Last night, the world heard the sad news that Steve Jobs has died. Apple and the world has lost one of the most visionary people to ever live. Most of you know, I grew up on Apples and am one of the largest Apple users out there - people think I am a bit cultish. So yea, the news was very sad for me personally.
There is no doubt the impact Steve Jobs had on the world. But yea, he lead Apple, a company that he directed in changing the world. That company and his leadership also shaped Google, Yahoo, Microsoft in many ways.
Larry Page posted a message on Gogle + as did Sergey Brin on Google + on just how much of an impact Apple and Steve Jobs had on Google:
From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.
Apple.com has an iconic image of Jobs on the home page leading to a message at apple.com/stevejobs, here are pictures:
Google rushed last night to put up a small text link under the Google search box that links Steve Jobs to Apple. Here is a picture:
But Google users want and expected more - they wanted a logo that honored and remembered his legacy. I have no doubt there will be one on October 5, 2012 - but for now, Google did not want to do a logo. They don't like doing logos for sad occasions and instead, they used the plain text link approach - which works for me but not for many.
There is a petition in the Google Web Search Help forums to make a Google logo. I doubt we will see one today, but I'd be surprised if we didn't see one next year.
Anyway, I sit with many of the world in mourning the loss.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help , Google Blogoscoped Forums and WebmasterWorld.
