News Analysis: Steve Jobs has authorized a biography on his life. So, what better time to take a look back at 10 things he has done to change the tech world forever?
A
new book is in the works that promises to shed more light on Apple. Dubbed
"iSteve: The Book of Jobs," the book, which is written by Walter Isaacson, is
an authorized biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. It's scheduled to hit
store shelves next year, and include some insight from Jobs himself, as well as
colleagues and family members. Exactly what the book will highlight is unknown
for now. But considering it has been authorized by Jobs, it will likely
highlight some of his greatest accomplishments over the years.
Jobs
is one of the more accomplished CEOs to ever work in the technology industry.
He built a company from scratch into a household name, which incidentally is
one of the greatest organizations in the history of American business. He also
accomplished one of the rarest feats in business, coming back to rebuild the
company he created when it was struggling years after he lost a boardroom power
struggle. Then he led the company to its most successful and wealthiest years
to date.
To
say that Jobs' contribution to the technology space has been huge is an
understatement. The sheer number of contributions he has made is nothing short
of incredible. But the time has come to at least highlight some of those
contributions, and discuss how he has changed the tech world forever.
Read
on to find out some-but not all-of the ways
Steve Jobs has contributed his expertise to the tech world.
1. He co-founded Apple
One
of Steve Jobs' greatest contributions to the tech world is creating Apple.
Little did he know when he co-founded Apple that the company would become such
an integral part of the lives of millions around the globe. If he had instead
chosen to follow a different path, the world would be a much different place
today. It's debatable whether technology would have moved as far along as it
has.
2. Design as a key differentiator
Throughout
his career, Steve Jobs has put a premium on product design. He realizes that
people are more likely to buy those things that catch their eye. He understood
that the rest of the market didn't necessarily have the eye for innovative
design that he did. By using design to differentiate his products,
Jobs showed other companies in the industry (and perhaps some organizations
outside of the tech sector) that aesthetic appeal really does matter to consumers
and enterprise customers alike.
3. A policy of secrecy works
Apple's
penchant for secrecy has helped the company become what it is today. Steve Jobs
realizes that by not letting people see behind the curtain, they will be more
likely to stay focused on Apple's every move. Better, that focus means that
customers' attention is less likely to stray to competitors promoting their own
similar products. Now, other firms, including Microsoft, Motorola and Samsung,
are trying to follow Jobs' lead and be more secretive. Going forward, many more
firms will likely follow suit.
4. There really is money in hardware
When
Microsoft became a technology giant, some wondered if any other company would
ever overcome it. People around the globe said that software was the dominant
force in technology, and nothing would change that. But Steve Jobs has proved
those people wrong. By delivering compelling hardware, he has watched his
firm's market capitalization easily best Microsoft's. Now, the market can't
help but wonder if hardware really reigns supreme in today's tech world.
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