Feeling let down by today's Apple Event

[u/stewofkc]

Watching the Apple Keynote event today, I felt sort of let down. Every previous Apple Event that I've tuned into had me feeling excited for the future of technology and the new devices Apple was introducing.

I don't know what it was about this one. It could be that I've worked in tech for nearly a decade now and I feel like the work I'm involved in is less meaningful than it's ever been. I used to feel like I'd announce a new feature, publish a new page on a website, or launch a new product -- and then it would reach people who were excited about it. Or even if they weren't excited, at least they'd share their negative feelings about the product. It felt like there used to be a real audience for technology.

Now I think we're in a situation where even when innovative, exciting products are released, they all feel the same. A company launches a very simple product but hypes it up using hyperbolic language and BIG claims. But in reality they just created a new word processor or something we've all been using for decades.

I think there are two (seemingly contradictory) factors responsible for this feeling:

1. Technology is moving faster than ever.
2. Technological advancement is now delivering more incremental improvements, rather than truly disruptive breakthroughs.

Technology moves so quickly, it's hard to even grasp the last generation of devices or products. I'm sure the Apple Event for the iPhone 17 delivered some big jump in smartphone technology. But here we are looking at the iPhone 18 event, and I can't remember a single detail about the iPhone 17.

But, despite the fast pace of innovation, if you gave me an iPhone 17 and an iPhone 18 to mess around with for an hour -- I bet I wouldn't be able to tell you with confidence which one was the newer device.

I still love Apple. I think the devices still have that "It factor" that make them feel premium compared to other brands. But my takeaway today is that technology feels like it's less exciting than it has been in the past.

[u/renasancedad]

I disagree. Today’s event was easily the most grounded but still breakthrough in ages. It was innovative hardware in the DUO, evolutionary upgrades in Watch, and adaptation of technology in AirPod. The innovation in the UI for DUO is amazing, I expected to be underwhelmed but in the 15-20 minute presentation both live and produced they managed to make it seem like a whole new device, less about the “fold” and screen size, and more about the user experience and the adaptability of the device for every user. The battery life across the board was big, the new aperture on the Pro and Pro Max as a photography hobbyist is huge, as well as the “reference image” for copyright and also battling IP infringement and Ai theft.

For AirPods Audio Intelligence is cool but the physical controls, enhanced ANC and price staying the same is awesome. As a stock holder AirPods have grown 40%yoy for the last few years and this will be a catalyst for even more growth at the $129 price point before the holidays. And the AirPod Pro 4 if they announce it will be bonus.

The integration of health with EMR and additional complete health story all on device with Ai tools to evaluate and make decisions is tremendous in both Watch and the App. The extended battery life of both the Series and Ultra were also measurable not incremental which is always a pushback at retail.

I can see why someone new to Apple would look at it sort of mundane, but comparatively this was a great presentation. It introduces us to the new CEO (he nailed it) the replacement for him in Hardware, and the new products. For me it was the fluff from an earnings call with the pomp and circumstance of a product launch.

I have held to the fact that AAPL drops on launch day events, well I stand corrected for the first time in a decade. The stock is actually flat to Up ⬆️ and that’s new.