lmac

I expect Apple will be there soon with regard to original content for TV. At $15 million an episode, and with only ~4 original shows, good luck Tim. Wish Apple would stick to making innovative software and hardware, and leave the content, whether it be music or shows, to the experts.

GeneralBrock said:

This is a PR battle Apple cannot win. Heads they side with the protesters and China takes it out on them. Tails things get increasingly worse in Hong Kong and Apple appears to be helping and authoritarian regime beat up on protesters. 

I think you state this well. Heads, you stand by your principles and lose money. Tails, you sacrifice your principles and keep the money. Apple chose the money.

Why is the HomePod a flop? Honestly i dont think its the price, though the high price hasnt helped. Apple watch is expensive but it has gained a following. I think it has more to do with the fact that Apple people value their privacy. Siri is the least accomplished of the digital assistants because Apple doesnt build a profile of you the way Amazon and Google do, so Siri has a harder job. Every request to Siri treats you like a stranger, whereas Google and Amazon already have a pretty good idea of your interests (and they arent ashamed to make a buck from that knowledge). Because Siri is handicapped, HomePod is not a great smart speaker, and because Apple people are tech savvy and dont like the idea of a device in their home that is always listening, the market is further reduced. I have the money but dont want any smart speaker in my home. I suspect Im not the only one.

It is a no brainer that this model will outsell the top of the line XS and XS Max, because it is well, I was going to say affordable, but let's revise that to less expensive. The question is how much better is it selling than the premium phones Apple makes? A lot of people are willing to just run up the credit card and get the best thing out there. Status I guess.

Rather than getting more in bed with China, Apple should help Japan and S. Korea sort this out, and keep diversifying the supply chain.