[gum_ina_package]

Apple needs to show customers what they want, that's the real issue. Since Jobs died, Apple hasn't really created a new product category that none of us knew we wanted. Instead, they've made defensive moves by making their existing products cheaper and more attractive.

[matthewmacleod]

Since Jobs died, Apple hasn't really created a new product category that none of us knew we wanted.

Jobs died a relatively short time ago; even when he was at Apple, it's not like they created new product categories all that often - maybe every 3–5 years?

I can't help but feel people have expectations which are a little too high.

[phantomb]

This. In its 35+ years Apple created - or at least codified - the personal computer, the mp3 player, and the modern smartphone. I think it's closer to a big new product category every 5-10 years, really.

[dragonwriter]

> Since Jobs died, Apple hasn't really created a new product category that none of us knew we wanted.

More like since the PC. Since then, they've mostly capitalized on market needs that were widely recognized (and, in the case of portable digital music players, that were already widely popular), but where there was an opportunity to execute better than the incumbents were executing. (Not saying this isn't noteworthy, but its very different than creating "a new product category that none of us knew we wanted.")