Apple's Secrecy

[BlackJammy]

Here's and article in the NY TImes about Apple and their zealousness for secrecy: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/technology/23apple.html?hp. Would you want to work there?

Also a question on Steve Jobs liver transplant: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/business/23liver.html?ref=technology.

[MixedPower]

Would you want to work there?

Where do I turn in my application? I imagine that working for Apple would be pretty freakin' sweet.

[UberGerbil]

Would you want to work there?

Where do I turn in my application?

http://www.apple.com/jobs/us/

[DreadCthulhu]

No way would I work at Apple. Steve Jobs might try and steal my liver!

[Meadows]

Sounds like the worst employer in the history of bad employers.

[derFunkenstein]

Every company has internal documents, surprise announcements, and trade secrets to protect. I have in my possession quite a bit that my employer doesn't want to get out, too. It's not brain surgery - don't f***ing tell anybody.

[tanker27]

As derfunk has already stated, every company has their secrets or internal only documents. Since I work on the project management team I see a ton of this daily. Some are truly internal but at the same time there are steady streams of stuff that will end up public (goods and services).

I just cannot believe that with all the goods that Apple has produces in the past 10 years that have been clear winners that people measure the health of Apple with the health of Mr. Jobs. to me thats ridiculous.

[axeman]

How does this have anything to do with Apple, really? Jobs is a bit of a nut, he would probably can people for talking publicly about his private life.

[Thresher]

I read that this morning. Great article.

I am somewhat ambivalent about the whole thing. Back in the old days, it was a way of one upping other companies, especially IBM. When Jobs left, the whole thing kind of petered out and the buzz about Apple diminished. When Jobs came back, the whole secrecy thing ramped back up and the Jobs RDF went back on full swing. Apple's products were innovative and became more and more popular. So is that because of the secrecy and the showmanship of releasing the information or is that the result of just good products? It could be both, I suppose, but I have to think is the secrecy is a good part of it.

[tanker27]

I think its both.

But secrecy comes in at number 1. You dont want to let anyone else know what you are doing. Same as with Apples Patents, I think they submit a bunch and some that are over the top just to throw their competition off.

[MacUser]

Secrecy certainly builds buzz. But buzz has to be backed up with actual product that is good, or people will stop paying attention before long (exhibit 1: Zune gen 1). It also helps to prevent the competition from copying your ideas too quickly (exhibit 2: Meizu smart phone).