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Conflicting Reports on Steve Jobs' Potential Attendance at iPhone Event
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Okay... I've been trying to follow this all relatively closely, and I understand a lot of things point to exclusively an iPhone 4S... but where does anything exactly correlate iPhone 4S to the "N94" codename?
I would say it would be nice to see him one last time. In some respects, Jobs has created a pretty interesting, albeit intimate relationship with us consumers, and to see Jobs hand the company over to Cook would be thoughtful.
I mean, what other company has its most basic customers watching videos of their product launches? Its more entertainment to watch Jobs than simply a product launch, and people have come to know Jobs from his stage presence. Handing it all over to Cook is a good gesture to his fans, even if it is just to say thank you and let the Cooking begin.
It seems like most of the comments here tend to go a bit overboard on a few aspects; so let's try to bring some sanity back to this thread:
- There is ABSOLUTELY nothing bizarre about SJ showing up for tomorrow's presentation, even if Tim Cook is officially at the helm now - in fact, Tim has already been THE de facto CEO for more than a year now, and even more so now as the executive in full charge of Apple operations - to say that any public appearance by SJ would reduce Tim's role at Apple is to disregard reality, to say the least;
- SJ STILL holds an official position at Apple - he is the Chairman of the Board. So nothing more natural than having his presence at a major event where new iPhones will be unveiled. Nope, not for running the keynote or most of the presentations, but just to show his support to the company - the fact that the venue chosen is the Apple Theater would make things much easier for him (no travel required);
- In fact, he SHOULD indeed show up unless he is in his deathbed surrounded by family and friends - however, I have difficulty believing that either his current health condition or his ego (in the sense that he would hate to give any impression of extreme frailty to the public, such as appearing in a wheelchair) allow him to be there alongside his peers;
- the analogy to Putin/Medvedev is totally inaccurate, for the simple fact that SJ has already resigned from his CEO position due to health reasons - at most, he will play a secondary "architect/visionary" role like Bill Gates used to; the market and all analysts have already priced in both SJ's exit AND Tim's official control of Apple operations, without ever excluding the possibility for SJ to attend events sporadically - if anything, his one-off presence would demonstrate that Apple can still benefit from his unique vision for a little longer, despite his illness;
- unfortunately those haggard SJ pics were NOT fake - he is gaunt and he is weak; and unless he started some unorthodox/spiritualist therapy, there is little probability he is gonna look better anytime soon.
- There is ABSOLUTELY nothing bizarre about SJ showing up for tomorrow's presentation, even if Tim Cook is officially at the helm now - in fact, Tim has already been THE de facto CEO for more than a year now, and even more so now as the executive in full charge of Apple operations - to say that any public appearance by SJ would reduce Tim's role at Apple is to disregard reality, to say the least;
- SJ STILL holds an official position at Apple - he is the Chairman of the Board. So nothing more natural than having his presence at a major event where new iPhones will be unveiled. Nope, not for running the keynote or most of the presentations, but just to show his support to the company - the fact that the venue chosen is the Apple Theater would make things much easier for him (no travel required);
- In fact, he SHOULD indeed show up unless he is in his deathbed surrounded by family and friends - however, I have difficulty believing that either his current health condition or his ego (in the sense that he would hate to give any impression of extreme frailty to the public, such as appearing in a wheelchair) allow him to be there alongside his peers;
- the analogy to Putin/Medvedev is totally inaccurate, for the simple fact that SJ has already resigned from his CEO position due to health reasons - at most, he will play a secondary "architect/visionary" role like Bill Gates used to; the market and all analysts have already priced in both SJ's exit AND Tim's official control of Apple operations, without ever excluding the possibility for SJ to attend events sporadically - if anything, his one-off presence would demonstrate that Apple can still benefit from his unique vision for a little longer, despite his illness;
- unfortunately those haggard SJ pics were NOT fake - he is gaunt and he is weak; and unless he started some unorthodox/spiritualist therapy, there is little probability he is gonna look better anytime soon.
