A 'Cheaper' iPhone: Absolutely Awful News for Apple

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Supersize smartphones, tablets and televisions sets -- that's the innovation coming out of this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Other than automotive technology from companies such as Ford (F) and Verizon (VZ) , Vegas has little for the mass market outside of larger screens.

I don't know what to say. It's so absurd I'm not certain if I should laugh or cry.

Back in the day -- you know, last year, the year before -- Apple (AAPL) captured our attention in the time just before, during and/or after CES. Everybody waited to hear what Apple would do next. While that mood still exists, it's not quite the same.

So, Apple revolutionizes multiple spaces with iPod, iPhone and iPad. The lowest-end Mac proceeds to outclass upper-echelon PCs. Now, with true innovation standing slightly still at Apple, other companies have the opportunity to pounce. What do they do? Absolutely nothing. That's awful news.

The cats at CES don't have a damn thing. All Google (GOOG) wants to do is start a price war that Apple -- hopefully -- wants no part of. Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer is busy being absolutely delusional.

Meantime, Amazon.com (AMZN) sits cross-legged in the corner, feigning competition with Apple, just as it should.

That's all good for Apple, if only it was routinely pioneering as it has in the past.

We have no idea what's going on with the company's living room plans. Worse yet, we don't really know if Tim Cook has any idea how to move forward with Apple TV.