Is Apple still an innovative company?

[iBlueBox]

Apple the past few years, notably since the death of Steve Jobs has not released any new products since the launch of the iPad.

With rumours of Apple releasing a Smartwatch this year.


Is Apple still an innovative company?

[Chippiewill]

The smart-watch idea itself isn't exactly unique, nor are larger smartphone screens. So I guess not, they're just doing obvious improvements at this point.

[Futz]

somewhat but less so than that of other periods spanning over the past

I still think their almost perfect fingerprint unlock on the new iPhone is pretty ******* amazing

although they've been around for ages, they've never been perfected on a phone like they are now

[KJK]

Yes. Apple, as well as pretty much all smartphone companies at this time are innovating with new ideas. Samsung S5 got the idea for a Health app, which Apple has been working on way longer than they have. Obviously based on what is coming out with ios 8, you can tell that they went above and beyond expectations, not as many new features as 7, but still fantastic!

[GommeInc]

They were with the iPhone and maybe with the iPad, but since those were created they've pretty much hit their peak. All of the smartphone companies and even major tech companies are only really just improving or playing catch up. Apple arguably has been playing catch up for quite some time. Tiny screens are simply not productive, hence the increase in size rumoured in the iPhone 6. Software wise, Apple is either copying Windows Aero, Metro or Linux in design features, while mimicking DropBox and Google Drive with their own cloud storage facilities.

That said, innovation can mean taking an existing idea and making it better, which many will argue is what Apple do best. iOS is one example I can think. Windows Mobile existed a long time before iOS and even Android was around before iOS if I recall correctly, but Apple made a mobile OS that was infinitely better than what the others had to offer, with the help of touch-screen technology they did not invent, but acquired and allow for such an innovative mobile OS.

[Leinaa]

Honestly, no not anymore. I'm gonna add more to this post tomorrow because I'm half asleep...but they definitely are not an innovative company anymore.

[Hannah]

While they may not be introducing products at the rate they had previously, they are still improving what products are currently available (shame they won't improve their charger cables, though :rolleyes:).

I wouldn't say that Steve Job's death had much to do with it either, with what they have already released it's pretty difficult to get more worthwhile items out.

[Matt]

Their previous products were great and I think they really dominated the technology market but now that Samsung and other rivals are trying to compete with them more and more, I think they're running out of ideas fast. Their new products are just faster and thinner and more expensive which to me, makes me not want to buy their products. They're so overpriced it's untrue :@

Still an innovative company? Has been, but is losing it's touch IMO.

[iBlueBox]

Isn't that the same with Samsungs smartphones?


All they do is get thinner and faster.

[xxMATTGxx]

They were with the iPhone and maybe with the iPad, but since those were created they've pretty much hit their peak. All of the smartphone companies and even major tech companies are only really just improving or playing catch up. Apple arguably has been playing catch up for quite some time. Tiny screens are simply not productive, hence the increase in size rumoured in the iPhone 6. Software wise, Apple is either copying Windows Aero, Metro or Linux in design features, while mimicking DropBox and Google Drive with their own cloud storage facilities.

That said, innovation can mean taking an existing idea and making it better, which many will argue is what Apple do best. iOS is one example I can think. Windows Mobile existed a long time before iOS and even Android was around before iOS if I recall correctly, but Apple made a mobile OS that was infinitely better than what the others had to offer, with the help of touch-screen technology they did not invent, but acquired and allow for such an innovative mobile OS.

Microsoft may have kicked off with the whole flat design in their Windows Phone and WIndows 8 products but the whole 'flat design' look has been around for much longer. You will see that most companies are now adapting that flatness across their UI. Even Google is doing it in their latest Android version.


Isn't that the same with Samsungs smartphones?


All they do is get thinner and faster.

Pretty much. Anyone who says otherwise must be blind.


My view: Yes, Apple is still an innovative company. So is Microsoft and Google. Yes companies may copy each other but it's about getting right.

[lemons]

the only significant thing i can think of they have done recently is the fingerprint thing

[Sian]

i dont think they're particularly innovative yet, the last thing was probably siri, no-one else has really picked up on that yet. But the smartwatch has been mentioned, well google have already released theirs, samsung has already given their say.

The new bendy phone (samsung?) is far more innovative, they're losing/lost their foothold with the phone market as they just arent doing anything interesting anymore.

[GommeInc]

Microsoft may have kicked off with the whole flat design in their Windows Phone and WIndows 8 products but the whole 'flat design' look has been around for much longer. You will see that most companies are now adapting that flatness across their UI. Even Google is doing it in their latest Android version.
Indeed. It depends how you interpret innovation. Microsoft could be considered at the forefront of popularising the "flat design" despite not being the first to actually use it. It's the same for the iPhone. It was seen as innovative having a "smartphone" yet smartphones had already existed e.g. Windows Mobile and even before that came around there were already, albeit basic, smartphones out there. Arguably, the iPhone wasn't that smart as it didn't really have proper MMS/SMS when it first came out :P So it depends how far you take the concept of innovation.

What products/companies had the flat design already? I can't think of any and just remember seeing Microsoft and Windows popping up at both Google IO and WWDC regarding that design.


i dont think they're particularly innovative yet, the last thing was probably siri, no-one else has really picked up on that yet. But the smartwatch has been mentioned, well google have already released theirs, samsung has already given their say.

The new bendy phone (samsung?) is far more innovative, they're losing/lost their foothold with the phone market as they just arent doing anything interesting anymore.
I think Samsung had a Siri-esque feature in their phones before Apple released Siri. It was awful, so you could argue Siri can be seen as being a real voice-control feature :P Apparently Google Now is quicker at operating but both Siri and Google Now are better in certain areas than each other.

[Chippiewill]

Even Google is doing it in their latest Android version.

Google have been transitioning for a few years now.

[Becca]

The first original iPhone was actually amazing, it never seemed to fail on me but every other phone they have released after that is ridiculous. You breathe on phone of the new iPhones and the screen cracks, it crashes constantly, the battery life is ridiculous.

It's safe to say that Apple phones are being overruled by Androids but still thousands of people have iPhones. To be fair, I hope they bring out something good and unique, because they need it. I'm sure that one guy couldn't stop a WHOLE company.

[DJVeni98]

Apple are mainly running out of ideas in my opinion. Steve Jobs was the person who motivated the company to succeed and to build products to enhance our everyday life. Do you all remember when they kicked him out of his own company and the company was on the rocks?. It's interesting how you all didn't mention what they started off producing which were computers. "Apple Computers Inc" was the companies name! Now it's "Apple Inc" as they have expanded from not only to computers but to also gadgets like iPods, iPhones and etc. Apple as a company are still doing pretty well from sales, they are obviously still following the traditional marketing strategies. But in my opinion not much is really changing at the moment as they try to focus more on very few adjustments at a time when bringing out their products so they can make you buy their products and make you pay for the new product if you decide to for their new adjustments and so on. It's basically how they make profit. Not to mention they have a factory or factories I am guessing in China where they pay workers very small amounts of pay for building their products. But I don't think the company is very innovative at the moment. But if they step up their game and "Think Different" from their competitors then yes, they will see an increase in profit.

[Alphaet]

most other brands seem to always compare their products with apples tho so

[God]

Apple has just been shelling out the same thing with a few "Upgrades" for a few years now. Nothing new, nothing interesting.

[Adam]

Apple were never innovative to start off with.