Steve Jobs...

[Steve Sherrick]

I just took the walk down memory lane.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/08/best-steve-jobs-performances-ceo/41699/

I suppose since I lived through it, and ultimately experienced it by using so many of the products that have come out of Apple, there's certainly a nostalgic feeling watching those videos.

I think in order to establish whether someone is a visionary, you have to carefully look at what was going on at the time. For example, how will Jim/RED be looked at twenty years from now? When RED One appeared, what was out there? There were certainly high end digital cameras. What was visionary about it is that they put these cameras in the hands of far more people due to portable, high resolution, RAW images that can be recorded onto something as small as a CF card. They were also an outsider to the industry, ala Apple at the beginning. RED shook up the industry, whther everyone wants to admit it, they did. Look no further than the industry giant Arri and what they have done since RED came on the scene.

Apple brought personal computing to the masses. I'd say Jobs was a visionary in his field. I have not always agreed with Steve and Apple, especially in recent times. I do get concerned that they may be heading towards that controlling tyrant that they showed in the commercial in 1984. But they are still innovating, and I suppose until that stops it's hard to argue with the success they are having. Hopefully Tim Cook, and others will always remember where Apple came from and never forget the customer base that has supported them along the way. Hopefully they are committed to producing environmentally friendly products, clean manufacturing, and fairly compensated manufacturing work forces. Hopefully, they stay in tune with their customers via social media interaction. And hopefully they are committed to their customer's security and privacy as more and more of our information is exposed. At the end of the day, it should be about connecting customers to their products, not just stocking shelves with product. If they can do all of that, then I see a bright future for Apple for many years.

On a personal note, I hope Steve's health is stable and that he is able to focus some time on family and friends now, while still maintaining a presence at Apple. Watching those videos from when Steve was a young, vibrant entrepreneur of 23 to the present is certainly a reminder that our time on this planet moves quickly and unapologetically. If you want to do something worthwhile, do it now because tomorrow is guaranteed to be yesterday and yesterday is guaranteed to be a lifetime ago.

 

[Bjørn Vermo]

I'm quite sure that the best product companies were founded by benevolent dictator/visionaries. What tends to happen is that committees and focus groups somehow take over after time. That happened at Apple under Sculley's rule. Fortunately, Jobs was able to step back in and do it all over again 14 years ago.

Jim

It does not have to be focus groups, all it takes is a board of directors elected by major shareholders. I have seen that happen. The lack of greedy (or even just financially prudent) shareholders is, I believe, a key to the success of RED.

 

[Justin Marx]

As a shareholder an Apple geek, and a human, my heart dropped when I heard he was stepping down from his current position.. Not for any reason except for the fact I feel an emotional connection to the products and Steve.. APPLE humanized electronics.

I don't see many cars in my neighborhood with WINDOWS XP stickers.. I like to show my admiration of something and I think they understand that buy putting that APPLE sticker in each products box. I would put a RED sticker on my car if I didn't have to buy it.. It has nothing to do with money..

You can not re-create a visionary, I can only hope he has passed on the idea that the easy way is not always the right way, and that just because something SEEMS impossible doesn't mean YOU can't MAKE it possible (EPIC 887 sitting in front of me)

-- Justin

 

[Brian Boyer]

I don't want to hijack this thread with a back-and-forth between us. I echo what Jim expressed in his original post. I'll try to leave it at this...

@ Brian

But back to the real world. You speak of other companies not being able to "outdo" Apple. So what? If I don't need to read a tweet from a famous person saying "I just farted " and reading thousands of tweet backs "Oh, if you would only let me I would stick my nose in that hallowed place!", then what deprivation has my not being able to read that caused me?

I must remind myself that you're the same guy who wanted to call the Epic-S the "Slick". :nonod: I'm not quite sure what your comments about tweets has to do with anything.

