Sometime in the early 2000’s I was wondering what kind of decade it would be. Looking back the last few decades, I could see that they each had their own identity. The 50’s could be defined as postwar optimism and consumerism. The 60’s are well known for upheaval, civil rights and cultural change. The 70’s brought us some amazing movies, music and some interesting fashion. The 80’s brought us the computer revolution, the rubik’s cube, and fashion was loud and bright. The 90’s is very well known for ushering in the internet and making it mainstream.
I don’t know if I was looking for identity or just trying to figure out what the new millennium was going to be. We didn’t have the flying cars or jetpacks that earlier sages predicted we would have. So I wondered, how will the starting decade of the new millennium be defined and remembered as?
I have an idea, and it starts in 2001 with a device known as the iPod. Apple Computer, Inc (as it was called back then) on October 23, 2001 introduced the original and iconic first generation iPod with the slogan “1,000 songs in your pocket”. This device throughout the 2000’s would disrupt and the redefine the music industry. In 2007, Steve introduces the iPhone and that too was a very disruptive event. And then again in 2010 he introduces the iPad.
These three devices, to me, make the 2000’s the mobile decade. They revolutionized music, connectivity and applications into a more personal computing experience.
Today, October 5th 2012, marks the one year anniversary of the death of Steven P. Jobs. Although many things will be written and said by people more eloquent then I could ever be, I do want to talk about his style.
Steve Jobs was well known for being a great presenter. The Apple events in which he was presenting were watched by millions of people with the press covering it for weeks before and after the event itself. Many companies have and will continue to copy his style hoping to generate the buzz and excitement that he did while on stage. Many words have been written about his unique style and the infamous “Reality Distortion Field” effect that he had to make even simple things almost magical. There is no doubt that Steve Jobs is just as iconic as the products he introduced to the world.
The other day I was feeling a bit nostalgic and was remembering 2007 and the announcement of the iPhone so I subscribed to the Apple Events Podcast and relived it again. I remember the iPhone announcement and the feeling I had that this was going to change everything. To me, this was the defining moment in new millennium and that nothing was going to be the same again. Steve said in the opening of the keynote event, “We are going to make some history today.” History was made that day. Never again would a mobile phone be like the ones that came before the iPhone.
Looking back now, the most amazing thing that popped into my mind was not the iPhone announcement itself how restrained Steve was. He and the team at Apple had worked on this product for over two and half years and he didn’t even hint at it until 27 minutes and 45 seconds into the keynote and waited 2 more minutes before he showed a slide with the iPhone name on it. During the keynote he said that he didn’t sleep the night before and that doesn’t surprise me. He was about to introduce a revolutionary product that the world had not seen before and was probably spending weeks preparing for the announcement and spending his waking hours thinking about it and yet he didn’t just blurt it out.
Even on stage Steve looks calm but I can only imagine how excited he was. Maybe this is one of his secrets of being a great a presenter. He takes his time and leads you through step by step, builds up your excitement, hits a few pleasure points along the way and then you peak and you are connected with him and you feel his excitement and it truly is magical.
Steve Jobs will be missed and I, for one, am grateful for what he had accomplished and for the products he gave us and even though I didn’t get the pleasure of meeting him, I will miss him dearly.
Thank you Steve.
Robert Kozak, currently Director of Software Development for Nowcom Corporation, has been in the computer software industry for over 25 years. In the late 90s he had a very successful software consulting firm which he gave up to go work for Borland Software. In 2002, he joined Nowcom Corporation and remains there to this day. He is an international speaker, former magazine author, and has been a technical editor for many computer software books. He has always been interested in mobile and ubiquitous computing and spends a lot of time studying and contemplating these subjects.
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