Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s Tim Cook Is Trying My Patience

As The Fool’s astute Evan Niu pointed out in a piece published on April 22, Cook has delivered strong fundamentals: “Last quarter was quite literally the strongest quarter Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has ever posted in terms of revenue, net income and unit volumes for the iPhone and iPad, even if it wasn’t enough for investors.”

It could also be argued, however, that Cook recently squandered a golden opportunity last week to show that he and his company are on the right track. He appeared on May 28 as the main attraction at the All Things Digital conference in California. Cook could have seized the moment. Instead, he talked in vague concepts and offered his stockholders nothing in the way of assurances that they should feel good about their investments.

As I examined MarketWatch’s liveblog account of Cook’s comments, the word that comes to mind is “discouraging.” I am not an Apple stockholder but I can imagine that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Nation gnashed its teeth when Cook chose not to give the slightest bit of detail to describe Apple’s strategy and his own vision.

For example, when asked about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s formidable foes, Cook answered: “We’ve always had competent rivals.”

Whither the future? “We have to focus on products.”

What can we look forward to from Tim Cook’s Apple?

“We have several game changers in us.”

And how about that ever-declining stock price? It “has been frustrating.”

Say, what abut the much-discussed Apple TV? It has been “very good as a learning point.”

Everyone is now talking about computer wearables, such as Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass (or, dare I say, the prospective iWatch from Apple). What do you think, Mr. Cook? “I’m interested in a great product.”

And so it went.

Maybe I expect too much. But Cook certainly has the goods. He is by all indications a laser-smart, genial, forward-thinking CEO. He keeps his cool in interviews and never allows the questioners to throw him off his game, much like a tennis player who won’t be pushed to abandon his game plan.

I just wish he would tell us what’s on his mind. He would help the shareholders, the company — and, yes, himself.

The article Apple’s Tim Cook Is Trying My Patience originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jon Friedman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG).

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