● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Opinion: Apple's Recent Product Decisions Signal a 'Slop Era'
Key points
- Apple's new foldable phones are reportedly cracking.
- Apple is releasing a touch-screen laptop, an idea previously rejected by Steve Jobs.
- John Ternus is identified as the new CEO.
- The author expresses a negative outlook on Apple's future product direction.
Product Direction Concerns
The author expresses concern over Apple's recent product releases, specifically mentioning cracking foldable phones and the introduction of a touch-screen laptop. These products are presented as a departure from Apple's historical product philosophy, which previously rejected such concepts.
Leadership and Past Hardware
John Ternus, a 25-year veteran of Apple, is identified as the new CEO. The author links Ternus to past hardware initiatives like the Touch Bar and butterfly keyboard, suggesting a pattern of 'harebrained hardware schemes'. This leadership change is framed as a potential reason for Apple's current product trajectory.
AI and Quality Issues
The article criticizes Apple's AI offerings, specifically Siri AI, as 'awful'. It also highlights the reported cracking issues with the iPhone Duo, contrasting it with Ternus's statement in Time Magazine that other foldable examples felt 'cheap and crappy'. The author suggests Apple is struggling to adapt to an AI-driven landscape and is resorting to 'crowdpleasing hardware gimmicks'.
Revisiting Rejected Concepts
The introduction of a touch-screen laptop is noted as an idea Steve Jobs extensively tested and rejected, and one that Tim Cook compared to combining a toaster with a refrigerator. The author speculates on future products, mentioning Ternus's long-standing interest in an 18-inch foldable iPad, and questions whether screen cracking issues will be resolved.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
An opinion piece argues that Apple is entering a 'slop era' due to recent product decisions like foldable phones and touch-screen laptops. The author suggests that new leadership under John Ternus is leading the company to adopt ideas previously rejected by its founders and to release hardware with quality issues.