Apple's cofounder finally made an appearance at the company's fall music event after almost a year
Apple's cofounder finally made an appearance at the company's fall music event after almost a year
Question: Should you write about an Apple event only if Steve Jobs comes?
Answer: Yes.
This is because Steve Jobs only comes to those events when Apple has done something remarkable. If he doesn't come, then it probably isn't worth reporting, except to say that Steve Jobs has not come to this event, so Apple doesn't have anything much to offer.
But this time, Steve Jobs did come, though there was nothing really new yes, there were upgrades, but you don't need Steve Jobs for upgrades, you want him around to announce products that change the world. A new product from Apple has the potential to create a revolution, while an upgrade is merely an evolution.
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I have returned: Steve Jobs looks a lot thinner, but the fact that he is back on stage should cheer die-hard Apple fans pics/apple.com |
Interesting stuff
Before we continue with Steve Jobs, let's get the upgrades out of the way. Apple announced a new iPod Nano with both a video camera and an FM radio the first time that any iPod has featured an FM. While not revolutionary, it is good because you no longer need another device to listen to radio. And this radio has one cool feature it allows you to pause, answer a call, and then continue listening where you left off. There is also a pedometer, which will interest the fitness conscious.
Apple also announced iTunes 9 (that's interesting launching the 9th version on date 9/9/9), which has various features, including the ability to permit multiple users on a home network to copy content between computers.
iTunes 9 also has a new interface and now provides access to iTunes LP. And naturally, prices were dropped to boost sales for the upcoming Christmas shopping season.
Beyond Jobs
From the products point of view, you get more for less; but from Steve Jobs' point of view, the event answers quite a few questions. While Jobs is the heart of Apple, it is clear from the way that Jobs looked that it won't be long before Apple is forced to contemplate a scenario where he is at best the idealist driving the company from the background in a semi-retired mode. This has been true for a while, and soon, this may become permanent.
In some ways, this will perhaps be the greatest challenge for Steve Jobs ensuring that the company that he built and nurtured over the years manages to survive without him. Of course, while his abilities are generally unquestionable, in this one context one is left with the question can he do it?
One fears that this is not possible, but then again, one could be wrong.
QUICK TAKE>>Apple has announced new products
>>These include the iPod Nano with FM radio and iTunes 9
>>But the biggest thing was the presence of Steve Jobs himself
Come SeptemberThe iPod Nano seems to typically see some new version or the other every September.
Generationu00a0Launch date
1u00a0September 7, 2005
2u00a0September 12, 2006
3u00a0September 5, 2007
4u00a0September 9, 2008
5u00a0September 9, 2009
Source: Wikipedia
