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Steve Jobs: The Secular Prophet
WSJ ^ | 10/8/11 | Andy Crouch, editor at Christianity Today

Posted on 10/08/2011 6:15:38 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat

Steve Jobs turned Eve's apple, the symbol of fallen humankind, into a religious icon for true believers in technology. But can salvation be downloaded?

For every magical thing Steve Jobs revealed in his Apple keynote addresses, there were many other things he concealed. Like the devices he created, his life was more and more opaque even while becoming more and more celebrated. So his death this week came as a shock for nearly all of us, even though we knew that only grave illness could be keeping him from the company he co-founded and loved. He told us almost nothing about his prognosis—right through his last public appearance he was as turtleneck-clad and upbeat as ever. But suddenly, this week, he was gone.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: apple; drivel; god; ipod; mac; stevejobs; technology; truth; wsj
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To: Outlaw Woman
Apple_Computer rainbow logo

Here ya go. Well remembered, and among other things, perhaps the genesis of all the Apple=homo jokes. Mebbe the left should have short stopped the usage of "gay" and the rainbow before the joke was set in stone?

21 posted on 10/08/2011 8:21:04 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: doorgunner69

‘Document not found’ :P

Hey remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsWzJo2sN4&feature=related


22 posted on 10/08/2011 8:25:12 PM PDT by Outlaw Woman (Do the Research for pete's sake and stop flaming out at Headlines)
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To: doorgunner69
Link busted:


23 posted on 10/08/2011 8:35:30 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: Outlaw Woman

Dimly recall it, though now the robots would be the cultists, they chick a Unix user..........You know whose image would be on the big screen..........


24 posted on 10/08/2011 8:54:06 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: Outlaw Woman

Dimly recall it, though now the robots would be the cultists, the chick a Unix user..........You know whose image would be on the big screen..........


25 posted on 10/08/2011 8:54:34 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: Recovering_Democrat
Whatever the limits of Steve Jobs's secular gospel, or for that matter of Dr. King's Christian one, our keen sense of loss at his passing reminds us that the oxygen of human societies is hope. Steve Jobs kept hope alive.

Incredibly, the writer of this drivel is an editor of "Christianity Today." That said...

There is a reason the Rats spout "hope" all the time - because "hope" is the most pathetic possible state of dependency. "Hope" is not prayer, it is not effort, it is not faith, it is not trust. It is literally the weakest state - and even intoning the word puts a person into a dependent and even miserable state of mind. And that's where the Rats want everyone to live - not just physcially, but mentally, emotionally and in their very souls.

And as a lifelong, hardcore Leftist Rat, Steve Jobs did indeed "keep hope alive" with every scheming plan he had, every dark association he made, and every step he led millions of people to take away from personal autonomy and towards technological surveillance - and most perversely, all in the name of the highest good.

Therefore, let us pray that his passing does, indeed, mean the end of this soul-crushing "hope," once and for all.

26 posted on 10/08/2011 9:06:39 PM PDT by Talisker (History will show the Illuminati won the ultimate Darwin Award.)
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To: doorgunner69

ahhh you must be young. I clearly remember the ad. I was 25 and had been taking computer classes..all on DOS platform. Where I worked bought MacIntoshes for the entire office. I did not like them at all at first. Thought they were childish (after working with DOS) with the little cartoon characters (icons lol) but now...well what would we do without our little icons...

As far as the image on the screen ... big brother. A brit actor I believe.

The humans sitting in the audience...are obama voters LMAO!


27 posted on 10/08/2011 9:14:42 PM PDT by Outlaw Woman (Do the Research for pete's sake and stop flaming out at Headlines)
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To: Talisker

There’s a wishful hope (I hope it won’t rain) and there’s a hope in a reliable promise (I hope for the day I will be in glory). Without distinguishing between the two, talk about hope is virtually meaningless.


28 posted on 10/08/2011 9:35:25 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (There's gonna be a Redneck Revolution! (See my freep page) [rednecks come in many colors])
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To: Talisker

Steve Jobs helped to create some neat tech gadgets and computers. Some were hits, some weren’t. I’ve been using Apple stuff since the early 90s. I used the stuff because I was more effective and efficient with it. Although I find Jobs an interesting study, quite frankly, I didn’t and don’t give a crap if he was in charge of Apple or not, only that the Apple products I use work well.

Steve Jobs only created hope in the minds of vapid hero worshipers. It explains much about what’s wrong with our society.


29 posted on 10/08/2011 9:44:53 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
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To: Outlaw Woman
ahhh you must be young.

You would be quite wrong,

I clearly remember the ad. I was maybe 25, working 40+ and going to school at night and had been taking computer/math classes. I did not watch TV much, if at all during that time. Distorted my viewpoint evidently. My early true computer work was Fortran programming classes on an IBM 360, punch card and all. Had nothing to do with the PC's for quite a few years. And then, on a HP-85 using HP-Basic for engineering stuff, (hardly a "PC", no cute litle icons, had to know what to type. Yikes, no mouse!!!)