"So what?", you ask? Elsie, I'm referring to the extent that other companies actually do try to outdo Apple, not that it can't be done. My point is they try to do it by focusing on one or two aspects without seeing the bigger picture. In addition, the bigger picture is harder to see than it appears when using 20/20 hindsight.

It seems you are arguing that Apple is the best technology company of all time, therefore they must be important and Steve Jobs has saved mankind!

Number one, my logic is never that simplistic. Please do a better job of mocking me. As for the rest...

Now that you mention it, in some respects, Apple might be the best technology company of all time. Their business model over the last 14 years will be studied for years to come. My point is, if all people focus on are the profits and ignore the why of the profits, they'll be missing a bigger, more important point. As a business owner, you might do well to study Jobs and Apple as well, in my opinion. No, Steve Jobs hasn't saved mankind, but his contributions have made life a little easier and enjoyable for those fortunate enough to have access to computers, including you.

Ask the children of the jobless that are living in shelters or cheap motels because their family lost their homes. Ask them how Apple has made their lives better?

To be fair the same could be said of Red Digital Cinema. The only reason I put more importance on this company is because it has transformed (at least in my experience) the relationship between customer and company.

Okay, I'll ignore the rhetoric of the "children of the jobless" bit and agree with you on the way RED has transformed the relationship of customer and company. Now, take that model and have it propagate through this entire industry and then others and you'll have the equivalent of what Steve Jobs did.

 

[Justin Kirchhoff]

"So what?", you ask? Elsie, I'm referring to the extent that other companies actually do try to outdo Apple, not that it can't be done. My point is they try to do it by focusing on one or two aspects without seeing the bigger picture. In addition, the bigger picture is harder to see than it appears when using 20/20 hindsight.

This reminded me of a commercial I recently watched regarding a Toshiba laptop. The commercial was informing customers on how you can now charge your mobile devices while your Toshiba is in sleep mode.

This is a perfect example of how out of touch most large technology companies are with their customer base. It took Toshiba close to 10 years to create a laptop that can finally charge mobile devices while the computer is sleeping?? Where have they been!

This minor example is a perfect as to why Apple is ahead of everyone else's time. They tell the consumer what they want, because if they didn't, technology wouldn't be as exponential as Moore's law states.

RED is the same in a way. They're creating products that are changing the industry standard, because they see 1080p as not good enough (and I feel the same), and they believe in customers being able to obtain camera technology that is affordable and available to the masses. This hasn't ever been done before, which is why I believe Jim has stated the RED team didn't know what they were doing at first, but they have learned from it, and are getting better.

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

Steve Jobs has influenced multiple generations of users and thinkers. He revolutionized desktop publishing, cinematography/animation, the music industry, film and video production...the dude is a giant. Whether you love him or hate him or both, his influence across the entire digital economy is undeniable.

Whether you have purchased Apple products or not, Elsie N, certainly you have read newspapers and magazines laid out on his boxes, or films cut on them. Or maybe you watch animated films, spawn of Pixar or its copycats?

These things are so deeply embedded and integrated into the digital economy and our Zeitgeist that we forget the time before them. Innovation happens so fast, at such an accelerated pace, that its history is easy to forget.

A visionary is a magician who sees into the future so clearly and drags us forward along the path so quickly and seamlessly, that we forget the past.


My blog post, in looking back over the ways Steve Jobs has shaped so many facets of my adult life: http://blogs.minyanville.com/the-creative-trader/2011/08/25/steve-jobs-is-my-bff/

Sending good vibes to him, for all the good times I've had playing in the garden of his magical technologies....

 

[Kyle Carter]

This reminded me of a commercial a recently watched regarding a Toshiba laptop. The commercial was informing customers on how you can now charge your mobile devices while your Toshiba is in sleep mode.

This is a perfect example of how out of touch most large technology companies are with their customer base. It took Toshiba close to 10 years to create a laptop that can finally charge mobile devices while the computer is sleeping?? Where have they been!

