[tweetmeme]For those not following the story, Japan is set to release a SIM-locked contract-locked iPad with Softbank, and obviously, Japanese folks are a little more than annoyed. Some of them have been emailing Apple’s new unofficial PR spokesman, who also happens to be their CEO. “Actually, the version of iPad sold in Japan does accept international SIMs.”, replied Steve Jobs, but there is no change in the Apple Japan website, nor in Softbank’s policy. Here’s one American in Japan voicing his problem with Steve, Apple Japan, or both. In language that might offend you. — Ed

Steve Jobs loves to point out other peoples’ mistakes. He likes to tell customers that it’s not his fault. It’s their country’s fault. Well, if Steve Jobs’ recent email about the SIM locking of the iPad in Japan is to be believed, Steve himself doesn’t have the facts right. He’s somehow under the impression that the iPad is unlocked over here when both Softbank and Apple Japan’s websites say it is. Which is it, Steve? Either you’re lying or you don’t know what’s going on with your magical new product in one of your biggest markets. If it really is SIM-locked, Steve looks like an idiot. If it isn’t, Steve should find out whose fault this whole mix up is and fire their ass. Either way, every Apple fan in Japan is rightfully pissed for being treated as second-class customers. And if it’s really just a mix up, I can’t get an iPad day-one because I wouldn’t buy into this greedy scheme of theirs and pre-orders have been halted already. Obviously enough people were willing to take Apple Japan and Softbank’s nonsense, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they left it this way because they’re seemingly succeeding, shitty deal and all. Either way, it’s left a vile taste in my mouth, and it has me questioning whether or not I’m going to buy an iPad here. I do not want to give in to their chicanery. This type of bending over in Japan is typically limited to adult films and I can’t believe Apple would try to screw us like this.

But Brandon, why not just get a a wifi one and buy a portable wifi thingamajig? Because I still have to sign another contract for two years and the monthly price is twice the iPad deal. I don’t even care about signing a contract for data service. The price per month is pretty much the same as it is in the US and the coverage is probably better here. The practical reason for my rage is that, should I want to use my iPad in America, I can’t use AT&T. I’d have to pay ridiculous roaming fees to Softbank. And if I happen to move back to America, I can’t use my iPad. My ‘on principle’ reason for being angry is that evey other country gets unlocked iPads. And to top it off, they’re treating it like it’s an iPhone contract, but they won’t even subsidize the damn thing. They’re charging full price and locking me into another contract. You know, if they were all SIM-locked, I probably wouldn’t even be angry. It’s this whole being treated differently thing that gets me. I get stared at like a circus freak and treated like a leper enough here as it is, I don’t need an American company that I give lots of money to collaborating with my oppressors.

Update: Steve Jobs replies to Gabe Glick’s prodding: “Our website and Softbank are wrong, and we are getting them the correct information ASAP.  The website should be fixed soon.  Sorry for the confusion.” I guess that settles it then.

Fortune magazine names Steve Jobs “CEO of the Decade” →

Why Jobs?

How’s this for a gripping corporate story line: Youthful founder gets booted from his company in the 1980s, returns in the 1990s, and in the following decade survives two brushes with death, one securities-law scandal, an also-ran product lineup, and his own often unpleasant demeanor to become the dominant personality in four distinct industries, a billionaire many times over, and CEO of the most valuable company in Silicon Valley.

Well deserved. Fortune has a lot more coverage of Jobs today; good fodder for the fanboy soul.

http://smokingapples.com/?p=10068

This is it folks. It’s like I get to have my cake and eat it too (if that’s the right expression here). I’m a huge Coldplay fan, much to the disapproval of many of my ‘followers’. Turns out, Steve Jobs is also a Coldplay nut just out of a liver transplant rocking it at their Viva la Vida concert. Here’s a tale from the journalist “Roadie #42″ covering the tour:

“I’ll be honest with you folks, the only thing that mattered to me tonight was the presence of one Steve Jobs. I’m a confirmed Apple devotee and I really cannot imagine doing the job I do now (or even having got into this line of work) without my Macbook Pro (and all the Powerbooks that went before it). Creating these tools and putting them into the hands of folks like me was the vision of this man…

“I spot Steve chatting with Dave Holmes outside the dressing room and suddenly feel like a star-struck teenager. In order to get the gall up to speak to the guy, I down a double espresso. The mixture of caffeine buzz and feeling like a cheesy little fanboy means that all I can manage to say to him is “Thank you so much”. I realise that I’m quite simply making a tit of myself and so excuse myself as fast as I appeared.

“With that, I suddenly have sympathy for every nervous and excitable kid that shakes hands with the band at a meet and greet. Time to hit send and fold up the laptop.”

With being the voice behind press releases, making the rounds at the Apple campus, and now rocking it to Coldplay, Steve appears to be back in business. Let’s hope we see him at the next keynote.

[via CNN Apple 2.0]

Hospital confirms Jobs had a liver transplant →

Jim Goldman reports on the press statement issued by the Methodist University Hospital:

Dr. James D. Eason, program director at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute and chief of transplantation “confirmed today, with the patient’s permission, that Steve Jobs received a liver transplant at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in partnership with the University of Tennessee in Memphis,” according to a statement from the hospital.

The part that’s more important to me:

Mr. Jobs is now recovering well and has an excellent prognosis.

http://smokingapples.com/?p=9517

In a stunning press release, Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple has announced that over 1 million iPhone 3GS models have been sold in 3 days. How often do you come with two huge news stories in one single sentence?

After much talk about his liver transplant and whatnot, the CEO is apparently alive and kicking at Apple. We don’t know the extent to which he’s back, or whether this is a permanent return, but we sure hope so. That said, kudos to Tim Cook and team for carrying Apple through these last six months. They did a hell of a job managing Apple through the economic crisis.

As for the iPhone 3GS—Steve settles the debate between 3GS, 3G S, and 3G [s]—the million units in 3 days is comparable with the 3G’s launch last year, which also took 3 days to cover a million iPhones. Note that the iPhone 3G launched in 22 countries on the same day, while the 3GS launched in only 8 countries. And by comparison, it took 74 days for the first generation iPhone to take up that much market share. This blows past what the analysts had to say, who predicted somewhere between 500,000-700,000 units.

On a similar note, over 6 million people downloaded the iPhone 3.0 software in 5 days of release. With new software at the App Store requiring the iPhone 3.0 platform, I don’t see how the rest of the iPhone users will hold out for longer. And lastly, we’re still waiting on word for how many $100 iPhone 3Gs Apple has sold. I’m sure Palm will be happy to compare Pre sales with the 6 people who buy the cheaper version.

Happy day today!

[Press Release]

Wishing you the best of health (since you need it so much), and hoping for a speedy recovery of our favourite CEO. Do take care of yourself, and don’t worry about anything, we’ll take care of keeping the Apple fire burning strong. Awaiting for your return. Best wishes. – Team SA. 

Steven Paul Jobs was born on the 24th of February, 1955, and is 54 today. As you must be well aware, he’s taken a medical leave of absense from his duties as CEO of Apple, leaving Tim Cook in charge for now. If all goes well, we’ll see him walking about the stage at WWDC 09. And as with all wishful thinking, I will not picture any other scenario. 

Join us in wishing him teh good health, or you can send him a birthday card at his email address.