Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Tim Cook Says Apple Products 'Change the World' and Aren't Priced Just 'For the Rich'
Apple has ranked third on Fortune's annual list of companies that "change the world" based on the social impact of their core businesses, and CEO Tim Cook sat down for a related interview with executive editor Adam Lashinsky.
Cook agreed that Apple has changed the world, primarily through its products, which simply enable people to accomplish more.
When asked why Apple doesn't run a charitable foundation, Cook said having a "separate thing" with a separate board of directors "wouldn't be Apple."
Cook later disagreed with Lashinsky's opinion that Apple's business strategy is to "make premium-priced, high-margin, high-end products."
Cook agreed that Apple has changed the world, primarily through its products, which simply enable people to accomplish more.
I think the No. 1 way Apple changes the world is through our products. We make products for people that are tools to enable them to do things that they couldn’t otherwise do—to enable them to create or learn or teach or play. Or do something really wonderful.He added that Apple has also changed the world through environmentalism, education, and advocacy for human rights, privacy, and philanthropy.
When asked why Apple doesn't run a charitable foundation, Cook said having a "separate thing" with a separate board of directors "wouldn't be Apple."
My view, we do a lot more good with a 120,000 people behind it than we would putting 12 people over in a corner to make decisions. I’m not criticizing people that do that. I think maybe they found a way and maybe it’s great. But it wouldn’t be Apple.Cook mentioned Apple's free Swift Playgrounds curriculum as an example of how its products enable people to learn and create.
… And the whole concept of Swift is you make a coding language that has the ease of use of our products. And so everybody can learn it. Yet, it's powerful enough to write the most complex apps that you'd ever want to dream up. And then we thought, well, what else can we do, and so we came out with Swift Playgrounds, a curriculum for say K4, K5, sort of in that age range. And that began to take off. And so then we took a step back and we made a bigger program for all of K–12 called “Everyone Can Code."Those people who learn to code may eventually become developers. Cook reiterated that the App Store economy supports millions of jobs.
Cook later disagreed with Lashinsky's opinion that Apple's business strategy is to "make premium-priced, high-margin, high-end products."
Well it's not high margin. I wouldn't use that word. There's a lot of companies that have much higher margins. We price for the value of our products. And we try to make the very best products. And that means we don't make commodity kind of products. And we don't disparage people that do; it's a fine business model. But it's not the business that we're in.Cook also hinted that Apple has "much more" to accomplish in the health-related area, and hinted at future products or services to come.
But if you look across our product lines, you can buy an iPad today for under $300. You can buy an iPhone, depending upon which one you select, for in that same kind of ballpark. And so these are not for the rich. We obviously wouldn't have over a billion products that are in our active installed base if we were making them for the rich because that's a sizable number no matter who's looking at the numbers.
There's much more in the health area. There's a lot of stuff that I can't tell you about that we’re working on, some of which it's clear there's a commercial business there. And some of it it's clear there’s not. And some of it it's not clear. I do think it's a big area for Apple's future.Full Interview: Tim Cook on How Apple Champions the Environment, Education, and Health Care via Fortune
Tag: Tim Cook
[ 412 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
23 months ago
Yeah, I mean, that’s why they keep the Mac mini around and up-to-date, right?
23 months ago
Tim is right, they aren't just for the rich, they are also for the 'heavily in debt'.
23 months ago
Why does Apple always make stupid statements like this when their ridiculous prices are questioned? Phil responded with something along the lines of we're paying for the experience, not the product. Whatever that means.
23 months ago
I think he underestimates how many people buy an iPhone on a monthly plan from their carrier and if they didn't have that option they'd not have one at all.
23 months ago
I agree with Cook. The iPhone experiences changes the way we use our devices and iOS is simplistic, fluid and intuitive. And the iPhone has a lineup that offers something for everybody. Not everybody has to purchase a $1000 iPhone if they don't desire.
23 months ago
Why does Apple always make stupid statements like this when their ridiculous prices are questioned? Phil responded with something along the lines of we're paying for the experience, not the product. Whatever that means.
Because Apple is ripe with narcissism.
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple released a public beta of iPadOS for compatible iPad models, enabling users who aren't signed up for the Apple Developer Program to test the software update ahead of its official release in...
Apple today updated its line of iWork apps for iOS and macOS, bringing new features to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers on both iOS devices and Macs.
All of the apps have a new feature designed to...
In a new support document, Apple has indicated that the first public beta release of macOS Catalina does not support switching between multiple iTunes libraries. This also applies to the first two...
Twelve South today announced its latest HiRise accessory, called the "HiRise Wireless," and it's available to purchase now on Twelve South's website. The new accessory is a...
OWC, a well-known maker of storage solutions for Macs and PCs, today debuted what it says is "the fastest USB-C SSD ever."
The new OWC Envoy Pro EX with USB-C is a bus-powered NVMe...
Apple accessory maker Mophie today debuted a three-in-one portable battery pack, wall charger, and wireless charging pad.
The new Powerstation Hub is equipped with a 6,100mAh battery, one 5W...
Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has pushed out an update that introduces a number of new location-based features, including the ability to Add People Nearby.
Users of the chat app can open...
Apple has released the first public beta of macOS Catalina, the next major version of its Mac operating system due to launch in the fall. The availability of the public beta means Mac users don't...
