It's a foregone conclusion that Apple Computer, otherwise known nowadays as just "Apple," has lead the way in technology product releases. Every year, technology buffs and newbies alike clamor to websites, blogs and electronics stores to find out what is "next and hot" in the Apple product line. But at this year's World Wide Developers Conference, something was missing besides Steve himself; a new Apple product.
Now, personally, I am an admitted "non-Apple follower", but that doesn't mean that I don't admire Apple's expertise in product design and implementation. And so I was left wondering, along with many others in the tech field, why we didn't witness the typical Apple product launch that we've come to expect year after year. With Steve Jobs' passing, are we left with the possibility that the annual Apple product launch cycle has also passed?
It seems safe to assume that with the change in leadership to Tim Cook, who was a previously former senior VP at the company, that Apple's entire product strategy has also changed flavor. Gone are the days of Steve and his "spicy, snappy" way of doing business. In its place, Cook seems to bring a "milder, gentler" approach to the company. Some might argue that the milder way of doing business is too much like the competition, if you could call the world of consumer electronics "mild."
But looking forward I would think that in today's economy, "mild" could be viewed as the new "wild," purely based on the amount of time, effort, and money it takes to be bullish in the technology market. When we look at examples like Hewlett Packard's Palm PRE smartphone, or the current Nokia line of Windows-based smartphones, we see examples of tepid offerings that leave little taste in consumers mouths.
Apple just may be heading towards the same path taken by its competitors, if it's not careful. Apple has always dominated its rivals through continuous product development and offerings. Now is not the time to ease back on the technology throttle, if the company intends to stay on top.