Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Former Apple CEO: Apple needs another ‘creative leap’

Published Feb 28th, 2013 1:15PM EST
Apple Sculley Interview

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

As Apple’s (AAPL) share price wavers following its tumble from the record-high hit last September, pundits and industry watchers happily continue to offer their takes on why Apple has fallen from grace amid soured investor sentiment. The latest explanation of Apple’s current predicament comes from a familiar face: John Sculley. The former Apple CEO, who is most widely known for being recruited by Steve Jobs and then firing Jobs two years later following a power struggle, says Apple’s woes have been brought on by a period of slowed creativity in the consumer electronics industry where followers are beginning to outpace leaders.

The past 10 years have been a “creative leap” decade according to Sculley, and Apple led the charge with its iPhone and iPad as technology evolved at breakneck speeds. Now, Sculley said during an interview with CNBC Asia, we have entered a “fast follower evolution decade.” He says technology breakthroughs are few and far between during this period of slowed creativity, but companies like Samsung (005930) will excel while Apple goes on the hunt for new breakthrough products.

Sculley believes the next “creative leap” era will be driven by sensors, where “the Internet of things” will see all different kinds of connected devices communicating with each other and using data gathered by various sensors to interact.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.