This minor example is a perfect as to why Apple is ahead of everyone else's time. They tell the consumer what they want, because if they didn't, technology wouldn't be as exponential as Moore's law states.

RED is the same in a way. They're creating products that are changing the industry standard, because they see 1080p as not good enough (and I feel the same), and they believe in customers being able to obtain camera technology that is affordable and available to the masses. This hasn't ever been done before, which is why I believe Jim has stated the RED team didn't know what they were doing at first, but they have learned from it, and are getting better.

Macs only charge iCrap when in sleep mode.

Apple is out of touch with their customers. I thought Macs were the the best for photo and video, yet they are determined to get rid of CUDA. Oh yeah and USB 3.0. Thunderbolt display has USB 2.0 connections... so stupid.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

To my recollection I've never used an Apple product other than Quicktime on occasion, so I've not got the same connection with Steve Jobs as so many here on Reduser have. Still, I know who he is and what he has done. And like anyone with health problems, I wish him the best in his quest to get better.

I guess he's a visionary but since I don't use any of his products, his vision hasn't affected me as it has probably billions of others. I look at his business model and I just see a businessman who creates products people will buy and sells it to them for a tidy profit. I don't recall him ever under-pricing his product to make it affordable for more people. On the contrary he has generally set the price bar at it's high threshold and in doing so has made Apple one of the most profitable companies in the world.

So I agree he is an astute businessman. However, I think terms like Visionary should be reserved for people who are not only able to see the future, but choose to share that vision with his or her customer base. Someone who desires his customer-friends feel the passion of the experience from within the vision.

Someone like you, Jim Jannard.

Wow - I can't decide if this post falls more into the category of embarrassing and inappropriately out-of-context pandering or simply the most cynical and begrudging (not to mention flat out inaccurate) post of the decade. Sad.

No one has to like someone or agree with complimentary posts but, geesh, in some cases it is just the most appropriate thing to withhold comment. :thumbdown:

 

[Elsie N]

I don't want to hijack this thread with a back-and-forth between us. I echo what Jim expressed in his original post. I'll try to leave it at this...



I must remind myself that you're the same guy who wanted to call the Epic-S the "Slick". :nonod: I'm not quite sure what your comments about tweets has to do with anything.

"So what?", you ask? Elsie, I'm referring to the extent that other companies actually do try to outdo Apple, not that it can't be done. My point is they try to do it by focusing on one or two aspects without seeing the bigger picture. In addition, the bigger picture is harder to see than it appears when using 20/20 hindsight.




Number one, my logic is never that simplistic. Please do a better job of mocking me. As for the rest...

Now that you mention it, in some respects, Apple might be the best technology company of all time. Their business model over the last 14 years will be studied for years to come. My point is, if all people focus on are the profits and ignore the why of the profits, they'll be missing a bigger, more important point. As a business owner, you might do well to study Jobs and Apple as well, in my opinion. No, Steve Jobs hasn't saved mankind, but his contributions have made life a little easier and enjoyable for those fortunate enough to have access to computers, including you.




Okay, I'll ignore the rhetoric of the "children of the jobless" bit and agree with you on the way RED has transformed the relationship of customer and company. Now, take that model and have it propagate through this entire industry and then others and you'll have the equivalent of what Steve Jobs did.

Brian, sorry. I'm gonna have to cut you off here. Terry Verharr is bringing a fresh opinion to what is becoming redundant with you. Nothing personal.

 

[Elsie N]

... in some cases it is just the most appropriate thing to withhold comment. :thumbdown:

So, does this mean you will be going back and removing your post? That would be the only way to retroactively "withhold comment.":001_smile:

 

[Jannard]

If you guys turn the intent of this thread into something "not good"... I'm going to be pissed and start deleting. I'm already irritated.

