The Apple Intelligence Delay: A Cautionary Tale of Missed Red Flags
As a tech enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for the latest developments in the world of technology. But sometimes, even the most seasoned experts can miss the obvious. Take, for example, Apple’s recent announcement that its “more personalized Siri” features, scheduled to appear between now and WWDC, would be delayed until “the coming year”. I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t. And I’m not alone.
In this article, John Gruber, a well-known tech blogger, shares his own story of missing the red flags surrounding Apple’s announcement. He reflects on how he was lulled into complacency by Apple’s track record of consistently shipping pre-announced products and features, and how he was distracted by the “Apple Intelligence” brand umbrella.
The Four Stages of “Doneness”
Gruber highlights the four stages of “doneness” or “realness” to features announced by any company:
- On-stage demos: Features that the company’s own product representatives will demo, themselves, in front of the media.
- Guided demos: Features that the company will allow members of the media (or other invited outside observers and experts) to try themselves, for a limited time, under the company’s supervision and guidance.
- Beta software: Features that are released as beta software for developers, enthusiasts, and the media to use on their own devices, without limitation or supervision.
- Shipping to regular users: Features that actually ship to regular users, and hardware that regular users can just go out and buy.
The Red Flags
Gruber notes that Apple itself strongly hinted that the various features in Apple Intelligence wouldn’t all ship at the same time. He argues that the more trivial features would ship first, and the more ambitious features later. This should have been a clear indication that not all features would be ready for launch.
Lessons Learned
So, what can we learn from this cautionary tale? Here are a few key takeaways:
- Don’t assume that all features will ship at the same time. Companies often prioritize the most trivial features first, and the more ambitious features later.
- Pay attention to the language used by companies when announcing new features. If they’re using language like “coming soon” or “in the future”, it may indicate that not all features will be ready for launch.
- Don’t get too caught up in the hype surrounding new features. Take a step back and evaluate the information critically.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Apple Intelligence delay is a reminder that even the most seasoned experts can miss the obvious. By paying attention to the language used by companies and evaluating the information critically, we can avoid missing the red flags and stay ahead of the curve.