Apple Became World's Most Valuable Company Seven Years Ago Today, Two Weeks Before Steve Jobs Resigned as CEO

[vipergts2207]

Very likely the same as happened under Jobs. People love to hate on Cook because some facet of Apple doesn't fit their personal take on what they want from the company.

The fact is the man is extremely good at running Apple and the company has become more successful / profitable under his leadership than it did even under Jobs.
[doublepost=1533829085][/doublepost]

Sorry to hear that dude.

That claim has the benefit of hindsight. The reason Cook has been able to do so well is because Jobs created something special and gave the executive team a roadmap. Create products people love and stay focused on what you do well, and people will come. If Steve hadn’t come back and shown them the way, it wouldn’t nearly be the success it is today.

 

[martinX]

Beleaguered. Those were the days.

 

[Guy Clark]

The fact is the man is extremely good at running Apple and the company has become more successful / profitable under his leadership than it did even under Jobs.

Who is to say Steve Jobs would have not been as successful had he not of passed away and had still been CEO. Remember Tim Cook looks after the shareholder and not the consumer.

 

[Rogifan]

Some people have this odd worship of Steve Jobs that I just don’t get. Same thing with Elon Musk. Weird.

 

[routine_analyst]

Very likely the same as happened under Jobs. [referencing that Apple would have survived the 90s had Cook been in charge instead of Steve Jobs] People love to hate on Cook because some facet of Apple doesn't fit their personal take on what they want from the company.

The fact is the man is extremely good at running Apple and the company has become more successful / profitable under his leadership than it did even under Jobs.
[doublepost=1533829085][/doublepost]

Sorry to hear that dude.

Because only profit is the only true measure of success?

I think people are trying to foreshadow what they feel is to come. It's extremely shortsighted to say that Apple would exist today had Tim Cook been CEO in the 90s rather than Jobs. Cook was hired by Steve to make the logistics of Apple efficient. Jobs knew that Cook would do very little to change the culture of Apple after he resigned and appointed him as the successor. BUT if you look at history, you'd notice that Jobs stayed on as Chairman. Even the closest people to Jobs at the very end (based on many readings) didn't anticipate him passing away. They always thought he'd pull through like he did many times before. High probability that Jobs had a plan to continue to control his puppeteers from a distance. Never happened.

What we see today in the dollar valuation of Apple is mostly Steve Job's ability to manifest or revolutionize new product categories that he knew would change lives. Tim Cook merely evolves products.

Even til this day, Tim can't forget to thank Steve, name things after him, talk about the past success of Apple... this isn't a visionary. This is a bean counter. Count your successes. Count your blessings. Count your profits.

 

[IbisDoc]

Steve was not perfect.
Steve did not single-handedly do anything at Apple. It's always been a team effort

but damn do I miss him. ...and not in comparison to Cook who I think has done a fine job overall. We could have a Sculley or Amelio type so be thankful for that. Tim loves Apple and lets each one of his reports do what they think is right and while they don't always do the right thing for the company or the consumers, Tim doesn't hesitate to fire someone and take responsibility for the screw-up. He's a good manager, a good operational expert and he cares deeply about Apple.

Tim is not Steve but just like Steve is not anything like Woz. That's what makes each of these people great in their own right.

No one knows what Apple would be today if Steve were still running the show. I still really miss him.

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 ​

This still brings a tear to my eye.

This is the part that brings a tear to my eye:

"Later in her childhood, Brennan-Jobs would occasionally stay with her father as her mother took college classes.

During one of those visits, the girl finally found the courage to ask her father if she could have his car once he was finished with it — an innocent question from a child that sparked a vicious reply.

“‘Absolutely not’, he said in such a sour, biting way that I knew I’d made a mistake,” she wrote. ‘You’re not getting anything’, he said. ‘You understand? Nothing. You’re getting nothing.’

“Did he mean about the car, something else, bigger? I didn’t know. His voice hurt — sharp, in my chest. I had made a terrible mistake and he’d recoiled.”

