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iSteve: the legacy of Steve Jobs in products

iSteve: the legacy of Steve Jobs in products

Posted: 06 Oct 2011, 05:05, by Victor H.

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iSteve: the legacy of Steve Jobs in products

Steve Jobs has passed away, but his legacy remains in his products, impersonating the vision and ideas of one of the greatest tech innovators of our time. Some will remember him for the incredibly thin MacBook Air introduced in 2008, some will relate to him when they look at their iPods, some will cherish the unique experience of a tablet with the iPad, but we at, PhoneArena, will most certainly never forget the iPhone.

It’s the device that changed the industry from the ground up putting a truly usable personal computer in your pocket for the first time. Unveiled back in 2007, it was ignored by the industry’s big at the time, including Nokia, RIM and Sony Ericsson among others. A mistake which cost them market share, job cuts and shook their very foundations.

There are many people behind those products: Jonathan Ive is probably the most important figure with his Dieter Rams inspired minimalistic designs, but so is Phil Schiller with his marketing pitch, and Scott Forstall pushing iOS software. There are many more faces that we don’t see behind an Apple product, but there has always been one to unite them - Steve Jobs.

iMac, 1998

After getting back to Apple in 1997, Jobs looked for a product. He was quick to bring his experience from NeXT Computers, the company he headed beforehand, but he also listened to ideas and ideas came from Jonathan Ive. The result was the iMac. A computer which stuns us with its unique, “unashamadly plastic,” translucent body and a mind boggling handle even today, in an era of everything getting thinner.

iPod, 2001

Even that handle on the iMac back in 1998 signaled something about Apple’s ambition towards mobile. The iMac could be carried around, but Steve Jobs realized that at the time most people wanted to have their music with them, not the whole computer. The iPod changed this from the ground up and you can see look back in the time to see how it stacked up against the rest of CD and Flash-based players.

Mac mini, 2005

As the iPod was getting better, the PC industry was marching forward increasing clock speeds and working on adding more cores. With plenty of manufacturers making Windows computers, diversity was flourishing in Windows land, but for Mac users, the choice was limited to expensive devices only. That’s when the Mac mini, another bet for portability was introduced by Steve Jobs. You could clearly see the trend by now - design was put in the front at Apple, right along with performance.

MacBook Pro, 2006

The MacBook Pro succeeded and replaced the PowerBook and was one of the key models in Apple’s switch to Intel x86 processors from PowerPC chips. The Pro had a similar design to the Powerbook, but introduced one of the smartest power plugs, the magnetic MagSafe which would safely disconnect when you trip over the cable.

iPhone, 2007

The first iPhone was Apple’s biggest moment bringing together its software and hardware insights into a single product. After a disappointing partnership with Motorola over the Rokr iTunes phone, Steve Jobs put his bets on Apple alone for making the phone, even though the company had no experience in the phone industry. Jobs was the key dreamer behind the multitouch display on a phone, a device that - we’d dare say - changed the course of computing.

MacBook Air, 2008

Then came the MacBook Air, thinner than the thinnest notebook on the market. Apple’s captain himself had a hard time figuring out how the engineers and designers managed to put a Mac inside such a thin body.

iPad, 2010

Finally, the iPad arrived. Later, it was revealed that a multitouch tablet was probably an idea preceding the iPhone, but Jobs could only make it a reality in 2010. While the iPhone put another personal computer in our pockets, the iPad touched on the future of the personal computer altogether. It ushered us into Apple’s dream “post-PC world,” in which we’re already living now.

What's next?

We can’t imagine a workaholic like Jobs not working on something until his very last days, and we expect it to show in the coming years. Be it the iPhone 5, the iPad 3 or whatever comes next. Sadly, that’s where iSteve left us. On the entrance of that “post-PC” world of possibilities, passing the baton of innovation to us and urging us to look forward, “to stay hungry, stay foolish.”

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1. Eingild posted on 06 Oct 2011, 05:22 6 2

I don't quite agree with the "post-PC era in which we're already living now" statement right there. Other than that, it's a great article. Kudos for the man who changed the world. RIP Steve.

