Apple unveiled some small updates to the iPhone and iPad Pro today, but it also took some of that stage time to make jabs at its biggest competitors.
Both Microsoft and Google were called out on stage for being behind the times. The first burn came from iOS marketing vice president Greg Joswiak, who was touting the update numbers Apple gets for its mobile operating system.
“iOS 9 today is running on 80 percent of our active iOS devices,” Joswiak said. “That compares incredibly favorably with the latest version of Android, also released this past fall, which is running on—two percent of their active devices.”
That last line was met with muted laughter, but it was senior vice president of marketing Phil Schiller who really went after the competition. At first, he used some pretty surprising figures about who is switching to the iPad Pro.
“The majority of people who come to an iPad Pro are coming from a Windows PC, a desktop or a notebook,” Schiller said to highlight the power possible in the latest iPad product line.
But he didn’t stop there.
“There are over 600 million PCs in use today that are over five years old,” he said. “This is really sad. These people could really benefit from an iPad Pro.”
Previously: Apple’s iPad Pro outsells Microsoft Surface tablets in debut quarter
The animosity is a little strange; Microsoft helped Apple launch the original iPad Pro back in September, the last major Apple event. Now, Apple is looking to steal Windows users away from Microsoft. While Microsoft has been diversifying its consumer options in recent years with iOS and Android app acquisitions, the Windows platform is the backbone of many of its projects, including the Surface lineup, the Xbox and even the HoloLens.
But Schiller’s comments weren’t just offensive to Microsoft fans; many people found them insensitive to low-income users, as the Daily Dot pointed out.
"PEOPLE HAVE OLD COMPUTERS!" *audience of affluent white males laughs*
— Patrick Lucas Austin (@patbits) March 21, 2016
Dear Phil Schiller, I'm sorry I made you sad, but somedays I have to decide between school, food, sometimes med over an iPad. Sorry. #pc
— Ana Jasso (@friends60ana) March 21, 2016
Schiller’s comments were likely meant as an encouraging note about the capabilities of the newest Apple product. And with a price point starting at $599, it’s a cheaper option to upgrade for those on a tight budget. But Schiller’s phrasing may have benefited from a little more polish, and not just because it caused offence.
So did Apple seriously say the only market left for iPad growth is people on ancient Windows PCs? ??
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) March 21, 2016
