Jony Ive Discusses His Lasting Memory of Steve Jobs, New Role as Chief Design Officer

[jabingla2810]

This is the same Jonathan Ive who was hired by Apple in 1992 by Robert Brunner (the fellow who designed the Apple Powerbook) and Ive designed ugly gray boxes and crap like the Newton and Message Pad. He almost resigned in 1997 when Steve Jobs came back. If left up to his own, my guess is that he'll start back up with ugly gray boxes, but this time be thin and made of 'ali-moon-ium".

Ive was about to resign when Steve returned because the senior management at the time wouldn't allow the design team the freedom it needed to create anything meaningful and different.

And there is no need to change the spelling of aluminium, us Brits pronounce it how it is actually spelt.

It's the US folks who say "Aloominum".

 

[maxsix]

Honestly, I'm starting to get tired of Ive. Buddy, you are not Steve, but your ego sure is about that size...

For all the adoration he's received Ive has gotten off easy. Where's the truly impressive designs we see in other arenas...

Rumor has it there's a possibility of a truly fresh iPhone on the horizon, one sans the 1960's style analog mechanical home button Apple is so emotionally attached to.

Will the currently stale iPhone be freshened up? Is Ive capable of that?

Time will tell

 

[scottmp]

"...but what's remained is his very simple focus on trying to make something beautiful and great."

Should read: "...but what no longer exists is a culture of 'it just works.'

So sad.

And if Jonny wants to find some new designers, say, to spruce up that clunky watch, they crop up in the most unusual places. I kid you not: http://www.kohler.com

 

[Robert.Walter]

I am always amazed that people want complexity or personality to be digitally monolithic, and how uncomfortable they become trying to defend that illusion.

As a fan of Steve, I think there was always one goal: to do great things that benefit society. I think Steve just approached things differently as he matured.

I find no real contradiction that Steve 1.0 could have been an impetuous dick, where as Steve 1.0s learned a lot in terms of humility and people skills during his "Apple hiatus", and this set the stage for the "thoughtful friend" Steve 2.0 to build his legacy after returning to Apple.

Given that Laurine knew Steve 1s and the current generation of Apple management knew Steve 2.0, it is not surprising that they don't recognize the guy in the films and want to defend the legacy of their spouse/friend.

Even if the Steve 1.0 was as bad as he seems to have been, this doesn't take away from Steve 1.0s and 2.0. Isn't it more important to honor that uncomfortable history, and to then honor the man for his ability to continuously improve not just his products but also himself?

 

[igrover]

Ive still rocking those Wallabees! <3

edit: seems to be his thing though

Crikey - I was wearing those Wallabees in the 1970s, and yes I am that old! While they are a comfortable shoe, the big problem I remember with them, as is illustrated in the picture, is that the round joint that attaches the tongue to the sides always had a habit of getting dirtier than the rest of the shoe, thus the darker round joint always stood out like a sore thumb.

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

This Johnny Ive guy, given his promoted status, really needs to be given a window office facing the incoming sun. Right now, he's stuck in the bowels of his ultra secret laboratory that does not see the light of day. That way, Johnny can appreciate how disgusting it is to use his glossy screens in offices that are streaming with sunlight. Some office workers are assigned desks by their company, and so it's not a solution to tell people to just shift their computers to a place with less glaring sunlight.

What I'm saying is, Apple needs to give us the option of anti-glare screens.

I am not saying everyone needs these, so don't tell me how you love glossy screens.

I am just asking for the option, for those people that do need them.

One of my favorite things about my 2008 MacBook Pro. Love the matte screen. Wish they'd bring it back in some fashion.

 

[ozziegn]

The nasty stench of jealousy in this thread wreaks. Really people, leave Ive alone. While I don't consider him God, I do give him kudos for being in the position that he's in. Giants like Apple aren't going to hand off such an important position like his unless that person has been proven worthy.

But then again, haters will hate (and be jealous).

 

[Tech198]

say what ?

U turn your back on people after they worked with u as a "close friend" as "no... Jobs really wasn't all that great."

I'm shocked that ivy would say that

That was very different than when Steve was there..... it all was about 'Jobs knew this, and Jobs knew that."

Now he's gone, its bitter taste in ones mouth as "so child-like" ???

Come on Jony boy... u can do better than that. Where's that spirit.... And i suppose when Tim goes, u'r gonna say the same about him too huh ?

