A personal obituary to someone we never met but who changed our lives anyway?
This morning, I awoke to the news that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs had sadly passed away, aged just 56.
I will leave the news journalists to present the details of his extraordinary life, and those that knew him to tell us about the man behind the myth.
But, although we never met, Steve Jobs had a profound impact upon both my working and my social life. He personally influenced the way in which I listen to music and watch movies, how I interact with friends, colleagues and clients, and – above all – how I go about my daily business.
I have been a journalist my entire working life, and I still recall the days when a visit to ConExpo or Bauma involved “borrowing” a portable typewriter on which to produce copy that was then to be faxed back to the office for re-typing here in the UK to make the next week’s edition; how that copy was accompanied by several rolls of film despatched – at great cost – by courier in the (often vain) hope that it would arrive in time for press day.
And then Apple came along.
Thanks to Steve Jobs, a largely one man publishing band can compete on a par with publishers employing multiple layers of journalists, advertising sales people, publishers and directors. Indeed, Apple has allowed DemolitionNews to reach an audience that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, overtaking long-established rivals long the way.
Just over a year ago when Erith Group imploded a pair of chimneys in Northfleet, Kent, DemolitionNews was the only “media organisation” to broadcast the event live and in real-time; we did so via an Apple iPhone.
During last year’s Demolition Awards, we were the first to announce the winners; we did so from a hotel lobby in Amsterdam via an Apple iPad.
And just two weeks ago, we unveiled a new app that provides demolition professionals the world over with the ability to access the very latest industry news, views and comments from a hand-held device; we did this via the App Store.
Over the past few years, Apple attracted a devout following that would whoop with delight at every Steve Jobs pronouncement and then rush to the nearest Apple store to buy the latest shiny gadget from the company’s production line.
Here at DemolitionNews, we’re not Apple fan-boys. The iPhone we use is an iPhone 4 and there are no plans to replace it with the new iPhone 4S. Likewise, the office iPad is a first generation model (which replaced a similar unit that went missing in action in Vegas earlier this year).
But while we may not consume them with the same voracity as some, there is no question that Apple products have changed our lives in the most profound manner.
And we have one man to thank for that.
This message was written on my iPad
