Weird. That other day — as I was about to go to sleep — I got this idea of listing people I look up to (who were still alive). Then I wake up today to the news that Steve Jobs has passed away. He was going to be on my list. Dammit why didn’t I post it here right at the moment I got the idea? Then I was going to write about the new iPhone that was announced on Tuesday but that feels slighty less important today. My Facebook feed is filled with different opinions regarding his passing; everything from people feeling sad to “he was just another leader of a big multinational corporation!”.

No matter what you think of him he did make a difference in the world of technology, that is more than evident while going on a Stockholm subway train. Everyone is using iPhones. I’m not turning this into a long winded tirade, I just wanted to be a part of this sad, sad day. Rest in peace, Steve — and thank you!

The Apple web site today, paying tribute in a very stylish way. Hey, a rhyme!

Related post:
Why I Love My Mac

A few interesting links:
How Steve Jobs “out-Japanned” Japan
The trouble with Steve Jobs
The life of Steve Jobs
My neighbor, Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs @ Wikipedia

In the early months of this year my mom suggested we take a trip to NYC in the fall. I thought it was a wonderful idea and we finally went a few weeks ago — thank you MOM! My cousin and her fiancé had plans to go there and we kind of went at the same time — not traveling together, but being there together. We stayed at the Hilton Times Square on 42:nd Street, just around the corner from Times Square. The “A” in the picture to the left.

The hotel was great, I instantly lost track of how tall the buildings were since the hotel lobby was located at the 15:th floor and our room was on the 29:th (if I recall correctly). There were higher and lower buildings outside the window, I never got a feel of how high it was. You could see a tiny spot of sidewalk far away between the buildings but that was it. The trip went smooth, we had a pre-booked shuttle from and to Newark Airport.

I took a lot of pictures with my Nikon D40 (18-55 kit lens) and hundreds of pics with my iPhone 3GS. When going through all the pics from the Nikon I realized I took way to many shots of buildings and street corners. I should have gone closer and try to pick up more intimate things but I guess I was blown away with just being there in the middle of it.


In hindsight a point-and-shoot would’ve been better. That’s why it’s easier and more fun/spontaneous shooting with the iPhone. I brought the video cam too but I hardly used it at all, don’t know why.

I had no clear idea of what I wanted to see when going to NYC. Well, I had three things I wanted to see; Central Park, the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue and the Adidas Originals Store on Wooster St. (SOHO). We went to those places and I bought some stuff. I just wanted to be there, in NYC. I was looking forward to unpacking my luggage and just walk out of the hotel and feel the city. The most touristy thing we did was the 86:th floor of the Empire State Building. I had a great view of the ESB from my room at the hotel and I wondered what it’d be like being up there. It was almost surreal being on the 86th floor Observatory, 1,050 feet (320 meters) up in the air. It was hard to take it all in.

I want to go back. A few days ago I saw a Swedish TV show with a group of actors going to NYC to put on a show and I recognized the streets and the views. I have to go back there, no doubt. I’ve been to the States before but that was back in 1997. I spent three weeks in Costa Mesa, Ca. If I had to choose one of them the answer is easy. NYC. I could go on and on about the things we did, all the great stores (Yellow Rat Bastard!), and the feel of the place but I guess you have to experience it yourself. When I told friends who’d been there about me going there they all said it was a fantastic place. Now I’m one of those people.

I love that city.

Links:
Pictures from my trip to NYC @ Flickr

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dear Steve Jobs,

we at SVT (the Swedish public service broadcaster) would like to ask you a favor. Below is a description of our SVT Play application. And to the right you can see all the Swedes who are eagerly awaiting its approval. So please Steve, hurry up and approve our app.
We have tried to simplify the approval process as much as possible for you. Just press the green button below and record a video of yourself saying “JA” (that’s “yes” in Swedish, pronounced “yah”).

Come on, Steve, Sweden is waiting. Say JA!

Sincerely,
SVT, Sweden

I’m really looking forward to having this app on my iPhone and this is my way of helping out. Go check out the site, it’s really nice with a wooden, Swedish feel. It’s a bit tounge-in-cheek but I think that’s a smart move. Well done SVT!

Uppdate:

Haha! I just realized they have a live video stream from Cupertino (outside the Apple HQ) showing people dressed in traditional Swedish ‘Folkdräkt‘. They are holding signs with messages to Jobs. STEVE LOOK!