Stratechery Apple and the Ghosts of Companies Past
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Apr 22, 2025 The podcast dives into Apple's current challenges, including rising manufacturing costs and AI hurdles, while assuring listeners it's not doomed. It examines the evolution of personal computing, contrasting Apple's and Microsoft's strategies. A critique of the Apple Vision Pro reveals potential pitfalls tied to traditional app interfaces. The discussion draws parallels with Intel's decline, emphasizing lessons in innovation and adaptability. Finally, it highlights the risks of reliance on China for manufacturing amid geopolitical tensions, suggesting strategic pivots for future success.
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Microsoft’s Internet Timing Insight
- Microsoft recognized the internet as a crucial industry-shaping force but acted years late on fully embracing it.
- Early openness and APIs allowed the web to flourish across platforms beyond Microsoft’s control.
Microsoft’s Mobile Misstep
- Microsoft’s mistake was trying to extend Windows' dominance to mobile instead of embracing the new multi-platform reality.
- Apple succeeded by building a new OS for smartphones, linking the device to the real internet.
AI as the Next Bridge
- The new device paradigm will be based on AI-driven interfaces, not apps like mobile was based on the internet.
- Apple risks failing if it keeps AI confined in the current smartphone app model, like Microsoft did with the internet.