Steve Jobs' Retirement Doesn't Mean the End of iOS Devices Or Macs - Apple Had Succession Plan As Well As Plan To For World of Hurt For Its Competitors

For those of us who have watched Steve Jobs year after year, keynote after keynote, this is going to be such a weird feeling if we don't see him make at least a cameo on stage of whenever Apple's next event is going to be.  Presumably, that will be the unveiling of the next iPhone.

On top of that, there is a feeling of sadness.  The child in me worries about the future, Steve's health, etc.  But the adult in me knows that Apple has the whole mobile market licked.  It's got products in the works years out.  Tim Cook has been running Apple since Steve Jobs went on his second medical leave.

So, here's the bottom line.  Apple had a succession plan for the CEO.  It also means that Apple has a long-term plan for the mobile market as envisioned by Steve Jobs which will dish out a world of hurt for its competitors for many, many years.

• Patent wars will continue.  Apple wants its patents unique to its products and services.
• iPhone 5 will be out in a matter of weeks.  iPhone 6 presumably in 2012 though there probably isn't a need since the iPhone 5 will take the market by storm.
• iPad 3, a nonexistent product, will launch in 2012.
• iPods will get refreshed.
• Macbook Airs will be restocked at 3rd party resellers as soon as Tim Cook can get Foxconn to make enough of them to satisfy demand.  And Apple's own stories has enough of them.
• iPad 2 is the tablet market in 2011 and iPad 3 will be the tablet market in 2012.  
• Mac sales will continue to outpace PC sales.  Acer lost $7 billion because if its bad bets on netbooks and unwillingness to innovate.  While Acer thinks the iPad effect will go away, they should check in with HP - the tablet effect is real and it's called the "iPad".  

As for keynotes in the future, here's how it'lll go assuming Steve Jobs doesn't anchor it at all.

• Tim Cook will do the intro and let folks know how Apple products are kick the collective behinds of its competitors.
• Then he'll bring on Phil Schiller to be the MC.
• Then Phil will bring up whoever is needed to talk about the products and the right third parties to do the demo.

I'm only concern is on a personal level.  Steve's health, not Apple's.  I wish Steve and his family the best and continued guidance in all things Apple for years to come as Apple's chairman.  

Apple's Press Release: Tim Cook Made CEO And Steve Jobs Elected Chairman of Apple

Apple's Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple's Chief Operating Officer, as the company's new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

"Steve has made countless contributions to Apple's success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple's immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

"Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple's Board. "Steve has made countless contributions to Apple's success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple's immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

"The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO," added Levinson. "Tim's 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does."

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company's worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple's supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple's Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Steve Jobs' Resignation Letter To Apple

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know.

Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Source:  WSJ.

#apple STEVE JOBS JUST RESIGNED AS CEO OF APPE....CNBC

This just came to me via CNBC....

6" or 7" iPod touch - Not Even A Rumor Or Wild Speculation

The tablet market is predominantly iPad.  That's it.  Some might be as far as to call it the iPad market because there really isn't a tablet market at this time.  Nevertheless, there could be a time when Apple and its fans will have to live with the fact that the iPad has to share the market with other devices running on Android, Windows, or Web OS.

And pricing is going to be a big big factor in just how Apple can retain its dominant share in the tablet market.  And you can get that Apple isn't willing to cede it to anyone else.  

This is why despite Steve Jobs say that there won't be an iPad with a  smaller than 10" screen, it is a given that Apple will have to release an iPod touch with a bigger screen.  

7" tablets running on Honeycomb as on their way here.  And they can cost from $250 to $350.  It's likely that Apple can lower the iPad price down to $400 some day but the $300-$350 price range will be all Android or possibly Windows 8 territory if Apple doesn't do anything about it.

Just like in the MP3 player market, Apple just covered just about every price point.  $50, $100, $150, and up.  The iPod touch can be had for as low as $199.  But it still is just an iPod touch, not a tablet.

Apple may need to compete at the $300 price point with a touch and a screen size that is much bigger than the 3.5" currently on the touch.  Perhaps even a 5" or 6" and 8 GB at $330 and 16GB at $400.  Such a device could be enough to beat back anything that its competitors can come up with. 

It's not only a fan boy who wants this to happen but Apple will have no choice but to make this happen.  And I think it is going to happen.  In the forthcoming iOS 5, an user can split the keyboard so that its easier for one to thumb-type.  

That is pretty powerful evidence that this super-sized iPod touch is coming.  When it does, I'll be in line for one.

 

Note:  Yeah, I know.  I am still holding out for Web OS to make a comeback.  Until we know for sure what HP is going to do with it, there's still hope.

Mobile: Samsung Not Interested in HP's PC Biz; What about Web OS - Apple, You Want It?

Samsung has publicly declared itself out of the running for HP's business. And it's a very smart move.  It also puts an exclamation point on the state of the PC market.  What that statement is, that's for you to decide.

Samsung has found great success in the Android realm with the popular Galaxy S.  However, just today, a Dutch court ruled Samsung violated some Apple patents and will result in the banning of Galaxy phones in Europe.  Ban or otherwise, the handset business is obviously more profitable and has a higher margin than the PC business for the giant Korean tech company.

However, I'm Sammie made an inquiry or two regarding the future of Web OS.  Samsung has shown interest in licensing Web OS.  Perhaps, it might be interested in buying it from HP.

iPhone Coming to T-Mobile Too!

This is very spotty at this time but a MacTrast, a site that seems to be on a roll of late, is saying that the next iPhone will also be made available for T-Mobile and can run on its 3G network.

While yesterday's report regarding Sprint getting the iPhone omitted this, it stands to reason that Apple will try to make its iPhones to run on as many networks as possible.

Too bad it's too late for some folks.  I've already gone to Verizon and hopefully, I'll be able to grandfather in my unlimited data plan with a LTE iPhone in the future.

Personally, I would like to see Apple make the iPhone 5 available to the pre-paid market as well in addition to the lower end iPhone 4 that will be out in a few weeks.

Source:  Cult of Mac via MacTrast.