Steve Jobs Resigned!

[Squallmuzza]

He's stood down after however long in his position. This could be the beginning of the end considering Apple is losing it's hold in the US (Android now has double their market share) What do you guys think about it? Story first broken and full details here: Nerd Junkies

 

[gb2000ie]

This is not nearly as big of news as it sounds.

Firstly, Steve is not leaving Apple, he's 'just' going to be the chairman of the board, and his right-hand-man, who has effectively been running the company for a few years now, is taking over. This is just the continuation of a long-running trend of Steve stepping back for the last two or three years.

Secondly, Apple are not losing anything. You can make up a statistic to make Apple first or last by just choosing what to count. iPhone -v- Android is a great example of a false comparison like this. Android is an OS, the iPhone is a single product, surely you need to include ALL iOS devices in the stat? That means adding in iPads and iPod Touches too, both fantastic selling products. Another way to look at would be to make the comparison fair by picking the single most popular Android phone, say the Samsung Galaxythe, Droid, and comparing those to sales of the iPhone. If you do that, then you find that the iPhone is the most popular smart phone by a mile. Bottom line, companies are about profit, not units, and Apple are king of the hill when it comes to profit share in the consumer smartphone, tablet, and computer markets. Nokia sells more phones, but it makes much much less profit.

Apple is also creating an entire ecosystem which works together harmoniously, and that's really going to go up a notch with iCloud later this year. All iPhone and iPod and iPad customers will be strongly incentivised to buy more Apple products because of how well they all work together. No one can compete with Apple on that score, because no other company does as many things themselves. Apple make all their own hardware and software, while Dell etc only make hardware, and Microsoft only software. RIM could compete except they only do smart phones (and a flop of a tablet), not computers, or iPods.

Apple is a company that thinks long-term, the road-map for Apple is set for the next 5 years, you could put a monkey in charge, and Apple would do well for that long. However, Steve has hand-picked and tutored all the big-wigs in Apple, they all share his vision and his ethos, he's made a veritable army of Steve's, and the best of them all is Tim Cook, who has literally already done Steve's job twice, both times he's been on extended medical leave.

Wall St. will of course panic, but in a few months we'll all wonder what the fuss was about, not until 2014 or 2015 will we really know if Apple can carry on post-jobs, and even then you're assuming that as Chairman of the Board he'll not continue to contribute the vision and direction of the company.

If I had the money, I'd grab a load of Apple stock when it plummets over the next few days, then sell it in about 3 years, well before Steve's roadmap runs out.

B.

 

[zortek]

If I had the money, I'd grab a load of Apple stock when it plummets over the next few days, then sell it in about 3 years, well before Steve's roadmap runs out.

B.

me too !!!!!

you are spot on about apple having 'the vision thing'

the main problem that apple's competitors will have over the next few years is the same as they have had for the last decade, how to stop being reactive (to apple) and start being innovative.

 

[topdog]

This is not nearly as big of news as it sounds.

Very true. And we all knew this day was coming; Apple is well prepared for it.

As for the Android thing - Android has been growing rapidly - but not at Apple's expense. iPhone's and iPad's are just as hot today as ever. (Though iOS is starting to show its age - it will need a big revamp in the next couple of years to stay on top.) It's former top guns RIM and Nokia that have been taking the major hit from Apple and Google.

Apple is also creating an entire ecosystem which works together harmoniously..

One man's harmonious ecosystem is another man's prison system. Love Apple products, but I will not go near iTunes. The way I see it, all those shiny well-designed baubles are just enticements into the iTunes universe where Apple takes a 30% cut off every transaction.

BUT, still, a tip of the hat to Mr. Jobs for giving people the future that they didn't know they wanted until he showed it to them

 

[amandude45]

I don't see that is as that much of a big deal. Steve is really leaving the company or anything. Apple will be just fine. i don't think anything drastic will happen to the company unless Steve either dies or actually does decide to leave.

 

[SimplyJakeAndAlex]

If I had the money, I'd grab a load of Apple stock when it plummets over the next few days, then sell it in about 3 years, well before Steve's roadmap runs out.

B.

