Nobody except for Steve Jobs really knows at this point...
I am 100% positive that many key people at apple know the answer to this question. Both as management and/or programmers. The important part is, none of them are talking so we don't know what goes on at the inner workings of Apple.
Ok, most of what comes next has nothing to do with the question that started this thread, but somehow reading that little statement by Winni made got me thinking:
To coin a Dennis Miller phrase
"Now I don't want to get on a rant here, but".....
I think often times it is easy to assume that
Steve Jobs = Apple & Apple = Steve Jobs. In many aspects this has been historically true, but over the last few years Apple has very subtly shifted away from this philosophy.
Whether it be due to health or just gearing people up to understand that the company is bigger then just SJ, there have been many things that have happened publicly to transition both the public perception and the stock market that should SJ no longer be a part of apple for one reason or another, apple is going to be in good hands.
Some examples:
• SJ very rarely is involved with earning calls. Leaves that for Tim Cook and Peter Oppenheimer
• SJ has shared the keynote stage more frequently. Phil Shiller and Scott Forstall have both shared the spot light with SJ - Phil even soloed the last Macworld keynote.
• Twice Tim Cook has been deligated the day to day operations of Apple.
My opinion... there won't be one guy who can fill Steve's "New Balance" shoes, but a collection of key individuals that pick up where he will leave off.
For example Jony Ive has the same impeccable sense of design and taste for beautiful products.
Also, the first time I watch Scott Forstall take part in a keynote address, I thought that he was the Steve Jobs "Mini Me". He has the same sense of tone and delivery. Go back and watch him introduce time machine at WWDC 2006 to see what I mean. Forstall isn't identical, but his style of presentation is very similar to SJ... of course that doesn't necessarily mean that he would be the new face of Apple. Phil Shiller has been a very public part of the company for years - almost assuming the cool uncle role of the company.
Then you have Tim Cook & Peter Oppenheimer. Don't kid yourself, these are the two guys who have been running the day to day business aspects of apple for years.... and running it very well.
Look, the
sad truth is one day for what ever reason, SJ is going to permanently retire from apple. While apple may not openly state thier sucsession plan, I am 100% POSITIVE that they have one. Unlike the debacle that occured when SJ was fired (relieved of duties/quit/whatever) from Apple, the company is prepared to go on should and when that day comes. They are a very strong company now and while the loss of a visionary like Jobs will be a huge blow (to both Apple and the tech industry as a whole), it won't be fatal.
"Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong>"
</rant>
Well after all that, here is
SJ's statement on the the server version of OSX.
