We all knew this was coming, and as journalists, we all knew we had to prepare for the worst. Even so, Cult of Mac never prepared an obituary for Steve Jobs, standard practice in the news game. He was too close to us, too much of a father figure. We tried to start one a dozen times over the years, but something always stopped us from being able to finish it: respect, love, a secret belief that as much of a personality as Jobs was could never really die, you name it. Putting our pens to paper to contemplate his death before it happened, it hurt too much.

Now he’s gone, and our hearts are too heavy to write a proper obituary. We miss Steve, and we just don’t have the distance yet. Instead, we’ve decided to put together the best pieces of all the obituaries out there to give our readers an overview of Steve’s incredible life. We hope it will be a jumping off point for you in a day best spent reading about Steve’s life, remembering the visionary he was and contemplating how we all can fill the void he has left.

He may have ushered in the personal computer; the iPod; the iPhone; the iPad; the modern operating system; the animated movie; but I bet this is the Steve his kids & family will forever remember and miss.

Steve certainly had a reputation for being a tyrant, but for me, these images put aside Steve Jobs the legend, the myth, and giving us rare glimpse into Steve Jobs the man. The normal, quite human, man.

These priceless images were captured in the office of former Apple employee (and Delicious Library creator) Mike Matas. See the whole series below.

As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of one of the world’s most prolific geniuses today, fans of Steve Jobs continue to turn to social networking sites to pay their respects, and some are even leaving notes on their local Apple store. Others are flocking to pre-order Steve’s biography, written by Walter Isaacson, which has seen orders soar a staggering 41,800% since Apple announced the news yesterday.

Tributes to Steve Jobs are coming in from everywhere. Here’s a handful of the ones we’ve noticed this morning…

Google CEO Larry Page:

I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

More than any other, this is the Steve Jobs quote I keep seeing all over Twitter and the rest of the internet today.

That picture pretty much says it all. During the “Let’s Talk iPhone” event on Tuesday, I kept noticing that seat. “Reserved.” It was weird that the camera kept panning to that shot of the front row in Town Hall.

The room was packed tight with journalists, but there was that one seat left empty in the front row next to all of the other Apple executives. Steve’s seat.

You can’t truly understand the life and career of Steve Jobs without understanding the culture and history of Silicon Valley.

Steve Jobs was a child of the valley. And the spirit and energy of Silicon Valley coursed through his veins and was imprinted on his DNA.

Steven Paul Jobs was born in the city of San Francisco on February 24, 1955. He was adopted by a couple who lived, and who raised their children, in the idyllic Silicon Valley town of Mountain View, California.

If you were forced to choose an absolute geographic and cultural center of Silicon Valley, it’s possible that Steve Jobs’ childhood home might be the exact location.

Leander Kahney: Steve Jobs’ death is a horrible shock and very sad — even though we all knew it was going to be sooner than later. Steve had a lot of fans — a strange thing for a mega rich businessman, but he was a singular character, and had a singular influence on all our lives. His products are near universal. It’s a great shame, because I truly believe that he was really just getting started.

Bill Gates offers his condolences:

I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.

[via AllthingsD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA

Before I get any further, I readily admit that what follows is going to be indulgent. I can’t call it self-indulgent, because my hope is that it will be far more about my hero Steve Jobs and the millions upon millions he inspired than it is about me. Consider this one Machead’s experience, nothing more. And though I knew this day couldn’t be too far into the future, I also never expected I would be forced to reflect on his life, past tense, so soon. This has been a difficult hour. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who had the privilege to know him well.