Epress.am News from Armenia
Steven Jobs, the man who single-handedly revolutionized the technology industry died at the age of 56 due to complications from his long battle with pancreatic cancer, the Herald Sun reports.
Politicians – including US President Barack Obama – and business leaders around the world mourned his passing in tributes hailing him as one of the greatest creative minds of his generation.
Apple fans, his co-workers and even his tech rivals paid tribute to Jobs, labeling him a “creative genius” and an “inspiring mentor” and saying his impact “will be felt for many generations to come.”
Jobs was born in San Francisco on February 24, 1955. He was adopted by Californians Paul and Clara Jobs.
He never met his biological parents and reportedly knew nothing about them until he was 27. His father, Syrian immigrant Abdulfattah John Jandali, reportedly sent him birthday cards every year.
During his time at Apple, Jobs took three medical leave three times, underwent surgery in 2004 and received liver transplant surgery in 2009.
In August this year Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple handing over the reins to Timothy Cook, who was then Chief Operating Officer.
Jobs was a college dropout. He left Reed College in Portland, Oregon, after a single semester, but continued to take classes, including a calligraphy class he cited as the reason Macintosh computers were designed with multiple typefaces.
After returning from a spiritual trek to India in 1974, he worked as a technician for video game pioneer Atari and joined a club of computer hobbyists with Steve Wozniak, a fellow northern California college dropout.
Wozniak’s homemade computer drew attention from other enthusiasts, but Jobs saw its potential far beyond the geeky hobbyists of the time. The pair started Apple Computer Inc in Jobs’ parents’ garage in 1976.
According to Wozniak, Jobs suggested the name after visiting an “apple orchard” that Wozniak said was actually a commune.
Though he did not invent the first personal computer, Jobs certainly made them easier to use. His vision of simple, effective technology came to define the computer industry.