Apple's New Release: Hit or Miss?

Summary

Earn Your Leisure Podcast Summary
Episode: Apple's New Release: Hit or Miss?
Release Date: March 1, 2025
Hosts: Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings

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Introduction

In this episode of Earn Your Leisure, hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings delve into Apple's latest product release, sparking a heated debate among tech analysts about its success and future implications. The discussion provides an in-depth analysis of Apple's strategic moves, product innovation, and market performance, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of where the tech giant stands in the current landscape.

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Segment 1: Initial Reactions to Apple's Release (00:45 - 01:59)

The episode kicks off with tech analysts reacting to Apple's recent announcement, which many perceive as a flop. The initial sentiments are mixed, with some expressing disappointment while others offer tentative congratulations.

Notable Quotes:

• Tech Analyst 1 [00:45]: "Apple flop announcement of 16e."
• Tech Analyst 2 [00:50]: "Yeah."

The analysts debate whether the latest product aligns with Apple's legacy of innovation or falls short of consumer expectations. There's particular focus on the surprise nature of the announcement and skepticism about its market reception.

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Segment 2: Critique of Apple's Current Strategy (01:05 - 04:31)

The conversation shifts to a critical examination of Apple's strategic direction. Analysts express concerns over Apple's lack of groundbreaking products, referencing past successes and questioning the company's ability to replicate that momentum.

Notable Quotes:

• Tech Analyst 2 [01:05]: "Respectfully, I know y'all locked my account hq. I know y'all mad at me for y'all to be in the comment. Yo, you don't got to relate."
• Tech Analyst 2 [02:10]: "I love Apple. I love Tim Cook. This is true. And I tell you this for every entrepreneur. This is why, okay? When investors come up, it was like Drumline up there, right? Because if you have too many flops in a row, what happens? Get put on waivers."
• Tech Analyst 2 [03:15]: "They need another hit product and I'm going to keep saying you need to go find Johnny. I've take him out of his consultancy, pay him whatever 50 million dollar he wants a year. They need another hit product."

The analysts highlight Apple's hesitancy to venture beyond its traditional product lines, suggesting that the company needs to innovate or risk stagnation. There is also a discussion about Apple's investment in infrastructure, like data centers, and questions about the integration of AI into their products.

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Segment 3: Comparison with Competitors (04:31 - 07:10)

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how Apple compares to its competitors, particularly in terms of product innovation and market performance. Analysts draw parallels with companies like Nvidia and Tesla, emphasizing the importance of consistent, groundbreaking releases.

Notable Quotes:

• Tech Analyst 2 [05:19]: "But we got a new special release announcement."
• Tech Analyst 3 [06:05]: "They need to go find Johnny. I've take him out of his consultancy, pay him whatever 50 million dollar he wants a year. They need another hit product."
• Tech Analyst 2 [07:06]: "No, not yet. Just need to do better."

The conversation underscores the pressure on Apple to maintain its leading position by continually delivering innovative products. The analysts argue that without such efforts, Apple risks being outpaced by competitors who are more agile and forward-thinking.

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Segment 4: Leadership and Corporate Culture (07:10 - 08:36)

The analysts transition to discussing Apple's leadership under CEO Tim Cook, comparing his tenure to that of Elon Musk at Tesla. They debate whether Cook's leadership style is effective in fostering innovation and maintaining Apple's competitive edge.

Notable Quotes:

• Tech Analyst 2 [07:10]: "Tim Cook Chairman. We've gotta find another CEO."
• Tech Analyst 3 [07:57]: "He's operated his way into a multi trillion dollar market cap. I get all that. Stock is performing well. But they do need another hit product."
• Tech Analyst 2 [08:07]: "So. And if all y'all like, yo, your Apple take is crazy, I'm part of the reason why you gotta invest into Apple."

The discussion touches on the challenges Cook faces in balancing Apple's traditional strengths with the need for continuous innovation. There's mention of talent loss within the company and concerns about the diminishing influence of Apple's executive team.

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Segment 5: Future Prospects and Recommendations (08:36 - 10:57)

In the final segment, the analysts contemplate Apple's future directions and offer recommendations. They emphasize the necessity for Apple to diversify its product offerings and integrate advanced technologies like AI more seamlessly.

Notable Quotes:

• Tech Analyst 3 [09:06]: "Remember he said that, right?"
• Tech Analyst 2 [09:28]: "Don't sell Apple stock. This is called an assessment SWOT analysis, so I know we're gonna get that you. Should I sell? No, not yet."
• Tech Analyst 3 [09:56]: "How Apple is becoming our generation's IBM? We're not there yet but we're getting mighty."

