Yesterday's launch of the newest iPhone had superfans excited. Still, some critics are questioning whether the announcement was quite the “slam dunk” we’ve come to expect from Apple. So what's the future of Apple? Ken Auletta, writer and media critic for The New Yorker, explains.

Millions of people love their iPhones, iPads, and refuse to be separated from their iPods. But lately our relationship with our Apple technology has been tainted by guilt after a story from our partner The New York Times revealed significant safety concerns for workers at some of Apple's overseas factories in China. Stories of long, abusive hours and horrifying conditions came to light. Now Apple is trying to allay concerns. The company has asked an independent labor group to audit the working conditions at its suppliers' factories.  

Heads of state, business and technology leaders, and throngs of consumers, who were touched by his products, are mourning the loss of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday at age 56. The news comes little over a month after Jobs stepped down as CEO of the company, on August 24, due to his declining health. Jobs was battling pancreatic cancer. New Yorker writer Ken Auletta wrote an obituary for Jobs last night, saying Jobs' creations "changed our lives." "The Macintosh, the iTunes store that induced people to pay for music and other content, Pixar, which forever changed animation, the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. These were more than technological feats. Apple products were beautifully designed, as well," Auletta wrote.

Apple announced last night that Steve Jobs, co-founder and chief executive of the company, would immediately resign from his position. Tim Cook, chief operating officer there, will replace him. In a public letter, Jobs said "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." Jobs will stay on at Apple as chairman of the board. Shortly after the news broke, Apple shares fell seven percent. 

For the second time in the company’s history, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is going on medical leave. A year and a half ago, Jobs underwent a liver transplant, and recovered from pancreatic cancer in 2004. The company's most recent earnings report will also be released today. Both announcements come at a time when Apple is facing some of its toughest competition from smaller tech challengers as well as fellow titans like Google. Thus far Steve Jobs has been synonymous with Apple — an often essential part of the brand. What is the possible future of Apple without Steve Jobs?

On "Tech Thursday" it’s all about Google. Once upon a time, Google was just the name of the hugest number in the universe, then it became a verb. Now it refers to a media empire, on track to become the world’s first $100 billion media company. That’s just the kind of thing that gets the attention of Ken Auletta, author of “Googled: The End of the World as we Know it.”