Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls New 'Haunted Empire' Book 'Nonsense'

[IJ Reilly]

Not everything SJ touched turned to gold. Remember the fiasco when the original iPhone was released? Apple dropped the price only weeks afterward. That seemed desperate at the time. Now the iPhone business alone is bigger than Microsoft.

Every CEO, including SJ, has to be accountable to the board. It's really too early to judge Cook on the moves of this week.

This is an important point. People tend to have short and selective memories. I attended MWSF as media every year from the late '90s through the mid-2000s. I got to see a lot of keynotes, and let me tell you, not every one of them was anything close to blockbuster. After some of them, we walked out looking at each other asking "so, that's it?" In fact during one keynote in particular I remember Steve sounding distinctly peeved that he had so little new to tell us. Even people who should know all of this seem to have forgotten that Steve's time as CEO wasn't an endless stream of success and innovation.

 

[Gasu E.]

Of course she is correct. Apple has been in decline since they switched to Intel.

/sarcasm

 

[IJ Reilly]

Why Apple PR allowed Cook to go public is what I'd like to know.

On the contrary, Apple PR probably suggested it. As I've said a couple times already: because he is bound to be asked about the book. He can now simply refer back to his statement and refuse to say any more about it. On the record, and done.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Typical that the bully says 'Well, I must have hit a nerve.'

I guess Apple/Tim Cook had to eventually say something. What do you say to a bully?

 

[kdarling]

Give them "years of publicity for less money than they spend in a single month..." You're kidding, right? Surely you know about Samsung's ad budget. But heh, your assertion is on the internet and, if it's on the internet, "it must be true."

Anyone can check my assertion, and find it to be true. Therefore I will give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you might be confused about the topic.

I was pointing out that Samsung has spent less money over the past few years dealing with lawsuits brought by Apple... which have resulted in extra publicity for Samsung... than they have spent on their own commercial ads.

For example, last year Samsung spent billions of dollars on Galaxy ads. How much did they actually pay Apple for lawsuit results so far? A few million for lawyer's fees?

 

[aristotle]

I love how everyone here apparently can do better than Tim. Please explain me which internationally successful companies you guys run?

I love how you are making up things that nobody is saying. If you own stock in Apple then you should be concerned.

Tim Cook did a great job "running" the company as Chief Operations Officer and he continues to do a great job "running" the company. If you look at the following page, you will see that nobody holds the old title that Tim Cook held which was Chief Operations Officer.
https://www.apple.com/pr/bios/
Also note that Jeff Williams has a title of SVP of Operations rather COO or even EVP of Operations.

If you look at the definition of COO on Wikipedia, it states:

The COO is responsible for the daily operation of the company, and routinely reports to the highest ranking executive, usually the Chief executive officer (CEO).

Here is the definition of a CEO:

Typically, the CEO/MD has responsibilities as a director, decision maker, leader, manager and executor. The communicator role can involve the press and the rest of the outside world, as well as the organization's management and employees; the decision-making role involves high-level decisions about policy and strategy. As a leader of the company, the CEO/MD advises the board of directors, motivates employees, and drives change within the organization. As a manager, the CEO/MD presides over the organization's day-to-day operations.

If you were to look at what Tim Cook has been doing, he appears far too concerned about visiting factories and micromanaging issues with the supply chain rather than delegating that to someone like Jeff Williams.

Tim Cook should be concerned with the direction of the company rather than day to day operations of the company.

Do you recall ever seeing Steve Jobs visiting the plants in China? Tim seems to have a problem with delegating tasks from his old job to someone new and seems to lack a vision for the road ahead.

Tim is supposed to supervise what Jeff Williams is doing but not actually doing his job for him. He needs to start trusting those people who are under his command execute his orders.

 

[steven oreally]

Disappointing products name one?

All of them since 4S, including 4S. The retina display was the last real innovation that truly made a difference. Since then: Iterating, just iterating and adding (non-awesome) gimmicky features.

And don't ask me to suggest some real innovation, thats no my job! I'm not a 100 billion $ company!

 

[alephnull12]

Cook should hire me.

