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a16z Podcast | Apple Has Lock on Luxury Smartphones, But Not Business of TV
18 segments available
Apple has once again shown it absolutely dominates the high-end for smartphones, and no other company is likely to knock it from its perch in the near term, says a16z's Benedict Evans. But does it control the future of TV? Not yet. Evans breaks down the latest Apple event, filled with iPhones, iPads and Apple TV, in this segment of the a16z Podcast. Why the "3D Touch" Apple is featuring on its 6S phones is something only Apple could have pulled off, and why its latest iPad -- the Pro -- creeps into the PC market.
Segments Timeline
Apple's Annual iPhone Event Overview
In this segment, Michael Kokkonen and Benedict Evans discuss the highlights of Apple's annual iPhone event. They note the event's density, covering new products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, and emphasize the lack of humor and updates, focusing instead on the significant product announcements.
"welcome to the a 16z podcast I'm Michael kokkonen I sit here with Benedict Evans who has been poring over again and again how many times have you watched the Apple event Benedict I'm actually watching..."
The New iPhone: Evolution or Revolution?
Benedict Evans analyzes the new iPhone's design and features, comparing it to previous models. He discusses the incremental improvements in technology, such as faster chips and better cameras, while questioning the pace of innovation in the smartphone market and the significance of these updates for consumers.
"sweet pillows which were first a new iPhone secondly a new iPad and thirdly Apple TV all right well let's take those in turn you know they flashed the new iPhone out there Tim Cook put this thing up o..."
Introducing 3D Touch: A Game Changer?
Evans introduces Apple's new 3D Touch feature, explaining how it enhances user interaction by allowing pressure-sensitive actions on the screen. He discusses its potential impact on user experience and contrasts Apple's ability to implement such features with the challenges faced by Android manufacturers.
"something can happen and they used that on the watch very obviously because there's not much space but they're using it on phone now and they've also put that on trackpads correct yeah but obviously t..."
Live Photos: Redefining Photography
In this segment, Evans explains Apple's Live Photos feature, which captures moments before and after a photo is taken. He discusses the implications of this technology on photography, blurring the lines between still images and video, and how it changes the way users think about capturing moments.
"interesting thing is they have this thing called live photos and what that the way that works is we open the camera app it's recording or it's recording the last couple of seconds all the time and so ..."
The Selfie Revolution: Enhanced Flash Technology
Evans highlights the new selfie capabilities of the iPhone, including a brighter screen flash for low-light conditions. He discusses the hardware and software integration required for this feature and its significance in the context of modern smartphone photography.
"helps them cell phones with more storage perhaps but and I think it's kind of interesting when you think about you know why what the distinction is between video and a photograph because you know phot..."
Apple's Dominance in the High-End Smartphone Market
Evans wraps up the discussion by analyzing Apple's stronghold on the luxury smartphone market. He reflects on the company's market share and the implications of their installment plan for consumers, emphasizing how Apple's strategies continue to secure its position in the high-end segment.
"three times normal brightness so much brighter than it would be normally and they made a special little chip to power to do that so Apple made a chip to give you a better flash to take better selfies ..."
Apple's Membership Model
Evans elaborates on Apple's strategy of positioning itself as a membership club, where consumers pay a subscription-like fee for their devices. He compares this model to traditional financing in the automotive industry, emphasizing how it drives customer loyalty and repeat purchases, particularly with the inclusion of services like Apple Care.
"may take you take it take a step back what a lot of those operators now have is they have an installment plan where you can get a phone every year right and the advantage for the operators is and ther..."
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air: Market Dynamics
In this segment, Evans analyzes the lack of upgrades to the iPad Mini compared to the iPad Air. He discusses consumer preferences and the implications for Apple's product lineup, noting that many users opt for larger devices instead of the Mini, which has led to its decline in popularity.
"isn't though it isn't like GM you know in the finance business financing cars like really no it's not even on their balance sheet it's being done by a third party financing company and you know GM mad..."
The iPad Pro: A Game Changer?
Evans introduces the iPad Pro, discussing its features that blur the lines between tablets and PCs. He highlights its multitasking capabilities and the potential for it to serve as a serious productivity tool, comparing it to Microsoft's Surface. The segment raises questions about the iPad Pro's role in the evolving landscape of personal computing.
