I didn’t, but rather than repeat many of the things that have already been and will be written I wanted to share my impressions and thoughts on the man and his legacy.

We all knew, but didn’t want to admit that time was short and that yesterday’s news was inevitable. That didn’t make the truth any less shocking. Firstly, Steve Jobs was a father and a husband and whilst many people will be saddened by his death, his family’s loss, having suffered with him for so many years is unthinkable.

For everybody else, Steve was the man who stood in front of us a couple of times each year and announced Apple’s newest innovations. His white trainers, blue jeans, black turtle neck and glasses combo broke free of it’s cult appreciation shackles, he personified Apple, so much so that his name and the brand became synonymous not only to the few, but to the masses.

The odd snippet of email chatter aside, our connection with Steve was entirely one-way, but surprisingly, the sadness surrounding his passing is unavoidable. For a man of fifty-six to have accomplished so much is truly astounding and whilst undoubtedly he will be remembered most frequently for revolutionising the mobile phone industry, to do so is to do an incredible injustice to the his library of achievements.

The Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad are all worthy of a mention but so many other ventures that contributed to Apple’s success and the world’s delight go unappreciated . iTunes literally rescued the music industry from collapse, encouraging people to buy their music digitally and cheaply, and it worked. Let us not forget Pixar, once the unsuccessful Lucasfilm computer animation group, purchased by Steve and renamed. Pixar’s success speaks for itself and when Steve later sold it to Disney, he became Disney’s single largest individual shareholder. Brand names aside, Steve is also widely attributed for intruding the world at large to the graphical user interface and the point and click mouse, two produces which it would now be difficult to imagine daily life without. Reach into your pocket and whether or not that tiny piece of the future you hold in your palm has an Apple on the rear, if it’s touch screen, you can say a silent thank you to Steve.

Not many companies get a second chance at success and even fewer, in fact only one pull it off like Apple. The success Apple has enjoyed over the last ten years is entirely unique, achieved solely through Steve Jobs’ return. In 1996 Steve returned to Apple, having been ousted by the board of directors in 1985. In the 15 years since his return he has turned Apple, a company facing bankruptcy into America’s and arguably the world’s most valuable business.

What set Steve apart from the world however, was his ability to innovate and capture the attention of the world again and again and again. No single trait can be attributed to his success, his creative force unrivalled, his passion and intolerance legendary and his refusal to accept that good enough was good enough driving Apple to produce uncompromising and revolutionary products.

Fifty-six is no age at all and as unimportant as it is, I simply cannot comprehend what a further twenty years of Steve Jobs’ incredible brain would have given us. He refused to concede and forced reality to conform to his expectations, the world is slightly less exciting as a result of losing out on more years of Steve’s passion and ability to innovate.

To Steve’s family I extend my most heartfelt condolences and whilst insignificant, the only solace I can offer is the knowledge that your loss is also ours.

Namaste Steve.

For many, the iPhone has been as elusive as a week on X-Factor without Louis Walsh saying “you’ve got the looks, you’ve got the voice, your a class act.” In the UK the iPhone has always been tied exclusively to the O2 network however, Orange announced last month that they would be selling the iPhone before Christmas. Today, a confirmed date hit the Internet.

Having announced it’s plans to make available the iPhone to UK consumers in time for Christmas, Orange is set to deliver on that promise. Only one day after O2′s exclusivity deal expires, Orange will swoop in to save all those anxious yet network-dedicated iPhone lovers. If you find yourself in the above category you may wish to mark you calender for the 10 November.

Already, more than 200,000 people have pre-registered to buy the new iPhone from Orange giving a further indication of the handset’s incredible popularity.

November 10 may be a bitter-sweet day for Vodafone as, having announced it’s intent to sell the iPhone in the UK only a day after Orange did so, sources would suggest that Vodafone will not be able to match Orange’s launch windows. Instead, they will be forced to sit by and watch whilst Orange get the first invite to what was an O2 only party. Launching the handset untimely for the Christmas shopping period will certainly bode well for Orange whilst Vodafone appear to be fixed on a new-year launch.