As I said, cameras or something similar would be working to their strengths. Hell, build a game console, Microsoft eventually pulled that off and Apple has a huge leg up.
But, the thing is they don’t need to be good at something. Giant companies regularly expend into new areas. Employ the right people, make some investments, and suddenly they are competitive.
I am not saying Apple should diversify like this. However, it is an option.
Game consoles are also not hugely profitable. In fact they are sold at a loss for the most part for the first few years. Microsoft loss billions selling game consoles on the first two or three generations. Even now, the mobile app market is larger and more profitable than the console market for Apple with them taking a 30% cut.
On top of that, Apple already announced the subscription Apple Arcade service and their games will run on iPhones, iPads, AppleTVs and Macs.
Between Microsoft and Sony, they sold a little over 100 million of the current generation consoles during their entire existence (https://www.cinemablend.com/games/2417541/ea-reveals-how-man...) - many of them at a loss. Apple sells 50-70 million iOS devices every quarter.
Heck Apple will probably sell more Watches (at a profit) than that during its first 5 years.
People are already spending more time on mobile devices than consoles.
As far as cameras, the standalone camera market has been declining for years because of the smart phone. There is only so much you can do with cameras in phones because of both physics and the cost has to be low enough to make the entire phone affordable. I’m sure no one at Apple is thinking about releasing the Apple QuickTake 2.
The point of this exercise was to find areas they could have spent that 17 billion on R&D. A few billion losses for a few years for a net long term gain is the point of investing in R&D.
Further, as I have listed areas they could be investing in but are not that you have had zero objections to. I think it's clear they have less focus on R&D than was possible.
Yes and every area you posted is about them getting into declining markets - most of which are declining because of the smart phone.
Microsoft made $10 billion in revenue last year on the XBox - they don’t mention profit (https://www.geekwire.com/2018/microsofts-record-setting-10b-...). Microsoft still probably hasn’t recouped their losses in the Xbox division and the console market isn’t expected to grow.
Apple made about 24 billion on the Mac during the previous four quarters (https://sixcolors.com/post/2019/07/apple-third-quarter-2019-...). You know Apple doesn’t sell a single Mac where they don’t make a healthy profit. The Mac is nowhere near their best performing segment.
Smartphones also largely killed off the watch industry but they where happy to jump into that market. It’s just a question of positive ROI not the ultra long term.
Yes and the Apple Watch is a wearable computer that does a lot more than just tell time. What do you propose they bring to the standalone console, TV, or camera market that will make a declining market make money?
But, the thing is they don’t need to be good at something. Giant companies regularly expend into new areas. Employ the right people, make some investments, and suddenly they are competitive.
I am not saying Apple should diversify like this. However, it is an option.