Recent rumors has it Microsoft was working on two tablets simultaneously, one inspired with a "think different" approach lead by J Allard and another as an evolution of Windows lead by Steven Sinofsky.  In short, Balmer had a tough decision and resorted to Bill for helping him making the best decision.  Bill, having the natural affinity to Windows, killed the think different version because it was not designed with Windows in mind didn't integrate with Office at it's core.  This is the first time I see the promotional video of the think different version -- Microsoft Courier; not too shabby.

Apple in October, shortly after Jobs passing, promoted Eddie Cue to SVP awarding him 100,000 shares.  In November, they distributed an additional 1 million shares among all the SVP and key players.

• Peter Oppenheimer
• Bruce Swell
• Scott Forstall
• Philip Schiller
• Bob Mansfield
• Jeffrey Williams
• Eddie Cue

All of them received 150,000 shares with exception of Eddie who received 100,000.  So where is Johnny Ive?  He's a SVP also, and a very important one.  My hunch is either he will receive a separate award, a hefty one to convince him to stay, or he has indicated his intention to return to England as rumors claimed a year or so ago.  Previous rumors indicated he asked to work from England to have his family grow up in their native town, but Apple's board allegedly did not approve as being close to headquarters was more important.

The shares provided were restricted, so they are not issued until a certain date.  In the case of the above shares, half vest in 2013 and the remainder vest in 2016. So with Johnny Ive missing from the list, there are only three possibilities:

• Johnny Ive is on the verge of resigning.  His intentions of leaving to Britain as was rumor some time ago with the desire to raise his family
• the board is creating a special, too good to deny, package for him to stay and didn't want to delay the package for the other SVP
• they are currently negotiating other more complex options such as having him work from Britain, possibly even relocating his lab, etc.