October 6, 2011: Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Steve Jobs, one of the true pioneers of home computing, died on October 5 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

There will be many memorials from better writers than I, but for now I think it suffices to say that I am writing this post on an Apple computer, with an iPhone in my pocket and an iPod in my car, which will take me home to two more Apple computers and an iPad . . . and this is not uncommon among my friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. Even those who shun Apple products must concede Jobs' influence: from the Apple ][ to the Macintosh to the iPod, Jobs blazed paths for the rest of us to follow. It is not a coincidence that SJ Games is primarily a Mac-based office.

We wish Jobs' loved ones peace and good memories in the days ahead. Thanks for everything, Steve.

-- Andrew Hackard