Brennan-Jobs offered a partial explanation for her father’s continued distance: “I was a blot on a spectacular ascent, as our story did not fit with the narrative of greatness and virtue he might have wanted for himself. My existence ruined his streak,” she wrote."

Karma's a bi***, Steve.

 

[Jovian9]

Nothing wrong with Cook as CEO. But he is no comparison to Jobs. This entire MR article points it out very easily.

Under Jobs' leadership Apple became the most valuable company with a list of products he led into fruition.

Under Cook Apple has remained the most valuable company (ends there).


That is a very good summary of Apple under it's two different leaders in the last 20 years (roughly).

 

[audiophilosophy]

Steve Jobs was a genius, but he had his faults, and one of those faults was being an egomaniac. I wouldn't be surprised if he intentionally appointed Cook, who is not up to the task, to run Apple just so that it would make himself look even better in the history books. Literally everything that Apple is making tons of money on today is stuff that Jobs set up. Mac-- Jobs, iPhone-- Jobs, iPad-- Jobs, services (iCloud)-- Jobs. Only things Cook has done is the Apple Watch and Apple Music. Watch isn't a significant product. And if it weren't for the convenience factor that Apple Music has with iPhones, Apple Music would be a total failure. Cook has just maintained the status quo. Anyone who isn't a total bonehead could use the hordes of cash Apple had by 2011 to ensure that they hire and compensate the best phone people in the world. Maybe Steve Balmer would have managed to screw up something that easy to take care of, but a person with average intelligence wouldn't. So Cook basically just made sure that the iPhone stays a little bit better than Samsung's offerings, and that's all it takes to make tons of cash because really, the ball that Jobs knocked out of the park is still rolling. Cook is not a visionary, and he certainly is not pushing things forward with tech as quickly like Jobs did.

 

[neutralguy]

I read it as "vulnerable" rather than "valuable"..

 

[DeepIn2U]

Great memories of Steve Jobs.

(I admit to have watched Steve's Macintosh and iPhone introduction videos yesterday. I watch something every few weeks. It's like great movies you can watch over and over and over again without being bored.)

Steve's keynotes were the best.

Definitely his keynotes were a thing to marvel at.

My favourites:
iPhone introduction - still gives me goose bumps! The timbre in his voice, the pace of anticipation and the real awe of the crowd fully getting it even though they just expected a great phone and not knowing what hit them!

Macworld 2094 GarageBand intro with John Mayer!
- man that Guitar solo going unpracticed ... yeah loved it! And the guy in the crowd “Save It!” “Sell It!” Lol. I saved it. I think that’s the only presentation a haggler blurted our that wasn’t edited out and jobs really laughed at. (Realizing ooh yeah this is going to really sell Macs)!

PowerBook G4 Titanium!
For me this for a long time was THE best Mac ever designed until the current 2016-2018 MBP. Ive proven his worth yet again in design and I feel was another Ode to Joy to Steve.

OSX introduction - and all the nice revisions during Puma talking to pissed off and rude developers who knew what they were talking about and Jobs succumbing to that. Being humble and standing his ground was his best balancing act. Humility rarely shown. But the enticement was almost as good as iPhone introduction.
- Panther with G5 was really cool; especially with EMagic Logic (before Apple introduction) that power for producers confirmed with the crowd roaring.
- Bertrand Serley “Microsoft start your copiers, again” lol that was awesome! Reducing install foot print, announcing first OSX copy to be free, huge needed refinements, Etc.
- Forstall “Time Machine” core useful tool that every Mac user uses and needed for a decade more.

So poetic, I'd argue that the iPhone 4 was his 9th symphony and gift to the world.

Agreed! The craftsmanship in build quality at that time along with materials really set iPhone apart into something much more!

There is a distinct reason why iPhone X uses Stainless steel. Oddly enough I felt more secure carrying the 4/4S naked back then than I did the X for 14 days I owned it. Funny how that is riight?

