LA Times: Apple's problems with iOS mirror Microsoft's issues with Windows

posted by Alan F. / Feb 09, 2016, 11:21 AM

LA Times: Apple's problems with iOS mirror Microsoft's issues with Windows

L.A. Times columnist Michael Hiltzik wrote a piece that was published in Monday's paper, discussing what he believes is the "disappearing integration" between Apple's hardware and software. He also has spotted an "explosion of discontent" among iOS users in regards to the quality of the core apps found on the iPhone and iPad. This "discontent" spreads to Apple's non-mobile devices as well.

To illustrate the unusual position that iOS users find themselves in, the Times' columnist points out a comment made by former Wall Street Journal Tech writer and Re/code co-founder Walt Mossberg. It was just last week when Mossberg wrote that there has been "a gradual degradation in the quality and reliability of Apple’s core apps."

Hiltzik writes that Apple could be suffering from the same problem as Microsoft is with Windows. He states that both companies are adding new functions to an "outdated core" instead of starting from scratch. Just yesterday, we told you about a security update that Apple pushed out for iOS that fixed over 100 issues.

The iPhone remains the most important product in Apple's line-up

Most have placed the blame on Apple's new product release schedule, which has the company designing and manufacturing a new iPhone every year. Even "S" year models have some new features. And after all of the work that is done trying to stay one step ahead in an incredibly competitive business, Apple has to come up with new ways to market the iPhone every year.

While it was amazing that the company topped the 2014 holiday quarter's 74.5 million in iPhone sales by ringing up a record 74.8 million in 2015's holiday season, the current quarter is not expected to do as well. In fact, even Apple CEO Tim Cook expects the company to report its first year-over-year decline in iPhone sales in April. What happens in the next two quarters will determine where Apple goes from here.

Considering that more than 30% of iPhone users are still rocking an iPhone with a 4-inch screen, there is no reason to believe that the iPhone won't regain its footing in the second half of this year. And don't forget that the Apple iPhone 7 is due to be unveiled this September. Apple is reportedly making the iPhone 7 waterproof, adding a dual camera system to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, and will remove the 3.5mm earphone jack which could add some room for a higher capacity battery.

"Conjectures about why Apple can't get its software act together abound. The most common is that the company has become so trapped in its cycle of annual hardware upgrades -- a new iPhone had better appear every September, or else -- that it's simply incapable of keeping its software maintained."-Michael Hiltzik, L.A. Times

"The rapid decline of Apple’s software is a sign that marketing is too high a priority at Apple today: having major new releases every year is clearly impossible for the engineering teams to keep up with while maintaining quality. ... They’re doing too much, with unrealistic deadlines."-Marco Arment, programmer

But the issue Apple has doesn't seem to be hardware related. If Hiltzik is right, the solution for Apple is to focus a little less on hardware and focus more on taking iOS where it needs to be for the next five years or more.

source: LATimes via BGR

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42 Comments

1. IAMBLCKJ3ZUS

Posts: 403; Member since: Sep 29, 2015

I'll say this again Apple and Microsoft are the only competitors on the playing field. In reality if some ditch all Google services and Microsoft which doesn't have any of those for mobile any way. Google would be in a ruff spot with no ad revenue. If Microsoft made their own version of YouTube as a competitor it would be very interesting.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:28 AM 1

5. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

As stated below, if MS and Apple banned all thing related to Google on their platforms, Google has the mobile ecosystem to survive on. Gotta give it to Google, they have successfully mapped out a Plan B if that ever happened. And it would take every competitor OS in existence to ditch Google for that to even happen. There is still Linux. Like you say, it would take all to ditch Google for that to even happen. You could replace Google with any company and the same thing would happen. [insert company name here] would be in a ruff spot.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:58 AM 9

6. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Lol on the mobile front MS isn't even on the field and at the rate their going, never will be. Apple is fighting a losing battle due to their sky-high expectations that they just can't keep up with. In their bid to make investors and speculators happy, they have dropped the ball on hardware and software. It doesn't seem like the bleeding will stop until someone with more balls to stick it to wall Street becomes CEO like Jobs. Apple used to be a product and people company bit is now just a profit and wall Street shill. Google is in a better position than both of the former but still lacks focus on the a proper future path.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:17 PM 11

42. medicci37

Posts: 1361; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

If Microsoft made their own version of YouTube it would likely suck

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:01 PM 0

2. IAMBLCKJ3ZUS

Posts: 403; Member since: Sep 29, 2015

Meant to say if Apple and Microsoft ditch Google services like YouTube and docs.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:29 AM 0

3. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

If Apple and Microsoft ditch Google services, they'll have to answer to their users for the second tier quality services they get, while Android will have to fall back on the 85% of mobile users who own an Android. I think they'll survive.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:39 AM 15

7. IAMBLCKJ3ZUS

Posts: 403; Member since: Sep 29, 2015

Not if they made their own app that competes with Youtube and other Google services. Do you know how many people complain about Youtube policies?