I'll fix it.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I love how you are making up things that nobody is saying. If you own stock in Apple then you should be concerned.

Tim Cook did a great job "running" the company as Chief Operations Officer and he continues to do a great job "running" the company. If you look at the following page, you will see that nobody holds the old title that Tim Cook held which was Chief Operations Officer.
https://www.apple.com/pr/bios/
Also note that Jeff Williams has a title of SVP of Operations rather COO or even EVP of Operations.

If you look at the definition of COO on Wikipedia, it states:

Here is the definition of a CEO:


If you were to look at what Tim Cook has been doing, he appears far too concerned about visiting factories and micromanaging issues with the supply chain rather than delegating that to someone like Jeff Williams.

Tim Cook should be concerned with the direction of the company rather than day to day operations of the company.

Do you recall ever seeing Steve Jobs visiting the plants in China? Tim seems to have a problem with delegating tasks from his old job to someone new and seems to lack a vision for the road ahead.

Tim is supposed to supervise what Jeff Williams is doing but not actually doing his job for him. He needs to start trusting those people who are under his command execute his orders.

Tim also visited China during the Foxconn crisis and to sign the China Mobile deal. I don't think you really understand the inner workings of Apple.

 

[samcraig]

This is what she said. I'm sorry but I do think its nonsense that Steve gave Cook the CEO job because he wanted Apple to fade after he died. How is that making his legacy complete, since Apple the company is really his legacy? Apple fading after he's gone would only prove that Steve wasn't good at succession planning or leaving behind a company that could thrive without him.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/steve-jobs-wouldnt-want-tim-cook-do-better-he-did

Nothing you've quoted indicates that she implies Steve wanted Apple to fail or die.

So I don't get your over-dramatization of what she said

 

[Gasu E.]

Don't get me wrong, I like Apple products, but when I enter the store in Amsterdam I always state upfront to any employee: save me the glorifying Apple = God speech, I'm here for this and that. Saves me times and quite frankly, they can appreciate it as well so I noticed ^^

I have been to eight or ten different Apple stores, probably 30-40 visits total, and have never had a store employee glorify Apple to me. Maybe it's a Dutch thing. Also: what does this have to do with what the CEO, the public face of the company, says?

 

[LordVic]

I have been to eight or ten different Apple stores, probably 30-40 visits total, and have never had a store employee glorify Apple to me. Maybe it's a Dutch thing. Also: what does this have to do with what the CEO, the public face of the company, says?

not just a dutch thing. The Toronto Eaton centre Geniuses are just as bad.

its frustrating. Take the most rabid Apple Fanboys of Mac Rumors. And hire them all as your retail sales force for the Store. Thats how it is.

 

[rolphi]

Tim, Thou doth protest too much, methinks

If it was really nonsense, he would have left it alone.

"Protest" would have had a meaning more similar to "promise" than "deny" in the time it was written. The queen whom you are quoting is arguing that the character in the play was promising too much when she declares in flowery language that she will never remarry if her husband dies (from wikipedia).

Tim had to respond, as silence would have been blown up and misinterpreted as well. This response was as good as most.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I took to google and found nary a mention of this response to the common man. So is this really as bad of a PR move as we think it is? Doth thou protest too much?

 

[Rogifan]

Nothing you've quoted indicates that she implies Steve wanted Apple to fail or die.

So I don't get your over-dramatization of what she said

I think her suggestion that Steve wanted Apple to be less successful after he died (and that's why he made Cook CEO) is BS.

 

[inkswamp]

"For Tim Cook to have such strong feelings about the book, it must have touched a nerve,” Kane said.

And for the author to respond in kind, maybe that means Tim Cook touched a nerve as well? Interesting.

Regardless, Kane's response is an ad hominem attack. Because she doesn't like Cook's response, she's implying that it must be some kind of overreaction or lashing out--in effect, questioning Cook's character.

That leads me to believe that Cook's response is not an overreaction but exactly what it sounds like--annoyance that misinformation about Apple's work is out there being peddled as well-researched reporting.