Honestly I think beyond the current MBP esthetician design, the X was Ive’s Ode to Joy remembering Steve and thinking how’d he’d hush over a modern 4!

What do you think would have happened if Cook took over Apple when it was near bankruptcy in the late 1990s?

With Cook’s expertise when he took over Apple and place it in 1999 = Apple would become IBM!

 

[ChrisH3677]

Love how so many people think Steve Jobs could do no wrong and yet mercilessly bag the successor chosen and anointed by Steve!

The more you love Steve, the more you have to love Tim because Steve loved Tim. And loved his work so much he put him in charge of Apple. But you hate Tim... with a passion... so that must mean Steve was crap...

Oh, the paradox!

Don't hate Tim, it makes Steve sad

 

[akash.nu]

Love how so many people think Steve Jobs could do no wrong and yet mercilessly bag the successor chosen and anointed by Steve!

The more you love Steve, the more you have to love Tim because Steve loved Tim. And loved his work so much he put him in charge of Apple. But you hate Tim... with a passion... so that must mean Steve was crap...

Oh, the paradox!

Don't hate Tim, it makes Steve sad

People just don’t understand what a genius Tim is. I guess most people, who hate Tim, just don’t have a clue about running any company, let alone a company as Apple.

Steve was ruthless and bully when it comes to work and he loved Tim, which makes Tim all the more valuable asset for the company and given what he has done with Apple in the past years, I’d say nobody has any rights to criticise him.

 

[dilbert99]

Most valuable company but still the most tight arsed 'friend' you will ever have.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Love how so many people think Steve Jobs could do no wrong and yet mercilessly bag the successor chosen and anointed by Steve!

The more you love Steve, the more you have to love Tim because Steve loved Tim. And loved his work so much he put him in charge of Apple. But you hate Tim... with a passion... so that must mean Steve was crap...

Oh, the paradox!

Don't hate Tim, it makes Steve sad

Honestly I think Steve liked Tim. Yet I believe Tim as a successor was a board decision not Steve’s own idea. Many analysts and internal employees felt Steve loved Ive (a approachin the Board to gaurantee him a job forever), and felt Forstall would succeed him. Steve rushed to save Forstalls life when he was ill; doubt Steve had that kind of affection for Cook!

BTW ... (2004) does anyone know WHO The top spender on iTunes music store has spent $29,500?!

 

[Guy Clark]

Some people have this odd worship of Steve Jobs that I just don’t get. Same thing with Elon Musk. Weird.

Steve Jobs remains the KING of Apple. For without Steve Jobs Apple would have folded long ago.

 

[Whathappened]

NOT a Fan of Tim Cook, End of Story !

So you are not a fan of Steve Jobs decision, end of story.
[doublepost=1533887337][/doublepost]

Honestly I think Steve liked Tim. Yet I believe Tim as a successor was a board decision not Steve’s own idea. Many analysts and internal employees felt Steve loved Ive (a approachin the Board to gaurantee him a job forever), and felt Forstall would succeed him. Steve rushed to save Forstalls life when he was ill; doubt Steve had that kind of affection for Cook!

BTW ... (2004) does anyone know WHO The top spender on iTunes music store has spent $29,500?!

you think, you doubt, you know nothing.
[doublepost=1533887448][/doublepost]

Who is to say Steve Jobs would have not been as successful had he not of passed away and had still been CEO. Remember Tim Cook looks after the shareholder and not the consumer.

Oh really? As a consumer I am quite happy with the products.

 

[MacBH928]

7 years ago the most valuable company was only at $314B?

Boy I really overestimated stuff like HSBC which has worldwide banks, Mega Airplane manufacturers like AirBus, and military manufacturers like the ones that build combat aircrafts for like $100m a piece.

 

[akash.nu]

7 years ago the most valuable company was only at $314B?