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:24 PM 1

8. willard12 unregistered

Their mobile operating system isn't exactly competing with Google's. But, somehow, you think people will ditch YouTube for MS Tube? The second part of that is, if MS blocked Google services, what happens when Google returns the favor and blocks MS access to 85% of the world's mobile users?

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:47 PM 7

16. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Mobile youtube does not bring in the same ad revenue as desktop youtube.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:23 PM 0

14. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

It's been tried. Comcast is trying right now with Go90. It blows.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:20 PM 0

13. hemedans

Posts: 755; Member since: Jun 01, 2013

google dont own whole android, more than 1/3 of android marketshare is aosp(android without google services) aosp is growing faster than android and this is threat to google. http://www.businessinsider.com/these-market-share-numbers-show-why-google-is-clamping-down-on-the-android-open-source-project-2-2014-2

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:09 PM 1

33. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

What does that matter? Most of those people still watch YouTube. Many still use gmail.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 4:54 PM 2

34. hemedans

Posts: 755; Member since: Jun 01, 2013

most of aosp smartphone come from country like china they have their own youtube like youku and their own service.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 5:11 PM 0

44. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Again, so? YouTube had been so heavily censored in China four years. And yet Google's ad revenues grow.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 9:53 PM 0

4. meanestgenius

Posts: 21779; Member since: May 28, 2014

There is clearly a reason why both Apple and Microsoft have not ditched any of Google's services: the end user. There are too many people that use YouTube and Google's services that are on each of their respective platforms. Google Search and Maps for instance, is used far more than the offerings on iOS and Windows. It's what people have grown accustomed to using and what they trust. If Apple or Microsoft removed any of those services from Google, they run the risk of losing users. They won't take that chance. Especially Microsoft, with it now pushing to have its apps and services on every platform. And Microsoft creating a "YouTube competitor" is just a fantasy of yours. It wouldn't last, even if they tried it. Apple needs to focus more on its software, to make much more viable and modern, and a little less on marketing what has been basically the same device, especially software wise, for years. They have more than enough money to do so. It's time for Apple to start being innovative again, and really wow us once more.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 11:52 AM 13

9. Podrick

Posts: 1284; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

Great comment meanest! +1.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:53 PM 1

12. meanestgenius

Posts: 21779; Member since: May 28, 2014

Thank you. He compelled me to comment when he posted such nonsense.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:02 PM 1

38. sprockkets

Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

Ha, both Google and MS tried it before Google bought them out. Google had Google videos iirc and MS had soapbox.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 7:34 PM 1

10. Unordinary unregistered

On the bright side, 12,000,000 Apple Watches shipped, leading the smart watch industry

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 12:55 PM 0

11. Podrick

Posts: 1284; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

Power of the logo, quite extraordinary.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:02 PM 6

21. Unordinary unregistered

Excuses excuses

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:32 PM 3

23. Podrick

Posts: 1284; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

Logo.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:39 PM 3

45. Inotamira

Posts: 173; Member since: Feb 06, 2016

Oh, oh no, "insults mean you don't have an argument" right? So that means your argument will be thrown out! Too bad, these sheep might actually learn something when applying critical thinking skills and less logical fallacies!

posted on Feb 10, 2016, 1:51 AM 0

15. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Significantly below expectations, not surprisingly since so many watches look better, and specifically the Gear S2 Classic blows it away in looks and functionality.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:22 PM 3

18. Unordinary unregistered

Functionality???! Lmao I'm sorry man, but that watch is the slowest laggiest piece of junk on the market. Only thing it has going for it is it's decent looks. And regardless, it's still the top. Which means Samsungs sales are waaaay below what they even aim to sell.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 1:31 PM 3

24. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Funny, every single review states it's fluid, smooth and fast. Which matches my experience with it at the store. In fact, I've seen more complaints about lag from the Apple Watch. Again, you're basing that on what? Apple refuses to release even a hint of sales I the watch. That from a company that reports sales of every other piece of hardware they sell. Hmmmmm.

posted on Feb 09, 2016, 2:07 PM 5

17. tedkord

Posts: 17312; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

And, of course, those are estimates of devices shipped by third party analysts because Apple are embarrassed by the actual sold numbers, and won't announce anything.