393: ‘An Asterisk on the Bento Box’, With Marco Arment
Jan 25, 2024
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Marco Arment joins the show to discuss the Apple-Masimo patent dispute over Apple Watch blood oxygen sensors, the new App Store entitlement, and the frustration of Apple's missed opportunities. They also touch on employee poaching, Tim Cook's leadership style, and the revolution in blood oxygen monitoring. They explore Apple's response to patent allegations, their belief in entitlement, and the implications of the App Store ruling for developers. The conversation delves into cultural differences, pricing of Vision Pro, and the potential of mixed reality headsets.
Apple is involved in a patent dispute with Massimo over blood oxygen sensors in the Apple Watch.
The new External Payment Links entitlement in the App Store allows apps to bypass Apple's in-app purchase system.
Apple's negotiation tactics have caused difficulties in legal battles, including the patent dispute with Massimo.
Apple delayed announcing the storage tiers and prices for the Vision Pro headset to downplay the high base price.
The Vision Pro headset may face social acceptance challenges due to its design and potential limitations in public spaces.
Deep dives
Apple Watch patent dispute with Massimo
Apple is involved in a patent dispute with Massimo, a medical device company known for its blood oxygen sensors. The International Trade Commission has instituted an import ban on Apple Watch, ruling it violates Massimo's patents. Massimo CEO, Joe Kiani, has publicly criticized Apple, stating that the sensors in the Apple Watch are inaccurate and not as good as their own medical-grade sensors. Apple, on the other hand, maintains that they have held mediations and future meetings, indicating their willingness to settle the dispute. However, the exact terms of any potential settlement are not yet known.
App Store external payment link entitlement
Another major topic discussed in the podcast is the issue of external payment link entitlement in the App Store. This refers to the ability of apps to direct users to make purchases outside of the App Store, bypassing Apple's in-app purchase system. The hosts question whether developers will actually choose to use this entitlement, considering the potential impact on their relationship with Apple. Previously, apps were not allowed to steer users away from using Apple's in-app purchase system, but now, developers have the option to include external links for payment. However, the hosts express skepticism about the practicality and effectiveness of this entitlement and whether developers will take advantage of it.
Apple's struggle with negotiation and legal issues
The podcast also touches on Apple's struggles with negotiation and legal issues. It is noted that Apple's refusal to negotiate and tendency to rely on sheer force of will and leverage has worked for them in the past. However, when facing other immovable forces, such as the government or courts, Apple has not fared well. The hosts discuss how Apple's negotiation tactics and refusal to budge have caused them difficulties in various legal battles, including the ongoing patent dispute with Massimo. They also highlight the need for Apple to recognize when to change course and seek resolution rather than prolonging the conflict.
Surprising Storage Tier Announcement Strategy
During the Vision Pro pre-order launch, Apple did not initially disclose the storage tiers and prices for the device. This decision could be attributed to the fact that the base price of $3,500 has been a point of discussion and speculation. By delaying the announcement of the storage tiers, Apple may have aimed to downplay the high base price and present the additional storage options as reasonably priced.
Questioning the Need for Multiple Storage Tiers
Considering that the Vision Pro is a high-priced product, some may wonder why Apple chose to offer multiple storage tiers. It could be argued that for a first-generation device at this price point, it might have made more sense to offer a single storage tier, such as 512GB or 1TB, simplifying the purchasing decision for customers.
Potential Implications and Future Plans
While Apple's decision to offer multiple storage tiers may have strategic long-term implications, it remains to be seen how these options will impact customer preferences and sales. As Apple establishes Vision Pro as an annual product, it is likely that they are planning to introduce incremental improvements and variations in future generations, including refined storage options.
Potential social acceptance challenges and user experience
The podcast discusses the potential challenges that users of the Vision Pro headset might face in terms of social acceptance, especially during the transition period. It highlights how the device covers the eyes, making it difficult for others to gauge if the wearer can see or if they are available for interaction. This can lead to an initial uneasiness and discomfort for people encountering the device in public spaces, such as coffee shops. The podcast also mentions the use of the device on airplanes and how it could be more acceptable due to the use of sleeping masks and less need for eye contact.
Importance of cultivating a healthy developer ecosystem
The podcast emphasizes the need for Apple to cultivate a healthy relationship with developers, especially for the success of the Vision Pro ecosystem. It points out that big streaming companies like Netflix and YouTube are missing from the platform, highlighting Apple's failure in building strong partnerships and convincing these companies to develop native apps. The podcast suggests that Apple needs to reevaluate its approach to developer relations, considering their success in the past with frameworks like Cocoa, and find ways to make developers enthusiastic about adopting Vision Pro, even if it may not be a lucrative platform for big companies initially.
The Immersive Experience and Realistic Features of Vision Pro
The podcast discusses the immersive experience and realistic features of the Vision Pro headset. The host mentions that the headset provides a much darker and more subtle effect than anticipated, with a dark ring of shadow-like shading around the eyes. This effect works better for people with darker complexions. The podcast also highlights the capability of the headset to create an immersive environment, where the real surroundings disappear and are replaced by a serene virtual world, indicated by a blue shimmer. The host expresses curiosity about how people will respond to this ambitious feature and whether it will be accepted or deemed too weird. Additionally, battery life, size, weight, and cost are mentioned as challenges for future iterations of the product.
Potential Uses and Market Outlook for Vision Pro
The podcast explores potential uses and the market outlook for the Vision Pro headset. While the focus is not primarily on gaming, the host notes that the headset will likely excel in visual entertainment, experiences, and mindfulness meditation. The conversation touches on the value of the headset for experiencing virtual travel, furniture layout apps, online shopping, and reading books for individuals with visual impairments. The host cautions against making assumptions about the future of the platform, pointing out that the initial launch is experimental and that uses and features may evolve over time based on user feedback and market demand. The importance of creating experiences and focusing on the feel of the device rather than specific productivity features is highlighted. The podcast also speculates on the future potential for architectural and design-related apps.
Marco Arment returns to the show. Topics include the Apple-Masimo patent dispute over Apple Watch blood oxygen sensors, the new External Payment Links entitlement for the App Store, and more.
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