Yesterday, Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs lost passed away at the age of 56. He leaves behind a wife and four kids, along with a great legacy on earth with his major contributions to technology. Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 and underwent surgery for a liver transplant in 2009.
On April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne found the company Apple. The comany went on to invent many great products throughout the years, which includes Mac home computers/desktops, Mac laptops, iPod, iPhone, iPad1/2, and more. Also, Apple created multiple softwares and introduced the iTunes Store, where people are able to download music for 99 cents.  |
| Apple Founders Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Wozniak |
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| A Young Steve Jobs |
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| A young Steve Jobs on a Apple campaign |
In addition to putting Apple on the map, Jobs helped develop the company Pixar and served as the chief executive, before selling it to Disney.
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| Steve Jobs photoed with Disney CEO Rober Iger |
In 2005, Jobs spoke at Stanford's commencement and delivered a moving and inspiring speech titled "How To Live Before You Die." With his battle with pancreatic cancer being the inspiration for the speech, Jobs sent a message living your life as if there was no tomorrow. ("live as if there is no tomorrow, than you will never feel like you have something to lose).
Read and watch the speech below:"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. 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.
….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. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
Commencement speech video:
Before his death, Jobs held his position as CEO of Apple until this past January. He stepped down as the CEO due to medical issues. Jobs later officially resigned August 2011.
Many people are reacting to Jobs and sharing their thoughts on his passing. Last night, apple.com transformed their site to a full page image of Jobs with a text reading "Steve Jobs 1955-2011). When you click on the image, a statement released from the apple family appears:
"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and a inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."
Apple has also set up an email for those who want to share their thoughts, memories, and condolences.
Also, read a couple statements from President Obama, "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more below:
President Obama:
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him."
"I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives."
"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come."
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely. "
Eric Schmidt (chairman of Google Inc., and former Apple board member, in an exclusive interview with "This Week" anchor Chrisitane Amanpour):
"He's clearly the most effective and successful American CEO in the last 50 years. He didn't just found Apple, and he didn't actually just make it successful in the first decade, he also took it after a bad period, and rebuilt it. Which has essentially never been done in an American corporations, to be the extraordinary company it is today. To me, Steve proves that nerds don't win. Artists do. And that Steve who is both a technologist, but really an artist, shows that art matters and the rest of us missed the fact that beautiful simple products are what people want."
"[Jobs is] a personal friend and I served on his board for three years. And in his case, working with his, they just adore working for him, and although he's famously loud and precise and so forth, they respect him so much. I think in many ways, Steve is who he is because he's just so smart. And that when you have someone who is just that brilliant and is able to integrate those ways in ways that almost no one else in the world can, he gets the extra bit of respect that allows him to be a great leader."
Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder and CEO):
"Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."
George Lucas (Filmmaker/Producer and creator of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones creator)
Creator
"The magic of Steve was that while other simply accepted the status quo, he saw the true potential in everything he touched and never compromised on that vision. He leaves behind an incredible family and a legacy that will continue to speak to people for years to come."
John Lasster (CEO of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios):
Steve Jobs was an extradinoary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films, the one thing he always said was simply 'make it great." He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity, and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time."
Bob Iger (Walt Disney Company President and CEO):
"Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend for beyond the products he created or the business he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the live he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an "orgiginal," with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time."
Howard Stringer (CEO of Sony Corp.):
"The digital age has lost its leading light, but Steve's innovation and creativity will inspire dreamers and thinkers for generations."
Celebs hit up their twitter to react to Steve's death:
Snoop Dogg:
"RIP Steve Jobs Rest in peace homie."
Howard Stern:
"Steve Jobs was true original. So sad. A tremendous loss."
Nicki Minaj:
"An innovator. Contributed so much to this generation & beyond. RIP Steve Jobs."
Will.i.am:
"#youchangetheworld we lost a great innovator....steve jobs designed a whole new world...he will be missed."
Ryan Seacrest:
"Have the courage to follow ur heart & intuition. they already know what u truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
Jimmy Fallon:
"Thank you, Steve Jobs, for all of the fun and amazing ways you made our lives better....Sent from my iPhone.
"Arnold Schwarzenegger:
"Steve lived the California dream every day of his life and he changed the world and inspired all os us. #ThankYouSteve."
Lebron James:
"R.I.P Steve Jobs. Someone who definitely left his mark on this world! Innovations that will live and last forever!"
Nick Lachey:
"Best wishes to the family of #stevejobs. What an amazing man and amazing life! Certainly, his legacy will be with us all forever. #RIP."
Steve will be greatly missed. No one would be able to do what he contributed to the technology industry. Rest In Paradise Steve. May GOD be with his family during this hard time.
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