"event and then of course the new thing is this iPad pro which had been rumored will report it'll eat quite a lot and it's both is and is not a Microsoft Surface explain there's a keyboard we saw there..."
The Future of Personal Computing
This segment explores the shifting dynamics of personal computing, with Evans discussing how smartphones are increasingly becoming the primary device for many users. He reflects on the stagnation of the PC market and how tablets, particularly the iPad, fit into this changing landscape as potential replacements for traditional PCs.
"I've seen people marking up PDFs on the surface with a stylus as well I think the thing within this so it's like you can sort of sit and say ok what does Apple need to do around this what do they need..."
Tablet Market Segmentation
Evans concludes by analyzing the current state of the tablet market, distinguishing between low-cost tablets for casual use and premium devices aimed at productivity. He emphasizes Apple's dominance in the higher-end segment and the challenges posed by generic competitors, highlighting the ongoing evolution of consumer preferences in technology.
"to me the tablet fits in that space it's well if I'm going to buy one I might buy a tablet if you buy a tablet you almost certainly buy an iPad yes and there's a kind of another interesting dynamic he..."
The iPad Pro: A New Use Case
In this segment, Evans discusses the iPad Pro and its potential to expand the tablet's functionality beyond casual use. He addresses the challenges of using traditional software like Microsoft Office on tablets and how the iPad Pro aims to bridge that gap, making it a more suitable option for productivity tasks.
"they're still really no point in arc rating um say like why would you buy a new one and in the meantime you've got a phone right and say annual phone is doing all this cool new stuff every year or eve..."
Apple TV: Incremental Changes
Evans critiques the latest version of Apple TV, noting that while it introduces an SDK and app store, it doesn't fundamentally change the television experience. He discusses how Apple is positioning the device against competitors like Roku and Google TV, emphasizing its gaming capabilities and the potential for a more integrated media experience.
"that they have changed television have they have they done that so so to me this is version two of the Apple TV is not a fundamentally new product that is to say it's basically the same UI concept it'..."
The Future of Apple TV and Gaming
This segment delves into the gaming potential of the new Apple TV, comparing it to traditional gaming consoles. Evans highlights the device's ability to run games and its appeal to a broader audience that prefers casual gaming experiences. He also discusses the implications of Apple's approach to app development and user interaction with the device.
"while the place kind of simpler you know more fun games and that was the argument for the Wii the problem that we had was it turned out that there were selling games to people he didn't like games and..."
The Role of Siri in Apple TV Navigation
In this segment, Evans explains how Apple TV integrates Siri for navigation, allowing users to search for content across multiple apps without typing. He discusses the implications of voice search in enhancing user experience and the limitations of Apple's approach compared to existing devices.
"have to install the art hbr app on your phone you don't install the HP app on your phone and then throw stuff up on the screen although you can't because it's got airplay but rather it so they haven't..."
Apple TV: A Familiar Yet Refined Experience
Evans reflects on the Apple TV's features, noting that while it doesn't revolutionize the TV industry, it offers a polished user interface and experience. He compares it to existing devices, highlighting the importance of design and user experience in Apple's strategy.
"recognition like I want to watch guardians of the galaxy it's not hard this is of course as in a lot and I said it's like Apple to its Apple TV - it doesn't change the world there's a lot of stuff in ..."
Challenges in Transforming the TV Industry
This segment addresses the challenges Apple faces in changing the TV industry. Evans discusses the existing structure of TV bundles and the reluctance of industry players to innovate, emphasizing the need for partnerships to enhance content accessibility on Apple TV.
"on Apple TV but we haven't heard a lot more on terms of those partnerships are we going to or is it just taking time well so the the issue here is that the current structure of the TV industry works r..."
Apple's Event Timing and Content Limitations
Evans critiques the timing and content of Apple's recent event, noting the lack of in-depth presentations and demos. He explains how the condensed format affected the coverage of new products and features, hinting at potential future announcements that were not addressed.
"Comcast chooses to do that but they didn't have it on the stage was there anything that was missing that we had expected that was given short shrift well there was there was a clearly a timing issue i..."