By: Kyle Jacobs
Apple came into the world in 1977 with their big break, Apple II computer. This product grabbed the attention of society when they saw how user-friendly the computer design was for those in the workplace. Seven years later in 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh personal computer which was the first mass-produced desktop to feature a GUI (graphical user interface) and a mouse. Fourteen years after in 1998, Apple made a push towards educational profits with their iMac G3 desktop computer which featured a translucent casing and use of “USB ports.” A few short years later in 2001 Apple produced a portable media player by the name iPod. With 5GB of memory and space for 1,000 audio tracks in an MP3 format, once again pushing into a new market segment of relaxation, music, and workout. After making itself known in the workplace, education fields, and revolutionizing listening to music, Apple took the next step in developing the iPhone in 2007. The iPhone shaped the mobile phone industry and produced many imitators. With just these few examples we can see that Apple is a top innovative company in the technology industry, but how far will they go?
Apple introduced a new mobile wallet under the name Apple Pay. The initial release was in October of 2014, and as of now they are a major player in mobile payments. Apple Pay accounts for about $2 of every $3 spent using mobile phone contactless payments. They have contracts with 220,000 stores where Apple Pay is available. Apple has introduced yet another way to be a part of our daily lives.
I have two perspectives on the idea of Apple trying to monopolize the market. (1.) I think any company or organization ultimately wants this goal of having superior market share, possibly even a monopoly, but what does that mean for the consumer? If a company like Apple becomes a monopoly there is a possibility that consumers: A. spend every last dime to get the latest product; or B. convince themselves they don’t need what is being offered. Apple may be trying to brand us! They want people to buy their products and in doing so they become a part of our lives and turn us into their brand. My other perspective: (2.) is what life might be hypothetically “when” Apple becomes the only player in this game. This may be an extreme outlook, but I picture the environment of iRobot, ironically, where everything is connected to a central mainframe, or artificial intelligence through one company. The company becomes the governing power. I don’t mean to come across paranoid, just thinking about future possibilities. As we previously read Apple is an extremely creative company, where will they go next…
Marketing Discussions 
Love the iRobot analogy in describing Apple. I do think they force their products on consumers. That does turn people away from Apple. I do see Apple as one of the more innovatve technology companies. No matter what Apple does companies such as Samsung and Windows will always compete with their products. The success of the smart phone is what really set Apple up for success. They were the first company to enter this market and continue to dominate it. I am interested in seeing how Apple pay goes. I still have yet to see anyone use it. I don’t know if trust Apple pay due to all the hackers currently out there. It seems like it will be easy to hack someone phone than credit card. I will remain skeptical on using Apple pay for the time being.
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Great article, I also agree with the fact that apple is trying to brand society. Lately, apple has not been first movers in anything like the watch, the bigger phone, different sized iPads, and even the apple car that is being talked about. I think the apple pay makes some consumers a bit nervous, but besides that, apple has continued to retain customers and retain its dominance in the market. Also, as much as people complain about apple, I feel like society will always use apple due to the brand name. It will be interesting to see what apple keeps and what they continue to do.
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It is kind of alarming to think about how apple has seemed to creep its way into our daily lives. I use an iphone, Macbook, ipod, and ipad and had never though of how reliant I seem to be on these things. In terms of apple pay, though, I do not see myself using that anytime soon. I don’t trust the “security” of having all of my personal financial information stored on my phone. I feel like there is too much risk associated with it. Great point and analogy bringing up iRobot. Its crazy to think over the last 20 years or so how apple has come into our lives. Its even crazier to think about what they will do over the next 20.
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I think the iRobot analogy is not super far fetched. I read an article that stated that Apple, “Is like a huge ubiquitous computer now, all around us, all the time. The interface is the very world we live in” (http://www.wired.com/2014/09/apple-ecosystem/). As Apple continues to invent new Apps and Technologies to enter our everyday lives in new ways people still are interested in buying the latest nuances. Every year people count down the days until a new update in software or iPhone enter the market. It’s clear this trend will continue in the future.
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I agree. Apple is such a creative company and I really think that they could come up with a way to make almost anything they wanted to. I think they definitely have the possibility to monopolize the game but I don’t think it is a good idea. Not everyone likes apple products. And I agree with the fact that people are either going to spend every last dime to get the new products or just not want them at all.
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I think Apple is so innovative and able to spread throughout a market and yes almost able to monopolize a market. Because they have such grate human resources and amazing benefits. Apple puts there workers in a nurturing and creative atmosphere so it lets innovation flow. They want them to think outside the box and to try and find the next be thing that will set standards for there competitors in there market and never stop improving. Although I think Apple is a grate company to work for I do see where this article is coming from and wonder who is really in control of Apple’s resources and mass amount of wealth. I also wonder what they are doing with the mass amount of data bases they have and I do find it creepy that they are in every market. But I believe Apple is still a grate company as long as they people running it realize how much power they really have and put that into something incredible that helps people instead of harms people.
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This is a very interesting stance to take mainly due to the fact that i have though about that future as well. I think that Apple is a strong company but i have no belief that they will reach that point. For one they have a strong hold on the personal market and have a large market share among personal users. Yet in the corporate world i don’t think they have that leg up. sure in businesses that focus on art and graphics defiantly use mac but for the common business the cost to outfit an entire building with mac is just way to crazy in a cost sense. they also are gaining large amounts of competition from Microsoft and the surfaces. In the end yes Apple still has much room to grow and could quite possibly maintain a large majority of the personal user market but i feel that in no way they will monopolize and control the world.
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