Jim

 

[Elsie N]

Steve Jobs has influenced multiple generations of users and thinkers. He revolutionized desktop publishing, cinematography/animation, the music industry, film and video production...the dude is a giant. Whether you love him or hate him or both, his influence across the entire digital economy is undeniable.

Whether you have purchased Apple products or not, Elsie N, certainly you have read newspapers and magazines laid out on his boxes, or films cut on them. Or maybe you watch animated films, spawn of Pixar or its copycats?

These things are so deeply embedded and integrated into the digital economy and our Zeitgeist that we forget the time before them. Innovation happens so fast, at such an accelerated pace, that its history is easy to forget.

A visionary is a magician who sees into the future so clearly and drags us forward along the path so quickly and seamlessly, that we forget the past.


My blog post, in looking back over the ways Steve Jobs has shaped so many facets of my adult life: http://blogs.minyanville.com/the-creative-trader/2011/08/25/steve-jobs-is-my-bff/

Sending good vibes to him, for all the good times I've had playing in the garden of his magical technologies....

Sorry Meryem. I respect the man as a business giant, and if I could snap my fingers and heal whatever it is that is causing him to step down, I would. All the things you mention in how he has affected your life I'm sure are true. But without those "things" would your life have been less meaningful? Are you so co-dependent on Steve Jobs that without him and his products you are nothing? I don't think so, and I hope you don't think so as well.

 

[Elsie N]

If you guys turn the intent of this thread into something "not good"... I'm going to be pissed and start deleting. I'm already irritated.

Jim

Apoligies. That last post was indeed, my last on this thread.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

There is a local story about Steve Jobs that few know but I was in a good position to judge as completely accurate:

A couple of decades ago, Mr. Jobs walked into a local high-end bicycle shop and purchased the very high end Campagnolo crank set that was on display in the window. Anyone who knows the history of Campagnolo, the Italian company that for many decades has set the standard for high quality bicycle components, both functionally and aethestically, can appreciate what a guy like Steve Jobs was thinking. He was not known to be a cyclist and, in fact, he apparently intended just to hang the beautifully designed alloy component on his wall as something of a piece of art. To him, perhaps t was worth several hundred dollars to acquire this perfect and simple reminder of the power of design.

Steve Jobs is mercurial, a perfectionist, a hard taskmaster. He is opinionated, hard driving and, from all accounts, not particularly humble. But , more than anything else, he is indisputably a visionary and a business genius. You don't have to like him or his products but he is a man to be respected, and honored for all that he has contributed to the technology field.

I wish him the best as he goes forward and hope that this relaxing of his duties will translate to improved health and a chance for some time to appreciate the fruits of his genius and hard work.

 

[zasad]

I know Steve. I have met with him. I admire him. Steve has changed the world and set an example for all visionaries to follow. There are very few like Steve... Walt Disney is the only other one that comes to mind in my lifetime.

... and You, Jim - You've changed our lifes. You're right - there are very few like Steve... and we all have honour to meet one. In here. Hat's off gents.

 

[Erik Franzén]

If you guys turn the intent of this thread into something "not good"... I'm going to be pissed and start deleting. I'm already irritated.

Jim

The thing is, whether you think Steve Jobs is a great businessman, a visionary, or both one fact remains - he is a great man and he did make Apple into what it is today. With that said, I think the intent of this thread was to honor that - so leave the rest out and let's wish Jobs a great future!

 

[Justin Kirchhoff]

Macs only charge iCrap when in sleep mode.

Apple is out of touch with their customers. I thought Macs were the the best for photo and video, yet they are determined to get rid of CUDA. Oh yeah and USB 3.0. Thunderbolt display has USB 2.0 connections... so stupid.

This just isn't correct. Apple may be misaligned with their professional customers at the moment sans video editing software, but have you ever walked by an Apple Store before? Explain to me how Apple is out of touch with their customers when you walk into a mall or shopping center and the only store that is always packed with customers just happens to be the Apple Store.