I have both Apple & Blackberry Stocks... now I'm a bit worried about Blackberry as the last quarters wasn't as expected and they are indeed loosing a bit to Apple's products (but they are still doing very good in the business area, while the other android and IPhone are mostly toys for teenagers :rofl... but I can assure you that Apple is doing just fine... but really really fine... so fine that I'll be buying more stocks. And in regards of Steve Jobs, we stock holders do receive newsletters about how the Chairman and Teams are going... Steve have been having severe health issues for the last 5 years... and going down from the mainstream and take the guidance of the board will be much less stressful for him.

One cannot believe any public statistics until you are a real share holder with a bunch of REAL numbers...and that also one should understand the fluctuation of the markets, I invest in technology, social studies (of course lol) and currency (I actually buy money, gold and silver). I once invest in Nortel Networks and I was among the ones who've lost that uninsured 35k to them, but who knew I was new at this game. so I totally agree with what you wrote above GB.

 

[topdog]

I have both Apple & Blackberry Stocks... now I'm a bit worried about Blackberry as the last quarters wasn't as expected and they are indeed loosing a bit to Apple's products (but they are still doing very good in the business area, while the other android and IPhone are mostly toys for teenagers :rofl...

Apple is solid, but I don't see RIM on a path to success. At a time when they are losing market and have major catch-up to do, they just released a new Blackberry Bold phone that is essentially the same as last year's model. Their Playbook tablet is very well done, but they crippled it by requiring the user to have a Blackberry phone in order to get e-mail on the tablet. It has not taken off in the market. And what's up with the dueling CEO's? The recent alliances and mergers (Nokia / Microsoft and Motorola / Google) are strengthening their weaker competitors.

As for the iPhone - teenagers can't afford it, and lean toward a more text friendly device. (Often their parent's hand-me-down Blackberry!)

iPhone is the favorite of 20 and 30 something information workers. These are your employees on the rise. At least around here in the US, they do not like IT department issued phones and computers. They come to work with their iPhones, iPads, Droid's and MacBook Air's and expect to be able to get their work done with as little contact with corporate IT as possible.

This is more long-term bad news for RIM. And Microsoft has to stop assuming that mobile workers have Windows Phone 7 devices to access SharePoint, and create full client apps for Android and iOS.

Back on topic - this is a world that Steve Jobs had a major hand in creating. When Steve dies, I would not be surprised if many feel his passing the same way my generation felt when John Lennon died.

 

[slimjim]

I wonder if his resignation will affect the developement of the new range:

A 2 wheeled personal transport device - the iCycle

A multi fronded sex toy - the iLash

A small 4 wheeled russian goods carrier - the iVan

A desert storage facility, possibly for WMD - the iRak

An arctic accommodation unit - the iGlu

 

[SimplyJakeAndAlex]

This is more long-term bad news for RIM. And Microsoft has to stop assuming that mobile workers have Windows Phone 7 devices to access SharePoint, and create full client apps for Android and iOS.

Oh I so agree with that statement... so much agree I don't have anything more to add for this

 

[tiggertoo]

At a time when they are losing market and have major catch-up to do, they just released a new Blackberry Bold phone that is essentially the same as last year's model.

I dont think so. The new Bold model 9900 has a touchscreen - the first on in the Bold series and it seems pretty good, and they made it bigger again, more like the older 9000, so it's very okay in the hand. The next Playbook is supposed to be free standing and not need the bluetooth link to the phone for data.

 

[Irishman25]

hes not leaving apple, hes staying on as chairman, hes just resigning from cheif executive officer, so he will still have a huge influence in the decisions.

also consider since january tim cook, the new ceo, has been acting ceo since then.
and since january apple has released the ipad2, the new ios is coming and apple has become the biggest company in the world

u also have jonathan ive still head of design, the actual guy behind the design of the imac, ipod, iphone and ipad
hes still there designing and pushing

also apple has its product line already designed for like 3 to 5 years in advance so the next 3 years at least u still have "steve jobs" products comin and after that i doubt with all the creative and design teams workin there apple is gona hit rock bottom again like in 1996

 

[SophieSweets]

I Like Steve Jobs and wish him well. But this story has thrown up the best headline I think I've ever read:
'Cook promises to Improve Apple Turnover'
Lovely Stuff.

 

[slimjim]

 

[gb2000ie]

As for the Android thing - Android has been growing rapidly - but not at Apple's expense. iPhone's and iPad's are just as hot today as ever. (Though iOS is starting to show its age - it will need a big revamp in the next couple of years to stay on top.) It's former top guns RIM and Nokia that have been taking the major hit from Apple and Google.

