Even if it used to be appreciated for its innovation, detractors of Apple say that the company has lost its touch. However, there is new hope that the iPhone 8 will save the high-tech giant from its current crisis.
Apple's Innovation Crisis
According to the website news.com.au, Apple CEO, Tim Cook had to consistently endure critics that the world famous tech company has lost its revolutionary edge. For instance, Quartz reports that Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur Steve Blank continued last week his tirade against Cook by stating that his promotion to the top spot was the worst decision of Apple's founder Steve Jobs.
In fact, Blank has frequently compared Cook to Steve Ballmer. Ballmer made highly profitable short-term moves after he took over Microsoft from Bill Gates, but a lack of vision in certain areas had negative consequences for the company. This affected Microsoft's profits in the long term by failing to capitalize on important technology trends such as cloud computing and mobile operating systems.
Apple's Upcoming iPhone 8
Many tech experts accuse Apple that it hasn't released a really innovative product in a while. But this can all change, as many hold high hopes for the iPhone's next year 10th anniversary. Tai Jeng-wu, an executive at Sharp's parent company Foxconn Technology Group, made comments last month stating that, if Apple's predicted adoption of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for the iPhone 8 don't prove to be a hit with consumers then the company could face an "innovation crisis."
Tai Jeng-wu said that it is still too early to know whether Apple's OLED iPhones will be a hit, but there will be no innovation if Apple doesn't transform itself. The company is in a crisis but this can also be seen as an opportunity. There are rumors and speculations claiming that the iPhone 8 will include a "radical redesign". This prediction is mostly based on the fact that in June Apple filed a patent for a curved phone entirely enveloped in glass. This kind of innovative design can be achieved only by using an OLED display.
There are also rumors that the upcoming iPhone 8 flagship phone's home button could be replaced by a feature allowing users to scan their fingerprint anywhere on the screen. The next-generation Touch ID fingerprint scanner embedded beneath the display and 3D Touch gestures will cover the home button's functionality.
According to BGR, it's also rumored that the iPhone 8 handset will come with wireless charging. Battery life is one of the top issues for a mobile device's performance. Even if Apple's iPhone 7 is among the world's best smartphones in terms of battery performance, the handset still needs to be charged at least once each day. Wireless fast charging solutions would be a great addition to implement into next generation iPhone 8.
Other exciting new features could transform the iPhone lineup into the biggest smartphone game-changer since the first iPhone was released nearly a decade ago in 2007. Among the enhancements rumored in Apple's upcoming new iPhones are included a new A11 Fusion processor and better cameras. It remains to be seen whether the new device is different enough to replenish the company's creative image.
