Steve Jobs - 1955-2011
Steve Jobs - February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Not much.
Steve Jobs, tech visionary and master at selling people things they didn't realize they needed, has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.
I think that it's rather fitting that I read about his passing on my iPad ... a device I didn't realize that I needed until I handled one.
Jobs oversaw some amazing innovations at Apple over the past decade - The iPod (changing the music industry), Mac OS X (changing the OS landscape), Intel-based Macs (changing computing), the iPhone (changing the cellphone market), oh, and one more thing ... the iPad (changing the tablet market). I can't think of another tech company that has innovated so much and foster so many new markets as Apple has managed under the leadership of Jobs. The company has enjoy one hit after another. Sure, there have been a few stumbles, like MobileMe, Xserve and Apple TV, but these 'failures' (I use that word in the loosest sense possible) pale in comparison to the successes the company has enjoyed.
Plenty of companies have tried to emulating Apple's success, but all have failed.
Today a few people have asked me what Apple should do in a post-Jobs era, as though being a technology pundit qualifies me to give advice to one of the most successful companies ever. One person even asked me for my '5-point plan to ensure Apple's success post-Jobs'. Answering that is pretty simple:
- Keep doing what you're already doing.
- Keep doing what you're already doing.
- Keep doing what you're already doing.
- Keep doing what you're already doing.
- Keep doing what you're already doing.
Personally, I'll miss Steve Jobs. I didn't know him personally, and I never got an email or phone call from him, but I did enjoy seeing him on stage. I didn't always agree with his views, but they sure were delivered in an enthusiastic and entertaining way. He was, without a doubt, a tremendous show man.
With that, I'll leave you with a selection of my favorite Steve Jobs moments:
More coverage:
- Apple's Steve Jobs has passed away
- Tim Cook's email to employees on Jobs passing
- Jobs family statement: He died peacefully
- Steve Jobs' big lesson: 'Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish'
- Thank you Steve Jobs
- R.I.P. Steve Jobs
- One more thing. Remembering Steve Jobs.
- Legacy: Steve Jobs put the personal in computing