Apple.

Jobs is the soul of Apple. Two years from now, it will be like any other soulless corporation: putting out awkward, clunky hardware with software designed by engineers without regard for user experience.

And then this will come true....

1984 - Macintosh
1985 - Apple ousts Jobs to stop his forays into expensive new products
1986 - Jobs turns Lucasfilm's Graphics Group into Pixar
1990 - Jobs remakes Pixar into Lasseter's animation studio
1990s - Mac declines; multiple failures with other products
1995 - Toy Story
1996 - Apple, nearly bankrupt, rehires Jobs
1998 - iMac
2001 - Apple Store and iPod
2003 - iTunes
2007 - iPhone
2010 - iPad
2011 - Apple is the most valuable consumer-facing brand in the world; Jobs leaves
2012 - Ice Age

Either he's about to pass away, or the new iPhone sucks so bad he doesn't want to be associated with it. And I'm betting it's not the latter.

I think we need to start preparing ourselves for a world without Steve Jobs in it. Not that we haven't been doing that ever since he was diagnosed with cancer, but still. I'm a PC guy myself, but I'm very happy with my iPod. Jobs clearly knows what he's doing when it comes to product, and it'll be a sad day when he goes.

I'm a mac. Very much so. However, past events involving a power surge and a broken screen have left me with no choice but to use a PC the last year. It's just too pricey for me right now, but I suppose it won't take long until I get a new one.

However, the retirement of Jobs really isn't that bad. Aside from the Keynotes, Jobs hasn't really been THE guy. He's the soul of Apple, and the one person people associate it with, but as far as actual managing goes, Tim Cook(new CEO) has been the guy for years. He's the head of the macintosh section, as well as the international sales rep, so I don't think Apple's going anywhere for a long time, nor will the products get worse, as Jonny Ive is still the lead designer. I think we're safe

Prophet or charlatan? Are iPhone 6 and 6 Plus innovative or imitative of competitors? Is iWatch a fresh twist on portable technology or a bizarre reworking of a piece of dying culture?

I'm not saying they're bad products. I'm planning on getting the iPhone 6 right away. (I broke my iPhone 5 screen last week, and nice devices are all that keep me from looking like a hobo.) I'm just wondering if Apple is now fully fallen from its position of leader in innovation.

Last edited by Zarban (2014-09-10 03:48:05)

As someone who glances at my phone with annoying frequency, the Watch is actually a cool concept. Just not $350-cool.

Thing about Apple is they've never actually been in the lead -- at their best, they've had a great nose for which way the wind is blowing and have managed to envision the really strong, next-gen implementation of an idea. They don't come up with the idea themselves -- they didn't come up with tablets, or wearables, or a digital wallet -- but they've always figured out the most solid, straightforward way to bring it to the masses.

EDIT: Then again, it's hard to argue with this.

Last edited by Dorkman (2014-09-10 08:05:10)

I spent a week using a Samsung Gear 2, paired with an S5. It was cool, and I didn't want to part with it, as I only had to look at my wrist every time my pocket vibrated, but I don't miss it. I REALLY wanted Apple to release a watch that made me go "OHMYGOGUYSTHISISTHEBESTTHINGEVER!", but I'm not at all interested in it. Not only does it do nothing new, or in an intuitive and Jobs-y way, it's way, way too expensive.

As for the iPhone 6; I've been craving a bigger display and iOS for awhile now, but I'm not entirely sold on it,. 4,7" isn't the worst, but the plus version is far too big.

But then again, this is Apple, after all. They'll probably prove me wrong the second I test one in real life.

It also might never exist The fact the Watch project started after his death could mean it was one of those ideas he had no interest in but which now became possible. One aspect of a company with a strong visionary leader is it tends to stick to that one person's vision. We need more than one company tossing lots of money into R&D, to vary what we get, but at the moment in this area it's only Apple.