That Steve would retire was not difficult to see coming. What we all wondered was whether they’d stay in-house for a successor or go outside. John Gruber nailed it last month. (No surprise.) Still, it is good to see that the company is in the hands of someone who gets it.

One of the most interesting angles of this is the way it all happened. The announcement wasn’t Friday, after markets close, but Wednesday. Moreover, in typical Apple fashion, nothing was left to chance. Steve is stepping down and Tim is replacing him. There was no public bloodletting or year long search committee and all the terrible mess and speculation that comes with such a committee. The succession plan was set, and activated. Steve even mentioned it in his letter. At its most fundamental level, this was presentation of a problem and a solution all at once.
How very Apple.

Finally, here is my favorite Steve Jobs related link. (via Merlin Mann)

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