Apparently the www.randsinrepose.com guy is also "Michael Lopp, senior engineering manager at Apple", according to that BusinessWeek "Tech Beat" article. Assuming that's accurate, it alone is an interesting bit of news (to me at least) - even if it does date back to March 2008. That may shed as much light on how innovation happens at Apple as the article itself does. The "wide-open" initial stage followed by gradual honing by reality checks doesn't feel very different than creativity-processes used in most organizations that value innovation. The article might also be a helpful reminder that it isn't only from the brain of Steve Jobs that Apple mines for ideas.

Isn't Michael Lopp the guy who writes Randsonrands? Is it the same person?

That was an interesting article, tho a little old. Things may change now when Jobs is gone...

Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Jonathan Ive, Eddy Cue. Four people who are each reputed to be just as strict and important to Apple culture as Jobs. Cook in particular is said to be far more intense than Jobs when it comes to operating and getting things produced.

way old! But a great article.