5 ms·

Easily the best post in Daring Fireball in months. Reminds me of 'The Tablet' (http://daringfireball.net/2009/12/the_tablet http://daringfireball.net/2009/12/t

by barredo 15y ago

Easily the best post in Daring Fireball in months. Reminds me of 'The Tablet' (http://daringfireball.net/2009/12/the_tablet http://daringfireball.net/2009/12/the_tablet) and others to just how different Gruber is from other tech writers, even apple-related-tech writers like Andy Ihnatko, Jason Snell, etc. He throughly thinks about the topic with tremendous insight and unique points of view. This post is an interesting view on the world of tech, finance and journalism.

Steko 15y ago
It's a solid post but this is batting practice by Gruber. Anyone following Apple would bet the farm on Gruber's shortlist and the only serious candidate I'd entertain besides Cook would be Ive. Notably, Gruber missed a chance to link back to the Apple University effort which is another huge giveaway that a successor will almost certainly come from within. Glancing over the archive, imho Gruber's best posts in the last few months have been his iPad 2 review (custom benchmarks!); taking All Things D, Engadget, et al. to task for weak attribution; and taking non-Apple tablet reviews to task for grading on a curve.
- podperson 15y ago
  Gruber's dismissal of Ive as a candidate is pretty solidly based. I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote. I just don't think it's his kind of gig (and why should it be?)
  - Steko 15y ago
    To play Ive's advocate here: Jobs probably wants people who speak at events to serve specific functions. The product visionary role is currently filled by Steve. You only do a few of these a year and you aren't going to buzzkill the free pub by running the understudy up there if the lead is available. Edit: The above is in regards to Ive being a private person and not liking the public speaking gig. Of course for all we know Steve is a private person and may not like the public speaking gig but he does it because it's a necessary function. The strongest argument for Ive of course is that what set's Apple apart from other companies is that it's design/product driven. See Steve's comments re: what happens when The Sales Guy ends up running the whole show. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf20041012_4018_db083.htm http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf200410... Obviously you can say "well Phil is The Sales Guy" (which is a bit of a dodge) and also that "Tim took over for Steve when he was totally unable to work" which is at least partially true (was he really doing everything Steve did?). So maybe Tim Cook can by a product visionary. Maybe Jon Ive can't. But if you start from this one small and very arguable given that Steve wants Apple to be led by a product visionary and not the sales/operations guy that leads you to Jon Ive being the best candidate. There's other evidence too of course, reports are the two are quite close on Apple campus although I imagine Tim Cook would qualify based on that criteria as well.
  - shaggyfrog 15y ago
    Ive has certainly made appearances during keynote speeches before. Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s This idea that Steve can't possibly share the spotlight with Ive is absurd.
    - podperson 15y ago
      Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.
      - shaggyfrog 15y ago
        You stated "I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote" and I was demonstrating this to be untrue. The idea that Steve Jobs can't be replaced by a single person is based on the requirement that Apple would have to continue on the exact same way. It won't. When a new CEO is appointed, it will be more of a "new normal".
        Steko 15y ago
        This. And I think took much is made of the "waking up and Steve is totally gone" scenario despite health issues. More likely (and hopefully for his health) it will be Steve voluntarily giving up more and more control as the successor is tried out. We may be seeing some of that now, although I would say wait for a major product launch without him. That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over Gates was still heavily involved doing what he had always done.
        gjm11 15y ago
        > That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over This is ... not obviously a recommendation.
    - 15y ago

by barredo 15y ago

Steko 15y ago

It's a solid post but this is batting practice by Gruber. Anyone following Apple would bet the farm on Gruber's shortlist and the only serious candidate I'd entertain besides Cook would be Ive. Notably, Gruber missed a chance to link back to the Apple University effort which is another huge giveaway that a successor will almost certainly come from within. Glancing over the archive, imho Gruber's best posts in the last few months have been his iPad 2 review (custom benchmarks!); taking All Things D, Engadget, et al. to task for weak attribution; and taking non-Apple tablet reviews to task for grading on a curve.

podperson 15y ago
Gruber's dismissal of Ive as a candidate is pretty solidly based. I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote. I just don't think it's his kind of gig (and why should it be?)
- Steko 15y ago
  To play Ive's advocate here: Jobs probably wants people who speak at events to serve specific functions. The product visionary role is currently filled by Steve. You only do a few of these a year and you aren't going to buzzkill the free pub by running the understudy up there if the lead is available. Edit: The above is in regards to Ive being a private person and not liking the public speaking gig. Of course for all we know Steve is a private person and may not like the public speaking gig but he does it because it's a necessary function. The strongest argument for Ive of course is that what set's Apple apart from other companies is that it's design/product driven. See Steve's comments re: what happens when The Sales Guy ends up running the whole show. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf20041012_4018_db083.htm http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf200410... Obviously you can say "well Phil is The Sales Guy" (which is a bit of a dodge) and also that "Tim took over for Steve when he was totally unable to work" which is at least partially true (was he really doing everything Steve did?). So maybe Tim Cook can by a product visionary. Maybe Jon Ive can't. But if you start from this one small and very arguable given that Steve wants Apple to be led by a product visionary and not the sales/operations guy that leads you to Jon Ive being the best candidate. There's other evidence too of course, reports are the two are quite close on Apple campus although I imagine Tim Cook would qualify based on that criteria as well.
- shaggyfrog 15y ago
  Ive has certainly made appearances during keynote speeches before. Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLjldgjuKI&t=0m25s This idea that Steve can't possibly share the spotlight with Ive is absurd.
  - podperson 15y ago
    Not saying he can't possibly share the spotlight, but that Ive is not extroverted. (Tim Cook isn't a keynote kind of guy either for that matter.) Scott Forstall is pretty good in keynotes. It reminds me a bit of "Tactics of Mistake" -- an old SF novel by Gordon Dickson. No ONE person can replace Steve, but maybe two or three can.
    - shaggyfrog 15y ago
      You stated "I don't think Ive has even appeared in a speaking role in a keynote" and I was demonstrating this to be untrue. The idea that Steve Jobs can't be replaced by a single person is based on the requirement that Apple would have to continue on the exact same way. It won't. When a new CEO is appointed, it will be more of a "new normal".
      - Steko 15y ago
        This. And I think took much is made of the "waking up and Steve is totally gone" scenario despite health issues. More likely (and hopefully for his health) it will be Steve voluntarily giving up more and more control as the successor is tried out. We may be seeing some of that now, although I would say wait for a major product launch without him. That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over Gates was still heavily involved doing what he had always done.
        gjm11 15y ago
        > That is how Gates did it when Ballmer took over This is ... not obviously a recommendation.
  - 15y ago