Steve Jobs
Articles about Steve Jobs:
Demo of the first Apple Macintosh by Steve Jobs, January 1984, in front of 3000 people.
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Andy Hertzfeld captured the moment well in his retelling: “Pandemonium reigns as the demo completes. Steve has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face, obviously holding back tears as he is overwhelmed by the moment. The ovation continues for at least five minutes before he quiets the crowd down.”
It’s strange to see how things have changed – and how Steve Jobs had already polished his presentations skills.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted a surprising statement on the company’s site yesterday, challenging the music industry to abandon DRM (copy protection) on digital music downloads.Jobs outlines three possible futures for digital music:
- Continue as is it is now, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music.
- Apple could license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores.
- Abolish DRMs entirely – according to Jobs, this is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.
Apple Intros iPod Phone
Macworld update: Apple today introduced iPhone, a new device that combines a state-of-the-art mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and an Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps—into one small and lightweight handheld device.
“iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are all born with the ultimate pointing device—our fingers—and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse.”
The iPhone features WiFi support and integration with iTunes, which could make it the ultimate device for enjoying audio and video podcasts.
Apple today filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 1, 2006 and its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”). Both filings had been delayed pending the conclusion of an independent investigation by the special committee of the board of directors into past stock option practices and the resulting restatement of the Company’s financial results. Apple undertook this investigation on its own initiative and has informed the SEC and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the results.
Apple’s stock has taken a hit recently over concerns about the stock option scandal and Steve Jobs’ role in it. Investors have been concerned that Jobs might have to resign from his role as CEO at the successful company because of financial improprieties.
Based on an analysis of the findings of the independent investigation, the Company has recognized total additional non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $84 million after tax, including $4 million and $7 million in fiscal years 2006 and 2005, respectively. The restatement arises solely from certain stock option grants made between 1997 and 2002; the investigation found no grants after December 31, 2002 that required accounting adjustments.
“The special committee, its independent counsel and forensic accountants have performed an exhaustive investigation of Apple’s stock option granting practices,” in a joint statement said Al Gore, chair of the special committee, and Jerome York, chair of Apple’s Audit and Finance Committee. “The board of directors is confident that the Company has corrected the problems that led to the restatement, and it has complete confidence in Steve Jobs and the senior management team.”
Apple on of many companies in Silicon Valley that have come under scrutiny for assigning favorable grant dates to stock options to inflate their value.
Earlier in the year, Apple had to deal with negative publicity resulting from one of its major suppliers violating Apple’s Code of Conduct.
via Podcasting News
