The world was aghast last week when Apple stunned investors by guiding its revenue down.
After all, Apple was just crowned a member of the Trillion-Dollar Club on Aug. 2.
But if you’ve been reading my columns, you know that while I was and remain a huge fan of CEO Tim Cook’s integrity, Apple has sorely lacked in its ability to innovate for years.
They’ve mastered the iteration rather well, from iPhone 1 to, presumably, the iPhone 17XZ.
Capital has been deployed in stock buybacks and dividends — two things that great growth companies should shy away from.
Cook may be the best adult in the room in Silicon Valley, but he is everything Steve Jobs was not and not much of what he was.
To be sure, Cook is a kind, caring, thoughtful and safe leader, but Jobs was a wildly rebellious, creative genius who deemed nothing impossible.
Cook highlighted that China accounted for over 100 percent of Apple’s sales slowdown.
To me, China is a red herring for a rapidly maturing smartphone market in which Apple hasn’t diversified enough or expanded into new operating markets.
For example, there’s a huge opening for entrée into “safe” social media.
Or let’s see some software-based, business-oriented sales and marketing products.
Or how about data gathering for corporate users with a new twist — integrity?
Why not become a new player in the automotive world, or air travel? Apple has the money to do it.
China is in a slowdown. Like Americans, the Chinese have probably cut back on their unnecessary purchases — like the newest iteration of the iPhone.
It’s time for Apple to lose the stifling “stay safe and count our money” posture.
It needs rebellious, creative genius to succeed going forward.