Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Steve Jobs Has Passed Away
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
- Status
My thoughts - Why Steve Jobs' Life Matters to Me
Why Steve Jobs' Life Matters to Me
In elementary school, my parents bought me an Apple IIe. I had no idea who Steve Jobs was, but boy did I love Lemonade Stand. This simple game taught mathematics, strategy and marketing. I easily recall the excitement that a "HOT!" day engendered.
I moved on to the Infocom text-adventure games, meandering through the narrative worlds of Zork and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
I was able to convince my parents to buy an Apple IIgs for me. Wow, I really am a geek.
Years later, in 2001, I was watching a turtle-neck clad man describe a gadget that was "magical," the iPod. A long-time music fanatic, I knew I had to have one.
But alas ... I was a student living in the budgetary confines of New York City. I was a rabbinical student at the time. By the time I was able to afford the iPod, I was able to get the newer click-wheel model. I was the coolest.
Fast forward to today. I am a rabbi in Omaha, Nebraska, and have lived here for 5 years. I tout Omaha as a real city because, hey, we have an Apple store!
I type this on my iMac, sitting next to an iPad, a Macbook, and across from my Apple TV. I have been converted.
In the last few years, as I devoure RSS feeds about Apple, and hit refresh dozens of times during live product announcement blog-casts, I started to think that this wasn't a company that was just about product creation.
Steve Jobs will be remembered for being an incredible business man, creating a chain of retail stores. He will be remembered for creating products that revolutionized industries; the iPod changed music. The iMac changed computing, and the iPhone is changing ... well, it seems everything!
Beyond all of this, though, Steve Jobs helped all of us be three things; curators, creaters and connectors.
Apple's technology enables us to curate information. With my iPhone in hand and my iMac at my desk, I can "go" anywhere.
iMovie, iPhoto, Garageband ... we are creators. I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that Apple has taught us to teach ourselves; to find new talents and hobbies, to learn ... to feel empowered. Apple has never been about specs; how many gigabytes of RAM, how big the hard drive is ... Because of Steve, Apple is about an experience. It's about an emotional connection.
Which brings me to number 3, and the reason why his death genuinely touches me.
In my rabbinate, I have tried to use technology to make Judaism relevant. For Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year,) we leveraged the power of social media to crowd source answers to the question, "What does the shofar call YOU to do?"
All of the technical stuff was done on Apple technology. And the project brought the congregation closer together. It brought people together.
I'm a believer that technology can encourage deeper relationships, and that the balance of curation, collection and connection brings us knowledge, expertise and efficiency, while also contributing a sense of empathy and yes, even love. One just needs to look at twitter and facebook to see the words that are being poured out about Steve Jobs.
Often at funerals, I conclude by saying, "We pray that so-and-so's memory will be a blessing, and that the memories of his/her life will lead us from strength to strength." I pray the same for the memories of Steve Jobs.
There is no question that he changed the face of business and technology. But his legacy also continues to change us, as we connect with each other.
Eric L
2011-10-05 11:41 PM
elinder@templeisraelomaha.com
--
Eric Linder
Sent with Sparrow
Why Steve Jobs' Life Matters to Me
In elementary school, my parents bought me an Apple IIe. I had no idea who Steve Jobs was, but boy did I love Lemonade Stand. This simple game taught mathematics, strategy and marketing. I easily recall the excitement that a "HOT!" day engendered.
I moved on to the Infocom text-adventure games, meandering through the narrative worlds of Zork and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
I was able to convince my parents to buy an Apple IIgs for me. Wow, I really am a geek.
Years later, in 2001, I was watching a turtle-neck clad man describe a gadget that was "magical," the iPod. A long-time music fanatic, I knew I had to have one.
But alas ... I was a student living in the budgetary confines of New York City. I was a rabbinical student at the time. By the time I was able to afford the iPod, I was able to get the newer click-wheel model. I was the coolest.
Fast forward to today. I am a rabbi in Omaha, Nebraska, and have lived here for 5 years. I tout Omaha as a real city because, hey, we have an Apple store!
I type this on my iMac, sitting next to an iPad, a Macbook, and across from my Apple TV. I have been converted.
