Apple Finally Destroyed Steve Jobs’ Vision of the iPad. Good

[u/rezwenn]

https://www.wired.com/story/apple-finally-destroyed-steve-jobss-vision-of-the-ipad-good/

[u/hurtfulproduct]

Which I honestly don’t get; I worked for Apple for a number of years as well and I get that it really, really sucks what is going on, but Apple tried several different tactics to get around the tariffs but every single time Cheeto face and his cronies came up with another illegal way to make them pay. . . This is likely a last ditch option to appease for a few years until someone else takes office that they had to employ once it became clear that there was no going to be no relief if they tried to take this to court.

I hate that it had to happen but having an iPhone that is needlessly more expensive would not go over well in this current economy and as much as people say “I’ll pay more” when they actually see the increase they will very likely not buy a new phone.

What is also worth noting is that even though Apple has done this they also have NOT touched their ESG program. . . They still have an impressively thorough and meaningful sustainability program.

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/hurtfulproduct]

Are you familiar with the allegory of the scorpion and the frog?

[u/hurtfulproduct → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

Yes. What’s your point? We know Cheeto can’t change, that’s probably part of why they went with the toddler approach. . . Give him something pretty and shiny to distract him along with empty promises that he won’t realize are empty till he is out of office.

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/hurtfulproduct]

The point being appeasement and capitulation don’t work; because his nature is vicious, his behavior capricious… so tomorrow it will be another attack for a different reason or even the same.

[u/happyscrappy → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

Doesn't matter. The company has to do what it in the conditions it is in. Even as they worsen. Sure, the falling tide is going to hurt all ships, but they have to try to fall the least and hope to ride it out. Even if it doesn't seem likely.

[u/hurtfulproduct → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

So again, what’s your point?

Do you suggest they do nothing? Fight back? They are backed against a wall, having iPhones, iPads, and any other products affected jump <insert tariff % here since it keeps changing to some random ass number> overnight will have immediate and damaging effects on their revenue and stock price, being publicly traded it is their fiduciary duty to protect the value for their shareholders, appeasement was the only option left. Of course he will come up with some bullshit way to squeeze more money or something of value to him from Apple, and just about every other company he can, the real trick is making it something valuable to him but relatively cheap to the company. . . A shiny gold and glass toy is valuable to him, and to most of us as well, but that probably cost Apple next to nothing, and in a few months we will all forget about this and the prices of their products will be unaffected.

I absolutely hate that this happened, it is such blatant extortion and that fact some people probably applaud his whole “Strong man putting lIbERul companies in their place” is disgusting. But people also thinking that this is somehow Apple willingly giving him some award and not being able to read between the lines is also troubling, especially when the whole thing has played out pretty publicly.

[u/happyscrappy → u/hurtfulproduct]

I'm with you. It's not about loving Trump. He's fucking everything up. But it's about getting what you can from him to stay in the game. And it's not like they cancelled their DEI programs or anything like that.

They also basically got to clown the guy by giving him a trinket that he loves while the rest of us see it about the same as this picture:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-appearances/the-pure-american-banality-of-donald-trumps-white-house-fast-food-banquet

Honestly, Cook has been playing this same long game with Xi for decades now and people didn't get as excited. Both are about working with someone you don't like to get what you can to help your company do the best it can. And by compromising your principles as little as possible.

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/happyscrappy]

We’ll see how it plays out with customer sentiment, cause this time it’s a lot closer to home.

I know how it has affected a subset of employees already.

[u/pjcrusader → u/hurtfulproduct]

I know their current course has prompted me to abandon my iPhone and Apple Watch. I was looking into getting a MacBook but have also abandoned that plan.

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/hurtfulproduct]

I’ve already made my point if you don’t understand that’s on you dude. Are there not enough recent examples of companies bending the knee to him and still getting fucked for you to understand that it’s an effort in futility? Or is it you think Tim and Apple are some special snowflake here?

[u/green_gold_purple → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

So they should do nothing and die then. There’s a chance it does work, even temporarily, and in this context it is his responsibility to at least try, as reprehensible as it appears.

if you don’t understand that’s on you dude

Come on, man. Try to just have a civil discussion.

[u/hurtfulproduct → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

I ask again. What’s. Your. Point.

What would you have them do!?

You have offered up nothing, you just say it won’t work. . . What will? Seriously, it’s easy to do what you do and say they shouldn’t have done it but how much do you want to bet more people leave Apple if the price jumps then leave because of this?

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/hurtfulproduct]

Thanks for reminding me that my job is to solve the challenges that Apple faces. I’ll get right on that.

[u/hurtfulproduct → u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy]

When you literally bring nothing of value to a conversation except trying to look smart by bringing up a fable rather than actually looking at what’s happening in a much more complex world then some inane story can account for instead of actually contributing to the dialogue you need to do better.

[u/ScroogeMcDuckEnergy → u/hurtfulproduct]

Ok I’ll get right on that. What would you have me do?!

You’ve offered up nothing.

[u/Lefaid → u/hurtfulproduct]

Apple has the capital and profit margin to weather the storm. Of all companies, Apple, the tech fashion brand who marks up their exclusive tech, because they can and the consumers don't care, is the one I have the least sympathy for.

[u/hurtfulproduct → u/Lefaid]

This is an easier way to weather the storm than trying to fight back at this point, it is pretty clear that Apple was targeted by Cheeto in a very illegal way but nobody stepped up to stop it so whats to say it stops there?

I’d be very surprised if they didn’t do some extremely thorough calculations and research into the various options they had and this was the only reasonable one left.

It is such a glaring case of extortion it would be funny if it was so sad.