Steven P. Jobs(Created by Alex Hall, History 135, July 2008) |
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Assignment
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Assignment |
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How did Steve Jobs revolutionize the computer, electronics, and music industries? |
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Background |
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Steve Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 to biological parents
Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. He was put up for
adoption for unknown reasons, and was adopted by Justin and Clara Jobs
of Mountain View, California. Jobs initially became interested in
electronics around the age of 11 with a neighbor/friend Bill Fernandez.
In 1972, Jobs graduated from Homestead High School. Bill introduced
Jobs to Steve Wozniak. Jobs and Wozniak sold blue boxes and small
devices that would allow the calling of international numbers for free.
He enrolled in Reed College. Eventually, Jobs realized that higher
education would not give him what he expected in life; after six months
he dropped out. In 1974, he returned to the United States, and began to
attend meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club with Wozniak. When he was
19, he got a job at Atari, with the primary goal of saving up for a
spiritual trip to India. He traveled throughout India for a month, with
his best friend Dan Kottke, looking for enlightenment. Instead of
enlightenment, he experienced disappointment. When Jobs returned, he
learned that Wozniak had created a design for a personal computer
(which he called Apple I). This marked the beginning of Apple Computer
Inc, on April 1st, 1976. Around 1995, Apple was in its
lowest point in history. While it survived off the revenue from
Macintosh sales, it was now faced with a new competitor, Microsoft.
Microsoft transitioned from selling software for use for other computers
(including Apple’s) to MS-DOS, an IBM-compatible operating system. Eventually Microsoft would
create a GUI-façade to DOS called Windows. The release of Windows 95, in 1995
became the PC industry’s only standard. With the release of
Windows 95, Apple's market share dropped to five percent. Apple’s CEO at the time, Gil Amelio looked
for ways to save the company.
What resulted from
this was the buying of NeXT Software. Jobs was welcomed back and was
given the position “informal adviser”. Because of two disastrous fiscal
quarters under Amelio, Jobs overthrew him and became the interim CEO of
Apple.
He also purged the board of directors, canceled dozens of R&D
products, and cut spending wherever he could. At Macworld on August 6th
1997, he announced a partnership with Bill Gates. Gates invested $150
million into Apple, and promised to release all future versions of
Office for the Mac platform. This would result in Apple
achieving profitability in 1998. The iMac was released on May 6th 1998, a
colorful all-in-one computer. Overall, the iMac was a great success, and Apple was
again regarded as the industry’s most innovative company. Return to top of page. |
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Timeline |
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1955- Steven P. Jobs was born in San Francisco, and was adopted by Justin and Clara Jobs from Mountain View, California. Jobs biological parents were Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. 1970- Jobs became friends with Steve Wozniak, when Jobs had a summer job at the same business (Haltek), where Wozniak worked as a systems programmer. 1972- Jobs graduated from high school from Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. He also enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He dropped out after one semester. 1974- Jobs returned to California, and started attending meets of the Homebrew Computer Club. He got a job as a technician at Atari, a manufacture of video games and systems, with a goal of saving money for a spiritual trip to India. After returning from India, he resumed working at Atari. 1976- Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer (April 1st); The Apple I is demonstrated at the Homebrew Computer Club. The first working Apple II is demonstrated at the Personal Computer Festival in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 1977- The first Apple II's go on sale. 1978- Work begins on the Apple III. 1979- Jobs began his own project, to develop a machine called the Lisa. 1980- Apple Computer goes public; The Apple III is introduced at Disneyworld. 1983- The Lisa is launched. It is the first commercial GUI-based computer. 1984- The Macintosh is introduced. 