Upgrade 613: I Know I Picked Too Many iPods
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Apr 27, 2026 They unpack Apple’s leadership shift and whether John Ternus will steer the company toward continuity or change. They explore Johny Srouji’s new hardware role and how teams might be reorganized. They debate App Store policy, event formats, and the fate of product lines like MacBook Neo and iPhone 18 Pro. They also touch on AI integration across Apple software and ongoing industry legal dramas.
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Touch Bar Showed Hardware Won But Software Didn't
- The Touch Bar is an example where hardware engineering delivered but software failed to follow through.
- Jason Snell says the hardware was impressive, but the software team 'ran away' and never made the Touch Bar useful.
App Store Policy Is A Plausible Early Leverage Point
- The App Store is an area where leadership change creates a realistic opportunity to alter policy or revenue posture.
- Snell notes Phil Schiller once argued to treat the store as cost-covering, but Apple chose to maximize revenue — a choice the new CEO could revisit.
Weigh Short Term Revenue Against Reduced Legal Friction
- Consider trading a small portion of App Store revenue for reduced regulatory and legal friction.
- Snell argues Apple could lower tension worldwide and settle lawsuits by easing strict App Store rules, which may be a net benefit.