Some of the choices that Apple has made about products to not pursue have been surprising. Especially when it seems as though the market in question is desperately in need of a solution that would be right up Apple’s alley.
Earlier this month, during the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, I noticed a few places where it seemed as though Apple was missing out on an opportunity. Some of these might be cases where the company has decided it doesn’t want to be in a specific business, and some might merely be a case of a future product not being ready yet—from the outside, there’s really no way to tell. But here are three cases in which it seems like an Apple product or service might be a welcome alternative to what exists, if not something that fills a gap no one else seems to be addressing.
MacDailyNews Take: What we really want, along with AirPort mesh networking Wi-Fi*, is an Apple display for the rest of us!
*Apple may have killed off AirPort in order to get HomeKit on as many router makers’ wares as possible. If so, it’s a move than will pay off down the road.
Seems the author is living in the past. Apple got of those boats, because they weren’t taking them where they want to go.
Frankly a missed opportunity for Apple is a gain for someone else. If they don’t take it or do well in it, maybe you can see why Apple stepped off.
Ahh we could have fun with this topic.
Ever since Apple discontinued the Airport Express I’ve been waiting for someone to release a simple Network->AirPlay 2 gateway so I can plug in my dumb speakers using standard jack
Not making Airport routers is a big mistake on Apples part, right up there with not making desktop monitors.
And mid-range desktop computers (I already have a perfectly fine monitor, thank you). They still provide no good upgrade to the old cheese-grater Mac Pro that doesn’t START at $6000.
Well they WILL be selling monitors in the near future sooo, thanks Tim?
Couldn’t agree with the MDN take!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not?
For a long time I wished Apple would make a camcorder. The interface on most camcorders is not well thought out, and the connection to a computer is awkward.
• Imagine if your camcorder could use voice and face recognition as you shoot to log footage.
• Imagine if camcorders could transmit live video to each other (or an iPhone) so that someone using one camcorder could react to what the other one could or couldn’t see.
• Imagine if you could direct your distant talent by talking into the camcorder and having the wireless mike play the audio.
• iPhones have a flash that automatically matches the color temperature of the local light. Any camera used for event coverage should be able to do this.
• Things like large batteries, BNC audio connectors, and many controls belong in the tripod – they should connect through the tripod head.
• All those dangling cables are accidents and failures waiting to happen. Why do pro-kits look like such rube-goldberg contraptions?
Someone doesn’t like my idea? Remember that making movies is already a good and popular reason to buy a Mac. Apple trying to be a bank or an automaker have little connection with what Apple already does – but Apple is pursuing those things.
I’ve always liked the idea of the camera makers standardizing on a high bandwidth connection that could be used to provide “brains” beyond what’s built in. Think of it as CarPlay but for Cameras, CamPlay if you will 🙂
Because, they’re not in the CPU biz, they’re in the camera biz. Whatever brains they’ve got on board is likely beaten handily by an iPhone from last year, not to mention the iPhone that will ship within the next 18 months. And they could be as ambitious as they like. Just a barrel of a lens that provides zoom plus a larger CCD OR a more tricked out rig with lights, mic, speaker and, heck why not sensors (for science use)?
That way, Apple doesn’t have to design a thing with fixed specs, they can just work with the camera companies on the interconnect and let them release with their market research indicates folks would want… then compete against each other on the best price.