I really (really!) hope that Apple doesn't fall into creating a SDK/API/Platform/Toolkit galaxy of time sucking black holes like the ones that Microsoft created for itself throughout the 90s and 00s. An endless parade of unfinished, ever changing, and unfulfilled promises perched precariously atop fragile SDKs, APIs, Platforms, Toolkits, and fantastical reimagined architectures that kept tens of thousands of engineers very busy for years building technical tidbits that would too often never even see the light of day and constantly keeping customers sitting on their hands year after year waiting for the next big thing that would transform their business and pump up their bottom line. It ends up being an endless chain of pass-along promises and everyone ends up losing - except the company selling the toolkits and technical book publishers.
Apple's success is based on its ability to deliver highly compelling, easy to use, valuable, and reliable products (and to a lesser degree - services). These big geek laden mashups like WWDC are fabulous opportunities (and boondoggles) for those who will be building the pieces and parts too get with the program so they can help bring the next round of products and services to market. But Apple has to be very careful to always be selling this technology to the technologists who "touch the code" and don't try to sell technology to the managers, directors, VPs, SVPs, C-suite residents, and especially end-customers. There's nothing quite as horrifying as seeing your CEO get up at a big customers facing conference and start spewing the virtues of service oriented architecture (SOA) like they're selling Swiss Steak as the daily special at Bob Evans. "You, our most valued customers, you need some SOA (pronounced 'so ahh') and by golly we're the ones who are gonna bring you the best SOA on the planet, with some help from our friends in Redmond no less, and it's going to be totally awesome. You're gonna love it. Maybe with some green beans on the side."
It's all about the products. Don't forget that.
Part of MSFT's problem was that it was creating entirely software-based solutions that had to be paid for via licensing.
Much of the new APIs that Apple is opening up are (as the article notes) actually internal work that it is making usable to third parties. Core ML isn't chasing after everyone else's ML API, but rather the work Apple did internally to develop ML-based features in Camera, Siri and the word suggesting quicktype keyboard. That's the same formula behind building iPhone apps, then opening up the SDK to third parties to build more.
Very good point Daniel. Apple does seem to have the horse+cart ordering much better figured out than did Microsoft. But I'm always concerned about an ever expanding footprint of new service stacks and especially when some of them seem rather thin on the app implementation side, aren't the first to market, and then are little more than demoware. Some of this concern is personal, i.e., once burned effect, and sick of "it does good demo - but is intolerably difficult to actually build a product on top of it." I guess we can rest assured that Apple, being an integrated/inseparable hardware+software product company, will never fall into the same traps that led Microsoft to a "decade of nothingness" even if Apple starts engaging in buzzword bingo to put a label on each of the extensible capabilities and extension points that have emerged naturally from their creative processes.
Most of what is emerging from Apple's development efforts provide a high level of assurance that they are "doing the right things" (strategy) but they still need to demonstrate a bit more discipline when it comes to "doing things right" (execution). Hopefully those who learn something from WWDC and the messaging from the top of their development organization will provide motivation to close the strategy-execution loop more efficiently and effectively. When the execution lags or appears to struggle, e.g., Siri, the strategy will be called into question regardless of how well architected it may be. The good thing with Apple vs. Microsoft is that Apple must close the loop in order to deliver products. Microsoft could get away with open loop and didn't always eat its own dog food.
I really (really!) hope that Apple doesn't fall into creating a SDK/API/Platform/Toolkit galaxy of time sucking black holes like the ones that Microsoft created for itself throughout the 90s and 00s. An endless parade of unfinished, ever changing, and unfulfilled promises perched precariously atop fragile SDKs, APIs, Platforms, Toolkits, and fantastical reimagined architectures that kept tens of thousands of engineers very busy for years building technical tidbits that would too often never even see the light of day and constantly keeping customers sitting on their hands year after year waiting for the next big thing that would transform their business and pump up their bottom line. It ends up being an endless chain of pass-along promises and everyone ends up losing - except the company selling the toolkits and technical book publishers.
