RIP Steve Jobs

"What? Did you hear this?.... let me verify. Yep its on Gizmodo too. Apple just announced Steve Jobs died." that's how I heard from my roommate that a legend was dead. Facebook started to have copious posts of RIP Steve and twitter was all a flutter (and still is) mourning the loss of this technological maverick. A true puddle jumper.

Rest in peace Steve Jobs the world of innovation will sorely miss you. Today Apple announced the passing of a legend, changing their home screen to the above shot linked to this simple and true remembrance.

Apple has also set up an email where people can share their thoughts; Send your thoughts and remembrance. 


Steve has always stood for; moving forward, creative innovation and striving to make the world better, you can see this through his whole career.(This video is pretty rad.) From this thinking Apple has become a part of who people define themselves to be; are you a PC or a Mac? I know who my Macbook-Pro-iPhone-toting self claims to be. Mac all the way. (And yes this post is intentionally in Helvetica.) 


When a brand/CEO becomes a part of who you are they become a friend, creating a lifetime relationship that is passed down through families. I know my 4yr old nephew knows his way around a mac laptop, iPhone and iPad better than Grandma and she owns them. The technology he pioneered has seamlessly integrated it's self into our world. We may not have known we needed it, but now we have no idea how to live without it. This connection is even stronger in the creative world, Apple has always been a forerunner in pioneering creative friendly technology valuing design equally to utility in their own products, carrying through to their advertising.

The advertising industry has always had a deep connection to Steve and Apple utilizing thier products to create award winning work and practicing the same innovative mantra Jobs himself lived by. Back on September 12th the Butchershop Creative here in SF showed their love and appreciation by creating this open thank you card where any one can upload a picture and write a note thanking Steve for his amazing contributions. More then ever I think people are going to need an outlet to share their love for a man that has inspired a generations, I hope that everyone takes a chance to use this great tool or the email to thank the man that changed their world, especially here in the Bay Area.

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
-Steve Jobs

[The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 1993]

Steve, you have moved mountains and fundamentally changed how we interact with our world. I know I'd be lost with out what you have done. Thank you, RIP.


Update:
SF, the heart of the bay area held an iPhone vigil in Delores park Oct 5th 2011 to honor the man that many of us San Franciscans carry around in our pocket every day. 

Photo from Warholian

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-13-most-memorable-quotes-from-steve-jobs-2011-10#on-his-outlook-6#ixzz1ZxVzsCq9