for Q2, beating all estimates by the best financial experts. In Q3 Apple profited nearly $30 million, again astounding financial experts, who had predicted a loss of as much. (Apple lost considerably more in Q4.)In late december 1996, Apple made an industry-shattering announcement that it would be acquiring NeXT, and that Steven Jobs would be returning to the fold. The merger was brought about in order to acquire NeXTstep, which was to become the basis for Apple's next-generation OS, Rhapsody, which was slated for a 1998 release. The Newton department was spun off into a wholly-owned subsidy, Newton, Inc.In early July 1997, Apple announced the resignation of Gil Amelio, following another multi-million dollar quarterly loss. This came as a surprise to nearly everyone, and at this time a new CEO has yet to be announced. The Executive Board reportedly felt that Amelio had done all he could for Apple, and that while he had been responsible for a number of improvements at Apple, he could do no more. In the meantime Fred Anderson, Apple's CFO, has been put in charge of day-to-day operation, and Steve Jobs was given an "expanded role" at Apple for the interim.1997-2000Jobs' presence was known almost as quickly as NeXT was acquired. The degree of Jobs' "expanded role" soon became quite clear. With no CEO and Apple Stock lower than it had been in 5 years, there were many decisions to be made, and not much time to make them. Jobs began to make striking changes in the structure of Apple, including the canceling of the Newton spin-off. (The Newton was discontinued several months later.) The time and place for the most ground breaking announcements, however, would be MacWorld Boston in August 1997. Jobs, who by now was being referred to as "interim CEO," made the keynote speech, and spoke of the company's upcoming aggressive advertising campaign, upcoming new Macs, and Rhapsody. He also announced an almost entirely new Board of Directors, including ...