In the last few years, as I devoure RSS feeds about Apple, and hit refresh dozens of times during live product announcement blog-casts, I started to think that this wasn't a company that was just about product creation.
Steve Jobs will be remembered for being an incredible business man, creating a chain of retail stores. He will be remembered for creating products that revolutionized industries; the iPod changed music. The iMac changed computing, and the iPhone is changing ... well, it seems everything!
Beyond all of this, though, Steve Jobs helped all of us be three things; curators, creaters and connectors.
Apple's technology enables us to curate information. With my iPhone in hand and my iMac at my desk, I can "go" anywhere.
iMovie, iPhoto, Garageband ... we are creators. I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that Apple has taught us to teach ourselves; to find new talents and hobbies, to learn ... to feel empowered. Apple has never been about specs; how many gigabytes of RAM, how big the hard drive is ... Because of Steve, Apple is about an experience. It's about an emotional connection.
Which brings me to number 3, and the reason why his death genuinely touches me.
In my rabbinate, I have tried to use technology to make Judaism relevant. For Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year,) we leveraged the power of social media to crowd source answers to the question, "What does the shofar call YOU to do?"
All of the technical stuff was done on Apple technology. And the project brought the congregation closer together. It brought people together.
I'm a believer that technology can encourage deeper relationships, and that the balance of curation, collection and connection brings us knowledge, expertise and efficiency, while also contributing a sense of empathy and yes, even love. One just needs to look at twitter and facebook to see the words that are being poured out about Steve Jobs.
Often at funerals, I conclude by saying, "We pray that so-and-so's memory will be a blessing, and that the memories of his/her life will lead us from strength to strength." I pray the same for the memories of Steve Jobs.
There is no question that he changed the face of business and technology. But his legacy also continues to change us, as we connect with each other.
Eric L
2011-10-05 11:41 PM
elinder@templeisraelomaha.com
--
Eric Linder
Sent with Sparrow
As Steve's health declined it wasn't just him I feared we were loosing. The health of the world seemed to go with him. We are now without the brilliant Man, the drive, and vision that has helped push technological growth with the momentum we have come to suspect. I mourn the loss for the health of the worlds technologic growth.
Many people don't start to realize all he did for us.
Would we even have the internet if it wasn't for Jobs? After all the WWW was invented by a man using a NEXT computer.
What about the state of animated movies? Thank you for seeing something in that small company called pixar.
The mouse. The 3.5 inch floppy. The graphical user interface so I don't spend all day with command prompts!!! Thank you for seeing Xerox's genius when they themselves had no idea what to do with it.
The first consumer available digital camera!
Without you Steve, how much longer would it have taken for this world to have these wonderful tools?
Thank you for that push to merge digital back with the analogue! Thank you for always upholding to your philosophy of tech being a bicycle for our brains!
Many people don't start to realize all he did for us.
Would we even have the internet if it wasn't for Jobs? After all the WWW was invented by a man using a NEXT computer.
What about the state of animated movies? Thank you for seeing something in that small company called pixar.
The mouse. The 3.5 inch floppy. The graphical user interface so I don't spend all day with command prompts!!! Thank you for seeing Xerox's genius when they themselves had no idea what to do with it.
The first consumer available digital camera!
Without you Steve, how much longer would it have taken for this world to have these wonderful tools?
Thank you for that push to merge digital back with the analogue! Thank you for always upholding to your philosophy of tech being a bicycle for our brains!
Or perhaps a more simple, "Good Jobs."
I also think "Siri" should have a male voice equivalent, "Steve."
Let me personally say, I'm an atheist, but why do people feel the need to make this into a debate? Let's just show our respects for the amazing life he lived. He changed so many people's life's for the better. Steve's goal was to put a ding in the universe and boy did he put one hell of a ding in it. You'll always be remembered Steve and you're an inspiration to us all. Your legacy will live on for centuries to come. Thanks Steve.
Unbelieveable, I have never seen a church get so much pleasure from the death of others.
From the day it was announced I wanted an iPhone 4S... The S was for steve, and I still can't believe that everyone was so whiney about it.
13 hours on and I still fill gutted receiving this sad news. I feel as though I have lost someone close to me. He was definitely someone important to me and cannot be replaced.
