Iconic Steve Jobs Videos From Throughout The Years

So yesterday after almost 36 years since co-founding Apple in his parents garage with Steve Wozniack, Steve Jobs announced his resignation as Apple’s CEO. While he’ll still stay on as Apple’s Chairman… Apple fans, the tech world, investors and Wall Street analysts now wonder what the future holds for Apple. Tim Cook, Apple’s COO will now take over as full time CEO. Tim is regarding by many in the tech world as an operational genius so only time will tell if his leadership and vision align with what Steve did that made Apple what it is today.

Resignation

Here’s Steve’s resignation letter to Apple Employees…

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Going Forward

Here’s Tim Cook’s letter to Apple employees on Steve Jobs resignation…

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.

Tim

What I’ll Miss

Most knew it was coming probably sooner than later considering his bout with pancreatic cancer, recent liver transplant and other medical complications, but it still didn’t soften the blow. Anyone who’s followed Steve Jobs over the years knows Apple is his life and that Apple itself has been defined by Steve Jobs.

While I will definitely miss Steve Jobs the showman, pitchman, innovator and genius marketer… The executive team Steve assembled at Apple is second to none and

More than anything I hope Steve’s health improves with his time off. We all know he won’t be too far away and I’m sure he’ll still be giving plenty of input on product development and advertising at least for the near future. Remember he still is the Chairman of Apple.

I think what I’ll miss most about Steve running Apple is his vision and ability to deliver products the public doesn’t even know it wants and thus creating a new market. I think what set him and Apple apart from the other technology companies is Apple didn’t focus on technology and just shoot for making what’s already out there faster or thinner although they do that as well, but that they strive to combine technology with liberal arts

During the iPhone 4 and recent iPad 2 announcement Steve closed his keynotes with this… “We’re not just a tech company, even though we invent some of the highest technology products in the world. It’s the marriage of that plus the humanities and the liberal arts that distinguishes Apple. It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough. That it’s the technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities that yields us with the result that makes our hearts sing.”

People have always asked me why I like Apple products so much. What Steve said above answers that question. His vision, leadership, emotion and salesmanship combined to make devices that are a combination of beautiful hardware, incredibly advanced software that all works seamlessly together and is designed to work around an easy to use and well designed user interface. Some argue his inventions are just a phone or just a computer or just a music player. Those inventions changed the world. They changed the way we work, the way we listen to music and watch movies, the way we create and interact with each other. Those are some pretty important things in my book.

Thanks for a great 35+ years and best of luck in the next chapter of your life. Your time at Apple may be done, but your life and inspiration to others isn’t. Just like you said in your 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech… “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.”

We’ll miss you Steve!

Videos

Below I’ve embedded some of my favorite Steve Jobs and Apple videos from over the last 35+ years. What’s your favorite? If I didn’t include it, link to it in the comments below.