October 6, 2011 in Blog by Ken Theriot, Executive Director

iPhone 4S [RIP Jobs]

Apple released its latest version of the infamous iPhone series on October 4th, 2011. In recent years, we have seen Apple praised, criticized, and a whole lot more for the five releases they have had in the iPhone series. With 3 of those selling currently in stores, you have to believe that Apple is doing something right.

iPhone4S an iFail?

Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011 By: R. Lamontagne, Lead Artist @ViewspotNetwork

Is it the radical  innovation that has propelled Apple to arguably the strongest brand position that has ever existed in modern times? Was it the fruit of Steve Jobs relentless pursuit of perfection with how it worked..how it looked..and how it made the user feel? Is it Apple’s ability to attract the best talent from all over the World and get them under one-roof? Or is Apple’s ability to define the market and make their competitors chase them? Or is it all of these things combined in a nice-perfectly proportioned box just like every Apple product which you would know if you have ever purchased one. Chances are you probably have because I have heard estimates that 2 out of 5 in America currently own an Apple product. If you have ever read Steve Jobs Wikipedia , there is a quote from Jobs about Wayne Gretzky that I think defines the spirit of Apple.

That mentality has allowed Apple and Jobs to define their market but in my opinion Apple changed the game in one other major way, that is often not heard. In the past, the technology defined the experience and the technology was whatever an engineer created. Apple and Jobs made a point of allowing the user to define the technology. This distinction is what made people care about the product because ultimately, the worth or value of something is a perceived-value or perceived-worth. This perception is what elevated Apple to its religious-like status which defined generations of people in their chase for something better, something that was more “them”.

iPhone4S Reviews

The iPhone4S has not been receiving the best reviews, I won’t go over the exact specifications here but you can read them on the iPhone Wikipedia, but have people come to expect to much? Or is it because Apple is more focused on incremental releases of technology to improve their quarterly earnings in order to maintain it’s behemoth valuation and strong stock-price? I think it is a little of both. Apple’s positioning has one major flaw and that is with any mountain you climb, you eventually reach a peak and unless your building the mountain as you go.. at some point you have to go down to find another mountain to climb. Some might say that Apple has been building their own mountain for some time but I think you can recognize it now. Prior to Apple being the most profitable mobile and hand-held company in the World, their main focus was personal computing. However, iOS (the Operating System on the iPhone and iPad) contributes for 2 out of 3 sales at Apple.  So it is easy to say that Apple is more hand-held than personal computer. But when you think about that, I guess in some ways they have redefined what personal computing is. Speaking from my own experiences, I know I check my email more from my iPhone than my desktop and laptop.

Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011

This article was conceived prior to the passing of Steve Jobs on October 5th but I felt it necessary to edit and make mention the man that took the bite from the Apple has officially logged out. Apple’s current CEO released a statement on October 5th which you can read here, that alerted the World that the original Apple Genius had passed. Immediately, the Social Media sphere began the mourning process which was apparent from the (#) hash tags #iSad and #ThankYouSteve and Stay Hungry trending World Wide. In a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford Univeristy (Watch Here), Jobs ended the speech with the quote “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”, telling the graduating class that you need to do what you love and  not settle. He told them that the only way to be great is to do what you love. When I think about that, I believe in his pursuit of what he loved he has allowed millions of people to find what they love, because Apple’s technology has allowed people to create like they have never created before. He helped redefine the tools of creativity and worked relentlessly to get it into your hands (at a profit of course!) but time and time again people always say that their Apple purchase was “worth it” so.. I think it has been a Win-Win situation on all sides. Now with Steve Jobs really gone only time will tell how Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook will steer the ship but one thing is for certain, Steve Job’s has changed the World and his legacy will continue to do that for a long-time to come.

From the team here at Viewspot Network.. Thank you Mr. Jobs and may you Rest in Peace.