Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dead at 56

6 October 2011 01:36 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died on Wednesday at the age of 56, after a years-long and highly public battle with cancer and other health issues.

Jobs' death was announced by Apple in a statement late on Wednesday. The Apple.com homepage featured a black-and-white picture of him with the words "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011."

The Silicon Valley icon who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone had resigned as CEO of the world's largest technology corporation in August, handing the reins to current chief executive Tim Cook.

A survivor of a rare form of pancreatic cancer, he was deemed the heart and soul of a company that rivals Exxon Mobil as the most valuable in America.
"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve," Apple said in a statement announcing Jobs' passing.

"His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."
Job's health had been a controversial topic for years. His battle with cancer had been a deep concern to Apple fans, investors and the company's board alike. In past years, even board members have confided to friends their concern that Jobs, in his quest for privacy, wasn't being forthcoming enough with directors about the true condition of his health.

Now, despite investor confidence in Cook, who has stood in for his boss during three leaves of absence, there remain concerns about whether the company would stay a creative force to be reckoned with beyond the next year or so without its founder and visionary at the helm.

The news triggered an immediate outpouring of sympathy. Among others, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he will miss Jobs "immensely".

APPLE, NEXT, IPHONE
A college dropout, Buddhist and son of adoptive parents, Jobs started Apple Computer with friend Steve Wozniak in the late 1970s. The company soon introduced the Apple 1 computer.

But it was the Apple II that became a huge success and gave Apple its position as a critical player in the then-nascent PC industry, culminating in a 1980 IPO that made Jobs a multimillionaire.

Despite the subsequent success of the Mac, Jobs' relationship with top management and the board soured. The company removed most of his powers and then in 1985 he was fired.

Apple's fortunes waned after that. However, its purchase of NeXT -- the computer company Jobs founded after leaving Apple -- in 1997 brought him back into the fold. Later that year, he became interim CEO and in 2000, the company dropped "interim" from his title.

Along the way Jobs also had managed to revolutionise computer animation with his other company, Pixar, but it was the iPhone in 2007 that capped his legacy in the annals of modern technology history.

Two years before the gadget that forever transformed the way people around the world access and use the Internet, Jobs talked about how a sense of his mortality was a major driver behind that vision.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life," Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005.

"Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." (Source: Reuters)

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Comments - 31

shivantha Thursday, 06 October 2011 12:20 PM

One of the Best American brains.
fit for noble prize!
Sympathises.

Sam Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:39 AM

Indeed a big loss. He will surely be missed by Apple

Aruna Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:41 AM

end of a legend

thivz Thursday, 06 October 2011 12:51 PM

iSad

Rosh Thursday, 06 October 2011 03:29 AM

Nobody had ever made anything more admiring than his Apple & Mac Gadgets. A truly visionary man and made us to dream the dream of future. He is a legend and will be missed all the time.

Geriatrix Thursday, 06 October 2011 03:30 AM

The three apples which shaped us humans!!
(1) Adam's Apple
(2) Newton's Apple
(3) Steve Job's Apple

Randheera Kumarasing Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:14 PM

There are only 3 apples in this world. The one that Eve ate, the one that fell onto Newton's head, and the apple that Steve created...

Rajitha Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:19 PM

he'll be placed in an iCoffin

sean wije Thursday, 06 October 2011 03:54 AM

RIP steve jobs

Nanda Thursday, 06 October 2011 04:15 AM

RIP steve

KBB Thursday, 06 October 2011 04:16 AM

An apple a day couldn't keep Steve awake

Jodie Windenburg Thursday, 06 October 2011 04:24 AM

May you attain Nibbana Great Man !! Thank you for teaching the world to think different.

Sue Thursday, 06 October 2011 04:52 AM

The Greatest CEO of all times. May his legacy live on.

hrm Thursday, 06 October 2011 05:00 AM

very well said !!

Anoma Thursday, 06 October 2011 05:09 AM

A true visionary who revolutionalized the technology industry by making it more accessible to the masses. Steve Jobs was and will always be one of the best amongst the best!.Thank you!

li diankui Thursday, 06 October 2011 05:33 AM

his life is short, but he is like only few great persons in history who dare to pursue his dream.. the normal ppl, are formative, what we should learn most from him is we shall overcome the weakness and recreance in our mind.

Sean Henricus Thursday, 06 October 2011 05:52 AM

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life." -Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

rif Thursday, 06 October 2011 06:06 AM

His END is the start for NO END for his name in the world

nawala nihal Thursday, 06 October 2011 06:06 AM

Steve you know only one month back i started working on my own iMac and MacBook. May you attain nibbana...

Ramesh Sathkunananth Thursday, 06 October 2011 08:00 AM

Steve was the best of the best. None can replicate his imagination and innovation.
RIP ... The Tech Legend ..!!!!

Nishamani Thursday, 06 October 2011 08:26 AM

Legend never ends it lives forever . That is why it's called a legend

Nirosha Ruhunuhewa Thursday, 06 October 2011 09:08 AM

A person who had a will and that drived him to get there. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Gayanth Thursday, 06 October 2011 09:11 AM

RIP Steve, you will be missed badly.

ariya ekanayake Friday, 07 October 2011 04:59 AM

Silicon Valley Great Steve Jobs deserves the bliss of Nirvana
for his great contribution to the modern world.

Thank you Genius for all you did to change the destiny of humans.

Adam B Thursday, 06 October 2011 01:48 AM

Your legacy will live on... RIP

Shah jahan Thursday, 06 October 2011 11:36 AM

He was given for adoption as an unwanted child of two unwed university students Joanne Simpson and Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian Muslim.
Today on his death the world wanted him and mourned for him. What a great achievement in life!

Dishon Thursday, 06 October 2011 01:51 AM

Rest in Peace, Steve. We will miss you!

Saman Jayawardene Thursday, 06 October 2011 01:58 AM

The Legacy he left behind will remember for ever

Wasantha Thursday, 06 October 2011 01:59 AM

May he attain Nibbana.He being a Buddhist.

MP Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:02 AM

RIP Steve Jobs...

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” - Steve Jobs

Head Office Thursday, 06 October 2011 02:18 AM

He was born for purpose and a mission. Job well done !

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Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dead at 56

Comments - 31

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