Is Apple playing 'catch-up'?

Apple is known to have some of the most unique products that the world has seen. It reached new heights when Steve Jobs announced the iPod, as it became one of the most revolutionary products of its time. The iPhone and the iPad followed and gained the crown of the best smartphone and tablet in the world. No doubt Apple has produced the most refined products of the last decade, but are they still on top?

Steve Jobs had a vision of making unique products for consumers and during his reign, Apple definitely was a distinguished brand. However since his departure, the company seems to be floundering a bit. 

Yesterday's announcement was said to be Apple's biggest announcement ever and not only did it update its iPhone, it brought in a phablet as well as a smartwatch. The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus look elegant and are definitely the best looking iPhones till date. Even the new Apple Watch is something out of this world. Not only does it look good, it comes with a number of strap options, and has way more capabilities and features than any smartwatch that we have seen. 

Let's get a bit realistic now. Every time Apple launches new products, there is a huge buzz, no doubt and yes it delivers some of the most iconic products. But since the past few years, every announcement seems to involve more of 'catching-up' rather than focusing on the unique prospect of the products. The company is slightly tilting towards following the demands and trends of the market rather than creating them. Few years back it pushed its boundaries and launched a 4-inch iPhone (as opposed to Steve Jobs' ideas of a more compact device) and then later introduced a smaller 8-inch iPad to catch up with the market demand of 7 and 8-inch tablets. 

This year, yet again, it has stuck to the idea of providing what consumers want. The adoption of large screened smartphones has forced Apple to bring in a 4.7-inch as well as a phablet sized 5.5-inch iPhone. And with the smartwatch market finally taking shape, the Apple Watch comes in as a desperate attempt to fit in. If we think about it, Android is now laying out a path for Apple reducing its efforts in experimenting with products. While a few years back, when the first iPhone was launched, it was the other way round.