Steven Paul “Steve” Jobs (24th February 1955 – 5th October 2011) was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and industrial designer who co-founded Apple Inc. and became one of the most influential figures in the history of technology. Through his relentless focus on design, user experience, and innovation, Jobs transformed not only computing but entire industries including music, telecommunications, and digital publishing.
Early Life and Founding Apple
The Garage Startup
Born in San Francisco and raised in Silicon Valley, Jobs developed an early interest in craftsmanship and technology. In 1976, at age 21, he co-founded Apple Computer Company with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in the Jobs family garage in Los Altos, California.
The Partnership:
- Steve Wozniak: The technical genius who designed the computers
- Steve Jobs: The visionary who saw their commercial potential
- Ronald Wayne: Early business partner who quickly sold his stake
Apple I and II: The Beginning
Jobs recognised the commercial potential of Wozniak’s computer designs:
- Apple I (1976): Marketed Wozniak’s circuit board design to hobbyists
- Apple II (1977): Revolutionary complete computer system that launched the personal computer industry
- Business acumen: Jobs pushed for sleek design and mass-market appeal
The Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced personal computers, establishing Apple as a major force in the emerging PC industry.
The Macintosh Revolution
Learning from Xerox
In 1979, Jobs visited Xerox PARC and witnessed demonstrations of the graphical user interface, immediately recognising its transformative potential. This experience would shape his vision for the future of computing.
The Lisa and Macintosh Projects
Jobs championed the development of computers with graphical interfaces:
- Apple Lisa (1983): Advanced but expensive computer with GUI
- Macintosh (1984): Affordable computer that brought GUI to the masses
The Macintosh Achievement:
- Revolutionary interface: Windows, icons, menus, and mouse control
- “1984” commercial: Legendary Super Bowl advertisement directed by Ridley Scott
- Democratised computing: Made powerful computers accessible to ordinary users
- Industry standard: Established graphical interfaces as the future of computing
The Wilderness Years (1985-1997)
Departure from Apple
Following internal power struggles and disagreements over company direction, Jobs was effectively forced out of Apple in 1985. Rather than retreat, he channelled his energy into new ventures.
NeXT Computer
Jobs founded NeXT Computer in 1985:
- Advanced technology: Cutting-edge workstations with object-oriented operating system
- Educational focus: Targeted at universities and higher education
- Limited commercial success: Superior technology but high prices restricted market appeal
- Future foundation: NeXTSTEP operating system would later become Mac OS X
Pixar Animation Studios
In 1986, Jobs purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm for $10 million, transforming it into Pixar:
- Technical innovation: Pioneered computer-generated animation
- Creative partnership: Collaborated with Disney on groundbreaking films
- Toy Story (1995): First fully computer-animated feature film
- Cultural impact: Revolutionised animation and filmmaking
The Return and Renaissance (1997-2011)
Rescuing Apple
When Apple acquired NeXT in 1996, Jobs returned to the company he had co-founded. Apple was then on the brink of bankruptcy, but Jobs orchestrated one of the greatest turnarounds in business history.
