After Apple’s CEO and visionary Steve Jobs passed away just last week, several questions arose about Apple’s future: Where would Apple go from here? Who would step in as the latest innovator of design? How stable is Apple’s future in absence of one of the most brilliant creators in the history of technology?
While only several of these questions were answered in completion, as the Apple 4S is set to debut tomorrow (October 14) we should briefly lay down the groundwork for Apple’s upcoming future, and talk about a few details of how Apple will now be measured, along with specifications of the latest iPhone iteration to be released.
So who will be taking over Apple?
This task seems to be relegated to Tim Cook, who has previously stepped in for Jobs as an interim Chief Operator when the former was out on sick leave. Jobs, who had been bearing comprehensive health issues for several months, had Cook next in line to inherit his day-to-day duties; responsibilities that Cook was already well accustomed to. Jobs, being preoccupied with big picture issues and more intuitive aspects of the company’s future, allowed Cook a leadership role for years, and has remained as the main man in regards to operational stability.
Nonetheless, sincere followers of the company, along with stern critics have gazed at the iPhone 4S’ diminished appeal as a cause for concern about the extended attraction of the company’s products in Jobs’ departure.
Cook took over the public announcement duties for the iPhone 4S, a job with which Jobs’ has been habitually praised for executing with vigor and highly anticipated appeal. But this past Tuesday, the announcement didn’t seem to wow potential buyers quite as effectively as it has done in the past.
Not to say that Cook can’t take over the reins with an appropriate level of competence, but most close followers have to agree that Apple will lose a bit of its luster without the enigmatic Jobs.
Where does Apple go from here?
Regardless of the company’s leadership, Apple will continue to be the gold standard of technological superiority for years to come. It still owns a 23 percent market share of computers, and the Macbook and iMac are the number 1 sellers in this category. The iPhone remains as the world’s best and most popular smart phone, and it goes without saying that the iPad has yet to receive any major competition in the tablet demographic.
In the short term future, it’s been noted that Apple plans three to five years ahead in order to stay ahead of the curve, a habit that should give consumers increased levels of confidence as their favorite company undergos major changes.
But while things certainly appear clear looking a few years ahead, the subsequent years may become a bit more blurry.
Apple is Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs is Apple, and Steve Jobs is innovation,” stated Tim Chowdry, who is an analyst with Global Equities Research, a firm which specializes in the prediction of short-term, mid-term and long-term equity trends to estimate appropriate stock market fluctuations.
Whether or not Cook and his remaining delegates will be able to produce the level of imagination that Jobs possessed has yet to be seen, and although you can teach any individual how to properly analyze operational elements it’s much more difficult to learn how to innovate.
Despite neither Jobs or his co-founder Steve Wozniack inventing the personal computer or the cell phone, it’s these types of personalities that were capable of taking these communication devices to unseen heights.
Most who own an Apple product believe in its broad appeal over the scope of several generations. Most importantly, however, Apple products are just cool, and they’ll need to remain that way for consumers to stay interested.
How will Apple be measured?
Although unfair, this answer lies in the history of Apple products since the mid-twentieth century. Even the first Apple computer (pictured to the right) was a step above some of the other products that were available during this timeline.
During these subsequent years, Apple will have to fulfill most of the endearing characteristics that their products have traditionally embodied; class, style, and most importantly substance.
When the iPhone 4S was unveiled recently, Apple stock in fact dropped by a small amount, likely due to the assumption that Apple would be revealing a brand new iPhone 5 instead of an improved predecessor. The consumer disappointment formed from the high expectations held for Apple, and when the company is unable to follow through with their own ambitions, disappointment inevitably trickles down to end users.
What does Apple’s latest innovation; the iPhone 4S, bring to consumers?
There are a ton of new features under the hood of the new iPhone 4S, despite its shell remaining completely intact. Let’s go over some of the recent improvements.
- There’s a new processor.
Mimicking its grown up counterpart the iPad, the iPhone 4S will now be sporting the same processing chip of its older brother. Almost every aspect of function will be dramatically improved, and the battery life has actually gone up despite the increased power.
What many consumers are always aching to improve is download quality, and with up to 14.4 megabytes per second of speed, consumers should enjoy the extra time they’ll acquire from improved downloads.
- Camera has been improved to 8-megapixels.
While no one expects to replace their digital SLR with an iPhone camera, having the ability to snap detailed photos on the fly will be pretty awesome with a 3264 x 2448 pixel viewpoint. Measured to gather an incredible 73 percent more light per pixel than the camera on the iPhone 4, there are five custom lenses to boot, so you can capture even the most mundane moments in nearly any setting.
- Welcome Siri, also known as the improved personal assistant for voice command.
The dominant inclusion in the new iPhone release, the sub-par voice command of previous iPhone versions has been replaced with an excellent autonomic answering service that also brings up applications that relate closely to what you’ve mentioned.
In example, if you’re interested in the weather, and you ask “what’s the weather like today?”, the Siri voice-answering service will respond with an accurate gauge of climate conditions, along with valuable information from local weather applications that could provide additional help. You’re not restricted to boring topics such as weather either, you can search movie theaters, restaurants, and local pubs so that all of your interests can be summoned by the sound of your voice.
All of these commands can be given by holding down the iPhone 4S’ home button. To be quite honest, the options for Siri are endless, and users will be provided with a unique manual that grabs every aspect of what Siri is all about.
For users worried about Apple’s future, there’s no need to. For years to come, products of brilliant quality will be on display.