Death of Steve Jobs!

Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011).

Very sad to hear the overnight news of Steve Jobs death at just 56.

Strange that despite the knowledge of his long illness and history of transplants and pancreatic cancer his death never felt to be imminent which must be down to the man's determination to carry on as usual rather than seek any sympathy.

You have to respect the fact that not only did he resurrect Apple's fortunes but he has also done his damdest to provide for its future through contingency and continuity in preparation for his passing.

I can only assume that he had an idea of when he might no longer be around but it hasn't stopped him driving forward his succession strategy and vision to secure Apple's immediate future through an effective structure and product pipeline. 

How many of us in a similar situation would have long since withdrawn into the sympathy of our families with anger and resentment at our misfortune.

I might be showing my age now but Steve Jobs and his Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were already heroes of mine having designed one of the first versions of a personal computer (Apple I) from a Californian garage (or at least that is the tale I remember). 

Apple II came along soon after with graphics and .... a mouse.
This helped create the onset of micro computers for the home which eventually saw me get my first one in the form of BBC's model B (itself a development from Acorn's Electron) which ran on an early design of what is now an ARM microprocessor. 

With that first venture alone he made home computing a possibility and he has continued to see the future of technology in our homes and our lives even if we couldn't.

Further testament to Jobs complete vision of perfection and consumer experience I can still recall my experience of unboxing an IPod 3g with click wheel. The packaging was as equally rewarding as the product coming in a pristine white cube that hinged and split like an egg to reveal the cocooned IPod perched at an angle inside.


He may not have actually invented all of the products Apple sells but his vision and attention to detail has brought them all together and pushed the boundaries so as to enrich the user experience and ensure that technology complements and improves our daily lives (rather than compromise) whether we are at work or play.

Very, very sad news and my sympathies go out to his family and friends.

Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011).

Related articles:
- www.citywire.co.uk: Steve Jobs: tributes to Apple's visionary boss
- www.fool.co.uk: Steve Jobs: Tribute To A Visionary