Today was a very sad day for the technological world. Founder and former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, inventor of the Macintosh, has passed away. Apple has confirmed this sad event on their website. Jobs was responsible for the introduction of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, among many other things. He was aged 56.

Steve Jobs was adopted and grew up in Cupertino, where the headquarters of Apple is located. He met his longtime friend and fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. These two met when they were 16 when a mutual friend introduced them. This was in 1971, which was only a few years before they began the legacy known as Apple.

In 1976, Apple was founded by Jobs, Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and A.C. Markkula Jr. They began to create personal computers that people could use at their homes. This began with the Apple II computers, which saw a little success. However, the first Macintosh was released in 1984 and became an outrageous success for the team. Jobs was actually fired from Apple in 1985 when John Sculley tried to take over. However, the people loyal to Apple still wanted Jobs. Eventually, Sculley nearly ran the company to the ground. It was between this time that Jobs founded Pixar Entertainment, a company responsible for many movies today, and NeXT Computer. Apple asked for Jobs to join them again and was reinstated as CEO as soon as Apple bought NeXT Computer.

Since Jobs returned, Apple has been pretty much dominating the technological world thanks to Jobs’ creative and ambitious nature. The iMac, iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air, and the iPad have been very notable and successful products because of Jobs. Jobs has gave himself the title as “one of the most important people in personal technology,” and no one has ever argued against that.

Everything that Jobs done will be remembered. He fought cancers and treatments, numerous surgeries, all while remaining at the top of the company. The stories that have been shared due to him firing certain people in elevators or him going to a neighborhood pool party with his soon; those will never be forgotten. Jobs maintained his reputation through troublesome times and truly represented the Buddhist nature that he was. He had the highest of standards and definitely had OCD, which gave him even more success. These traits have been imprinted into what Apple now holds as values. We must let the man who let all of this happen go, but never forget him, for his products and legacy are literally everywhere around us: Steve Jobs.

I will leave you with a video that I watched in my IT class. This is a speech that Jobs gave at Stanford.

The world has lost an innovator and visionary. However, his legacy is left behind and will always be remembered. While Apple and Pixar both continue to thrive, Jobs will never be forgotten. He is the reason we have so many of the things we do, and without him even Microsoft would not be possible today. Bill Gates has even stated that the competition and friendly nature of it kept both companies alive in times of stress.

Rest in Peace Steve Jobs. You will never be forgotten.

Tim Cook, Apple's New CEO

Tim Cook has stepped up as CEO of Apple, and his first role is to address people interested in Apple Inc. He has decided to let everyone know that despite Steve Jobs stepping down, the company isn’t going to change. This was actually done via e-mail to all Apple employees on Thursday morning. Cook also added that working with Jobs and Apple has been “the privilege of a lifetime,” and that he is looking forward to the years ahead.

Below is the full text of the e-mail:

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.

Tim

Cook has indeed contributed greatly to Apple’s success in his previous role as Chief Operating Officer. He is the man responsible for lowering Apple’s hardware and gadget prices as well as making deals with component suppliers that will give Apple the upper hand in the market. Cook is also directly responsible for making it challenging for other companies to compete against the iPad on price alone. Cook is described as being “gruff and assertive,” but he also makes people feel secure. Apple has been slowly introducing Cook to the public via Apple keynotes over the last few years to get a feel for how the public reacts. In the public’s eye, Cook has been respected and seems to be well-liked.

While I understand that it is impossible to truly replace the efforts, personality, and success of Steve Jobs, but Apple and Jobs know that publicly supporting Tim Cook is definitely the best thing they can do in attempt to at least continue the reign of Apple and its products. Best of luck to Tim Cook and his future at Apple.

Source: Ars Technica

Basically out of nowhere on Wednesday evening, Apple’s Board of Directors announced that Steve Jobs has officially put in his resignation as CEO of the company. Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, has been named as Jobs’ successor and plans to begin taking over as CEO effective immediately, meaning by now he already is.

“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” Apple Board member and Genetech chairman Art Levinson said in a statement. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

Steve Jobs has been through a lot in recent years. In 2004, Jobs underwent a surgery that was very complicated, but successful, that removed a tumor in his pancreas. Within a few months, he was back at work. This surgery removes much of the pancreas and some of the digestive tract as an end result, which lead to the dramatic weight loss Jobs’ suffered in 2008. In 2009, Jobs went on a 6-month medical leave, where he received a liver transplant. In January of 2011, Jobs announced once again that he was going on medical leave, and didn’t discuss why. People were genuinely afraid that this might be the end of Jobs. However, the warrior fought through his issues and came back stronger than ever in time to release the iPad 2.

Below is the text of Jobs’ letter addressed to the Board and the Apple Community that was distributed on Wednesday evening:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Tim Cook (left) and Steve Jobs (right)

Tim Cook has been quite active under Steve Jobs. Surely a man with as much intelligence as Steve Jobs would make sure his successor has what it takes. Thus, if Jobs is confident, then I trust that he can do a swell job as the new CEO of Apple. Though, don’t expect things to change as much as you might think except for the face, as Steve Jobs will still spread his creativity and inspirations through his position as Chairman of the Board.

Source: Ars Technica

Apple filed a trademark lawsuit against 50 anonymous store owners and businesses over various fake Apple Stores. This is when the authorities in Kunming ordered that two fake stores were to close because they did not have proper business permits. Chinese law enforcement was apparently aware that there were more unauthorized stores, which led them to finding 22 more fake Apple retail stores. According to Reuters, China’s Administration for Industry and Commerce ordered the stores to stop using Apple’s logo after Apple China filed a complaint about unfair competition as well as trademark infringement.

This story is just one of the reminders as to why China remains near the top of the US Trade Representative’s annual Priority Watch List. This is a list highlighting countries that the US believes are the most repeat intellectual property offenders. China has promised for years that it will make more of an effort to crack down on various types of intellectual property infringement. The example of stores shutting down in Kunming shows that this has indeed happened, or could start to happen. Expect to hear more reports of unauthorized Apple Stores and their closings over the next few months.

Source: Ars Technica