Tim Cook Will Keep Pressure On Competitors, Innovation At Apple Will Not Slow

I don't know where analysts get their information but they are worse and worse each year.  Apple has essentially locked down information in Steve Jobs' era at Apple and Tim Cook isn't likely to relax that policy any time soon.

However, this post from 9to5Mac suggests that with Tim Cook at the helm, Apple would suddenly abandon years of behavior and work.  For instance, it suggests that Cook would try to come to an understanding with its Android foes.

Apple's products are unique in their designs and how they work.  It's why you probably have an iOS device or a Macbook instead of a Blackberry, Android tablet, or a Windows laptop.  To give that unique away in any sense would dilute whatever makes Apple so special.

Not gonna happen.  Apple will keep the pressure on its competitors through protection of its intellectual properties and innovation.

Source:  9to5Mac.

Capital's Mobile Networks Failed During 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake

During Tuesday's 5.8-magnititude earthquake, the wireless networks failed our nation's capital at a time when they were most needed to be working.  DC citizens were unable to reach 911.  Worry though, no?  We are more than ten years from September 11th and technology has improved dramatically in those years.

What is going on?

In a bigger national emergency, well, this could get really ugly fast.

More at Greenjava.

If There Are No New Hardware Tomorrow, Will You Be Fine With Your Mobile Gears?

I love mobile tech but I’m also suffering a bit of mobile fatigue.  Technology is moving pretty fast and, as a mobile warrior, I am loving it.  As a human being, I can use a break.  Appreciate what I've got.  Here’s how the rest of this post goes.

I’m writing a book.  Well, an online novel really.  It’s for children.  And I was thinking of a scenario and one thing led to another while I was watching 28 Days Later, and then it hit me.

What if for some reason, all the ships and the planes in the world had to stop and there are no new gears being shipped?  Maybe it’s a zombie infestation that resulted in a continent sized quarantine, a primate revolution that resulted in the apes taking all the new iPhones for themselves, or alien invasion that destroyed all the new hardware because they're afraid we'll upload a virus onto their mother ships and crash them simultaneously.

Or maybe one day, we ran of out those rare earth elements that are so critical to our technology today.  China cannot longer supply us with our mobile gears – phones, laptops, Android devices, Blackberries, or iPhones and iPods.  You’re stuck with the iPad you now have.  There will be no iPad 3 or Xoom 2.

What you got in your pocket, backpack, or home, that’s it.  Are you going to be satisfied with that?

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....