Steve Jobs has died. What effect, if any, will it have on Apple and the tech industry?

[Robbo]

I envisgage a few more normal looking phone devices, and upgrades to existing units before Apple deminish back to the small time company they once were.

It would be quite shocking if that's the case. Apple will have been preparing for this for years and they will have got the best people in the world ready to work on future products, markets and designs.

The sheer fact they have some of the greatest minds in the world working there and people still think Apple could fail just shows how incredible Steve Jobs was, like it or not.

 

[jonneymendoza]

The computer market, the smartphone market and the portable music player market (to name a few things) have all been driven forward at a dramatic speed because of him.

My point is, whether you use Apple products or not, much of the technology most of us use today has likely been influenced by Apple to some extent.

nope.

Jobs copied a crap load of stuff from other makers. he is no innovator thats for sure. he hasnt done nothing tech-wise IMO.

i see apple as the lady gagga of tech i.e. does next to no innovative stuff for the industry but because of the execution and marketing, people flock like lady gagga/Apple are the second coming of christ

 

[ps3ud0]

But long term Apple will change into what most companies become over time; it will mature into a company run by committee which is less likely to take risks and will stay on the well trodden path. Over many years it will evolve into another Microsoft or another Sony or Samsung.

Think youve got it right, its hard to design to the same ethos if the person that used to say 'this is how I want it work' is replaced by a number of people who no doubt will second guess 'this is what the consumer wants'

ps3ud0

 

[Participant]

nope.

Jobs copied a crap load of stuff from other makers. he is no innovator thats for sure. he hasnt done nothing tech-wise IMO.

i see apple as the lady gagga of tech i.e. does next to no innovative stuff for the industry but because of the execution and marketing, people flock like lady gagga/Apple are the second coming of christ

I'm no Apple fanboy, but I think you're totally wrong there.

 

[Robbo]

nope.

Compelling opening statement.

Jobs copied a crap load of stuff from other makers. he is no innovator thats for sure. he hasnt done nothing tech-wise IMO.

Nearly everyone copies things, Enzo Ferrari didn't invent the engine, he engineered it and the shell around it. Does that mean he didn't do 'crap'?

To say he "hasn't done nothing" just demonstrates how incredibly clueless you are (in more ways than one).

i see apple as the lady gagga of tech i.e. does next to no innovative stuff for the industry but because of the execution and marketing, people flock like lady gagga/Apple are the second coming of christ

Hilarious.

 

[nero120]

The thing that made Apple was Jobs' vision and no compromises approach to delivering great products. Without his leadership I'm sure many wanna bes will try to step up to the plate but all will be found wanting.

Apple has already started to decline in some senses (begun when Jobs' health started to deteriorate), we've already seen the boundaries that were pushed with the iPhone and iPad begin to wither, just as Microsoft have upped their game with WP7 and Windows 8 coming next year. I'm not saying Microsoft are better but they are certainly improving fast, and in their case seeing the old dinosaur Gates step aside has revitalised them as a company, but I think in Apple's case Jobs' passing will only hurt them.

 

[RobSmith]

Jobs copied a crap load of stuff from other makers. he is no innovator thats for sure. he hasnt done nothing tech-wise IMO.

*Grammar Nazi alert*

Grammatically, you are infact stating he has contributed to technology.

Someone like yourself who struggles to understand basic English, really is in no position to criticise someone of Mr Jobs calibre - whether he "copied" technologies or not, his and Apples contribution to the technology industry, as well as others, is unquestionable.

RIP

 

[cheets64]

It will effect them, other brands are now at the level that their products are as good as if not better and cheaper than Apple.

 

[Glaucus]

It will effect them, other brands are now at the level that their products are as good as if not better and cheaper than Apple.

That's very subjective.

Only windows comes close to the apple Eco system, but apple is still far and above the competition in that regard. Hardware specs mean little to the masses. However buying movies, tv, books, music, apps simply and knowing it'll work on a device is a huge draw.

Its not going to change much, other than his flare at keynotes.

 

[Robbo]

It will effect them, other brands are now at the level that their products are as good as if not better and cheaper than Apple.

That is very subjective and a discussion for another thread.

 

[D.P.]

Because apple influences competitors. I would highly doubt android would even exist, if apple didn't create the smartphone frenzy for example.

Not really true at all, the Android project started years before there was ever an iPhone and mobile personal computing and communication has been a core interest of Google almost since it was founded, and moreover, has been of great interest to numerous companies and predicted in academia for decades.

Apple didn't create the smartphone frenzy, they just produced a good product and marketed it very well and let their large fanbase make lots of sales. There was a smartphone frenzy way before the iPhone was released.

