9to5Mac reports that “multiple sources” informed it of the proceedings, revealing Cook discussed Apple’s record-breaking earnings call, addressed the slow-down in iPad sales and explained his vision for Apple’s future development.
The CEO is said to have described Apple TV as providing the company with a “bright” presence in the living room, hinting at further development in the field. It is known that Apple has been working on building a cord-cutting cable-replacement service, so it is possible Cook was alluding to this.
He later mentioned additional products that are currently “far-off” but slated to be revealed publicly within the next few years. Apple’s hardware, services and software divisions are all working on projects currently revealed to a select few, indicating the company is planning for the future and the next evolution of smart technology.
In an unusual move, Cook also took time to talk about Apple’s presence — or lack thereof — on third-party platforms such as Android. Currently, its only notable Android app, aside from a data migration tool, is Apple Music. The company is apparently “testing the waters” and considering making more of its services run across different platforms.
By bringing the company’s various cloud-based apps to Android and Windows, Cook could expose Apple’s products to non-users while giving current customers more freedom to access their files anywhere they are. Apps like iMessage and iCloud make obvious sense on Android but Apple has so far refused to open its door to people without its hardware.
Later in the talk, Cook spoke of the iPhone, claiming Apple will be able to develop it further “for decades.” The CEO was also optimistic for iPad, despite sales of the tablet continuing to fall. Cook said that trend should be reversed this year, helped by new product launches such as last year’s iPad Pro and the iPad Air 3, believed to be coming in March.
As a thank you to employees, Cook rounded off the talk by announcing that Apple staff will now be able to claim up to four weeks of paid leave if they require extended time off work to care for a family member. Additionally, its extended maternity and paternity leave scheme, introduced in 2014, will be rolled out to the majority of the countries Apple operates in, giving employees new rewards and creating a friendly ethos for the company.
