Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

This is the letter from Steve Jobs himself:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.
Steve

Apple has confirmed that Apple COO Tim Cook will replace Jobs as CEO, following Jobs’ own recommendation. Considering that Cook has filled in for Jobs in the times of his medical leaves (including the one he has been on this year), this kept everyone wondering if and when it came time for Jobs to step down.

Also as requested, Jobs has been elected as Chairman of the Board and will remain with the company in that capacity. Cook will join the Board as well.

The USA is the first economy of the world but the race for supremacy continues

Figures show that in 2010 China had become the world’s second largest economy while Japan fell on the third place. In the last few years we have also seen India overpass Germany, and Russia and Brazil overtake the UK and trends clearly show that China is determined to take the first place by 2027. Most probably, in early 2020s Chinese GDP will equal the US one. Although the two economies will not be equal in composition - the huge underdeveloped countryside of China remaining a serious problem, most experts consider that the total size of the Chinese economy will surpass that of the United States by 2027. Differences are expected to remain as regards the income per capita until 2050. Although estimations going up to 2050 could be considered as speculations, some experts dared to predict that by then India is expected to be the world’s largest economy, surpassing China and the US.

According to present trends India will overtake Japan becoming the third most important economy in the world by 2015, and Mexico is expected to enter the Top Ten replacing Italy.

Here is the Top10 countries, as listed by PPP GDP, using 2010 GDP figures:

Ranking	Country	GDP- Purchasing Power Parity (billion USD)
1	United States of America	$14,624.18
2	China	$10,084.37
3	Japan	$4,308.63
4	India	$4,001.10
5	Germany	$2,932.04
6	Russia	$2,218.76
7	Brazil	$2,181.68
8	United Kingdom	$2,181.07
9	France	$2,146.28
10	Italy	$1,771.14

The expected Top Ten list in 2027 could be: China, USA, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil, UK, France, and Mexico.

If we consider the EU as an economic entity, in 2007 this became the world’s largest economy, with a combined GDP of 14,400 billion USD, but even so, China will certainly overpass them both by 2030.