2. remyrz posted on 06 Oct 2011, 06:35 5 0

RIP Steve... he used to use the same clothe in every single event...

3. Droid_X_Doug posted on 06 Oct 2011, 06:56 7 0

Steve touched the life of so many people.... He is up there with the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers. What a loss. RIP

This comment is hidden because of its low rating. Show

4. Uzzelien posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:28 5 12

So his legacy is over priced things that were already out and put i with it.

5. Eingild posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:40 4 2

so cold of you

18. pyrothrax (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 10:58 2 1

obviously this guy is more into the "i" than to us...... go back to grade school and learn GMRC (Good Manners And Right Conduct). RIP Steve

36. cnpthe3rd posted on 09 Oct 2011, 19:53 0 0

Not a big fan of apple or the i anything but Steve was a great business man and i must say that i am glad he is gone on. (keep reading) he has been fighting a loosing battle for a longtime and i have watched friends and family dieing it is a long and painful way to go. may God bless him and his loved ones, unfortunately the i will live on so i guess we are stuck with that.

6. davecann2 posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:49 3 0

I will remember Steve for the true visionary that he was and his accomplishments that led the revolution in both smart phone and PC worlds! He was a charismatic man who was a pleasure to watch on the stage.

My thoughts and praiers go out to his family and friends.

7. hunted posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:54 1 1

Miss you steve!!

8. rajau (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:54 2 0

He did great works for many years, God bless his soul.

9. Lwazi_N posted on 06 Oct 2011, 07:58 3 0

RIP, Steve Jobs, your legacy will always live.

15. 3D (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 09:51 2 2

Since he patented the shape of mobile devices, Apple will continue his legacy to take down any companies that is a major competitor to Apple.

10. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 06 Oct 2011, 08:19 7 0

R.I.P. Steve Jobs, I know I don't like Apple's business practices, but the man was a genius. His idea's shaped the world we live in right now. Mobile is different because of him, granted tech always moves toward mobile, but he helped push ideas that made mobile a house hold name. Smartphones have been around forever, but he made them mainstream, not a nitch market or for just business. The man gave a lot to this world & I RESPECT him to the fullest.

11. Phullofphil posted on 06 Oct 2011, 08:29 2 0

we need more people like him

12. xxverbaIxx (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 08:59 6 9

Steve Jobs his dead and people are insane. Newsflash: Steve Jobs was a ruthless businessman and a snob. He didn't do "great" things. He helped develop and market products that were shiny toys. Yes, its sad he died, but its also sad the THOUSANDS ON THOUSANDS of other people died yesterday all over the world. A lot of them died younger, with more tragedy, with bigger families, and with less money to PAY themselves up the transplant list. It's the equivalent of the guy who plays ronald mcdonald dying. This was not a politician or a selfless man, put away your tissues and move on. Your emotions on this are embarrassing to the human race.

14. davecann2 posted on 06 Oct 2011, 09:09 1 1

An iconi man has died. A man that almost everyone has heard of. Show some respect.

19. pyrothrax (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 11:01 1 1

Your an embarrasment if you cant show a little decent respect for even one person.. Sure a lot of people died on this day... sure they may not have a name or statur such as Steve had... but still this article is for thos e who know and knew him... so if your reading this show some respect... or go back to school and learn GMRC.... I bet you flunked that....

23. unbelievable.. (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 21:32 1 1

You sir, are a disgrace. At least show some respect or don't post at all.

16. jacko posted on 06 Oct 2011, 09:53 1 3

tbh im sick of hearing it his dead no need to post 100 things over over and over again god

17. Really? (unregistered) posted on 06 Oct 2011, 10:25 2 0

What is wrong with you guys? Since when is developing and marketing "shiny toys" that revolutionize the way humans go through their daily routines and help promote competition by bringing out Android and other operating systems NOT great? He essentially started the smart phone war when he introduced the iphone. Whoever thinks different is an arogant f tard who clearly is biased towards one opinion and cannot show compassion / credit where credit is due and thats why you all will only make minimum wage instead of doing great things yourself.

He wS no Apollo, but what he did for the technical world is femarkable.