(Image source: LA Times)

BY BRICE SANDER

Apple’s getting a little Disney magic now that it has named Disney CEO Robert Iger director of its board. Computer World explains the decision.  

“It is part of Apple's response to critics who remain fearful that with the departure of [Steve] Jobs the thousands of intelligent people who populate the Apple empire will lose their way.”

In addition to Iger, Apple appointed board member Arthur Levinson as its non-executive chairman. Media Mughals suggests it’s a traditional move for a non-traditional company.

“...experts in the field believe that by not giving the title of Chairman to Apple's new chief executive, Timothy D. Cook, Apple is grooving itself in the line of corporate governance practices like other companies, as dividing the duties of chairman and chief executive is believed to allow the employee to hold a more independent insight.”

It’s an unprecedented move, as Jobs always held both titles. But CNet argues the appointments give the tech titan new life.

“As it stands, Apple's board is comprised of individuals with an unusually broad range of business experience...The addition of Iger adds more depth to that talent pool, given his role an entertainment heavyweight.”

And a Bloomberg analyst suggests this is a full-circle moment for Apple and Disney.

“To some extent, the Apple-Walt Disney connection was more important, perhaps, for Walt Disney. Steve Jobs was key in changing their direction. But, looking forward, it actually might be crucial to Apple, as well, and that’s because Apple is pushing into television. We don’t know exactly what they’re doing, except in Steve Jobs’ biography, which came out recently, he said- he told his biographer- that he had cracked it. He had a plan, and many analysts think we might see something on the TV front from Apple as soon as 2013.”  

Disney is still searching for someone to fill one spot on its board-- a spot created when Steve Jobs died in October.