The Next Industry Apple Should Disrupt Is the Auto Market

I know that the buzz around the Internet is Apple’s own HDTV set.  Honestly, this has been around the corner for a couple of years now, it’s getting old.  The Apple-branded TV isn’t even out and I’m ready to move to what should come next from Cupertino.  And it should be auto industry.

As in iOS-powered vehicles.  I’m not particularly big on the iCar.  Not now.  But someday.  For now, I just like to see what Apple can do with iOS embedded in the dashboards.

Imagine the revenue growth that Apple can get out of this.  While I doubt GM, Ford, Toyota would be willing to share 30% of proceeds with Apple, perhaps the likes of Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes might be willing to deal.  Already, Siri is already coming to the Benz (Mashable).

And in the past, I’ve already said that Siri is a platform, an artificial intelligence with voice input/output, that can catapult Apple into the next realm of mobile computing.

See, there’s a reason why Microsoft is working with Ford and not one of the European luxury brands.  And I doubt Google or Samsung could make Android fit either.  So, it’ll only be Apple.  You don’t think that Mercedes or BMW is trying to be the exclusive Siri provider for their customers?

Just think what the iPhone did for AT&T and you know that automakers will be clamoring to be the first  iOS powered car.

I can totally see Jony Ives and a few hand-picked Apple designers in conjunction with BMW or Mercedes’ German engineers and setting up a secret skunk project in an abandoned warehouse to make a totally revolutionary UI for drivers.  Maybe it’ll be powered by Siri or something more with HUD interface. Or it could be something totally revolutionary.

Regardless, the auto industry is likely to get some attention from Tim Cook and Co. really soon if this has not already happening.  The only question is who will get to work with Apple and just how much Apple will change the auto industry.

Power of Brand Promise In Today’s Mobile and Social Centric Market

I was at a branding forum last night.  Just branding in general.  The talk was hosted by a branding expert, Sasha Strauss of Innovation Protocol, in Pasadena, California.  It was a very informative night and what I took away from it was what he said at the very beginning.  He mentioned “brand promise”.  And because in an era where mobile tech dominates the consumer market, Apple and Google were top mentions as we as social media forums like Facebook and Twitter.

Brand.  Mobile. Social.

It’s about access, connection, and instant gratification.  I’ll have more to say about this because I think we’re living a revolution that spans a whole generation.  If there is a podcast of the event, I’ll provide a link.

Apple Has To Improve FaceTime And More Its Communication Features More Social

FaceTime use in my family has been limited.  Clearly, Skype has won this battle.  However, the video chat or conferencing war will continue to go on.  With the 2012 iPad introduced and went on sale just this past weekend, Apple could have made FaceTime a more central element of mobile communication.  While that clearly did not happen, Apple can still move forward on this.

Here’s why I think that’ll happen.  Apple first introduced iChat on OS X years ago and while over time, it gained video chatting, it languished as Skype and others take over in terms of features and popularity.  And with all things Apple, apps can sit in developmental limbo as far as users are concerned.  Apple will give no clue if something is being worked on or allowed a slow painful death.

We finally got FaceTime on the iPad and iPhone last year and the Mac got it with Lion.  As a user, you can’t help but feel the app is a bit spartan and Apple is trying to figure out where to go from there.

Then this year, we got Messages with iOS 5 and Apple killed off iChat on the Mac in favor of OS X’s own Message app.

But as a user, you have to ask why Apple has two separate apps for communicate, by one text and another by video, when it clearly makes sense that Apple should have kept iChat and merge FaceTime and Message into it.  After all, Message still retains IM capability.

At the same time, Facetime is still an one-to-one enagement.  I would have liked to see it gain multi-user abilities.  For instance, I would have to be able to chat with my nephews and my mom all at the same time.  And clearly, there is a very good feature to have for enterprise.

Another feature I like FaceTime to have is maybe just the ability to chat via voice.  Call it VoiceTime.  Skype can do all three of the most common communications for mobile:  instant messages, voice, and video.

So, Apple has some work to do in this regard. FaceTime needs more features.  And Apple needs to make its communications tools more like Skype in terms of features and integration. Furthermore, Apple should make FaceTime and Message more open for social media integration.  And by social, I mean allow apps access to voice chat or messaging.

Imagine if you’re editing a doc or blowing away aliens, you can initate or answer calls or messages without having to leave whatever you’re doing.

Verizon's New Family Data Plans Set To Roll; New Take on Family Feud Coming

It looks like Phone Arena has a screen shot of Verizon's upcoming family data plan.  The pic depicts a planner so that the subscribers can decide just how much data they need.  Sorry, but I reckon this is the start of a new "family feud" once the new data plans go into effect.

Personally, I'll never be able to share.  I'm a data hog and I freely admit it.  I think it's for some families.  Definitely not mine.  Can you imagine your little ones taking all the data playing games and videos?  Yeah, not good for the pocketbook.  Maybe the grandparents won't use their data allotment.

Can Apple's Razors One Day Become Blades?

Apple has been making some curious moves in the last year and things have rapidly accelerated in the last six months. And we are getting indications that Apple's whole mobile plan as well as the complete ecosystem is only far from complete and has plenty of room to expand.

And it got me thinking that perhaps, in using the razor and blade analogy, we could one day sees Apple switch gears and sell its iOS hardwares as the razor while the whole iTunes ecosystem and whatever else market Apple expands into will become the blades, giving Apple growth that is far beyond what Wall Street expects.

Any taker on where I am going with this?


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Apple To Announce Decision On $100 Billion Cash

Through an alert, it was made know to me that Apple will be hosting a 6am EST meeting to discuss what it has decided to do with some of the $100 billion in cash and investments. There are two popular options: 

Dividends and/or Stock buyback

I hope its not dividends. What would be the point in that?  A $30 to $50 billion stock buyback would do more for Apple than anything else.  Please, Tim.  No dividends. 

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad

2012 iPad: Woz Waits In Line Like Everyone Else, Shares Thoughts on Apple's Future

I like that Steve Wozniak has to wait in line just like the rest of us.  I'm sure Apple can make an exception and ship Steve one every year but this is not how Woz would have preferred it.  He enjoys waiting outside with everyone else.

And I think all the lucky folks who happen to have in the same line also enjoyed his presence.




Also, head over to What's Trending for the original post for more details about Woz's thoughts on the new iPad and Apple's future.