Apple's 'Project Titan' chief to reportedly leave company, car team under pressure

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  • Reply 21 of 103
    steviet02 said:
    I'm more concerned why Apple is venturing into this realm. While one could argue that a cell phone was outside of their business years ago, they at least made portable devices with batteries and storage prior to that. This seems so far outside the zone for them thats almost incomprehensible that they would even know what time frame to assign tasks.
    The electric car is, arguably, just a portable device with a battery in it. 
    In theory it is, but in reality it is much more than that.  Think about aerodynamics, suspension, motor control, battery monitoring, heating, cooling, charging, safety regulations etc...  much more involved.  I just don't see the volume and margin on this product line like say an iPod or an iPhone.  Time will tell if they actually get it done before other manufacturers get cars out their that are either better or better and cheaper.  But looking at the bolt and possibly a Tesla Model 3 in the next year or two, at least two manufacturers could have a very big head start on them.

    Edit - Also, we could be wrong that these cars are to be sold to consumers.  Maybe there is going to be some autonomous vehicle that will be in need soon. IDK.
    edited January 2016
  • Reply 22 of 103
    foggyhill said:
    Apple has, in the past, made some seriously bad product decisions--the Lisa comes to mind. Building an electric car probably falls in the same basket. It is not for nothing that almost all truly successful autos are designed and manufactured by companies that are already in the business of designing and building cars, trucks buses and the like. Tesla is an anomaly (and they are not yet a going, self-sustaining car company).
    Right... Something 30 years ago... That's entirely relevant to Apple now.

    There's plenty of company that made the transition from selling something else, to cars,
     just none recently (mostly because it takes much more capitals now than in the 1950-1960s).

    You kind of forget that the car is becoming a CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

    If god damn Google and Uber! can put a car on the road, google! And Amazon can get into manning fleet of drones.... (sic)
    I don't know how Apple could do worse than them. Seriously?
    Uber has a bit of experience in software and that's it.
    Google, 100 different moonshots, tries everything, good at next to nothing; hardware? Not that great. Software? OK, nothing to write home about.



    I will say, reluctantly, that this is really the first (possibly second if you want to talk Watch) product solely under Tim Cooks watch.  IOW, not under Steve Jobs watch.

    In addition, google hasn't sold 1 car to anyone yet and Uber hasn't done squat either. 
    edited January 2016
  • Reply 23 of 103
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    No one in the world can match Steve Jobs undersigning new things. Not in Apple. Not in Google. Google Glass is a gimmick. Google self-driving car is a gimmick too. 
  • Reply 24 of 103
    canukstormcanukstorm Posts: 2,694member
    foggyhill said:
    Apple has, in the past, made some seriously bad product decisions--the Lisa comes to mind. Building an electric car probably falls in the same basket. It is not for nothing that almost all truly successful autos are designed and manufactured by companies that are already in the business of designing and building cars, trucks buses and the like. Tesla is an anomaly (and they are not yet a going, self-sustaining car company).
    Right... Something 30 years ago... That's entirely relevant to Apple now.

    There's plenty of company that made the transition from selling something else, to cars,
     just none recently (mostly because it takes much more capitals now than in the 1950-1960s).

    You kind of forget that the car is becoming a CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

    If god damn Google and Uber! can put a car on the road, google! And Amazon can get into manning fleet of drones.... (sic)
    I don't know how Apple could do worse than them. Seriously?
    Uber has a bit of experience in software and that's it.
    Google, 100 different moonshots, tries everything, good at next to nothing; hardware? Not that great. Software? OK, nothing to write home about.



    This is the car Google has put on the road so far:

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/google-self-driving-cars-autonomous-driving-is-a-way-off-new-figures-show-a6827501.html

    Looks worse than a fucking toy. This is hardly anything Apple should strive for.
    edited January 2016
  • Reply 25 of 103
    foggyhill said:
    Right... Something 30 years ago... That's entirely relevant to Apple now.

    There's plenty of company that made the transition from selling something else, to cars,
     just none recently (mostly because it takes much more capitals now than in the 1950-1960s).

    You kind of forget that the car is becoming a CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

    If god damn Google and Uber! can put a car on the road, google! And Amazon can get into manning fleet of drones.... (sic)
    I don't know how Apple could do worse than them. Seriously?
    Uber has a bit of experience in software and that's it.
    Google, 100 different moonshots, tries everything, good at next to nothing; hardware? Not that great. Software? OK, nothing to write home about.



    This is the car Google has put on the road so far:

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/motoring-news/google-self-driving-cars-autonomous-driving-is-a-way-off-new-figures-show-a6827501.html

    Looks worse than a toy. This is hardly anything Apple should strive for.
    Yeah, I think they are going to be using these for other purposes like mapping etc.  If they get enough experience and the go ahead to actually run these in other areas where the lanes aren't marked very well etc..  remains to be seen.
  • Reply 26 of 103
    canukstormcanukstorm Posts: 2,694member
    This, to me, is the main take away from the WSJ article:

    "The team has encountered some problems, according to people familiar with the matter, in laying out clear goals for the project. Apple has urged the team to push ahead with ambitious deadlines even though some on the team felt that those targets weren’t attainable, these people said."

