Apple launches Jobs memorial page

Computerworld - Apple today launched a tribute page for its co-founder, Steve Jobs, posting some of one million messages it received after the death of the iconic entrepreneur.

The debut of the page on Apple's website preceded a company-wide celebration of Jobs' life on the firm's Cupertino, Calif. campus, slated for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Pacific.

According to a report by Reuters, Apple's retail stores will be shuttered to allow those employees to watch a live broadcast of the tribute.

Apple did not make the broadcast available to the public.

The memorial page, titled "Remembering Steve," displays a dozen or more messages from customers and employees at any one time, with new messages posting regularly.

Apple said it had received messages from "over a million people from all over the world" since it provided an email address on its website Oct. 5, the day Jobs died, where customers and others could use to leave thoughts, memories and condolences.

The company website's front page continues to show a photograph of Jobs, as it has for the last two weeks.

Jobs, 56, died of complications from a rare form pancreatic cancer.

In 2004, Jobs underwent surgery to treat the cancer, then in early 2009 took a six-month medical leave during which he received a liver transplant. In January 2011, Jobs took another, indefinite leave of absence, but never returned full time to the company. On Aug. 24 he announced his resignation as CEO, saying he "could no longer meet my duties."

Former chief operating officer Tim Cook, who ran Apple during Jobs' several absences, was appointed the new CEO the same day.

The messages posted on the tribute site today ranged from the lyrical to the matter-of-fact.

"Thank you for making the world colorful. Thank you for bringing Apple to the whole world. Thank you for making people's dream come true," said someone identified only as Sherry.

"As a 44-year-old I can say without a doubt my life has been influenced by Steve from the first day I touched my 8K Apple II in high school. Thank you for that Steve, thank you," said Joe.

"Rest in peace," read a message from Jose.

Yesterday, Cook took the opening moments of the company's earnings conference call with Wall Street analysts to briefly eulogize Jobs.

"This is our first earnings call since the passing of Steve Jobs," said Cook. "His spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple, and we are dedicated to continuing the amazing work that he loved so much."

Cook also expressed gratitude to the people who sent condolences to the company following Jobs's death.

People can continue to send messages to the rememberingsteve@apple.com email address, Apple said.

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer, or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@ix.netcom.com.

Read more about IT Industry in Computerworld's IT Industry Topic Center.