“He is the indisputable leader of the digital music revolution, the visionary and financier behind some of the biggest movies in recent history, and soon, the largest shareholder of Walt Disney Co.,” Bob Keefe writes for Cox News Service. “But Steve Jobs may also have another moniker: king of new entertainment. ‘I think he’s it,’ said Jeffrey Young, who has written two books about Jobs and Apple Computer Inc. ‘I don’t think there’s anybody else. He’s assumed the place that [producer-director Steven] Spielberg had.’ It’s an unlikely role for a guy who purportedly doesn’t even like Hollywood. But Jobs has always thrived on doing the unlikely.”
Keefe writes, “With movies, music and other entertainment, ‘you know it’s all going to be on the Internet, on your cell phone, as well as on your TV,’ said Young. He is the author of ‘Steve Jobs: The Journey is the Reward’ and co-author of ‘iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business’ — a book Apple banned from its retail stores because Jobs didn’t like the way he was portrayed. ‘It’s no longer the old game anymore,’ Young said. ‘And Steve’s at the peak of it. He’s got all the pieces.'”
“George Geis, a UCLA professor who has studied the evolution of entertainment and technology, thinks Jobs’ next major move might be technology to seamlessly move entertainment across home televisions and computers, iPods, cell phones and other devices. In all likelihood, Disney’s movies and shows will be the first to use it,” Keefe writes, “Geis thinks it could potentially be as big as the introduction of the iPod. ‘Sometime in the immediate run, maybe two or three years out, I think he’ll be able to create one big experiment … one big new thing … that if successful will forever change the [entertainment] business,’ Geis said. Other computer companies, such as Sony and Apple arch-rival Microsoft, are already pushing ‘media center’ PCs designed to be digital entertainment hubs for the home. But just like MP3 music players before Jobs introduced the iPod, they haven’t yet lived up to their potential.”
“While Microsoft and IBM were selling computers for business, Jobs and Apple were pushing a user-friendly computer for consumers.” Keefe writes, “As computers became a vital part of business, Microsoft benefited while Apple lagged. Even now, it controls less than 5 percent of the PC market. But as computers and related devices become vital to home and mobile entertainment, Apple and Jobs’ bet on consumers may be starting to pay off. ‘The tables are turning’ in Apple’s favor, said analyst Leigh… Now that Jobs is the biggest shareholder in Disney and Lasseter and Catmull are calling the shots at Disney’s animation business, Jobs has both the first and second greatest animation studios in his grasp. And maybe, the rest of the new world of entertainment as well.”
Full article with much more here.
Advertisements:
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iMac and MacBook Pro owners: Apple USB Modem. Easily connect to the Internet using dial-up service. Only $49.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Related articles:
Cringely: Did Disney buy Pixar mainly to get Steve Jobs? – February 06, 2006
Steve Jobs’ arrival at the Magic Kingdom could have more thrills than trip to Disneyland – January 27, 2006
Only one man can control Disney: Bob Iger vs. Steve Jobs – January 26, 2006
BusinessWeek: Steve Jobs poised to become the 21st Century’s first real media giant? – January 26, 2006
BBC: Steve Jobs has ‘cemented his position as a main player in the technology and media industries’ – January 26, 2006
SmartMoney: The New King of All Media is Apple’s Steve Jobs – January 24, 2006
Apple adds 10 Disney classic short films to U.S. iTunes Music Store – January 24, 2006
Steve Jobs, Bob Iger appear live on CNBC – January 24, 2006
It’s official: Disney acquires Pixar for $7.4 billion, Steve Jobs joins Disney Board of Directors – January 24, 2006