    If true, that sounds like decisions senior execs would make to appease Wall St. shareholders.

    http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-veteran-overseeing-electric-car-project-leaving-company-1453505241
    edited January 2016 netmage
  • Reply 27 of 103

    If true, that sounds like decisions senior execs would make to appease Wall St. shareholders.

    http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-veteran-overseeing-electric-car-project-leaving-company-1453505241
    In what way? Do these "Wall St." shareholders know that Apple is building a car? Who?
    edited January 2016
  • Reply 28 of 103
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Big deal. Like really, big friggin deal. 

    The "Apple Car", or whatever it is, doesn't exist.

    "Project Titan" this or that, there is no actual product here, until a (rumoured) 2019, and by that time we have no idea what form it will take (it could turn out to be something else entirely), provided that the rumoured-to-exist project will even make it that far in the first place.

    Nor do we know the actual reason for this person's departure. 

    So far it's all projections based on rumours.
    edited January 2016
  • Reply 29 of 103
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    steviet02 said:
    I'm more concerned why Apple is venturing into this realm. While one could argue that a cell phone was outside of their business years ago, they at least made portable devices with batteries and storage prior to that. This seems so far outside the zone for them thats almost incomprehensible that they would even know what time frame to assign tasks.
    Steve Jobs would introduce Apple Car this way: "Today, we introduce a revolutionary product that changes entire human race forever: An Entertainment Center, A Lounge, A Car....An Entertainment Center, A Lounge, A car....Don't you get it?....We call it "APPLE CAR"..." Boom.
    clock07
  • Reply 30 of 103
    The timing of this release seems interesting, such news would invariable lower apple stock price at a time when it typically spikes (pre-earnings announcement.) Especially for a project that we know little about, and potentially leaving for reasons which, again, we don't know.
    palomine
  • Reply 31 of 103
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Apple has, in the past, made some seriously bad product decisions--the Lisa comes to mind. Building an electric car probably falls in the same basket. It is not for nothing that almost all truly successful autos are designed and manufactured by companies that are already in the business of designing and building cars, trucks buses and the like. Tesla is an anomaly (and they are not yet a going, self-sustaining car company).
    .....

    "Tesla doesn't count!"

    I hate these type of unimaginative people. Do you think Apple can't be a self-sustaining car company? Maybe if they had as much money as GM?
  • Reply 32 of 103
    The timing of this release seems interesting, such news would invariable lower apple stock price at a time when it typically spikes (pre-earnings announcement.) Especially for a project that we know little about, and potentially leaving for reasons which, again, we don't know.
    Things usually get dumped on Friday nights when it's something people don't want anyone to know about. In Washington DC it's called take out the trash day. Whoever leaked this, there's a reason they did it on a Friday night and it's also interesting that Apple is refusing to comment.
    techlover
  • Reply 33 of 103
    djsherlydjsherly Posts: 1,031member
    steviet02 said:
    I'm more concerned why Apple is venturing into this realm. While one could argue that a cell phone was outside of their business years ago, they at least made portable devices with batteries and storage prior to that. This seems so far outside the zone for them thats almost incomprehensible that they would even know what time frame to assign tasks.
    The electric car is, arguably, just a portable device with a battery in it. 
    But something you need to get right first time, every time. Not exactly something you can turn off and back on again or defer until the next firmware update. 

    A crashing phone is different from a crashing car.

    How long would it take to sync with iTunes? :)

  • Reply 34 of 103
    cali said:
    Apple has, in the past, made some seriously bad product decisions--the Lisa comes to mind. Building an electric car probably falls in the same basket. It is not for nothing that almost all truly successful autos are designed and manufactured by companies that are already in the business of designing and building cars, trucks buses and the like. Tesla is an anomaly (and they are not yet a going, self-sustaining car company).
    .....

    "Tesla doesn't count!"

    I hate these type of unimaginative people. Do you think Apple can't be a self-sustaining car company? Maybe if they had as much money as GM?
    LOL. "If Tesla can build a brand new electric car, then Apple can't!" Yeah, seems like totally logical reasoning. /s
    bobschlob
  • Reply 35 of 103
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    steviet02 said:
    foggyhill said:
    Right... Something 30 years ago... That's entirely relevant to Apple now.

    There's plenty of company that made the transition from selling something else, to cars,
     just none recently (mostly because it takes much more capitals now than in the 1950-1960s).

    You kind of forget that the car is becoming a CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

    If god damn Google and Uber! can put a car on the road, google! And Amazon can get into manning fleet of drones.... (sic)
    I don't know how Apple could do worse than them. Seriously?
    Uber has a bit of experience in software and that's it.
    Google, 100 different moonshots, tries everything, good at next to nothing; hardware? Not that great. Software? OK, nothing to write home about.



