Steve Jobs’ passing is the saddest of news. But his life will remain an inspiring example of what can be achieved… when you do what you love.

Like most of us, I was deeply saddened to hear about Jobs’ disappearance today.  The news brought a flood of images and experiences to mind, from my first run on a Mac+ in 1989 to the many blissful hours spent with my iPod, iPhone or MacBook as natural and perfectly designed mediums to access, enjoy and share content.

It is a very strange sensation to feel such deep sadness for a man who you don’t personally know and to whom one’s respect and admiration only made Apple a more successful company. But these feelings ring true, and a quick peek online showed me that they were shared by millions. Steve Jobs was much more than a man who built a successful company. He was an inspiring visionary and a gutsy achiever, who made things happen through self-confidence. In Steve’s world, users did not have to compromise on what they could do because of the complexity of technology or because market dynamics at the upper echelons of the value chain. Apple’s achievement was to make easy and intuitive products, without sacrificing on what technology enabled. Today, Apple is synonymous to simplicity, power and beauty – and many other companies have adopted the same philosophy.

For us who read, write and work in the world of technology communications, Jobs’ career and achievements take yet another dimension. Today, Tech PR is a riveting environment where a broad community of users engage in discussions relevant to practically everyone around the world. Many eagerly await the next launch, speculate over features, or feverishly comment on leaks and rumours. Of course, none of this existed in the days of MS-DOS and mainframe computers: technology became newsworthy thanks to great products.

There were many amazing events while Jobs was at the helm, but a look at the mobile industry today suggests that the iPhone launch topped them all. We all remember how early PDAs promised web browsing, emailing, video and music playing. But trying to use them soon revealed that they could do none of the above properly. Then Apple came along, and with hardly any background in telecommunications, built a phone that reallydelivered on promises. It also generated an ecosystem of applications, whichlet just about anybody invent new ways to use the iPhone’s features. From that point on, all devices had to provide a similar experience or see their market shares melt away. Thankfully, there is no turning back now, Steve set the standard for mobile computing experience, and products will continue to compete at that level or above.

Jobs often said that what mattered most was to do what you enjoyed. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and was able to steer forward when many said it was impossible. He had a profound trust in his projects and knew they would be greeted with success. He will certainly be missed, but his life’s work and his philosophy will be with us for quite a bit longer.

By Remi Poncelet