Stay hungry, stay foolish
Think different. Those two words sum up the brilliance, the magic and the creative icon that was Steve Jobs. President Obama said it best: "The world has lost a visionary. 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."
Ask yourself: when was the last time you heard of floral tributes being left at Apple stores and an inundation of tributes with an outpouring of great affection all over the internet and media for a corporate leader?
We have often associated the word "visionary" with Steve Jobs. It seemed to synonymously crop up as soon as his name was mentioned. Very, very few people in the world in any domain and any walk of life had a vision, a clear conception of what could encompass and so tastefully combine what we need and what pleases us aesthetically.
Let's face it. Technology has permeated every facet of our existence. It is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. What Jobs has done with that amazing vision is given us beauty, design and a pride of ownership of a product which is so beautiful to look at, so sleek to the touch, so sophisticated to maneuver.
The appearance of the man himself was a reflection of his products. His very original style of dressing … his signature black turtle neck shirt, jeans and tennis shoes were like his inventions … unusual, simple and unique.
No other company can boast of lines of people or rather fans waiting for hours for the latest Apple product, whether it be the new iPhone, iMac, iPad or iPod. One journalist aptly put it when he said that waiting to see Steve Jobs speak at a new product launch was like waiting to enter a rock concert. To my knowledge, no other technological product can evoke such emotions about its dependability, intuition, style and design.
I am reminded of a discussion with a friend in 2003 about whether my new laptop update should be a PC or a Mac, who summed it up (pun intended!): "You can't compare apples and oranges. It's as though you're debating between buying a Chrysler or the finest Mercedez-Benz." That was definitely not the first or the last time I have heard such analogies about the user-friendly, beautifully designed Apple products being made. My very first computer was an Apple. That evokes a great deal of nostalgia, like one's very first car.
Thanks to Jobs, today we can carry 15,000 songs in our pocket, we have phones which serve as cameras, we can use them to send and receive emails, we can use them to listen to music, watch videos and so very much more. He has given us computers that are world famous for not only their dependability of resistance against viruses and crashing, but also their sleek and elegant style. He has shown us that technology and art could merge beautifully. He has also given the world a unique style in film animation and production.
Steve Jobs is also responsible for the growth and spread of "fonts" in the present day, perhaps a less known fact about him. While designing the first Macintosh, he decided that computers should have a wide variety of fonts to offer its users. Most were named after cities, capturing their mood and character in letter form. Fonts such as London, Geneva and Chicago can be attributed to him.
Today, many products made by many different companies are designed beautifully, are sleek and intuitive and fun to use. The origin of those ideas came from Steve Jobs. It is said that imitation is the best form of flattery.
To quote Steve Jobs: "You have to trust something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
We are so very thankful to you that you did trust your gut feelings. You have changed the world as a result. You have shown us the beauty of the fusion between technology, design and fun like no other. Thank you for your humility, discretion and good taste over the years. We have become so familiar with your inventions that it is like losing a friend. We should learn from you and live every day like it was our last.
RIP, Mr. Jobs.
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