Steve Jobs - his extraordinary life captured in some very cool photos.
Steve Jobs 1955-2011
Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011) founded Apple Computer in 1976, and the world of technology was changed forever.
See also: Steve Jobs - more rare photos
See also: Steve Jobs - the child
Jobs founded Apple Computer with fellow gadget nut Steve Wozniak (together above and below), the technical brains behind Apple. They became known as The Two Steves, but it was Jobs who was to become Steve, while his pal was just Woz.
See also: Apple A-Z
Apple started with the homebrew Apple I but changed the computer industry with the hugely popular and ground-breaking Apple II, the first mass-produced computer in a user-friendly plastic case with built-in keyboard.
- See also: Steve Jobs dies, aged 56
- See also: Steve Jobs: obituary
Steve got Intel millionaire Mark Markkula to invest in the fledgling Apple.
It was easy to tell the fledgling marketing visionary from the technical boffin.
"In the future computers will be this size." Visonary Steve knew he had to tame that hair if he was to get Apple into big business. The bow tie look didn't last for long, though.
The original laptop. Steve Jobs achieved legendary computer status with the launch of the Macintosh computer in 1984.
Steve's bow tie was swapped for a smart straight tie for his appearance on the front cover of the premier issue of Macworld magazine.
But at home the Zen student didn't go for suits or bow ties, or even much furniture as he lived the minimalist dream that would become the Apple way.
Although in later life they counted each other as great friends, Steve Jobs and Microsoft founder Bill Gates were bitter enemies in business.
Steve was Apple and Apple was Steve. Here he is smart again for a rather obviously posed publicity shot.
And here's Steve looking every inch the causal millionaire at work.
Steve was popular with his close team workers but ultimately proved unpopular with the Apple board of directors and was forced out of the company in 1985.
The world of computers and the mainstream business media were in shock. Apple Computer without Steve Jobs? Unthinkable.
But Steve didn't hang around - after all he was just 30 years old. He wasn't a hanging around type of guy. He founded NeXT Computer, which he eventually sold back to Apple for the basis of its Mac OS X operating system.
This time he got investment money for NeXT from Ross Perot.
He also purchased the computer wing of George Lucas' Star Wars Electrical Light & Magic company, turning it into Pixar, which would revolutionise animated movies.
Steve returned to Apple in 1997, and briefly experimented with the big beard again - looking like a French rugby player. A millionaire tech visonary French rugby player in a turtleneck.
He didn't hang about back at Apple either, launching the (yes) revolutionary all-in-one iMac computer in 1998.
And other slimline products that cost a lot but were very, very cool.
His Apple keynote events were the most popular ticket in the technology calendar. He nearly always had a surprise up his sleeve, although one time it was Safari for Windows. Come on, Steve - you can do better than that!
Sadly Steve fell ill with pancreatic cancer and liver complaints, and the strain on his body began to show.
Steve might have been seriously ill but he continued to work at Apple, missing just a few months here and there for vital treatment.
Steve Jobs, legendary tech visionary, you will be missed. Rest in peace.
Comments
Jwarn said: Thank you so much for these pictures,here is what I wrote in an email to the apple email address.I am 16, have autism, and Apple is the only company that I have truly been hooked to by my heart and sole, because all of you and Steve Jobs have made Apple so inspiring for me. Although your sole may not be here, you spirit and heart is smiling at the whole world. I have loved Computers eversince I started school when I was 5, and have learnt so much from it, but eversince I used my savings money to buy myself an iMac, both me and my sister with global delayed development have really benefited from it.You are such an amazing guy Steve and have developed 2 fabulous companies, Apple and Pixar.Ok you weren't the founder of Pixar like you were with Apple but you have given Pixar such a leap from small little funny animations to brilliant animated films like toy story.You will and are still alive, maybe not as a soul but in everyone's minds, as well as the minds of your family which will keep everyone really close to you going strong, and I know for a fact that that will make Apple still stay going strong, and I trust your choice of Tim cook, and know that he will also keep Apple progressing hard, successfully and strong because you will only chose a man/woman who truly knows what they have to do. You are a great man Steve, and have really built the repetition of what Apple is today and really would of loved to meet you in person.All your Apple product introductions have been so magical and really fun to watch, as even those few that went a bit wrong because the Mac os had a little bug, or something, to me and I guess most of the world just ended in laughs because you make them moment really funny. No matter what anyone might say against you, just remember that you have done such a remarkable and magical thing which has given you such a valuable collection of memories.You will be always and I mean always alive in mine and everyone else's hearts and minds.I don't care what people may say about Apple in the future but all I know and want to know is that there will be me and others that will still have faith in Apple as a company to stay successfully living strong! And I will most defently be using some sort of Apple product in the future. And I know that if I don't get a new mac, neither will I get rid of my iMac.Bestist of wishes of all, and do RIP happily and I hope you meet your best band of all the Beatles.And you will still be introducing every apple product like you love doing, but the only difference is that it will be in our minds.I would like to return your thank you's by saying "Thank you for being here to introduce to us such a magical, charmming, and amazing company who are all full of Spirit, hope and courage which is what has made Apple so successful in the IT and music industry"Yours true fullyJason W WXX as for a friendly pat on the back!Sent from my iPod-which I also love!