My apology to Tim Cook and remembering Steve Jobs

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A few weeks ago I wrote an article for the Next Web about Steve Jobs. In it I tell about my front-row seat on Steve Jobs career.

Tonight I apologized to Tim Cook, Apple’s new CEO, for being harsh on him and his performance on Tuesday where he introduced the iPhone 4s. If you’ve been following my Google+ account, you’ve been seeing all that. That’s where I’ve been “blogging” lately.

Tonight I was driving near the Cupertino/Sunnyvale border when I heard the news on KGO Radio. Steve Jobs had died. I shot a rainbow over Silicon Valley shortly after I heard the news, then drove onto Apple’s campus in Cupertino, where I discovered the flags were half staff. I was one of the first tech blogger/journalist types there.

It was quiet. A few people were taking pictures of the flags, hanging. What I noticed was how quiet everyone was. Most were staring into their iPhones, at least partially in shock at the news. Soon the press started showing up. One of the first was Dean Takahashi, of Venture Beat, who shot this video of me. That was discussed here on Google+.

Some other photos and discussion:

First flower appears at Apple's headquarters

First flower appears in memorial to Steve Jobs. Many more would follow. The discussion about that on Google+ is here.

iPhone photos of half-mast flags at Apple's headquarters

Video of a bagpiper who played in front of the Apple campus:

Apple employees reading their iPhones, waiting for a bus. All were quiet.

Apple employees being quiet while reading Steve Jobs news

Apple’s headquarters when I came on campus. Now there’s a crowd there and a memorial. When I arrived employees were sadly walking around, being very quiet, occasionally shooting a photo of the flags.

Flags half staff at Apple's Cupertino headquarters

Apple’s headquarters with dark storm clouds overhead.

Storm clouds over Apple

A rainbow over Silicon Valley shortly after I learned of the news.

Rainbow over Silicon Valley as it learned about Steve Jobs' death

Thanks, Steve, for all the change you brought to my life. You made it immeasurably better. You’ll be remembered for many years to come and there won’t be another one of your kind to come soon. I’m so honored to have met you.

About Robert Scoble

As Startup Liaison for Rackspace, the Open Cloud Computing Company, I travel the world with Rocky Barbanica looking for what's happening on the bleeding edge of technology and report that here.

89 thoughts on “My apology to Tim Cook and remembering Steve Jobs”

  9. We really very sad for death of great itechnology man Steve Jobs. we will miss him for lifetime.

  13. How many times do the pronouns “I” and “me” appear in this post? I lost count. Way to make Steve’s passing all about you.

    1. These the use of personal pronouns in these testimonial do not make them self-centered and invalid. They are heartfelt statements about how Steve affected their lives and therefore valid testimonials to Steve.

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  19. I have great respect for you, Robert, and what you do, shedding light into dark corners of the start up world. I do hope I get the chance to meet you some day and talk about my own business ideas. But you have received what amounts to 200 pats on the back for your apology and all I can think of is why did you need to write it to begin with?

    To me, there are two fascites to an apology. The first is recognizing that I did something wrong and the second is recognizing the situation so I don’t do it again. This time we learned what was going through Tim Cook’s mind on stage and learned why Apple may have reigned in their announcements, but that isn’t always the case. We don’t always know. But just because we don’t know doesn’t mean there isn’t a very good reason.

    You pass the first part of the apology with flying colors, but did you learn anything from it? Your mistake has helped me, though, as it reminds me not to make the second mistake.

  20. He wasn’t boasting, dude. I think Robert’s point was that he arrived early enough to capture these photos before the crowds and press started to gather at Infinite Loop

  21. It’s funny how so many of us (and I include myself in this) are so moved by the passing of a man we never met. How many of us will be lucky enough go to our graves in the knowledge that we changed the world?

    RIP Steve. Thanks for iEverything.

  22. Thank you, Robert, for your words. I couldn’t wrap my head around this roller-coaster week and you did it for me.

  25. Robert, yes, we were both touched by the Apple II and our lives changed forever. I could be saying most of the same things as you (other than I did not live here) but sadly few can truly understand how Steve changed our lives with his vision, products, and work. I had the please of meeting and working for Steve even not directly and I am just very proud of being part of it.

    1. He wasn’t boasting, dude. I think Robert’s point was that he arrived early enough to capture these photos before the crowds and press started to gather at Infinite Loop

      1. Fine, I didn’t think he was boasting, please not to misunderstand my comment.
        I don’t understand people got there for curiosity (many people on social networks are saying “I was there”, not sad and just not honouring Steve Jobs) while Apple people gathering (respect for them).
        I see it as a private moment, no need of journalism. That’s all.
        Of course, it’s my own opinion.

        1. Robert,
          I’ve got to say, I had an opposite reaction. The fact that your instant response was “I’ve got to get to Apple HQ” does show the core of a journalist (whether you call yourself one or not). People can argue all they want about whether that grieving was news, but I think it says more about your heat-seeking reactions…and that’s a good thing.

          Cheers, Ken

    2. We grew up on these products, but Robert grew up in that very neighborhood for chrissakes.

      I look forward to seeing Robert on the day the new building opens. That will be pretty special and bittersweet.

  28. He was an amazingly influential person. He’s an example of how a *single* person, with the right amount of motivation and determination, can bring huge changes in the world, that a common man can’t even imagine. Thanks, Steve, for being the person you were. You’ve taught all of us extremely important lessons that we shall never forget.

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