Tim Cook Reflects on Steve Jobs, Apple Watch Saving Lives, and Politics on The David Rubenstein Show

[xalea]

"We’re going to create a new site, a new campus within the United States. We’re going to hire 20,000 people.."

Good lord, why? Does it take 20,000 people to make a new Mac Mini? I'm all for the economy etc. but this just reeks of corporate bloat, going down the IBM, Microsoft path. It may look fine now, but do they really need that many more cooks (pun) in the kitchen?

Maybe they can put them all at the Genius Bar so there's not a 6 hour wait in some locations?

Seriously, throwing more people with all their personalities and emotional needs at a problem doesn't necessarily fix it.

 

[0388631]

"We’re going to create a new site, a new campus within the United States. We’re going to hire 20,000 people.."

Good lord, why? Does it take 20,000 people to make a new Mac Mini? I'm all for the economy etc. but this just reeks of corporate bloat, going down the IBM, Microsoft path. It may look fine now, but do they really need that many more cooks (pun) in the kitchen?

Maybe they can put them all at the Genius Bar so there's not a 6 hour wait in some locations?

Seriously, throwing more people with all their personalities and emotional needs at a problem doesn't necessarily fix it.

Who do you think is going to design new wristbands?

 

[crsh1976]

It feels like Tim, as CEO of Apple, has no clue whatsoever on how to keep the company successful other than milking what was put in place by Steve Jobs (side note: let go already, we've crossed into the realm of sad & pathetic a while back).

The Watch and the HomePod are not future-defining products, they're accessories - and Apple needs to find its next big thing, or let the company turn into IBM: sitting on loads of cash and patents, taking zero risk that could affect revenues, steadily becoming more boring than your grandfather's Xmas sweater.

 

[Kaibelf]

So, Tim is really concerned about LGBT and religious minorities being ostracized, and yet he has no problem with opening Apple stores in Saudi Arabia. Ah, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

I suppose you also complained that Reagan still spoke to The USSR despite constantly jabbing their way of life?

 

[xalea]

Who do you think is going to design new wristbands?

Exactly. I've worked in very large organizations and know first-hand that what tends to happen when you add more and more people to anything: they create more and more committees that have more meetings, more people to "consult" with whatever, and a problem that could've taken a day to figure out ends up taking six months or a year.

The reason Apple rocketed to stardom was because they were nimble enough in the 00's to pivot quickly and get on top of the game. Now we have the HomePod and wristbands.

 

[alex2792]

I suppose you also complained that Reagan still spoke to The USSR despite constantly jabbing their way of life?

If Tim had real convictions then he would personally sell pride watch bands in Saudi Arabia.

 

[bluespark]

I’m not a watch guy...so i’ve never been tempted to run out and buy an Apple watch like i am so many of their other products. But i think i’ll get one eventually, cause i am athletic & health conscious, and i do like the health features. Still, i plan to wait a couple more generations until they perfect it more.

The Watch is now in its fourth generation and it was a remarkably polished product at launch. Jump in!

 

[chabig]

Someone please ask why are they building sealed computers that are not friendly to the environment.

What does “friendly to the environment” mean, and why do you think sealed products aren’t? It doesn’t matter how the product is built. What matters in my opinion is what happens to the materials at end of life. Does it go to a landfill, or can the materials be recovered and reused. By that measure, which is how Apple judges itself, Apple is a leader.

https://www.apple.com/environment/

 

[bluespark]

Lol, “I’m not political.”?? I’m not a huge fan of Tim Cook, but even if I were, this statement would make me seriously mistrust him. It is an outright lie. What else does he lie about? I don’t like his politics but I do respect people that are honest and open about their politics and positions even if I don’t agree with them. Those who hide it, however, I detest.

Having deeply-felt positions on issues does not make one political (by which I think he meant an enthusiastic participant in the political gamesmanship necessary to win high office). Since Cook's publicly-expressed opinions on issues do not neatly track the positions of any U.S. political party, I'm inclined to believe him. But it does depend on what you believe "political" to mean.

 

[bbednarz]

Horrible re-hash interview. The topics people want most are: where are the Macs and when are they coming and what will the specs or designs be?

Yea yeah, not political; yeah yeah, watch saved lives; yeah yeah, Tim Cook met with Trump.

The iPhone is losing charm, everyone knows it, so bring in the next era of computing and ramp us up.

Most people do not care about specs of coming macs. This place is an echo chamber of tech enthusiasts which is a super small subset of the population.

 

[StevieD100]

"I’m not political." Sure.

Everyone is political BUT not everyone is a Politician. There is a big difference between the two.

