Steve, who put his beloved creation on the path to glory, and whose fingerprints are all over its current and future plans. "Apple had a better 12 months than many firms have in 12 years," says Michael Gartenberg, an analyst.

Apple has taken the trophy for most valuable U.S. company ever and currently holds a market capitalization of $629.4 billion. The new iPhone 5 is out, with sky-high sales projections. Apple has sold an estimated 6 million to 10 million iPhone 5s in the two weeks since its release. To date, 243 million iPhones have been sold. By the end of 2013, that figure is expected to eclipse 500 million.
With the newest iPad and Apple TV expected soon, Apple's stock could climb higher, but without Jobs to look over Apple, how …ver más…

"They're trying to build products that change the world, rather than do what Jobs did: Create great jobs that, in the end, changed the world."
When Jobs returned in late 1996, the company was in deep trouble and had to take risks. In addition to making great products, Jobs had an uncanny ability to replace best sellers such as iPod with an iPhone. Today, it has a highly profitable business model to defend against Google, Amazon and Samsung, whom it sued for patent infringement.
The creative/innovative heir to Jobs' mantle isn't at the top of the company organization chart, but two executives leap to mind: lead designer Jonathan Ivie and Scott Forstall, who is in charge of mobile software.
"Forstall seems the most presentable, good-looking exec with nerd chops," Lashinsky says. "He is comparable to Jobs. He's a CEO in waiting, but what isn't clear is when." But Suiter, Jobs' former creative director, says Apple will inevitably become a different company going forward without its once-in-a-lifetime leader.

"There's no way it can be the same. The guy was the most amazing, creative director I ever met in my life."

Swartz, J. (2012). Year after Jobs' death, how high can Apple fly? San Francisco: USA