Steve Jobs is gone. He passed away too young and undoubtedly with plenty of innovative ideas still brewing. It comes as no surprise but it s now a reality.
Jobs imprint and influence on Apple will remain for years. However, his management team can no longer count on his presence, opinion and impeccable taste.
As Aaron Task and Henry Blodget discuss in the accompanying clip, the near term is not a concern. Apple will remain one of the most valued companies in the world thanks to strong sales of Macs, i Phones and i Pads. The company appears to have incredible momentum over the next few product cycles, thanks largely to Jobs technological vision and marketing brilliance.
The technology sector is arguably the most competitive industry in the world. Steve Jobs genius was creating products no one even knew they wanted before Apple built them. He did not invent the personal computer, the digital music player, smart phones and or tablets; but his creations so fundamentally changed the market, he might as well have. No one knows better than Apple how one product enhancement or advancement can change consumer demand in inconceivable ways.