Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on CNBC's Mad Money to speak about the current and future state of Apple. He even used one of Steve Jobs' most famous quotes when speaking about what is believed to be the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Apple reported its most recent earnings, and tech pundits and analysts viewed them as a disaster. The company's stock has fallen rapidly since then, and in an effort to reassure investors and consumers that Apple's best days aren't behind it, Cook spoke at the show about the hysteria, and mentioned what is likely Apple's next line of flagship smartphones.
In recent weeks there have been numerous reports claiming that Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus won't be the must-have devices almost all previous iPhones were, since the handsets are believed to look very similar to their predecessors, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
The launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus could be similar to the company's "s" moniker iPhone release, according to analysts.
A redesigned iPhone 8 is reportedly being considered by Apple to replace the iPhone 7s's expected release in 2017. If these reports are to be believed and judging from Cook's comments to Jim Cramer, it certainly sounds like the next-generation iPhones will focus more on features, like previous "s" moniker iPhones, but have enough of them to make current and future owners want to upgrade.
The CEO also used a similar line to one of his predecessor Jobs, who once said, "People don't know what they want until you show it to them." Cook tried to reassure any doubters of recent iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus reports and their perceived lack of reasons to upgrade. The statement was also meant to resonate with Apple's loyal fan base who would immediately recognize the Steve Jobs quote and feel a sense of comfort that Apple would continue to innovate and create products with killer features, just as they did under the leadership and ideology of Jobs.
"We've got great innovation in the pipeline. New iPhones that will incentivize you and other people [who] have iPhones today to upgrade to new iPhones," said Cook in the interview. "We are going to give you things you can't live without that you just don't know you need today. That has always been the objective of Apple. To do things that really enrich people's lives. That you look back on and you wonder how did I live without this."
The features could be viewed as major and are possibly already offered by several of Apple's rivals.
One of two features Cook could have been hinting at is a reported plan taking a page out of Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge playbook by making the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus waterproof.
Samsung fared better than its main rival Apple when it reported its Q1 earnings, which were up due in part to healthy sales of its latest flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. One new and very popular feature that has been highlighted in commercials and reviews is the waterproof case Samsung built for the smartphones.
A second possible feature could be wireless charging, which is offered in practically every flagship Android smartphone. A recent report showed off the schematics for the iPhone 7 Plus, and its rear case showed Apple's new Smart Connector, which is only found on the 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The feature allows the devices to seamlessly connect to accessories without setting up Bluetooth and also allows the ability to charge wirelessly with a supported accessory.
iPhone users have been hoping for a wireless charging feature for years and if the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus do rock a Smart Connector, many current iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus owners would upgrade for the added convenience the feature offers.
Do you think Apple's best days are behind it or will it remain one of the most innovative companies in the world? Let us know in the comments below.
You can also watch the video below.
