Steve Jobs has passed away

[DanKH]

Apples charismatic founder, Steve Jobs, has lost his battle against cancer and passed away at the age of 56.

[Paul K]

Very sad indeed, and only 56. Looking round at what people are using these days compared to say 5 years ago, what with touchscreen smart phones and Ipads, it seems he moved technology along faster than anyone else would have. We are 20 years ahead, rather than 5. I only have a humble 4 Gb Ipod which I use on long journeys, and Itunes on my PC of course, but I can appreciate the vision and innovation that went into their conception and design. Well done Steve.

[DaveB]

Deary me.. I didn't think he was quite that ill. It's only recently they've bandied around his successor on the box (he was on yesterday too as it happens). Shame he never got a chance to sit back but hey.. he achieved a lot

ATB
DaveB

[fran65]

... the death of a man, the birth of his legend ...
RIP

[TSR2]

While I very sorry to hear of his passing, I do not believe he was a genius in any sense of the word. He was a successful business man IMHO but is no different than say Richard Branson etc. Even so, its very sad when anyone passes at such a young age. Rest in peace.

[Paul K]

I think he was a bit more than just a successful business man, Ben. His company invented completely new ways of doing things, instead of just improving on what was already around, and that takes a degree of vision and ingenuity above the norm.

James Dyson did the same sort of thing with the vacuum cleaner, though the step change in that instance wasn't quite like going from the cassette Walkman to the Ipod.

[TSR2]

I think he gets too much credit for it to be honest Paul, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "his company", where as Dyson did it himself (even if he lateraly sold his soul to statan and move production to China to make a quick buck)

[Paul K]

Aye well, you might be right Ben. All I know is when I'm sitting outside the Tate Modern, looking across the river towards the dome of St Pauls, and I can flip through cover flow on my Ipod to find Elgar's Enigma Variations, I think Mr Jobs did a damned good job.

[DaveB]

I'm pleased to say I'm one of the millions who have not been touched by his visionary products.. at least not personally as I don't own and have never owned an 'i' anything. That said, they've cost me a few quid over the years buying them for no.1 daughter

ATB
DaveB

[DanKH]

I've never been a MAC-guy either, but I do realize that Apple has gained a lot by having Steve at the controls. Like Ben I'm also reluctant to say he was a genius in the words original sense. He was though, very charismatic and a very good inspirer, and as such, also a good leader. No-one can take that away from him. But so was "Kelly" Johnson from the legendary Skunkworks, and many others ... But a geniuses... no.

Einstein and Mozart were geniuses. Revoutionary thinkers and people that was not only centuries ahead of their time, but also saw and made things that made revolutionary things for man-kind. And still continue to have huge impact of our understanding of our existence. Be it in our physcal world or on the more spiritual side of our selves.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were and are visionary people that both have and had the ability to make the best of already invented things, twisting and using them in different ways, sometimes to a degree that to a layman may be regarded as geniality.... but still...

In my book they are/were extremely creative and visionary and most of all leaders, more because of their charisma than their genius.

But all aside and all things equal, it's always sad when somebody that have made good things or have had a good impact on others, passes away. 56 ... way too soon, many of us are at the same place in life now...

Fortunately we don't know when our time comes....