Of these, its smart TV operations remain deeply cloaked in secrecy, while many argue the company is unlikely to ever release an official gaming controller. Apple doesn't like games.
In that context, the announcement of the first Apple-sanctioned thirdparty gamepad for iOS changes nothing in terms of the bigger picture.
Something new
Yet, the news that peripheral company Duo Games/Discovery Bay, together with Gameloft, has released the first Apple-approved thirdparty gamepad for iOS does have significance.
For once thing, it opens the gate for other companies - both hardware and software - to hook up and release similar products.
As far as we know, Apple won't allow such controller hardware that generally supports games and apps from multiple companies, but will bless those that support one software company's products, hence Gameloft's involvement with Duo Games.
This provides an opportunity for traditional console publishers such as EA, Activision, Sega etc, as well as something to think about for the likes of DeNa and Rovio, or maybe even Mojang (a blocky Minecraft controller?) or Backflip (an egg-shaped DragonVale controller).
Touchyfeely
Of course, only those companies with very strong brands - and deep pockets - will want to get involved in this hardware business.
In the case of Gameloft and Duo Games, the Duo Gamer controller costs $80, looks ugly, and is lower quality than many of the general Bluetooth gaming controllers that are now becoming available for Android devices.
Equally, while the games it's optimised for - Asphalt 7, Modern Combat 3, Order & Chaos Online, Brothers in Arms 2 and N.O.V.A. 3 - are good, they're not the height of iOS gaming, nor riding high in the charts.
Obviously, this will change as Gameloft releases new games, but let's face it, the company is not the most loved in the mobile gaming world.
Start of something
Perhaps what will be most interesting in the longterm is whether such controllers can be used to provide additional revenue in terms of getting the so-called whales of free-to-playing gaming to spend big on branded controllers for the games they really love.
This is difficult as these games tend not to demand complex controls. NaturalMotion won't be releasing a steering wheel for CSR Racing for example.
On the lower end, very cheap controllers could be bundled by retailers with iPad or iPod touch, or perhaps even given away by publishers as a new discovery channel. For example, when you boot up the Duo Gamer, it takes you to the App Store, only highlighting the Gameloft titles for which it's optimised.
Still, the biggest question in this area remains whether Apple will ever decide to create a first party gaming peripheral.
It seems highly unlikely, but you can never say never.
No doubt, the folks at Cupertino will be keeping a beady eye on sales of the Duo Gamer - something they'll have good information about given that it will be available online via the Apple store.
