Simon Cowell Searches for The Next Steve Jobs

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- "One more thing."

The words of the late Apple (AAPL) co-founder still ring across the tech sector, but there's no-one to say it with as much passion, bravado and salesmanship as Steve Jobs. That may soon change, though, if Simon Cowell and musician Will.i.am have their way.

Will.i.am recently told The Sun newspaper in the U.K. that he's spoken to Cowell about a new show to find the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Larry Ellison. The project's dubbed X Factor for Tech, Will.i.am said.

Cowell and Will.i.am have worked against each other before, with Will.i.am appearing on NBC's The Voice, while Cowell works on Fox's X-Factor. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast (CMCSA) while Fox is owned by News Corp (NWS).

Will.i.am was quoted as saying this will do something for the economy at a time of high unemployment. "Singing and performance create a couple of jobs. But this will create lots," he said. "It's about getting in touch with youth and giving them a platform to express themselves -- whether that's in science or mathematics."

The Black Eyed Peas star is no stranger to Silicon Valley. Last year Will.i.am was appointed Intel's (INTC) "director of creative innovation."

Finding the next Jobs, Gates, or Eillison, however, won't be easy, as these men mean more to the field of technology than just their smarts. In particular, it's the ability to sell and market products like few have ever done that made Jobs great.

Jobs was not credited with creating the first tablet, but he's credited with creating the tablet market, thanks to the iPad's slick design and "must-have" desirability. Clearly, the next tech titan must have qualities and personality traits that set them apart from the crowd.

Or they can just "think different."

Interested in more on Apple? See TheStreet Ratings' report card for this stock.

--Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York

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