Last bite of the Apple?

It's been another long shift, with a noticeable absence of three staff, one to sickness, one to holiday and one to a different position, (I'll miss you Sharon - but you'd better keep in touch) I've been good and cycled into work each evening, it's been very pleasant, weather kind, cycling home though, after a 12 hour night shift has not been quite so easy or as pleasant, it's surprising how tired one becomes during the 5.5 mile ride!

The hot news this week, not about me or Matt but about techie stuff, so some of you might get a little bored with the following post - sorry, but on the other hand some of you, perhaps fans of a certain manufacturer, will be gripped by every single word, or at least that's the hope!

The world of consumer electronics is about to be turned on it's head, excitement is building to monumental levels, techno blogs are buzzing, electronics websites are alive with news and speculation of the latest launch from the Rolls Royce of consumer electronics, a company whose products have changed the world - Apple.

Apple are, according to all industry insiders about to launch a brand new piece of electronic 'must have' hardware that will shake the foundations of the consumer electronics industry. Stand by for a major announcement in just days time of the cool, super, funky and uber stylish 'touchscreen' super small computer. This new amazing tablet computer, iTablet, as it may be called, appears to be little more than a pretty 10inch touch screen will house a super fast processor and operating system that have change the way we now view multi functional phones and MP3's.

What, no keyboard? Nope, there will be no real keyboard with the latest piece of wizardry, this tablet or iTablet, looks like a bigger version of the smooth iPod Touch, the keyboard will appear on the sensitive yet strong screen and be finger big, and improvement on the touch with those of us with little fat piggy fingers.

Obviously, with no official word from Apple HQ, there is no hard and fast facts about what will be on the new piece of kit, but it's going to have all the same features as an iPhone or iPod Touch 2nd gen, with many of the same apps able to be downloaded straight onto the device. And, talking of downloading, other industry insiders believe that iTunes is about to carry a vast range of books, to download, which could also make it's new tablet computer a wonderful electronic reader.

One hears talk of Apple being in the deep final talks with US network Verizon to provide the connectivity for it's new device, although no word has been forthcoming from the press office at either company, to confirm or deny this industry speculation. It is known that Verizon is working on a major project. And what could be bigger than this new gizmo from Apple? I'm guessing here, but from industry estimations, this new device could be in the sexy and white Apple retail stores in America before this Christmas and all set to sell up to 3 million before the end of 2010 !

Worth over $140 billion, Apple is the force to be reckoned with in the whole consumer electronics industry, it is, a world leader without doubt, where it goes the others follow. It brings out products that can, do and have changed the world as we know it. Remember those iMac's that showed computers didn't have to be boring dull square beige boxes and pretty much revolutionised the industry back in the day. Fast forward a little while to a couple of years ago when the latest must have was an iPod, those classic music storage devices had a unique charm that was loved by all. Think more recent and those charming, sweet, stylish and colourful iPod nano's and the teeny tiny shuffles have a whole new region of fans. The iPhone has now been raised to darn near iconic status with all the major manufacturers coming up second with their copies. The iPod Touch is the iPhone without the phone bit, but watch this space, there's talk of a new 'Skype' like application that could change all that, very very soon.

Apple is stylish, Apple is technologically advanced, Apple is exciting and Apple has also managed what most brands strive for but fail to achieve and that is consumer 'love'. People, do love Apple, I mean they really do love it, the company and the products, far beyond that for any other electrical manufacturer, or even any other company for that matter. Owning a bit of kit from Apple is like belonging to a club, and you'll probably not just own one Apple product, you'll have two or three, it's a brand that creates loyalty among it's customers, indeed Appleheads have been known to queue outside Stores to be the first to get their hands on new products for over 48 hours, such is their interest and love in the whole 'Apple' world.

But why? Is it just because the products are, when they are launched, the most stylish and technologically advanced on the market. Is it pure brand loyalty, or is it the feeling that you are in the 'Apple' club headed up by Steve Jobs? Indeed, the commanding officer of Apple Inc, is the reason it's such a successful company, and the only reason. Apple is, Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs is Apple. Not only is he in charge of the company, he's a hands on leader and nothing is down without his say so, he has the final word on everything, the ultimate power. It was he that decided to allow outside companies to produce applications for the iPhone and Touch. It was he that decided what the colours of the latest generation of Nano's, if Jobs doesn't like it, it doesn't get done. Is this because he's just an egotistical power crazed man with a huge god complex, or simply the end user of the products his company makes?

It's no lie or exaggeration to describe Steve Jobs as a bit of a control freak, back in the days of the first Mac, he told his engineers he didn't want expansion slots, against their better judgment and advice. He's still that controlling, so much is 'Apple' his company that he didn't want people getting into his laptops, so has made it impossible for users to change it's battery. But, it's this man who holds the ultimate power in Apple now, could mark it's downfall later.

Steve Jobs is not, it would seem a very well man, when he steps up on stage for his next seminar and when he launches the new tablet touchscreen computer, as he has done all previous products, could very well be the last time he does. In 2004 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, usually fatal however, his tumour was a rare kind that was operable, he returned to work in 2007, although he was in pretty much constant contact with the office. Earlier this year he took time off and has since had a liver transplant at The Memphis Liver Center. Job is back on his feet and is, according to the rumour mill of the industry, about to do one of his mega long speech, come preach come launch. How long will he go on and is the new 'Tablet going to be the last bite of the Apple?

Would Apple survive and be as good as it is today without Jobs in the top job? The answer I think is pretty clear, given it's history, is a resounding, no! As I said before, Steve Jobs is Apple and Apple is Steve Jobs!

Thanks for the loan of your eyes and brain cells for a short while, hopefully we can do it again sometime in the not too distant future. Remember keep coming back for me and telling ya friends, I need all the readers I can get!

Also, in a rather interesting and exciting move, you'll also be able to catch some or my posts, plus exclusive features and stories on the wonderful http://www.bestgayblogs.com/ website.