 

[crsh1976]

What does “friendly to the environment” mean, and why do you think sealed products aren’t? It doesn’t matter how the product is built. What matters in my opinion is what happens to the materials at end of life. Does it go to a landfill, or can the materials be recovered and reused. By that measure, which is how Apple judges itself, Apple is a leader.

https://www.apple.com/environment/

Let's be clear about something, green-washing is just marketing. That goes for all major tech corps spending tons of money on green tshirts and elaborate presentations concerning their products.

Making computers, shipping them around the world, and operating data centers is not and never will be "eco friendly", no matter that one company or another recycles the metal casing of a device instead of throwing it in the trash.

 

[tennisproha]

Good interview. Good responses.

The iPhone was an anomaly. Right product at the right time. People who are wanting "innovation" from Apple every two years need to wake up.

 

[Kaibelf]

If Tim had real convictions then he would personally sell pride watch bands in Saudi Arabia.

They are illegal there. Only a fool lets blind conviction trump everything else, and Tim is responsible for Apple’s success as a business first and foremost. Do you think Steve Jobs would have pulled out of the Middle East or China?

 

[nsayer]

I have always said that the first test for any potential president is to sit them down and ask them, "do you want to be president?" Anyone who answers "yes" should be immediately disqualified.

This also works for police officers.

 

[alphaod]

So, Tim is really concerned about LGBT and religious minorities being ostracized, and yet he has no problem with opening Apple stores in Saudi Arabia. Ah, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

Tim has a company he's running that sells things. If he lets his personal beliefs get in the way of every single business decision, he wouldn't be the CEO.

 

[Glockworkorange]

After that WWDC Keynote its never been more clear that Apple cares far more about appearing progressive than hiring people that will actually produce something of quality.

In their marketing too. I can’t recall the last time I saw a white man in a commercial or product shot. It’s his company—he can do whatever. But when you go out of your way to NOT feature a particular sex or skin color you are intentionally hostile to that classification. It reeks of politics and to say otherwise is dishonest.

 

[alex2792]

Tim has a company he's running that sells things. If he lets his personal beliefs get in the way of every single business decision, he wouldn't be the CEO.

Well, if he has such strong beliefs he should walk the walk by reigning his CEO position and becoming a full time LGBT rights activist in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan.

 

[RogerWilco]

Tim has a company he's running that sells things. If he lets his personal beliefs get in the way of every single business decision, he wouldn't be the CEO.

And if the AAPL board of directors had a backbone amongst them, Cook wouldn't be CEO.

 

[B4U]

Rubenstein: "So, Tim, where's the new Mac mini?"

And Tim said...

 

[pika2000]

After that WWDC Keynote its never been more clear that Apple cares far more about appearing progressive than hiring people that will actually produce something of quality.

Wow, way to dismiss all the engineers at Apple. I wonder if you have even contributed anything into the world.

 

[Websnapx2]

Lol, “I’m not political.”?? I’m not a huge fan of Tim Cook, but even if I were, this statement would make me seriously mistrust him. It is an outright lie. What else does he lie about? I don’t like his politics but I do respect people that are honest and open about their politics and positions even if I don’t agree with them. Those who hide it, however, I detest.

You obviously misunderstood the context of what he said. "I'm not political" in this context means he has no interest in being a politician — running, and the media circus that goes with it. You can see that as a sentence or so later he says "You know, it's something that you'd love to be President, but not ever run." You are confusing the job of being political as a politician with being political as having specific viewpoints on current events while being quoted or enacting policies while running the company he is CEO of. Those are two different things completely. I debate with friends and colleagues about topics I feel strongly connected to, but that would be a different context than actually entering and running in the political forum.

 

[G5isAlive]

Well, if he has such strong beliefs he should walk the walk by reigning his CEO position and becoming a full time LGBT rights activist in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan.

Or you could. Rather than, you know, criticising what other people could be doing.

So, Tim is really concerned about LGBT and religious minorities being ostracized, and yet he has no problem with opening Apple stores in Saudi Arabia. Ah, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

Then you must really LOVE the smell of self-righteousness, because problems are always solved by staying away right?

 

[pika2000]

It feels like Tim, as CEO of Apple, has no clue whatsoever on how to keep the company successful other than milking what was put in place by Steve Jobs (side note: let go already, we've crossed into the realm of sad & pathetic a while back).

The Watch and the HomePod are not future-defining products, they're accessories - and Apple needs to find its next big thing, or let the company turn into IBM: sitting on loads of cash and patents, taking zero risk that could affect revenues, steadily becoming more boring than your grandfather's Xmas sweater.

Do you even know IBM? IBM basically reinvented themselves. IBM realized that they cannot be the same company that just made beige boxes, so they changed, and they are still relevant today in the business world. They're one of the classic success business case studies.

 

[imom]

"Treating customers like they’re jewels" Too funny!