The Two Apples

Two good articles from last week, after Apple’s launch of their new iPhones:

• iPhones 17 and the Sugar Water Trap, arguing that Apple is no longer in the business of changing the world but in selling sugar water. Very good sugar water, but sugar water nonetheless.
• What Ben & John don’t get, by Om Malik. Malik comments on the previous article—taking the quote from John’s Gruber website. Apple, Malik explains, is a hardware company at its core. It’s good at launching hardware platforms, but not so good at realizing their true capabilities and potential.

Apple is doing, money-wise, better than ever. This is not the same as saying that it’s the world-changing company you would expect it to be.