My thoughts are with the Jobs family in this difficult time and the team at Apple that had to do a 'business as usual' event the day before.
I feel the greatest creation Steve will ultimately be remembered for is Apple and its collective empowered visionaries who will keep challenging the status quo and produce wonderous things.
Alas I still cannot contain my sadness but as dark a day this day is and will be remembered for, it will never be remembered for being beige.
Thank you Steve.
RIP
My thoughts are with the Jobs family in this difficult time and the team at Apple that had to do a 'business as usual' event the day before.
I feel the greatest creation Steve will ultimately be remembered for is Apple and its collective empowered visionaries who will keep challenging the status quo and produce wonderous things.
Alas I still cannot contain my sadness but as dark a day this day is and will be remembered for, it will never be remembered for being beige.
Thank you Steve.
RIP
You will be missed...
I, like many, was REALLY introduced to Apple through the iPhone (or iPod). But that is all that it took. After my experience with my iPhone, I quickly became a fan and switched to a MacBook Pro and then soon added an iPad. I only wished I could have seen the vision sooner. I would like to thank you, Mr. Jobs... wherever you are, for your dedication and inspiration that completly changed MY world.
I, like many, was REALLY introduced to Apple through the iPhone (or iPod). But that is all that it took. After my experience with my iPhone, I quickly became a fan and switched to a MacBook Pro and then soon added an iPad. I only wished I could have seen the vision sooner. I would like to thank you, Mr. Jobs... wherever you are, for your dedication and inspiration that completly changed MY world.
You'll be missed Steve - a real visionary for our time and one of the few modern CEO's I actually respected and thought highly of. Not only did he bring tech to the masses and fast forward the digital age but I think he was the catalyst in making geek = cool. Looking at how my kids are learning ABC's, Math, Reading at home - all on Mac products at such an early age and having fun doing it.
Job well done Steve - Bravo Zulu.
Job well done Steve - Bravo Zulu.
Although it was obvious he was ill and him stepping down made things look even bleaker I was still shocked and surprised to hear "Steve Jobs has died" as soon as I woke up today.
Still deep in thought about the whole thing some 8 hours on though I know he will be missed by the Apple community and keynotes will certainly never be the same again.
RIP Steve
Still deep in thought about the whole thing some 8 hours on though I know he will be missed by the Apple community and keynotes will certainly never be the same again.
RIP Steve
Still hasn't sunk in. I took today off as I did not feel up to working.
It just feels so unreal that there will not be another Steve keynote, even on Tuesday I was just almost waiting for Steve to burst out onto the stage, just seems like a bad dream we will not see him again.
So long as Jonny Ive is there I feel confident Apple will design sexy innovative products but the Apple we know died last night along with Steve.
It just feels so unreal that there will not be another Steve keynote, even on Tuesday I was just almost waiting for Steve to burst out onto the stage, just seems like a bad dream we will not see him again.
So long as Jonny Ive is there I feel confident Apple will design sexy innovative products but the Apple we know died last night along with Steve.
Farewell, Steve
When I first read the news last night, I was in a state of shock. Really, I still am. The world as seen a few visionnaries over time and we are very lucky to have been able to witness one off them from his first steps at Apple in the 70's to his last one, yesterday.
Steve truly inspired me to be best that I can. His stance on death is really something I'm trying to incorporate into my own life. Also when he said that everybody should look for what they truly love instead of living someone else's life, this is the truth and it should be the only way one should conduct his life.
My prayers go out to his family and friends.
Steve Jobs, thank you and may Gob bless you.
We miss you.
When I first read the news last night, I was in a state of shock. Really, I still am. The world as seen a few visionnaries over time and we are very lucky to have been able to witness one off them from his first steps at Apple in the 70's to his last one, yesterday.
Steve truly inspired me to be best that I can. His stance on death is really something I'm trying to incorporate into my own life. Also when he said that everybody should look for what they truly love instead of living someone else's life, this is the truth and it should be the only way one should conduct his life.
My prayers go out to his family and friends.
Steve Jobs, thank you and may Gob bless you.
We miss you.
