and size of what Apple does? In a recent quarter the consensus number of iPhones produced was 40 million units, i.e. almost half a million per day.
Think about producing a product like a toothpick at that volume, a very simple product made from one material, that goes into a simple box. It works without testing.
Now, think about producing an iPhone, the design, programming, ICs of every stripe, with an incredibly complex supply chain, difficult assembly, complex packaging. And it has to all work.
Half a million a day, remember. Changing just a single part is no simple matter… at these volumes.
There actually may be a few guys posting here wo could improve Apple’s trajectory. But most should be charitably considered Monday morning quarterbacks IMHO.
Im seeing higher than usual marketing around all types inear headphones. Companies are pushing their ads and newsletters and deals out hard like there is no tomorrow. Looks similar to all types of smart watch campaingns before Apple Watch launch.
When I go on my walks everyone I see have wired headphones. i know I could be missing some, but I’ve been really paying attention since I got mine and the neighborhood has plenty of money. It’s been a little surprising, especially with the runners who usually spend for gear.
So I’d say Apple has not missed the boat yet. But it’s still another embarrassing miss for Apple. May they will come out with better colors. White is a little obnoxious. A nude and black would help. Plus, I’ve read that the sound quality is not any better than the regular EarPods which is OK to mediocre. But I doubt that’s the hang up. I find it hard to believe Apple would car about SQ very much.
Okay but would you like Apple to release AirPods that will need to be recalled and don’t work or would you like them to work as advertised in the keynote. I personally would rather Apple get whatever problem solved first then put them out for sale.
Ample Mancintshot is praminjm lamptrop wifth Ampel RaiDopods for Blaytenth walrus hamdphams can de beans an de Terainbyte for teh gim Balgiem was Nantherlend Trim Cork is dlazy camt aumpdate amank a Pro Mank namds a new Jan Ivey
Am agree