Apple had a great 2017, posting record sales and profits and introducing some game changing products and software. I wonder what they are going to do with the estimated $45 billion windfall they will receive from the recently passed backwards wealth distribution.
But enough political commentary, it is Christmas! Let’s review some highlights of Apple’s 2017!
The iPhone X
My experience with the iPhone X has been the best of any new iPhone and I have had them all. I love the new iPhone with its space age facial recognition, Apple Pay Cash, wireless charging and wicked fast speed. My iPhone X is more powerful than the computers used to send astronauts to the moon and it fits in my hand. It has been a huge success, selling millions already!
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus also brought wireless charging and better cameras at a more reasonable price. They are not the game-changing iPhone X but they are new and selling very well.
Apple TV 4K
That’s been the hit of the season with the new Apple TV being hard to get and probably stimulating sales of new 4K TVs, too. Sony and Samsung should thank Apple. With Amazon Prime video now on Apple TV there is becoming less and less reason to have cable TV. I think that cable and satellite is not long for this world.
AirPods
Yeah, they shipped right before Christmas last year but they have been in short supply ever since. This could be the hottest Apple accessory product ever. We sell every one we can get our hands on and have had hundreds on order for months. The backlog on these is unbelievable. One distributor told me they are backordered some 35,000 units.
ARKit
iOS 11 introduced ARKit, a new framework that allows the creation of augmented reality experiences for iPhone and iPad. By blending digital objects and information with the environment around you, ARKit takes apps beyond the screen, freeing them to interact with the real world in entirely new ways. New apps using ARKit are coming out daily and we are just seeing the tip of the gigantic (melting) iceberg here!
iPad Pro 10.5 Inch
My favorite iPad. I find that unless I am working with my two big displays and our database and a couple spreadsheets open, that my iPad Pro 10.5 will do it all. I have mine paired with the Brydge keyboard case and I can see the day when that is all I will need. It is a huge advancement in the iPad line for 2017
iOS 11
iOS 11 is a big software operating system upgrade that among other things, brought us Apple Pay Cash. It changed how you interacted with devices, especially if your are using an iPhone X.
Apple Watch Series 3
Okay, no more Dick Tracy metaphors but the Apple Watch Series 3 was groundbreaking with its stand-alone cellular capabilities. Grace seldom takes her iPhone with her anymore as she answers her calls right from her watch. While you do pay for that privilege there is also a GPS model that makes Apple the clear leader in wearables.
iMac Pro
I was just making part numbers for all the various configurations of this new powerhouse Mac. You can buy the base model for just under $5,000 or soup it up big time and spend over $13,000! This is just shipping now so I might have to talk about it again in 2018.
AppleCare + for Macs
AppleCare + has been around for awhile for iPhones and iPads but this year Apple rolled out AppleCare + for Macs. It still has all the benefits of AppleCare – extending your warranty from 1-year to 3-years and technical support from 90-days to 3-years but now it adds accidental damage coverage for two incidents subject to a deductible. This is great for all those customers who come in with moisture sensors tripped but swear they didn’t spill that glass of wine on their laptop.
I would also mention HomePod except that Apple delayed that to 2018 so I would have something to write about next year. All-in-all a great year for Apple. iPad regained its sales mojo, new Macs, new iPhones, Watches and more future shock!