Whether it’s HomePod in 2017 or AirPods last year, Apple is slipping a bit when it comes to getting products into consumers’ hands on time.
Many of us have wondered why Cupertino has been less punctual with some of its new products in the last few years.
Well, the Wall Street Journal has put two-and-two together and come up with Tim Cook moving from COO to CEO.
WSJ says its analysis shows product delays have doubled since Tim Cook left his position overseeing the day-to-day operations in order to take over from the late Steve Jobs.
Related: Apple AirPods review
The report says: “Of the 70-plus new and updated products launched during Mr. Cook’s tenure, five had a delay between announcement and shipping of three months or more, and nine had delays of between one and three months. Roughly the same number of products were launched during Mr. Jobs’ reign, but only one product was delayed by more than three months.”
Competitive edge
The journal said the delays have led close observers to question whether Apple is “losing some of its competitive edge”
The delays include the first-gen Apple Watch, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro, as well as the aforementioned HomePod and AirPods.
The final pair missed the Christmas shopping period two years in a row.
However, there are mitigating circumstances for Cook, due to the number of brand new products rolled out during this tenure.
The Jobs effect?
Today’s report also points out when judging Cook’s tenure by other metrics, the delays are probably not at the top of Apple shareholders’ priorities.
Revenue has doubled since he took over, and Apple’s share price has tripled. The company also expects to announce new sales records for the final three months of 2017.
When Cook was COO of Apple, he was running day-to-day operations at the firm. It was his job to get stuff out on time. As CEO, his responsibilities have broadened significantly.
Could the delays be down to the loss of Jobs, who ruled with an iron fist? Does Cook have a softer hand and is it costing Apple valuable months?
Are you bothered that Apple products are taking longer to arrive than originally stated? Is that Tim Cook’s fault? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
