Is the blindness that Apple showed in the FCPX release a portent of Apple’s future?

[Chris Harlan]

I’ve been reading back over the leaks and rumors of the last two and a half years, and have found a surprising amount of information that turned out to be correct. I also noticed that FCP veered off course on a timeline that is relatable to the timeline of Steve Jobs’ declining health. Early leaks talk of waring development factions with unreconcilable visions of what FCS should be. Reading about those strong disagreements in direction, I can see how FCPX turned out to be the odd sort of sewn together monster that it has turned out to be. What is so perplexing about the software is the degree to which it seems to be a duck’s head sewn on to a dog’s body. There is a committee feel to the software, where different divisions seem to have won out with different aspects of the software, creating something that is neither this nor that, but a glob of compromise to satisfy internal company needs.

Is this where Apple is going? As Steve Jobs’ health continues to fail, will entrenched internal divisions continue to war? Will more and more future releases smell more and more of internal compromise? Apple almost died once before. The unique, singular focus that Steve Jobs provided turned that around into something amazing.

So, is this odd FCPX release the first sign of a collapsing Apple?

[Greg Burke]

I don’t think its a sign of apple collapsing, (Aren’t they to big to fail?). Its just a sign that they are jumping ship in the pro industry to focus on iCrap. I think thats what all the backlash is about (That and cutting support for FCS3) And that is what everyone is shocked by including me. I just don’t understand why they can’t do both? Please professionals and Consumers, and with Lion coming out I wouldn’t put it behind myself that Apple will drop “Macpro” towers in the next few years, in favor of nothing but gimmicky handheld devices, Great Handheld devices but small consumers products never the less.

I wear many hats.
http://www.gregburkepost.com

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Greg Burke] “I just don’t understand why they can’t do both? Please professionals and Consumers,”

Read this and you might have some more insight:

https://digitalcomposting.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/x-vs-pro/

[Chris Harlan]

Greg, that was my first reaction, and it certainly is one of the largest elements of what is wrong with FCPX, but even if it were that simple–and maybe it is–the handling of the transition is such an epic PR fail that I think you have to ask why? It should have been obvious.

[Paul Dickin]

[Chris Harlan] “There is a committee feel to the software…”
Hi
I’m not sure about that.
Here’s an archived posting from 2003 about Randy Ubilos’ intrangency over FCP:
I think we’re all agreed that the scratch disk settings do not work the way we’d like…
FWIW I had this discussion with Randy Ubilos – lead architect for FCP – and on the basis of that conversation I gave up any hope of it ever changing from the current system. Since I don’t bother fighting battles that are pointless and have no chance of success, I’ve just decided to learn to live with it. Makes me happier, but storing scratch disks with projects (not global preferences) will be a high prioirity on my feature request list.
Philip Hodgetts.
https://forums.creativecow.net/archivepost/8/309943

I reckon its a committee of two – Randy and Steve.

[Bob Woodhead]

https://digitalcomposting.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/x-vs-pro/

That is the most “inside” view I’ve read of Apple’s relationship to the professional world. And everyone here should read it. Thank you Jeremy for linking it.

“Constituo, ergo sum”

Bob Woodhead / Atlanta
Quantel-Avid-FCP-3D-AFX-Crayola
Panasonic HPX500/AF100

[Greg Burke]

True..good read. But My boss wont install FCP-X in our house cause there is no deck control. And not having that option at the gate cost apple a future customer We were going to buy and Install 3 new macpros with FCS4/FCPX but now he has canceled his orders and bought 5 PCs with Avid MC 5.5. I was bummed…

I wear many hats.
http://www.gregburkepost.com

[Chris Harlan]

Yeah, that was 2003. And, in 2003, I think it probably was a committee of two. My point is that the drift in the direction of Final Cut Pro is analogous to Steve Jobs becoming severely ill. The investment community is very worried that Steve Jobs IS Apple. If I were a deep pockets investor with huge stake in Apple, I would really have my eye on what is happening with FCPX. That’s why articles have been showing up in Fortune and Money. You can bet that there are analysts pouring over this forum for deeper insight.

[Greg Burke]

But the problem is some “vets” who own there on houses look at it say “..Its a toy..” Thats what my boss called it when I was trying to show him what it did.

I wear many hats.
http://www.gregburkepost.com

[Ron Lindeboom]

[Greg Burke] “I don’t think its a sign of Apple collapsing. (Aren’t they too big to fail?)”

This year, Wall Street is predicting the end of Nokia, the onetime leader in cell phones who held Number One status for years. Experts say that Nokia should be rolled up and put away by this time next year.

Also to go is onetime Number One food franchisor, A&W, who was the first to introduce the concept of fast food and had more restaurants than anyone in years gone by. Today, they are so weak they won’t last the year out.

Sears Roebuck & Co. was once the world’s largest and most respected retailer, they recently bought K-Mart who was once the largest discount retailer. Now? Experts say that Sears/K-Mart will be gone very shortly and that their lifespan will be in months, not years.

General Motors was at one time the largest corporation in the world. Recently, they had to restructure and spun off brands like SAAB, which is in such troubled status that they likely will not introduce 2013 models. Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn were shut down. Oldsmobile was once the largest and oldest continuously running auto nameplate in America. They’ve been gone years, joining Plymouth and others from the Chrysler line-up.

Some of the largest and most trusted names in home electronics, computers, hard drives, etc. — onetime leaders at the top of their respective stacks are now gone, or survive as nameplates only, tacked on to other people’s products for the sake of milking past goodwill. RCA, Zenith, Connor, Magnavox, Sylvania, Packard Bell, Compaq, Seagate, Quantum and many others, are gone — though someone may have picked up the rights to the name at a fire sale somewhere.

Being the leader doesn’t save anyone. It merely gives one the opportunity for survival. But it’s never guaranteed.

Best regards,

Ronald Lindeboom
CEO, Creative COW LLC
Publisher, Creative COW Magazine

Creativity is a process wherein the student and the teacher are located in the same individual.

“Incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm.” – Woody Allen