The analysts conclude that while Apple's current performance remains strong, the company must prioritize innovation and strategic investments to sustain its market dominance. They caution against complacency and encourage Apple to explore new industries, such as healthcare, to broaden its impact.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a consensus that Apple's latest release is at a critical juncture. While the company's financials and market position remain robust, the need for transformative products is more pressing than ever. The hosts encourage listeners to stay informed and engaged with Apple's developments, understanding that the tech giant's next moves will significantly influence the broader market landscape.

Final Thoughts by Hosts:

Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings emphasize the importance of blending financial insights with cultural trends, reminding listeners that Apple's journey is not just about technology but also about shaping the future of business and innovation.

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Additional Content: Carvana Advertisements

Interspersed throughout the episode are Carvana advertisements promoting their hassle-free car buying and selling services. These segments highlight the ease and convenience of using Carvana, complementing the podcast's focus on financial and business insights.

Notable Advertisements:

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While these ads serve as commercial breaks, they briefly divert from the main discussion, providing listeners with practical financial solutions related to automotive purchases.

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Key Takeaways

• Apple's Innovation Stagnation: Concerns about Apple's recent product not living up to its legacy and the need for continuous innovation.
• Leadership Challenges: Debates on Tim Cook's effectiveness in steering Apple towards future success compared to competitors like Elon Musk at Tesla.
• Market Performance vs. Product Quality: Apple maintains strong financials but faces criticism over product diversification and technological advancements.
• Future Strategies: Recommendations for Apple to explore new industries and integrate advanced technologies like AI to sustain market dominance.
• Competitive Landscape: Emphasis on the importance of staying ahead of competitors through consistent and groundbreaking product releases.

This episode of Earn Your Leisure provides a nuanced exploration of Apple's current standing, offering valuable insights for investors, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts alike.

Transcript

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[Tech Analyst 1]

Apple flop announcement of 16e.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Congrats.

[Tech Analyst 1]

Are you disappointed in the release and their big announcement? What should they do next? What's. What's the deal?

[Tech Analyst 3]

Okay, I just give you your congratulations. Last week, you said it was going to be a phone. I was like, nah, they're not gonna do something silly like that.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Okay. I. I've learned the sandwich method, so I want to try this week. Okay. So congrats on the investment into the country. After you went and had a conversation with executive leadership in the country, some of those jobs will be coming to Houston, Texas, which I'm in. So it will create jobs. I love that you're trying to aid in the GDP growth and thwarting China from becoming a superpower when it comes to AI. Okay, he's in the middle of the sandwich. We don't need another phone. Respectfully, I know y'all locked my account hq. I know y'all mad at me for y'all to be in the comment. Yo, you don't got to relate. HQ's mad at me. I love them, but they don't love me no more. That's okay. We need something. You should have made that Damn Oculus knockoff 5.99.

[Tech Analyst 3]

The older vision Pro.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Yes. What happened to the glucose monitor? Watch. Well, I can know my breath rate. Listen, I love Apple. I love Tim Cook. This is true. And I tell you this for every entrepreneur. This is why, okay? When investors come up, it was like Drumline up there, right? Because if you have too many flops in a row, what happens? Get put on waivers. Apple is being outperformed. Okay, let me ask you this. Where is their AI? Elon built something 18 months when Apple could have went and bought Deep Seek. You could have bought a deep fake and put that in the iPhone. Where is it now? Back to the positive. One of the greatest CEOs of all time. He's operated his way into a multi trillion dollar market cap. I get all that. Stock is performing well. But they do need another hit product and I'm going to keep saying you need to go find Johnny. I've take him out of his consultancy, pay him whatever 50 million dollar he wants a year. They need another hit product. I know they get 30 out of the ecosystem. I've been investing in Apple for a long time but if this does not become better, which is the onboarding tool to get people in tech on it is going to have an issue. And there's a lot of videos from Apple fanboys and in corporate who used to work there, who asked, who are asking now is Apple becoming our generation's IBM? We're not there yet but we're getting mighty. Let me ask you how many, how many does do I get on investor stage before you say hey bro, not this year. Two max, right? Oh no, thank you, thank you. You get what this is a lesson of the year. You get one time to up in real life. You don't get a wolf's old boy who dropped it on the Ravens and he was like falling and my boy, the apology letter don't work. Put it in chat. You have to deliver a hit every time Nvidia, even though Jensen starts signing breast, he's delivered hit product. And if you look over the last four years Nvidia has outperformed Apple in terms of product release. You can argue X has outperformed Apple on pure product release. We don't need another kitty phone. A16.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Yeah, 16. I think the price point was what they were trying to sell us. It's going to be 5.99. Whatever. Yeah, I mean it's, whatever this, it's not a new product. I thought they should move into the healthcare space and have a product that would be there. I thought maybe they would finally hopefully you know, figure out this Vision Pro situation where it only has, check this out. Last year it's been one year since it released. It had 2000 and I think 2100 apps when it opened right that first month. It now has 1800 apps. They've actually gone down in apps for the. They lost apps and so there's been no innovation there. It was supposed to be the product. It's a, I mean I thought that I have the product. It's a good product. They just don't have anything for it and they haven't built anything around it. So it, it sucks.

