steve jobs in focus Paving the way for the first multi-screen Olympics
Headline news on 5 October this year was the very sad passing of Apple founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs. Aged just 56, Jobs finally succumbed to his long battle with pancreatic cancer that had forced him to step down from leading Apple in August 2011. But his legacy lives on and, as preparations for broadcasting the 2012 London Olympic Games take shape, it is clear that his vision and the technology developments of his company, will determine how the Games are viewed across the globe. Jobs, together with his business partner Steve Wozniak, began his career at Apple in 1976, pioneering what they called the world’s first
mass-market personal computer - the Apple II. Yet from the launch of the iMac at the height of the
dot.com era almost until his death, Jobs was the driving force behind a series of groundbreaking and industry-defining products such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone and, eventually, the iPad. There is no doubt that, within a year of its launch, the iPad had totally defined the tablet computing market as well as the portable TV arena, being the de facto second screen in millions of connected homes. And this launch alone will transform the way millions - even billions - of people view the 2012 London Games. In the ‘Olympics Everywhere’ Supplement, published with this issue of IBE, Mike Nann, director of marketing and communications at Digital
Rapids, says: “Where live web coverage of an event was noteworthy just a few years ago as the exception rather than the norm, today it would be significant if an event wasn’t available across all consumer platforms, from the web to tablets and mobile phones. It’s easy to forget that video consumption on tablets wasn’t even a consideration for the 2010 Vancouver Games - the Apple iPad had been announced just days earlier and was not yet shipping. In 2012, tablets are likely to be one of the most-watched devices for viewing the events.” Jobs gave the broadcasting industry the momentum it needed to realise the myriad avenues for delivery and, ultimately, revenue it has
available. In his statement on 5 October, Tim Cook, current Apple CEO, said that the company had lost a visionary and creative genius and that the world had lost an amazing human being. He added: “Those of use who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will be forever the foundation of Apple.” Can Apple replace the vision and charisma of Steve Jobs? Unlikely. Will Apple
continue to develop groundbreaking consumer electronic devices that will drive both the IT and media industries forward? Probably. Will product lines conceived and developed on Steve Jobs’ watch change the face of IT, telephony and media forever? Definitely.
Editor Neil Nixon E:
nnixon@btconnect.com T: +44 (0)1409 241166 Contributors Joe O’Halloran & Chris Forrester Publisher/Sales Clare Sturzaker E:
csturzaker@bpl-business.com T: +44 (0)1342 717459 Sales Lynn Neil E:
lneil@bpl-business.com T: +44 (0)208 123 5040 Production Tracy Foley E:
tfoley@whitewater.co.uk T:0845 299 8596 Chairman Chris Boeree E:
chris@bpl-business.com T: +44 (0)1895 421111
www.ibeweb.com
© 2011 BPL Business Media Limited Armstrong House, 38Market Square, Uxbridge,Middlesex UB81TG, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)1895 421111 F: +44 (0)1895 431252
Printed in England by Williams Press Neil Nixon Editor IBE
Subscriptions/Circulation CDS?Global E:
bpl@subscription.co.uk T: 08451 948913/+44 1858 438412 Annual Subscription Rates £103 (UK) £119 (Rest of World) IBE’s circulation is audited by BPA International. Total BPA qualified circulation to December 2010 including subscribers is 11,794. ISSN 0220 6229
www.ibeweb.com l november/december 2011 l ibe l 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60