badmonk

I personally think it is the realization that services are continuing to grow post-COVID and that Apple has successfully managed to grow this part of their business.  And though China has been a problem, the emerging economies see Apple products as a signifier of entry into the middle class.  And generation Z is fully on board, though they are giving up on home and car ownership, they are very loyal to Apple.


Though hardware sales are quasi-stable, the devices just last and are often passed down, so this Christmas the number of devices will continue to expand and each is a potential contributor to services.

Android tends to compete against android & they have a lock on the more cost-conscious consumers.

And so there is a realization that Apple is not doomed but is in effect here to stay.

And it is not like personal technology use is going away anytime soon, and Apple has all the components to be a player in this field for a longtime.

For most of us, the iPhone and Apple products are indispensable for daily living, even more so than a car etc etc.

Great article DED that puts the VisionPro in the context of Apple’s history and love reading the comments that always follow, even from the anti-Apple trolls.

We live in a time of $1000 Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Hamilton and sporting tickets.  Unlike the former, the latter prompts as much attention in part from gambling.

In this context having an ideal view of entertainment makes sense (though some in this forum will doubt it).  

I still think that Apple’s media and sports forays will play a big role.  I took the train to Miami and discovered that Miami will host the World Cup in 2025 and Apple has its foot in the door in this regard.

Apple always thinks five steps ahead, I am sure if Apple has access to these games, VR/AR is going to be playing a big role.  And bros don’t mind having silly stuff on their heads.

I think people misunderstand what Apple (& also Amazon) is selling here.  it isn’t AppleTV, it’s Apple One where AppleTV is seen as a loss leader for a bundle that includes non-TV offerings.

In my case, I am getting dependable iCloud BU, Apple Music, Apple News (which allowed me to cancel several magazine subscriptions), Apple Fitness as well as  AppleTV for myself and my wife.  The only thing we don’t use is Apple Arcade since we don’t play games.

Apple doesn’t need to buy old media at an enormous cost.  Apple just needs to keep doing what it does.  This is especially true if the future of spectator sports and entertainment is a more immersive AR/VR format that will need to be created anew.  The attention span economy is already stretched to the point where owning large troves of legacy media just does not make  really any financial sense.

So Apple isn’t going to be buying Disney.  Sorry.

Analysts seem to not understand what Apple wants to achieve here.

I wonder if a ring (on a finger) because of it’s tighter form factor and tight circumference may provide utility for glucose monitoring?  That would be cool.

Thanks DED, good to have you back.  For me personally, I like the exploration of why tech pundits never seem to get Apple in a fundamental way, question #3 specifically.