[jmr1015]

This excerpt is from an internal email, from Steve Jobs to Phil Schiller, in October 2010, regarding presentations to be given during their Top 100 meeting early the following year. This section refers to the iPhone specifically, and bullet points the subjects the presentation would cover:

"- 2011 Strategy:
- "plus" iPhone 4 with better antenna, processor, camera & software to stay ahead of competitors until mid 2012
- have LTE version in mid-2012
- create low cost iPhone model based on iPod touch to replace 3GS
- Business & competitive update
- show Droid and RIM ads
- Verizon iPhone
- schedule, marketing, ...
- iPhone 5 hardware
- H4 performance
- new antenna design, etc
- new camera
- schedule
- CONFIDENTIAL
- cost goal
- show model (and/or renderings) - Jony"

So they were thinking about the iPhone 5 a full year before the iPhone 4S released, and a year before Steve's passing... with Jony having renderings or a physical model of the 5 ready for this presentation in early 2011, which as far as I know, Steve attended.

Steve was a great corporate strategist. He was also well aware of his health. If Steve really did lay out a framework for the next 5 years of Apple, I like to think that he left behind clear guidance for the general spirit of the iPhone 6, and possibly beyond to the 6S or even the 7. Perhaps not specific design plans or feature content, but a strategy of some kind.

[warcraftWidow]

But Jobs also specifically told Tim Cook not to think about what he would do.

[bunjy]

I actually disagree with this one. Since it was under Jobs the first colorful iMacs appeared. I think he would've love the 5C colors.

To each his own I guess. Unless someone is able to contact Jobs in the afterlife, I guess we'll never know what he thought about what's transpires. Looks like a job for the psychic friends network. 😉

[Closingracer]

Do you think if he was still the top gun that the iPhone would've gotten larger than 3.5" this soon if at all?

If he didn't It wouldn't even get me to think about getting an iphone period. While I decided to get a note 4 I seriously considered getting a iPhone 6 Plus but a mishap with T-mobile's Website didn't work and needed a new phone and didn't feel like waiting till November so got the Note 4. Might change next year though

[Maladroit23]

I asked Steve Jobs about this in 2009 at a Halloween party. He said, "Dude. I'm Not. Really. Steve. Jobs."

[jdhooghe]

While I am not Jobs, I think Jobs wouldn't have been so stupid to forget the lessons of RIM. He would have seen the demand for a larger screen, I would think, just like he saw the need for a smaller iPad for those that needed more portability. Even if he didn't agree with it. I also don't think that since he preferred not using a case, he would not have cared about the protruding camera lens. Like was mentioned before, I think he set out plans for the next couple or so years but that's just what I've heard and have seen no evidence to support it.

[Maladroit23]

While I am not Jobs, I think Jobs wouldn't have been so stupid to forget the lessons of RIM. He would have seen the demand for a larger screen, I would think, just like he saw the need for a smaller iPad for those that needed more portability. Even if he didn't agree with it. I also don't think that since he preferred not using a case, he would not have cared about the protruding camera lens. Like was mentioned before, I think he set out plans for the next couple or so years but that's just what I've heard and have seen no evidence to support it.

Agreed here.

If anything the thing Jobs wouldn't have allowed for would be iOS8's string of bugs. Unless all OS's have bugs like that. I just got into Apple so I'm not sure.

[mumfoau]

Agreed here.

If anything the thing Jobs wouldn't have allowed for would be iOS8's string of bugs. Unless all OS's have bugs like that. I just got into Apple so I'm not sure.

I think all software has bugs but Apple is the best at quickly addressing issues!