He's at home starting Cybus Industries, for obvious reasons. He probably is, too. I can't imagine Steve Jobs just laying down into a grave.
Not going to happen in my opinion.
Simply because executives appear on stage. Not members of the board. You would not expect to see Al Gore on stage. And the same for Jobs. Simply cause he's not an Apple executive.
It's a good chance for the public to get weaned off Jobs. But still have Jobs there to kick ass if it needs to be kicked.
Simply because executives appear on stage. Not members of the board. You would not expect to see Al Gore on stage. And the same for Jobs. Simply cause he's not an Apple executive.
It's a good chance for the public to get weaned off Jobs. But still have Jobs there to kick ass if it needs to be kicked.
You sound like someone who would return a "Happy Birthday" card for being incorrect: "rather erroneous statement on two levels: 1 my birthday was not a happy one. I was crying in the video of my birth, therefore you wishing me a happy birthday is not something I can accept as the truth 2 the card is a day late, it is not my birthday anymore"
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They mention it because it is a big deal. Pancreatic cancer, in general, is essentially a death sentence because it is found so late - the five year rate is 5%. My mom died of it, I was on the founding board for PanCan in 1999. Steve's was the "better" kind of the two most common and not nearly so deadly, but still a huge deal.
I agree his technological achievements are great and should be mentioned in addition, but the pancreatic cancer is amazing and highly relevant to his health now, particularly given the liver transplant which was no doubt related.
By the way, all you guys out there, get your PSA checked. ;-)
I think Steve would like to be there, but it would undermine Cook. He put himself at the Chairman position to phase "Steve" out slowly. Given his health, if he comes back more actively it will be a miracle - don't get me wrong, I want a miracle, I don't know anyone who doesn't want one both from a human standpoint and an Apple/tech industry standpoint. But it is so unlikely that he'll come back at this point it is negligible. If it were another leave, I'd bet on him being back. Under these circumstances though, 1% chance he'll be back. It is very sad, but with the surgery he had for the pancreatic cancer and the liver transplant you don't just "get all better". Sure, they will buy you time, but not enough time.
I hope he beats the odds, but no one can count on it and his leaving the CEO position shows the seriousness of it.
I started as a kid with the Apple ][ and have admired them since, done developing etc and while I understand he is hard to work for, he is an amazing figure.
I agree his technological achievements are great and should be mentioned in addition, but the pancreatic cancer is amazing and highly relevant to his health now, particularly given the liver transplant which was no doubt related.
By the way, all you guys out there, get your PSA checked. ;-)
I think Steve would like to be there, but it would undermine Cook. He put himself at the Chairman position to phase "Steve" out slowly. Given his health, if he comes back more actively it will be a miracle - don't get me wrong, I want a miracle, I don't know anyone who doesn't want one both from a human standpoint and an Apple/tech industry standpoint. But it is so unlikely that he'll come back at this point it is negligible. If it were another leave, I'd bet on him being back. Under these circumstances though, 1% chance he'll be back. It is very sad, but with the surgery he had for the pancreatic cancer and the liver transplant you don't just "get all better". Sure, they will buy you time, but not enough time.
I hope he beats the odds, but no one can count on it and his leaving the CEO position shows the seriousness of it.
I started as a kid with the Apple ][ and have admired them since, done developing etc and while I understand he is hard to work for, he is an amazing figure.
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I think they scrapped the live video streaming of Apple events after Steve announced his medical leave. Maybe they want to make sure that in the event something bad happens (Steve collapsing on stage?), it isn't being broadcast live?
So I guess is Steve was scheduled to appear, since there is no live stream.
So I guess is Steve was scheduled to appear, since there is no live stream.
As much as I would love to see Steve up on stage for the presentation, I think Tim Cook needs to take charge on his own to prove he can do it. If Steve is there people are gunna assume he is still running things and Tim is just a prop.
The most I can see is Steve being in the audience, but even that I wouldn't count on.
The most I can see is Steve being in the audience, but even that I wouldn't count on.