State of Apple

Poster

Last week, on April 12, Apple Inc. announced in a statement that the next version of Mac OS X (version 10.5, code name “Leopard”) will be delayed until October this year.

This was a disappointing news to many, especially the stock market who forced Apple’s stock to go down about USD1.50. I am too disappointed by this news, as this is the first time Apple (formerly “Apple Computer Inc.”) delayed its pre-announced release date, and the first time Mac OS X was not updated for more than a year.

Apple’s statement informed us that the reason for the delay is their need to allocate resources for the iPhone development and to ensure the iPhone is released as scheduled, in June. It is hard to believe that Apple did not anticipate such resource requirements for the two major projects (iPhone and “Leopard”). Even though the public was not told about the iPhone until January.

Earlier this month Apple released the AppleTV device, which was also delayed from its original release date of March.

Are these series of delays any indications of the Apple Inc. to come? Apple had always met their projected released dates or beat it. This was one of the thing that Steve Jobs used to make fun of Microsoft and their massive delays with their Windows OS releases.

I understand the needs for a company to balance between making pre-announcements and not say anything at all about upcoming products. I am sure most people like myself will rather have a product that is fully tested and at the quality that we come to expect from Apple. I personally would rather a company like Apple to stick to their normal stance of not commenting on future products, than to offer teaser or pre-announcements.

As I had mentioned at the beginning of this blog entry, Apple is now officially known as “Apple Inc.” rather than its original “Apple Computer Inc.” when it was originally incorporated on April 1, 1977. This is an indication that Apple is transforming itself into a consumer appliance company rather than a computer and OS manufacture. First with its introduction of the iPod® in October 2001, then the AppleTV in this year and later in June the iPhone.

In one of Steve Jobs speech he predicted that Apple will be in your office, at your home, in your pocket, in your living room and in your hands. With the iPhone Apple will have completed this prediction.

So the fact that the Mac OS is delayed to give way to the iPhone is understandable, especially when the iPhone itself is using a version of Mac OS X as with the AppleTV.

I say, although many are disappointed, including myself, with Apple, we should give them a break and just enjoy the amazing innovations that keep rolling out of the “little” Cupertino company.