The book highlights how the quality that set Steve Jobs apart from other techies was his appreciation of aesthetics in designing the Apple products. This was contrasted with the other great tech creator Bill Gates. This provided Jobs an ability to relate to other artists particularly in the music world. He formed a bond with Bono and Dylan that was important in getting the rights to sell music on ITunes which sold the IPods. Bill Gates would not have been able to move in that artist world.
The other difference between Apple and Microsoft was Jobs being unwilling to have others, who didn't have his appreciation for quality, access to Apple codes. Closed access was Jobs way to insure quality. Microsoft followed the open access model that permitted others to develop software that worked with its operating system. This has carried forward to apps sold on ITunes to be downloaded to IPhones which have to be approved by Apple first. Google with its Android phones allow any app to be downloaded without any pre-authorization.
So to the title of this blog. Learning the songs on a person's IPod is the latest form of a Rhoshock test. I was surprised how varied Jobs music taste was. The music of Dylan and Bono are not surprising or the number of Beatles songs. As a member of the Baby Boomer generation the transition from Rock and Roll to the Beatle invasion played a big role in his music selection. Johnny Cash, Jefferson Airplane, Rolling Stones, the Doors and even the Monkees had a place on his IPod. One genre that didn't make it was Hip Hop. Yo- Yo Ma was such a favorite that Jobs asked him to play at his funeral, which he did.
Couldn't help but wonder what music Bill Gates listens to??
P.S
One quality that Bill Gates had that Jobs never had was an interest in philanthropy. Might be the saving grace for Gates in any comparison with Jobs.
P.S. 2
Southeast Volunteers Sought for 2012 Community Leadership Academy
The Horizon Foundation has opened registration to the Community Leadership Academy to provide training for local volunteers and emerging leaders. Participants will be limited to residents in the Southeast area of Howard County who are 21 years or older. Academy attendees will meet March 10 and 31, April 21, May 12, June 2 and 16, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the North Laurel Community Center. Breakfast will be provided.
The mission of the Community Leadership Academy is to empower individuals to create vibrant communities. It is designed to provide current and aspiring leaders the opportunity to sharpen skills in facilitation, conflict resolution, consensus building, planning and evaluation. The training will be led by Griff Hall, who led the first Community Leadership Academy last winter. Seventeen Southeast area community leaders finished the program in 2011.
Focus on community leadership is one of the key elements in the Southeast 2015 initiative, a 5-year effort by the Horizon Foundation and other partners to enhance the health and wellbeing of the North Laurel-Savage community and its individual residents.
Participants in the Community Leadership Academy will be selected on the basis of interest in community leadership and service. Efforts will be made to include a diverse selection of residents with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, race and location of residence within Southeast Howard County. Applicants selected to participate in the 2012 Community Leadership Academy will receive full scholarships from the Horizon Foundation. A maximum of 20 people will be selected.
To acquire an application, contact cathyvsmith@verizon.net, 410-461-1035.
HC DrugFree Presents Programs for Parents and Teens
HC DrugFree, a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower the Howard County community to raise drug-free teens, will present a series of free programs to help parents and teens make healthy decisions about alcohol and drug use.
Parent 2 Parent will feature a panel of parents who will describe their experiences with children who abused substances and how they handled the challenges caused in their families. Following the panel discussion, a substance-abuse counselor will answer questions from the audience and discuss what parents should look for and do. Cheri Carroll, ordained minister, certified rape crisis counselor and support group facilitator, will be the guest speaker. Parents and teens with an adult may attend.
When? Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Where? Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, Md.
Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City will offer advice to parents and high school seniors considering visiting Ocean City, Md., during senior week, which attracts crowds of teenagers and can lead to risky and illegal behavior. The Ocean City Beach Patrol crew chief and a local police officer will offer their advice and expertise to help high school seniors stay safe.
When? Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m.
Where? River Hill High School
12101 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, Md.
When? Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m.
Where? Wilde Lake High School
5460 Trumpeter Road
Columbia, Md.
When? Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m.
Where? Mount Hebron High School
9440 Route 99
Ellicott City, Md.
For more information, visit www.hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040.
HC DrugFree, a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, Md., seeks to empower the community to raise drug-free teens. The organization was formed in 1995 as a response to the alarming number of teens using illegal substances, like tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Today, an active board of directors and Executive Director Joan Webb Scornaienchi lead HC DrugFree. (www.hcdrugfree.org)
Jobs wasn't into philanthropy not because he didn't care but rather because it was too difficult to measure impact. He said it was harder to give away a dollar than to make a dollar. He's right. I actually look down upon people who mindlessly make charitable contributions. Look how many people came out of the wordwork to donate to HoCo Rising's plan to "end homelessness". Probably none of them could coherently explain what the money will be used for. Let me know how that works out.
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