Tim Cook discusses Steve Jobs, personal privacy, and Apple's role as a social leader
Sam OliverTim Cook meets with Bild editors Kai Diekmann and Julian Reichelt | Via Twitter.
Apple CEO Tim Cook waxed nostalgic about his relationship with the late Steve Jobs, reiterated the company's commitment to its customers' privacy, and discussed his thoughts on Apple's ability to influence social change during a sit-down with German tabloid BILD earlier this week.
Steve Jobs was "by far the best teacher I ever had," Cook told BILD's Sven Stone and Nick Star, saying Jobs taught him to ignore sales goals or awards and simply take pleasure in building great products. Cook worries that Jobs's outsized personality overshadows his other qualities, but vowed not to let the mercurial Apple co-founder be forgotten.
"His office is still there, with his name on it. And it will always be there as long as I'm here," he said.
Tim Cook said Steve Jobs's office will remain at Apple's headquarters as long as he is CEO of the company.
Moving to the hot-button issue of personal privacy, Cook continued to distance Apple from companies like Google and Facebook, which depend on collecting user data for their advertising-based businesses to thrive. Apple only asks customers for information when it can help improve their products, he said, and customers have a right to withhold information whenever they wish.
Cook somewhat surprisingly praised NSA leaker Edward Snowden, whose revelations of widespread government surveillance have caused major problems for U.S. technology firms, including Apple.
"If Snowden accomplished anything for us," Cook said, "then it was to get us to talk more about these things. Our values were always the same."
Referring to the company's newly-open attitude toward working conditions in its supply chain, Cook expressed his belief that Apple can leverage its size to play a major role as a social leader.
"We are working on our social responsibility," he said. "In the past, we just kept everything secret. But as Apple grew larger, we realized that we can actually change something more in the world, if we are extremely transparent in social issues such as privacy, security, education and environmental protection."
That openness does not extend to future products, however. On the rumored Apple Car, Cook remained mum.
"I have read the rumors. I can't comment on that," he said.
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[quote name="sog35" url="/t/185001/tim-cook-discusses-steve-jobs-personal-privacy-and-apples-role-as-a-social-leader#post_2683962"]Mr Cook help us fight privacy breaches. Do so by releasing AppleSearch and AppleVideo (youtube alternative) Make them pure search engines and a pure video sharing site. And make them with very few ads. And make them with ZERO tracking and spying. Its nice to say Google should stop spying but without a decent alternative what are people suppose to do? Gives a great alternative. [/quote] Hear, hear.
Mr. Cook remains the worthy chosen captain and pilot of the ship that Steve & company first built. Love the adventure of the "unkowns" of future products!
[quote]That openness does not extend to future products, however. On the rumored Apple Car, Cook remained mum. "I have read the rumors. I can't comment on that," he said.[/quote] Hmm..Apple just added vehicles to its list of company activities in a Swiss filing: http://tinyurl.com/nzva4d [QUOTE]Vehicles; Apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water; electronic hardware components for motor vehicles, rail cars and locomotives, ships and aircraft; Anti-theft devices; Theft alarms for vehicles; Bicycles; Golf carts; Wheelchairs; Air pumps; Motorcycles; Aftermarket parts (after-market parts) and accessories for the aforesaid goods.[/QUOTE]
[quote name="sog35" url="/t/185001/tim-cook-discusses-steve-jobs-personal-privacy-and-apples-role-as-a-social-leader/0_100#post_2683962"]Mr Cook help us fight privacy breaches. Do so by releasing AppleSearch and AppleVideo (youtube alternative) Make them pure search engines and a pure video sharing site. And make them with very few ads. And make them with ZERO tracking and spying. Its nice to say Google should stop spying but without a decent alternative what are people suppose to do? Gives a great alternative. Also not denying the car rumor is interesting. If they really were not developing a car he could have easily said they are not developing a car. It is my belief that Apple leaked the car rumor to multiple media sources last month. [/quote] Agreed. As far as I'm concerned, Tim Cook saying that he can't comment on the iCar rumour confirms that Apple are, indeed, seriously developing a car. I think the timing of this huge rumour is telling. Whilst I'd love to see the Apple Watch sell a ton, I don't think it will. I think Cook realises this, due to the lack of interest that they have no doubt seen both in public and internal surveys. As such, rather than let the negative launch of the Apple Watch overwhelm them, Cook has chosen to release the iCar rumour so as to change the narrative and give hope to bigger things. After all, they could have quite easily chosen to delay the large signings from Tesla, Mercedes and others until after the Watch launch. The fact that these have happened only shortly before it is, in my humble opinion, the writing on the wall for the fate of the Watch, sadly. When you think back to Jobs, he tended to be more forthright in denying rumours, to the extent of saying that Apple were not bringing out whatever the rumour was. Cook's non-denial is affirmation of the iCar. It's just a question of when and what, now.
[quote name="Rogifan" url="/t/185001/tim-cook-discusses-steve-jobs-personal-privacy-and-apples-role-as-a-social-leader#post_2683972"] Hmm..Apple just added vehicles to its list of company activities in a Swiss filing: http://tinyurl.com/nzva4d [/quote] As mentioned by ninetofive, don't read much into that. It's common to list any and all categories that might be applicable. it doesn't mean that Apple is now planning an iPlane too. :D