Analysis - FT names Apple's Steve Jobs person of the year, we agree

[HEXUS]

As the tech sector dominates 2010 retrospectives, it’s still Jobs who sits on top of the pile.

Read more.

[badass]

If I had the skill to write in the same way, that's exactly what I'd have written. I don't have Apple gear due to the locked in nature of the kit but you have to admire the company for what it's achieved.
It may not "just work" - however it is definitely lower maintenance than any other computer kit.

[Zak33]

iPod Touch/ i Phone is a distinct joy to use, and the iPad has called to me since it's arrival.

But I still don't have either.

Simple reason....one subject

iTunes
If Mr Jobs went against the strength of their own market force (ie iTunes) and broke ipod Touch free from iTunes so that I could use it how I chose without having to use that software....

i'd have one and he'd not be so rich.

[Noxvayl]

I have to admit I do mostly agree with the articles main points. Influence being a highly subjective word leaves me agreeing and disagreeing with your conclusion. Yes he does make a considerable contribution to the technology sector but I don't think that contribution is more important, or necessary, than Mark Zuckerberg's or Julian Assange's contribution to our culture.

Out of the three mentioned for the award I would rate them in this order:
Julian Assange
Mark Zuckerberg
Steve Jobs

Why?

Because I value honesty over anything the other two have contributed to our culture and Julian Assange is a beacon of light in terms of honesty. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg play the game brilliantly but Julian Assange reveals the truth about the game, that is more valuable to me.

[cheesemp]

I've now sold my ipod. It was great - got 70% the price I paid - nothing else comes close. Love to know why though! No just got to get rid of an old G3 and 512Mb flash and I'm apple free - can't wait.

[spoon_]

I've now sold my ipod. It was great - got 70% the price I paid - nothing else comes close. Love to know why though! No just got to get rid of an old G3 and 512Mb flash and I'm apple free - can't wait.

I reckon you didn't bother to read the thread title or the article itself? If so, please comment accordingly because what you said its completely off topic.

[badass]

iPod Touch/ i Phone is a distinct joy to use, and the iPad has called to me since it's arrival.

But I still don't have either.

Simple reason....one subject

iTunes
If Mr Jobs went against the strength of their own market force (ie iTunes) and broke ipod Touch free from iTunes so that I could use it how I chose without having to use that software....

i'd have one and he'd not be so rich.

My girlfriend has an Ipod nano. I can't remember what I did but you hold one of the buttone (or similar) when rebooting it and it behaves like a USB memory key. You can then use winamp (or similar) to sync with it.

[Guy]

iPod Touch/ i Phone is a distinct joy to use, and the iPad has called to me since it's arrival.

But I still don't have either.

Simple reason....one subject

iTunes
If Mr Jobs went against the strength of their own market force (ie iTunes) and broke ipod Touch free from iTunes so that I could use it how I chose without having to use that software....

i'd have one and he'd not be so rich.

I'll have to switch on my main machine at some point today, but there are various plugins out there which enable you to use an Ipod etc with other software.

I have my IPod syncd to Windows Media Player.

[Darth Sidious]

I have to admit I do mostly agree with the articles main points. Influence being a highly subjective word leaves me agreeing and disagreeing with your conclusion. Yes he does make a considerable contribution to the technology sector but I don't think that contribution is more important, or necessary, than Mark Zuckerberg's or Julian Assange's contribution to our culture.

Out of the three mentioned for the award I would rate them in this order:
Julian Assange
Mark Zuckerberg
Steve Jobs

Why?

Because I value honesty over anything the other two have contributed to our culture and Julian Assange is a beacon of light in terms of honesty. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg play the game brilliantly but Julian Assange reveals the truth about the game, that is more valuable to me.

Have to disagree this is the Financial Times so its business Biased and in these dark times apples performance has been incredible.

Plain and Simple

[Terbinator]

[crossy]

I reckon you didn't bother to read the thread title or the article itself? If so, please comment accordingly because what you said its completely off topic.

Sorry, did you actually bother to read the article? If so, then you would have picked up on the bit that said

The tribalism, fanaticism, fury, joy and intensity of hatred, veneration, anger, love and contempt with which Apple and its products are regarded by some must, for those who are on neither side of the sectarian divide themselves, pass all understanding

So here we have a fellow Hexusite saying that he (?) is getting rid of his (?) Apple products despite them apparently being of good quality - which I would suggest is indicative of the someone on the "anti" side of that sectarian divide. In which case I would politely suggest that the posting was on topic.

Specifically, if the anti-Apple movement (demonstrated by the sectarianism) gains momentum then it's going to be more difficult for Jobs and co to continue to build on their current level of success. I'd go futher - Apple is "in fashion" at the moment, but "fashion" is a fickle mistress.

[crossy]

Out of the three mentioned for the award I would rate them in this order:
Julian Assange
Mark Zuckerberg
Steve Jobs

Why?

Because I value honesty over anything the other two have contributed to our culture and Julian Assange is a beacon of light in terms of honesty. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg play the game brilliantly but Julian Assange reveals the truth about the game, that is more valuable to me.

OMG, that last bit just makes me want to Unless you were being ironic/sarcastic in which case I apologise for missing it.

If the award was for successful garnering of self publicity, then sure let Assange have it. But this is in danger of wandering off topic, so I'll give no more opinions of Mr A.

I'd also vote against Zuckerberg - sure Facebook's gone from strength to strength, and shows little sign of slackening off. I'd hope he'd be in the frame for next years award - unless he does something dumb. I'm thinking particularly of the furore over the privacy issues we've had with Facebook this year. That said, I've never used Facebook, and have no desire to do so.

That leaves Jobs - okay, there's the iPhone4 disasters (antenna-gate and the case/breaking issue) - but I think that all but the most anti-Apple person would agree that Apple under him has been very successful in focussing on ease-of-use in their products. There's products that are technically better than Apples (e.g. Sony A-series Walkman's having better sound/video quality than the iPod Touch), but Apple's ease of use features are to be envied.

So yes, I'd not disagree with Jobs getting some recognition. And I'm someone who hasn't any of the new Apple products - prefer to stick with the older gear (iPod 5th Gen etc).

[TheAnimus]

Assange? Really?

Mr Jobs might be a complete and utterly reprehensible type on every type of biography written about the man, but he has made a good profit.

Apple started so well in the 80s, then noise dived because people didn't like the cost, the low performance and proprietary nature.

Jobs got kicked out but came back with a bit of dumb luck stumbled onto the consumer market in a way never before managed by Apple and they ruled it wonderfully (ie Monopolositically). The money, the fact people were replacing their products every few months (and not always because they broke) paying £1,800 for a phone, I would have never thought that, but he did, and wow was he right.

He also has shown people are happy to lock themselves into one ecosystem, something which people didn't think would happen (ie Microsoft and the PLayForSure stupidity) and now has a massive market share.

The man in short is quite adapt at proving the market wrong.

Assange is just a self publisist, facebook doesn't really make much money.

[aidanjt]

Kinda agree with the above, Assange's influence and fate has yet to be determined. Although it is growing daily.