Written by Steve Jobs – 1955 – 2011
Image from Wikipedia.org
Steve Jobs has died!
Steve Jobs was the driving force of Apple Computers Inc, the man that changed our world with the Apple Macintosh computer, iPod (launch date 2001), iPad (launch date 2010), eMac (launched 200223), iMac (lauched 1998). He has died aged 56 from his long battle with pancreatic cancer. 
Steve’s creative genus will be surely missed throughtout the world, and I dare say Apple’s share price will take a beating over the next few days, even though Jobs had already stepped down as CEO.
Jobs started Apple from his garage, and turned it into one of the largest computer companies in the world. In the late 90′ Apple struggled financially and Bill Gates came to the rescue on 6 August 1997 with a bail out package. This was primarily due to several failed Apple product lines, which although absolutely fantastic did not catch on.
The Apple Newton was one such product line and is essentially what all PDA and Smartphones are based on today. Announced in August 1993, the Newton Message Pad was Apple’s first completely new product in many years. Indeed, it represented Apple’s entry into (and perhaps creation of) an entirely new market: Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The PDA market was barely present when the Newton was released, but other companies were working on similar devices (from apple-history.com) 
The Newton Message Pad featured a variety of personal-organization applications, such as an address book, a calendar, notes, along with communications capabilities such as faxing and email. It featured a pen-based interface which used a word-based, trainable handwriting recognition engine. Unfortunately, this engine had been developed by a third party developer, and was notoriously difficult to use. While later Newton models would show improved hand-writing recognition, the Newton’s reputation for poor recognition would haunt it for years to come.
Following Apple’s uncomfortable bailout from Microsoft (due to the history surrounding Windows OS) – Jobs managed to turn Apple into the largest most successful computer company in the world.
This rapid transformation was predominantly due to Steve Jobs foresight and creativity in designing popular items such as the iPod and iMac. 
When we now think of Apple we immediately think of the iPhone. Jobs was a very private man, and although he had one of the most recognisable names in the world, little was known about his private life. Steve’s goal was to making excieting devices that were both elegant and functional – and becuase of this he had a devoted following throughout the world.
If you would like to know more about all the wonderful elegant devices that Apple has created throughout its 35 year history check out Apple-History. Apple History is an excellent year by year, model by model chronology of all Apple computers and gadgetry – I highly recommend it!!
Apple Macintosh (as it was know then) was the very first personal computer that everyday homes could use. It came out of the box and was ready to go – this simple idea changed the world of personal computers forever. Macintosh ][ (Macintosh II) was the worlds first mass produced personal computer. Steve Wozniak's bio can be found in WikiPedia.
Built in 1977, the Apple ][ was based on Wozniak's Apple I design, but with several additions. The first was the design of a plastic case--a rarity at the time--which was painted beige. The second was the ability to display color graphics--a holy grail in the industry. 
The Apple ][ also included a larger ROM, more expandable RAM (4K to start), and 8 expansion slots. It had integer BASIC hard-coded on the ROM for easier programming, and included two game paddles and a demo cassette for $1,298. In early 1978 Apple also released a disk drive for the machine, one of the most inexpensive available. The Apple ][ remained on the Apple product list until 1980. (http://www.apple-history.com/)
Sleep well Steve…you will be missed.
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