Steve Jobs obituary accidentally published online
updated 11:40 am EDT, Thu August 28, 2008
False Steve Jobs obituary
An obituary for Apple CEO Steve Jobs was recently published accidentally through Bloomberg's financial newswire, reports say. The article, though several pages long, is incomplete, with gaps for Jobs' age and means of death. It also suggests a number of important people to interview for quotes, including Steve Wozniak, the other founder of Apple; Heidi Roizen, an ex-girlfriend of Jobs; and Jon Rubinstein, former head of Apple's iPod division. The obituary was quickly retracted, but not before a copy began to circulate online.
Jobs' battles with pancreatic cancer -- and speculation over his current health -- have both caused commotion on Wall Street. In June rumors of new problems began to spring up, as people noticed an unusually thin figure during WWDC. Apple officials passed this off as a "common bug," and in recent weeks talk of Jobs' health has quieted down. Concern remains, however, that Apple could become aimless without its present boss, who is said to dictate much of the company's philosophy, and micro-manage details.
It is standard practice for news organizations to prepare obituaries in advance, even for otherwise healthy people. The Jobs piece does not contain any references to a new condition.
Ooooo. Time
08/28, 12:01pm reply
for a Samuel Clemens quote!
Flying Meat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
Whoops!
08/28, 12:03pm reply
Those "Save" and "Send" buttons are waaaaay too close to each other.
akulavolk
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2007
And...
08/28, 12:42pm reply
in Snow Leopard, there'll be a picture of Steve with his back towards the camera and barefoot.
And the intro music to the registration screen will have a very garbled "I buried Steve" sung by Avie.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
And there's this...
08/28, 01:04pm reply
Steve Ballmer was recently seen handing over an envelope stuffed with cash to a sinister looking character on the back lot of the Microsoft campus. Could be nothing.
lkrupp
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2001
valid concern
08/28, 01:18pm reply
I would not be surprised if Steve Jobs has loosened his extreme "vigilance" over details that normally would never be overlooked.
Especially considering how Apple has been stumbling recently with the error-prone rollout of the iPhone 3G and MobileMe services.
I would fear even more lack of quality-control in Jobs' absence. I think Apple would do well to identify a successor with just as much an obsession for perfection and details. Micro-directing is not the same thing as micro-managing.
carloblackmore
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2005
. . .
08/28, 01:27pm reply
Now we need Steve to formally introduce the new Apple iZombie.
gudin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
and of course...
08/28, 01:39pm (1 reply) reply
...it comes from bloomberg's financial newswire. attempted stock manipulation at its finest.
rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Accidentally,
08/28, 02:57pm reply
on purpose. Anything to destabilize Apple's stock.
Exactly how is something like this done accidentally? Just hit the wrong button. Or maybe wishful thinking.
Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
man
08/28, 03:43pm reply
thats seriously fucked up.
zaghahzag
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Aug 2006
Good ole' Gil
08/29, 11:04am reply
I hear Gil Amelio is looking for work. Maybe he could... Nah. We don't need 35 different versions of the iPhone.
hdfonts
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2007