    I will say, reluctantly, that this is really the first (possibly second if you want to talk Watch) product solely under Tim Cooks watch.  IOW, not under Steve Jobs watch.

    In addition, google hasn't sold 1 car to anyone yet and Uber hasn't done squat either. 
    Argue your point then, you're gut feeling doesn't cut it as an argument.
    Especially since it's likely in at least 3-4 years minimum and who knows what Apple has done up to now.
    Unlike Google, Apple keeps most things under wrap until they're ready.

    Tesla hasn't made 1 once of profit and it's the government who bailed out GM and Chrysler, they should be dead, because they were so god damn shitty at doing what they were doing.

    Yet, Google get probably double the PE just for showing their crap moonshots, same with Uber and Amazon... Well who knows with them why they got their PE.

    There is no magic out there in the current car industry.

    Tesla sells cars yet is losing money like water.

    Apple has one of the biggest manufacturing expertise out there, cars are but a variant.



    palomine
  • Reply 36 of 103
    The timing of this release seems interesting, such news would invariable lower apple stock price at a time when it typically spikes (pre-earnings announcement.) Especially for a project that we know little about, and potentially leaving for reasons which, again, we don't know.
    Things usually get dumped on Friday nights when it's something people don't want anyone to know about. In Washington DC it's called take out the trash day. Whoever leaked this, there's a reason they did it on a Friday night and it's also interesting that Apple is refusing to comment.
    You know that Apple does not comment on speculation, nor do they tip their hand with regard to future products.
    netmagepscooter63
  • Reply 37 of 103
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    The timing of this release seems interesting, such news would invariable lower apple stock price at a time when it typically spikes (pre-earnings announcement.) Especially for a project that we know little about, and potentially leaving for reasons which, again, we don't know.
    Things usually get dumped on Friday nights when it's something people don't want anyone to know about. In Washington DC it's called take out the trash day. Whoever leaked this, there's a reason they did it on a Friday night and it's also interesting that Apple is refusing to comment.
    What would be the point of commenting, they have not even acknowledging they are doing cars
     and who knows what that guy was really doing (we only got rumors) since he hasn't been involved in the car business in 16 years.

    If he truly left for personal reasons; that's it. No comment.;
    If that guy wants to comment, which I doubt, he'll do it.

    Speculation is rampant about Apple because they tell nothing, never have and never will; drives the media crazy.
    nolamacguynetmage
  • Reply 38 of 103
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    The timing of this release seems interesting, such news would invariable lower apple stock price at a time when it typically spikes (pre-earnings announcement.) Especially for a project that we know little about, and potentially leaving for reasons which, again, we don't know.
    People are assuming he was leading project whatever, but even that is not really known.
    If one guy, who hasn't been in the car industry for 16 years, maybe leaving this project means it seems doomed for Wall Street, Apple may as well go private because they're that dumb.
    I can't believe how much ridiculous speculation there are about Apple; properly insane.
    radarthekatbobschlobpalomine
  • Reply 39 of 103
    Things usually get dumped on Friday nights when it's something people don't want anyone to know about. In Washington DC it's called take out the trash day. Whoever leaked this, there's a reason they did it on a Friday night and it's also interesting that Apple is refusing to comment.
    You know that Apple does not comment on speculation, nor do they tip their hand with regard to future products.
    When it leaked that Human a Interface VP Greg Christie was leaving Apple a spokesperson did provide a statement to the WSJ. So it's not completely unprecedented.

    http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303873604579491960622990576
    “Greg has been planning to retire later this year after nearly 20 years at Apple,” said a company spokesman. “He has made vital contributions to Apple products across the board, and built a world-class human interface team which has worked closely with [Jonathan] for many years.”

  • Reply 40 of 103

    foggyhill said:
    Things usually get dumped on Friday nights when it's something people don't want anyone to know about. In Washington DC it's called take out the trash day. Whoever leaked this, there's a reason they did it on a Friday night and it's also interesting that Apple is refusing to comment.
    What would be the point of commenting, they have not even acknowledging they are doing cars
     and who knows what that guy was really doing (we only got rumors) since he hasn't been involved in the car business in 16 years.

    If he truly left for personal reasons; that's it. No comment.;
    If that guy wants to comment, which I doubt, he'll do it.

    Speculation is rampant about Apple because they tell nothing, never have and never will; drives the media crazy.
    I'm not saying they would comment on the car bit but just confirm that he was leaving. From whag I've read about the guy he wasn't a nobody at Apple. He basically oversaw all mechanical design for iPods and iPhones. Even Tony Fadell tweeted this would be a big loss for Apple. Apple doesn't have a ton of Vice Presidents for a company its size so when one leaves it's pretty big news.
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