Apple will host a staff memorial for Steve Jobs

HARDWARE DESIGNER Apple will host a staff celebration of the life of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of the company who died last week.

Apple will host the event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Wednesday, 19 October, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The celebration of Jobs' life will take place in an outdoor amphitheatre at Apple's office complex.

Details are sketchy, but we can expect that staff will share stories about Jobs, his contribution to the company, and how he changed the technology industry with his leadership and entrepreneurship.

"Like many of you, I have experienced the saddest days of my lifetime and shed many tears during the past week," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, in the memo. "And I've found comfort in both telling and listening to stories about Steve."

Jobs co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976, helping to launch first the Apple I and Apple II personal computers as well as the Macintosh computer and other products. It was his return to Apple in 1996, however, that earned him the most recognition, as he revamped the company and oversaw the launch of a series of highly successful and industry changing products, including the iconic Ipod, Iphone and Ipad devices.

News of Jobs' death elicited a wave of grief from Apple supporters and a series of tributes from industry professionals, including many who were considered Jobs' rivals. Even Google and Samsung delayed the launch of the Nexus Prime, a major competitor to the Iphone, as a sign of respect for Jobs' passing.

Jobs died last Wednesday, apparently from a rare form of pancreatic cancer that he had battled for a number of years. He was 56. µ