 

[edvj]

Ahem, its the "Apple Pencil".

And it comes without an eraser..
http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/6/9461329/microsoft-surface-pro-4-surface-pen

 

[twietee]

Crikey - I was wearing those Wallabees in the 1970s, and yes I am that old! While they are a comfortable shoe, the big problem I remember with them, as is illustrated in the picture, is that the round joint that attaches the tongue to the sides always had a habit of getting dirtier than the rest of the shoe, thus the darker round joint always stood out like a sore thumb.

So true! I had those in the late 90s (timeless classics) - and those dirty joints got on my nerves! Although I was young and they were seemingly getting dirty by just looking at them (did some clubbing though too, my fault. Not that comfortable to dance in either I can tell ) - wouldn't be my first choice when visiting a construction site too.

 

[Rogifan]

For all the adoration he's received Ive has gotten off easy. Where's the truly impressive designs we see in other arenas...

Rumor has it there's a possibility of a truly fresh iPhone on the horizon, one sans the 1960's style analog mechanical home button Apple is so emotionally attached to.

Will the currently stale iPhone be freshened up? Is Ive capable of that?

Time will tell

Wow so ridding the iPhone of the home button (introduced under Steve Jobs) will usher in "truly fresh" phone and it's all down to Ive to make it happen? So Apple's engineers, like the ones who developed Touch ID or work on display technology are all sitting there twiddling their thumbs waiting for Ive to tell them the home button can go?

I can't wait until it does go and everyone starts complaining that iOS devices are too complicated now and their elderly mom doesn't know how to use an iPad anymore.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Wow so ridding the iPhone of the home button (introduced under Steve Jobs) will usher in "truly fresh" phone and it's all down to Ive to make it happen? So Apple's engineers, like the ones who developed Touch ID or work on display technology are all sitting there twiddling their thumbs waiting for Ive to tell them the home button can go?

I can't wait until it does go and everyone starts complaining that iOS devices are too complicated now and their elderly mom doesn't know how to use an iPad anymore.

So you want iOS devices to become more complex and less easy to use for the elderly, and you even use a smiley to express your glee at it?

That strikes me as malevolent, but correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[cheesyappleuser]

If I've learned anything about Steve, is that he loves you when you're useful and tosses you out when you're not. Since Jony has been kicking ass since day 1, I doubt he ever had to witness the negative side of Steve.

Simplicity at its finest. I wish more corporate leaders were that binary. If you perform, you're in. If you don't, you're out. My company would certainly benefit from that type of bold leadership.

That's one of the most accurate posts I've read in a long time. I love the contrast. Because ever so often people are complaining about someone who is to rough or sociopath or anything. Not that Steve was always right or was a god or anything, but without that attitude Apple wouldn't be what it is today. He demanded greatness. And one of the very reasons so many companies don't run at full gas is because those useless people keep persisting, and eventually reach major roles.

 

[mdelvecchio]

But that's the kind of atmosphere a pretentious ass like Jony Ive thrives in.

oh, so you two were pretty close then? you werent? oh.

talk about pretentious...

 

[mdelvecchio]

If I've learned anything about Steve, is that he loves you when you're useful and tosses you out when you're not. Since Jony has been kicking ass since day 1, I doubt he ever had to witness the negative side of Steve.

you learned this from first hand experience? hanging out with them? oh. you didnt learn it at all because you dont know either one of them...got it.

 

[Avatar74]

Simplicity at its finest. I wish more corporate leaders were that binary. If you perform, you're in. If you don't, you're out. My company would certainly benefit from that type of bold leadership.

I work for a Silicon Valley-based software company. There's been a lot of research done on performance management and the most recent findings are that things that are part of the valley culture, open plan workspaces, the performance review, etc. are actually counterproductive. Implementation of the more hostile approach to HR management does not mean the ghost of Steve Jobs will suddenly materialize and infuse leadership with the insights and go-to-market execution of an Apple Inc.

The shrewdest managers are cultivators... the screening process itself has to be rigorous enough that you attract the right talent in the first place, and then you don't crack the whip, you help them grow their talent in a rich environment that gives them the tools and flexibility they need. It's not just a benefit for them. It's a benefit for the employer to help cultivate talent from great to greater.

