The Apple Beat: Apple’s Year in Review for 2015

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla 

If I’ve learned anything about Apple in 2015, is that it is no longer as predictable as it used to be and the old established norms no longer hold water. 

2015 was a huge one of for Apple in various areas. The company released its first new major product category with the Apple Watch, it also enjoyed an unprecedented year of product releases as well as an ever expanding focus on operating systems, ecosystems, music services and mobile payments.

What struck me most about Apple in 2015 is that it seems to have shifted from being conservative in its product announcements to being more like the multi-billion-dollar company it actually is. This means taking bigger risks with new product categories, filling-in empty spots between existing product sizes and models plus growing its various ecosystems and services.

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Apple to pay Italy $348 million to settle tax dispute

Apple will be paying Italy US $348 million (318 million euros) to settle a tax dispute it has had with that country as well as sign a new tax agreement.

"Apple will pay the tax agency 318 million euros and will sign an accord for fiscal years 2015 onwards early next year," a source told Reuters. Apple and other technology companies like Google and Amazon have become the targets of tax inquiries in Europe.

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Charlie Rose gets in depth look "Inside Apple" for 60 Minutes

Charlie Rose got to sit in with Apple's executives after their weekly meeting. Interesting to see the products each of them uses on a day-to-day basis.By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Veteran TV correspondent Charlie Rose got a golden ticket opportunity to go "Inside Apple" for an entire episode of 60 minutes. Given carte blanche by Tim Cook, Rose got to meet with the executive staff, have various one-on-one interviews with Cook, Jony Ive, Phil Schiller, Angela Ahrendts and even visits the new 'Spaceship' headquarters, a prototype Apple Retail Store and even the inner sanctum of Apple's design laboratories where next generation products are being created.

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Apple appoints Jeff Williams as COO, Johny Srouji as SVP hardware, Phil Schiller now in charge of App Store

Phil Schiller has been leading Marketing at Apple and is now taking charge of App Stores

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple has announced the promotion of Jeff Williams as Chief Operations Officer, the addition of Johny Srouji as VP of hardware and SVP of Marketing Phil Schller is now in charge of the App Store.

Williams is Tim Cook's second in command, a former IBM'er and now occupies Cook's position before Steve Jobs turned over the reigns to Cook in 2011. While it may or may not be an indication of succession for Apple's top executive position, it does show confidence in Jeff William's ability to manage operations as Apple scales in terms of operations and services.

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