The same with things like the iPod. Portable music players have existed since the technology ever became available. Sony is a far bigger contributor to this, Walkman anyone? Pocket MP3 players had existed long before the iPod. Apply simply released a good product that looked nice and had reasonable ergonomics. There was no technological innovation their, good product engineering, design and marketing coming together.

Apple innovates on aesthetics, design, marketing, perhaps even quality. They don't innovate technology, they follow in the footsteps of others and release high quality products, which is great for them .

Apple does create lots of good competition, but don't forget that the competition would still be there even without Apple. There are many multi-billion dollar companies competing in all the markets Apple does.

 

[D.P.]

It would be quite shocking if that's the case. Apple will have been preparing for this for years and they will have got the best people in the world ready to work on future products, markets and designs.

The sheer fact they have some of the greatest minds in the world working there and people still think Apple could fail just shows how incredible Steve Jobs was, like it or not.

Every large company has "the greatest minds on the world" and the "best people in the world" working for them. What do you think the other companies do, hire high-school drop out to manage their design team?

I do agree that I doubt Apples products will diminish too rapidly though.

 

[Glaucus]

How can you say apple didn't start the frenzy.

They started. The smart phone and tablet frenzy. Did they produce the original ones, no. Did they bring these products. And sale them to the masses of course they did. Because they realised what and how such. Devices should work. Ie a tablet should have. A mobile OS on them.

Doesn't matter if you hate apple, to say they didn't do what they have done, is just sticking your head in the sand. You are focused far to much on hardware, software is also technology and that is what apple excels in.

 

[Robbo]

Every large company has "the greatest minds on the world" and the "best people in the world" working for them. What do you think the other companies do, hire high-school drop out to manage their design team?

Of course not, but you aren't expecting all of those companies to fail, either.

Also, in response to your comments about Android being around long before the iPhone, it was also adjusted and modelled based on iOS after Apple released it, Google have admitted as much.

Apple absolutely did start the smartphone frenzy (and even more so the tablet frenzy), we wouldn't be where we are today without the iPhone.

 

[dazzerd]

Wrong thread ignore.

 

[D.P.]

How can you say apple didn't start the frenzy.

They started. The smart phone and tablet frenzy. Did they produce the original ones, no. Did they bring these products. And sale them to the masses of course they did. Because they realised what and how such. Devices should work. Ie a tablet should have. A mobile OS on them.

Doesn't matter if you hate apple, to say they didn't do what they have done, is just sticking your head in the sand. You are focused far to much on hardware, software is also technology and that is what apple excels in.

Apple were part of the frenzy, they didn't create it. Perhaps they were the biggest player, that is just semantics.

I am not at all focused on hardware. Apple's software actually mirrors their hardware approach, which is a very good thing (doing something properly in a well designed way and emphasizing the user and ease of use, ergonomics etc)

 

[Glaucus]

Apple were part of the frenzy, they didn't create it. Perhaps they were the biggest player, that is just semantics.

I am not at all focused on hardware. Apple's software actually mirrors their hardware approach, which is a very good thing (doing something properly in a well designed way and emphasizing the user and ease of use, ergonomics etc)

They absolutely did create it, no one was interested in tablets, before they actually designed it properly and that was down to software rather than hardware.
Just look at sales and what people thought of tablets before the iPad. They where a geeky work toy that sold to pretty much no one. Now they are a media device sold to millions.
So no the ccraze wasn't there, companies where supply tablets and they weren't selling. The whole arguments is stupid and driven by hatred rather than facts.

Why can't people see what people/companies do, regardless of personal opinion. Why is it so hard for some to take a step back and look at it logically.

 

[dasyad]

The same with things like the iPod. Portable music players have existed since the technology ever became available. Sony is a far bigger contributor to this, Walkman anyone? Pocket MP3 players had existed long before the iPod. Apply simply released a good product that looked nice and had reasonable ergonomics. There was no technological innovation their, good product engineering, design and marketing coming together.

To be fair with the iPod it was all about iTunes as well, the ability to buy your music online and sync it to your portable device all within one tightly integrated solution. Microsoft tried it with WMA, they partnered up with hardware manufacturers to create the music players and then various other companies to sell the actual music. Didn't really kick off as much as the iPod though. I guess it's all about ecosystems again and Apple seem to be very good at that.

 

[FreeStream]

There is absolutely no argument that Steve and Apple have pushed the tech industry forward. Period.

The iPhone and iPad are the main points, before them there was nothing half decent at all.

Now? Everyone is trying to get on the bandwagon.

 

[nero120]

There is absolutely no argument that Steve and Apple have pushed the tech industry forward. Period.

The iPhone and iPad are the main points, before them there was nothing half decent at all.

Er, the iMac, mouse, graphical user interface, etc, etc, etc. No you're right, no argument at all...