As software and services overtook hardware in importance, Apple began preparing for Jony Ive's departure back in 2015, during the run-up to the launch of Watch
here's why the departure of the design legend is actually a good thing Sam Dean / Los Angeles Times : How Jony Ive, Apple's design guru, planned his own obsolescence Mark Sullivan / Fast Company : What Jony Ive's exit really means for Apple, according to experts Leif Johnson / Macworld : Jony Ive's departure from Apple is an even bigger test than losing Steve Jobs Ian Sherr / CNET : With Jony Ive's departure, so goes Apple's Steve Jobs era Michael Sheetz / CNBC : Analysts say Ive was one of Apple's most important people, but they're not worried about the stock Joe Rossignol / MacRumors : Jony Ive Once Insisted on Apple Car Without a Steering Wheel Financial Times : Jony Ive's departure ‘gives Apple chance for shake-up’ Tim Carmody / kottke.org : Three Takes on Jony Ive Leaving Apple MacDailyNews : Inside Apple's long goodbye to design chief Jony Ive Laurent Giret / OnMSFT.com : Head of Apple design Jony Ive to leave at the end of the year PYMNTS.com : Apple Loses A Key Retail Innovator Daniel Cooper / Engadget : Apple will be fine without Jony Ive Rui Carmo / The Tao of Mac : Jony Ive Is Leaving Apple Philip Elmer-DeWitt / Philip Elmer‑DeWitt : Jony Ive leaving Apple: What the analysts are saying Tweets: Neil Cybart / @neilcybart : I'm close to wrapping up Monday's Above Avalon daily update. It will be dedicated to discussing Jony & this news. Be sure to check it out when it's sent. Needless to say, we continue to think very differently about this topic. Employment status is not synonymous with involvement. Nathan Taylor / @ntaylor963 : @benthompson argues Jony Ive started transitioning out of Apple 4 years ago (as he said at the time), when he lost direct management accountability. Noting “even Ive's exit was beautifully designed.” Convincing. Also includes a nice overview of Ive. https://stratechery.com/... Hristo Vassilev / @hristo_vassilev : I bet @benthompson chuckled when he wrote this in today's @stratechery's Daily Update: “Frankly, there is no better time for this announcement than right now, which is to say, even Ive's exit was beautifully designed.” https://stratechery.com/... @frwrdnet : “it is less that Jony Ive is leaving Apple, and more that Apple, for better or worse, and also by necessity, has left Jony Ive and the entire era that he represented.” Jony Ive Leaves Apple, Ive's Legacy, The Post-Ive Apple - Stratechery by Ben Thompson https://stratechery.com/... Kara Nortman / @karanortman : Music (+photos) are only software products that ride smart phone adoption curve globally- for every human: 💰Same, deflationary price point regardless of wealth Accessible from any device in low bandwidth 😊 Creates joy vs. angst http://stratechery.com/... @benthompson pic.twitter.com/NTEYZQdWoc Mark Gurman / @markgurman : I don't buy the narrative that Apple doesn't need Ive because they're becoming more software and services focused. Makes no sense. You need a place to use the software and services. You can't beam iOS from the cloud to your brain and make calls. Hrishikesh Hirway / @hrishihirway : Jony Ive will still work with Apple, but it will require a special adapter https://twitter.com/... Mark Gurman / @markgurman : Jony Ive in early 2015 said he's “deeply, deeply tired” and Laurene Powell Jobs publicly said he should have a reduced role. And then 3 months later, he was “promoted” and “more connected to Apple design than ever.” Never made sense, never was really true. Mark Gurman / @markgurman : Apple designers are also raising concern of company becoming top operations focused + now Evans Hankey, new VP of design, isn't even a designer. She's a well respected manager. Lots more detail here: https://www.bloomberg.com/... Mark Gurman / @markgurman : The reality about Ive is far different than what has been spread over the past few years, such as Ive being “connected to Apple design as much as ever.” This was simply not true, per insiders. https://www.bloomberg.com/...