★ Apple’s Profits From Services Are on the Cusp of Surpassing Its Profits From Device Sales
https://daringfireball.net/2024/08/apple_services_profit
@daringfireball now you know why they are so fanatical about their 30% and App Store policy. Their entire future business and stock price (and executive bonus structure) hinges on it.
@daringfireball it’s the paltry 5 GB of free iCloud storage 😂. That’s probably a big factor though.
They really should give you the equivalent of your device’s storage or something proportional to it so you can at least backup without having to pay. Even better would be to let us backup to more than just iCloud. Why can’t we backup to a home NAS like we can with a Mac on Time Machine? Why can’t we essentially bring our own cloud storage?
@daringfireball What happens when the drive for service revenue impacts Apple's actual software, a line, in my opinion, we have already crossed. Safari is all about privacy, unless you use the default search. You can use the Music app, but every few days you'll have to dismiss an ad for the Apple Music subscription service. You can browse the App Store, but you'll have to wade through gambling ads.
@daringfireball Personally I think it’s more like ‘A hardware company that makes *okay* software. A software company that makes great hardware’. Clearly I’m not talking about the OSs, but with regard to software I’m hard pushed to think of any Apple Apps that could truly be considered best in class.
@Davidnsteer Really? The OSes as a whole are outstanding. Miles ahead of Windows or Android. Safari is the best browser in the world. iOS Camera app so good every single Android camera app copies it slavishly. Apple Photos is great. Apple Notes is very good. Keynote is one of the best apps the world has ever seen. Pages is excellent. Personally, I prefer Numbers to any other spreadsheet but I'm a rudimentary spreadsheet user. I think you've overlooking how much great software Apple makes.
@Davidnsteer They don’t need to be best in class. The vast majority of Apple users use the default apps because they are very good and work reliably for most people. I have yet to find a compelling reason to make Chrome or Firefox my default browser. Notes has almost every feature the average person needs. And as the Office apps and Google Apps are getting worse, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote continue to improve.
@javier @gruber
Both of your responses are entirely fair, and in truth, despite my comments I do personally still use most of Apple’s stock Apps. I think I was just being a little hyperbolic in order to articulate that I do often find myself frustrated by certain shortcomings and enviously eyeing features available in third party software.
@Davidnsteer Quite true. I’ve adopted a “good enough” model for most things to save time, energy, and money. So that may influence some of my choices.
@gruber @Davidnsteer A lot of that seems to be carry-over goodwill from the 90s and 2000s, as well as few remaining teams that actually care (Safari, Notes). If the new apps (Music, settings, etc) of the last 5-10 years is an indication, things are declining and getting worse.