10 Key Steve Jobs Moments and Innovations
Under the leadership of Steve Jobs, Apple became a technology leader and cultural force. Take a look back at some favorite Jobs moments and ideas.
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Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive officer of Apple, Inc., for the second time since he co-founded the company in 1976. He has been elected chairman of Apple's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Jobs is also a member of the board of directors of Pixar, where he was CEO for ten years prior to Disney's acquisition of the company in 2006.
Jobs has published a resignation letter that only alludes to the health issues that appear to have motivated his decision to step down. "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," Jobs wrote. "Unfortunately, that day has come."
In 2004, Jobs underwent an operation to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Though the operation was regarded a success, Jobs has continued to confront health issues in the years since then. He took a six-month leave of absence in January, 2009, and was granted another leave of absence this year.
Speaking on behalf of Apple's board, Art Levinson, chairman of Genentech, lauded Jobs's accomplishments and leadership. "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," he said in a statement.
Jobs first resigned from Apple in 1984 following a boardroom power struggle and went on to found Next Computer. Apple acquired Next in 1996, bringing Jobs back to the company. Jobs took over as CEO the following year and began laying the groundwork for Apple's transformation into one of the most respected and successful companies in the world.
Across the Internet, fans and competitors expressed sadness at the presumed state of Jobs' health and admiration for his accomplishments.
Let's look back at some notable Jobs moments and innovations.
Steve Jobs founded Apple Computers with high school buddy Steve Wozniak in a garage in 1976 and started selling the Apple 1 computer later that year.
Steve Jobs returned to Apple after many years and began launching products that helped to define the digital era. In 2001, Apple and Steve Jobs introduced the iPod digital music player, which could hold 1,000 songs in a pocket-sized device. It became a best-seller and the white ear plugs became a common sight on streets around the world.
In 2003, when the music industry was suffering from consumers illegally downloading songs from the Internet, Apple struck deals with the major music companies and introduced the iTunes music store, providing an easy way to legally download music for a nominal price. It provided a new revenue stream for the music industry and a new and legal way to buy music for consumers. Now, of course, you can buy much more than just music from iTunes.
First there were mobile phones, then cell phones, then feature phones, and then sort of smartphones. But the world had never seen anything like the iPhone when it was introduced in 2007. With its touch screen, built-in apps, and an online store to buy third-party applications, it transformed a mere phone into a powerful pocket computer and launched a new industry, which Apple still leads to this day.
Introduced in 2010, the iPad tablet introduced a new mass market product that every other tech company tried--and so far has failed--to copy with any success. For many consumers, the iPad has become the device for consuming digital media, whether it be music, movies, books, TV shows, and much more. Some industry analysts have predicted a decline in PC sales due the the popularity of tablets, mainly the iPad.
Steve Jobs joined with the band U2 in November of 2006 to introduce an Apple Red iPod Nano that doubled the capacity of the previous version and held up to 2,000 songs. Apple contributed $10 from the sale of each product to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. The special edition iPod Nano was sold in support of U2 lead singer Bono's campaign to fight AIDS in Africa.
One of Steve Jobs' last major public appearances was at the Apple WorldWide Developers Conference in June, where he introduced iCloud, a cloud-based set of nine applications: iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream, Apps, Books, Documents, Backup, Contacts, Calendar, and Mail.
Apple's story in New York City, with its clean and uncluttered look and sales personnel who were eager to show people how to use Apple products, re-imagined the way tech products can be sold to consumers. Apple stores boast one of the highest revenue-per-square-foot rates in the entire retail industry and many other companies have since copied Apple's ideas.
With all of the new digital media products that Apple has indroduced, it is sometimes easy to forget that it started as a computer company. Apple has continued to improve its machines, such as the MacBook Pro, with sleek designs and innovative features.
Late Wednesday, Apple released a letter of resignation from Steve Jobs that said: "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."
Late Wednesday, Apple released a letter of resignation from Steve Jobs that said: "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."
Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive officer of Apple, Inc., for the second time since he co-founded the company in 1976. He has been elected chairman of Apple's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Jobs is also a member of the board of directors of Pixar, where he was CEO for ten years prior to Disney's acquisition of the company in 2006.
Jobs has published a resignation letter that only alludes to the health issues that appear to have motivated his decision to step down. "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," Jobs wrote. "Unfortunately, that day has come."
In 2004, Jobs underwent an operation to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Though the operation was regarded a success, Jobs has continued to confront health issues in the years since then. He took a six-month leave of absence in January, 2009, and was granted another leave of absence this year.
Speaking on behalf of Apple's board, Art Levinson, chairman of Genentech, lauded Jobs's accomplishments and leadership. "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," he said in a statement.
Jobs first resigned from Apple in 1984 following a boardroom power struggle and went on to found Next Computer. Apple acquired Next in 1996, bringing Jobs back to the company. Jobs took over as CEO the following year and began laying the groundwork for Apple's transformation into one of the most respected and successful companies in the world.
Across the Internet, fans and competitors expressed sadness at the presumed state of Jobs' health and admiration for his accomplishments.
Let's look back at some notable Jobs moments and innovations.
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