Stuff like synthesizing Klophenstien impedance tapers using numerical codes. Not close to a PC of course, you actually did need to write some code, and use the keyboard. I did not like those toasters at all at first glance, too effete. Ended up with a Panasonic luggable for PC stuff, great introduction to real work in Autocad, Fortran 77, and stuff. Had to shut it down manually, the horror! Thought the Mac things were childish (after working with DOS) with the little cartoon characters (icons, lol) waving at you from the screen, but now...well what would we do without our little icons...So, not much has really changed, other than the possible dumbing down of the DOS world?? Luckily, the stupic balloons and icons can be squelched in Windoze, but a PITA that you should have to "de-Mac" the damn OS to begin with.

The humans sitting in the audience...are obama voters LMAO!

Perfect, my thoughts perzactly: Hmmmmm, Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm...............if it were re-made today....all would have one of those inapkins against their ears, earphones pumping in grunge rock on the other from one of those idiotpad thingees.........

30 posted on 10/08/2011 10:22:36 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: doorgunner69

Ahhh...I see. Well it only aired during the Super Bowl...I was a former football fanatic before the thugs took it over.

I do wish that I had taken programming classes back then but alas I was going after a business degree and at that time, only Introduction to computers was a required course...for the degree.

Yep...we are in full agreement then..mmmm mmmmm MMMMM Obama voters


31 posted on 10/08/2011 11:02:15 PM PDT by Outlaw Woman (Do the Research for pete's sake and stop flaming out at Headlines)
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Are you a bitter clinger?

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Become a monthly donor to Free Republic and another bitter clinger will donate $10 in your honor!


32 posted on 10/09/2011 12:56:26 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (Man is not free unless government is limited. ~Ronald Reagan)
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To: Revolting cat!

Yes, the piece is respectful of Jobs while still profoundly elegant in pointing out the flaws in his faith in technology.


33 posted on 10/09/2011 10:08:54 AM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
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To: Revolting cat!

Yes, the piece is respectful of Jobs while still profoundly elegant in pointing out the flaws in his faith in technology.

Sadly, the kneejerk dismissals and thumb-nosing that followed this thread exposed how little real thinking goes on by some folks here on FR.


34 posted on 10/09/2011 10:13:20 AM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
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To: Recovering_Democrat
You flatter yourself by placing yourself on a higher moral plane over others on this forum.

In reality, Steve Jobs was ruthless. He was an arrogant tyrant who ruled the early Apple Corporation with an iron fist. Jobs also commandeered much of Wozniak's ideas and took full credit for them.

Just ask some of Apple's first engineers who helped develop the company. They worked 20 hour days, for months straight, and when some of them finally could not take it any more, Jobs fired them, yelled at them, called them names and abused them. And then demanded that they give him even more.

If you wish to make this man a hero and see him as someone to be greatly admired and respected, then I feel sorry for you.

If you think for a second that what I am saying about the man is out of line, simply go check out the movie “The Pirates of Silicone Valley”. Or read the book, as well as look into Steve Wozniak's biography. You will be shocked to learn what a monster Steve Jobs truly was in his early career.

Jobs did mellow out in recent years, after Apple nearly went bankrupt in the ‘90’s, but that hardly excuses who and what he was and how he destroyed people to get to the top.

And he definitely is nobody to enshrine.

35 posted on 10/09/2011 10:36:15 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

General Patton was a ruthless arrogant tyrant who yelled at people, called them names and abused them.

Everything you say about Jobs has been long known, Captain Obvious. That’s how such leaders are. Nice guys finish last, and we certainly owe sympathy to those that such tyrants have hurt. But we are on the outside and not the abused ones. Here in the boondocks, some love me, some hate me. Should Steve Jobs’ kids despise their father because of all the things PSYCHO-FREEP said about him, that may or may not be completely true?


36 posted on 10/09/2011 2:43:30 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

You insult yourself by not even reading the piece I posted. If you had, you would not have assumed all you did by saying I made him a hero.


37 posted on 10/09/2011 5:32:20 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
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To: Recovering_Democrat

Came across this on another forum:

‘Steve Jobs never invented the Ipod - this chap did:

Quote:
http://www.kanekramer.com/default.htm

Quote:
Kane Kramer is a serial inventor. His inventions include the technology behind the MP3 player and Monicall. He was the first to conceive the idea of downloading music, data and video down telephone lines in 1979 when he was 23 and patented it with James Campbell who was 21. Together they went on to pioneer digital recording and built the world’s first solid state digital recorder/players.

Apple didn’t invent the first digital music player:

Quote:
The SaeHan Information Systems MPMan, which debuted in Asia in March 1998, was the first mass-produced portable solid state digital audio player.

The South Korean device was first imported for sale in North America by Michael Robertson’s Z Company[1] in mid-1998. Around the same time, Eiger Labs, Inc. imported and rebranded the player in two models, the Eiger MPMan F10, and Eiger MPMan F20.

The Eiger MPMan F10 was a very basic unit and wasn’t user expandable, though owners could upgrade the memory from 32MB to 64MB by sending the player back to Eiger Labs with a check for $69 + $7.95 shipping. Measuring at 91 mm tall by 70 mm wide by 16.5 mm thick and weighing a little over 2 oz, it was very compact.

