NEWS ANALYSISlack of mouse support for the iPad (the introduction
of which, to be fair, leaves much to be desired).
Perhaps it’s now ready to apply similar rethinking to
hardware.Thelooseningoftheserestrictionspoint
toanewApple– onethat’sonceagaininterestedin
thepracticalways ordinarypeopleuseitsdevices.In
its pushtowardservices,Appleseemswillingtobring
itshead outoftheclouds.It’sanApplethatlooks
readyto relymoreoninstinctthantheory.
Much as it did after Jobs died, Apple is entering a
new era. We’re seeing a dose of the same uncertainty
that we did then, and indeed, its stock took a beating in
after-hours trading. We should all brace ourselves for a
showerofeditorialsproclaimingdoomandgloomand
possiblyayearormoreofflounderingasAppletriesto
findanewvoiceforitsdesign.
Apple managed to emerge victorious from that
uncertaintyin2011,andit willdothesameinthewake
ofIve’sdeparture.Todoso,though,itwillhavetofind
anotherunnaturallytalentedleaddesignerwhocanlay
outasingular,unifiedvisionforApple’sproductline.
Preferably that designer will work with an executive
that can prod him or her in the right direction while
curbingtheirmostimpracticaldesign.
Idon’tknowifTimCookcanfindthatperson.I’m
almost certain that he can’t mould that person like
Jobscould.Theshortofit isthatAppleisthusfacing
asignificantchallengeofthelikesthatithasn’tseen
in years,butaftersomanyyearsofstunningsuccess,
maybeit’stimeforone.I,forone, lookforwardto
seeingwhatAppleiscapableof whenitfindsthe
faith tofollowanewvision.