Quote:
Originally Posted by doogald
Let me start by saying that of course they will peak - after all, even iPods peaked - but is there any reason at all that you think that Apple will *not* continue innovating the iPhone?
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All depends on your definition of innovation. To me, the Nano was hardly "innovative" when compared to the mini. The Touch was innovative, but the nano was evolutionary at best. It was a software tweak and a response to improvements in hardware capabilities and a reduction in cost. Honestly, IMO they haven't "innovated" from iPod 1G through nano. Just evolved and tweaked. If any other company with an even slightly less commanding position in the market had followed this path they'd long since have become an also ran (this is a major compliment to Apple and Jobs, by the way).
If you forget the SDK (it just made it a smart phone instead of a fancy feature phone), there has been only evolution on the iPhone platform since introduction (faster, GPS, compass, enabled video). I do think there's a very good chance that Apple WILL innovate, but I also feel like their need to control the experience soup-to-nuts will slow them down relative to the eager competition. And their propensity to limit hardware and software choice--which works well as a niche PC maker--will likely not allow them to maintain market dominance. As with the PC, they pave the way through initial innovation, but can't do what it takes to remain dominant. The only exception so far would be the iPod itself, but as a task oriented device, it is a totally different market. Just my opinion, but history does seem to back me up. We'll see.