[Tech Analyst 2]

But we got a new special release announcement.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Yeah but the, the stock, I mean it hit its all time high. New Year's Eve, Christmas eve. I'm sorry 260. It's not far off from that. Right. Today was at $248. So we're not talking about something that has a decline dramatically and they haven't really had the product. I know they keep saying oh the cycle, the phone cycle. The phone cycle. The numbers are coming in for the phone cycle every quarter. We keep hearing that the phone cycle is going to and it. It hasn't happened yet. And then today we hear the 500. So now we're talking about a huge capex spend. Right? 125 billion a year. I know you just questioned where's the AI? It's for the infrastructure of it and the building of the data centers. But what is app is that mean like Apple AI is not going to be on our phones. Like we're still waiting for that to happen going on at Apple. Still. Still in the portfolio. But yeah, a lot of questions man.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Tech Analyst 3]

And it keeps performing. It just keeps performing.

[Tech Analyst 2]

And you have to ask okay, if we go through the product line. Let's just go through the main superstar products. Is there a reason to buy an Apple iPad once every three years? Like it's almost a useless product that the Apple pen. It's too what most def said about my boy. Too many skus.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Too many. Yeah. I mean what you gotta Apple Watch. Do you. Do you need another Apple Watch? Do you need another iPad?

[Tech Analyst 2]

No.

[Tech Analyst 3]

I mean the product is good which is a great thing but it. We don't have to update every year like we used to when it was the phone. Like you got a 12. I got a. I think I don't even know what number I have but I know we're almost up to 17 and I didn't get the last two at least.

[Tech Analyst 2]

No it works.

[Tech Analyst 3]

As long as it works.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Tim Cook Chairman. We've gotta find another CEO. Just like when Doc Rivers won that one title at Boston. He looked good after that on paper. Got it. Hey, thank you for the one. They're gonna go deliver him at the time when we need it. I don't know if he's a C. Okay, is Tim Cook with the racism included is Tim Cook better than Eli.

[Tech Analyst 3]

As far as what CEO? They're in the same tier for sure. From what he's. He's from the Time he took over Apple to present day. I mean, it's actually better than what Elon's done in Tesla. In the same time, they're 3 trillion dollar company.

[Tech Analyst 2]

They are behind a lot of that off Steve Jobs back, and they don't give him credit.

[Tech Analyst 3]

I'm just. Yo, this happened.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Tech Analyst 3]

You feel me?

[Tech Analyst 2]

So. And if all y'all like, yo, your Apple take is crazy, I'm part of the reason why you gotta invest into Apple. No, it's not HQ saying this too, but he run that like A. Like FA2, so you can't say too much up there. But when Steve Jobs's impact get reduced to theater, it tells you a lot about the new culture there that a lot of people don't like. And a lot of people that are in executives on the executive side of Apple are leaving too.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Yeah, that was. That was what I was gonna. They've lost a lot of talents like the guys you messaged. Like, they've lost talent that was able to create innovation. And so what's happened? Well, even the. The phones, it's like we're gonna watch another company, whether it's Huawei or we're gonna watch what they're doing Google, we'll watch what they're doing inside the phone and we'll try to make it our own version of that. And that'll be part of the new additions to the iPhone where it's like, nah, man. If you look in China, y, they're not even in the top five anymore at all.

[Tech Analyst 2]

When a bunch of these companies came and pitched to be in your ecosystem and you told them the product wasn't good enough. What? And don't package a 17F either. Rashad, you can take your meeting. So you smart. You know that was Ian talking crazy. I love you.

[Tech Analyst 3]

Remember he said that, right?

[Tech Analyst 1]

All right, all right. Hit the like button and share. We almost at the.

[Tech Analyst 3]

No.

[Tech Analyst 2]

Don't sell Apple stock. This is called an assessment SWOT analysis, so I know we're gonna get that you. Should I sell? No, not yet. I'm just. Just need to do better. Like some of y'all men who got girlfriends who disappointed like. See, that's how the Steve Smith come in.

[Tech Analyst 1]

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[Tech Analyst 3]

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