A triumphant Steve Jobs returns to work, stage, pulpit
Filed under: Technology, People, Apple
A spry Steve Jobs made a triumphant return Wednesday at Apple's (AAPL) "It's Only Rock and Roll" event in San Francisco to a rapturous reception from several hundred reporters and industry figures in the audience and an untold number following the event on the web.There was no major product announcement. And the much-rumored unveiling of the Beatles catalog on iTunes didn't happen, just as we reported it wouldn't. But the mere appearance of an energetic Jobs at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts sent the audience into a frenzy.
"I'm very happy to be here today with you all," Jobs said to applause, according to the Engadget live-blog of the event. "As some of you know, about five months ago I had a liver transplant, so I now have the liver of a mid-20's person who died in a car crash. I wouldn't be here without such generosity. I hope all of us can be as generous and become organ donors."
"So," Jobs added, "I'm vertical, I'm back, I'm getting to work with our teams to come up with some great new products."
With that, Jobs introduced a series of improvements to the iPhone, iTunes and iPod Touch. Using the Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" as an example, Jobs showcased the expanded album materials, including lyrics and photos, that will be available on the iTunes music store.
After Jobs' appearance, Apple's Senior VP of products Phil Schiller took the stage to announce new price points for iPods, the Touch model in particular.
"We learned something a few years back in the iPod business," Schiller said. "We asked engineering to get the costs down -- when we did that, the sales doubled. We learned that $199 is a magic price point... so that's what we're going to do with the iPod Touch."
Referring to the Touch, Schiller said: "8GB [for] $199, at $299 we're doubling the memory... and at $399 we're doubling to 64GB."
And in a development that sparked a near mass-fainting episode in the hall, Schiller announced a new and improved iPod Nano that will come equipped with a camera in the back.
Finally, Jobs reappeared and introduced the pop star Norah Jones, who serenaded the crowd out, as is custom for these Apple "events."
Email Sam Gustin at sam.gustin@weblogsinc.com. Follow DailyFinance's tech coverage at http://www.twitter.com/DFTechNews
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-09-2009 @ 4:48PM
Michael said...
Steve Jobs is indeed a grand example for human beings of all ages and both sexes with a never-say-quit attitude! This is one very admirable man. Some would say "if I had his wealth blah-blah" I would do as he does! I say "bunk'! All of us are not the same and will never be! Keep pushing sir and may GOD continue to show you the way!!
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9-09-2009 @ 5:34PM
Dennis Sanders said...
I could not agree more. He really is the force and creative genius, in every way, behind Apple.
How many people with his wealth would have gone back to work. I doubt I would have.
9-09-2009 @ 5:51PM
rs weidman said...
Hope if I ever need a transplant I'll be able to "jump" ahead of a few other needy ones who deserve it more.
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9-12-2009 @ 5:59AM
webster_z said...
And who are these people who deserve it more than Steve Jobs - pray tell???
9-09-2009 @ 5:55PM
J said...
Glad to see he's doing well.
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9-09-2009 @ 6:52PM
summerchaser said...
I'm extremely happy to see Mr Jobs on the mend.......
I'd like to hear his take on healthcare ........
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9-09-2009 @ 6:53PM
Sam Gustin said...
Yes, something tells me he is not among the 45 million uninsured....
9-09-2009 @ 6:57PM
summerchaser said...
The ability to get a liver...... doesnt have anything to do with money......... actually there is a list in dc...... and who needs it more.........
but.......with that said......... i dont believe someone with pancreatic cancer .... is suppose to be able to get a liver......
but this again is a person ......WHOM SHOULD TALK UP ABOUT HEALTHCARE......... AND THAT HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE NOT GOTTEN A NEW LIVER....
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9-09-2009 @ 8:16PM
George said...
The one nagging question I have about the new materials is whether or not people who bought music over iTunes will be able to get the expanded materials without buying the song or album again.
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9-09-2009 @ 9:41PM
Paul Pemberton said...
Don't believe the FEDS.
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9-10-2009 @ 12:58AM
Steve said...
It's funny how he and Bill still hate each other after all these years. Man, I'd love to see them do a Gates Jobs Celebrity Deathmatch!
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9-10-2009 @ 1:49AM
Typical Engadget Tech-Nerd said...
Spry!? He looks like a spry 80-year-old and not someone who's only 54 years of age. I suppose it appears that way because he's rather thin and it makes him seem frail.
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9-10-2009 @ 7:57AM
JOHN T said...
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT STEVE JOBS WILL HAVE A LONG LIFE MORE THAN 75 YRS OLD. HE IS A GENIUS.
I REALLY ADMIRE HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MANKIND.
STEVE JOBS EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
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9-10-2009 @ 9:35AM
rdcmadmax said...
The man looked absolutely cadaverous.
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9-10-2009 @ 9:39AM
Sam Gustin said...
Hey -- he couldn't digest food for six months, essentially starving himself to death, and then had a liver transplant. If you went through that, I think you'd be looking a little haggard as well. Seemed energetic though.
9-10-2009 @ 10:13AM
North said...
Steve might have looked healthier had he just shaved.
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9-10-2009 @ 9:53AM
cardinaldog said...
Steve might have looked healthier had he just shaved.
Reply
9-10-2009 @ 12:36PM
Margaret said...
I live in Ca. and out here it is about money and only money... money is God in Ca. Steve Jobs is lucky, he had the money to get his transplant over people who did not have his kind of money to jump ahead of the line- money buys you life... plain and simple. It is sad when life has a price tag- if you have money you are considered better than someone who has no money. I had nothing growing up- we were dirt poor and I mean dirt poor- through the years I have had some opportunitites to be successful and I married a successful person- we have money now but we have no peace. It is a constant battle to maintain the lifestyle we have and we not happy- our marriage sucks, we never see each other and when we do we fight- over money or how much time we spend apart because it takes every moment alive to give 900% to a job that owns us. We buy Steve Jobs expensive products so we can be hip and cool and computer/gadget forward- we have stuff but we don't have joy- you get all caught up in this fast moving pace here in Ca and forget what matters- sometimes things happen to make you stop and take a good look at your life- wonder if Steve Jobs did that or was he too busy making a buck?
Reply
9-10-2009 @ 12:37PM
Margaret said...
I live in Ca. and out here it is about money and only money... money is God in Ca. Steve Jobs is lucky, he had the money to get his transplant over people who did not have his kind of money to jump ahead of the line- money buys you life... plain and simple. It is sad when life has a price tag- if you have money you are considered better
than someone who has no money. I had nothing growing up-we were dirt poor and I mean dirt poor- through the years I have had some opportunitites to be successful and I married a successful person- we have money now but we have no peace. It is a constant battle to maintain the lifestyle we have and we are not happy- our marriage sucks,
we never see each other and when we do we fight- over money or how much time we spend apart because it takes every moment alive to give 900% to a job that owns us. We buy Steve Jobs expensive products so we can be hip and cool and computer/gadget forward- we have stuff but
we don't have joy- you get all caught up in this fast moving pace here in Ca. and forget what matters- sometimes things happen to make you stop and take a good look at your life- wonder if Steve Jobs did that or was he too busy making a buck?
Reply
9-10-2009 @ 1:39PM
Will1234 said...
It pleases me that Apple is doing well. Their products are superior to PCs. No virusses etc. It's time Bill Gates gets a bit of a setback. I am all for free enterprise and making a profit, but to score 50 billion in personal assets in about 15 years tells me that ole Bill was way overpricing his product and that he has a great love of money. Of Course that makes him a better businessman than Jobs in a dog eat dog world sense but still I cannot help to feel a sense of justice that the nicer guy is doing well.
Reply