I'm 42 and have been following Apple since before I was a teenager. I had an Apple IIe in 1983, my first and later a Mac plus. To do this, the IIe was the best thing I have ever owned, I loved that machine and knew it inside and out, I miss it dearly.
These days we have computers and even phones that run circles around the computers that were available in the 1980's, but I still think about that computer fondly and often. It was more than just a computer, the whole company behind it....I felt like I was part of a bigger piece, a family of sorts. It seem like with Apple you either "get it" or you don't.
Both Steve's were heroes of mine, but after Woz ducked out the spotlight early on and Jobs was the visible one, I followed his moves for 3 decades, the good and the bad. I'll miss him terribly and miss hearing what he'd say or show me next. I'll miss emailing him and possibly getting a reply, haha. Apple has been a big part of my life for 30 years and I wanted to say thank you, Steve, for everything.
These days we have computers and even phones that run circles around the computers that were available in the 1980's, but I still think about that computer fondly and often. It was more than just a computer, the whole company behind it....I felt like I was part of a bigger piece, a family of sorts. It seem like with Apple you either "get it" or you don't.
Both Steve's were heroes of mine, but after Woz ducked out the spotlight early on and Jobs was the visible one, I followed his moves for 3 decades, the good and the bad. I'll miss him terribly and miss hearing what he'd say or show me next. I'll miss emailing him and possibly getting a reply, haha. Apple has been a big part of my life for 30 years and I wanted to say thank you, Steve, for everything.
Thank you
I remember when my Dad brought home our families first computer, a 12 MHz Macintosh LCII. My brothers and I were so excited to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on it...
This morning I heard a new alert sound on my iPhone. I kinda figured it was AP News (I had just re-installed it Tuesday). What a chill that went through me when I read that notification...
Steve Jobs is everything Apple. I'm confident the company will continue to succeed in his absence. You'll be missed Mr. Jobs. R.I.P.
I remember when my Dad brought home our families first computer, a 12 MHz Macintosh LCII. My brothers and I were so excited to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on it...
This morning I heard a new alert sound on my iPhone. I kinda figured it was AP News (I had just re-installed it Tuesday). What a chill that went through me when I read that notification...
Steve Jobs is everything Apple. I'm confident the company will continue to succeed in his absence. You'll be missed Mr. Jobs. R.I.P.
Steve Jobs was at the apex of contemporary egoism. He didn't surrender his ego to a primitive conception of god, but rather embraced it and took it further than most men could dream. He created on a global scale.
An old remix I did... Never released, seems fitting.
At Such Great Heights (Remix)
An old remix I did... Never released, seems fitting.
At Such Great Heights (Remix)
How to Move On
We still have a few days of tributes remaining, and it will be very interesting to see what the scene is like tomorrow morning at the stores (will it be buzzing with a new product launch, somber, both, or something in between?). But that said, Apple will need to move on. What's the best way the company can do so while paying tribute to Steve's vision?
It's in good hands operationally with Tim Cook at the helm. While Steve Jobs' is obviously irreplaceable as a visionary, there were others (some of whom have come and gone) who were a big part of that success. Apple will need that kind of vision to avoid going through the rough times that other companies (e.g. Ford, Disney, HP) experienced when their founders moved on.
Does that vision currently reside in Cupertino? Should Apple seek someone outside the company, such as Jon Rubenstein (designer of the original iPod) to assume a Chief Strategy Officer or similar role?
We still have a few days of tributes remaining, and it will be very interesting to see what the scene is like tomorrow morning at the stores (will it be buzzing with a new product launch, somber, both, or something in between?). But that said, Apple will need to move on. What's the best way the company can do so while paying tribute to Steve's vision?
It's in good hands operationally with Tim Cook at the helm. While Steve Jobs' is obviously irreplaceable as a visionary, there were others (some of whom have come and gone) who were a big part of that success. Apple will need that kind of vision to avoid going through the rough times that other companies (e.g. Ford, Disney, HP) experienced when their founders moved on.
Does that vision currently reside in Cupertino? Should Apple seek someone outside the company, such as Jon Rubenstein (designer of the original iPod) to assume a Chief Strategy Officer or similar role?
- Status