Apple’s New Strategy: Services May Make Money, but They Won’t Create Fans
By David Averbach
Nine years ago when I started writing about Apple, articles signaling “the beginning of the end for Apple” were already commonplace. To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of Apple’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. In that time, Apple continued to grow at an astronomical pace, becoming one of the largest companies in the world. Yet this year, Apple has started to show some chinks in the armor. In January, Apple posted its first decline in revenue for the holiday season since 2001 (that was the year the original iPod was released). To make matters worse, the decrease in revenue was almost entirely accounted for by Apple’s cash cow, the iPhone. iPhone sales have been flat for several years, but in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, they declined 15 percent year over year. It is becoming clear that the iPhone alone cannot continue to fuel Apple’s growth. The time has finally come to ask the question: What is Apple’s post-iPhone strategy?
iPad Pro In-Depth Review: Is It the Laptop Replacement Apple Promised?
By David Averbach
The iPad is a difficult product to review, because in order to assess its effectiveness you have to first understand what the product is supposed to accomplish. Defining the purpose of Apple’s new iPad Pro is surprisingly complicated. I’ve been using mine for longer than a month now, and while it’s undeniably an amazing device, whether it lives up to all the hype depends on whose standards you’re looking at. Based on the late Steve Jobs’ original intent of what an iPad should be, the iPad Pro is an incredible device that is the fruition of the last eight years of development. But based on Apple CEO Tim Cook’s description at last October’s keynote of what the iPad Pro should be, the tablet is a flawed device that doesn’t live up to expectations. Allow me to explain.
Your 2018 Apple Smart Home: Innovative Tech for Every Room in the House
By David Averbach
The Apple HomeKit framework and Home app are relatively new, but the possibilities for pairing smart home systems and products are already amazing. Our 2018 smart home roundup is great for those interested in purchasing their first Apple home device, as well as those who have already started dabbling in smart home technology. Whether you're interested in a smart thermostat or a smart lock, an app-controlled robot vacuum or even a smart mattress (yes, those exist) we've reviewed the best accessories you need to update and automate your home.
Making Sense of Apple’s New iPhone Lineup: What Do the XR, XS & XS Max Bring to the Table?
By David Averbach
When Apple released the original iPhone back in 2007, you had two models to choose from: 4 GB or 8 GB. Those were simpler times. There was only one color (black), and it was sold on one carrier (AT&T). While there was no App Store, no Siri, and no iCloud, there were also very few decisions you had to navigate. Fast forward to this September when Apple announced its new product lineup at the Steve Jobs theater, and the tech giant announced three new iPhones—the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. Each phone has a unique set of tradeoffs to analyze. Not to mention the fact that Apple still sells the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 7. If you count all the generations, sizes, storage options, and colors, you now have 69 different iPhones to choose from. Thankfully, we’re here to walk you through all the new devices and help you figure out which one is right for you.
Apple’s Struggle for Software Stability: Can iOS 12 Win Back Our Trust?
By David Averbach
Apple didn’t invent the personal computer. Nor did it create the first smartphone or tablet. Throughout the tech company’s history, from its origins with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak tinkering in a garage all the way to the present, the key to its success has been in taking emerging technologies and making them user-friendly for the masses. One of Jobs’ catchphrases when introducing a new product was, “It just works.” He said it so frequently it might as well have been Apple’s motto. Apple’s ability to create user-friendly products has not only allowed it to sell products to the masses, but also to charge a premium in the process. Today there are countless Android phones and tablets on the market that cost a fraction of what Apple sells its products for. For example, you can buy a brand-new Kindle Fire for $80 whereas an iPad costs anywhere from $329 for an entry-level model to $1,279 for a fully loaded iPad Pro. It’s no exaggeration to say that Apple’s reputation for making easy-to-use products is its most valuable asset. In the past year, Apple has struggled to meet its own standard. With iOS 12, Apple is attempting to repair the damage incurred by iOS 11 and reclaim its mantra of “It just works.”
Apple HomePod Review: 5 Things We Love About Apple's Smart Speaker, & a Few We Don't
By David Averbach
Should You Purchase the HomePod?
iPhoneLife CEO and writer David Averbach reviews audio quality, "Hey Siri" performance, the HomePod's fit into Apple's ecosystem, five of his favorite HomePod features, and who should and shouldn't purchase a HomePod.
iPhone X Review: Best & Worst Features
By David Averbach
Typically when Apple releases a new iPhone, the changes are indisputably upgrades. There’s nothing controversial about adding a better camera and faster processor while keeping the price the same. When Apple decided to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it was the first time that the changes felt more like a trade-off than an upgrade. When Apple released the iPhone X, I was left with a similar feeling. Apple upgraded the camera, designed an edge-to-edge display, and added Face ID, but removed the Home button and with it the popular Touch ID sensor. To further complicate the equation, Apple raised the price to $1,000. When I watched Apple announce the iPhone X, I was left with more questions than answers. Would I miss the Home button and Touch ID? Would the iPhone’s unusual notch at the top of the display bother me? How reliable would Face ID be? Most importantly, I wondered if the iPhone X was worth the extravagant price tag. After two months of using the iPhone X, I’m ready to weigh in with a definitive hands-on review.
iPhone X: the Cost of Innovation
By David Averbach
When Apple announced the iPhone X, many had sticker shock over the $1,000 price tag. Not only is this the most expensive iPhone that Apple has ever created, but it’s also one of six different iPhones the company now sells. Building such a large (some would argue fragmented) product line is one of the biggest departures in strategy Tim Cook has taken from his predecessor. Under Cook, Apple has dabbled in budget markets by offering the cheaper iPhone 5c and SE. However, these releases were more consistent with Apple’s image as being a luxury brand for the masses; with the iPhone X, Apple is becoming a luxury brand for the rich.
HomePod: Can Apple’s Smart Speaker Beat Amazon Echo & Google Home?
By David Averbach
To say I’m obsessed with speakers might be an understatement. In eighth grade, I was supposed to write an essay on my most valued possession. I chose my Sony boombox. As an adult, I now have a speaker in almost every room of my house. So when I watched Apple announce the new HomePod at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Then I heard the price ($349) and things got a little more complicated.
Looking Forward: How iCloud, Apple Music, and the App Store Could Be the Key to Apple’s Success
By David Averbach
Apple kicked off this year with the highest-grossing quarter of all time, earning $78.4 billion in revenue. In the first quarter, Apple beat analyst’s expectations and reversed its trend of declining revenue. There are a number of reasons for the strong performance, including high demand for the iPhone 7 Plus, as well as strong sales in China. One of the most interesting trends to emerge from Apple’s earnings call though was the sudden growth in Apple’s services category.