If you hire a mediocre employee, you didn't do your job right.

If you hire a great employee and then they become mediocre, you didn't do your job right.

 

[BenTrovato]

I never knew Steve, so I can't comment on his personality traits. But as an employer, I can tell you that it's pretty common to keep the useful, and divest the useless.

Most people don't own businesses so they can't relate and while some owners are nice and some aren't, if we're paying people who aren't producing, we're losing money. Not only are we losing money but if our business is suffering, we're taking away the opportunity for others to make money and support their family. As much as an owner wants to make money, produce an excellent product etc etc... employees have to realize that the owner has a responsibility to eliminate people that aren't contributing otherwise all employees eventually suffer.

After watching the Man in the Machine, it seems like all of the people saying that Jobs was a mess are employees. Whether he was or not, I'll never know but as an owner, you have to get rid of people who aren't doing well. Both for the health of the business and for the long term success of the people who are being employed and earning a wage. I've never found it easy to let people go but the alternative is always worse.

 

[dewski]

Yet only 15% have upgraded from a 4" or 3.5" iPhone.

Seems that 85% are happy using their 4" or smaller iPhones. And that's no surprise, as it is the best size for a phone.

Is that true? can you link me an article? That seems hard to believe. When I was in retail, the only iPhone buyers were already iPhone owners. There was hardly anyone that was switching from an android device.

 

[Vesuvio Cat]

Apple after Steve Jobs came back from NeXT was a Bauhaus movement towards minimalisation, creativity, and streamlining. Jobs knocked off more than 70% of the inventory. Apple even bulldozed computers into the ground. This is something that Apple has certainly backtracked on, having different sizes and colors of things which distract from the simplicity of the product. The Retina MacBook is a netbook and the Apple Watch is, I agree, a flop. I think Johny should listen to his own praise for Job's vision and go back to making simple, natural, productive machines.

 

[jasonbogen]

If I've learned anything about Steve, is that he loves you when you're useful and tosses you out when you're not. Since Jony has been kicking ass since day 1, I doubt he ever had to witness the negative side of Steve.

I was just discussing this with my Dad last night. I would bet most of the negative you hear come from people who just didn't cut it. Not to say that he didn't earn some of his negative portrayal, but it seemed he had no tolerance for those who didn't cut it. He was a stickler for details as he know those details is what made the products "insanely great". It is a rare person who can operate like that so I am sure there are many he pissed off along the way.

 

[rockinrony]

I hate this guy now. He is taking advantage of his "soulmate friend of steve jobs" tag and ruining the real Apple core values of "design". His flat ios concept, poor childish colorless icon, ugly white backgrounds everywhere is the most disgusting design has ever made in Apple campus. Apple has fallen into "no taste" statement what Steve told about Microsoft. Apple software design has no taste now, all they have is white, no colors, no shape, no shades, no skeuomorphism. They used to make everything in your device live into your eyes, making you falling in love with those colors and richness of objects. Jony did to software, which he did to hardware. Simplicity. But that doesnt work with software Jony! What the hell use of thousands of pixels HD display, retina display, Full sRGB standard, LED backlit if you are showing just ugly white color background and tasteless only few colors in your screen!

 

[pwhitehead]

He's such a badass.

 

[leontief]

Is that true? can you link me an article? That seems hard to believe. When I was in retail, the only iPhone buyers were already iPhone owners. There was hardly anyone that was switching from an android device.

It's completely false. Just par for the course from that poster. Fount of misinformation and bile.
Here is recent source that claims 27%:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/as-iphone-6s-iphone-6s-plus-land-apple-seen-expanding-installed-base/
and apple said 20% in April during the 2Q conference call:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...hone-install-base-upgraded-to-iphone-6-6-plus

 

[nepalisherpa]

Don't be silly. It takes years and years to come out with an entirely new product. There was tons of time of incrementally altered iPods and Macs in the 00s. Sugar coat it all you want, the iPad technically is just a scaled up iPhone.

I hope the watch ends up being great, in an iteration or two. It has potential.

So, just wondering is silly now? What part of the world are you from?

 

[neutralguy]

What's with all these articles lately and their desperate attempt to make Steve Jobs look like a good guy?

In case you have not read news lately, the new Steve Jobs movie is getting released on Friday and it shows the most unfavorable side of Steve. So Apple is doubling down on PR!