Ron Johnson, who led Apple's retail division from 2000 to 2011, has published a new book titled 'Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius,' co-written with Zander Nethercutt. The book details his collaboration with Steve Jobs to design the Apple Store concept and grow it into one of the most profitable retail operations globally. Johnson also recently appeared on 9to5Mac's Overtime podcast to discuss the book and the store's early history.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-22
An account from Apple's early retail leadership describes how Steve Jobs discouraged staff from using the term 'customer,' pushing instead for language and service practices centered on building relationships rather than transactions. The approach, paired with the physical Apple Store experience, is credited with cultivating unusually strong brand loyalty over the years.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-22
In an interview with Clique TV, Apple's John Ternus reflected on being asked by Tim Cook to take on the CEO role, describing the moment as unexpected and humbling. He also spoke about lessons learned from Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, emphasizing a focus on future innovation, and shared enthusiasm about generative AI's potential to enable products once thought to be science fiction.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-21
An Android Authority columnist reports buying his 14th iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro, and argues that Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL have largely closed the technical gap with Apple's devices. Despite that parity, he says Apple still draws outsized attention and loyalty because of how it markets and narrates its products rather than through superior specs.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
Former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson appeared on 9to5Mac's Overtime podcast to discuss his new book, Shop Different, covering the creation of the Apple Store, his work with Steve Jobs, and the original iPhone launch. He also addressed his departure from Apple to lead JCPenney and shared his views on Apple's current retail strategy and the rumored iPhone Duo.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-17
Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary revealed on the Build or Break podcast that Steve Jobs taught him to prioritize just three critical tasks each day and treat everything else as distraction. O'Leary said Jobs reportedly spent about 80% of his time on this core 'signal' work, dedicating only a fifth of his attention to interruptions or lower-priority matters.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-10
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, unveiled at its 'Surprise and shine' event, introduce a mechanical variable aperture camera with four selectable f-stops plus an automatic mode. Testing at Apple Park showed the feature can produce sharp starburst effects around bright light sources, a result of how the physical aperture blades converge when stopped down.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-10
A tech commentator argues that corporate AI adoption remains stuck because the technology still exposes its rough edges to users, unlike the iPhone, which succeeded by unifying existing technologies into one polished experience. The piece draws a parallel between Steve Jobs' 2007 iPhone unveiling and the current state of enterprise AI, suggesting the sector awaits a similar moment of integration and simplicity.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-10
In his debut keynote as Apple CEO, John Ternus declared the iPhone the ideal 'intelligent personal hub' for the AI era, pushing back against predictions that smartphones are becoming obsolete. This marks a shift from Tim Cook's approach of emphasizing Apple's diversification beyond the iPhone, instead echoing Steve Jobs' 2001 defense of the Mac as a 'digital hub' just before the iPod's launch.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, which starts at $1,999 and features a 7.6-inch inner display and 5.4-inch outer screen. The company confirmed that a future iOS software update will let users draw, write, and navigate the phone with an Apple Pencil that uses USB-C.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-09
Twenty-five years after Steve Jobs unveiled iTunes, the once-dominant digital media platform no longer exists as a single app. Apple has split its functions across Music, TV, and Podcasts apps, while device syncing and backups now happen through Finder on the Mac instead of iTunes.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-05
The article revisits Steve Jobs' view that effective leaders push people to improve by setting demanding standards and giving honest feedback rather than shielding them from discomfort. It challenges the common workplace notion that caring for employees means avoiding friction or difficult conversations.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-03
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