Microsoft is still doing that, last year it was all about UWP and now its PWAs. It creates an illusion of progress but its really just a lot of reinventing the wheel, of rewriting the same apps over and over on new platforms.
I think that the Home Server/HomeKit/Siri issues can be resolved!
Consider, If you had a Home Server, likely, you would:
connect HomeKit devices via WiFi with a bridge if needed
percolate up/trickle downcloud data and buffer locally LRU -- as iTunes interfaces iCloud files on the Mac over WiFi
access local data from various iDevices and Macs via WiFi -- same as above, except local files only
control the whole thing with Siri over WiFi - with Siri capabilities processed locally and tailored to your use off Siri
So, where do these local data reside, and what does this Home Server Box look like (tech specs). Simply stated, it's [what's a] computer with some storage, WiFi, and voice recognition.
The Home Server can be a logical implementation rather than a physical one. It can run concurrently, on multiple iPhones, iPads, Macs -- all connected by Wifi and controlled by local Smart Siri.
Smart Siri will know about all your data, where they reside, and if they are currently accessible -- and be at your service!
Think about it!
Oh I've thought about it...
Problem is It wouldn't just be Families who want this. Very quickly Small offices or small teams in larger companies would want to use it.
Then teams across company boundaries and organizations across family boundaries. With each silo contained in it own little bit of space Apple could happily charge for.
I mean it's just far to useful and answers to many of those ease of use promises Tech has made us over the years.
Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference There's another device in particular that we are likely to see more about at WWDC, which will be considered tomorrow.
... What do you expect to see more of at WWDC? Let us know in the comments below.
Excellent article and I agree 1000% with you in everything you wrote.
Personally my hope is HomePod, beyond being a phenominal audio system (I just ordered a second), might have more potential going forward than people realize, that it may be used as a LAN based AI /edge hub. Maybe wishful thinking but hey ...
I think that the Home Server/HomeKit/Siri issues can be resolved!
Consider, If you had a Home Server, likely, you would:
connect HomeKit devices via WiFi with a bridge if needed
percolate up/trickle downcloud data and buffer locally LRU -- as iTunes interfaces iCloud files on the Mac over WiFi
access local data from various iDevices and Macs via WiFi -- same as above, except local files only
control the whole thing with Siri over WiFi - with Siri capabilities processed locally and tailored to your use off Siri
So, where do these local data reside, and what does this Home Server Box look like (tech specs). Simply stated, it's [what's a] computer with some storage, WiFi, and voice recognition.
The Home Server can be a logical implementation rather than a physical one. It can run concurrently, on multiple iPhones, iPads, Macs -- all connected by Wifi and controlled by local Smart Siri.
Smart Siri will know about all your data, where they reside, and if they are currently accessible -- and be at your service!
Think about it!
Totally with you on that, it has to be the way forward, your own personal/family AI. The question is would this require new dedicated hardware or are you right on the mesh concept, is HomePod already the trojan horse that cal play AI hub?
OMG It just realized, Apple started Skynet back in 2020!
Comments
Most of what is emerging from Apple's development efforts provide a high level of assurance that they are "doing the right things" (strategy) but they still need to demonstrate a bit more discipline when it comes to "doing things right" (execution). Hopefully those who learn something from WWDC and the messaging from the top of their development organization will provide motivation to close the strategy-execution loop more efficiently and effectively. When the execution lags or appears to struggle, e.g., Siri, the strategy will be called into question regardless of how well architected it may be. The good thing with Apple vs. Microsoft is that Apple must close the loop in order to deliver products. Microsoft could get away with open loop and didn't always eat its own dog food.
I couldn't care less about the Springboard. I mean, it's unnecessarily dumb, but it doesn't make me curse every morning.
Personally my hope is HomePod, beyond being a phenominal audio system (I just ordered a second), might have more potential going forward than people realize, that it may be used as a LAN based AI /edge hub. Maybe wishful thinking but hey ...
Keep up the great work.
OMG It just realized, Apple started Skynet back in 2020!