Applen perustaja Steve Jobs on kuollut

Applen perustaja ja entinen pääjohtaja Steve Jobs on kuollut. Eilen kuollut Jobs oli 56-vuotias.

Jobsin terveydentila oli heikentynyt jo pitkään. Vuonna 2004 hänellä todettiin harvinainen haimasyöpä, ja siihen liittynyt maksansiirtoleikkaus tehtiin vuonna 2009.

Jobs oli ollut sairauslomalla Applen pääjohtajan tehtävistä jo tammikuun puolivälistä lähtien. Hän kertoi tuolloin keskittyvänsä terveyteensä. Jobs jatkoi työskentelyä taustalla, mutta erosi viimein pääjohtajan tehtävästä elokuussa. Seuraajaksi nimitettiin Jobsia sairauslomien aikana sijaistanut operatiivinen johtaja Tim Cook.

Jobsia pidettiin visionäärinä ja oman tien kulkijana, joka ei ollut kiinnostunut kuluttajatutkimuksista. Hänellä oli oma visio siitä, mihin tekniikka oli kehittymässä, ja Applen kautta hän pystyi toteuttamaan näkemyksiään. Jobs tunnettiin vaativana johtajana, joka oli kiinnostunut tuotteiden pienimmistäkin yksityiskohdista.

Applen entinen pääjohtaja teki vuosikymmenien pituisen uran tietotekniikan parissa. Pitkä ura näkyy paitsi hänen nimiinsä kirjattujen patenttien määrässä myös sisällössä. Monet patenteista liittyvät tietotekniikan perusasioihin ja Applen keskeisiin tuotteisiin.

Viimeiseksi julkiseksi lausunnoksi jääneessä erokirjeessään Jobs valoi vielä uskoa Appleen.

– Olen aina sanonut, että olen ensimmäinen joka toteaa, etten kykene hoitamaan tehtäviäni ja vastaamaan odotuksiin. Valitettavasti se päivä on tullut. Uskon, että Applen kirkkaimmat ja  innovatiivisimmat päivät ovat vasta edessä ja odotan osallistuvani yhtiön menestykseen uudessa roolissa, Jobs kirjoitti.

Steve Jobsin perhe on julkaissut lausunnon hänen poismenostaan:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family. In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

Applen hallituksen lausunto:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Applen pääjohtajan Tim Cookin viesti Applen työntekijöille:

Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple 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.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Pixar-animaatiostudion luovan johtajan John Lasseterin ja Walt Disneyn animaatiostudioiden pääjohtajan Ed Catmullin lausunto:

Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.

Yhdysvaltain presidentin Barack Obaman lausunto Jobsin poismenosta:

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve 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.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

Nokian toimitusjohtaja Stephen Elop kommentoi Jobsin kuolemaa Twitterissä:

Steve’s passion for simplicity and elegance leaves a legacy that will endure. Thoughts of all at Nokia are with his friends and family.

Facebookin perustaja Mark Zuckerberg kommentoi Jobsin poismenoa:

Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.

Microsoftin perustajan  Bill Gatesin lausunto (All Things D:n mukaan):

I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.

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