Apple Needs Services Not Products at WWDC XIII

With WWDC happening next week there is a lot of speculation of what Apple will need to do in order to be back on top of the market. The company has had a great deal of success since the launch of their first iPhone in 2007. However the iconic company seems to be running out of updates to continue winning over the eager costumers.

Apple's unique line of products are no longer unique to the consumer base. The iPhone 5 was a thinner and taller version of the iPhone 4S that featured all of the same features. The iPad Mini was a stripped down version of the iPad ditching the retina display for a second version that will most likely be released coming months. And finally, the most recent product to date, is the iPod Touch that Apple quietly released. The device is completely stripped of a back camera and comes with memory storage.

In a world of growing alternatives, even the dedicated Apple consumers are getting worried that Apple isn't the way to go. Although the rapid release of products has worked in the past, we have yet to see any new releases that have trumped competitors such as Samsung or even Google.

But it's not just the devices that Apple needs to step up. Last year's WWDC unveiled the much anticipated iOS 6. Much to everyone's surprise, the OS didn't bring much new to the table.

Original iPhone vs iPhone 5

Apple's features in iOS included getting rid of Google Maps, adding a minor update to Siri, along with Facebook integration, and the introduction of shared photo streams and passbook. Other updates were included, but weren't much different from iOS 5, but instead a modification of what already existed.

The problem lies in the fact that iOS has remained virtually unchanged since it's initial release. While it's simplicity has won over many loyal customers, it seems boring comparative to the capabilities of Android powered phones.

The difference between the two rivals is that Apple is known for making great hardware, while Google is known for making great services. The two have fought back and forth for many years, but Apple always found a way to stay ahead. However, this was the first year that the iPhone didn't win over the market. Instead, phones such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the Nexus 4 found a way into costumers hearts. The reason being: Google has the better services.

Google Now vs Siri

Apple may turn to features such as Siri and iCloud to make an argument that the iPhone is better, but when push comes to shove, Android has them beat. The great thing about Google is that once you log in, you have access to all Google services that are brought together with Google Now, which works much faster than Apple's Siri. Google Now provides the user with everything they may need before they ask for it by keeping track of weather, traffic, calendar evens, travel information, and sports updates all with a swipe up. If Apple is going to compete with such a service, Siri needs a major overhaul.

In addition, most iPhone users don't know the first thing about iCloud. Even if they did, they'd realize it's a dead end cloud storage option. The reason being that it is primarily used for Apple applications and users can't utilize it as say Google Drive. With iCloud users don't have the luxury of adding or accessing their own files from their computer. However rumors state a service called AirDrop may be reintroduced to be used with iOS devices to potentially fill that void.

Apple may also release a music service similar to Pandora, Spotify and most recently Google Music All Access. The service would most likely be called iRadio, however many are unsure how it could be different from it's predecessors.

Potential Apple Streaming Service

The good news is that iOS 7 will most definitely get an overhaul with Jony Ive hard at work. Reports say that the OS will be flatter, getting rid of the trademark realistic aesthetics that Apple has been known for on their icons and within their applications. Additional Apple services may appear alongside the pretty new user interface, but only time will tell.

iOS 7 Mockup