After Steve Jobs, Will Apple Still be Apple?

Steve Jobs announced his resignation from Apple on Aug. 24. Tim Cook, who was the company's Chief Operating Officer and had been assuming Jobs' role in his absence, has been handed over the reins.

The breaking news shocked the world, Apple's fans, employees and competitors are wondering whether Apple will still be Apple without Jobs?

According to Ars Technica, Cook wrote a letter to Apple's employees to reassure his staff that Apple would remain Apple after Job's resignation. The letter was sent one day after Jobs' resignation.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values, Cook wrote. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that – it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

During Jobs' twice medical-related leaves of absence, Cook filled in to manage day-to-day operations at Apple. Now Cook has received the official title of CEO to continue his work. After all, Jobs will still be in Apple as Chairman of the Board to influence Apple, according to a trenchant piece at the Washington Post written by Joshua Topolsky, the editor-in-chief of the technology blog Engadget.

No one can deny the fact that the tech giant has established a lot of momentum in recent years, which won't dissipate immediately.

Apple’s product development road map stretches into multiple years ahead and has been shaped both by Jobs and by the organization he built, Forrester analyst JP Gownder wrote in a recent blog post. Jobs’ departure won’t affect Apple’s product portfolio, quality or competitiveness for a long time – if ever.

Even Jobs will go down in eventual history as an outstanding innovator, leader and world-changer, Apple is actually much more than its leader alone. Gownder continued.

I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is. Cook said in the letter.