What Next For Apple?

These might be one among the many questions which many would be wondering after the untimely demise of Steve Jobs.

When a charismatic and iconic personality is so tightly associated with the success of a business —in Apple's case, the most valuable company in the world --everyone begins to speculate, "What happens when that heroic figure is gone? Is there life for Apple after Steve? Can it make it without him?"

Well, the common man wonders what next for Apple? 

It's a fair question. Can Apple survive without the genius and uncanny ability to see the world as others don't that Steve Jobs brought to the game? Our utter amazement of and indebtedness to what Steve Jobs created is right up there with the most fanatical of Apple fans, but the answer is yes. Here's why: First, Apple is more than the most successful company traded on the NYSE, it's a cause that has created a movement. And, the people of Apple have an uncompromising dedication to this cause.

So how can Apple possibly replace a cultural figure that Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt once called the best CEO of the past 50 years? That is likely to be a popular parlor game in Silicon Valley forthe foreseeable future. "The job calls for a world-class leader, requiring vision, creativity and cojones," says Leander Kahney, author ofInside Steve's Brain.

Whether Apple CEO Tim Cook— who took over for Jobs in August and brings an impressive résumé— can keep Apple humming like Jobs did remains an open question. Industry analysts who closely study the company's every move are somewhat mixed. Apple's iPhone 4S event on Tuesday, some said, underscored a lackluster showing from Cook.

Jobs was legendary for splashy product launches shrouded in secrecy and rehearsed to perfection. He often made witty snipes at rivals and had the timing of a deft stage actor. And, of course, his "one more thing" tagline, said with dramatic effect at the end of a masterful presentation, usually revealed a show-stopping product that elicited gasps from the rabid Apple faithful.

Dede says concerns may persist for Apple to demonstrate it can continue to introduce crowd-pleasing products.

But others think judgment should be held back for now. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu advised people not to underestimate Cook. Wu said, "We don't think Steve Jobs picked Tim without him having somewhat of a 'vision thing.'"

Indeed, Cook and his team of executives were handpicked and trained by Jobs to carry on the Apple Way — imbued with Jobs' penchant for perfectionism, clean and simple design, and impeccable taste.

Plus, as Apple's other co-founder, Steve Wozniak, said in an interview earlier this year, Apple is multiple companies — not just one anymore. Its tentacles extend to the music, cellphone, tablet and advertising markets.

"Even if everyone fell asleep, this is a $70 billion company," says Lou Mazzucchelli, an analyst who spoke to Jobs. "Apple knows its product road map the next few years. The execution may be a little different, and it will be interesting to see how its decision-making process changes. He was the final arbiter of taste within the company. How is that going to evolve? One person? By committee?"

In the months to come, Apple's future will turn on effective leadership by Cook and others; sound product development, marketing and communications; and investor confidence in the overall direction of the company, says Boston University School of Management professor James Post, an authority on corporate governance and business ethics. "All of these areas will rise or fall depending on Apple's board of directors," Post says. "Apple's board was never very independent while Jobs was in charge. Now they must be."

If you believe in life after death in the iClouds, then you'll believeSteve Jobs is fluffing it up extra today. Apple shares have risen three percent, marking a "historic closing high of $422."If you'd like to know how valuable these shares are, Apple is still worth four times what Disney and Time Warner are worth…combined. ….that's A LOT of green!Since Steve Jobs' death, the overall stock has risen twelve percent.Thank you, Steve, for getting people excited about stocks again!