Apple tried to block a lengthy 4,000 word plus profile of Steve Jobs from being published in yesterday's Sunday Times newspaper.
Respected journalist and author Bryan Appleyard reports Apple twice tried unsuccessfully to halt the story, which covers familiar and not so familiar ground including Apple's iconic appeal, Job's upbringing, patchy education, love life, control freak nature, business success and failure and most recently renewed concerns about his health.
"Apple hates personality stuff and press intrusion. "We want to discourage profiles," an Apple PR tells me stiffly, apparently unaware she is waving a sackful of red rags at a herd of bulls," Appleyard writes.
"Another PR rings the editor of this magazine to try to halt publication of this piece."
Appleyard and those quoted notable observers - Dan Lyons, Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Andrea Cunningham, Michael Maccoby, Alan Deutschman, Andy Hertzfeld, Alvy Ray Smith amongst them - paint a picture of Apple's CEO swinging between the Bad Steve/Good Steve poles.
While the article is a far cry from simple character assassination, Appleyard paints a pretty grim picture of life at Apple: "A cult of corporate omerta - the mafia code of silence - is ruthlessly enforced, with employees sacked for leaks and careless talk. Executives feed deliberate misinformation into one part of the company so that any leak can be traced back to its source."
"Workers on sensitive projects have to pass through many layers of security. Once at their desks or benches, they are monitored by cameras and they must cover up devices with black cloaks and turn on red warning lights when they are uncovered."
Appleyard also speculates on an Apple without Steve Jobs, suggesting a future merger with Google, antitrust regulators permitting, would be the logical step, as each share a common bond and until recently Eric Schmidt, the now former Apple director and chairman and chief executive of Google.
Google’s innovation and Apple’s design and market sense would be a very good fit suggests Appleyard, with both companies trying to seize market dominance from Microsoft.
'Steve Jobs: The man who polished Apple' by Bryan Appleyard is available at The Times Web site.
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Comments received
Beanie said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Oggah Boogha boogyeman Jobs.
What a cliche.
It is still a somewhat free country or has Pres Obama's reach extended even further? A groundbreaking company with tight security..sounds like a wise company to me. Go work elsewhere if you don't like it. A nation of pc crybabies. And I am not a fan of Apple, Pres. O or any other politician. GROW UP!
Constable Odo said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Saying that Apple is like the Mafia sounds pretty absurd. I always thought that companies had to watch out for spies trying to steal ideas and technology. What's the difference in being discreet or overly discreet. Most workers would probably sell out their mothers for a few extra bucks. As it is there are still Apple product leaks, so you can see there is a risk of spying.
BigT said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Apple - insecure out of the box.
James Donevan said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Appleyard has done himself no credit with this piece. Apple would have done him a favour stopping its publication. Whatever you think of Apple or Jobs, good, bad or indifferent, the article is strewn with factual errors.
@James said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Strewn with factual errors, care to share a few of them?
Cal said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Appleyard doesn't have a leg to stand on here – any calculated attempt to prevent an individual's descent into the bastardised world of celebrity is a noble one. Apple is trying to preserve the integrity of a man who wants his private life to remain just that; that this goal has met with sneers from part of Murdoch's empire is disappointing, but also wholly predictable.
Dragonfly said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
As a non employee of Apple I'm aware that they have a successful strict security policy regarding new products. (Will there be a Tablet released in September ? Who knows).
So I'm pretty sure those that decide to work for Apple are grateful that they have a job, are working and contributing to a very successful company and are aware of the strict security rules. Loose lips sink ships.
I've done work for large organisations and had to sign NDAs. It's a fact of life and essential for a business if you want to survive.
If you ask any manufacturing company in the UK they will tell you how essential this is to be successful and to survival... Oh yeh, that's right... there aren't any !
(apart from Dyson).
Tony said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Unfortunately, part of being the head of a big phone company makes you open to the press.
Fred said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
@beanie
yeah free country means a free press and you won't like everything they print. Surely you approve of that and give thanks to Obama for ensuring the freedom of the uk press.
Michael said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
More likely the TImes is trying to hype a story that they made up. I don't believe Apple would waste their time calling.
@Michael said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Are you joking? The Apple lawyers with their gag orders would have been let out.
I admit the story needs something to make it interesting, but that is not it.
Glenboid said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Yawn, standard story by someone who never made anything useful in their lives!
I'm very sure Apple & Steve are not the easiest people to work for, but then neither am I, I have an attention to detail that borders on Anal, so what that's how you do good or great work!
James Gowan said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
Secrets, Lies and Videotape. Old news, really. Probably not a lot of other companies have such tight security measures for the simple fact that nobody really cares what they're up to. They release moderate products that most won't even bother with looking at. Apple, on the other hand, has shaken up quite a few markets. They innovate while others stagnate. They have to put "bizarre" security measures in place because leaks cost them money.
Steve Jobs simply cares more about creating great products and making life better for millions than he cares whether or not he hurts some feelings along the way. People have known this for years and people still apply to work for the company. My feeling is: if you know going in that you're working for a perfectionist, then you have no reason to cry if you don't follow the rules and/or don't give 110%. Work somewhere else.
@James said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
"Steve Jobs simply cares more about creating great products" - wish he would get back to it, nothing but kids phones.
Russ said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
The article is just a rehash of other stuff already in the public domain, expect for the 'alleged' story about his hospital treatment. He should have listened to Apple and not let this sloppy excuse for journalism out.
DL Byron said on Mon, 17 Aug 2009
it's old news, been covered before in books and other blogs. i
Apple & Rehash - never said on Tue, 18 Aug 2009
Better take on the story (as ever)
www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/17/sunday_times_on_steve_jobs/
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