‘Apple is the center of innovation,’ says CEO Tim Cook

Speaking at Goldman Sachs’ Technology and Internet conference in San Francisco, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company is the “center of innovation.”

Analysts have been concerned about the pace of innovation at Apple. After the iPhone and iPad, what’s next? An actual Apple TV seems stalled, and no other category-creating breakthrough products seem to be on the horizon, which made the question inevitable: How is Apple doing with innovation?

Pretty good, according to Cook.

“Innovation is so deeply embedded in Apple’s culture,” Apple’s CEO said. “Boldness, ambition … and making the very best products in the world — it’s in the DNA of the company.”

Get all the details here: Apple CEO Tim Cook at Goldman Sachs conference

But there’s no formula for innovation, Cook added, saying that some of the essentials include the right skills and the right leadership.

The skills he chose to highlight are Apple’s trifecta: software, hardware, and services.

“Consumers want this elegant experience where the technology kind of floats in the background and the customer is the center of the experience,” Cook said. “You can innovate in hardware, software, and services. The magic happens at the intersection of all three.”

This isn’t something you can just go buy, Cook added, saying that it takes decades to grow.

“I think Apple is unique in that,” he said.

And in terms of leadership?

“When I look at executive table, I see superstars,” Cook added, naming Apple design guru Jony Ive, among others.

One wag on Twitter has questioned Cook’s use of the word “center,” saying that clearly, if anything, Apple is the core:

RT @johnkoetsier: Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘Apple is the center of innovation’ wp.me/p1re2-2Bvi v/ @dylan20 < Surely he means the core ;)

— Rose Ross (@Rose_at_O) February 12, 2013

 photo credits: billaday via photopin cc, Dean Takahashi