Apple's Blueprint for Genius

The latest issue of Business Week offers an insightful commentary on two keys to Apple's success: in-house design, and Steve Jobs. "At a time when rivals are outsourcing as much design as possible to cut costs, Apple remains at its core a product company -- one that would never give up control of how those products are created. [Jobs] argues that the cost-savings aren't worth what you give up in terms of teamwork, communication, and the ability to get groups of people working together to bring a new idea to life."

Meanwhile, the The New York Times recently published an astute analysis of how Apple's iPod kicked Sony's Walkman ass. "A company thrives when it has all that it needs to make a compelling product and is undistracted by fractiousness among divisions that resent being told to make decisions based upon family obligations, not market considerations. The reach of a company with the optimal mix of assets can extend in all directions - and right through the front door of its competitors."

P.S.: BTW, Amazon currently has iPod Shuffles on sale - with free shipping! (1 GB / 512 MB)