The technology world was shaken to the core yesterday when it was announced that Apple co-creator Steve Jobs had sadly lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away, surrounded by his family.
The 56-year-old had been originally diagnosed in 2003 and after a few periods of sick leave, he resigned from his job as CEO in August this year.
Rather than the normal issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, this week’s issue will be a special edition, dedicated to the life and work of Steve Jobs and, of course, those of you with Bloomberg Businessweek magazine subscriptions will be the first to receive the magazine – which will arrive a day later than usual.
Tributes are being made to Steve Jobs all over the world, not only by those who worked with him and for Apple, but even by those considered rivals, such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates who tweeted his condolences to Job’s friends and family and said: “The world rarely sees someone who made such a profound impact.”
The word that is being most associated with Jobs since his death was announced is “visionary”. Barack Obama has said that the world has “lost a visionary” and that Jobs “was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it".
Apple themselves have paid tribute to Jobs on their website, saying “[the company] has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.
"Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
Those of you with Bloomberg Businessweek magazine subscriptions can read all about Jobs and how he has helped mould the technology world in the next issue.
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Posted by Ben Broadhurst.