The Eiger MPMan F20 was a similar model that used 3.3v SmartMedia cards for expansion, and ran on a single AA battery, instead of rechargeable NiMH batteries.

The Iphone wasn’t invented by Apple neither. Been around in the 1990s.

Quote:
The first smartphone was the IBM Simon; it was designed in 1992 and shown as a concept product that year at COMDEX, the computer industry trade show held in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was released to the public in 1993 and sold by BellSouth. Besides being a mobile phone, it also contained a calendar, address book, world clock, calculator, note pad, e-mail client, the ability to send and receive faxes, and games. It had no physical buttons, instead customers used a touchscreen to select telephone numbers with a finger or create facsimiles and memos with an optional stylus. Text was entered with a unique on-screen “predictive” keyboard. By today’s standards, the Simon would be a fairly low-end product, lacking a camera and the ability to download third-party applications. However, its feature set at the time was highly advanced.

The Nokia Communicator line was the first of Nokia’s smartphones starting with the Nokia 9000, released in 1996. This distinctive palmtop computer style smartphone was the result of a collaborative effort of an early successful and costly personal digital assistant (PDA) by Hewlett-Packard combined with Nokia’s bestselling phone around that time, and early prototype models had the two devices fixed via a hinge. The communicators are characterized by clamshell design, with a feature phone display, keyboard and user interface on top of the phone, and a physical QWERTY keyboard, high-resolution display of at least 640x200 pixels and PDA user interface under the door. The software was based on the GEOS V3.0 operating system, featuring email communication and text-based web browsing. In 1998, it was followed by Nokia 9110, and in 2000 by Nokia 9110i, with improved web browsing capability.

In 1997 the term ‘smartphone’ was used for the first time when Ericsson unveiled the concept phone GS88, the first device labelled as ‘smartphone’.

Jobs and Apple didn’t invent the PC mouse:

Quote:
The trackball was invented by Tom Cranston, Fred Longstaff and Kenyon Taylor working on the Royal Canadian Navy’s DATAR project in 1952. It used a standard Canadian five-pin bowling ball. It was not patented, as it was a secret military project.

Independently, Douglas Engelbart at the Stanford Research Institute invented the first mouse prototype in 1963,[4] with the assistance of his colleague Bill English. They christened the device the mouse as early models had a cord attached to the rear part of the device looking like a tail and generally resembling the common mouse. Engelbart never received any royalties for it, as his patent ran out before it became widely used in personal computers.

The invention of the mouse was just a small part of Engelbart’s much larger project, aimed at augmenting human intellect.

Apple and Jobs didn’t invent touch screen technology used by smartphones and Ipads:

Quote:
The first touch screen was a capacitive touch screen developed by E.A. Johnson at the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern, UK. The inventor briefly described his work in a short article published in 1965 and then more fully - along with photographs and diagrams - in an article published in 1967.

So he wasn’t that much of a visionary after all.’


38 posted on 10/10/2011 5:16:12 AM PDT by the scotsman (I)
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To: the scotsman

Jobs ripped off his best friend Wozniak in a deal in 1975.
Jobs was a tyrant at Apple first time round, compared by ex-employees to the 16/17th French kings for his arrogance and unpleasantness.

Worst of all, Steve Jobs was a man who refused to acknowledge his own child, and stood up in court and lied that he was sterile.

Add to the fact that imo he was not the genius and visionary they are claiming he was, and frankly I lost and lose no sleep over the death of Steve Jobs. He was a man whose fortune came from making money from gullable people desperate to be cool.


39 posted on 10/10/2011 5:40:29 AM PDT by the scotsman (I)
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To: the scotsman

Apple admit Briton DID invent iPod, but he’s still not getting any money

‘Apple has finally admitted that a British man who left school at 15 is the inventor behind the iPod.

Kane Kramer, 52, came up with the technology that drives the digital music player nearly 30 years ago but has still not seen a penny from his invention.

And the father of three had to sell his home last year and move his family to rented accommodation after closing his struggling furniture business .

Now documents filed by Apple in a court case show the US firm acknowledges him as the father of the iPod.

The computer giant even flew Mr Kramer to its Californian headquarters to give evidence in its defence during a legal wrangle with another firm, Burst.com, which claimed it held patents to technology in the iPod and deserved a cut of Apple’s £89billion profits.

Two years ago, Mr Kramer told this newspaper how he had invented and built the device in 1979 – when he was just 23.

His invention, called the IXI, stored only 3.5 minutes of music on to a chip – but Mr Kramer rightly believed its capacity would improve.

His sketches at the time showed a credit-card-sized player with a rectangular screen and a central menu button to scroll through a selection of music tracks – very similar to the iPod.

He took out a worldwide patent and set up a company to develop the idea. But in 1988, after a boardroom split, he was unable to raise the £60,000 needed to renew patents across 120 countries and the technology became public property.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1053152/Apple-admit-Briton-DID-invent-iPod-hes-getting-money.html#ixzz1aNlOwF2K


40 posted on 10/10/2011 5:50:00 AM PDT by the scotsman (I)
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