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August 26, 2011
Steve Jobs Steps Down As Apple CEO"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."
-- Steve Jobs, in his resignation letter as CEO of Apple Inc. this weekThe news about Steve Jobs was everywhere this week. I'm sure you've already read about it online at any one of the multitude of websites that broadcast his announcement within minutes, or on any one of the dozens of TV news shows.
Any reader of this newsletter for some time knows that I have been a very big fan of Steve Jobs. Not just because of his taking Apple to the loftiest heights possible (for a brief period a few weeks ago, Apple was worth more than Exxon), but because he rode it like the legendary Phoenix, higher and higher, rising from the ashes of a corporate past by developing new and better products for consumers. Products that changed everything each time one was introduced.
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August 19, 2011
The Coming Battle Over Song Rights"Since their release in 1978, hit albums like Bruce Springsteen's "Darkness on the Edge of Town," Billy Joel's "52nd Street," the Doobie Brothers' "Minute by Minute," Kenny Rogers's "Gambler" and Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove" have generated tens of millions of ...
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August 12, 2011
It Was 30 Years Ago Today"It's amazing to me to think that August 12th marks the 30th anniversary of the IBM personal computer. I'm proud that I was one of a dozen IBM engineers who designed the first machine and was fortunate to have lead subsequent IBM PC designs through the 1980s. I, ...
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August 5, 2011
The Fame Monster Indeed"I'd rather be a musician than a rock star." -- George Harrison The above quote from George Harrison, was in response to the repeated questions from people who asked if he missed touring after The Beatles quit doing so in 1966 I originally used the quote back in May ...
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July 29, 2011
Amy Winehouse, 1982-2011, R.I.P"Amy paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again whilst being fearlessly hilarious and blase about the whole thing. I don't think she ever realized just how brilliant she was and how important she is, but that just makes her even ...
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July 22, 2011
Apple Soars, Lion Roars"It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them." -- Steve Jobs in Business Week, May 25 1998 If you haven't already heard, Apple had another incredible earnings report. In the fiscal ...
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July 15, 2011
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes"Change is such hard work." -- Billy Crystal I traveled last week and it's been some time since I last went through the security procedures in place at all airports. I anticipated long lines and hassles, but I was surprised how fast the process moves now if you've ...
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July 1, 2011
It Was The Best Of Times"The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it." -- Thomas Monson I received over a hundred e-mails from readers last week in response to my "Remembering The Big Man" commentary. It was great to hear from so ...
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June 24, 2011
Remembering "The Big Man""Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we ...
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June 17, 2011
Not Really Roger, Let's Take Another Look"I can prove anything by statistics -- except the truth." -- George Canning This week on his Showbiz411 website Roger Friedman (who previously wrote the Fox411 entertainment column from 1999 to 2009) wrote an article titled 'Lady Gaga Falls to Number 2, Sales Drop ...