Feb 16 2012

Tim Cook: iOS, OS X convergence will continue

Category: Laptops — Gadgets & Tech @

Tim Cook: iOS, OS X convergence will continue

Apple CEO Tim Cook says that the company will continue to bridge the gap between iOS and Mac OS X by integrating more popular features from the mobile operating system.

Wednesday’s launch of Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which will arrive this summer, brings more functionality from iOS, including AirPlay Mirroring, a new Messaging app and notifications.

Cook told the Wall Street Journal that Apple will keep converging the two operating systems in future versions to give users the features they love from the iPhone and iPad ecosystem.

He said: "We see that people are in love with a lot of apps and functionality [on the iPhone]. Anywhere where that makes sense, we are going to move that over to Mac."

All roads lead to a touchscreen Mac?

The feeling among many industry observers is that the two operating systems will eventually meet as one if Apple decides to launch a touchscreen MacBook or iMac computer.

Cook also refused to rule out that future Mac devices will run off the same chipset as mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone.

While Cook told the WSJ that the tablet and laptop markets will continue to exist as separate entities, he added: "We think about everything. We don’t close things off."

Check out our Mac OS X Mountain Lion: What you need to know rundown to discover the 100+ new features coming in summer 2012.




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Jan 27 2012

Tim Cook hits back at Apple labour abuse claims

Category: Apple — Gadgets & Tech @

Tim Cook hits back at Apple labour abuse claims

Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent a lengthy email to staff in response to reports on the alleged unsafe and oppressive working conditions at its Chinese supplier factories

The New York Times article claimed Foxconn employees work excessive overtime where they "stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk," amid scores of other damaging allegations.

The report also quotes a former Foxconn boss as saying: "Apple never cared about anything other than increasing product quality and decreasing production cost. Workers’ welfare has nothing to do with their interests."

Defined by values

Cook has hit back at the NYT’s report telling his "team" that the company cares about each employee in the supply line and that no company has striven to improve working conditions like Apple has.

He said in the lengthy email: "As a company and as individuals, we are defined by our values. Unfortunately some people are questioning Apple’s values today, and I’d like to address this with you directly. We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain.

"Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don’t care is patently false and offensive to us. As you know better than anyone, accusations like these are contrary to our values. It’s not who we are."

Workers rights

Cook claimed to be "outraged" by the allegations and said Apple has "raised the bar" for its partners by going deeper into the supply chain.

"We are focused on educating workers about their rights, so they are empowered to speak up when they see unsafe conditions or unfair treatment," he continued. "As you know, more than a million people have been trained by our program.

"We will continue to dig deeper, and we will undoubtedly find more issues. What we will not do – and never have done – is stand still or turn a blind eye to problems in our supply chain. On this you have my word."

Apple’s manufacturing methods in China have been called into question further this week as the company announced its highest single quarter revenue ever with record iPhone and iPad sales.




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Jan 27 2012

Apple Employee Meeting Reveals More Corporate Kindness From Tim Cook

Category: Computers — Gadgets & Tech @

Since assuming the role of CEO, Tim Cook has opened up charitable matching, and, as of Wednesday, a generous employee discount program. Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

With an employee headcount in excess of 45,000, Apple’s ability to manage news concerning its internal machinations sets a benchmark for corporate information control. It’s all described in fascinating detail in recent reporting from Fortune’s Adam Lashinsky.

Yesterday, however, CEO Tim Cook held an all-hands meeting for the work force, and a little bit of intel did seep out — and it’s good news that directly affects Apple employees.

9to5Mac reports that Cook announced an internal Apple discount program wherein employees will receive $ 500 off new Mac computers, and $ 250 off iPads. The report says the program will begin some time in June, and to qualify, employees must have 90 days’ tenure working for the company.

The employee discount program isn’t the first example of hardware generosity on Apple’s part. On June 28, 2007, Steve Jobs announced during an all-hands meeting that every employee with one year’s tenure would receive a new iPhone. It was an impressive gesture that Engadget estimated to cost Apple $ 12 million.

But it was also one of the few acts of overt, showy gifting that Jobs ever bestowed upon the work force, or even the world at large. Indeed, in the days following his death last October, a small but significant number of news outlets took Jobs to task for his apparent lack of interest in philanthropy, including the closure of Apple’s philanthropic efforts when he returned to the company in 1997.

Two recent gestures from Tim Cook, however, signal Apple is taking a kinder, gentler approach to wealth distribution (or wealth re-distribution as it’s known in some quarters).

First, there’s Wednesday’s hardware discount announcement. No, there weren’t iPad 3′s hidden beneath the seat of every employee, but by directly acknowledging the employees’ role in record earnings — backing up verbal praise with hardware discounts — Cook sent a message loaded with symbolism.

But the grander Cook gesture occurred early last September, after Cook become CEO, but before Jobs passed away. Cook announced that Apple would match charitable donations made by Apple employees, up to $ 10,000 per year for full-time workers in the U.S. The move spoke volumes about Tim Cook’s management style, and what a Tim Cook administration might mean for not only philanthropy, but corporate “openness” in general.

At Gadget Lab we’re not looking for hand-outs, but we’d love to receive an iPad 3 review unit, oh, say, maybe two or three weeks before the tablet hits retail.

It never hurts to ask.