1985- Steve Wozniak leaves Apple; The Apple board of directors vote for Jobs' removal. In September, Jobs announces his decision to form a new company, NeXT Computer Inc. 1986- Jobs announces that he discovered his biological family. He found his biological parents had given birth to a girl, Mona Simpson. Jobs also buys Lucasfilm's computer animation department in February 1986, which would be eventually called Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar also introduces the Pixar Image Computer, a 3D graphics workstation. 1988- The NeXT Cube is introduced. 1989- The NeXT Computer headquarters is moved to Redwood City, California. Pixar's short film Tin Toy wins the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Jobs also drops the hardware division of Pixar, and fires half of Pixar's workforce. 1990- At the Davies Symphony Hall, Jobs introduces four computers: a faster NeXT Cube, an even faster NeXT Cube, the monochrome NeXT Station, and the NeXT Station Color. 1991- Steve marries Laurene Powell; She gives birth to Steve's son in September. The boy was named Reed Paul. Jobs signs a three picture deal with Disney. Production begins on the movie Toy Story. 1992- Jobs talks about the development of NeXTSTEP 486, a version of NeXTSTEP that would run on IBM compatible computers. 1993- Jobs shuts down NeXT's hardware division. The company's emphasis shifts towards software, and the company name is changed to NeXT Software, Inc. 1995- Toy Story is released in November, and is a critical success. Pixar also goes public. 1996- Jobs moves Pixar to new facilities in Emeryville, California. Apple Computer buys NeXT for $430 million. Jobs is appointed Informal Adviser at Apple Computer. 1997- Gil Amelio is ousted as Apple Computer's CEO on July 9. The Apple Computer Board of Directors is purged except for two members. Jobs joins the Apple Computer Board as well as being Pixar's CEO. At Macworld, Jobs announces an agreement with Microsoft. Steve officially becomes the interim CEO of Apple Computer. 1998- The iMac is unveiled on May 6th, at Flint Center in Cupertino, California. The Power Mac and PowerBook line-up are also revised. 1999- The color of Power Macs changes from beige to translucent colors similar to the iMac. 2000- During Macworld, Jobs announces his new offical title of Apple Computer CEO. The G4 Cube is released, and is considered a flop. Jobs also shows the first glimpse of Apple's next generation OS based on NeXTSTEP, OS X. 2001- iTunes is announced at Macworld. The iPod is introduced in October by Jobs. OS X 10.1 Puma is released in October. The first Apple Retail Store opens. 2002- OS X 10.2 Jaguar is released in September. 2003- Jobs introduces the iTunes Music Store. OS X 10.3 Panther is released in October. 2004- Jobs is diagnosed with cancer, with a tumor on his pancreas. Jobs undergoes surgery in July. That was successful. 2005- OS X 10.4 Tiger is released in April. In June, at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs announces the switch from PowerPC to Intel chips. Jobs announces in October after the unveiling of the 5th Generation iPods, the opening of the iTunes video store. 2006- The first Intel-based Macs are released in January: iMac and Macbook Pro. The Intel translation is completed eight months later with the release of the Mac Pro. In January, Disney announces the acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios. Steve Jobs becomes the largest individual shareholder of Disney. 2007- Jobs introduces the iPhone at Macworld. OS X 10.5 Leopard is released in October. He also announces the dropping of "Computer" from Apple Computer, and becoming Apple, Inc. 2008- On July 11th, the iPhone 3G was released. Return to top of page. | |
External Links |
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Recommended Reading |
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Alan Deutschman, The Second Coming of Steve Jobs
(2001)-
A book detailing the end of Job's term working at Apple
Computer, the
formation of NeXT, the acquiring of Pixar, and his return to Apple. Return to top of page. |
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Bibliography |
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"Steve Jobs."
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
11 Jul 2008, 15:39 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 12 Jul 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Jobs&oldid=225032134>.
"History of Apple." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2 Jul 2008, 05:53 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 12 Jul 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Apple&oldid=223020993>. Moisescot, Romain. "All About Steve - Biography." All About Steve. 27 Dec. 2007. 12 July 2008 <www.allaboutstevejobs.com/>. Return to top of page.Related Events |
This page is copyright © 2008, C.T. Evans and Alex Hall.
For information contact cevans@nvcc.edu