What does Steve Jobs Passing Mean to AppleTV?

[keviha]

With the tragic news of Steve Jobs passing it got me (as I'm sure millions around the world) to thinking about his impacts from a business, technological, ethical and societal point of view.

Since discussing him and his legacy on a macro level is beyond the purpose of this particular forum, I thought I'd pose a question to those of us who have enjoyed one of Steve Jobs hobbies...and that is Apple TV.

With his passing, how do you think this will change the future of Apple TV?

 

[Sirolway]

Way to show your caring side! ;-)

 

[Hellhammer]

I think it's impossible to say anything about future Apple products. Steve probably had a plan for a few years and Tim will now be executing it. When that runs out, who knows what Apple will come up. Or if they are in the business at all anymore.

 

[Tilpots]

I absolutely think the AppleTV will change due to his passing. I think the chances of someone as creative and innovative as him coming to Apple are slim to none. Sure, they have innovative, creative people there that will definitely create new products, but I think for a while here, we're going to see the focus turn inwards on existing products. The AppleTV is probably the most likely to benefit from his absence as it has the most upside/room-to-grow of any of their current line.

That said, I have no idea what direction it will head. Jobs was the great negotiator and presence when it came to licensing all the material out there from content creators. Will Apple have the same clout at the negotiating table without him? We'll see.

 

[Nightarchaon]

I think without Steve at the helm its time to dump shares in apple, once they run out of the stuff he set in motion (5 years MAX i am reckoning on 3) they will likely return to the same state apple was in before Steve came back.

 

[darster]

I fear Apple will become just another giant conglomerate of mass production without any true vision now that Steve Jobs has passed away. Not many people of his vision come along in any lifetime, and I doubt there is someone in Apple right now that has those abilities. Just look at Wal Mart. After Sam Walton died, it became the monstrosity it is now by feeding off the lowest common denominator. Of course there is also the other side where now the vultures are circling just hoping for an Apple fail. Tim Cook is in a no win situation.

 

[jaw04005]

I was always under the impression that Steve was a strong believer in the Apple TV. I think this is one of those products that Apple has a long term plan for. It's not going anywhere.

If you go back and watch the D Conference videos, you'll hear him talk candidly about the challenges of Apple TV. He always made it sound like it was only a matter of time before they went full steam ahead with it.

 

[MrXiro]

I think without Steve at the helm its time to dump shares in apple, once they run out of the stuff he set in motion (5 years MAX i am reckoning on 3) they will likely return to the same state apple was in before Steve came back.

Some of you are ridiculous for voting down someone just because of his/her opinion. Anyway... I think the vision will still be there for a few more years... but I don't expect world changing products from Apple in the future. It won't go back to the way it was either because I'm sure Tim Cook knows to learn from history and not let the company fall to what it became in the mid 90's.

Possibly we'll see things such as Blu-ray drives in Macs and a little bit fragmentation in Apple's product lines due to public pressures.
Things like releasing 4G LTE on an iPhone will happen quicker (and too early due to maturity of the tech) and be panned for not being "perfected" when it is released.

 

[Kavier]

I think Steve probably laid out a nice roadmap of new products for at least the next 2-3 yrs. After that, who knows? I hope Apple keeps innovating at its current rate, but I am not sure that's possible. Steve was just such driving force behind everything.

 

[jca24]

Within 18 months you will be able to buy a 40" or 46" LED AppleTV. The vision and the products will keep coming.