A WORLD reacted to the sad news of the death of one of the greatest geniuses to operate in our modern history two weeks ago. Steve Jobs, the figurehead behind such innovations as the iPod, iPad and iPhone died a fortnight ago, aged 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jobs vision was to change the lives of us all and he managed to do that, turning Apple into one of the most profitable companies of recent times. He understood the needs of people and has changed the way we communicate forever. Along with Microsoft’s Bill Gates and founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Jobs has to be one of the most influential worldwide figures of the past two decades.
It wasn’t just recent times that Jobs has pioneered the way we used technology. He founded Apple in 1976 along with Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak. Eight years later, Apple launched the Macintosh computer, the first system to use a mouse. Not only was it used in one of the greatest ever commercials to be seen, it paved the way for future successes in the computer industry, such as the iMac – a massive product in how Apple and Jobs managed to build its success. In 2001, the music industry was revolutionised with the launch of the iPod. Walkman’s and CD players became practically useless, by the ability to listen to our favourite music on the go with such lightweight equipment. Six years later, the iPhone did exactly the same for the mobile phone market, launching the Smartphone craze, with rivals such as BlackBerry and Android still struggling to attract consumers in a similar field. Last year, the iPad was launched and introduced the tablet market. Once again, many have copied but failed to match Apple’s success in this department and this is because, Steve Jobs understood the needs of the consumer more than his rivals.
Tributes came in from competitors and worldwide figures on hearing of his death. UK Prime Minister David Cameron reminisced about his first uses of Apple technology; “I certainly can remember the first time I used an Apple computer, the first time I used an iPad. He has certainly been inspirational for all of us.” Barack Obama said “the world had lost a visionary.” Tim Cook, who took over as chief executive of Apple at the beginning of September paid his tribute to Apple employees in a company e-mail; “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
It hasn’t always been plain-sailing for the Jobs/Apple partnership. He resigned from the company in 1985 after clashes with the board over the direction the company were heading, only to spearhead them again a decade later. His visionary ambition also has played its part in the movie industry, buying Pixar in 1986 and helping to create box office animation smashes such as Toy Story, Monsters Inc and A Bug’s Life before selling up twenty years later.
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| Steve Jobs - February 24 1955 - October 6 2011 |
Apple is now one of the leading figures in the world and certainly has not only ended Microsoft’s domination of the technology market; it has overwhelmed them in recent years. Steve Jobs has transformed the company and changed the way we communicate and use technology in our lives. His death leaves a real gap in the technology industry and although Apple will go on and probably still be full of success for many years to come, there will only ever be one Steve Jobs.
RIP Steve Jobs - 24 February 1955 - 6 October 2011
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