It’s been no secret that Steve Jobs has been suffering from failing health of late. His recent self-imposed seclusion due to medical reasons has been the source of numerous online rumors and extensive media attention. The noticeable lack of his presence at major Apple events has been obvious, as has his weight loss and increasingly frail appearance.
More recently we’ve heard a little more about him. When Jobs walked out on stage to announce the iPad 2 people started getting hopeful and when he did it again for the keynote on OS X Lion/iOS 5/iCloud we started to think that maybe things weren’t as bleak as we might have heard.
However, the tech industry’s most iconic CEO has shocked the world with the announcement that he will be retiring as Apple CEO due to health concerns. In his place has been named Tim Cook, who has been acting as temporary CEO ever since Jobs took his original leave of absence.
Steve Jobs has been personally involved in Apple’s most important innovations since he started the company with Steve Wozniak back in 1976 when they release the Apple I. The Apple I kick started the era of home computing and was followed by the Apple Macintosh, which delivered graphical user interfaces to the world, a style of interface we all still use and enjoy today.
After being forced out of the company and making his way back in via a NeXT Computer acquisition in 1996, Jobs went to work again. This time delivering OS X, the basis on which all Apple laptop and desktop operating systems (OSs) have functioned since. Then followed the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad; three devices we really shouldn’t need to tell you anything about.
So what’s in store for Apple now that its CEO, the one who has led it to its most profitable period in history, even briefly nudging out Exxon Mobil as America’s most valuable publically traded company and currently holding more reserve cash than the American Federal Government, has resigned? Actually, there shouldn’t be too much change, hopefully.
Although Steve Jobs is heralded as the man who did it all, and with good reason, Apple is still in good hands with Tim Cook. As we stated before, Cook has been temporary CEO for some time now and, while we believe Jobs has still had a hand in everything, we doubt that in the short term Apple’s ability to deliver innovative products that ‘just work’ will be hampered.
All the people who designed these projects, all those who implemented them, planned them, tested them and manufactured them are still around. Yes, Steve Jobs had a vision for his company but there’s no reason Apple needs to stray from that line just because he has stepped down.
In his resignation letter to the board Jobs said:
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
We wish Steve Jobs the best of luck with his illness and our thoughts go out to his family. We will continue to await new Apple products with eager anticipation and, as we approach the release of the next generation of iPhone, we’ll try to keep you up to date with more Apple related news.
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