BREAKING: Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple

Mashable ^ | 8/24/2011 | Chris Taylor

[reegs]

Steve Jobs, co-founder and two-time CEO of Apple, offered his resignation to the company’s board Wednesday.

“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,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”

Jobs has been in poor health for some time. In January, he announced that he would be taking a medical leave of absence from the company. He returned to the public spotlight in March to help launch the iPad 2.

Jobs advised the board to “execute our succession plan” — by naming Tim Cook to replace him. Cook, formerly the COO of the company, has been standing in for Jobs since January and was widely tipped to be his successor.

Jobs hinted that he wouldn’t be leaving the company altogether — and would have a different position inside it.

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

Here’s the full text of Jobs’ statement as it crossed the wires.

[LdSentinal]

Yeah, those slave kids in China must really appreciate him.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Jobs' insistence on owning the hardware and charging premium prices for excellent design killed Apple against Microsoft during the '80s and '90s but worked brilliantly in the consumer electronics space in the '00s, starting with the iPod.

You can't overstate how big a loss Jobs' retirement is to Apple and to the industry. Aside from his visionary talent, the man gave a product demo like no other and his sense of style and flair helped make Apple products desirable to millions of people. He didn't just drive product strategy for Apple but also for dozens of other companies trying to keep up.

I'm not at all a fan of his walled-garden approach to the iPhone/iPad ecosystem, but the man is undoubtedly a creative genius. I hope he breaks new ground in fighting pancreatic cancer just as he has in his other endeavors and is around to impress and annoy us for many years to come.

[billva]

Yeah, those slave kids in China must really appreciate him.

Stupid comment.