Apple was pretty predictable under Steve Jobs, release a new product, stock goes up.
Its only been under Tim Cook that Apple has been releasing duds and the stock is dropping.
I don't understand how anybody can believe Tim Cook is doing well for Apple. He was an adequate caretaker shortly after Steve Job's passing, but it sole purpose since then should have been to find an ideal replacement for Steve Jobs. Tim Cook is no Steve Job's and the companies performance over the last few months is proof of that.
Tim Cook is solely responsible for the Maps fiasco. There are two realities. Either he was aware of the Maps issues, went on stage and lied about how awesome the new Maps app was, OR, under his leadership middle management lied to Tim Cook and Tim Cook never bothered to actually use the new app and so went on stage clueless to how crappy the new Maps app was.
Steve Job's would never have released Maps in the state it was in.
Tim Cook should step down as leader of Apple, he is either a liar or a clueless twit, either are not good traits for a CEO.
I can easily believe why Cook is doing right by Apple. First and foremost he was hand picked by his former boss and founder of the company. Apparently while you and so many others *think* Steve was a jack of all trades of sorts and Apple was a well oiled operation before Cook or before Jobs passed away, you are ill informed.
Do you have a realistic grasp on how much the company has grown and how fast? If you believe that Steve Jobs himself "managed" that growth while maintaining its operations including customer service, retail, marketing, distribution, retention, shipping TENS of millions of units at a time, maintenance, expansion, and on and on, Who the F has been managing and overseeing ALL that? God himself? Yea, I just paid credit to COOK.
I pay to credit to Jobs for the creative passion that was behind the brand. I'm characteristically a lot like Jobs in my field - great idea guy, sometimes horrible to wrk for because I expect perfection and experience - but have the ability to hire great people who could fill in the gaps in areas that I fail in -- that's reality.
The notion that Jobs worked and thought like an island has been debunked. He like myself made some calculated failures as figurehead, some winners and some losers, that again is a fact. Jobs fundamentals were however solid but stubborn at the same time. People like us can be HELL to work for, even with our passions.
Cook has steered this company from the explosive growth that began with the iPod - remember that device lol? to the iPhone, the iPads and whatever's next.
Anyone who "questions" the guys smarts, character, etc needs their heads examined and a serious reality check.
No company on earth satisfies all. Another reality point. But being an Apple customer for 20+ years, they've strived to make me content, even when "I" was wrong.
Stock price -- another reality check -- it's up 500% since I bought it 5 years ago. It's UP from $398 from a year ago. Closed at $519 Friday - hardly time for death durge. You tell me what investment you've made 5 years ago and earned that kind of return? PLUS are receiving one of the highest dividend payments out there.?? Right, you can't -- cuz facts trump FUD.
The only people that could be "crying" that the stock is down are people who are overly greedy.
I'm confident the TEAM at Apple have some great NEW things to come. Stay *tuned*. (PUN)