NEWSthe President trumpeting all of Apple’s American jobs
and investments in new campuses in the US, while
also getting the concessions he needs to continue
assembling products in other parts of the world?
It’s a tricky situation, as Cook’s careful language
shows. He is showing confidence in the global supply
chain while also dangling the possibility of assembling
Mac Pros in the US is quite a move. We’ll see what
happens next.Tim Cook likes to tease us
One final thought about Cook: he knows very well that
everyone, from the most high-flying Wall Street analyst
to your everyday person in the street, wants to know
what Apple is doing next. Try to ask him a question
about a future product and he’ll bat you down. An
analyst wanted to ask about the future of the iPhone
in a 5G world and Cook immediately broke out a “we
don’t comment on future products” before saying
that we’re currently in “the extremely early innings”
of the 5G transition.
Sometimes he can have fun with it, though. At the
very end of the prepared statement that started the
call, Cook – who said he was suffering from an allergy
and was coughing and clearing his throat throughout
the call – all of a sudden spoke with a rush of friendly
energy. “And without giving too much away, we have
several new products that we can’t wait to share with
you. Until then, thanks for joining us today,” he said.
New products, eh? I guess we’ll see you in
September, Tim.NEWSthePresidenttrumpetingallofApple’sAmericanjobs
and investments in new campuses in the US, while
alsogettingtheconcessionsheneedstocontinue
assemblingproductsinotherpartsoftheworld?
It’satrickysituation,asCook’scarefullanguage
shows.Heisshowingconfidenceintheglobalsupply
chainwhilealsodanglingthepossibilityofassembling
MacProsintheUSisquiteamove.We’llseewhat
happensnext.
TimCooklikestoteaseus
OnefinalthoughtaboutCook:heknowsverywellthat
everyone,fromthemosthigh-flyingWallStreetanalyst
toyoureverydaypersoninthestreet,wantstoknow
whatAppleisdoingnext.Trytoaskhimaquestion
aboutafutureproductandhe’llbatyoudown.An
analystwantedtoaskaboutthefutureoftheiPhone
in a5GworldandCookimmediatelybrokeouta“we
don’tcommentonfutureproducts”beforesaying
that we’recurrentlyin“theextremelyearlyinnings”
of the5Gtransition.
Sometimeshecanhavefunwithit,though.At the
veryendofthepreparedstatementthatstartedthe
call,Cook–whosaidhewassufferingfromanallergy
andwascoughingandclearinghisthroatthroughout
thecall–allofasuddenspokewitharushoffriendly
energy.“Andwithoutgivingtoomuchaway,wehave
severalnewproductsthatwecan’twaittosharewith
you.Untilthen,thanksforjoiningustoday,”he said.
Newproducts,eh?Iguesswe’llseeyouin
September,Tim.