Happy Birthday Mr. Jobs

Today, February 24, 2009, Steven Paul Jobs is 54 years old. Steve Jobs is the co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. and the former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios and the world's favorite CEO. Steve Jobs was listed as Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Businessman of 2007.

Steve Jobs, along with his good friend (and Apple co-founder) Steve Wozniak, created one of the first commercially successful personal computers in the late 1970s. In the early 80s, Jobs was among the first to see the commercial potential of the mouse-driven graphical user interface. Jobs resigned from Apple and founded NeXT after losing a power struggle with the board of directors in 1985. NeXT was a computer platform development company specializing in the higher education and business markets. Steve Jobs was to return to Apple following NeXT's buyout by Apple Computer Inc. in 1997. He has been serving as its CEO ever since.

The myths of the idiosyncratic, individualistic Silicon Valley entrepreneur exist (in part) thanks to Mr. Jobs' history in business. Apple's CEO has done a tremendous job emphasizing the importance of design and understanding the crucial role aesthetics play in public appeal, hence Apple's amazing products, combining both functionality and elegance.

Jobs is currently on a leave of absence from Apple due to health issues. Since he reclaimed leadership at Apple back in 1997, Apple's CEO hasn't missed any of the company's annual meetings. This year, however, Apple will hold its annual meeting without its CEO, according to a Bloomberg report.

The meeting to be held on February 25 (a day after Jobs' birthday) will give shareholders the chance to interrogate Apple's board of directors regarding their silence on Jobs' condition since the CEO announced taking a medical leave last month.

Softpedia wishes Mr. Jobs all the best during his medical leave, and hopes to see him come back in summer with even more verve and an urge to amaze us.