Apple knows exactly what they are doing. They have products people want and a setting for customers to get their hands on the technology. Do you see Samsung, LG, or even Google have retail stores? Nope. You know why? They lacked the vision of putting customers first and having them walk into a store where they feel welcomed. Why do you think Gateway Computer stores failed? Why do you think Microsoft only has one retail store and they mimed EXACTLY how Apple acted in retail environments.

Corporations take note of others that are changing the industry. Heck, even tablet computers weren't that popular until Apple introduced the iPad last year, and now all you see are mock ups from other technology companies that I think are too late coming to the game.

So before you say "Apple is out of touch with their customers", think about what they have done, and how many corporations have followed them to retain the same customer base. You have to look at the whole picture, not one piece of software that some think they failed to deliver on.

 

[Charles Stewart Jr]

This is depressing news. Steve Job's is one of the few CEOs who actually cared about the product and experience more then making money, because he believed if you make a good product, the money will follow. For anyone to not see how influential this man was on so many different products and business models is beyond me.

He directly influenced the entire music industry. If he didn't convince the label executives that music downloads are the future, I feel the music industry would be in a different place right now. iTunes is one of the #1 places where people purchase their music.

As far as cell phones, we would probably still be holding some underwhelming piece of hardware that was moderate update from a 2007 blackberry. Before the iPhone the cell phone industry in america did very little to innovate their service and technology. Almost every other major country had more advanced cellphones and services. Now thank's to the iPhone we have visual voicemail, real internet, a real media player, and the ability to turn their phone into a very specific piece device thanks to Apps. Everyone has just been copying or influenced by the iPhone since the day it was announced.

Tablets were nothing new and had been around for over 5 years in one form or another. The only reason people think it's something new is because Apple stepped in and MADE it something new. Again, everyone has just been playing catch up.

He came back to Apple when it was about to go belly up and turned it into one of the most profitable companies in the World.

These are just a few examples in a amazingly vast list that Steve Jobs is responsible for. While innovation will continue to happen, it has just lost one of it's star players. This truly is a sad day.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

The prime lesson of Steve Jobs: Be your own customer. Anyone who follows that mantra can't lose. Just on a statistical basis alone you're guaranteed to hit a home run with others like you. In a world of 6 billion people, there could be lots of customers just like you.

Another Steve Jobs lesson: Innovate towards simplicity not complexity.

Another huge Steve Jobs lesson: Its never about the product as much as it is about your relationship with the product.

 

[AnthonyFlores]

Thanks Jim. I really appreciate this post. My greatest concern is for Steve's health, since I know his mind is still strong and he's got so much left he can contribute. And he looked sooooooo thin/frail during the iCloud keynote, I almost felt like crying as I watched it. I just hope he can somehow return to health. If he passed, we would be losing one of the great technology geniuses and innovators of our time. He is a Mozart or Da Vinci of our generation, without any exaggeration.

My dad got one of the first Apple 2e computers, and a first-model Macintosh was in the house from age 5 up. Steve Jobs is largely responsible for that. Seriously, Elsie or anyone -- the first computer with a mouse and graphical interface not being "revolutionary" or "visionary"? Come on!

Then you look at the iMac, the way that iPods and iTunes revolutionized music (still to this day), the way that iPhone revolutionized mobile phones and spun off copycats like Android and others, and the way that iPad is revolutionizing the mobile computing landscape. It's just surreal that one person and one company could have done all this.

Some people tend to view Apple from where they are now and think of them as this massive corporate marketing machine -- and yes they do have great marketing and Steve is one of the greatest salesman to ever live -- BUT for so long Apple was the underdog, fighting against titans like Microsoft and so many others that outsold and out capitalized them by a ridiculous margin.

And today, Apple is far more valuable and 100x more innovative than Microsoft is, or will ever be. That would have never happened without Steve.

The fact that YOU - Jim Jannard - hold Steve in such high regard speaks volumes about his contribution and vision. Nuff said.