Boy I really overestimated stuff like HSBC which has worldwide banks, Mega Airplane manufacturers like AirBus, and military manufacturers like the ones that build combat aircrafts for like $100m a piece.

Exactly! From billion to a trillion dollars worth company now and still people don’t stop commenting about how Tim Cook has been running the business!

 

[DeepIn2U]

So you are not a fan of Steve Jobs decision, end of story.
[doublepost=1533887337][/doublepost]
you think, you doubt, you know nothing.
[doublepost=1533887448][/doublepost]
Oh really? As a consumer I am quite happy with the products.

Sorry by interviews with Forstall done just last year.
By Actions from Steve to the board and heavily documented in the press confirmed my thoughts.

Where is your actual rebuttal in terms of your "statement" of thoughts? I've yet to see it.

 

[MacBH928]

Exactly! From billion to a trillion dollars worth company now and still people don’t stop commenting about how Tim Cook has been running the business!

TBH, most of the money made was because of Steve's ideas growing like the iPhones, iTunes, App Store, iPads...etc

The new stuff like homepod, applewatch, and airpods isn't exactly shattering sales. I know Airpods are a success but I doubt they represent much of the $1T market value.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Steve Jobs was a genius, but he had his faults, and one of those faults was being an egomaniac. I wouldn't be surprised if he intentionally appointed Cook, who is not up to the task, to run Apple just so that it would make himself look even better in the history books. Literally everything that Apple is making tons of money on today is stuff that Jobs set up. Mac-- Jobs, iPhone-- Jobs, iPad-- Jobs, services (iCloud)-- Jobs. Only things Cook has done is the Apple Watch and Apple Music. Watch isn't a significant product. And if it weren't for the convenience factor that Apple Music has with iPhones, Apple Music would be a total failure. Cook has just maintained the status quo. Anyone who isn't a total bonehead could use the hordes of cash Apple had by 2011 to ensure that they hire and compensate the best phone people in the world. Maybe Steve Balmer would have managed to screw up something that easy to take care of, but a person with average intelligence wouldn't. So Cook basically just made sure that the iPhone stays a little bit better than Samsung's offerings, and that's all it takes to make tons of cash because really, the ball that Jobs knocked out of the park is still rolling. Cook is not a visionary, and he certainly is not pushing things forward with tech as quickly like Jobs did.

The market was a completely different place when Jobs was alive. Tim Cook has adapted the product line and used various strategies to allow Apple to continue to compete in a now very crowded and competitive market.

 

[akash.nu]

TBH, most of the money made was because of Steve's ideas growing like the iPhones, iTunes, App Store, iPads...etc

The new stuff like homepod, applewatch, and airpods isn't exactly shattering sales. I know Airpods are a success but I doubt they represent much of the $1T market value.

Not all iPhones, iTunes and other Apple services were Steve’s ideas. Steve was involved in making the first few iPhones. That’s it. The technologies and improvements implemented later were not Steve’s and also remember an idea working once doesn’t mean the same product will continue to get better.

Example - Nokia, Motorola etc.

I think under Tim they made a huge huge improvement. Tim made it happen even when Steve was around and he’s delivering it till date. That man is talented, no matter what armchair CEOs like to think.

 

[I7guy]

Who is to say Steve Jobs would have not been as successful had he not of passed away and had still been CEO. Remember Tim Cook looks after the shareholder and not the consumer.

Patently not true. Profits first, customers second is just a meme.

 

[akash.nu]

Who is to say Steve Jobs would have not been as successful had he not of passed away and had still been CEO. Remember Tim Cook looks after the shareholder and not the consumer.

That’s the truth of life. Without profit and happy shareholders, the company will not survive to produce anything for the consumers.  is not a charity.

 

[theskog]

It makes me happy that Steve Jobs was able to see this happen in his lifetime.

But I also admittedly question how I can be happy for someone who denied being the father of his first-born daughter for quite a while. It's a shame.

As a father, I don’t see how someone could deny their own child for fifteen years. What a scumbag.