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Updated, 08.53
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA has led tributes to the former Apple chief executive and co-founder Steve Jobs, who has died at the age of 56.
“By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity,” Obama said of Jobs, whose death was confirmed overnight by the company he made famous.
“By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun… 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,” Obama said.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also paid tribute to Jobs, describing him as a “creative genius who broke down walls in business and opened doors in people’s minds.
“His innovative prowess in the area of technology has brought about a level of access to information for millions that few would have ever foreseen.”
Bill Gates – whose Microsoft came to be seen as Apple’s great rival for decades – said the world “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 honour. I will miss Steve immensely.”
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg posted a status update to thank Jobs “for being a mentor and a friend” and “for showing that what you build can change the world”.
Google c0-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin also offered their thoughts on Jobs’ passing; Brin said he and Page “needed to look no farther than Cupertino”, Apple’s headquarters, when they needed inspiration.
“On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much,” Brin said.
Page added: “He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it.”
At the Apple store in downtown Chicago, Irish electrician Peter O’Reilly – browsing iPhones, iPads and laptops in the store – learned of Jobs’ death when a sombre-looking employee broke down in tears.
“I can’t imagine a world without Apple products,” O’Reilly told AP.
Marks of respect soon flowed from around the world. “iSad” was a trending topic on Twitter. Mac Users Group Mexico released a statement that concluded, “Let’s breathe deeply and say, VIVA STEVE JOBS!”
There were more traditional tributes closer to Silicon Valley. People placed flowers and scrawled chalk messages in front of the gates of Jobs’ Palo Alto home, where family and friends gathered.
Someone wrote “Thank you, Steve” in lipstick on the window of an Apple Store in Santa Monica – while in San Francisco people left tributes on Post-It notes stuck to the front window of the Apple Store in Union Square.
Scott Robbins, 34, a barber from San Francisco and an Apple fan for nearly 20 years, said he came as soon as he heard the news.
“To some people, this is like Elvis Presley or John Lennon — it’s a change in our times,” Robbins said. “It’s the end of an era, of what we’ve known Apple to be. It’s like the end of the innovators.”
At an Apple Store in New York City, where a small collection of flowers and candles had started to form, Jacqueline Thuener-Rego, said Jobs has helped change how people think about their relationship with technology.
“You don’t think of it as technology, you think of it as memories, experiences,” the 28-year-old actress from Brooklyn said. “It’s as integrated into your life as a cup of coffee. The technology has become the human experience.”
Additional reporting via AP
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Let’s hope Adrian Bayley will get a taste of his own medicine while inside. Karma is a wonderful thing. :)
I see the trolls ‘ red thumb brigade’ are out again. Bloody morons!!!
He raises a pertinent question though, what the hell point is there having a maximum sentence if it’s not going to be imposed.
With this guy’s previous history and then this case on top, if he didn’t warrant it I shudder, shudder to thing what actually would.
My heart poors for this guy and i agree he was let down by the justice system …. but maybe not something that should be a headline in this country …. rape carries 15 years in Oz.? Try 15 weeks over here
This man had already raped 8 women prior to murdering Jill and only served 10 years altogether. He also broke someone jaw whilst out on parole for rape. Australian justice system is a joke, too focused on the offender as opposed to the community.
These types of yokes should not be getting let out of jail after a set number of years, they should be kept inside if they’re not safe. And most of them don’t even look for help inside but they still get let out.. our own “beast of the east” LM got let out and he’s free now to prey on potential victims. These fiends should stay locked up in my opinion.
They should be locked up for life if they cannot be rehabilitated. Right now we gather the worst in society and throw them into a building where they are expected to be kept for a number of years. Then they’re just thrown back into the world after an arbitrary number of years has been fulfilled. It’s no wonder the western world has such high rates of reoffending with a system like that.
Exactly Jason, that’s what I’m saying, these types shouldn’t get a release date while they’re still a danger..
Was nearly in tears watching this chap on the news. I hope he takes a civil action and sues the a*** off them
A lot of red thumbs again tonight in response to what decent people are expressing. If one has any compassion for Gill, her husband and family what is their problem with decent people expressing their views. All I can say some sickos trolling the journal and in support obviously of vile rapists and murderers. Sad but very true! Lets see how many ref thumbs?
Heartbreaking interview. At least some justice has been served. RIP
He should never be allowed out of prison as long as he draws breath. I don’t know why he can’t get life. And I mean real ‘life’- not like this country. We should also take notice in this country of letter sex offenders out on parole. They’re monsters who will offend again!
I think Tom Meagher is right about the remorse. I’m sure Bayley’s lawyer pointed out to him that if he showed some remorse he’d get a few years off his sentence. Crocodile tears. The man shouldn’t have been out on bail and now he should have a whole-life sentence with no possibility of his ever getting out.
It’s heartbreaking, that poor man
God damn judges are the same all over the world. They play gods and seem to enjoy showing mercy to monsters. Judges should be replaced by a software driven logic.
I agree Mary. Predators such as these, do not have the capacity to experience remorse, let alone understand its meaning. It’s a foreign concept to them, like a foreign language is to us.
Sadly the shit will be on a secure wing, which will be hard to access by any one other than staff.
It is so sad and the family is so brave.
I am ashamed of the Australian Legal System.
RIP
Unfortunately here in Ireland rapists get off lightly too. The kind of sentence given in the article below is an absolute disgrace and sends out the complete wrong message.
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