Immediate Changes:
- Product focus: Eliminated dozens of confusing products
- Design emphasis: Brought Jonathan Ive’s revolutionary design philosophy
- Brand rebuilding: “Think Different” campaign restored Apple’s innovative image
- Streamlined operations: Focused on a few exceptional products
The Innovation Decade
iMac (1998): Translucent, colourful all-in-one computer that made Apple profitable again
iPod (2001): Portable music player that transformed the music industry
- Design excellence: Intuitive scroll wheel interface
- iTunes ecosystem: Legal digital music distribution
- Cultural phenomenon: “1,000 songs in your pocket”
iPhone (2007): Smartphone that redefined mobile communication
- Multi-touch interface: Eliminated physical keyboards
- App Store: Created new software ecosystem and economy
- Industry disruption: Rendered existing smartphones obsolete
iPad (2010): Tablet computer that created an entirely new product category
- Touch computing: Natural, intuitive interaction
- Content consumption: Revolutionised reading, gaming, and media
- Professional tools: Enabled new forms of creativity and productivity
Design Philosophy and Leadership
Core Principles
Jobs established design and business principles that transformed multiple industries:
Simplicity and Elegance:
- Less is more: Removed unnecessary features and complexity
- Intuitive interfaces: Technology that users could understand immediately
- Beautiful objects: Products that were pleasing to look at and touch
- Attention to detail: Obsessive focus on every aspect of the user experience
Integration Philosophy:
- Hardware and software: Designing complete experiences, not just components
- Ecosystem approach: Products that worked seamlessly together
- Vertical integration: Controlling every aspect of the user experience
- Quality over quantity: Few products, but each one exceptional
Leadership Style
Jobs was known for his demanding leadership style:
- Perfectionism: Refusal to compromise on quality or vision
- Direct communication: Honest, often brutally frank feedback
- Inspirational vision: Ability to motivate teams to achieve the impossible
- Relentless iteration: Continuous refinement until products were perfect
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Transforming Industries
Jobs didn’t just create products; he transformed entire industries:
Personal Computing:
- Democratisation: Made computers accessible to everyone
- Interface standards: GUI principles adopted universally
- Design importance: Established industrial design as crucial to technology
Music Industry:
- Digital transformation: iTunes and iPod legitimised digital music
- Artist empowerment: Direct distribution through digital platforms
- Album concept: Shifted focus from albums to individual songs
Telecommunications:
- Smartphone revolution: iPhone established template for modern mobiles
- App economy: Created new business models and industries
- Mobile internet: Made internet access truly portable
Publishing and Media:
- Digital books: iBooks and iPad transformed reading
- Magazine design: Touch interfaces enabled new forms of publication
- Content creation: iPad enabled new forms of artistic expression
Business Philosophy
Jobs established new standards for technology companies:
- User experience first: Technology should serve human needs
- Premium positioning: Quality and design justify higher prices
- Retail innovation: Apple Stores redefined technology retail
- Marketing excellence: Emotional connection between brand and customer
Personal Challenges and Resilience
Health Struggles
Jobs faced significant personal challenges:
- Cancer diagnosis (2003): Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour
- Liver transplant (2009): Continued working despite serious illness
- Public scrutiny: Managed health issues while leading public company
- Legacy planning: Prepared Apple for transition without him
Philosophy and Interests
Beyond technology, Jobs was influenced by:
- Eastern philosophy: Buddhism and meditation practices
- Calligraphy: Appreciation for typography and visual design
- Music: Deep love of Bob Dylan and classical music
- Art: Influenced by Braun design and Bauhaus movement
Relevance to Code Like It’s 198x
While Apple systems aren’t featured in our programming lessons, Jobs’ influence on computing history provides essential context for understanding the vintage computing era.
Technological Influence
- 6502 processor: Apple II used same chip as Commodore 64 and NES
- User interface: Macintosh GUI influenced all subsequent systems
- Design standards: Emphasis on user experience became industry standard
- Integration philosophy: Hardware-software unity adopted across industry
Cultural Impact
- Computing accessibility: Made technology approachable for everyone
- Creative applications: Positioned computers as creative tools
- Consumer electronics: Transformed computers from business tools to consumer products
- Technology adoption: Showed how design could drive technology acceptance
Educational Legacy
- School adoption: Apple computers became standard in education
- Programming accessibility: Made computer programming approachable
- Creative education: Enabled new forms of learning and expression
- Technology literacy: Introduced computing to mainstream culture
Final Years and Passing
Jobs continued working until shortly before his death, introducing the iPad 2 and overseeing development of future products. He passed away on 5th October 2011, at age 56, leaving behind a transformed technology industry and a company prepared to continue his vision.
Farewell Message: His final public appearance at the iPad 2 launch in March 2011 demonstrated his commitment to innovation even while seriously ill. His last words, “OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW,” reflected the sense of wonder that drove his entire career.
Fun Facts
- Jobs named Apple partly because it would appear before Atari in the phone book
- He was a fruitarian for periods of his life, believing it would eliminate body odour
- The original Macintosh team’s signatures are moulded inside every computer case
- He never wrote code himself but had an intuitive understanding of software
- Jobs wore the same outfit daily (black turtleneck, jeans, sneakers) to reduce decision fatigue
- He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022
- The Steve Jobs Archive continues his work in education and immigration reform
Steve Jobs proved that technology isn’t just about functionality—it’s about creating experiences that delight and empower people. His vision that computers should be bicycles for the mind continues to influence how we design and interact with technology today. Through Apple, he showed that focusing obsessively on user experience, elegant design, and seamless integration could create products that people didn’t just use, but loved.