As someone who has a significant stake in Apple (as a part of my personal investments), this concerns me.
Steve used to say that it's what you don't do that matters most.
He has also said that Apple's mission is to simply make great products. That's its identity. Make great products.
I don't see how investing/partnering with Twitter fits that.
As a customer and shareholder I want Apple to stay true to its identity and mission. An identity that cost a significant amount of pain and time to discover.
Maybe Tim wants to change Apple's core identity. I'm not sure.
I fear he may make strategic decisions mainly because he wants to distinguish himself from Steve.
Steve even told him not to play the "what would Steve do?" game.
But I think Steve always asked, in the end, what's best for Apple and its customer.
And I hope Tim does the same.
I hope he focuses on product. Make great products.
I recently signed up for iTunes Match and I've just had problems with it. It hasn't "just worked".
I hope that's not a sign of what's to come.
- - -
I want to add that I think it's still very early in the game when it comes to social.
I think it's entirely possible that Twitter is the RIMM of social.
It might not be, but I think it's possible.
Apple, please stay away from social networks; especially right now.
> Maybe Tim wants to change Apple's core identity.
The Wall Street Journal has its own article on this[1], and it reports that "Apple Inc. held discussions with Twitter Inc. more than a year ago about taking a strategic investment in the short-messaging service." Steve was still alive more than a year ago.
Steve used to say that it's what you don't do that matters most.
He has also said that Apple's mission is to simply make great products. That's its identity. Make great products.
I don't see how investing/partnering with Twitter fits that.
As a customer and shareholder I want Apple to stay true to its identity and mission. An identity that cost a significant amount of pain and time to discover.
Maybe Tim wants to change Apple's core identity. I'm not sure.
I fear he may make strategic decisions mainly because he wants to distinguish himself from Steve.
Steve even told him not to play the "what would Steve do?" game.
But I think Steve always asked, in the end, what's best for Apple and its customer.
And I hope Tim does the same.
I hope he focuses on product. Make great products.
I recently signed up for iTunes Match and I've just had problems with it. It hasn't "just worked".
I hope that's not a sign of what's to come.
- - -
I want to add that I think it's still very early in the game when it comes to social.
I think it's entirely possible that Twitter is the RIMM of social.
It might not be, but I think it's possible.
Apple, please stay away from social networks; especially right now.