It seems that Steve Jobs short email to employees has sent shock waves through the tech world today! Everyone seems to have an opinion about what this means, including me! Steve is certainly the face of Apple, which is one of the most coveted tech companies in the world, but he isn't the only bright mind! And this certainly doesn't spell doom for Apple, as a few idiot tech pundits are claiming. I will concede that it is the things that he didn't say in that email that makes me think it's worse than he is making it sound. Below is a copy of the email he sent out this morning.
Team,
At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.
I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.
Steve
One only needs to look at what Jobs has done in the last decade to fully understand his vision and the impact that he has had in this industry. He didn't invent the MP-3 player, but he took that format and created the iPod. by far the coolest music device the world had seen. He didn't invent the smartphone, but took that concept and created the iPhone. It wasn't even the most powerful device when it debuted, but he kept building on that platform to create the app store, and Apple continues to build upon that success. Apple didn't invent the tablet! HP and Microsoft had been showing off prototypes for several years prior, but it was Steve Jobs who took the iPhone and turned it into a Tablet. Critics knocked it! Consumers have eaten it up! He's done much more! the iPod Nano, the Mac Book Air. Again, not his idea but his vision to make an idea Work!
There's not a lot of Apple stuff in this house. The wife's iPhone and my iPod touch! But my other tech products are better products because of Steve Jobs and his vision for what these products should be. Steve, I'm praying for your health and a speedy return! And I'm looking forward to future products from Apple. Whether you are at the helm or not!
Buds who Blog