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Steve Jobs, born in 1955, co-founded Apple Computer Inc. in 1976 and revolutionized personal computing with products like the Apple II and Macintosh. After a period of struggle and success with NeXT and Pixar, he returned to Apple in 1997, leading to the creation of iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Jobs' legacy is marked by his vision of merging technology with design and culture, profoundly impacting the tech industry and consumer behavior before his death in 2011.

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13 views3 pages

Today 5

Steve Jobs, born in 1955, co-founded Apple Computer Inc. in 1976 and revolutionized personal computing with products like the Apple II and Macintosh. After a period of struggle and success with NeXT and Pixar, he returned to Apple in 1997, leading to the creation of iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Jobs' legacy is marked by his vision of merging technology with design and culture, profoundly impacting the tech industry and consumer behavior before his death in 2011.

Uploaded by

Symington Srenevasan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Steve Jobs: The Rebel Who Reshaped the World

The Outsider with a Vision

Steven Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco and was adopted
shortly thereafter by Paul and Clara Jobs. From the beginning, Steve was different. He grew
up in the heart of Silicon Valley and showed an early passion for electronics and design.

As a teenager, Jobs met Steve Wozniak, a computer whiz with a genius-level mind for
engineering. They bonded over shared interests and rebellious spirits. While Wozniak loved
the technology itself, Jobs was obsessed with how technology could transform people’s
lives.

Dropping Out to Tune In

After high school, Jobs attended Reed College but dropped out after six months. He
continued attending classes informally — particularly in calligraphy, which would later
influence Apple’s focus on elegant typography.

In 1974, Jobs traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. The journey gave him
a minimalist worldview, which he would later apply to his business philosophy. Returning to
the U.S., he worked at Atari and began envisioning computers as devices for ordinary
people, not just scientists.

Founding Apple in a Garage

In 1976, Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne co-founded Apple Computer Inc. in the
Jobs family garage. Their first product, the Apple I, was a success among hobbyists, but it
was the Apple II that revolutionized personal computing.

Jobs wasn’t the engineer — Wozniak was the technical genius — but Steve was the
showman, the product visionary, and the storyteller. He turned what could have been a
nerdy machine into a must-have tool for every home and school.

The Macintosh and His First Fall

In 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh, a sleek, graphical computer that came with a
mouse — an interface that changed the way people interacted with technology. Its launch
commercial, aired during the Super Bowl and directed by Ridley Scott, is still considered one
of the greatest ads of all time.
Despite its innovation, Macintosh’s sales lagged behind expectations. Internal tensions at
Apple grew. Jobs, seen by many as arrogant and impulsive, was pushed out of his own
company in 1985.

The Wilderness Years: NeXT and Pixar

After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT, a computer company aimed at higher
education and businesses. Though the products were elegant and ahead of their time, NeXT
struggled to gain traction.

But during this period, Jobs also acquired a small division from Lucasfilm for $10
million — a company he would rename Pixar. Over the next decade, Pixar became a pioneer
in computer animation.

In 1995, Pixar released Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature film. It was a
massive hit, both critically and financially. Pixar followed up with a string of blockbusters
like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Up, turning the company into a cultural icon.

The Return to Apple: iMac and the Digital Hub

In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT, bringing Steve Jobs back into the fold. Apple was
struggling, near bankruptcy. Jobs returned as interim CEO — and eventually permanent CEO
— and began a series of moves that would redefine the company.

His first major success was the iMac — a translucent, all-in-one computer that combined
style with simplicity. It was a commercial hit and marked Apple’s rebirth.

Jobs introduced the “digital hub” strategy, envisioning the Mac as the center of people’s
digital lives, integrating music, photos, videos, and more.

iPod, iTunes, and the Music Revolution

In 2001, Apple launched the iPod, a sleek MP3 player with the tagline “1,000 songs in
your pocket.” It dominated the market and transformed how people consumed music.

The iPod was paired with iTunes, which offered legal music downloads for 99 cents each
— disrupting the music industry and reshaping consumer behavior.

These products weren’t just functional; they were cultural icons. Jobs had merged design,
usability, and storytelling in a way no tech CEO had done before.
iPhone and the Smartphone Era

In 2007, Jobs stood on stage and introduced the iPhone, a product that would redefine
not just Apple, but modern life. “An iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator… are you
getting it?” he teased the audience.

The iPhone combined a phone, a media player, and a web browser into one elegant
device. It marked the beginning of the smartphone era, with Apple at the forefront.

Jobs followed this with the App Store, giving developers a platform to create apps that
transformed industries — from transportation to photography to health.

iPad, Apple’s Empire, and His Final Years

In 2010, Apple introduced the iPad, creating yet another category of device. Critics
doubted its usefulness, but the iPad quickly became a staple in education, business, and
entertainment.

Under Jobs, Apple became the most valuable tech company in the world, with an
ecosystem of products — iPhone, iPad, Mac, iTunes, App Store — that worked seamlessly
together.

Throughout this period, Jobs battled a rare form of pancreatic cancer. He stepped down in
2011 as CEO, handing the reins to Tim Cook. On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs died at age
56.

A Legacy of Simplicity, Vision, and Impact

Jobs left behind a company that didn't just make devices — it shaped culture,
communication, and creativity. His mantras — “Think Different,” “Stay hungry, stay
foolish” — inspired millions.

He fused technology with art and emotion, believing that “Design is not just what it
looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Today, Apple continues to thrive, but its soul — the rebellious, creative, perfectionist
spirit — traces back to the man who once said, “We're here to put a dent in the universe.”

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