Analysis: How Jobs’ profile impacts Apple

Apple has more than 21,000 full-time employees, but as far as some people are concerned it’s a one-man operation. But the idea that Apple’s fortunes are tied to Steve Jobs generally does Apple more good than harm, analysts say.

Bose introduces SoundDock Series II iPod sound systemBose has introduced a new version of its SoundDock speaker system for the iPod.
Six Apple executives you need to know aboutThink Apple is a one-man show? Think again. While the list of critical Apple employees would be a long one, we’ve focused on half-a-dozen executives who are driving forces behind the company’s success.

Product	Rating
iPhone 3G (16GB)
iPhone 3G (8GB)
iPod shuffle, second-generation 2GB
iPod touch 32GB
iPod nano, third-generation (3G) 4GB
iPod nano, third-generation (3G) 8GB
iPod classic (6G iPod) 80GB
iPod classic (6G iPod) 160GB
iPod touch 8GB
iPod touch 16GB
iPod shuffle, second-generation 1GB

Troubleshooting iPhone and iPod touch issues
Learn a few things you can try when experiencing issues with your iPhone or iPod touch running the 2.0.x software.
Bugs & Fixes: Vanishing contacts and calendar events
Ted Landau tells you what to do if contacts and calendar events synced via MobileMe suddenly disappear from your iPhone. And he returns to smart flash drives, the subject of last week’s column.
Bugs & Fixes: Dealing with iPhone app bugs and crashes
If crashing iPhone apps are bringing you—and your phone—down, Ted Landau has a primer on navigating your way out of app trouble.
Downgrading the iPod touch
If you've upgraded your iPod touch to the 2.0 software and would like to return to the days of 1.1.4, here's how.
Headphone Buyer's Guide
Earbuds or headphones? Full-size or miniature? No matter what kind of listening hardware you like to plug into your iPod (or iPhone), Dan Frakes has some advice and recommendations for finding the perfect pair.

iPhone apps for travelers
PC World’s James A. Martin looks at two iPhone apps seemingly ideal for travelers—Urbanspoon and TravelTracker.
Vetting the App Store approval process
In many ways, the App Store has been a roaring success. But there are still some areas for improvement, most significantly in the way that applications are approved for the store. Rob Griffiths and Dan Frakes look at five pressing issues and offer up their solutions.
Don’t be a player hater
PC World lists 11 things it hates about iTunes. If only they had spoken to Christopher Breen first, they might be singing a different tune.
New iPod, old firmware
Thinking of buying a new iPod touch? It could cost you an extra $10 if you buy a new model that's still got the old firmware installed—even though the 2.0 software update has been out for three weeks.
iPod touch and the flaky, flaky crust
There's a certain irony in an iPod touch that was more stable when hacked than with the current Apple software, right?