Steve Jobs has died.

[hs421139]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1..._n_997223.html


Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and former CEO, has died at the age of 56.

Apple has posted this statement on its website:

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email [email protected]
Steve Jobs' family also released the following statement:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.
In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.
We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.
From the AP:

Jobs had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January – his third since his health problems began – before resigning as CEO six weeks ago. Jobs became Apple's chairman and handed the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.
Apple.com has also transformed its homepage to a tribute for its former leader.

This is a developing story.

[LB Freakazoid]

So sad.... He truly was one of the biggest innovators of our time...

[mezzoforte]

He changed the world. A sad ending, but a life well lived. I'm glad he's out of pain.

[Nico]

Well damn. I guess I sort of expected it, only because I had heard recently that he was very ill, but still I'm shocked. Well, he was a visionary and a genius and I can't imagine my musical life without the amazing things he created. He left us a lot.

[markolas]

Not terribly surprised. He was a walking skeleton at the Apple developer's conference earlier this summer, and then came his resignation as CEO in August. Sad.

[JWS]

Pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. There are no survivors. When diagnosted, you've got just weeks to live. I knew someone who had this cancer and he was gone in just under a month.

[HejiraNYC]

I am truly broken up about this. Once in a million years a man like Steve Jobs rises. Truly an American hero and a pioneer in every sense of the word; I would dare say a renaissance man. He made geek chic. He bridged the gap between technology and art and music. He transformed silicon chips and bleeping screens into accessible works of art that are as endearing as much as they are powerful. He has made technology an integral, pleasurable part of our existence. He will be remembered as being among the greatest thinkers of our generation. I found a part of a commencement speech he gave in 2005 and it made me die a little inside:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs.

[Nico]

I loved his quotes. This has always been my favorite:

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do....

[GODDESS6]

i saw a photo pf him after he stepped down & i knew he wasn't long for this world~

RIP steve jobs & thank you~

[daniellaaarisen]

I first watched this commencement speech sometime in high school during a class. I've watched it thousands of times since and find it empowering each and every time.

"Stay young, stay foolish."

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by JWS

Pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. There are no survivors. When diagnosted, you've got just weeks to live. I knew someone who had this cancer and he was gone in just under a month.

Yet he lived 7 years past his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. My Mom lived 2 years past hers. "Weeks to live", isn't necessarily true.


It really all depends on whether the disease has spread to the lymph node system. If not, the Whipple procedure can remove the pancreas and other organs(it's been a long time since I researched this...I believe gall bladder, and a couple other things - it's a long surgery[about 8 hours, if I recall]), and stop the disease. The biggest problem with pancreatic cancer is that it usually has no symptoms, until it has already spread to the lymph nodes....

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Yet he lived 7 years past his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. My Mom lived 2 years past hers. "Weeks to live", isn't necessarily true.


....

My dad died after 4 and a half weeks past his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 1983... But that was obviously not the special cancer Jobs had; that was operable and it gave him seven more heroic years. But still, what a loss....

Anyway, I experienced what a total inside-out eating pitbull it can be. Devastating.

[JWS]

New Steve Jobs biography coming out next month by author Walter Isaacson. Commissioned in 2005, this is the same author who wrote the 1,00o page Albert Einstein bio a few years ago. Huge work.

[gfd1963]

Originally Posted by JWS

Pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. There are no survivors. When diagnosted, you've got just weeks to live. I knew someone who had this cancer and he was gone in just under a month.

My cousin lived for 5 months after his diagnosis although he wasn't initally told it would be terminal and was given chemo. When they eventually did tell him he would live for about another 3 months, he actually passed away 9 days later. It is an awful, awful disease.

[Silver Springs]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Yet he lived 7 years past his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. My Mom lived 2 years past hers. "Weeks to live", isn't necessarily true.

My Grandmother's (She died around 5 years ago of COPD) old Lodger (He was a friend of my Graddad whom died when I was 6 of Leukaemia. They took him in a few years before when he was homeless and he pretty much lingered there until my Nan's death to keep her company) was diagnosed around 6 years ago with Pancreatic Cancer and he's still around. I don't expect him to be around much longer though because he doesn't take care of himself. He's an alcoholic and every time we see him he looks less and less well.