Ever since that lady with the hammer smashed the iron grip of IBM in 1984 Apple has been a leader in designing popular technology.
Thanks to mega-hits like the iPod, iPhone, and Macbook, Apple products have gotten so popular that the company can basically decree what the next cultural tech obsession will be and we all lap it up.
A distinct pattern has emerged in recent years where Apple will announce a new product like the iPad or Airpods, then everyone will make fun of the design or of the name… and then everyone (who can afford it) will wind up bowing to Apple’s trendsetting power and buying one anyway.
Recently Apple debuted an upcoming line of headphones – the Airpods Max– and people are murmuring about the design.
So we’re clearly in Phase 2 before everyone admits defeat and goes out to buy the dang things.