Gadget Lab

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Jan 24 2012

Tim Cook: the tablet will be even bigger than the Computer a single day

Category: Reviews — Gadgets & Tech @

iPad 2

This almost certainly shouldn’t shock way too many men and women but, Tim Cook believes the long term just isn’t with the Computer, but with the tablet. Following delivery 15.4 million iPads in Q1 Cupertino is obviously cozy with the thought that tablets are getting off and, as we start to desire our gadgets turn out to be more cellular, it only tends to make feeling that these finger-friendly slates will 1 day outsell much less transportable choices like laptops and desktops. When may well that day occur? Well, Mr. Cook refused to speculate, but he was assured that the tablet market will be greater, at minimum in phrases of models sold, than traditional computer systems. We hope, for their own sake, Dell and HP are prepared for the coming revolution.

Tim Cook: the tablet will be larger than the Computer a single day formerly appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms and conditions for use of feeds.

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Nov 02 2011

Tim Cook already making changes at Apple

Category: Apple — Gadgets & Tech @

Tim Cook already making changes at Apple

New Apple CEO is making his mark on the company, with a host of small-scale changes, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The article, entitled "Cook is making Apple his own" claims that he has already proved to be more communicative with company employees than his late predecessor, Steve Jobs.

According to the WSJ’s sources, that includes the sending of company-wide emails addressed to "Team" and tending to administrative matters that Jobs avoided.

Cook, says the report, has also set up a charity program where Apple will match donations made by employees of up to $ 10,000 per year. One source said that Steve Jobs "didn’t like giving money away.".

Education division restructured

The insightful Wall Street Journal report also says that Cook has restructured Apple’s massive education division, giving it its own sales and marketing arm.

He is also reported to have given more responsibilities to Senior VP of Product Marketing Phil Schiller and VP of Oversees Sales John Brandon.

One of his first acts of business was to promote iTunes VP and Apple veteran Eddy Cue to Senior VP of Internet Software and Service.

The article also says that Cook is expected to be more open with shareholders and customers than his iconic mentor Jobs.

‘Apple will not change’

The spotlight has shined brightly on Cook since he was promoted from COO to CEO when Steve Jobs stepped down in August this year.

At the time, Cook emailed Apple employees to say that: "I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values."

While no large scale changes are currently evident, it’s clear that Cook is intent on putting his own stamp on the company.

It’s going to intriging to see where he takes Apple in the years to come.




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Oct 05 2011

Analysis: How did Tim Cook do?

Category: Cameras — Gadgets & Tech @

Analysis: How did Tim Cook do?

Stepping into Steve Jobs’ magic sneakers would be a big ask for anyone – so you can imagine how new Apple CEO Tim Cook felt when he stepped up on stage at Apple’s Cupertino HQ last night.

The affable Alabamian certainly looked the part.

Dressed in jeans and a black shirt and trainers he looked every bit the Apple executive. But instead of the whizz-bang theatrics we’re used to, we got a rather pedestrian run-through of Apple’s recent successes along with a smattering of new product news, much of which had been previously trailed by Apple itself or reported on by Apple rumour sites.

Unfortunately Tim’s laid-back southern drawl didn’t really help. At times he sounded like he chatting to friends over mint juleps in his drawing room rather than giving the speech of his life:

"I want to especially welcome you to this campus. This campus is like a second home to many of us. Inviting you here is like welcoming you into our home. In particular I want to welcome you to this room that we call the Town Hall…"

See?

The other thing Tim Cook did was to let other Apple executives hog much of the limelight – which may be just as well. He turned the presentation about IOS 5 and iCloud over to iOS senior vice president Scott Forstall (makes sense) but then turned the climactic iPhone 4S announcement over to Apple SVP for worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller – something Steve Jobs would never have done at his peak.

To be fair, Tim Cook was partly echoing what Steve Jobs has done himself in recent years – trying to place less emphasis on the presence of a charismatic figurehead and more on an executive collective that’s at the top of its game, but it also denied Tim Cook the chance to surprise us all with a ‘one more thing’. Steve Jobs loved his ‘one more thing’:

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvlHi7iTdaw

For Tim Cook, things can only get better, of course. His presentation skills are likely to improve as he steps out of Steve Jobs’ shadow and becomes his own man – although some chutzpah would help too.

He certainly needs to hurry up and grab some quick, if the performance of Amazon chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos at the Kindle Fire launch last week is anything to go by. Bezos has already been declared the new Steve Jobs in some quarters, even if he lacks the former Apple CEO’s considerable charisma:

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

Jeff Bezos had learned from the presentation techniques seen in Steve Jobs’ iconic keynotes – right down to the moody stage lighting, use of minimalist slides and meticulously rehearsed timing:

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QXXTdG94xI

Mind you every time we see Bezos do his thing, we can’t help but be reminded of this guy, a certain Dr. Evil:

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw

So lacklustre it may have been, but there’s one positive note to take away from Tim Cook’s inaugural keynote last night. He least he managed to avoid making himself look like a complete idiot like a certain other CEO once did:

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04FOUQpnGsc

and

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8To-6VIJZRE

Tim Cook also has plenty of aces up his sleeve. He was personally selected by Steve Jobs to take over the high profile role of Apple CEO, suggesting Jobs and the board have full confidence in him.

Tim Cook’s appointment has also been well received by Apple investors and shareholders. What Tim Cook needs to do now – and in the future – is prove that he can measure up to the faith that has been placed in him.




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