Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography book review

As I mentioned previously I was sad to hear of Steve Jobs passing. I've read loads on him (1, 2, 3 and 4), so knew a fair deal about him. I had worked on a documentary and knew about some of the Apple stories especially Steve Jobs. Therefore, I was quite interested to read Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography.
In reading the story Isaacson gets to talk to Jobs at a pretty sad moment in his life. When he's coping with cancer.
The book does look at Jobs the man and his binary outlook (things are either great or crap). His reality distortion field stories are also covered extensively. One point of interest is the author feels Jobs could often fall pray to the reality distortion field in believing he did not have cancer as he willed it so.
For those who have read about Jobs previously, he really is not an endearing person. In fact he's pretty nasty. But, his ability to resurrect apple, his views on tablet computing and his success at Pixar making him interesting material to read about.
The main part I liked are near the end. When I went to the states I meet Jobs friend Dan Kottke, Apple employee number 12. Kottke had gone to India (one of Jobs biggest influence on him was his interest in Asian culture and religion) with jobs and worked with Jobs but when it came to giving shares to staff Kottke got none. Kottke wasn't bitter (totally), but he was disappointed in his friend not recognising he was there at the beginning of the company. When we meet him, him and Jobs hadn't spoke for years. In the book, when Jobs was dying (2009 or 2010) Kottke spoke to him when buying an Ipad. Jobs stopped and spoke to him. I've heard also Kottke did meet him on other occasions. That alone makes Jobs a more approachable character.
In conclusion. If your an Apple fan, design fan or IT fan get this book. Obviously, Jobs is slightly sugar-coated in the book, but not greatly. So, if you want an insanely great book, get this.

A possible return......the passing of Steve Jobs

I've not written for a long while on this blog. I have been bored with it to be honest. But I was touched to write about the passing of Steve Jobs. Christ, I bet everyone has haven't they. Anyhow, here is my piece.
It is quite weird when I found out. In the IT world he has (sorry, had) and almost god like following (well, for some). Like any god, they don't die. Steve Jobs did though. I was upset. Why? Well I like Jobs as I've has 3 macs in the last ten year (my first being the Imac G3 in 2000. Not the biggest machine, but for pure pleasure of use and aesthetics it was unbeatable. Also, this Mac had OS 9. Not the easiest OS ever either. It is the only computer I really loved working on. The Imac G3 is seen as the first innovation that Jobs brought about on his return to Apple in 1997.
Not only that I've owned three Ipods (I lost one in a drunken haze). Therefore, I've had pleasure listening to music and using a computer, which on PC never happened.
I have also seen Steve Jobs in person as a mac expo in san francisco in 2002 keynote speech. For those who have never seen this, its quite amazing. People simply stormed for their seats. They hung on every word. He was like a god to them (btw, it was god dam scary to if you got in there way). But he did have an aura when he spoke> Even though I had no idea then what he was talking about (i'm a geek not a programmer). Whilst at the Expo I also went to Cupertino for drinks at Apple HQ. I could understand beer and got drunk their (it was free booze).
I've also read many books about Apple such as Insanely Great: The Life and Times of Macintosh, the Computer That Changed Everything, Return to the Little Kingdom: Steve Jobs, the creation of Apple, and how it changed the world, Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition and Still Can't Get a Date and plenty others. All fascinating.
I also got to work on a Film about In Search of the Valley in which I meet Steve Wozniak, co founder of Apple. Daniel Kottke a friend of jobs in the 1970's and employee no.12 at Apple. Captain Crunch we phone phreaker Jobs visited to learn about it. Guy Kawasaki who was chief evangelist for Jobs and Apple in the early 80's. The stories where fascinating. The guy was a great salesman and performer.
Another reason to admire Jobs was he was quite a nasty guy as well. For example, rejecting his first daughter Lisa, even when DNA results showed he was her father. His not paying Woz his share for making break out for Atari. And many other stories to.
I'm not totally a fan boy of Apple. I hate Itunes and the selling of single tunes for $0.99. I think it under sells albums and artist and media companies are losing out at Apple's gain (read Free Ride: How the Internet Is Destroying the Culture Business and How the Culture Business Can Fight Back to get a better understanding). I detest the Ipad, and find it too expensive for what it does (there's a suprise. Apple. Too expensive?)
So, why was I upset at Jobs passing? Jobs was a genius. He had 3 successes. Apple. Next. Pixar. For most people, one would be good. But three? Christ, thats insane. Jobs was also a legend. His idea of design was groundbreaking.
Jobs was also a legend (sometimes in his own mind). His work on the popularisation of Tablet computers and Mp3 players and changing the record indusrty, just mind blowing.
But finally, his passing shows that he was admired. RIP Steve Jobs.

Apple Ipad to take on Kindle/Sony Reader

As mentioned previously, Steve Jobs has released the long awaited Apple tablet, the iPad. It looks like a large Iphone to be honest. But the big news for libraries and book fans is the ibook application. Some are saying its the future of publishing.
What I loved was Jobs saying the Amazon Kindle had done a good job, but Apple had Five of the largest publishers — Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Hachette. Oh, how like Steve Jobs to damn by faint praise.

Pixar Book and there early films

I started reading The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company which is a real good read. Whilst reading I was interested to see some of the early short films. The first one was Andre & Wally B. The second was Luxo Jr. The third and final one was Red's Dream, Pixar's first Oscar. The films were really interesting in how far Pixar has gone and where they began. The books a good read to.

Podcast for the macintosh 25th anniversary

The Guardian has a great podcast on the 25th anniversary of the macintosh. They discuss with such appe luminaries as Steve Wozniak and Andy Hertzfeld. Being a user, fan boy of Apple its worth a listen, and was nice that Jeff Raskin gets a mention as the creator of the Macintosh. If you have ever enjoyed some of the great books or films on Apple I would highly recommend it.
By the way it would have been interesting if they had discussed where Apple are going now that Steve Jobs is ill in more detail.

What I read was great

I've just finished Steven Levy's book The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness. Levy provides a wonderful insight into the ipod and apple and its affect on society. Steven has previously written about apple and also touches on Jobs 'hacking' days in the 70's with Captain Crunch. He is able to ask Jobs anything. The book is well worth a look.