Well this report seems to confirm many things.
Jony seems annoyed by certain changes in Apple. Looks like he feels that Apple is no longer focusing on design as he wanted to. Also I guess it’s a welcome change after so many years at Apple to make different things because he was not able to. So Jony is out and “Apple as a first client” seems just like a message to decrease the hit on shares.
I really look forward what he creates next.
Cook wasn’t Jobs, didn’t have the same interest or skill-sets. Ive did his best work when Jobs offered insight… and pushback. (That said, Jobs needed to bounce against disagreement too, as his inclinations were toward skeuomorphism, and he had to be convinced not to name the iMac the MacMan.)
Ive was valued enough that he willed into existence the Apple Watch, its design, and that unsuccessful stab towards high-end fashion.
It seems clear that Apple would love to have a single person with the skills to replace Ive, but lacking that - or worried that they’d make the wrong choice, or that the fit would be bad - they’ve punted in favor of having the heads of Industrial Design and HI Design report to the COO Jeff Williams, but neither Williams nor Cook has the design chops to really oversee these processes.
But whatcha’ gonna’ do? Leaving Ive to his own devices wasn’t ideal either (coughcough iOS7, gold watches coughcough)
Looks like Apple stock is at a 60 day high, which is a good thing since it’s a good bet Jony’s involvement with Apple is effectively over.
He’s done a fantastic job at Apple. And, IMO, he’s made the right choice. When, for whatever reason, you can’t show up and do your job it’s time to move on.