 

[samcraig]

I think her suggestion that Steve wanted Apple to be less successful after he died (and that's why he made Cook CEO) is BS.

That's fine. I just think you went overboard with her assertion. Nowhere that I can tell do I see her implying that Steve wanted Apple to fail or die yet you repeated that assertion a few times.

My .02

 

[FrozenDarkness]

Its too bad america has weak libel suits. This wouldnt fly in europia

 

[LordVic]

Its too bad america has weak libel suits. This wouldnt fly in europia

why? there's nothing libel in here.

The author has taken factual information, formed an opinion, and written it.

That is perfectly legal anywhere. That is not Libel.

Libel requires false statements to be said. There's no falsehoods here. Author is stating that based on the facts he/she see's, this is their speculative outcome.

still not libel

 

[FrozenDarkness]

This is the best review I've read on the book. Examples abound, you'd have to be dense to let any fly past you.

http://m.tuaw.com/2014/03/17/haunted-empire-an-unflattering-and-misguided-look-at-the-tim-co/?post=1&icid=tuaw_Haunted-Empire_art

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why? there's nothing libel in here.

The author has taken factual information, formed an opinion, and written it.

That is perfectly legal anywhere. That is not Libel.

Libel requires false statements to be said. There's no falsehoods here. Author is stating that based on the facts he/she see's, this is their speculative outcome.

still not libel

Well a good example would be that she used an example of steve jobs throwing a pen at eddy cue which eddy cue denied. Thats libel

 

[Rogifan]

Heh, Eddy Cue.

http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/19/eddy-...s-yukari-kanes-accuracy-says-story-isnt-true/

 

[SmileyBlast!]

Tim had to respond.

He can't let Market Makers believe that Apple is sun setting.

This Kane book sounds likes its trying to be sensationally provocative to drum up interest.

Completely Self Serving Kane!

 

[LordVic]

This is the best review I've read on the book. Examples abound, you'd have to be dense to let any fly past you.

http://m.tuaw.com/2014/03/17/haunte...e-tim-co/?post=1&icid=tuaw_Haunted-Empire_art

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Well a good example would be that she used an example of steve jobs throwing a pen at eddy cue which eddy cue denied. Thats libel

LOL, ok, read the passage.

yeah, there's a bit of possible Libel in there.

the author is saying it as fact and not speculation. however, if they sued based on that statement, He'd have to testify in a court of law. but I believe the burden of proof is on her in this case..

 

[olowott]

there will always be people telling you, its over and am happy the book is coming out, its going to make them work harder to make the writer look hmmmm money hungry or stupid

 

[robbyx]

Word. Apple released so many disappointing products in the past few years... who is believing in such delusional nonsense, when the only thing you did as the CEO was iterating?

The only thing Apple has done since SJ is to iterate things 'he' invented. Another iPhone, another iPad, another iPhone, another iPad... in all sizes, wrapped in every material... and keep talking about how innovative and awesome Apple is. This PR talk was always at least questionable, but such praises are starting to get more and more ridiculous, when TC keeps failing to deliver any of this 'phenomenal awesomeness'.

Don't get me wrong, I like Apple, but I'm getting really skeptical towards this companys and CEOs 'behavior'. Will we ever get some of this awesomeness or is this a dead company talking about life?

I am so sick of idiotic comments like this from trolls. Disappointing? That's why the products are selling faster than Apple can make them, right?

WTF do you expect? The cure for cancer?

By all means, please tell me what phenomenal, awesome, amazing products from other companies are making you all horny these days. Could it be Samsung's incredible new line of iterative smart phones or tablets? Or maybe that stunning Galaxy Gear watch? WHOA!!!! AMAZING!!!!

Seriously, crawl back under your rock. NO ONE has released anything particularly new or interesting in the past few years. You have Apple to thank for today's smart phone market and today's tablet market. Everyone else has FOLLOWED them - and brought nothing new to the table.

I'll take idiots like you seriously when you can point to ONE SINGLE PRODUCT from another company that has blown us all away, revolutionized the industry, created a whole new product category, etc...since Apple did so (multiple times) with the iPhone and iPad. Until then, ****.