Apple in crisis, with Jobs on the way out

In many ways the sad announcement from Apple this evening represents a passing of an epoch. This correspondent had in the past spent 12 years at Apple – observing all CEO’s from Sculley through to the triumphant return of Steve Job’s in 1996 – preparing the beginning of a resurgent Apple.

Knowing of and having worked with Jobs on a number of projects, one was always touched by his steadfast determination, belief in himself and drive to really change the world. For Steve to stand down from Apple can only mean one thing thing … it’s time for the founder, king of return, iCEO and finally saviour of the company to focus on his own health.

Apple is in good hands with Tim Cook, but without the arrogant drive and ability to wring innovation in the way only he could, Apple is in dire need to show quickly that it can survive a world without Jobs and continue on its path.

The road ahead for Apple is rocky .. the world will miss Jobs, even if it is for a few months – if longer, then Apple will need to show it has finally found a way to continue the creative DNA.

Perhaps Steve’s greatest epitaph will be “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes” … surely he deserves to be considerd amongst them himself.