That smart homes are more trouble than they are worth currently sounds to me like ripe territory for Apple to poach.
However not sure if without Jobs and Ive if they can actually do anything like what they used to.
Innovation is the introduction of a new paradigm that works so well that people can no longer imagine not having
No one was close to the original iPhone at launch and they didn’t really catch up until ~iPhone 12 for truly competitive alternatives
Sexy OS? You can argue that came mostly from within since that is how that software was developed, in house. But the hardware stack they ordered and had assembled for you? I’m not so sure.
You think he’s glorified for literally nothing?
App Store doesn’t exist without iPhone just like Windows doesn’t exist without the PC
Every other model of high end smart phones quickly adopted the App Store model since it was such an obviously thing to install application directly to the device, but up until it was a major missing feature. All phones at the time required a computer tethered to do the purchase and installation.
With the App Store the age of phones needing full general purpose computers was coming to an end. It was a whole cultural shift in software
Later they started the iCloud sync so backups could be done ‘in the field’ as well.
His realm at Apple began crumbling when he executed a flawed strategy for the Apple watch launch as a fashion item, instead of a technology product geared toward health (Fitbit was 1st). It costed Apple 25M, and seemed like buying advertising from influencers (similar to 23andme launch).
I usually value this youtuber's insights, but he has recently been reaching the wrong conclusions: https://youtu.be/JUG1PlqAUJk?si=_Y87UQGdhIo92a7r&t=469
I feel like this is one of Apple's weaknesses. The AVP was a massive indication that they're not ready for that kind of paradigm, because even within their own product, apps (organisms) that should have been able to exist as complete digital "objects" and interact with others were instead siloed off experiences that took over the whole device.
But no one is going to buy an Apple home device if they aren’t already in the Apple ecosystem.
Besides, Amazon, Google and even Apple services are all cross platform. While there isn’t an iCloud app for Android, there is one for Windows.
I think this is something apple done right in the past. Like holding your new AirPods just beside your phone and the phone recognizes them.
Other scenario what would be nice is restocking. Fridge/kitchen cabinet „notice“ that something is running low and reminds me if I wanna put it on a shopping list. And again, yes it’s a small inconvenience if I return from the grocery store after work and open the fridge to see that I forgot milk. But I think that’s what’s technology is about: taking away inconveniences so we can focus on more important things.
The example with going on vacation is something I really enjoy because it’s removing some friction to „just go“ for me. Before I always took pictures of rooms, heater, power sockets etc before leaving because evertime I arrived a the hotel I thought „did I turnoff x? Did I locked the door?“. Now I just open an app and see if everything is fine and don’t worry the whole vacation.
I want to live like I'm in Star Trek. The good Trek, not the new stuff.
So when I wake up to pee in the middle of the night because I'm an old man my bathroom light turns on, dimmed to its lowest level, upon detecting my presence in the bathroom. I do my business and stumble back to bed and the light turns itself off.
When I leave home my front door locks, and when I pull into the driveway it unlocks. Also if the sun has set, the driveway, front porch, and foyer lights turn on.
When I say "hey Siri, it's movie time" my projector turns on, the lights dim, and if music is playing elsewhere it stops.
One day I was on the road for work and a package was unexpectedly delivered. I texted my neighbor to put it in my garage and opened my garage door from 2,700 miles away. When they replied that it was safe from the rain, I closed it.
Triviality. Beautiful, glorious, triviality.
I love it.
(And maybe their successors can also make it cheap...)
This sounds like it would be a quick home hub to add stuff to the calendar, check that email about soccer game carpool, buy plane tickets or pay a bill you got in the mail.
Like this but way more functions.
https://www.costco.com/skylight-15%22-smart-touchscreen-cale...
I personally like to not carry my phone around the house, and in kitchen having recipes displayed or an interactive reader would be great. We have a Google home but it doesn’t have a proper browser or search other than voice so it’s very kludgy. Recipes on phone are annoying because the screen timeout.
I would recommend a laser display keyboard or maybe onscreen for somewhat more sophisticated actions, but maybe an LLM will suffice
but I can't imagine having to wait to use my phone or tablet. maybe the living room TV or the kitchen assistant.
1: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/deployment/dep9a34c2ba...
I’m not sure that a new OS is really the way to get there, but hey maybe, I’m not an expert on the internal workings.