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Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

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Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#101
post #63

Well, not THAT much power: 'Ive wants to spend more time in the UK where he wants his sons to go to school, the Times claims, but the Apple board has refused to support his relocation. The story quotes a family friend as saying that "they have told him in no uncertain terms that if he headed back to England he would not be able to sustain his position with them".' From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/pda/2011/f…

Is not that just a story with no reliable source whatsoever? And the true tabloid Daily Mail actually interviewed some of Ive's friends and they all said never heard of such a desire from Jony Ive himself. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1367481/Appl...

I guess we'll all find out on Monday.

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#102
post #15

It staggers me that time and time again Apple lays out the reasons for it's unrivalled success for all to see, yet non of it's rivals seem interested in copying their methods and opt for simply copying their products. Fortune favours the brave.

This applies to Silicon Valley in general, I think. We take risks, we bet on long shots, we try to serve markets with zero demand and squeeze blood from stones. We spend money like it was just paper, and when we don't have money we give our time away for free working on things we believe in. According to traditional business management practices, no startup should last more than a couple of months. And most don't. An…

I've added this to my snippet's file. Very well written.

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#103
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So who does Apple's software design? Scott Forstall is responsible for iOS. My understanding is that Eddy Cue is responsible for the iTunes Store, including the App Store, and now, iCloud. He was promoted to Executive Vice President back in August. I'm not sure who's in charge of Mac software. You can see brief profiles of the various people here: http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/

I'm not sure who's in charge of Mac software. It used to be Bertrand Serlet until he left last March. I'm not sure why he hasn't been replaced, at least from an outside perspective (no one is shown as in charge of Mac on the page you linked to). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Serlet

That'd be Craig Federighi, he doesn't seem to have a bio on apple.com.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/03/23Bertrand-Serlet-to...

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#104
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there anyone who can replace Ive in his current position? If you think there’s not then you already have the answer to the question whether Ive could become CEO. His ability as a CEO doesn’t even figure into it, at least not very much. He can’t be CEO and designer at the same time and a designer like Ive is at least as important for Apple as a good CEO. I used to like the idea of Ive as a CEO but in hindsight that…

Not promoting someone because they're too good at their current job is a mistake bad companies make.

Promoting someone who is good at their job into a job they are not a good fit for is a much more common mistake.

Peopleware points this out as a reason to maintain distinct hierarchies for product development and software engineering.

And I do, too. :)

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#105
Right now Ive has the best of both worlds, he has more power than anyone at Apple, and hes not the CEO. The CEO role comes with an extra layer of public scrutiny.

Knowing that Jony Ive has more power than anyone at Apple gives me a certain amount of relief about Apple being on the same trajectory for the next foreseeable future.

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#106
post #50
post #44

Great, but... Ive only does industrial design, as far as I know. The other side of the coin is the software, and if that declines, Ive's going to be creating very well-designed paperweights. So who does Apple's software design?

> So who does Apple's software design? Scott Forstall is responsible for iOS. My understanding is that Eddy Cue is responsible for the iTunes Store, including the App Store, and now, iCloud. He was promoted to Executive Vice President back in August. I'm not sure who's in charge of Mac software. You can see brief profiles of the various people here: http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/

_I'm not sure who's in charge of Mac software._

I believe Craig Federighi is in charge of the desktop/server software. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20046998-37.html

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#107
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jobs has never taken credit for a design, has he? People who are uninformed just assume it's Jobs, and that perhaps is what Ive is referring to. He probably meant "it hurts when [Jobs] gets credit..." If you look at the Objectified interview, along with nearly every promotional video that Apple puts out, it's very clear that Ive is the design guy.

Could be an internal thing. I really can’t remember Jobs ever publicly and personally taking credit for design. But maybe he did inside the company? I guess we will have to wait for the book for more context.

I think it's more that when the NYT talks about the new "Job's designed iPad", Ive kicks the cat.

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#108
post #14

Those are some damn nice CNC mills in the background of that photo. Wonder how much use they get.

If he is a designer who understands the manufacturing process, then that is awesome in my book. My father owns/runs a CNC manufacturing business. Sometimes the designers/drafters (more the case they have a background in CAD) don't understand the subtleties of manufacturing and materials. I mean, they aren't big gaps or anything. Best comparison is maybe coder vs tester. Both technical, but look at the same thing from…

It cuts both ways. There are designers who build things that can't be made - and especially things that can't be mass produced cheaply and easily.

But there are also people with 20years of manufacturing experience who don't what that we can do more things cheaply and easily with 5-axis CNC mills and hot-wire cutters than you can with a casting.

Re: Steve Jobs left designer Jony Ive more power than anyone at Apple

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If he is a designer who understands the manufacturing process, then that is awesome in my book. My father owns/runs a CNC manufacturing business. Sometimes the designers/drafters (more the case they have a background in CAD) don't understand the subtleties of manufacturing and materials. I mean, they aren't big gaps or anything. Best comparison is maybe coder vs tester. Both technical, but look at the same thing from…

It cuts both ways. There are designers who build things that can't be made - and especially things that can't be mass produced cheaply and easily. But there are also people with 20years of manufacturing experience who don't what that we can do more things cheaply and easily with 5-axis CNC mills and hot-wire cutters than you can with a casting.

Sure it cuts both ways. I was just reacting to the picture of a CNC behind him.

If that is his design studio, it is awesome he has real equipment for making the stuff he designs rather than some art deco chairs from some snooty designer.

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