GREAT PEOPLE REACT TO STEVE JOBS

Posted: October 5, 2011, 7:46 pm ET
[9:48 p.m. ET] Tweet from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak: “Keeping family dinner despite the disturbing news. (@ Outback Steakhouse)”[9:45 p.m. ET] Google homepage now features “Steve Jobs, 1955-2011.”

[9:44 p.m. ET] Statement from Meg Whitman, president and CEO of HP:
“Steve Jobs was an iconic entrepreneur and businessman whose impact on technology was felt beyond Silicon Valley. He will be remembered for the innovation he brought to market and the inspiration he brought to the world.”

[9:35 p.m. ET] Statement from President Obama: “Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.
By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.  And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last.  Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.”

[9:33 p.m. ET] YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen: “It was an honor to have worked with Steve Jobs. He will forever remain an inspiration. He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

[9:31 p.m. ET] Google co-founder Sergey Brin: From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.
On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.

[9:26 p.m. ET] Google co-founder Larry Page: I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.

[9:22 p.m. ET] From CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti in New York: Outside Apple’s 5th Avenue store (covered by scaffolding for construction), one sheet of white paper is posted on a wall.  A handwritten note reads “we will miss you Steve.  RIP.”
In lower left hand corner, there is writing in Japanese.  An Asian woman says it reads “Rest in Peace.” Security removed the sign.
A young woman came up and wrote RIP on the wall.  A man wearing a hard hat is now using solvent to wipe off the message.

[9:05 p.m. ET] Social media sites on Wednesday night were flooded with talk of Jobs’ death. There were more than 170,000 mentions of “RIP Steve Jobs” on Twitter in the hour after his death was announced, according to the Twitter analysis site Topsy Labs.
Some Twitter users expressed shock at the news:
“We all knew this was coming, sooner or later. I’m really surprised how shaken up I am about his death. But I grew up on all his creations,” wrote Andy Carvin, a senior strategist at NPR and social media guru.
Others reflected on his contributions to technology and to the world.
“Thanks, Steve. You have influenced many and made the world a more beautiful place,” wrote a Twitter user named Jackson Latka.
“Was teaching a socmedia course when news broke about Steve Jobs. One of the five most influential business execs of all time,” wrote Sree Sreenivasan, a Columbia University journalism professor.
“This is why I try to do everything I’ve ever wanted to, every single day. Live, and live hard. We’ll miss him, that’s for sure,” wrote Darren Murph, an editor at the tech site Engadget.
And the tech blog BoingBoing made its entire website into a tribute to Jobs, mimicking the look of an early Apple operating system interface.
Timeline: Steve Jobs’ career
[9:02 p.m. ET] Robert Iger, president and chief executive, The Walt Disney Company: “Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an ‘original,’ with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.”

[8:57 p.m. ET] Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates: “I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work. Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

[8:55 p.m. ET] Reaction from John Russell, a reporter at the Indianapolis Star, on his Facebook page: ” iSad.”

[8:45 p.m. ET] From Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page: “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”

[8:42 p.m. ET] Jobs gave the 2005 commencement address at Stanford. He talked about getting fired from Apple, life and death. Here is the video and text of his speech.

[8:37 p.m. ET] President Obama (via his re-election Twitter handle, not the president’s official Twitter handle) notes the passing of Steve Jobs:  “@BarackObama Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day—including ours.”
Obituary: Jobs called “one of the great innovators”

[8:30 p.m. ET] Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the news of Steve Jobs’ death to Apple employees via e-mail: “I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.
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.
We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply e-mail rememberingsteve@apple.com.
No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”

[8:29 p.m. ET] California Gov. Jerry Brown: “Steve Jobs was a great California innovator who demonstrated what a totally independent and creative mind can accomplish. Few people have made such a powerful and elegant imprint on our lives. Anne and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Steve’s wife, Laurene, and their entire family.”

[8:26 p.m. ET] Here is a statement from Apple’s Board of Directors: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that
enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.“

[8:24 p.m. ET] Wednesday night, the homepage of Apple’s website featured a large black-and-white photo of Jobs.

[8:12 p.m. ET] Apple co-founder Steve Jobs “died peacefully today, surrounded by his family,” Jobs’ relatives said Wednesday in a statement.
“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.”

[7:48 p.m. ET] “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” Apple said on its website, announcing the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.
“Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor,” the statement said. “Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

[7:41 p.m. ET] Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, has died, according to Apple. He was 56. Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple in August, apparently for health reasons.