Om
Malik succinctly articulates how Apple and Steve Jobs
have effectively orchestrated a major strategic transition.
Here is an interesting sequence of events that crystalized
today:
- Steve Jobs leaves Apple to found NeXT (collaboration and
conceptual data model exploitation were very strong here from
the get-go; remember NeXTSTEP's
EOF?)
- Apple pursues the Apple Newton
- Apple attempts an OS revamp (Copeland)
-
Steve Jobs returns to Apple
- Apple gains NeXTStep essence (a technical and visionary DNA
boost of sorts)
- Apple starts transition process from Apple Computers to Apple,
Inc (using innovation as its chosen market transition and
leadership discipline)
- Apple doesn't build a PDA (a 'la Newton, Palm and others)
- Apple doesn't build a Tablet PC
-
Apple delivers the iPod (salvo #1)
- Apple head fakes the competition (consumer electronics, PC
manufacturers, and Phone Manufacturers; leaving them to focus on
the iPod) via a technique akin to a "cloaking mechanism" (similar
to Stealth mode, but at a latter stage in the product management
cycle)
- Apple skillfully manages the complex transition from PowerPC to
Intel processors (critical element of its consumer electronics
transition)
-
Apple delivers
a collection of "form factor sound" and function specific
devices that are representative of the new era of Internet
enabled connectivity where Phone, PDA, and what used to be PC
confined Desktop Productivity functionality converge
coherently.
Apple has delivered on its part with aplomb!
Next stop: utilization of these new devices to effectively
exploit the wealth of Data, Information, and Knowledge on the
Internet in a whole new way! And by this I don't mean
context-challenged keyword searching or brute force data-mashing
:-)