Indeed - the big two in the past were RIM and Nokia in mobile, the future looks Apple & Google, with perhaps some Windows or RIM on the side.

RIM really needed the playbook to be a hit, but it's not, it's a flop, because it's not ready. Their choice of "amateur hour is over" as a slogan for it's launch was fantastically ironic. No email client, and that makes it pro? Really? The core OS on the new Blackberry has great potential, but by releasing it prematurely it's reputation may be irrevocably skrewed, bit like what happened Palm's WebOS, though in that case it was immature hardware that did it in.

With Nokia's being effectively bought out by Microsoft, they could become a significant player again as the leading Windows Phone phone maker, but Windows Phone has a bit of an up-hill battle anyway, and Nokia would not really be in the driver's seat, they'd just be along for the ride.

One man's harmonious ecosystem is another man's prison system. Love Apple products, but I will not go near iTunes. The way I see it, all those shiny well-designed baubles are just enticements into the iTunes universe where Apple takes a 30% cut off every transaction.

Good news! iTunes' days as the hub of all things i are nearing their end. With the release of iOS 5 and iCloud in the Fall iTunes will become purely optional. You won't need ANY computer to activate an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad anymore, or to update them, you'll be able to do it all from the phone itself. The App store is not going away, so Apple will still get a cut, but the icky iTunes app will become an optional extra, which I think will make a lot of people very happy

BUT, still, a tip of the hat to Mr. Jobs for giving people the future that they didn't know they wanted until he showed it to them

That's been Apple's core competency all right, other companies get in focus groups to make what people think they want, Apple make what they believe you really need/want.

I'm reminded of the Simpson's episode when Homer discoveres he has a long-lost brother who makes cars. The brother wants to make a car that is perfect for the ordinary man, and lets face it, you don't get more ordinary than Homer, so the brother lets Homer design it, and it bankrupts him. That's what most companies do with their focus groups, and what Apple explicitly doesn't do.

B.

 

[gb2000ie]

I dont think so. The new Bold model 9900 has a touchscreen - the first on in the Bold series and it seems pretty good, and they made it bigger again, more like the older 9000, so it's very okay in the hand. The next Playbook is supposed to be free standing and not need the bluetooth link to the phone for data.

In other words, as the iPad is racing towards it's third itteration, RIM still haven't caught up to the original iPad! And as the iPhone races towards it's 5th incarnation, RIM are still struggling to make their first OK touchscreen phone.

I believe that's called damning with faint praise!

B.

 

[gb2000ie]

hes not leaving apple, hes staying on as chairman, hes just resigning from cheif executive officer, so he will still have a huge influence in the decisions.

also consider since january tim cook, the new ceo, has been acting ceo since then.
and since january apple has released the ipad2, the new ios is coming and apple has become the biggest company in the world

u also have jonathan ive still head of design, the actual guy behind the design of the imac, ipod, iphone and ipad
hes still there designing and pushing

also apple has its product line already designed for like 3 to 5 years in advance so the next 3 years at least u still have "steve jobs" products comin and after that i doubt with all the creative and design teams workin there apple is gona hit rock bottom again like in 1996

Exactly!

Also, not only has Tim Cook been in charge since January, he was also in charge the last time Steve was out for 6 months to get his liver transplant, so really, over the last two years, it's been as much Tim Cook running Apple as Steve Jobs!

B.

 

[Irishman25]

and as another aside since this is a gay forum
the new ceo, tim cook, appears to be gay himself, so yay!!
the most powerful business man in charge of the biggest company is one of us lol

 

[gb2000ie]

and as another aside since this is a gay forum
the new ceo, tim cook, appears to be gay himself, so yay!!
the most powerful business man in charge of the biggest company is one of us lol

Great point! I don't think he's ever come out to the world, but I've heard from many sources that he does indeed bat for our team. Mind you, since Apple used to have the gay pride rainbow colours on their logo, it shouldn't be a surprise that sexuality is not an issue within Apple

B.

 

[bigarbel]

Will be interesting to see what will happen. Last time he left, Apple nearly died.

 

[gb2000ie]

Will be interesting to see what will happen. Last time he left, Apple nearly died.

He didn't leave last time, he was forced out, along with his ideas and ideals. This is a very different kind of departure, if indeed you can call moving from the CEO's office to that of the Chairman of the Board leaving at all!

B.