Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dies at Age 56
Tech Magnate Loses Lengthy Battle with Cancer
After a long battle with pancreatic cancer Steve Jobs has passed away at age 56. As perhaps the most important individual in the tech world over the last ten to fifteen years, Jobs' is being remembered around the world today as a "visionary".
"The world is immeasurably better because of Steve," Apple's board of directors said in a statement Wednesday announcing Jobs' death. "Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives."
Steve Jobs will be remembered for a number of achievements, from co-founding Apple along with Steve Wozniak in the late 1970s to unveiling the revolutionary iPod (and later, iPhone and iPad). He also played a major role in animation and design, purchasing Pixar in 1986 and helping turn the failing computer graphics group into a major feature film producer alongside Disney.
But it's the ubiquitous i-tech that will be Jobs' lasting legacy. His role in developing the iPod digital media player revolutionized how people around the world listened to and thought about music. Jobs brought similar revolutions to communications and computing with the iPhone and iPad, as well as numerous updates to the popular MacBook.
In recent years Jobs was forced to take on a limited role at Apple due to an ongoing bout with pancreatic cancer. The illness first struck seven years ago, but an early operation appeared to remove most or all of the cancer. Unfortunately, Jobs never quite shook the disease, which over time steadily wore away his health. Earlier this year the tech magnate was forced to resign his role as Apple CEO and take on the lesser duties of chairman. He rarely appeared in public. When he did, he generally looked frail and very, very sick.
For some then, news of Jobs' death won't come as a total shock. But for a figure celebrated and recognized the world over as a tech genius, his passing has left many in disbelief.
"It's kind of like when John Lennon died [or] JFK. It's like there's a big hole left in you," said Wozniak, who added that he was "dumb-founded" upon hearing of Jobs death.
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